Chapter One: Winter Wonderland
Disclaimer. Of course I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, ideas, made up words or worlds. This story is set in the children's sixth year.
A new program at Hogwarts has the students in a flurry. Their whole winter break will be spent with a muggle born wizard and their family when Draco is paired with the Granger Family unexpected relationships begin to form. D/Hr
"WHAT?!" Draco Malfoy glared at his two yes-men, Crabbe and Goyle He stormed passed them up into the sixth year chambers. They had just confirmed his worst nightmares. The rumors were true, they had been flying all over the school about the new winter program Professor Dumbledore had been scheming the whole idea was ridiculous to Draco, spend a whole winters worth vacation with a muggle family he would rather eat slugs. The rumors had started half way through the school year. Draco of course tried to ignore them the best he could and when he couldn't he went off on a tangent of how filthy mudbloods were to his Slytherin cronies.
"Stupid Muggle loving old crack pot." Draco mumbled to himself as her scribble a furious note to his father, he would put a stop to this or at least get him out of it. He quickly tied the note to his eagle owl and went down for dinner. "Father would never allow this."
The last day before winter break had come sooner than anyone at Hogwarts had expected the students waited anxiously in the grand hall for the announcement of the winter program. The familiar clink of professor McGonagall's glass made all of the students heads turn to the head table.
"Before our winter feast begins Professor Dumbledore would like to share an important announcement about a new winter program here at Hogwarts." The grand hall erupted with chatter about the rumors. Professor McGonagall clinked her glass once more and the hall fell silence and watched as Dumbledore rose.
"As many of you have heard there will be a special winter program this year for the students at Hogwarts." He paused and looked out at the students with a sparkle in his old eyes. "An exchange program is in order, but not with any other wizarding school but within the school itself." The students look at one another, none of them expecting this. "As you know," he continued "Hogwarts prides itself on its diversity of students so it has been decided that each of you wizard born students will be paired with a non-wizard born student to learn about the muggle world and their traditions. You have each been assigned a partner." Draco groaned and slammed his head on the table in front of him no longer listening to what Dumbledore had to say this would be his most miserable winter yet.
No owl had come for him from his father to rescue him from this most unfortunate assignment. He was sure Potter and his annoying friend Weasley were arguing over who would get to spend their winter with that smart-ass Granger. He slammed his head once more on the table causing the goblet in front of him to teeter dangerously close to drenching his lap in pumpkin juice.
'Who does Dumbledore think he is? Sending us off on these ludicrous trips.' Draco sneered and rested his cheek on his palm and watched the Gryffindor golden chat happily with each other. 'Of course they're happy about this. Weasley's embarrassment of a father must be so proud. I bet he even planted the idea in Dumbledore's fat head.' Draco shot them a nasty look. 'Look at Saint Potter, practically drooling over that mudblood, Granger.' Draco's anger was begging to make his head spin, he needed to get away.
"I'm packing." Draco announced, the Slytherins around him stared after him, Crabbe and Goyle would had tottered after him had they not been helping themselves to a new plate of pastries that had just appeared onto the table in front of them.
Draco pushed the heavy oak doors open on his way to the Slytherin common room when a voice stopped him. "Mr. Malfoy. Might I have a word with you?" He jumped a little at the familiar voice of Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes, Professor?" Draco masked his pure hatred for the man but Dumbledore no doubt could see past his front.
"I spoke with your father and though it took much convincing we both decided that it would be best that you didn't miss this wonderful opportunity." Dumbledore smiled and looked at him over half-moon glasses.
"My Father?" Draco spat, he couldn't believe his ears, his father actually had agreed with Dumbledore on something, and a matter like this? He would allow his son to spend a winter vacation with mudbloods.
"Yes, I was not surprised when he contacted me." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows recalling a frantic Malfoy Senior storming into his office after he had received Draco's letter using the same old threats to get him permanently retired from the title of Hogwarts headmaster if he failed to comply with his wishes. "Anyway. I am sure your muggle experience will be one to remember, you're paired with Miss Granger. Happy Christmas" Before Draco could protest Dumbledore was out of sight.
