Author's Warning: It goes a bit dark here. Please don't hate me.


Draco

As I walked back to the common room I thought about Rose and how I could help her. I knew I needed to have the perfect time to make sure everyone knew not to mess with her. I didn't expect to stumble upon the perfect opportunity to help as soon as I walked in to the common room.

When I walked in to the common room I saw a group of girls in the corner giggling, at first I decided to pay no attention to them, until I heard Rose's name.

"Oh a little of this, and just rip that and you'll look just like the whore you are Rose." A blonde fourth year chuckled, as I hear ripping noises.

"What the fuck is going on here?" I ask heading to the girls.

"N… No… Nothing." The blonde said, obviously the leader.

"You honestly expect me to believe that? I heard what you said. Show me Rose." I said furiously.

"NOW!" I shouted when they were reluctant to move. When they did I was just shocked at the cruelty of my own house. She was tied to a chair with her skirt sliced till there was virtually nothing left, her underwear were ripped off, her shirt was shredded to ribbons, a hole in to her bra directly over nipples so that they were poking out, and instead of the Slytherin tie was a sign that said 'I'm a dirty whore who likes it rough, want to have fun?'. And to the side the blonde leader had in her hand what looked to be big black dick.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" I shouted rushing over, ripping her binds off and taking my cloak off to cover her, first taking that horrible sign off her.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON DOWN HERE SOME OF US…" Pansy shouted, coming down the stairs only to stop at the sight of Rose right before I covered her with my cloak.

"Draco. Take these girls down to Headmistress McGonagall. I'll take care of the girl." She said in an eerie calm voice.

"Rose. Her name is Rose, please be kind." I said holding Rose close as I walked her over to Pansy, making sure she was covered properly with my cloak.

"Ok. Rose. Come here sweetie, will get you cleaned up and fix your clothes. You can stay with me in my room and tell me what happened. Does that sound nice?" Pansy said in a kind and motherly tone as Rose nodded her head.

"Thank you." She said in a quiet dead voice.

'Why wasn't she crying? Has something like this happened to her before?' I thought as I escorted the girls away.


Hermione

As I walked into the Great Hall I couldn't help but shoot a glance at the Slytherin table for my new found acquaintance. When I did see her I couldn't help but stop walking from shock. Rose was sitting between Malfoy and Parkinson, crying into Malfoy's shoulder while Parkinson rubbed her back. I was instantly concerned and had to stop myself from rushing over to find out what happened.

I forced my feet to move as I watched the Slytherin table to try and find out what was going on. As I watched I saw both Malfoy, and Parkinson shooting glares at a group of girls a few seats away from them. When Rose got up after finishing, both Malfoy and Parkinson got up to follow her, but, Malfoy glared one last time at the girls one last glare, and glanced at me. When our eyes made contact he nodded at me, and signaled me to follow.

'What the hell happened to her?' I thought as I grabbed my bag and walked out.


"Hey, we're here." Hermione said as she startled awake in time for the train to pull in.

"Malfoy. Malfoy. We have to go and help clear the train." She said shaking Malfoy awake.

"I'm up. Thanks Granger." He said tiredly, stretching before grabbing his things.

'Wow. He really can be nice. I just wish she hadn't gone through all of it' She thought, reflecting on the flashback she had. When she went to meet them the last thing she expected was something similar to what happened to ser. She still remembered thinking that she guessed that there was cruel people in any world and that magic capabilities don't separate their twisted ways of thinking.

"Come on Granger." Malfoy said, startling her from her train of thought. It was a good thing too or she would start thinking back to when she was little and her circumstances, and how stupid she was.

'STOP! Don't you dare think about it. You were just a little girl. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!' Hermione berated herself, physically shaking her head to clear it out of her head.

"Hey. Are you ok?" Malfoy asked as she grabbed her stuff and headed to exit.

"Yeah. I'm fine." She responded, proud that her voice didn't hold the tremble she expected.

"Sure. Let's go. The Heads' carriage just arrived." He said, not believing her but deciding to let it slide, for now. As they approached the carriage Hermione realized she could see the thestrals, but as she thought about it she realized that probably a lot of the returning students could most likely see them, and that thought made her sad.


"Here let me help you." Malfoy said when they reached the carriage, offering his hand as a support so Hermione could get in.

"Oh. Thank you." She responded, startled, and with a small smile and a blush. When their hands met, there was a strange tingle that shot up from their hands and through their entire bodies causing their eyes to meet.

"Um… You're welcome,… Hermione." Draco added softly, but Hermione still heard it.


When they arrived at the castle and headed to the Great Hall they were met with closed doors and Headmistress McGonagall quieting down the confused students.

