Disclaimer: *Puts Draco in a full body bind. Looks around. Runs out the door dragging him behind her* Me: HE'S MINE ALL MINE!!!! yea yea we know the drill blah blah

A/N: Dot: Yea I love "I Am Lord Voldemort" it is such as cool story!

Serpent du Feu: Yea, I am not that fond of OC's either. I m sick of transfer students popping up at Hogwarts in like 7th year and making all the boys fall madly in love with her *rolls eyes* but I promise David will play a major role in how Draco and hormone finally get together.

THANX TO THOSE WHO REVIEWED!!!! I APPRECIATED IT!!!!!!

Chapter 5: Dreams

His lips gently touched hers in a sweet romantic kiss. Hermione stared into his amazing green eyes and ran her hands through his jet-black hair.

"Mione I love you. I always have."

She sighed contentedly and closed her eyes. As she leaned in for another kiss, Harry began to change. His lean body changed to a more muscular frame under her hands. The lips pressed against hers became slightly thinner, though still incredibly soft. As she opened her eyes, a pair of cold grey ones greeted her brown ones, instead of the magnificent green eyes that had been there before. But these grey eyes were different. If you stared long enough, you could see the warmth trapped behind the cold. As she lifted her eyes to the face, she gasped and jumped back. Draco Malfoy stood in front of her, his chest devoid of a shirt, his muscular physique showing. His golden hair was slicked back, but a few loose strands fell around his face. He was breathtaking.

Draco stood there, staring at Hermione with a hurt look on his face.

"Mione?" He asked tentatively.

She took a deep breath and moved into his arms. Their bodies fit perfectly into each other's, and the two became one. She stared into his gorgeous eyes, drowning in them. As he leaned in to kiss her, he whispered, "I love you." When they broke for air, she whispered back, "I love you too...Draco Malfoy."

And then she woke up.

****************************************

Pain engulfed him. It coursed through his veins and pounded inside his head. It was like a horrible dark cloud that was choking him, filling his lungs with pain every time he breathed. Knives were being driven into his body, again and again, but there was no blood anywhere. Just agony. Every inch, every molecule, every atom of Draco was filled with pain and anguish. But he did not cry out. He was strong.

As the curse was lifted, Draco felt relief wash over him. Glorious relief. It was like a taste of ice water upon the parched throat of a man deserted on an island for years. Draco breathed in the sweet air, letting it cool his enflamed lungs.

"You disappoint me Draco."

A cold high voice floated from its throne.

"You let that filthy Granger boy see your face. And you let that Mudblood bitch see you as well! Do you think the beating you gave her will make her forget? I hope that this meeting shall teach you a lesson. Remember to listen and obey your lord! Don't fool yourself about God," he sneered as Draco clutched the figure of Christ on the chain around his neck. His mother had forced it upon him long ago and Draco had always sneered at it. But now, in the moment of pain and fear, he needed to take solace in something, anything.

As the Dark Lord's long pale fingers reached out towards Draco, he closed his eyes and braced himself for what was to come. If he had even a shred of luck, it'd be death that would swallow his pain and his soul. But nothing came except for a swift SNAP! The chain around Draco's neck broke and as he opened his eyes, he saw the Dark Lord sneering at him. Draco quickly lowered his eyes and watched the necklace fall to the floor. Voldemort leaned in until Draco could feel his breath upon his face. He didn't dare look up.

"Remember Draco. Always remember...I am your lord!"

And Draco's body filled with pain yet again. He clenched his jaw and tried to bear it but as time wore on, he felt his resolve slipping away. Draco could handle the Cruciatus Curse for 10 minutes, 15 tops. But he could not handle it for 30. As Draco opened his mouth, a blood-curdling yell rang through the air. It was the scream of agony, of torture, of despair. It was the scream of someone who had nothing to live for but hate. It was the scream of a little boy, who had only wanted to make friends, but had been forced to despise everything below him. It was the scream of Draco Malfoy.