"GRANGER?" Draco's eyes burned with anger of all the idiotic mudbloods he could have possibly been paired with it had to be that snotty little know- it-all. Draco rushed down to the dungeons a flurry of robes behind him.
"If I have to be stuck with her I'll just make sure her Holiday break is as miserable as mine." He shoved clothing and books into his trunk. "Granger." He growled. "Filthy mudblood."
Hermione wasn't taking the news of having a Malfoy within the confines of her home so well either; she was in tears in fact.
"Why him, it's like someone is out to get me or something." She cried into Harry's shoulder, Ron was pacing angrily in front of the fire trying to think of some way to kill Malfoy of before the break, which gave him one day.
"I don't understand why Dumbledore would pair you with him, he knows how ruthless Malfoy is to us, well practically everyone," Harry gave Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze "You'll be fine though you can outsmart Malfoy and I don't really think he would do anything to drastic in front of your parents." Harry tried to reassure her.
"Are you kidding? That guy is a killer he'll do whatever he can to make her miserable. What Malfoy are you talking about Harry?!" Ron gaped at him.
"The point of that WAS to make Hermione feel better, Ron." Harry glared at his best friend through his black-rimmed glasses.
"Right." Ron went back to his pacing.
"Well maybe you can talk to Dumbledore, maybe it was a mistake." Harry turned back to Hermione who looked up at him through watery eyes. "You're right." She slowly stood. "That's a wonderful idea, Harry!" She rushed out of the common room headed for Dumbledore's office.
"Miss Granger." Dumbledore caught her just before she headed down the corridor towards his office.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, I had wanted to speak with you." Hermione smiled up at the old wizard.
"If I am assuming correctly this has to do with our very own Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore recognized the look of panic in her eyes. "Yes sir. I figured, well Harry figured that it was some sort of mistake." She looked down at her shoes, she hated questioning the headmasters judgment.
"Miss Granger, you will soon learn that some of history's biggest mistakes have lead to some of the greatest ideas and achievements we have ever realized. I can sense your worry but maybe Mr. Malfoy will show us a new side these holidays." Hermione highly doubted that there was another side for Malfoy to show her but Dumbledore seemed confident in him.
"So this means he still my partner then?" Hermione looked up at him through honey colored eyes.
"Yes Miss Granger." His eyes twinkled he had some sort of plan worked out in his head.
"Thank you sir. Happy Christmas." She ran down the halls and up the stairs and mumbled at quick "Sugar Plums" to the portrait of the fat lady in pink. It was funny how their password always had something to do with foods lately.
"How did it go?" Harry asked as Hermione clambered into the common room.
"Malfoy is my partner there was no mistake. I'm going to pack." She smiled faintly at both Ron and Harry before retiring to bed. "Good night." They both chimed after her watching her trudge up to bed.
"What is Dumbledore thinking?!" Ron pulled on tuffs of red once Hermione was out of earshot.
"I'm not sure but he must have good reasons." Harry stared into the burning embers of the Gryffindor fire.
"Are you insane?!" Ron's eyes bulged. "This is Malfoy we're talking about. M-A-L-F-O-Y! MALFOY!" Ron was pretty sure that he was the only sane person left within the walls of Hogwarts. "You know they guy who tries to get you kicked out of school every year and tries to make you look like a moron at any chance he can get? Yeah, that's they guy who Hermione has to spend her winter break with. Loony! You're all loony!"
"Why don't you just go back to your plans Ron? See you in the morning." Harry trudged up the stairs. He had to admit that he was really worried about the Hermione/Malfoy partnership too, but Dumbledore always had good reasons for anything he did. Harry still worried though and secretly hoped one of Ron's plans would work out by morning.
"Mornin' there Hermione!" Hagrid smiled down at her, he was getting everyone aboard the Hogwarts Express.
