1 Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story. None at all
Author's Note: This is my first Harry Potter fic so go easy on me k? This is just a typical he's changed and she sees it fic and I know there are tons of those out there so I'm sorry if it's like anybody else's fics. The idea just popped into my head. Hope you enjoy. Please review.
Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley talked excitedly as they headed to the Sorting Ceremony. It was the beginning of their last year at Hogwarts and all the students were excited for the new term. As the trio walked into the Great Hall, Hermione looked around at all the familiar faces and her eyes scanned from table to table. There were the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, the rest of the Gryffindors, and Slytherin. When she came to Slytherin she frowned at the table full of terrible people. But Hermione couldn't help but notice one particular Slytherin. Draco Malfoy looked absolutely horrible. His normally neat hair looked like it hadn't been trimmed all summer and wasn't slicked back like usual, his robes were looking quite shabby, and even from across the hall she could see pain in his normally cold and unfeeling eyes. Hermione shivered slightly at the sight. Something had happened over the summer, and she wanted to know what.
The next morning everyone received their schedules, and were discouraged by the fact that they had Double Potions with the Slytherins first. Thee boys were discussing the evils of Professor Snape when Hermione remembered what she had seen the previous night. "So does anything know what's up with Malfoy?" she asked. All of her friends looked at her like she had grown an extra head. "Why on earth would we know?" Ron asked. "And why do you care?" Hermione blushed. "It's just that I've run into him like five times and he hasn't said mudblood, scar face, potty, or weasel. Come to think of it he hasn't said anything to anyone that I've seen." Harry thought about this for a moment. "You know what, you're right." Lavender and Parvati, ever the gossips, jumped right in to the conversation. "Don't you read the Daily Prophet?" Lavender asked, amazed. "We were in America all summer Lavender," Ron spoke up. At this both girls' mouths fell open and they squealed. "Oh my gosh!"
When the two girls were done Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled. "Would you care to tell us what you're talking about now?" "I still can't believe you don't know, but the deal is his parents are gone." "You mean like they left him alone for the summer?" "No I mean like gone, gone. Both of Malfoy's parents died over the summer." There was an audible gasp and suddenly nobody felt like eating. "Poor Draco," Hermione muttered. "Did you say something Herm?" Harry asked. "No, I just need to go up to the common room for a minute. I'll see you all in Potions k?" She didn't wait for an answer, just picked up her books and ran out of the Great Hall."
Time went by and Hermione never told anybody what she saw on that first day. Draco still didn't talk and he spent all of his time alone because his "friends" had given up on him without a fight. When it was finally time for Christmas holidays Hermione was more than relieved, almost everyone would be leaving. As she said goodbye to Harry, Ron, and Ginny they tried one last time to convince her to come to The Burrow with them. She still said no. " I think I'd rather just stay here with my books," she told them. "If you're absolutely sure?" "I am." They respected her decision and said their goodbyes, leaving Hermione alone in the common room.
When Hermione went down to dinner that night she wasn't surprised to see that there were only three other students sitting at the single table with the teachers. There was a first year Hufflepuff, a third year Ravenclaw, and Draco Malfoy. Hermione settled comfortably between Draco and Professor McGonagall. She said hello to everybody and chatted pleasantly with McGonagall, but was only half listening to their conversation. Her mind kept straying to the solemn figure in her other side. She couldn't help but think of how much emotional pain he must have been in. It was then that she decided to get him to open up, no matter how long it took.
Author's Note: This is my first Harry Potter fic so go easy on me k? This is just a typical he's changed and she sees it fic and I know there are tons of those out there so I'm sorry if it's like anybody else's fics. The idea just popped into my head. Hope you enjoy. Please review.
Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley talked excitedly as they headed to the Sorting Ceremony. It was the beginning of their last year at Hogwarts and all the students were excited for the new term. As the trio walked into the Great Hall, Hermione looked around at all the familiar faces and her eyes scanned from table to table. There were the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, the rest of the Gryffindors, and Slytherin. When she came to Slytherin she frowned at the table full of terrible people. But Hermione couldn't help but notice one particular Slytherin. Draco Malfoy looked absolutely horrible. His normally neat hair looked like it hadn't been trimmed all summer and wasn't slicked back like usual, his robes were looking quite shabby, and even from across the hall she could see pain in his normally cold and unfeeling eyes. Hermione shivered slightly at the sight. Something had happened over the summer, and she wanted to know what.
The next morning everyone received their schedules, and were discouraged by the fact that they had Double Potions with the Slytherins first. Thee boys were discussing the evils of Professor Snape when Hermione remembered what she had seen the previous night. "So does anything know what's up with Malfoy?" she asked. All of her friends looked at her like she had grown an extra head. "Why on earth would we know?" Ron asked. "And why do you care?" Hermione blushed. "It's just that I've run into him like five times and he hasn't said mudblood, scar face, potty, or weasel. Come to think of it he hasn't said anything to anyone that I've seen." Harry thought about this for a moment. "You know what, you're right." Lavender and Parvati, ever the gossips, jumped right in to the conversation. "Don't you read the Daily Prophet?" Lavender asked, amazed. "We were in America all summer Lavender," Ron spoke up. At this both girls' mouths fell open and they squealed. "Oh my gosh!"
When the two girls were done Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled. "Would you care to tell us what you're talking about now?" "I still can't believe you don't know, but the deal is his parents are gone." "You mean like they left him alone for the summer?" "No I mean like gone, gone. Both of Malfoy's parents died over the summer." There was an audible gasp and suddenly nobody felt like eating. "Poor Draco," Hermione muttered. "Did you say something Herm?" Harry asked. "No, I just need to go up to the common room for a minute. I'll see you all in Potions k?" She didn't wait for an answer, just picked up her books and ran out of the Great Hall."
Time went by and Hermione never told anybody what she saw on that first day. Draco still didn't talk and he spent all of his time alone because his "friends" had given up on him without a fight. When it was finally time for Christmas holidays Hermione was more than relieved, almost everyone would be leaving. As she said goodbye to Harry, Ron, and Ginny they tried one last time to convince her to come to The Burrow with them. She still said no. " I think I'd rather just stay here with my books," she told them. "If you're absolutely sure?" "I am." They respected her decision and said their goodbyes, leaving Hermione alone in the common room.
When Hermione went down to dinner that night she wasn't surprised to see that there were only three other students sitting at the single table with the teachers. There was a first year Hufflepuff, a third year Ravenclaw, and Draco Malfoy. Hermione settled comfortably between Draco and Professor McGonagall. She said hello to everybody and chatted pleasantly with McGonagall, but was only half listening to their conversation. Her mind kept straying to the solemn figure in her other side. She couldn't help but think of how much emotional pain he must have been in. It was then that she decided to get him to open up, no matter how long it took.