**************************************

The tears were streaming down her face, little rivulets of salty water making their way across a new plane. But the skin covered with these tears had felt this sensation before. Though the previous tears had long since dried up, she could still remember a dozen times before then when she had cried like this. Wounds may heal, but the scars remain forever. Hermione had many scars. Physically and emotionally, she was covered with them.

Why was she so alone? She loved Harry, always had, and always would. There were the beginnings of romance between her and Ron but whenever Ron tried to approach her, things felt too awkward. Ron had the romantic capability of an undead pirate, who could not eat, drink or feel. [A/N: SORRY! I just had to do it. I absolutely adore Pirates of the Caribbean. I got a thing for pirates especially Jack Sparrow. O sorry I'll let you get back to the story....or exit out to go to a story worth your time.] He could never express himself through words. You had to examine his actions to determine his true feelings. And you needed to know exactly what to look for. Ron's family didn't even understand. They were all too busy; each wrapped up in the dramas of their own lives. The only ones who had an inkling to Ron's true feelings were Ginny, Harry, and Hermione. They had all agreed that Ron was expressing deep hostility towards Viktor, not because he was Harry's rival, as was common belief, but because he was jealous. He was jealous that someone who had just met Hermione could express his feelings for her almost immediately, whereas Ron, who had been her best friend for years, could not.

Hermione began to question a new relationship with Ron even back then. She decided to take a plunge after the incident involving Percy's letter in 5th year. They had decided to keep it a secret for the time being. The only reason Hermione had suggested this was because they did not want Harry to feel abandoned, as he was already pushing them away. Slowly, but surely. Hermione wanted Harry to be happy no matter what. If that meant pretending she didn't love him and giving him his space, so be it. She would do anything for Harry and Ron.

Her relationship with Ron was a complete fiasco. Ron could never talk to her seriously, and when she tried to engage him in an intellectual conversation, his attention would be immediately directed to Quidditch or the next meal. He had actually fallen asleep once when she was telling him a shortened (though still incredibly long) history on house-elf enslavement. And Ron was constantly leaning in towards her, as if to kiss her, then open his eyes, stay frozen for a moment, and then leap backwards. Hermione finally discussed the matter with Ron while Harry was at Occlumency.

"Ron, our relationship isn't going in the direction I'd hoped it would," she began tentatively.

"Yea, I know," he sighed.

Hermione took a deep breath and was about to say, "I don't think we are meant for each other," when Ron beat her to it.

"We should break up."

"Wh-what?" Hermione was taken aback. She had thought Ron would be fighting for them. She was ecstatic. Until she realized that Ron had been thinking about dumping her. Well. That certainly put a damper on her spirits. In the meantime, Ron had taken Hermione's surprise as a sign of her wanting to stay in the relationship.

"Mione, I'm sorry! Please don't be upset with me, it is just not working!" Ron looked horrified at the thought that he might make Hermione cry. Hermione, not wanting to lead him on, replied, "No Ron I agree."

"Oh great," Ron sighed with relief. "Well, I'm off to bed."

Ron leaned in, kissed her on the cheek, and headed to his dormitory. Oh great, she thought, he could kiss me when we are not together. Hermione grinned and shook her head.

But now, even though she had her 2 best guy friends, a best girl friend, and her brother at the same school with her, Hermione had never felt so alone. Did all boys just see her as a friend? Would she be doomed to be the girl in a group of guys for the rest of her life? Here, people surrounded her, yet she had never felt so alone. She needed someone to love, to hold, and to share her hopes and dreams with. She needed someone who would make her feel complete. For so long, she had felt that Harry was her true love. But the dream she'd just had had changed her idea. Hermione didn't believe in her dreams like Trelawney. Buttered toast in her dream meant she was craving buttered toast. A black dog in her dream meant Sirius, and was not an omen of death. But she did believe that her brain was sending messages to her subconscious and trying to raise her awareness to an issue. If this dream meant that her true love was not Harry, whom she had believed it was for so long, but was indeed Malfoy, Hermione was screwed.