"Good morning Hagrid." Hermione smiled brightly up to him. Hagrid smile faded and he bent down to Hermione's level, which left him practically sitting. "I 'eard about Malfoy. Now you listen to me, if the bloody coward tries to hurt you, you send me an owl straight away. Straight away Hermione don't you hesitate." Hermione smiled at Hagrid's generous offer to basically rip Malfoy apart if he put a toe out of line. "Thank you so much Hagrid, I will send you an owl either way." She smiled brightly and embraced her long time Hogwarts friend.
"Happy Christmas." She turned to get on the train and waved a goodbye out the window to Hagrid then quickly found herself a cozy compartment in which she could start her winter reading.
"Granger, good you saved us a seat, not that I'm happy I have to breath the same foul air as you this winter break." Malfoy's sharp voice ripped through her she winced a little looking up at him from her book.
"Malfoy." She tried her hardest to hold in her anger knowing that would only make the next few weeks even more unpleasant if she lashed out at him. She turned back to her book and relaxed into the silence around her, she felt the soft cushion sink as he took a seat next to her. The quite silence didn't last long; apparently Malfoy didn't enjoy silence or any of life's littlest joys such as reading and studying, (or at least that's how Hermione saw it.)
"What are you reading, Granger?" He pulled the book from her grasp and flipped through the pages roughly.
"It's none of you business what I'm reading, it's not like it would matter to you anyway." She scowled and plucked the book back from him. He shot a deep glare through her then turned to look out the window watching the country scenery fly by. He was just begging to dose off when he heard Hermione mumbling spells to her self, either that or she was reading out loud.
"Do you mind? Some of us actually like to enjoy their breaks without trying to worry about school for once in their lives." He spat.
"I can do whatever I want whenever I want, just because you think your fath- " He cut her off. "MY father could make you do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted." The two scowled at each other for a moment.
"Look, lets just try to make this a decent winter holiday, after all you are a guest in my home so I hope you act accordingly." Hermione went back to her book feeling a little apprehensive about the next few weeks. She was most worried about her parents. Draco hated her for being a muggle born and made her every waking moment as awful as he could what would he have in store for just a plain muggle. This was going to be awful. Dumbledore had said that some of the greatest things came out of what were thought to be the biggest mistakes but there was no way something great would happen out of this. Draco Malfoy was a snotty, dark wizard, muggle hating prat and nothing would ever change that.
"You sure are entertaining to sit with, how can Potter and Weasley stand it? I've had better conversations with my broom stick." Draco tore open a chocolate frog box. Hermione brushed back some wild hair and looked at him for a moment before returning back to her book.
"You're impossible. Filthy mudbloods, how dare you not answer me when I address you." Draco roared.
"Give it up Malfoy. I'm going to rest, if your majesty doesn't mind." She sneered back at him. She began to doze off a little forgetting about the silvery-blonde next to her. Her hands went limp over the book in her lap that she had been so engrossed in. The smooth rocking motion of the train swayed her onto Draco's shoulder he looked down at her a little startled sighed then looked out the window, maybe he was to tired to yell at her, he wasn't sure but it wasn't in him. Deep down he really didn't want to. He looked back at her when she shifted nestling herself into him making herself more comfortable, a faint smile washed over his face for a brief moment. What was this feeling?
"Draco, there you are!" Maleficent opened the cab door a few other Slytherins looked in on their flaxen leader.
"Pansy was look-oh." She faltered spying the Gryffindor resting cozily on his shoulder. Draco drowsily looked up at her then realized his surroundings and the people looking down on him. His eyes widened and he scowled down at the girl on his shoulder. "DAMNIT GRANGER!" Malfoy yelled and shoved her so hard she felt completely off the red cushions of the Hogwarts express. She looked up at him, startled from being woken up in such a fashion.
"Do you know how much this sweater cost me!? I'll have to throw it out now, there's no way I can get your nasty mudblood germs off of it!" He spat. The Slytherins sniggered a little at the girl sprawled out on the floor.
Hermione had been trying hard to ignore Malfoy's constant childish criticisms, with watery eyes she stood and stared down at him then looked over to the group eyeing her.
