Chapter 2: A Change in Seasons

It wasn't the first time that Draco had failed to comfort himself by putting others down. It had actually been happening fairly often over the course of the summer. Ever since Cedric Diggory died, he'd found himself seeing things in a different light. He didn't want to become a death eater anymore. Life seemed too important to him. Of course, he hadn't been able to talk to anyone about it. His mother would never have understood. She loved him, and he loved her - there was no doubt of their feelings towards one another - but Narcissa Malfoy also loved her pure blood and her husband. She was a supporter of Voldemort in her heart and having her only son turn away from him would probably be more than she could bear.

As for his father, well, that wasn't even an option. His father was an active supporter of Voldemort and he expected the same from his son. Had he any knowledge of the thoughts crossing through Draco's mind he would have had him on the first train to Durmstrang. So who did that leave to talk to? Crabbe and Goyle? Pansy Parkinson? They were all supporters of Voldemort and probably future death eaters, just like he was supposed to be.

"What about Hermione?"

Draco frowned to himself. Caring about life was one thing but accepting muggles and mudbloods was quite another thing. Where had that thought come from?

"She helped you."

Draco turned around to find who was talking to him but no one was there. What in the world was going on?

*****

Hermione looked around the compartment in thoughtful silent. The Hogwarts Express was slowly pulling into the station and in a few minutes the train would erupt with noise as the students clambered over and around each other in frantic attempts to pull their trunks this way and that.

"Might as well avoid it all," Hermione thought to herself as she slowly tugged her trunk from under the seat, "Might as well -"

"Avoid Draco?"

Hermione whipped around to look behind her but there was no one there. Quietly opening the door to her compartment, she stared down the corridor. It was empty. How could that be? Someone had been there, someone had talked to her!

"Don't imagine things Hermione," she whispered to herself, "You must have been talking and you just didn't realise it."

Letting the door slide shut, she turned back to her trunk and quickly grabbed the handle on one end. Lugging it upright so that she could pull it along behind her, she opened the compartment door and walked out into the corridor.

"Omph!"

Hermione felt the air get knocked out of her as she collided with something solid and black. Arms reached out from the sides to steady her and she quickly regained her balance. Even before she lifted her head to look up she knew who she had run into. For the second time that day, she raised her eyes to meet Draco's.

*****

"GRANGER!"

Draco shook his head in disbelief as he looked down at the girl who had just interrupted him for the second time that day. Her face was beet red and he could see that she was chewing the inside of her lip. Draco felt his lip beginning to curl into a sneer as he thought of Hermione Granger, perfect student, being scared of him. Only then did he realise that he was still holding onto her arms. As nonchalantly as possible, he released her and stepped back.

"Should really watch where you're going GRANGER," he drawled, putting the greatest pronunciation on her name, "Next time I might left you fall flat on your muggle face!"

He watched with smug satisfaction as she blushed even deeper. His sense of accomplishment, however, was soon chased away as he saw the tears well up in her eyes. Steeling himself against the remorse he felt, Draco spun on his heel and walked away from her.

"Damnit, damnit, damnit!" he swore under his breath, "What the hell is going on?"

Only a couple of months ago he would have relished in making the muggle Granger cry and now it was eating him up inside that he almost had. Maybe Cedric's death had influenced him more than he thought.

"Get a hold of yourself Draco," he thought to himself, "Your survival depends on your decisions and your strength. Granger is nothing."

So why did he feel so damn guilty?

*****

Hermione stared at Draco's back as he walked away from her, her watery eyes blurring her vision. Well, at least he hadn't said anything about making her cry. She knew he'd seen the tears... there was no way he couldn't have. Without a word she lifted her hand and brushed them away as best as possible. Once she had composed herself, she started towards the exit doors again. The train had stopped by now and all around her students were pushing and shoving to get ahead of each other.

Darkness had settled over the landscape outside and as she descended from the train she could see the dim outline of Hogwarts against the charcoal skyline. It seemed as though all of its many windows were lit in welcome of the students returning for a new school year.

"Oi, Hermi'ne! How are ye'?"

Hermione had just enough time to turn around before she was enveloped in a huge bear hug. When she finally managed to tear herself away, she found herself looking up into Hagrid's big friendly face.