Fresh tears fell on her pillow. Why did the one person she love have to be her only enemy? Hermione thought, Do I really care for Malfoy? And Hermione felt herself thinking about the times in Potions when Draco would answer a question, and his face would portray deep concentration. And when he was correct, which he always was, the way his face lit up with self-satisfaction, only to be changed into deep concentration again. And the way he bit his lip as he read a book in the library, drinking in every bit of information. And the way ran his hand over his hair, as if he thought for a second that a single strand would be out of place.

Hermione had to admit, if Draco wasn't such a git, she would have had a major crush on him. But he is a git, she reminded herself. He doesn't care about you and he most certainly doesn't love you. He is NOT the love of your life. Be sensible, Granger! Don't become another member of the Draco Malfoy fan club. Settle down with a sensible boy, who really does care for you. Hermione got out of her bed and sat her desk. She took out a piece of parchment and proceeded to write to Viktor.

So, for the first time in her life, Hermione did not follow her dreams.

*******************************************

Draco sat up with a gasp, his face glistening with sweat. He looked around wildly and sighed when he saw he was in his bed. He had gone straight to the castle after he had Apparated back to the alley in Hogsmeade. He had shivered against the cold October wind as he remembered the Dark Lord's touch upon Draco's face, just moments ago. He had traveled back to the dungeons and crept into his dormitory unnoticed. Draco had fallen into bed, drawing the curtains around him. With the sun still shining horribly, he fell into a troubled sleep, filled with horrible nightmares and memories.

Now, Draco opened the curtains about an inch or so, just enough for the moonlight to spill across his silk sheets. He drew the sheets closer around his body, now shaking uncontrollably. He felt as though he might vomit. He sat up and leaned against the headboard, his knees under his chin. Draco could see the whole Death Eater meeting playing in his head. No! He thought. I don't ever want to see it again. He started to rock his body back and forth, but every time he moved, his body hit the headboard, making a loud noise. Draco laid down in the fetal position, drawing the covers up to his chin. His mouth felt unnaturally dry, so he reached out to his bedside table to get a glass of water. As he did, the moonlight fell on his forearm, the Dark Mark glowing ominously. For the first time in his life, Draco truly knew what horrors it could bring.

Images of a 5-year old girl being tortured flashed before his eyes.

"No," he moaned, "stop!"

The little girl was crying, and the sound of her cries filled Draco's ears. He covered them with his clammy hands, as though he truly believed that would help. He could feel the girl's small hands clamped on his wrist for a second. He wrenched his hand away, as though she was there in his bed. He saw her grey eyes looking up at him, eyes so much like his won. He saw her being tortured, until she fell on the ground for exhaustion. Only then did the spells pause. Draco felt tears sliding down his face, something he hadn't felt for years.

"No," he whispered, "She was only 5."

The Grangers had left the world without pain. But this small girl, this daughter of a wizard who had defied the Dark Lord, she was a mere child. Draco looked to his right and in his mind saw this wizard, reaching out and yelling. The Dark Lord turned towards him and green light filled the room. The wife ran to her husband but before she reached him, green light filled the room again, and she fell on top of her husband, a pile of human carcass.

The little girl ran to her parents and hugged them, crying and crying. Please, Draco thought, let her go! But the Dark Lord simply put a Full-Body Bind on her. Draco prayed that this time, the Dark Lord wouldn't say the words Draco knew he was going to say. But memories can't change. "Burn the parents," the cold voice said, "and disembowel the girl. Make an example of those who defy me." Draco saw himself lift the man mechanically and throw him into the bonfire. The scent of burnt flesh filled his nose. Draco looked to see what was making the smell. Then he looked down at his robe, which he had been burying his face in and realized it still smelt from the meeting. He tore the robe off and ran out of the dormitory to the bathroom. He knelt in front of the toilet and threw up. He walked over to the sink when he finished and splashed his face with cold water. He stared into the mirror, then at the Dark Mark on his forearm. Anger welled within him. He tore at the Mark with his nails, desperately trying to get it off. "GET-OFF! I-WONT-HAVE-ANY-PART-IN-THIS! GOD DAMMIT! WHY ME?!" Realizing his efforts were futile, he collapse on the floor, his arm now bleeding, but the Dark Mark still staring up at him.

