Author's Note: Here we go. I'm putting up chapter 10 and chapter 11. I'm not sure why chapter 10 disappeared after I originally uploaded it, but I'm putting it up anyway. Read and Review Please. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Harry Potter.
Contrary to popular belief, it was not possible to spend the whole of the ride to Hogwarts making out. It was possible to spend a good chunk of the ride making out, but half way there breathing became necessary. Hermione was rather tired and with a yawn she lay down with her head in Draco's lap and promptly fell asleep.
Draco's mind was too active to sleep so instead he pulled out his book. He was well into what was arguably the most climactic scene of the story when the door burst open.
Harry looked positively frazzled. "Hermione I need to talk to you, there's something…" He stopped in his tracks and gaped. "What the hell is going on here?"
Draco frowned at him. "Keep your voice down Potter."
"Why the hell should I keep my voice down?" he cried.
It was then that Hermione said up, rubbing at sleep tired eyes. "Because, I was trying to sleep; why are you even on the train?"
Harry blew out a hard breath. "I met Ginny in Hogsmeade."
"How did you get in here?" she asked.
"I used my wand; now if we can move past all the idle chit-chat, please explain this!"
Draco sighed. "Fine, Hermione and I are seeing each other. Run along now."
"That's it, you're seeing each other? That's your explanation?"
Hermione nodded. "Honestly that's the simplest way of putting it. Do you see?"
He shook his head. "All I see is my best friend curled up with Draco Malfoy, son of Voldemort's most loyal supporter. He's probably a Death Eater himself! This is the guy who's been tormenting you for all these years. All I see is madness."
She stared up at him. "I don't know what to say to you Harry."
"I do." Draco stood, rolling up his sleeves as he rose. He held out his arms for Harry to see. "Take a good look Potter; do you see the Dark Mark? You don't." He let his arms fall to his sides. "I believe we already had this conversation. You haven't even got the slightest grasp on what my life has been like Potter. You have no right to assume that I would become like my father after the things I've seen, the things I've been forced to do. If you knew me at all you would know that."
"Pardon me for doubting you," Harry spat our sarcastically. "Even if all of that is true the way you've always treated Hermione up to now is more than enough proof to condemn you."
"I can't turn back the clock Potter! Trust me I would if I could, but I can't. I realize how poorly I've treated everyone at school, most especially Hermione, and I'm truly sorry for it. I'm sorrier than you'll ever know. All I can tell you is that it's how I was raised. Not that it's any of your business at all, but you just can't seem to leave me alone. I had to act that way for all those years. Every time it seemed as if I'd gone soft my mothers beatings got worse. You see, my father didn't feel it was right to beat his only son and heir, but my mother was fair game. She's safe now, hopefully forever, and I would never do anything to intentionally hurt any woman, least of all a woman I'm with."
Harry looked at him wearily. "Everything you're telling me is true."
"Every word."
Harry sighed. "I've got to sit down a minute." He sat, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "I don't see that I've got any choice other than to believe you. I'll have to live with this, but if you do anything to hurt her I will make sure that you never walk or fly again."
"Agreed." They very reluctantly shook hands and Harry rose, leaving the compartment without another word.
Hermione locked the door behind him and when she turned she found Draco sitting again, his eyes intensely focused on the window. She sat next to him and took his hand, running her thumb in small circles against his palm. Slowly, the storminess that had fallen over his eyes receded and he began to visibly relax. She entwined her fingers with his and looked up at him. "It upsets you, talking about your past."
"It does, but I need to remember that I can't have a future without my past. For now we need to get into our robes, we're almost to school."
Draco and Hermione came off the train last and found Harry waiting for them. They all grabbed a coach together and as soon as they were seated Hermione started in on Harry.
"Harry I need you to promise me something. Promise me you won't say anything about me and Draco."
Harry sent a glance towards Harry then shifted his eyes back to Hermione. "If that's what you want I won't say anything, but I don't understand. If Malfoy's changed so much why doesn't he just show everyone? I mean you're father's in Azkaban so you can't possible be worried about your mother."
As Draco sighed once again it occurred to him that he'd been doing that an awful lot lately. "You know for someone who's supposed to be such a quick thinker you don't seem to use your brain very much." He winced as Hermione punched him in the arm. "Sorry. Think about it Potter, I'm the freaking Slytherin prince. If I show back up with Hermione on my arm, friend to the entire world, I'll be dead in a second. My father may be in Azkaban but there are plenty who are still loyal to Lord Voldemort. Almost all of the Slytherins along with their families still are. There are very few who are against what the Dark Lord does, and only three other Slytherins know my position on all of this. So you see Potter, telling anyone would be a bad plan."
Harry nodded. "Alright, I won't say anything. But this isn't for you Malfoy, all I want is for Hermione to be safe."
"I wouldn't expect any less."
They spent the rest of the ride in complete silence. When the coaches pulled up to the castle Hermione and Draco said their goodbyes and she left with Harry. Draco waited long enough to be discrete and left the coach. He was the last of the older students to enter the school, but if anyone had been around they would have seen a rare and pure smile cross his features as he pushed open the doors to his real home.
When he entered the Great Hall he immediately crossed to his customary seat at the Slytherin table. As he took his seat he heard the Gryffindors laughter and turned to send a glare Harry and Hermione's way, just to keep up appearances. He noticed with displeasure that Ron had dared to show his face at the feast, but noted with huge satisfaction that the rest of his house hand entirely ostracized him and that Harry had seated Hermione as far from the git as was humanly possible.
The sorting and feast were as remarkable as usual, but Draco found his thoughts drifting until Blaise nudged him. Dumbledore had called him and Hermione up to be introduced. He saw Hermione very pointedly ignore Ron as she passed and they stood a decent distance apart as Dumbledore introduced them to the school. The Headmaster directed the prefects to escort their houses to their quarters then turned to Draco and Hermione."
"Well then," he said, eyes twinkling. "Welcome back. Now if the pair of you will follow me, I'll show you to your private quarters."
"Oh, I'd forgotten," Hermione mused.
"Yes, you will each have your own large bedroom but you will share a common room and a small kitchen. Follow me please."