Summer began and Draco was sitting in the library of his manor. The walls were covered in books (A/N: Kinda like in Beauty and the Beast). It seemed the place that he could connect with Hermione even though she wasn't anywhere near. For all he knew she was out in muggle London having the time of her life. Yeah right! This was Hermione. She was suffering just like him. Blaise had stopped by often and tried to bring Draco out to a party or just to hang out, but he wouldn't leave his house. Draco sat on one of the couches with a book in his lap, but he couldn't bring himself to read it. He would just sit in there and remember the days he had with Hermione. When she laughed at something he said. Suddenly he remember a time during their training when she had fallen after he had thrown a curse and pretended to be hurt. Draco rushed over to her but when she turned her head to look at him she smiled and giggled. Draco looked down at her in anger, but soon laughed himself and picked her up and spun her in the air. When he placed her back on the floor she just smiled at him and pecked his lips. God he wished he could have her back. He heard the door open but he didn't move to look at the person entering. "Thinking about her again aren't you."
"Blaise I really don't need to be bugged about this right now." Draco spoke as he friend sat on the couch opposite them.
"Look you need to get out man. This isn't healthy. For all you know you might actually see her somewhere then you can talk to her."
"Doubtful." Was the blonde's response.
"Why?"
"She's probably off in muggle London with her parents and hanging out with her friends there."
"No she not." Blaise hung his head.
"What are you talking about?" The blonde questioned.
"She told me the night that you got in a fight with her that she didn't have anything left." The raven-haired boy looked up at his best friend.
"She always has her family to go to. Just like you and me."
"No her parents kicked her out. She's been on her own since last summer. I don't know where or how she lives, all I know is that she's all alone. Now I know she didn't tell you but she didn't tell anyone. Even Potter when they were dating. So come on, lets get you out of this house and into the wizarding world again. I know Destiny wants to say hi to you."
"Oh yeah, how are you to by the way? Last time I saw you and her together was at the party that night."
"Great! She said she would be my girlfriend. Her parents didn't like that I was a year older but they like me as well as a parent can like their daughters boyfriend." Blaise shrugged, "Other than that were great. Thanks again for introducing us at the party."
"No problem and don't mention it. Really."
"So you want to go out and maybe get a chance to see Hermione."
"Well I should get some knew robes. These ones are getting kinda gross." Draco looked down at his sleeve that was a little faded.
"Good. Now lets go get Destiny and we'll go to Diagon Alley."
"Fine."
Draco and Blaise flooed over to Destiny's house and picked her up. Destiny had mid-length light brown hair that was always down; it was either in waves, ringlets or straight. Today it happened to be straight. They quickly left for Diagon Alley. The streets were full but not to crowded. Blaise and Draco of coarse stopped in the Quidditch store to pick up some new gear for the next season. Draco bought a new broom, the Fire-Bolt 2000. It was black and had green lettering on the side where you could write your name and the broom would only listen to you. It's owner. Blaise being the keeper for Slytherin bought new pads for his arms and legs. Destiny just went along with them to keep them happy. She knew about the situation between Draco and that muggle girl. She didn't really know her but she didn't think much of muggleborns. But she did see how Draco would look for her and go into a daze when he thought of her, and just being able to get Draco to go off in a daze like that showed that the girl probably meant a lot to him. So she figured she'd give this girl a chance.
The three left the store and went into the bookstore to pick up some books that they needed for the next year. Destiny was only going to be a sixth year, and Draco and Blaise would be entering their last. They had not yet received their letters to let them know what supplies they would need for the year, but they had a pretty good idea which ones they would need for their classes that they were taking next year.
"Drake you hungry? We can go to the Leaky Cauldron for something to eat if you want." Blaise looked at his best friend as they walked down the crowded streets.
