A/N: Hello my readers! Sorry about the wait, reality decided to bite me on the ass in the form of my parents... So I got banned from reading Fanfiction until now because I apparently spend too much time on here :D woops... And they threatened to take my laptop off me haha... But I'm back now yay! Enjoy chapter 7! Oh, and pretty please review, they make me write faster :D

Chapter 7

Sitting in front of Hermione, where Draco Malfoy had been standing, was an arctic wolf. His eyes were the exact shade of Malfoy's'; his fur the same colour of his hair. It was astounding. Hermione had expected something obvious, like a serpent, or maybe even a dragon. But he was a beautiful golden-white wolf. She, along with Blaise, Dean and Katie, stood in shock. They hadn't expected Malfoy to become an animal so pure. The Malfoy-wolf stood up and walked around the group before shaking his head and turning back into a human.

"That was cool." He said nonchalantly.

Cool? That was marvellous! Hermione thought.

"Mate! I thought you would be a snake!" Blaise laughed.

"Oh, thanks Zabini. Glad I come across that way." Malfoy retorted sarcastically.

Hermione was still standing there, the image of the wolf still before her eyes.

"Hello? Granger? Do I pass?" Malfoy smirked.

"Hm? Oh! Yes, that was very good." Hermione tried to say casually.

"Who's next then?" Malfoy asked.

The rest of the afternoon passed with Hermione, Dean and Malfoy trying to get Blaise and Katie to transform. Those two were still having a fair bit of difficulty. When all five of them were getting frustrated with themselves and each other, Hermione called for a halt.

"Okay guys, we did well today. I think we should stop for today, and show McGonagall on Monday how you guys have done."

Blaise and Malfoy nodded. Dean and Katie smiled at Hermione and they left with Blaise. Hermione ignored Malfoy and went in search of a few books that would help her friends achieve their Animagus form. She settled on a couch under the window, feet tucked underneath her, the sun streaming across her back.

Draco was amazed. He really hadn't expected to transform today. And into a golden-white wolf of all animals. He secretly agreed with Blaise, he also thought he would have been a snake because of everything he had done. But Draco was also relieved. Did this mean that there was something good in him? He wasn't cursed to be a bad person for the rest of his life? But how could he test out this theory?

Granger.

She was still here. He could talk to her... Be kind. Draco had come to realise that she wasn't just a Muggleborn anymore; she was an extremely talented witch. He had seen her fighting in the final battle last year, she had been entirely focussed and untiring. Her aim was deadly and the curses she used were well thought out, almost like they were planned. It was then that Draco had realised that Granger – and the other Muggleborns – were actually true witches and wizards. He had decided then that he was indeed with the wrong side. He knew earlier, like when Potter, Weasley and Granger had been captured and taken to his house, that what he was supposed to be fighting for was wrong, which was why he never turned them in. But seeing Granger in battle brought it all home for him, and he changed sides without hesitation.

Draco decided to talk to her. He walked through the library, searching for Granger. When he found her, he was stopped in his tracks. Granger was sitting beneath a window with sunlight surrounding her slight body. The light made her not-bushy-anymore hair glow golden like her lioness fur. She was bent over a book, reading intently. When she looked up to meet his eyes, she was stunning.

Draco was floored. Since when was Granger beautiful? But the evidence was right there, sitting in front of him.

"Um, hi, Malfoy."

Draco was pulled back to Earth.

"Oh, Granger, didn't see you there." Draco lied.

"Uh-huh." Granger looked sceptical, and returned to her reading.

Draco stepped forward. "Can I sit here?"

Hermione looked up sharply, her eyes shocked and confused. "Here?"

"Did I stutter?" Oh shit, too rude. Tone it down!

Her eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry, that was very rude of me. Please forget I said that."

Granger's eyebrows rose, her eyes becoming very round with shock. It was very comical watching her facial expressions. Draco moved forward and sat on the couch beside Granger, who moved tucked her feet closer to her. She looked a little suspicious. Not that Draco blamed her, if he was being honest with himself. He wouldn't trust himself after what he said and done to her.

"So, Granger, what are you reading?" There, that was a safe topic to begin with.

"It's just something to try help Blaise and Katie transform."

"I thought we were taking a break? Stopping for the day?" Draco asked, slightly curious.

"Well, I am the bookworm. I study in my free time. I lose myself in words. It's where I feel most comfortable." She said, shrugging.

"Oh, I agree with you." Draco said.

"What? You agree with me?" Granger looked slightly stunned.

"Of course. I, too, enjoy reading and studying in my spare time. It's the one place where I don't have to hide who I am, or be a fake person. I enjoy just being me and reading what I want. Not like when I was growing up. My father forced me to learn all about the Dark Arts, Pureblood families and everything that he thought was worthwhile. I never enjoyed reading until I came to Hogwarts. I had a freedom to explore the library and learn more about everything else. It has been bliss to read here, Draco explained.

Hermione looked at Malfoy, completely shocked at how much he had just opened up to her. He seemed almost... Normal. She also liked the fact that he enjoyed reading. None of the Gryffindor boys did, and it was frustrating trying to find a guy to like her for her love of words. Hermione was starting to look at Malfoy in a different light.

"Okay, so you didn't like the fact that your father was telling you what to read and study, but you still engaged in the Dark Arts?"

Malfoy winced a little. "Yeah, I know, you would think that I would have lavished it all up. To be honest, I have never fully engaged in the Dark Arts. The only time I tried to use and Unforgivable Curse was against Potter in sixth year. I never did manage it though. And since then I refused. I got punished, of course, by my father and the Dar- and Voldemort. But I never killed anybody, or controlled or tortured. I had seen it often enough, stood by and watched it enough, that it felt like I had done it. Like when I watched my aunt Bellatrix and- and you, I felt so helpless, but also like it was my fault. I truly am sorry that I didn't stop her. I've been meaning to apologise since it happened, but I couldn't work up the courage to approach you. I am so sorry."

Hermione sat in silence. Her eyes were starting to prickle a little with unshed tears. This was a completely different side of Malfoy that she was sure no one had seen before. She was amazed at the depth of his words.

"Of course I forgive you. It wasn't your fault. You must believe that! You and your family would have been killed, I know that. I have never blamed you, ever. I don't blame you for anything that you had to do, or plan to do, like with Dumbledore."

The sincerity of her words seemed to have a deep effect on Malfoy. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, looked into her eyes and said "truce?"

Hermione smiled. "Truce... Draco."

Please review! Ta muchly!