"Oh hello Hagrid!" she said, smiling happily, "I'm great. How are you?"

Hagrid smiled wanly and shook his head.

"It's been a long summer Hermi'ne... what with... well, you know... Dumbledore's been beside himself, poor man. Worried sick about Harry, he was!"

Hermione held his hand and smiled wanly back at him. If she knew Hagrid at all, Dumbledore hadn't been half as worried about Harry as he had been.

"Harry's fine Hagrid."

Hagrid smiled at her and squeezed her hand softly. Hermione squeezed back gently before excusing herself. As she made her way though the crowd to find Harry and Ron, she turned around one last time, a smile on her face.

"Firs' years! I be needing all the firs' years over here!"

The warm voice calling brought back memories of her first year at Hogwarts and a bright smile lit her face. Raising her face to the sky and staring up at the many stars, she sighed contentedly. Hogwarts was welcoming her home again.

*****

"Draco!"

The boy in question groaned inwardly as a girl in forest green robes hurried towards him, a huge smile plastered across her face.

"Pansy," he acknowledged in a somewhat less excited voice, "What a pleasant surprise..."

As she reached him, the girl draped her arms around him and pulled him close. Reluctantly he let himself be hugged. After a few minutes, she carefully pulled away. Realising that if he didn't escape soon, he might be forced to sit with her at the Sorting and all through dinner, he desperately tried to think up some excuse to leave her.

"Um, Pansy... I'm really sorry but I promised Snape that I'd meet him upon arriving. He said that he had something of particular importance to discuss..."

Hoping against hope that Pansy would buy the excuse, he looked into her eyes.

"Of course Draco," she said with a simpering smile, "I'll save you a seat at dinner."

Draco groaned inwardly once more as the girl turned and walked over to chat with a small group of Slytherin students. He could never seem to get away from her! Shaking his head in exasperation, he turned around and made his way in the opposite direction. He had only taken a couple of steps when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. Standing there, bathed in light, with her head turned up to the sky, was Hermione Granger. She looked like a beautiful angel. There was no other way to describe it. A faint blush touched her cheeks and she seemed so happy and free, oblivious to the hundreds of students strolling past her.

"Hey! Goyle! Draco! Look at the Mudblood. What does she think she's doing?"

Crabbe's voice startled Draco and he turned around to find his friends standing not two feet behind him.

"Hey, GRANGER, get a move on!"

Goyle's voice rang even louder than Crabbe's had and Draco spun around once more to see Hermione standing in front of him, anger blazing in her eyes. Without speaking a word, she spun on her heel and stalked away. Goyle and Crabbe laughed in the background, obviously proud of the fact that they had managed to fluster her.

Draco, on the other, hand did nothing but stare after Hermione.

"Oi, Draco!"

The exclamation brought him back to his senses and he whipped around to face his friends.

"Why are you staring after Granger," Crabbe questioned, a perplexed look on his face.

"You know Crabbe," Draco answered, "I'm not entirely sure!"

Looking up at his friends, he suddenly sneered.

"Forget the Mudblood - let's go eat!"

*****

"ARGH!"

Hermione stalked off to where Harry and Ron were waiting for her at the end of the platform.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Ron asked with a smile.

"Yeah Hermione," Harry said jokingly, "Your face is redder than Ron's hair!"

Ron took a swipe at Harry, who dodged the blow. When it didn't appear that Hermione was interested in joking around, they quickly straightened up again and repeated their questions seriously.

"Oh, I just had a run in with stupid Malfoy and his empty headed bodyguards. Unfortunately, it wasn't the first time today or I may not have cared so much!"

Harry and Ron stared at her sympathetically and put their arms around her protectively.

"Stupid gits - you should really just ignore them!"

Hermione looked up at Ron and attempted a smile. She knew that he was right but it was just so damn hard! No matter where she turned they seemed to be there, ready to torment her.

Harry reached over and handed her a chocolate frog.

"Here you go 'Mione," he said affectionately, "Get your mind off those lousy louts and think about dinner."

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled loudly and both boys laughed. Hermione blushed deeply and laughed along with them. Looking up with a renewed vigour she grabbed a hold of both boys.

"Let's go eat!"