Hi Guys. Well heres the next chappie. The next one will probably come during the weekend because its our football Championship game tomorrow. Hope this one's not too boring. Criticism is welcomed!

Disclaimer: I dont own them! Just the sorry excuse plot!
Recap:
Hermione heard a sound behind her and turned around to see who it was. At that same moment, the trap door was opened and out climbed Draco. He had a worried look on his face that softened when he saw her.
"I thought I might find you here." He smiled. Not a smirk but a real, genuine smile.
Hermione smiled back. Butterflies had taken over her stomach and she was unable to speak.
All she could do was stand there like a prat and smile

Chapter 9

Hermione realized that how she was acting and quickly wiped the smile off her face. She turned her back to him and so that her eyes could search the scenery for something to say.

For some reason everything came out harsh. "What do you want Malfoy?" She sighed sounding slightly irritated yet so far from it.

The boy did no answer but simply walked up to her side obviously not knowing what to say to the young witch.

Hermione noticed that Malfoy was staring at her with his intense eyes. It took so much strength to resist the temptation to look up at him but she knew that if she did, she would not be able to think straight.
After a few minutes of silence, Hermione could not stand it any longer.

"What?" she demanded.

"What?"

"Why are you staring at me?"

"Because…" Draco knew that he was winding her up.

"Because what?" she asked clearly annoyed.

"I was just wondering," He started deciding it not wise to annoy her any longer, "why does it seem like you're so hesitant to open up to people. I can see that when you are with Harry and Ron, you aren't always comfortable with them.
It seems like you are holding back. Why is that?"

"I am not!" she retorted, "I am perfectly comfortable with my company of friends."

"No you're not." He answered quietly.

"Do you really want to know!" she questioned, clearly enraged, "do you want to know what's under my exterior!" tears clearly falling as she finally looked into his eyes. At this point she was shouting already.

"Yes."

"Fine" she sighed, finally giving up on holding back. She knew that he would keep on persisting until she told him.

"The reason," she hesitated, "the reason I am like this is because everybody I love is taken away from me." She stopped trying to hold back her misery, letting her tears flow freely down her cheeks.

"What do you mean Hermione? Everybody is right here." He implied gently.

"No they aren't! My Muggle friends! Every time I started to trust a person and bear my secrets, they either betray me or are taken away from me. Harry and Ron know only parts of my past. They never questioned further so I didn't go into detail. I scared that if I do, they will shun me from our friendship and I will only have my books left. I do not want a repeat of my old Muggle School."

As Hermione went into detail of the torments that happened to her. The bulling, fighting and teasing. Draco started to realize why Hermione was the way she was. It was not her being strong but just a mask. A mask to hide her vulnerability and fear and as Hermione launched into her family problems as well as financial he knew that the girl who everybody thought had a perfect life, was so far from it.

It amazed him that under the exterior was a normal little girl that was defenseless and scared. All he could do was to comfort her.

For once Hermione felt safe in his arms. She had always had some hesitation to let this information leek out but once she did, she felt like a burden was lifted off her shoulders. He did not need to say anything because all she needed was the comfort. She was finally glad that she had found her confidant.

Hermione decided on skipping dinner and going straight to bed. She didn't feel like talking to other people and was tired. While she lay on her bed, she thought of all the things that had happened to her since the start of the school year and thought about Draco

Why did I tell Draco my deepest, darkest secrets? Isn't he supposed to be my arch nemesis? But why was he being so freaking nice to me then? He's supposed to be cold hearted and cruel but yet he's taking more notice of me than Harry and Ron ever did. Maybe it isn't so bad. At least that's one last person to be cautious about. But what came over me last night! Why did I stay with him up there? I guess it was the first time I felt really safe in a long time. I guess people really can change.

With that she closed her eyes and fell into a comfortable sleep.

As Hermione awoke the next day, she decided that she was going to put the past behind her and stat anew with Draco. Actually give him a REAL chance.

Something told her that there was some good in him. She wanted to be the person to draw it out of him. She formed a plan while she was getting ready. She decided that she was going to really get to know him and start from there.

She glanced at the clock and briskly walked to the great hall.

"Morning guys!" she chirped.

"morning." Replied her three half-asleep friends.

"Where were you last night?" demanded Ron.

"Oh I decided that I wasn't that hungry so I went to bed early."

"Oh ok."

They were half way through their breakfast when the heard the usual rustle of feathers signaling that the mail was about to come.

Harry had been sent a letter from Hagrid inviting the three for tea later that day.
None of them had anything to do so Harry replied back confirming their visit at 4:30.

A large Barn owl caught Hermione's eye and coincidentally dropped a letter in her breakfast. It was an odd looking envelope. It was read with an odd seal on it. Her name was written in Yellow ink.
She gulped as she realized that it was no ordinary letter.

It was a Howler.

She knew she had to open in quick or something worse would happen. She took one deep breath and opened it.

A loud booming cough came out of it.

"Attention everybody!" squeaked a shrill voice that sounded familiar. "Do any of you know about HERMIONE GRANGER'S past? I bet you don't. Not even Mr. Potter neither Mr. Weasly know about it. Well here it goes….

Oh My Goodness! What am I going to do! Panicked Hermione.

Well here it is… Please hit the review button! Oh yeah I almost forgot, thaks Abbi for pointing out that mistake. I noticed it straight after I posted it and I delete my files after posting in fear of my family finding out about my stories.
Same Bargain Guys! 2 reviewers for one chapter!
♥ Zoe