A/N: Yes, I will be writing from Draco's point of view at various times to get a fuller story. I hope this reads ok. I'm not very good at writing from a male perspective.

0o0o0oDraco

"Granger, I was just teasing you. I don't expect you to stop reading. What class are you teaching? I took over the potions class last year after Slughorn retired, again. He said no one was getting him out of retirement this time." Malfoy said smiling kindly. He hadn't meant for her to flinch from him. He was honestly just trying to be nice and start up a conversation. If he remembered anything good from his life at Hogwarts as a student, it was that Hermione was brilliant and could actually keep up when someone talked to her. He also wanted to show that he had changed from his prattish ways.

"I'm teaching Charms and Muggle Studies. If you will excuse me." Hermione said walking around Malfoy, with her head down. Hmm, she was running away from him. Hunched shoulders and hugging her book to her as a shield. If he didn't know better, she was afraid of someone or something.

"Hermione, you will be great teaching those classes." Malfoy said turning to follow her out of the hall.

"Thank you?" Hermione said as a question. He smiled at her.

"You're welcome. I am really glad that you are here because it gives me a chance to thank you for speaking to the Wizengamot for me. I would have sent an owl years ago, but it seemed like something I needed to do in person, but I have not seen you since my trial. And I want to apologize for the prat that I was as a teen. I'm truly sorry for calling you those unspeakable names. I realized about halfway through the war that I didn't want to be on that side anymore. I wanted to help you when, well, you know, you were tortured, but I also knew that if I tried to stop Bellatrix, she would have killed you and probably me." Malfoy said quietly and, in a rush. He didn't have the courage to say it any other way.

"You're welcome. You were forgiven a long time ago. But thank you for apologizing. I really need to go." Hermione said, her voice cracking on the last sentence. He looked at her face, but she was looking at the floor. He saw the glimmer of tears on her cheeks.

"Hermione?" Malfoy called after her. He didn't follow after her, mostly because he didn't know what to say. It reminded him of all the times he had called her names as a teen, but that couldn't be it. He had apologized. And she said he was forgiven.

"Draco," Minerva called from behind him, "Is Hermione ok?"

"I don't know. I," Draco turned and rubbed his neck with his hand, "I apologized for how I treated her as a teen and thanked her for speaking to the Wizengamot for me. But she ran away, I think she was crying."

"I thought so." Minerva said, "Draco, follow me. I need to talk to you, but I don't want anyone else knowing what I am going to tell you."

"Umm…ok," Draco said quietly. He frowned at his superior but followed her. He didn't like being told secrets but knew if Minerva needed to tell him something in confidence, it was important.

He followed her to an empty classroom near the Great Hall. She closed, locked, and silenced the room so that no one could hear what she said. He was nervous now. What did she want to tell him?

"You, maybe more than anyone else besides me needs to hear this, but you cannot let Hermione know that I have told you. Let her tell you in her own time." Minerva said looking at him as an equal.

"Ok, but why do I need to know?" Draco asked.

"I think you can help Hermione where no one else can. You are her peer. She can learn to trust you. If she can do that, she may heal." Minerva took a deep breath. "Hermione and Ron broke up recently."

"Minerva, I really don't care about her love life," Draco said with a scowl. Was she crying over the Weasel?

"No Draco, you will care when I tell you why she left him. He had been physically abusing her for three years. She walked in on him and another woman having sex in their bed. When the other woman left, he beat and raped her. She is broken. She needs the safety that Hogwarts can offer her, and she needs a friend. I can be her friend, but she will only see me as her superior. But you, you are her peer. She can learn to trust again if she learns to trust you." Minerva said. With each word, Draco's anger was boiling over.

"Weasley did what? I always knew he was a prat, but to cheat, beat, and rape such a beautiful and smart woman whom should never even looked at him, that is despicable. He is lower than low. I hope Potter killed him." Draco said with malice.

"I have actually spoken with Mr. Potter via floo, and he is of the same mind. He also feels guilty for not seeing the signs that something was wrong. He asked that I, help Hermione in any way I can. This is why I'm telling you this. Also, if she goes to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley, I need you to follow her or go with her to keep her safe. He doesn't believe Ron will be an issue, but it is better to be safe." Minerva explained.

"Of course. She won't leave without me either with her or following her, I give you my word. Weasley will not be allowed to hurt her ever again. But Minerva, how am I supposed to talk to her? She seems afraid of her own shadow. And we were never friends. Won't she be suspicious?" Draco asked.

"I'm sure you can think of something. Be her friend. Talk to her about books. I am willing to bet, she can give you a run for your money with how many of the library's books she has read. You are both brilliant. I think you will find you have a lot to talk about." Minerva said with a smile.

"Ok. Thank you for telling me this Minerva. I won't let on that I know any of this, but if I see Weasley, I won't hesitate to hex him into next year."

"Thank you, Draco." Minerva opened the door and walked out of the classroom and toward her office.

Draco walked toward the dungeon and his room. When he got there, he blasted his couch, coffee table, and bed into oblivion. He was so angry. After the explosions, he magically put the items back together, but the anger was still there.