"You guys go ahead and save a spot. I want to go and get some new robes from Madam Malkins. These ones are starting to fade and that's just not right for a Malfoy. See yeah." Draco turned and left before the other two could say a word. He needed to be a lone just for a little while. The entire time they were down there all he could think about was that Hermione was near, he just didn't know where she would be. They were in the bookstore and she wasn't there. All of a sudden he heard a man yelling at someone in Madam Malkins. Entering the store to see what happened he heard the words of the wizard. "How dare you prick me with that pin! Is it not your job to pin the robes of wizards?"
"Yes sir. I-I'm sorry." The figure that was lying on the floor spoke as she stood slowly. Wait! Draco knew that voice, it was defiantly female, and the way her body was built it made him believe that he was right. She wore robes that were brown and ripped. The stitching was coming undone and the material was thinning.
"You filthy mudblood! I should have you fired!" He slapped her across the face, the sound echoing through the room. This caused her head to turn sharply to the side. That's when Draco got the first clear look at her face. Hermione! No one had the right to strike a woman! Draco watched in horror as she didn't take notice to his presence and began to beg the man not to get her fired. She was begging to the man that had just struck her.
"No please sir. Don't do that! I need this job. It's the only way I can live here." She begged looking into the older wizards eyes.
"That's no excuse! Where is your boss? I plan to tell her about your incompetence." The tall man raised his hand to strike her again, but as he was about to swing downwards someone's hand grabbed his. Angry he spun around only to come face-to-face with a very angry Draco. Hermione looked over to him and gasped. He wasn't supposed to be here to see her like this.
"Now, that wouldn't be a very good idea now would it. Striking a lady who is trying to help you."
"Mr. Malfoy." The man said shocked. "My pardons, but she did prick me and cause my blood to flow out of my veins."
"True, but did she not apologies for that? Now I suggest that you go and get your robes fitted somewhere else before I tell the owner that you have been striking workers with no reason. Understand?" Draco tightened his grip on the man arms causing him to wince.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy." The wizard said through gritted teeth.
"Good. Now leave." Draco forced the man forward causing him to stumble out the door. Then he turned to face Hermione who was looking at him in shock. He took a cautious step forward and reached out to touch her, almost as though she was going to disappear and he would be alone again. She stepped back and looked at him cautiously.
"What are you doing hear." She managed to breath out.
"I came to get some new robes fitted. Then I saw you in here getting yelled at and thought I should do something about it."
"You know you shouldn't have done that. I need that customer for my pay. Madam only lets me stay here if I get one or more fittings a day and I haven't had one yet. Besides I'm used to getting treated like that lately." She looked up from the floor into his eyes. Draco then noticed a dark formation appearing on her check.
Draco took another step forward, and this time Hermione did not step back. He reached out to touch her cheek, and was surprised when Hermione let him. His thumb moved up and down her smooth flesh. Hermione closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. Slowly she brought her hand up to grasp his. That's when Draco noticed how rough her hands where. He pulled away causing Hermione to open her eyes and look at him. Lightly he grasped her hand and studied it. He noticed her hands were swollen and cut. Light scars ran across the top and little dots along the bottom. "How did you get all these?" Draco asked her as he picked up her other hand to look at it.
"You know all the fittings I have to do it just come with it I guess." Was her only reply.
"Why are you here? Why didn't you come and see me so I could help you?"
"Well after the last words you said to me I didn't exactly think you would want a filthy mudblood to show up on your door step now would I?"
"Look I'm sorry for what I said. I miss you."
"I miss you too, but you don't want me. No one does. My family thinks I'm a freak and they're having a normal child, which I wasn't informed of until two weeks ago. All the friends I ever had left me. Blaise didn't give me a chance to explain the reason I lied to you, which you basically know now. I couldn't lose you after I lost everyone else." A single tear leaked out of her eye. Draco slowly whipped it away as she continued to talk to him. "You were the only one that I thought could actually love me. I thought Harry did but then I found out about him and Ginny and when I found out you were the one that had been writing those notes to me I was so happy. I thought maybe if you loved me that I could feel whole again. Even though you left me I wanted to join the dark side, only I didn't know anyone else who could help me in that area, so I stayed working here. I want to be with you, I do, but I want to join the side your on first."
