The study room on the fourth floor was empty when Hermione arrived the following evening, it was quite late. She had to reschedule the study session because Malfoy had a detention with Slughorn. She had only just escaped punishment herself for what had occurred in yesterday's Potion lesson by apologising profusely and agreeing to help the Professor clean up after the class.

She headed for their usual cubicle and set out her books on the desk. Malfoy strolled in some ten minutes later and sank into the chair opposite

"How was the detention?" Hermione asked

"I had to help Slughorn sort through the store cupboard" Malfoy replied tonelessly

"Oh, well that's not so bad"

"And I've got another detention tomorrow evening. Then two with McGonagall on Friday"

"Well, you did destroy a whole cauldron of Felix Felicis" said Hermione fairly

Malfoy didn't reply but took out his Herbology diagram for Hermione to look over "I'll check this while you start on that Transfiguration essay" she said "have a go at doing it by yourself for a while, you've got all the information in your notes. I'll look at your spelling and such afterwards" They worked in silence for half an hour until Hermione passed Malfoy back his diagram and said "this is fine now, there was only one mistake, which –"

"I came back because I had nowhere else to go"

"What?" said Hermione, perplexed

"You asked me, ages ago, why I came back to school. I came back because I don't have anywhere else" said Malfoy, his eyes on his diagram

"Why are you telling me this, Malfoy?" said Hermione

"Because you asked"

"No" said Hermione gently "why are you really telling me this? You're not telling me just because I asked" she hesitated "there's no shame in wanting to talk about things, Malfoy"

When he didn't offer a response, Hermione went on "what about your house?"

"The Ministry took it" said Malfoy and the look in his eyes told Hermione that he was regretting saying anything at all now "can you go over the five exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration again? I still don't understand it"

"They took your house?" said Hermione "why?"

Malfoy set down his quill "because my arsehole of a father owed gold to the Ministry. They took the house to pay off his debts"

"You would be welcome at Order Headquarters. Harry wouldn't –"

"That hovel that belonged to my second cousin? I don't want anything to do with that family anymore"

"Sirius Black was very brave and very noble" said Hermione defensively

"I never said he wasn't" said Malfoy and he sighed angrily "I just want to start again, alright? Except its hard when nobody trusts you and everyone still thinks you're a bloody Death Eater"

"I trust you" said Hermione quietly

"Why are you doing this?" said Malfoy sharply "why are you helping me with my homework after all that I've done to you? After all the shit I've said and done to you over the years? Why even bother?"

"Because we all need a friend sometimes, Malfoy" said Hermione firmly, looking into his eyes "even you"

"I don't need a friend, Granger" Malfoy retorted hotly "I'm not here to be best mates with you; I'm here to get help with my N.E.W.T's so get that idea out of your head. I didn't come to you looking for company"

"I don't think that's true" said Hermione

"Well it is! You think I'm doing this because I like you?" said Malfoy scathingly "we both know that with you tutoring me I'm guaranteed to pass my N.E.W.T.'s!"

Hermione was not deterred "your mother is in prison, Malfoy, your father's dead, you've got nowhere to go, nobody to turn to –"

"I DON'T CARE!" Malfoy bellowed, making Hermione jump "look, this whole thing was a mistake. You can go back to spending all your time with Potter and Weasley and I'll pass my N.E.W.T's by myself. Now fuck off and leave me alone" he grabbed his things, jumped to his feet and stormed from the cubicle, slamming the door behind him

"YOU STARTED THIS CONVERSATION, MALFOY!" Hermione screamed after him "FINE! FINE! IF THAT'S HOW YOU WANT IT!"

"I hate to say it, Hermione" said Ron imperiously the next day in the Gryffindor common room "but I told you so. Want me to have a word with the little ferret?"

"No, Ron" said Hermione "just leave it, the whole thing was a disaster. The trouble is, he has no chance of passing his N.E.W.T's without my help. He missed almost all of our sixth year, and –"

"Why do care, Hermione?" Ron interrupted "you gave him a chance and he mucked it up, end of story"

Hermione thought about this. Why did she care? Well, she certainly wasn't going to bother herself about it anymore. Malfoy had made his choice, she had offered to be there for him and he had thrown it back in her face. Besides, now she had more free time to herself, more time to –

"Could you just have a look at these Charms notes I made the other day?" said Ron tentatively "I could really do with a hand"

Hermione exhaled deeply "hand it over, then"

"Thanks, Hermione. And listen, don't worry about Malfoy"

But Hermione thought that was easier said than done.