Chapter 5:

Draco sat aboard the Hogwarts Express alone, he didn't feel like tormenting Potter and company today nor did he wish to spend the journey with Crabbe and Goyle. He watched absentmindedly as his trunk shook almost as if dancing, he forgot about it almost as quickly as he'd noticed it as Hermione Granger burst suddenly into his compartment.

"Hermione Grang..." Draco began

"Don't stop me I just want to get this out, much as I dislike the idea I have come to apologise to you..."

"Apolo..."

"I said don't stop me, I have come to apologise to you about the other day I had no right to pass judgement on your friend, although I do feel she should have apologised for bumping into me..." Hermione shook her head clearly irritated "erm...anyway I am sorry for offending you and your friend. There I feel better," she said rather triumphantly.

"Who said anyone was offended"

"Oh really Malfoy" Hermione rolled her eyes "It couldn't have been anymore obvious"

"Really Granger I just didn't think a mudblo..." he stopped as he thought about the one day he'd spent with her "Oh never mind. Thank you Gran...Hermione, I except your apology now leave me in peace" Draco let his mind wander before she had even left the room, completely forgetting the odd movement of his trunk.

"Alrite Hermione you look as though you just got a grade B?" Ron asked laughing at his own joke.

"I just apologised to Malfoy and..."

"Oh Herm, what did you do that for" Ron said shaking his head.

"To clear my conscience for unfairly judging someone, but anyway he was starting to be his normal argumentative prick self when he stopped and did a major U-turn he accepted it, thanked me and called me Hermione, no name calling at all" she shrugged "Just threw me a bit that's all"

"Makes no sense is he sick"

"Oh Ronald, don't be so horrible all the time, at least he's trying to be nice" Hermione was rolling her eyes in frustration "Never mind anyway we're here"

As all students left the train and boarded the carriages Hermione couldn't help but notice Malfoy acting odd, darting between carriages. She walked slowly toward him although he didn't seem to notice.

"Are you alrite Malfoy?" Draco turned suddenly startled by the voice

"Shhh!" he snapped "As you should have noticed Granger, I'm in a relatively good mood today and I don't plan on spoiling it by being stuck with Pansy!" she shook her head at him "Well, would you?" he asked, she shook her head with a slight smile.

"Erm, there's Pansy over there" she decided to help him out; Malfoy in a good mood is better for everyone.

"Quick in this one" he said grabbing her arm as she attempted to return to Harry and Ron.

"Malfoy! I was trying to help you out but not to the extent where I have to travel to school with you" Hermione spoke nastily

"That's good Granger. I'm glad you don't want to travel with me, as I want a companion that wont disturb my thoughts by speaking. There isn't a Slytherin alive who doesn't want to talk to me, so you will do. Now shut up" Hermione watched him as he sat deep in thought.

"Where, were you?" Ron asked annoyed

"Malfoy made me travel with him"

"What? Why? You're a mud..." Hermione slapped him.

"Don't you dare! Harry Potter" Ron looked at Harry in agreement with Hermione.

"He wanted peace and quiet to think, and obviously I'm not going to talk to him" she looked puzzled for a moment "I wonder what he did over summer"

"Why do you care?" Harry snapped. Hermione took a deep breath, she had had enough of Harry's temper tantrums, but Ron beat her to it.

"What's your problem, Harry? Everything we say you snap and argue it's uncalled for! I don't know about Hermione but I think you should treat your friends with a certain amount of respect and your not giving us any" he sighed "and Harry, I don't want to speak to you till you do" Ron walked away shaking his head at his friends behaviour. Harry looked at Hermione with a snarl usually reserved for Malfoy

"And I suppose that goes for you to, does it"

"You know what Harry it does, you need to grow up. We know you've suffered and we're ere to help you if you want it. What happened though Harry is no reason to treat people the way you have been. Especially Ron and I, we've helped you through everything" Hermione practically ran away, clearly upset.

"Don't you raise your hand to me!" her blue eyes burned with anger "I asked you a question which obviously concerns me, I want answers. The best part of my summer was cancelled by a man who has no authority to do so. Why?"

"It will all be for the best I assure you" he tucked a loose strand of her dark, wavy brown hair behind her ear.

"Promise me Christmas Lucius, I need to hear it from you" He tilted her chin up so he could see her face more clearly.

"You will get Christmas I guarantee you that. You are strong willed and driven, one day you will be great" she left the room smiling. "Which kind of greatness, remains to be seen" Lucius whispered to himself.

Back in her own room away from Malfoy Manor, she sat in her bed quill in hand, thinking of Draco. She wrote subconsciously and steadily became more frustrated as the pile of crumpled up letters got gradually larger.