"You will be on my side. I promise. Do you want to stay here and work?"
"I hate it here. But I have no where else to go." She sighed her eyes staring at the floor.
"Sure you do. Come live with me." Draco told her, causing her to look up at him again.
"Draco, I don't know if that would be such a great idea. I mean you broke it off with me. If we see each other everyday my feeling will come back worse than they already are. If I can't have you then it would hurt to much to see you everyday, be close to you and never get to touch you, and I just can't leave here without telling anyone."
"Hermione, you're tired, soar and worn down. You need to relax a little. And you can have me. I want you so badly but I can't have you because you need time to get used to the idea of us being friends again. Leave with me. Right now."
"I donno Draco." Hermione said unsurely.
"Come on." He leaned in close to her and whispered into her ear. "You know you want to." Hermione giggled. She missed when he would do that to her.
"Okay. But we're only friends for now. Nothing more." Draco smiled and grabbed her hand as they ran out of the store and down the street.
"Blaise and his girlfriend are waiting at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. We need to meet up with them is that okay?"
"I guess but don't expect me to forgive him that easily."
"I won't."
The two entered the area, which was dimly lit and the booths that lined the sides were black with deep red seats. In the centre of the room was a circular fireplace surrounded by tables for two and a few for four. Hermione and Draco then searched for Blaise and his new girlfriend. They found them sitting in the corner talking happily. "Okay here's the plan." Draco turned to Hermione, " I'll go over there and when they ask me what I was doing, which they will, I'll tell them I ran into an old friend and then you can walk over and sit by me. Okay?" Hermione shook her head yes to show that she understood, but said nothing. Draco walked over and sat down in the booth and waited for the others to notice.
"Where have you been man? You don't have any new robes." Blaise looked at his friend hoping to get an answer.
"Oh I found an old friend that was working and needed some help so here I am to give it to her."
"Her?"
"Yep. Blaise, you remember Hermione." Blaise gaped when Hermione walked over looking extremely tired and sore. She looked at him with no emotion at all and sat next to Draco. "As you know Blaise, Hermione was training with me to join our little 'club' and I'm trilled to hear that she still does. That's why when she comes to live with me I will introduce her to our leader. I was hoping that Destiny would help Hermione out on how to look in front of him. Since you know how he likes certain followers to look." He looked at Blaise, it wasn't a request, it was a command.
"I don't see why not. As long as Destiny is fine with it." He looked at his girlfriend beside him. Destiny eyed Hermione for a few minutes then responded.
"I think I could come up with something that will work." She looked at Hermione once again and extended her hand to her, "I'm Destiny McGrath, 6th year Slytherin. Pleasure." Hermione reached out and shook her hand. "You're hands are rough. We need to do something about that."
"It's from the work I did before Draco said I could live with him." She told her.
"I see. How will you pay for the tings you will need to buy?" Destiny looked at her.
"I don-"
"I'll pay for it." Draco interrupted looking at Hermione telling her not to say anything about the subject. She got the picture and stayed silent.
"So are you two back together then? Since you know, she's living with you." Blaise asked throwing his arm over Destiny's shoulder.
"No. Were going to be friends first and see what happens." Hermione replied sharply. Blaise looked over at his friend as if asking if this was true.
"Hey, at least we're friends." Was all Draco said before they ordered lunch and began to talk about the years past, even with the ever present tension between Hermione and Blaise.
A/N: Congrats to sarklover826 for getting the correct song name and who it's done by, 50 points to you! The answer was "Going Crazy – Reba". Thank you all for your ideas and reviews. Melissa and I are always pleased to see more new reviews… especially the good ones Thanks again for reading and reviewing my story! And a shout out to Missa for posting them for me and helping with some of the ideas! Thank you everyone! Review please.