She turned back to Draco who was smirking obviously very satisfied with himself. "It's not like I chose to have you brought into my family! It's not like I cried to Dumbledore to be your partner, I hardly doubt anyone would. I don't even know why I got stuck with you, why it had to be me out of all the other students but I'm trying to deal with it and as if you would care you're not making this easy. You inconsiderate prat!" She slapped him hard across the face.
Hermione pushed her way through some astonished Slytherin girls to find some kind of sanctuary from this nightmare she could hear them fussing over Draco some were laughing at her. This was horrible.
Draco blinked a few times and stared at the door. He could feel the girls prodding at him. "Get off me!" He shook them away; he backed into the seat a little, where had they all come from? His scowl intensified, "Get out!" He hissed. They didn't have to be told twice, all of the Slytherins (all of the school in fact) knew what a bad temper Draco Malfoy had.
With the last girl out and the cabin door closed completely closed Draco let out a sigh. "Stupid Mudblood." He muttered under his breath, but he didn't mean it in a menacing way, not this time at least. It seemed more like force of habit this time and Draco began regretting using the words. He bent down and picked up Hermione's treasured book smoothing a few pages and setting it on the seat next to him. Was he actually feeling sorry for what he had said?
The train creaked to a stop Draco heard the cabin doors being slid open and other students parade past him gossiping about who they were paired with or what they though life would be like living all-muggle for the next few weeks. Draco grabbed Hermione's book and joined the other students keeping an eye out for his partner's familiar bushy hair. He stepped out on to the platform, his robes tucked tightly under his arm along with his wand just in case.
"Where in the hell did she go?" the platform had cleared out almost entirely now he pursed his lips tightly together and slipped out into Kings Crossing. A strong arm grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Malfoy, Draco is it though?" Draco looked up at a tall man who looked to be in his late forties he was brandishing glasses on his thin nose. He smiled widely at the blonde a perfect row of pearl white his hair was a little untamed but still held a professional look. "Mr. Granger?" Draco said a little hesitantly, he flinched under Mr. Granger's touch.
Disclaimer. Of course I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, ideas, made up words or worlds. This story is set in the children's sixth year.
A new program at Hogwarts has the students in a flurry. Their whole winter break will be spent with a muggle born wizard and their family when Draco is paired with the Granger Family unexpected relationships begin to form. D/Hr
"WHAT?!" Draco Malfoy glared at his two yes-men, Crabbe and Goyle He stormed passed them up into the sixth year chambers. They had just confirmed his worst nightmares. The rumors were true, they had been flying all over the school about the new winter program Professor Dumbledore had been scheming the whole idea was ridiculous to Draco, spend a whole winters worth vacation with a muggle family he would rather eat slugs. The rumors had started half way through the school year. Draco of course tried to ignore them the best he could and when he couldn't he went off on a tangent of how filthy mudbloods were to his Slytherin cronies.
"Stupid Muggle loving old crack pot." Draco mumbled to himself as her scribble a furious note to his father, he would put a stop to this or at least get him out of it. He quickly tied the note to his eagle owl and went down for dinner. "Father would never allow this."
The last day before winter break had come sooner than anyone at Hogwarts had expected the students waited anxiously in the grand hall for the announcement of the winter program. The familiar clink of professor McGonagall's glass made all of the students heads turn to the head table.
"Before our winter feast begins Professor Dumbledore would like to share an important announcement about a new winter program here at Hogwarts." The grand hall erupted with chatter about the rumors. Professor McGonagall clinked her glass once more and the hall fell silence and watched as Dumbledore rose.
"As many of you have heard there will be a special winter program this year for the students at Hogwarts." He paused and looked out at the students with a sparkle in his old eyes. "An exchange program is in order, but not with any other wizarding school but within the school itself." The students look at one another, none of them expecting this. "As you know," he continued "Hogwarts prides itself on its diversity of students so it has been decided that each of you wizard born students will be paired with a non-wizard born student to learn about the muggle world and their traditions. You have each been assigned a partner." Draco groaned and slammed his head on the table in front of him no longer listening to what Dumbledore had to say this would be his most miserable winter yet.
