Disclaimer: I only wish I could own these characters.

Softening

"The password is Living Death, you good for nothing Death Eater." Hermione hissed at Malfoy and stomped down the hall.

Her words echoed in the walls of his skull. Death Eater. That's all he'll ever be to anyone. Once a death eater, always a death eater, right? Draco didn't want that, it's what his father wanted and it's what the dark lord insisted on. Malfoy's father would never want to disappoint the dark lord and in turn, he would never want to disappoint his father. Disappointing them was never an option. So why did he choose the side of good in the end? It was because of her, because of Hermione. Looking at her just haunts him to the core. He saw her eyes as his Aunt Bellatrix was torturing her. They were so full of pain and fear; for the first time, he saw her radiant brown eyes cold and empty. He just stood there watching Bellatrix ruin her unflawed skin. Malfoy wanted to stop her or even run from the manor but his father was holding him there. His arm started to burn and as he looked down at his dark mark it seemed to quiver. He chortled and ran down the hall. He needed to get away from her, from the memories, from this mark.

Malfoy ran to the last place he saw life in Dumbledore's eyes. The astronomy tower was abandoned and still damaged from the final battle. He stood out on the balcony and looked out into the night. His mark seemed to burn even more and practically set fire when his eyes fell on a figure by the lake. She was here too. She was on the ground holding her arm as well, her soft screams filled his ears; still as haunting as last year. Part of Draco wanted to go down there and see if she was okay. But he couldn't face her after what she called him and what he called her. He dislikes her, yes, after all, she is annoying and a know it all through and through but couldn't help but regret his words.

I must be softening up, more than I thought I would after my father disowned me. Dear old Lucious couldn't bear to have a traitor as a son. He forbade his wife from speaking to Draco or from seeing him, despite being in Azkaban he made it quite clear that he still has eyes and ears everywhere. His mother thought it would be best for him to return to school for a year as she tried to sway his father. Narcissa would write him every so often but never use the same owl twice. She told him how much she missed him and wanted him to be home with her. But it will never be the same especially after what happened in the manor. Granger! Draco thought as he returned to reality.

He peered over to the lake and she was gone. He yawned as a thick sense of tiredness washed over him. He left the astronomy tower and lingered down the hallways. He found the tower that he would be trapped in with Granger. He found the painting that kept everyone else out and whispered "Living Death". He wondered why Granger picked that, they had potions together last year and this potion really stunned her. I've never seen her not accomplish something as easy as a potion. He observed as he walked in and found her fast asleep on the sofa. She practically glowed against the light from the fire. Walking past her to go to his room he heard her whimper in her sleep. He peered over his shoulder and looked back at her, she was an utter mess. There were twigs and dirt clinging to her clothes and her cheeks were stained with tears and her eyes swollen. Something in him started to ache and he was overcome with a feeling he's come accustomed to, utter loneliness.

He had to walk away, he couldn't stand to look at her any longer. He went to bed and all he could see was her. Just laying there so broken. When he closed his eyes he still saw her, but it was her on the floor of the manor…

Malfoy opened my eyes and it was morning. He barely slept, as if you could call what he was doing as sleep. All night he tossed and turned and every time he shut my eyes he could see her. All of the moments he's seen her over the years flooded back to him. First year she was on the staircase as they were waiting to be sorted. She looked so nervous but very sure of herself, just like a muggle. Then Malfoy saw her face when he called her Mudblood for the first time, he just laughed in her face when Weasley cursed himself instead of Draco. That word flowed out of him so easily then. Then third year Hermione called him a foul loathsome evil little cockroach and punched him square in the nose. So on and so on, all night it was her.

Malfoy got out of bed and ran his long slender fingers through his messy blonde hair. He signed and walked towards the stairs. As he was descending the stairs he heard some faint notes coming from the piano. He peered down and there was Granger with a cup of tea, sitting at the piano; I didn't know she could play, he thought curiously. Hermione looked stunning but still a bit broken. There were dark circles under her slightly puffy eyes, her hair was up in a messy bun, and she was wearing an old Gryffindor Quidditch shirt. Malfoy wrinkled his brows, No doubt Weasels old shirt, he thought to himself. She didn't seem to be wearing pants, Curious, thought Malfoy. The shirt did go halfway past her thighs. He caught a glimpse of something on her thigh. He quietly moved a bit closer to get a better view of it, he could see the tail ends of a nasty scar peeking through. As she moved her foot on the peddles her shirt lifted up her thigh. Her scar was rather large and almost had a silvery glow to it. He was transfixed trying to figure out what would cause a scar to do that, he didn't notice that the piano keys stopped.

"I had a run in with a nasty Dragon last year...," Hermione whispered; startling the life out of Malfoy.

"Wh… Where could you possibly find a dragon?" he choked out. His eyes never leaving her scar.

"Worried about me are you?", she jested, "Well if you must, know your dear aunt Bellatrix kept a tortured dragon guarding her vault at Gringotts. And while trying to escape he nicked my thigh with a talon. I'm lucky I didn't lose my leg. "

Malfoy opened his mouth to say something smart back but he furrowed his brows and sighed. To Hermione's surprise, he slowly walked over to her and kneeled beside her. His fingers trailed down the length of her scar, sending a shiver down Hermione's spine. No one ever touched her like this before. She looked down at him with soft eyes and inadvertently swallowed air. His eyes were pained "She scarred you again…" he whispered. Hermione's breathing staggered a bit; she reached her hand out to Malfoy and tucked and unruly hair behind his ear. His face was so close to Hermione's he could smell tea on her breathe. Malfoy blinked a few times shaking his head, he practically knocked Hermione over as he got up and flew out of the room.

AN: Well that was chapter 3! I was really excited to post this chapter. Please review and let me know what you think of my story so far! Thanks for reading my story!