A/N: Feel free to throw your unwanted presents at my face. I've left this alone for so long. I have ideas for it, I just get stuck putting it in motion.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

"I have summoned you three here today because you are all connected in some way to the young Miss Granger," Dumbledore said after Draco arrived and sat in the empty chair.

"Professor," Harry said. "Forgive me for interrupting, but where is Hermione?"

"Miss Granger has spent the past few days in the hospital wing. Unfortunately she was caught outside when this rather, unusual snow storm arrived."

"I'm surprised her so called best friends didn't know," Malfoy said in a bored tone.

"Sod off, Malfoy," Ron Weasley spat. Draco simply rolled his eyes and brushed some bread crumbs from his robes.

"As you all know," the headmaster continued. "Miss Granger has faced a rather serious situation over the summer involving her uncle."

"We know, but how does Malfoy know?" Harry asked.

"She told me, Potter," he said.

"I doubt that," said Ron. "How badly did you torture her before you forced her to tell?"

"Gentlemen," Dumbledore interrupted. "Back to the subject at hand. I believe that Miss Granger near death experience was no accident."

"Oi, Malfoy over here probably drug her out there and left her stranded," Ron accused. Again, Draco just rolled his eyes.

"Wait," Harry said. "Do you mean Hermione wanted to be out there?"

"What?" Ron asked, shocked.

Dumbledore's eyes held great concern as he continued the conversation. "Miss Granger has never had to deal with something of the magnitude on such a personal level."

"I don't understand, though." Harry interjected. "She's been by my side through this whole Voldemort fiasco, she was there when Sirius died. Hermione has been close to tragedy before."

"But it's never been her directly," Draco drawled. "It was your godfather who died in the ministry; it's always been you facing the Dark Lord. She's been there by your side this whole time, but she's dealing with this on her own."

Harry and Ron just stared at Malfoy. He just shrugged his shoulders.

"No matter," Dumbledore said. "I want you all to be on guard for the next few days; Miss Granger is not to be left alone. Mr. Malfoy, I have altered your room in the heads dormitory to alert you when the entrance is opened and closed so that if Miss Granger wants to sneak off again you will be able to stop her. While she is not in class, you are to be with her at all times. Harry, I would like you and Mr. Weasley to escort your friend to and from her classes and everywhere in between unless Mr. Malfoy is with her. Am I clear?"

"Yes, professor," all three chorused.

"Good, then you are excused."

All three stood to leave, but the headmaster called Harry back, leaving Draco and Ron to walk down the stairs alone. Once they reached the statue of the gargoyle Ron blindsided Malfoy and slammed him into a nearby wall. In a flash his arm was bared against the blond boy's throat and his wand was aimed at his temple.

"I swear Malfoy," he said with a fierce tone that would make anyone within range quiver. "If you do anything, and I mean anything to hurt Hermione after what she's been through, I will kill you."

He released Draco and began to walk away but fell to the ground after being hit with a bright flash of blue light. He reached for his wand but it was kicked away by a shiny black shoe. Malfoy placed his foot on Ron's chest and pointed his own wand at his face.

"Next time face me like a man," he spat. He whispered a hex under his breath and watches as a white fog covers Ron's eyes. Suddenly the boy on the ground began to claw at his face in panic.

"Don't worry," he said, pocketing wand. "When Potter comes down he'll be able to lift the hex, but who knows when that'll be."

He walked away, laughing quietly to himself. Thinking back over the events of the morning, all he wanted to do was crawl into his bed and sleep the rest of the day off. Once he reached his room he didn't even bother removing his shoes.

Just as he was about to doze of, an annoying alarm sounded in his room. Completely forgetting the conversation with the headmaster, Draco jumped into the air and fell to the floor startled. After sitting up and rubbing his head he realized what the alarm was for.

"Bloody freaking hell," he muttered.

A/N: I hope all of your holidays were great! Mine were! =]