No owl had come for him from his father to rescue him from this most unfortunate assignment. He was sure Potter and his annoying friend Weasley were arguing over who would get to spend their winter with that smart-ass Granger. He slammed his head once more on the table causing the goblet in front of him to teeter dangerously close to drenching his lap in pumpkin juice.
'Who does Dumbledore think he is? Sending us off on these ludicrous trips.' Draco sneered and rested his cheek on his palm and watched the Gryffindor golden chat happily with each other. 'Of course they're happy about this. Weasley's embarrassment of a father must be so proud. I bet he even planted the idea in Dumbledore's fat head.' Draco shot them a nasty look. 'Look at Saint Potter, practically drooling over that mudblood, Granger.' Draco's anger was begging to make his head spin, he needed to get away.
"I'm packing." Draco announced, the Slytherins around him stared after him, Crabbe and Goyle would had tottered after him had they not been helping themselves to a new plate of pastries that had just appeared onto the table in front of them.
Draco pushed the heavy oak doors open on his way to the Slytherin common room when a voice stopped him. "Mr. Malfoy. Might I have a word with you?" He jumped a little at the familiar voice of Professor Dumbledore.
"Yes, Professor?" Draco masked his pure hatred for the man but Dumbledore no doubt could see past his front.
"I spoke with your father and though it took much convincing we both decided that it would be best that you didn't miss this wonderful opportunity." Dumbledore smiled and looked at him over half-moon glasses.
"My Father?" Draco spat, he couldn't believe his ears, his father actually had agreed with Dumbledore on something, and a matter like this? He would allow his son to spend a winter vacation with mudbloods.
"Yes, I was not surprised when he contacted me." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows recalling a frantic Malfoy Senior storming into his office after he had received Draco's letter using the same old threats to get him permanently retired from the title of Hogwarts headmaster if he failed to comply with his wishes. "Anyway. I am sure your muggle experience will be one to remember, you're paired with Miss Granger. Happy Christmas" Before Draco could protest Dumbledore was out of sight.
"GRANGER?" Draco's eyes burned with anger of all the idiotic mudbloods he could have possibly been paired with it had to be that snotty little know- it-all. Draco rushed down to the dungeons a flurry of robes behind him.
"If I have to be stuck with her I'll just make sure her Holiday break is as miserable as mine." He shoved clothing and books into his trunk. "Granger." He growled. "Filthy mudblood."
Hermione wasn't taking the news of having a Malfoy within the confines of her home so well either; she was in tears in fact.
"Why him, it's like someone is out to get me or something." She cried into Harry's shoulder, Ron was pacing angrily in front of the fire trying to think of some way to kill Malfoy of before the break, which gave him one day.
"I don't understand why Dumbledore would pair you with him, he knows how ruthless Malfoy is to us, well practically everyone," Harry gave Hermione's hand a gentle squeeze "You'll be fine though you can outsmart Malfoy and I don't really think he would do anything to drastic in front of your parents." Harry tried to reassure her.
"Are you kidding? That guy is a killer he'll do whatever he can to make her miserable. What Malfoy are you talking about Harry?!" Ron gaped at him.
"The point of that WAS to make Hermione feel better, Ron." Harry glared at his best friend through his black-rimmed glasses.
"Right." Ron went back to his pacing.
"Well maybe you can talk to Dumbledore, maybe it was a mistake." Harry turned back to Hermione who looked up at him through watery eyes. "You're right." She slowly stood. "That's a wonderful idea, Harry!" She rushed out of the common room headed for Dumbledore's office.
"Miss Granger." Dumbledore caught her just before she headed down the corridor towards his office.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, I had wanted to speak with you." Hermione smiled up at the old wizard.
"If I am assuming correctly this has to do with our very own Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore recognized the look of panic in her eyes. "Yes sir. I figured, well Harry figured that it was some sort of mistake." She looked down at her shoes, she hated questioning the headmasters judgment.
