He was once again heading for the owlery, and as his pace quickened, Hermione quickened her pace as well, and even more so too keep up with Malfoys' long steps; but very carefully, so he wouldn't notice her. She didn't know where this sudden curiosity of hers had come from, maybe it was pity she felt, but she couldn't quit place it as that.

He entered, or rather bursted into the tower-room making a lot of noise as he went, and she heard all the owls hooting nervously as they were abruptly awoken. She peered through the door and saw Malfoy sitting on the hay cowered floor, with his hands over his face, she could hear him muttering, but couldn't hear what.

"…Don't loose it, you'll get him… You'll get him…" He muttered to himself, and took a deep breath of air as he momentarily had forgotten that he was supposed to be a breathing creature, the reaction was not out of fear; but out of pure hatred and great loathing. He knew that if he had stayed to hear that Weasel-bees pathetic try of an apology, he would have lunged himself at him in the end. And the last thing he needed was to be expelled, he hated being at home at the time being as it was, he was even planning on staying at the school for the holidays.

He turned his gaze up, and saw someone standing in the shadows of the door; he quickly stood up and drew out his wand.

"Whose there?!"

Hermione hesitated but then stepped forward so he could see her properly; even though she was terrified of the look on his face, she lingered. He withdrew his wand and pocked it, and turned his back on her.

"What do you want Granger; do you want to finish me off?"

"I'm sorry if I disturbed you, and, I don't know what you mean…"

He didn't turn around; he was standing by the window sill and she could see his hands forming fists, his knuckles were white.

"What? You're blaming this on me?" She asked with a slight frown, stepping forwards towards his turned back.

"You're enjoying this aren't you, poor little Malfoy, finally got what he deserved…"

"I've never said that…"

"Do you even know what you the pothead and the weasel has caused me! I'm humiliated, everywhere I turn someone's there offering me pity, and I don't need it!" He took up a stone lying at his feet and threw it at her, but missed.

"You filth comes here to glow in my misery, is that it?! – Then take a good look, because it seems that I've reached my lowest point; that's what the local gossips says; 'poor Draco Malfoy is soon of his rocker and is going to throw himself of the Astronomy Tower!'"

"Draco, calm down…" She said, trembling to see him so angry, but even more devastated of the almost tears in his eyes.

"No one, no one had the right to see that! No one!" He threw another stone at her, but missed once more.

They stood there for a long time, and not dropping either ones gaze. The only sounds heard were the hooting owls on their perches, and Malfoy who seemed to be having an asthma attack.

And he was the one to break the connection when he soon settled himself on the hay covered floor, as she had found him in the first place. He was running his fingers through his silver blond hair, almost seeming to have forgotten Hermione's presence.

"Are you ok?" She knew it was a dumb question, but her brains and wit had been mashed up and it had slipped out of her skull, out through the window; it seemed like.

He coughed, as to try to laugh. But when he opened his mouth there was no sound. He kept running his fingers through his hair, and ignored Hermione once more.

"Draco? Why…" She took a deep breath at what she was about to ask. "Why did your father do that to you?"

He turned his face so she could see the small prickle of tears on his cheek, but saw nothing resembling anger on his features, but he kept silent, starring at her.

"…I'm sorry, I'll just leave…" She said and stumbled backwards towards the door, but stopping when:

"It was the day after my sixteenth birthday. And my dad had gathered some associates of his, to celebrate me turning sixteen a little of the record, without relatives and friends…" Hermione stepped closer to the blonde boy sitting on the floor, trying to take in every word.

" … I knew of course why they were there, they wanted to see what Lucius Malfoys' son was like, if he was worthy the title. And I really tried to be how my dad wanted me to be, but then I realised who all the people were; when I opened the first gift from a man I can't remember the name of. He gave me a ring; it was a death eaters ring…"

Hermione slipped in a gasp in the story as she sat down in front of him. He looked at her, and stroked away a tear which was resting on his right cheek, a little embarrassed.

"…I flinched, and as the people around me were smiling at me, my dad was right behind me breathing down my neck. But I gave the ring back to the man and ran into the house, followed by my d… Lucius." He sighed, frowned and looked away.

"And I think you know the rest."

Hermione sighed and looked into the face of the boy sitting in front of her, and she found that he was completely blank, but she didn't dare to ask what he was feeling, because that frown on his face was not to play with.

But she dared to do one thing; surprised of her boldness, she leant forward and gave him a brief hug.

"Now it's you whose' of your rocker…" He said when she drew back, a faint smile creeping upon his face.

She just tried to smile back, as the sensation of his skin against hers had made her a little light headed, but shook it away as he opened his mouth once more.

"It was the only time he ever hit me. Well, the only chance he had doing it as he was captured only a week later."

It was like by those words he came back to reality; why was he telling her all of this? – Anger arose within him as he pulled himself of the floor, and looked down at the girl at his feet.

"I guess pothead and weasel-bee will be very glad when their spy returns, with a lot of nice gossip for tomorrow's breakfast…"

And with that, he walked over to an owl, sent it on its way with a letter, and turned out of the owlery leaving Hermione confused sitting on the cold brick floor, where she sat for another hour thinking about what she would do…

I hope you liked this chapter, and please send me feedback; it makes me write much better!