"Oh it's never been so difficult to write a bloody note!" she shouted at no one in particular, she sighed and began her letter once again.

Dear Draco,

I'm still pissed about our missed summer time, although I'm sure you're not as bored as me. I wish I were at Hogwarts; this one on one schooling gives me no social life.

Anyway we've definitely got Christmas! Also if you'd like; the first Hogsmede weekend in September. If you can escape your two bulging bodyguards.

Hope to see you there!

Love always x

She frowned, 'it will have to do'

Draco ran to the boy's dormitory, Crabbe and Goyle would do as they were told but Pansy was so bloody persistent. He breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the door behind him, he ran from where he was stood to his bed when he noticed the snowy white eagle owl perched there. He read the letter and quickly pulled out a pen to reply.

I'll have to check my schedule...joking course I'll be there. Looking forward to Christmas.

Draco x

With a flick of his wand Draco unpacked and proceeded down to dinner. He smiled to himself summer hadn't been all bad he'd gotten the same O.W.L results as Granger although he'd had to work twice ad hard as her, he did get a day with his childhood friend and he had another one to look forward to.

Albus Dumbledore was pacing around his office when Severus Snape entered the room.

"Where is she?" Dumbledore asked his eyes holding both concern and fury.

"She is currently in transit with her parents" Snape stated, frustrated that he was once again having this conversation with this man.

"Severus, as you know it is of great importance she doesn't see him. Who know what she will tell him. They will have their chance to catch up. She must not be in Hogsmede with or without her parents" Dumbledore was beginning to show his age with all the added pressure on him since Voldemort returning.

"She is with her parents. They know the rules Albus, if they ignore them that is up to them. You cannot control what they do with their daughter. Now if you don't mine, there is a lot of work to be done. Good day to you, Headmaster." Snape exited Dumbledore's office his mood slightly improved; he proceeded to the castle's entrance.

"Those without permission slips return to the castle, those with give them to me" Snape drawled. There was a rush forward as people crawled all over each other to hand in their slips

"No. I'm sorry Mr Potter the answer is no. It's not an up to date slip. Rules are until a pupil is seventeen years of age a permission slip is a necessity. I am sorry for your loss Harry but those are the rules" Professor McGonagall spoke in a firm but kind voice. Harry walked away considering whether he should try it on with Snape; he decided against it and walked away defeated.

"Mr Malfoy" Snape spoke slightly cheered "going alone"

"Oh no Professor" Draco winked "not alone" he passed in his slip and continued to walk. Albus Dumbledore appeared suddenly in front of him.

"And what do you mean by that, Mr Malfoy?" the old man smiled as Snape's temper visibly flared. Crabbe and Goyle appeared on either side of Draco.

"I mean Professor" Draco controlled his anger although the animosity present was obvious "that I will be with my friends"

Dumbledore shot a glance at Snape who stared back with pursed lips "Proceed Mr Malfoy" Snape said without lifting his gaze from the old man before him

The little town of Hogsmede liked wonderful covered in all the colours of autumn, Harry wondered why he had even left the castle he had neither Ron nor Hermione to talk to. The person he did bump into wasn't high on his list of people to talk to.

"Potter" came the slow drawl. Harry had been about to respond when he realised he had his invisibility cloak on, 'he can't see me he must be talking about me' "you might want to put your arms away before going into town. All alone are we?" after Harry got over his shock he replied

"I don't have permission so I had to follow behind. You on the other hand are alone" as Harry spoke two hands shot out of nowhere and placed themselves carefully over Draco's eyes.

"Guess who?" it was a female voice; Harry missed the name he was totally preoccupied by how she looked, as she slowly removed her invisibility cloak.

"Wow" the word escaped both boys' lips before the thought entered their heads

"Are we going to do the 'you look' thing all over again or can we shop," she said happily, completely oblivious to Harry's presence. She smiled "Hey and Draco, you look great" He smirked at her and she pulled tongues in response.

"Come on" he grabbed her hand and they ran through the multicoloured piles of leaves, leaving Harry left looking dumbstruck.

Draco stretched out on his bed, curtains closed around him. What a day that had been, she had no idea how much he was looking forward to Christmas.

"I don't remember her being so pretty" he thought out loud. The green curtains started twitching randomly, they had been doing this since the day of the Hogsmede trip. It had a pattern to it, he noticed. Draco lay perfectly still waiting for the curtain to move by his left ear, as it did he out in that direction and to he surprise he hit something. He fell landing on top of whatever it was panicking slightly.