"Miss Granger, you will soon learn that some of history's biggest mistakes have lead to some of the greatest ideas and achievements we have ever realized. I can sense your worry but maybe Mr. Malfoy will show us a new side these holidays." Hermione highly doubted that there was another side for Malfoy to show her but Dumbledore seemed confident in him.
"So this means he still my partner then?" Hermione looked up at him through honey colored eyes.
"Yes Miss Granger." His eyes twinkled he had some sort of plan worked out in his head.
"Thank you sir. Happy Christmas." She ran down the halls and up the stairs and mumbled at quick "Sugar Plums" to the portrait of the fat lady in pink. It was funny how their password always had something to do with foods lately.
"How did it go?" Harry asked as Hermione clambered into the common room.
"Malfoy is my partner there was no mistake. I'm going to pack." She smiled faintly at both Ron and Harry before retiring to bed. "Good night." They both chimed after her watching her trudge up to bed.
"What is Dumbledore thinking?!" Ron pulled on tuffs of red once Hermione was out of earshot.
"I'm not sure but he must have good reasons." Harry stared into the burning embers of the Gryffindor fire.
"Are you insane?!" Ron's eyes bulged. "This is Malfoy we're talking about. M-A-L-F-O-Y! MALFOY!" Ron was pretty sure that he was the only sane person left within the walls of Hogwarts. "You know they guy who tries to get you kicked out of school every year and tries to make you look like a moron at any chance he can get? Yeah, that's they guy who Hermione has to spend her winter break with. Loony! You're all loony!"
"Why don't you just go back to your plans Ron? See you in the morning." Harry trudged up the stairs. He had to admit that he was really worried about the Hermione/Malfoy partnership too, but Dumbledore always had good reasons for anything he did. Harry still worried though and secretly hoped one of Ron's plans would work out by morning.
"Mornin' there Hermione!" Hagrid smiled down at her, he was getting everyone aboard the Hogwarts Express.
"Good morning Hagrid." Hermione smiled brightly up to him. Hagrid smile faded and he bent down to Hermione's level, which left him practically sitting. "I 'eard about Malfoy. Now you listen to me, if the bloody coward tries to hurt you, you send me an owl straight away. Straight away Hermione don't you hesitate." Hermione smiled at Hagrid's generous offer to basically rip Malfoy apart if he put a toe out of line. "Thank you so much Hagrid, I will send you an owl either way." She smiled brightly and embraced her long time Hogwarts friend.
"Happy Christmas." She turned to get on the train and waved a goodbye out the window to Hagrid then quickly found herself a cozy compartment in which she could start her winter reading.
"Granger, good you saved us a seat, not that I'm happy I have to breath the same foul air as you this winter break." Malfoy's sharp voice ripped through her she winced a little looking up at him from her book.
"Malfoy." She tried her hardest to hold in her anger knowing that would only make the next few weeks even more unpleasant if she lashed out at him. She turned back to her book and relaxed into the silence around her, she felt the soft cushion sink as he took a seat next to her. The quite silence didn't last long; apparently Malfoy didn't enjoy silence or any of life's littlest joys such as reading and studying, (or at least that's how Hermione saw it.)
"What are you reading, Granger?" He pulled the book from her grasp and flipped through the pages roughly.
"It's none of you business what I'm reading, it's not like it would matter to you anyway." She scowled and plucked the book back from him. He shot a deep glare through her then turned to look out the window watching the country scenery fly by. He was just begging to dose off when he heard Hermione mumbling spells to her self, either that or she was reading out loud.
"Do you mind? Some of us actually like to enjoy their breaks without trying to worry about school for once in their lives." He spat.
"I can do whatever I want whenever I want, just because you think your fath- " He cut her off. "MY father could make you do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted." The two scowled at each other for a moment.
"Look, lets just try to make this a decent winter holiday, after all you are a guest in my home so I hope you act accordingly." Hermione went back to her book feeling a little apprehensive about the next few weeks. She was most worried about her parents. Draco hated her for being a muggle born and made her every waking moment as awful as he could what would he have in store for just a plain muggle. This was going to be awful. Dumbledore had said that some of the greatest things came out of what were thought to be the biggest mistakes but there was no way something great would happen out of this. Draco Malfoy was a snotty, dark wizard, muggle hating prat and nothing would ever change that.
