Change of Heart

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Hermione left the Great Hall with Harry and Ron, but felt as if she was alone. They weren't sure how to deal with her and therefore, barely spoke to her. Hermione kept trying to convince them that she was fine and that they didn't have to worry over her. They didn't believe a single word of it.

They entered the Dungeon classroom of Professor Severus Snape and took their usual seats. The Slytherins were already there, although Hermione couldn't see Draco from where she was. "Probably surrounded by his followers. It must be nice to have everyone fawn over you." Hermione thought to herself. Then, she saw him. Sitting alone in the back corner. She felt a sudden jolt of guilt and pity for him. The thought didn't last for long though. She quickly remembered the torment he had put her through and silently laughed at this turn of events. She remembered all too well her first days at Hogwarts when nobody would be her friend. Now he could feel the shame of being alone.

Hermione hadn't realized that she had been gaping at him for a quite a long time. So long in fact, that Snape had already entered the classroom.

"Miss Granger, please leave your ogling to after class. I'd like to get on with the lesson." Snape said in a bored tone as always.

Hermione was immediately jerked back into reality. Her face clearly represented which house she came from. It was so red that she could almost feel the heat radiating from it. "Yes sir." She replied timidly. She was afraid of more embarrassment. Snape provided no more, as he saw that no more was needed. She quickly got out her quill and ink and began writing out the day's lesson.

After the excruciatingly long potions class, Hermione, Ron and Harry began heading back to the Great Hall for lunch.

"Hermione, what was Snape talking about? What on earth were you ogling?" Ron said thoughtfully.

"I was looking at Malfoy." Hermione said defiantly.

"What? Why?" Harry said with his eyes wide in shock.

"Didn't you see him? He was sitting all alone in the corner. Then when we were supposed to be in pairs he worked alone. I felt...well...bad for him, that's all." Hermione said. Even though she had decided that she was happy at the turn of events, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. She wasn't sure at first whether or not she should even tell them, but they were her friends and she thought it best if she was honest. She knew that they wouldn't react well to what she had just said. She couldn't have been more right.

"Do you even remember how he treated you? Not only you, but also everyone else! He even treated his so-called "friends" like dirt. I was happy to see him like that! Everyone was! I think even the Slytherins were. Or else they would've treated him better." Harry said.

"I cannot believe you Hermione! I can't believe you could be so thick. Do you remember the slugs? Do you remember how long it took me to hark all those things up? Not to mention when Umbridge was here. They treated everyone horrifically." Ron said disbelievingly.

"I know, you're right. It was just that, seeing him there all alone...I felt sorry for how alone he must be."

Ron and Harry looking at each other and then at Hermione as if they were considering sending her to St. Mungo's insanity ward.

"Just forget it, alright? I hate the stupid prat! You know that." Hermione said, smiling reassuringly at them.

"Alright." Harry and Ron said in unison.

"Let's eat. I'm bloody starving!" Ron said happily as he gazed at the food in front of him.

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The next day did not go quite the same way. It seemed that Draco had acquired a new circle of friends and was his old self again. The previous day had only been a minor glitch in the system of things at Hogwarts. He was now apparently dating, (snogging), Pansy Parkinson.

Snape, like Hermione, was unhappy to see that things had turned out this way. He thought that finally Draco was coming to his senses and would learn that following his father and coveting power was not the way his life should be carried out. He had planned on having a talk with him about it. Now it seemed, that would not happen. He would have to find other means to persuade Draco to alter his current path. He had an idea, but first, he must discuss it with the Headmaster.

Dumbledore was all too pleased to hear his plans. He too, was secretly hoping that Draco would change somehow. If he didn't, that could mean bad things to come. Draco was a very powerful wizard with a lot of potential. Whether he used that potential for good or evil was his decision and his alone. The Order members had decided a long time ago that Draco must be diverted from evil. They knew, that with Lucius' power, and Draco's abilities, Draco could do serious harm to the fate of the wizarding world. Draco of course, had no idea of his serious involvement with these matters, but his father and the Dark Lord did. They knew all too well.

Lucius and Voldemort planned for Draco to become a Death-Eater earlier on than normal, so as to guarantee that he would not be meddled with and to develop his strengths as soon as possible. Snape of course, had caught wind of this and had informed the Order immediately. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure of how soon they intended Draco to be in the service of the Dark Lord.

Snape seriously hoped that his plan would work. He was risking more than his and Draco's life in this.

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Hermione headed for the library to finish up her homework and perhaps find an interesting book to read. It was nearing Halloween and all the decorations were in place. She stopped in her path to admire a particularly interesting spider when she saw Pansy and Draco swallowing each other's faces in the doorway of a classroom. She was utterly disgusted and continued for the library. "Irresponsible, filthy, moronic," she muttered under breath.

She finally reached the doors of the library. She pushed them open and gracefully walked over to an empty desk. She was soon enthralled in her homework and was startled when she heard a voice. The library had been all but deserted when she came in. It was Ron.

"Hermione? Can I speak to you?"

"No, you can't use my answers for the potions assignment." Hermione said absently.

"Oh...no, I wanted to ask you something."

"Alright. What is it?"

"Well I...I really just wanted to tell you something. It's not that important or anything but I think you should know."

"Okay."

"Hermione, I..."

"Ron! Quidditch try-outs you knob head! Their going to have my broom if I'm late! I'm supposed to be the captain after all." Harry bellowed as he jogged over to the them.

"Oh...right. Well I guess I'll talk to you later Hermy."

"Of course Ron."

Ron ran out of the library with Harry and Hermione stared after him. Hermione began thinking; Wow, that was interesting. He's going to finally tell me that he has feelings for me. I didn't think he'd ever get around to it. What am I going to tell him? Do I have feelings for him? I don't think so...but... her thoughts were interrupted.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

Draco was surprised that she even answered him. She must not realize who's speaking to her. He thought. That made things even more interesting. He was still surprised to hear what Voldemort had planned for her but none-the-less he had to do what was asked of him.

"I was wondering if you'd help me with the potion's assignment." He said innocently.

Hermione looked up into Draco eyes and immediately lowered her gaze back to her work. She thought back to the first day of school, when she had felt so sorry for him. Then she remembered what she had seen earlier in the evening. A dark cloud of hatred was growing inside of her. "Why on earth would I help you?" She said. Her eyes were daggers.

"Please, I don't understand it and you're the only one I know of that won't ridicule me for wanting to do well at it." Draco said. He could see that his plan was working. At first he hadn't been so sure, but he saw the change in the way she looked at him when he had said that.

"Why don't you get Pansy to help you?" She replied coldly.

"She's not exactly...well...very bright."

Hermione stared at him for a moment longer and was about to say yes when Harry and Ron burst into the library.

"What the bleeding hell do you think you are doing, Malfoy? Ron shouted.

They both rushed over and Draco turned to face them. "None of your business Weasley. I think Hermione can decide for herself what she wants...and doesn't want." Draco said sneering at them.

Hermione was shocked at his words but thought this recurrent bantering was becoming tiresome. She couldn't stand to listen to them any longer. She gathered her things and left. Harry and Ron weren't far behind.

"Hermione, are you okay?" They said.

"I'm fine, really. You needn't worry so much over me." She said nonchalantly. Draco was right though, to an extent. She didn't need them deciding for her who she could talk with. Besides, Draco was being perfectly civilized. Hermione stopped walking as she realized something, Draco had called her, not Granger, not 'mudblood', but Hermione. She smiled.