"No." he whispered. "No more."

Draco had always craved power. Or so he thought. But he hated the killings of innocent people. Ha, he thought. Yea that sounds just like me. But it was the truth. The Grangers had deserved what they got. The father always got pissed face, and then beat the mother. Then the mother would beat the boy. Indeed, she had been hitting them when the Death Eaters had arrived. Then the father, worthless drunk that he was, walked in, punched the mother, then turned to walk out. He had opened the door before he had realized their presence. The whole ordeal made him sick. He had observed the bruises on Hermione before she was knocked unconscious. Parents beat her something wicked. Then again, Draco was the one who had put her into a coma. Or so he had heard from Snape. He had had a lot to drink. If he had been sober, he wouldn't have beat her up so badly. But he still would've beat her. Stupid Mudblood whore.

Draco hated her so much. Hated the way she answered questions as if she had swallowed a textbook. Hated the way she got a glint in her eye when she was being bloody brilliant. Yep, Draco Malfoy hated that filthy, slutty, brilliant, geeky, amazing, beautiful Mudblood.

Draco sighed and put his hands in his face. "Why me?" He felt sharp pains on his forearm. He looked down and saw the Dark Mark still intact upon his skin. As he gazed upon his arm, he felt disgust well up in his throat. He couldn't take it anymore. Draco was bad, evil to the point where he'd beat a kid up for looking at him wrong. But he drew the line at torturing an innocent girl. A tear slid down his face. As he wiped it away he reflected on all the tears he'd shed over this incident. But Malfoys never cried.

Maybe I'm not a Malfoy, he thought. He shoved that thought aside as he had run through the possibilities of that since he was a child. He was, indeed, his father's child. So sad for him. Many nights Draco dreamed of life as someone else's child, raised by someone other than his parents. Maybe he wouldn't have grown to be such a selfish brat. If someone else had raised him, maybe he wouldn't hate the world for being there. Maybe he would've been in Gryffindor. He might've been friends with Potter, Weasel, and the Mudblood.

He remembered the day Potter rejected him as if it were yesterday. Potter didn't know it, and would never know, but it had affected Draco deeply. Why were the only people who wanted to be his friends the children of his father's friends? Why were people so afraid of him? All he had wanted as a child was some real friends. A dream that was quickly stomped on by reality. He went over his approach that day and realized his problem: He was a Malfoy. Of course he had to bring in all that pureblood bullshit. Of course he had to insult Weasley, who was already Harry's friend. And he most certainly had to act like an arrogant wanker the whole bloody time. But what if someone else had raised him?

Draco started to dream about a different life...

*DRACO'S DREAM ABOUT A DIFFERENT LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Draco knocked on a compartment door. As it opened, he saw a very tall gangly boy with red hair and a smudge on his long nose.

"Um, hi. Can I stay with you in your compartment? Only everywhere else is full."

"O' course," the boy replied. Draco walked in and saw another boy, with unruly black hair that seemed to have a life of his own. He subconsciously ran a hand over his neat slicked back hair. Draco sat about a foot away from the red headed boy, opposite the raven haired one.

The boy said, "We were just talking about Houses. I hope I get sorted into Gryffindor. My whole family was in there, the lot of them. And you best believe me when I say there is a lot of 'em!"

The other two laughed at that. The red head asked Draco what House he thought he'd be Sorted into.

"Well," Draco began, "I'm really not that sure. See, my father landed himself in Azkaban a year or so after I was born. He was, well, a follower of the Dark Lord."

For some reason the red headed boy glanced at the dark haired boy, who said, "Go on," looking intently at Draco.

"Ever since then I've lived with my mother's friends. They were in Gryffindor. My mother just couldn't handle seeing me. Said I looked so much like my father." Draco made a face at that. "I didn't like people comparing me to my father. He wasn't very good to me or me mum. The memories of what he would do to her drove her insane. She committed suicide when I was about 6."

The raven-haired boy was looking at Draco now as if he knew exactly what Draco was going through.

