Christmas morning Draco received an owl from Vinewood... from Hermione Granger. He would have to get used to that – to accepting that this mysterious girl he had been falling for was the Potter's muggle-born Gryffindor best friend. Yikes. Draco read the words that Hermione had written him and then stuffed the note into his school truck. He considered throwing it away but couldn't bring himself to do it.

He finished out the holiday, hiding in his room for the absolute nonsense swirling about him. Draco thought he was going to implode like an old collapsing star. Just BLAM – black hole. Finally, the Christmas break was over and Draco headed back to Hogwarts.

Draco arrived early to the Hogwarts Express, hoping that he could get into a compartment without seeing anyone. Especially Hermione Granger. He could not face her, not now. He found the first open compartment and hid inside.

The door slid open. It was Blaise.

"Hey," Blaise nodded and flopped down on the seat across from him. "How was your holiday? After... you know..."

"Do NOT ask." Draco groaned and smacked his head on the wall behind him.

The door opened again. Oh, please, no. Pansy.

"Hello, snookums," she said and scooted in next to Draco. It was an odd, lackluster snookums that caught Draco off guard. Not that he was crazy enough to ask if something was wrong.

A couple other people piled in the compartment. Goyle. Nott. Pansy's friend, Daphne Greengrass. They were all chatting about the next semester, Professor Umbridge, and the Inquisitorial Squad. Everyone in the compartment but Daphne and Blaise were members.

The train jerked to a stop. The door snapped. Did they lock? Draco shot straight up.

"What's going on?"

A few just nodded, others said, "Don't know."

"Are we locked in here?" asked Daphne, chewing on her nails. Goyle tried to push the door open it wouldn't budge. Draco could not be stuck in this train car with these people. He pulled out his wand.

"Alohomora," said Draco. Nope.

"Nice first year spell, Malfoy," said Nott.

"It was worth a try." Draco flopped back down on the seat. What was he going to do with these people until he got out of there? Curse them, maybe. Well all of them except Blaise... maybe Daphne. She wasn't that bad. He couldn't curse Pansy. She was his girlfriend. Fine. No curses – just complaining.

"We're stuck. We're stuck," muttered Pansy. She started banging on the door. "Get us out of here! You better get us out of here right now!" Bang. Smack. Whimper. "Right now! Do you understand me?" Pansy slid to the floor in defeat.

"Can you calm your girlfriend please?" snarled Nott to Draco.

"Pansy, get off the floor." Yeah. That was as calming as he could have been. Daphne was breathing heavily and fanning her face, but remaining calm. "You okay, Daphne?"

"Yeah. I'm just a little claustrophobic that's all."

"Just breathe. They'll get us out soon. Worst case scenario we break the glass and jump out the window, right?"

Daphne smiled weakly.

"Maybe if we ran at the door we could bust it open," suggested Goyle.

"Seriously?" asked Blaise.

Goyle shrugged. Everyone clamored to their feet, counted to three and rammed with all their strength into the door. Nothing.

An hour later, they were all sitting together, huddled up and talking. The cold air had leaked through the windows so the closeness was helping.

Pansy was twirling her hair around her finger. Over and over. It was starting to make Draco dizzy.

"When I get out of here," said Daphne. "I'm going to start being nicer to my little sister. I mean if I would sat with her like she wanted I might not be stuck in here." She let out a half-hearted smile.

"I'm going to stop punching people – at least not in the face," sighed Goyle. Good goal.

"I'm thinking of dyeing my hair blonde," said Pansy.

"I'm going to give that Hufflepuff girl, Monica, a chance," sighed Blaise, his eyes facing out the window.

Vinewood. Hermione. That was all he could think of.

"When I get out of here-"started Draco.

"I'm so hungry!" whined Pansy.

"Sorry, folks." A voice called from outside the door. It squeaked open. "You're out now."

Best. News. Ever.

That night Draco did what he should have done a long time ago. He broke up with Pansy Parkinson. Sure she broke half the things in the Slytherin common room, but it was worth it.

Dear Vinewood,

Tonight something happened. I'm not sure what it was but everything became clear. I wish I could tell you why I wasn't there the other night. It's personal... the kind of thing we never talk about. All I can say is I'm working on something and it's very important. I'm truly sorry I hurt you. You were hoping to see someone you cared for and instead met someone you hated. Can you forgive me? I'll be waiting to hear from you.

Yours,

Silverhawk

Vinewood may have been Hermione Granger, but he still couldn't just let her go. He was hardly breathing without her. He prayed she'd write back to him.

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