"You sure are entertaining to sit with, how can Potter and Weasley stand it? I've had better conversations with my broom stick." Draco tore open a chocolate frog box. Hermione brushed back some wild hair and looked at him for a moment before returning back to her book.
"You're impossible. Filthy mudbloods, how dare you not answer me when I address you." Draco roared.
"Give it up Malfoy. I'm going to rest, if your majesty doesn't mind." She sneered back at him. She began to doze off a little forgetting about the silvery-blonde next to her. Her hands went limp over the book in her lap that she had been so engrossed in. The smooth rocking motion of the train swayed her onto Draco's shoulder he looked down at her a little startled sighed then looked out the window, maybe he was to tired to yell at her, he wasn't sure but it wasn't in him. Deep down he really didn't want to. He looked back at her when she shifted nestling herself into him making herself more comfortable, a faint smile washed over his face for a brief moment. What was this feeling?
"Draco, there you are!" Maleficent opened the cab door a few other Slytherins looked in on their flaxen leader.
"Pansy was look-oh." She faltered spying the Gryffindor resting cozily on his shoulder. Draco drowsily looked up at her then realized his surroundings and the people looking down on him. His eyes widened and he scowled down at the girl on his shoulder. "DAMNIT GRANGER!" Malfoy yelled and shoved her so hard she felt completely off the red cushions of the Hogwarts express. She looked up at him, startled from being woken up in such a fashion.
"Do you know how much this sweater cost me!? I'll have to throw it out now, there's no way I can get your nasty mudblood germs off of it!" He spat. The Slytherins sniggered a little at the girl sprawled out on the floor.
Hermione had been trying hard to ignore Malfoy's constant childish criticisms, with watery eyes she stood and stared down at him then looked over to the group eyeing her.
She turned back to Draco who was smirking obviously very satisfied with himself. "It's not like I chose to have you brought into my family! It's not like I cried to Dumbledore to be your partner, I hardly doubt anyone would. I don't even know why I got stuck with you, why it had to be me out of all the other students but I'm trying to deal with it and as if you would care you're not making this easy. You inconsiderate prat!" She slapped him hard across the face.
Hermione pushed her way through some astonished Slytherin girls to find some kind of sanctuary from this nightmare she could hear them fussing over Draco some were laughing at her. This was horrible.
Draco blinked a few times and stared at the door. He could feel the girls prodding at him. "Get off me!" He shook them away; he backed into the seat a little, where had they all come from? His scowl intensified, "Get out!" He hissed. They didn't have to be told twice, all of the Slytherins (all of the school in fact) knew what a bad temper Draco Malfoy had.
With the last girl out and the cabin door closed completely closed Draco let out a sigh. "Stupid Mudblood." He muttered under his breath, but he didn't mean it in a menacing way, not this time at least. It seemed more like force of habit this time and Draco began regretting using the words. He bent down and picked up Hermione's treasured book smoothing a few pages and setting it on the seat next to him. Was he actually feeling sorry for what he had said?
The train creaked to a stop Draco heard the cabin doors being slid open and other students parade past him gossiping about who they were paired with or what they though life would be like living all-muggle for the next few weeks. Draco grabbed Hermione's book and joined the other students keeping an eye out for his partner's familiar bushy hair. He stepped out on to the platform, his robes tucked tightly under his arm along with his wand just in case.
"Where in the hell did she go?" the platform had cleared out almost entirely now he pursed his lips tightly together and slipped out into Kings Crossing. A strong arm grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Malfoy, Draco is it though?" Draco looked up at a tall man who looked to be in his late forties he was brandishing glasses on his thin nose. He smiled widely at the blonde a perfect row of pearl white his hair was a little untamed but still held a professional look. "Mr. Granger?" Draco said a little hesitantly, he flinched under Mr. Granger's touch.