"So, my parents were both in Slytherin, and my ancestors were all in Slytherin, but the people who raised me were in Gryffindor. So who knows? I could end up in Hufflepuff!"

They all chuckled a bit. Then the boy with a smudge on his nose said, "By the way, the name's Ron. Ron Weasley. And this here is my buddy Harry Potter."

Draco looked at Harry but did not ask to see his scar. If they became friends he was sure he would see it soon enough.

Harry looked very glum. "I suppose it's my fault your dad is in Azkaban and that your mum is dead." He said this looking at his feet.

"Of course it isn't. My father was a lousy git. He made horrible causes towards others, and now karma's come back to bite him in the arse. As for my mother, that was my father's fault as well. I don't blame you at all. What's important is that You-Know-Who is gone." Draco said. Harry grinned at him.

"Oh, yea, the name's Draco Malfoy." Harry and Ron looked at each other. Draco rolled his eyes and sighed. "Alright fine, have a laugh at my name. I know I did when i first heard it."

Harry and Ron started to giggle. Then Ron said, "I think my dad knew your dad. Was your father Lucius Malfoy?"

"Yeah. And judging from the look at your face I can tell my father wasn't exactly friends with yours."

Everyone started to laugh at Ron's bemused face. Even Ron started laugh, just because it felt good to laugh. When everyone quieted down, Harry said, "This is the best. When I was living with Muggles, I didn't have any friends. I'm not even at Hogwarts yet and now I have two!"

Ron nodded in agreement. "We should make a pact, that no matter what House we are sorted into, we all stay friends."

Draco looked sad. "Even if I'm in Slytherin while you too are in Gryffindor?"

Harry nodded fervently. "Of course we'll stay friends! No matter what!"

Draco smiled and watched the landscape go by. It felt good to be sitting in a train with his two best friends, laughing at each others jokes and whatnot. Draco felt more involved than he ever had in his life. This was the best day ever.

*END DRACO'S DREAM OF A DIFFERENT LIFE*

If only that's the way his life had been. Draco had been thinking a lot as he was sprawled out on the bathroom floor. In his mind, a battle of the wills was going on. He was asking himself questions, and then...he would, well, answer them. Himself. Shit, he's going nuts!

*Why Draco, why do you want power so much?*

Well, if I had power, it would mean that Lucius could never touch me or my mother again.

*So because your father was a complete arse, you want to take over the wizarding world?*

Silence.

*Well?*

No. It's kinda hard not to think like the Dark Lord when your constantly surronded by selfish Slytherins and Death Eaters.

*So you don't really crave power?*

No.

*So what do you crave?*

.....Respect. Acceptance. I don't want people to fear me. I want them to respect me for who I am and accept me as a person.

*And Potter?*

What about him?

*What else, dumbass? Why do you hate him?*

Well, you'd be that way too, if you asked someone to be your friend and they turned you down. Plus, I was raised to despise him.

*If you despised him, why did you want him to be your friend?*

I didn't want to follow in my father's footsteps. Being friends with Potter would ensure that I never traveled down that road. But his refusal pushed me further into the Dark Arts.

*And Weasely?*

Pure blooded trash. They are a disgrace to the wizarding world. Or so father said. Other than that, he was an arse to me, even when I was just trying to concentrate in Potions.

*And what about the Mudblood?*

Silence again.

*Why do you hate her?*

Muggle born. I was raised to hate her kind. Besides, I hate the way she's so bloody brilliant all the time.

*But surely that is a quality to admire. What's the real reason for your hate?*

Draco stood up abrubtly and walked around the bathroom. He felt light headed from laying on the cold floor for so long and getting up so quickly. He had learned so much just laying there, going through the deep fabrics of his mind to find out what it was that made him him.

He had made a decision. Draco walked back to his bed and climbed in. Tomorrow, he would go to see Professor Dumbledore. He would no longer be a true Death Eater. He would volunteer to become a spy.

Tomorrow, he would stop the hostility between himself and the Trio. He would act as though they simply were not worthy of his time and that he needn't waste energy on them.

Draco Malfoy was a lot of things.

