A/N: This is a kinda short chapter, but they'll not all be short, promise! It's really just a filler, the other chapters will delve further into the plot! Thanks to everyone that reviewed so far! Also, if anyone knows how to get the italics, etc to work, can you please let me know? Thanks!

Fate's Hand

Chapter Two: Back To School

The weeks fly by and I soon find myself boarding the Hogwarts Express. This is going to be a long year. I have already changed into my school robes, my Head Boy badge pinned on them. I see Granger is already here, without Potter and Weasley, bushy hair and all. She's carrying a book, no surprise there. I walk up to her.

"Granger," I say and she looks up at me.

"Malfoy," she nods at me. "Is there something you need?"

She really was serious about being civil.

"The meeting today. Do you know what we are to discuss?"

I can tell that she is resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "It was in the letter. We were supposed to talk about it before though."

"Right. Shall we?"

"I'll be there in a couple of minutes. Harry and Ron will be here in a minute."

Holding back a smirk, I nod at her and turn to leave, only to spot the two.

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" The Weasel asks.

Idiot, what does he think I'm doing here? "Well, I happen to go to Hogwarts and as this is the train that will take Hogwarts' students there, I assume that is what I am doing here."

I here Granger chuckle from behind me and I feel oddly satisfied.

"Hermione, what did he do to you?" Potter asks.

"We were snogging like there was no tomorrow until I saw you two."

Potter and Weasley gawk at her and I raise my eyebrow at them. Weasley recovers first and I see him clench his fists. Granger must have noticed as well, because she continued.

"Give me a break Ron, he didn't do anything to me. We have business to discuss and he was just reminding me."

I decide to play along just to piss Potter and Weasley off. I turn back to Granger.

"I guess I'll see you in a few minutes, Hermione."

I wink at her, then turn and leave, boarding the train before the idiots recover. Granger shakes her head, smiling, at me before I leave and I am pleased with how that went. Though I am almost certain I saw her mouth 'insufferable git', I'm sure that being civil with her just may turn out to my advantage. I go to the Prefects compartment to wait for everyone else to arrive and for the meeting to start. I look out the window at all the families saying their good byes when I notice my thoughts start to drift.

I see her eyes. I don't know who that girl was, but her eyes have haunted me ever since I first saw them.

I hear the corridors of the train fill with students yelling to friends and family. For a split second, I find myself thinking that it would be nice to have a true friendship, but then I remember what's more important; power! The Prefects compartment door opens and Hermione – whoa! Where'd that come from? – Granger walks in, smiling. We talk about what needs to be said at the meeting. The Prefects are here now and the meeting goes over well. Weasley was giving me death glares all throughout the meeting, apparently he didn't enjoy mine and Granger's little scene. The Prefects all go back to the other compartments with their friends and Granger and I are alone. She smiles at me, but doesn't say anything. I know she's expecting me to comment on what we did to Potter and Weasley.

Deciding to give in, this time, I say, "You know Granger, I never knew you were a liar."

Granger gasps and puts a hand over her heart. "Me? A liar? Never!" She says sarcastically.

I smirk at her and walk toward her slowly. "You know, I could make it to where you're not a liar."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Dream on Malfoy." She turns and leaves the compartment, still smiling.

Wait a minute! Was I actually going to snog Granger? Yes, I think I was. She has spunk, I like that. I mustn't allow myself to indulge though, she is, after all, a Mudblood, and she is still Potter's best friend. My Lord would not be pleased.

I decide not to bug Potter and Weasley, though it would be fun to make another scene with Granger. Instead I find Crabbe and Goyle. After two hours of their ignorant conversation, I excuse myself and head back to the Prefects compartment. Luckily it is empty. I sit at the window, watching the scenery fly by, just thinking. Once again, my thoughts turn to those eyes.

I don't know how long I was sitting there, but suddenly the door opens.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought it was empty."

It's Granger. She turns to leave.

"It's ok. I don't care." I say as though it's no big deal, though when I saw her, my heart began to beat slightly faster.

She looks at me for a minute, though I'm not looking at her anymore. I turned back to the window to watch the scenery again. She comes into the compartment and sits across from me, also looking at the window. We sit there for another hour or so, lost in our thoughts. I've been trying to get those eyes out of my mind, but they keep coming back to haunt me.

"Have you taken the mark yet?" Granger asks softly without looking away from the window.

"I don't see how that's any of your business." I reply simply, my usual condescension not present in my voice.

"I know." Granger gets up and walks to the compartment door. She opens it slightly, then turns back to look my in the eyes, "Make sure it's what you want before you take it though. Good bye Malfoy." She leaves without waiting for a response.

I should be livid. I mean, who does she think she is? She's a Mudblood trying to give me advice!? I'm not livid though. Curious is more like it. Why did she sound so concerned? No matter. I know what I want, power, and I know how to get it, through the Dark Lord.

After a while, we finally arrive at Hogsmeade station. Getting into a carriage, I rest my head against the side, thinking of all the different things that have happened so far. As I walk up to the castle, I remember all the things that have happened at the place that has become my home, though I'd never admit that to anyone!

The Great Hall is full of the usual start of term decorations and the first years are waiting at the front to finish being sorted. So far this years new Slytherins seem to be an ok bunch, the new Gryffindors all look cowardly, but that's to be expected. Snape seems to be in a good mood, though it is hard to tell. There was another revel three days ago. I didn't go, but I assume Snape did. Maybe he played this time. Dumbledore announces Granger and I as Head Boy and Girl, it's hard to tell who got the greater applause. I let the Prefects lead the first years to the common room, I need to talk to Granger.

"Granger." She turns to her bodyguards, probably to tell them to go on without her. They look at me hesitantly, then go on their way. She walks to me.

"What?" She doesn't sound irritated, just innocently curious.

"We forgot to decide when we want to have our regular meeting with the Prefects."

"Well, Quidditch games are on Saturday's, so how about the first Friday of every month?"

I raise an eyebrow at her. She laughs at me, the sound, though I'd never admit it aloud, is truly beautiful.

"You don't think that after being Harry Potter and Ron Weasley's best friend for six years that Quidditch wouldn't become a part of the schedule?" I smirk at her. "How does that sound?"

"That sounds like a plan. See you later."

"Bye Malfoy."

Wow, this being civil thing is easier than I thought. I go to the Slytherin common room and straight to my room (the Head Boy gets his own room in the boys' dorm of his house), change, then fall straight asleep.