The group of teenagers pulled their luggage onto the train the next morning and Hermione grimaced. She'd never really much liked travel...which reminded her. She'd better take her motion-sickness pills before the train left or she'd be a goner. Opening her purse, she took out the small capsule that contained the life saving pills and swallowed one with the help of her Dasani Water.

"Guys, I've gotta go ride in the Head's compartment...it's like an unspoken law. Sorry. I'll catch you all when we get to Hogwarts." She said, apologetically, to her friends.

"Think nothing of it, Herms." Lavender smiled. "We'll all be fine." She was perched in Ron's lap, and Hermione had a feeling that they wouldn't miss her all that much. She smiled and waved to the other snogging couple as she moved down the train to the Head's compartment. When she opened the door, she glanced at the other lone occupant before moving to sit beside him quietly.

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Draco forced his throbbing head up and struggled to focus his gaze on the newcomer. Hermione...Granger? But she had brown hair, not blonde. He lowered his head back to the seat with a muffled groan, too weak to hold it up any further. His father had carried him onto the train this morning amidst a hangover and a glaring Narcissa...but he'd just dumped the boy into the isle...it had taken all of Draco's precious little energy to climb onto the seat and keep himself from falling off.

'Gods...just let me DIE.' He thought wretchedly...closing his eyes and struggling to breathe. His mother had accessed the damage the night before and had healed what she could...but some of the wounds wouldn't heal by magic, due to the rather vulgar way in which they had been afflicted. Therefore he was stuck.

Without warning, he felt hands gently probing his body. That hurt...he groaned and tried to pull away. He knew who was touching him...and he'd get beaten harder for it.

"Geroff...Mudblood." He groaned. "Get OFF"

He felt Granger pull back...but he could already feel his strength returning. What had she done to him? Whatever it was, it was working. He opened his mouth to say thanks, but he couldn't quite get the words out through the haze of sleep that was settling over him. Quite soon, he was asleep.

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Hermione smiled faintly. He'd protested. She'd known that he probably would...but it wasn't in her to leave a man that injured that they couldn't even open their eyes. By the time they reached Hogwarts, he'd be nearly fine...but she made a mental note to check up on him that night when they got to their Head Dorms. She opened her carry on bag and took out one of her favorite books, settling in to read.

Lunch passed, and then she stood and moved to Malfoy's side. Carefully, she shook him. "Malfoy...yo Malfoy. We're almost to the school. You might want to get dressed."

When she was sure he was awake, she stood and moved to the bathroom to dress. Coming out, she saw that the man was dressed...and she couldn't help noticing that he'd certainly been practicing that summer. Whoa, Boy was he HOT. Wait...what are you thinking, Granger? He's MALFOY. Just because you helped him doesn't mean that he'll be any less contemptible. After all...look at his background. He'll probably grow up to beat his kids or something...yeah, that's it. He'll beat his kids. That's a good reason not to like him...it is.

She gave him a brief, civil smile- surprised when he returned it- and then she climbed out of the train and slid into the Head's Carriage after helping usher the younger students to their carriages and boats. She looked eagerly out the window, watching the castle in the distance become larger and larger as they approached. She couldn't believe that this would be her last year in Hogwarts! Sure, she'd always known that she'd graduate sometime...but now that it was approaching, she was wracked with waves of unavoidable nostalgia. After all, the castle had been like a second home to them all for seven years.

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Draco was having similar thoughts as he watched the castle come closer. He smiled at the magnificent sight. No matter what, he'd never gotten over the splendor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even though he'd been raised in a rather large Manor, he still couldn't help thinking that this wonderful building dwarfed the Manor. After all, it wasn't every day that you got to come to this school. He'd heard rumors that Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were equally, if not more-so, wonderful...but couldn't bring himself to believe it. After all...Hogwarts was HOGWARTS.

Draco heard Hermione's little gasp of happiness, and he could sense the happiness radiating off of her from a mile away. He couldn't help smiling. So eager...she had no idea of what was coming this year. Well...it would be at the graduation party...so he supposed that she could enjoy at least part of the year. Wait, what was he thinking? He was here to make her life miserable. And that went for Potter, Weasley, Weasley's sister, and Brown as well. So hah. He was going to take them all out. But DAMN Hermione Granger looked FINE with platinum blonde hair.

Hold on here! Where did that thought come from!? Draco Malfoy, you know better than to even think such blasphemous things. Argh! But she was so...so...so...touchable! He could just...eat her whole!

WAIT A SECOND! GET SUCH THOUGHTS OUT OF YOUR HEAD, MALFOY! YOU DON'T WANT THE WRATH OF YOUR FATHER AND HALF OF VOLDEMORT'S SUPPORTERS COMING DOWN ON YOU FOR THIS! DAMN! YOU DON'T EVEN LIKE HER! SO GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEAD! ARGH!!!!! YOU-HATE-HERMIONE-MUDBLOOD-GRANGER!!!

So why...his subconscious argued...are you reduced to talking to yourself?

Shut up.