He was:

Arrogant, self-conscious, prejudiced, mean, despicable, untrustworthy [to a certain degree], vile, and conceited.

Draco Malfoy was also:

Insecure, apprehnsive, a man that no one really knew, lonely, and human.

He was NOT his father. And he would NOT make any effort to be anything remotely like his father.

Even though Draco was ready to accept many of the things he had found out about himself, there were still somethings he was NOT ready to accept.

Draco Malfoy, he told himself, did NOT want to be friends with Harry Potter.

Draco Malfoy did NOT want to be friends with Ron Weasley either.

Draco Malfoy could stand being alone for the rest of his life.

But most importantly, Draco Malfoy did NOT hate Hermione Granger because he loved her, and knew in his heart that she could never love him.

After all...who could love a Malfoy?

****************************************************

Hermione was eating breakfast when Draco entered the Great Hall the next morning. A hush fell over the the whole Hall as the school watched the Slytherin enter.

Draco Malfoy was looking down at his feet, not face up like usual. He dragged his feet and walked slowly. The normally slicked back hair now hung around his face, wild, as if he had just woken up. There were dark circles under his eyes, and he was alone, neither side flanked by his "bodygaurds". The school held their breath as Draco proceeded, not towards Slytherin's table, but straight down the middle towards Gryffindor's.

As he neared, he looked up to see why it was so silent. He saw that everyone was staring at him and he frowned.

Hermione looked up to see him walking closer to her side of the table, and on the other side, Ron and Harry were glaring at him. She glanced at his hands hanging loosely from his sides and saw that he was barely grasping a textbook.

Draco stopped just in front of Hermione. Hermione, remembering her dream the night before, blushed faintly, and looked up at him.

"What do you want, ferret face?" Ron said violently.

Draco didn't reply, nor acknowledge Harry or Ron's presence. He stared at Hermione, and handed her the book.

"Here," he said, his voice echoing throughout the Great Hall. "I found it in the hallway."

It was Hermione's Arithmancy book, and she knew her name was inside the cover. Hermione was surprised that he hadn't burned it to a crisp or thrown it in the lake. Hermione looked at him and was startled by the nature of his eyes. The grey eyes with the slightest tint of blue were so...so...empty. Where there was once hatred and coldness at least, there was now nothing. Hermione felt herself wondering just what had happened, and, for a second, was tempted to ask what was wrong.

But suddenly Draco started to walk again, breaking their eye contact. Hermione whirled around in her seat and watched his retreating back. Then she called out,

"Draco!"

Now all eyes were upon her. No one could remember the last time she had called him by his first name. Draco paused then turned around. Hermione found herself looking into his eyes again, drowning in them, but this time she thought there was something there, something like hope.

Or maybe she was just imagining it.

"Thank you," she said softly. She was aware that, on the other side of the table, Harry and Ron were looking at her with confused and bewildered faces.

Draco kept looking at her for a second, and then said, "You're welcome...Hermione." And he smiled a smile that made the stomachs of all the girls flutter. It wasn't that self-satisfied smirk, but a genuine smile. Hermione liked the way it leaned a bit on one side, and still managed to look perfect. Draco turned and walked up to the Staff Table. The Great Hall immediately started to talk about just what it was that had happened. He could hear Ron and Harry questioning Hermione, but did not hear her response.

He said good morning to all of the staff, and paused a bit when he glanced at Snape. Oh, God, he thought. What if he tells my father? Will he get suspicious of my meeting with Dumbledore. I can always say I wished to learn my chances of making Head Boy, but how can I explain being civil to a mudblood? Does Dumbledore know that Snape is a Death Eater? Draco shook this thoughts out of his head and adressed Dumbledore.

"Sir, I wish to speak to you in your office after breakfast." he said.

Dumbledore nodded and said, "Of course. You can meet me there."