"Now that our Head Boy and Girl have arrived I will explain why you all are gathered out here rather than in the Great Hall. There is a new table parallel to the Professor's table. Our goal is for this to be one of many things that begins the inner house unity of all the houses. Anyone from any of the four houses may sit here with anyone from another house or from their own. But to start it off this year only the sixth and seventh years will sit there, and you will have to sit there during dinner, you are not required to sit there during breakfast or lunch, but is highly encouraged. Also, you will not be allowed to group together with everyone from your house. No more than four people from the same house will be allowed to sit together. For example, our Head Girl, Hermione Granger of house Gryffindor, can sit with her normal friends Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Ginny Weasley, and then anyone else sitting near her and her friends will have to be people form a different house. If the proper progress is not made by the holidays than we will be forced to make other actions to ensure some form of success by the end of this school year. You all may proceed." She stated at the end of her speech.

"Hey Granger. I… um… I don't suppose you want to sit together. I mean you can still sit near the Weasleys and Potter, but we should set an example to you know?" Malfoy said hurriedly, looking kind of nervous and rubbing the back of his head again.

"Sure. I mean we do have to set an example as you said. And Ron didn't come back so it'll just be Harry and Ginny" Hermione said, startled again by Malfoy's kindness.


After the sorting and everyone finished their desert Headmistress McGonagall stood up and silenced everyone so she could have her parting speech before everyone went to bed.

"Now that the sorting and feasting has finished I just have a few things to say before you go to bed and begin your classes tomorrow.

As some of you may have noticed there is a new table. All I will say is that it is a new way of promoting inner house unity. For more information please ask a perfect or a sixth or seventh year.

As usual The Forbidden Forest is exactly that, forbidden without the permission and assistance of a professor or Mr. Filch

Mr. Filch as asked me to remind you that all Weasley products are banned and any that are found will be confiscated, and, depending on the number of times a student is caught with one, will result in detention

There will be a curfew at ten o'clock, that will be allowed to be extended for the fifth years and above so they may be allowed to prepare for O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S, but it will not be extended past midnight, to allow you to still sleep

As for the sixth and seventh years, you will notice on your time table that there is a class titled Special with me every afternoon as one of the last classes of the day. This is a new idea by the Ministry to help decrease blood prejudice and I will further explain what will happen in our first class tomorrow.

Finally, good night to all, and to all a good night.

You all may follow your perfect back to your dorms."

As the Great Hall emptied, Hermione and Draco were the only ones left and followed Headmistress McGonagall to her office. They didn't know why they needed to see her but they figured it was important. When they arrived at her office Hermione and Draco took the two seats across from McGonagall's seat.

"To push things along please don't interrupt me until I ask for questions. Ok?" She began. Once they nodded she continued talking.

"Now the Ministry was very reluctant about letting you come back Mr. Malfoy, but, with some persuasion they agreed so long as you are closely monitored. Now Ms. Granger here is who will be monitoring you. You both have the exact same schedule and all of the professors have agreed to partner you to up on every assignment in every class. Now I'm telling you this so that you will be aware of the situation and I trust that both of you will put your differences aside to work together. Another thing, is directly after my class tomorrow I want you to report to the Head's office so that I may discuss what your duties are for this year. Any questions? No? Any problems or statements that either of you want to say, say them now or forever hold your tongue. Yes Mr. Malfoy?" She said, sounding exhausted before even hearing what he had to say.

"I don't have any problems what so ever. I understand that everyone has no right to trust me and frankly I don't blame them for being wary. But, I would like to apologize to Granger. I was blinded by my father and his ideals and the power he seemed to promise, but by the time I realized how wrong they were they had already become a habit, and I was blinded by fear instead of a vision of power, and because all of this you, as well as others, but mostly you, have suffered. I know that nothing I do or say will make you forgive me, or forget, but please, even though I have no right to ask, will you please give me the chance to atone for my mistakes?" Draco said, bending down in front of Hermione.

"Wh… Why? What caused you to change your mind." she couldn't help but stutter.

"I'd rather not say completely, but over the years I realized that those who I thought were beneath me, are in fact the exact opposite are worth more than a million purebloods combined." He said, looking meaningfully in Hermione's eyes.

"Instead of atoning, why don't we start over? Hi, my name is Hermione Granger of Gryffindor house." She said, sticking her hand out.

"Hi, I'm Draco Malfoy of Slytherin house." He said, after a slight hesitation.

"Well I must say Mr. Malfoy, that is the most mature and responsible thing I've ever seen. Well done." Headmistress McGonagall stated.

"Headmistress! Please! You must come to the hospital wing immediately! Slytherin sixth year Rose Johnson was just attacked by a group of Slytherin boy in the common room!" Professor Slughorn said, running in.

"ROSE!" Draco and Hermione shouted together, and began running to the hospital wing without so much as a backwards glance to see that headmistress McGonagall was following them.

'Oh no! She got attacked again! And it's already the first day back! I hope she's ok!" Hermione thought as she ran.

'She was attacked again?! But it's only the first day back! I swear if I get my on her attackers I'm going to kill them!" Draco thought as he ran.


I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please don't hate me.

Please R&R

I sorry