Draco wished them all a good day and thanked Dumbledore before walking to his own table. He sat down in the only available seat, which was next to Pansy Parkinson, unfortunately. Then he took out a book and tried to read. Draco found it hard to concentrate as everyone around him was talking about him, including Pansy. Draco found it incredibly annoying that Pansy even thought that he fancied her, and didn't appreciate the way she was insulting Hermione right next to him. He sighed and stood up, ready to go to the library, so that he could have some real peace. But he suddenly felt Pansy's hand on his arm, trying to pull him back down.

"Draco, where are you going? I demand you tell me what you were doing talking to that-that-that peice of filth!"

He leaned in close to her face and said, "Pansy, I have never liked you, and never will. The only reason you are invited to my house is because my father wanted us to wed. But as he is in Azkaban, I don't need to listen to him anymore. So stay the hell out of my business."

She looked incredibly abashed and offended.

"Let. Me. Go." he said in a deadly whisper.

When she failed to do so, he wrenched himself out of her grasp, and to his horror the sleeve of his left forearm had torn, and the Dark Mark was grinning up at him. He quickly repaired it and looked around to see who had seen. The Slytherins were not surprised at all. But he didn't care about them. It wasn't their happy smiles that made his stomach sick. No, it was the way Hermione was staring at him in horror. Draco also saw, to his own horror, that her eyes were swimming with tears, although he had no clue as to why. They may have been civil to each other but there was no way she actually cared for him. Right?

Hermione stood up and ran out of the hall, Ron and Harry close behind. The latter pair glared at Draco before getting up. Draco frantically got his stuff together, determined to catch up, but he knew he was too late. They could have gone to anywhere by now, he thought, his heart sinking to his shoes. So Draco just stood there, looking crestfallen, until he realized that Pansy was giggling. He looked at her and felt hate well up inside as he looked at all the Slytherins, all the people who pressured him into doing things, who were only his friends because his family was rich.

Draco grabbed Pansy's wrist and stood her up. She gave a gasp of pain, which he ignored. Instead, he tightened his grip on her, aware that the teachers would be coming over any second. He said, "What the hell is your problem? Can't you take a bloody hint? Do I have to spell every damn thing out for you? You are pathetic, you worse than a mudblood, and you have forgotten your place. I've got half the mind to knock some sense into you right now." Draco, his mind half crazed with anger, and lost hope, started to raise his right hand to be brought down on her when someone grabbed his arm. He turned to see the person he least expected to be there.

"Come on Draco," David Granger said. "Don't want to get in any trouble only a month into term."

Draco was about to tell him to fuck off when he saw that David's eyes were exactly like Hermione's. Just the thought of Hermione calmed him down. Besides, there was something about David. He actually kind of liked David. Out of all the things he could've done, he stopped Draco Malfoy from doing something incredibly stupid. Draco nodded, and released Pansy. David helped him gather his things and they started to walk out of the Great Hall.

Draco felt horrible. The day could not get any worse. He had felt for a few brief moments that maybe Hermione could actually care about him. But there was no way she could now. He was a Death Eater on top of a Malfoy. The most horrible combination in a boyfriend there is.

David surveyed Draco out of the corner of his eye. He could tell that Draco cared for Hermione. After all, when Draco's sleeve had ripped, he looked right at Hermione for her reaction, instead of Snape, whom he knew was a Death Eater as well.

The two walked on completely quiet, until David broke the silence.

"Let's wait in the library before going to Dumbledore's office."

Draco looked at him puzzled. David looked over at him and smiled.

"I've got a meeting with him too."

And the most unlikely duo there could possibly be walked to the library, talking about history, a subject that both loved.

A mudblood and a pureblood.

A Granger and a Malfoy.

A friend of Dumbledore's and a servant of the Dark Lord.

A true Slytherin and a true Gryffindor.

A pair of inseperable friends.

A/N: sorry if it's all disorderly. i wrote fragments of it at different times. so yea. Draco gets all angsty and has a change of heart. Hermione realizes something as well. then the whole death eater crap comes out. then david becomed friends with draco. and tahts it basically for the summary.

Next Chapter: The Meeting in Dumbledore's office! A friendship blooms and stays strong [bet you cant guess who!] Harry talks to Hermione in the common room...and gets a little rough! hmm.... oh and snape still acts like a slimy git!