Disclaimer: Neither the world or the characters are mine but the storyline sure is!

Chapter 2

At the sound of pounding on her door, Hermione rolled over and pulled the covers and then the pillow over her head to drown out the noise. When the pounding stopped, Hermione flipped the pillow off her head and slowly pulled the covers down. Staring at her door to see if whoever it was had gone away, she nearly fell out of bed as the pounding started again, this time twice as loud. Grumbling, Hermione threw her blankets the rest of the way off and rolled out of bed. When her feet hit the floor and they weren't cold she looked down. To her surprise saw she hadn't even taken off her shoes the night before. Giving a snort she shrugged and then stalked over to the door flinging it open.

Waiting outside the door was a very worried looking Ginny Weasley. Rolling her eyes, Hermione turned and went back in her room to flop back onto her bed leaving the door open. Looking worriedly at the obviously frazzled Hermione, Ginny shrugged and then followed her slowly into her room. "Hermione, you're not going to have time for breakfast before classes start if you don't hurry," Ginny said softly.

Hermione lifted her head up far enough to look Ginny in the eye and she stated sarcastically, "And I can just show up to breakfast in my lovely new school robes I bought yesterday." After that she dropped her head back onto her mattress and pulled the pillow back over it, today was not starting out well at all.

Ginny looked around Hermione's room for the new robes but was rather confused when she answered, "Well you can if you want to Hermione but only if you open your trunk to get them out first."

This time rather than just lifting her head up off the bed, Hermione sat bolt upright, the pillow falling to her side and her face tight with frustration, "And how am I supposed to open a trunk that never even made it to Hogwarts, Ginny? Explain that to me!" She knew she was yelling at one of her best friends but she just had no control of her emotions this early in the morning, especially after a night full of nightmares.

Even more confused, Ginny pushed a stray lock of her red hair behind one of her ears before saying softly, "But its right there Hermione." As she said this she pointed towards where Hermione's trunk was sitting near the door to her bathroom.

Upon seeing the trunk sitting where Ginny was pointing Hermione's eyes teared up and she begged, "I'm so sorry Ginny, please forgive me. When I went to bed last night though, it wasn't here and I realized it was still in Diagon Alley where Mum, Dad, and I left it at the robe shop, along with Crookshanks' cage." Just then a shaggy orange shape crawled from under the bed and meowed piteously up at Hermione. With a squeal of relief, Hermione swooped down and hauled the orange tabby into her arms, mumbling into his mangy orange fur, "I thought I'd lost you too Crookshanks!"

Ginny smiled at the sight of Hermione and Crookshanks and she wanted to let her friend just sit there and be comforted by her strange orange cat but breakfast was nearly over and Hermione had a tendency to get cranky if she didn't eat in the morning. "Mione, you really need to get dressed and get something to eat classes start in half an hour," Ginny reminded the Head Girl as gently as she could. She knew Hermione probably wasn't going to be terribly into her classes for a while after what had happened in Diagon Alley but she at least needed to go.

Hermione sighed as Ginny mentioned classes but put Crookshanks down on the bed beside her and nodded. "I know Ginny," she said, her voice now quite distant. "If you'll just shut the door on your way out, I'll be down to breakfast in ten minutes."

Ginny could recognize a request to leave when she heard one and so, with a quick nod, she headed for the still open door. As she reached it she took one more look at Hermione, who was now moving towards her trunk, and then shut the door quietly before heading off to breakfast with the rest of the House.

In the Great Hall things seemingly had returned to normal. The noise level was typical of a place full of students and the mood was anxious rather than fearful or sad like it had been the night before. Only a few students, mostly Gryffindors, were quiet and withdrawn but even they would talk to their Housemates on occasion.

Ron and Harry were waiting rather impatiently for Ginny to bring Hermione to breakfast so in between bites they kept looking over their shoulders to the entrance. When Harry finally spotted Ron's sister making her way in, he relaxed a bit and went back to focusing on his porridge. That was until he heard Ron whisper, "But where's Hermione?" His spoon halfway to his mouth Harry looked back towards Ginny and worry flashed in his eyes as he saw what Ron meant.

As Ginny got closer, both boys scooted over to give her a place to sit in between them. Before she had even had a chance to sit down, Ron was demanding, "I thought you were going to bring her down to breakfast. Where is she?"

Ginny just glared at her brother and turned to Harry, who was quietly watching her and waiting for an explanation. "She said she'd be down in ten minutes. She just needed to get dressed first," she said matter-of-factly to Harry before starting to fill her plate.

Ron wasn't satisfied with that answer and so he continued to pester Ginny all throughout the rest of breakfast. He was still asking her questions and demanding answers when ten minutes later, as Ginny had told him she would, Hermione made her way into the Great Hall. Ron jumped to his feet and ran towards Hermione and was going to walk her to where he, Harry and Ginny had been sitting when she stopped at the opposite end of the table, taking up a seat away from everybody. Thinking she may not have seen her friends farther down the table, Ron went to Hermione and tapped her on the shoulder saying," Hermione, we're all down there why don't you come sit with us?"

Hermione just shook her head and answered dully, "No thanks Ron, I need to study." To emphasize her point, Hermione hauled out her stack of books and spread them around her plate. After picking out some toast from the table's platters of food, Hermione grabbed the book closest to her, opened it, and lost herself in it.

Ron stared. Hermione was definitely known for her studying habits but at the breakfast table? That was going a bit far even for her. Grumpy and downhearted by the strange isolation Hermione was imposing on herself, Ron made his way slowly back down the table to where Harry and Ginny sat finishing off their breakfast. Ron's own appetite was gone as he flopped onto the bench next to Ginny and he mumbled, "She's studying."

Across the Great Hall, Draco had been watching the scene with Ron and Hermione unfold and was nearly as dumbfounded as Ron at the outcome. Next to him, Blaise Zabini had been watching as well and when the red-haired Gryffindor sulked away from the Head Girl, he asked, "What do you suppose that was all about?" Draco just shrugged in answer, he really had no idea.

At every meal for the next two weeks, Ron tried to get Hermione to sit with him and the rest of her friends and every time she claimed she needed to study. Ron was at his wit's end and finally gave up. He was pouting by the time Ginny got to dinner and she elbowed him. "You're being stupid Ron, Hermione just needs time is all," she informed him in a rather know-it-all tone.

Ron glared daggers at his younger sister and then demanded, "Well after two weeks of Hermione ignoring you, aren't you the least bit worried?" Ginny nodded but didn't answer; she was pouring her pumpkin juice and didn't want to spill it. Ron, infuriated by Ginny's seeming nonchalance toward Hermione's self-imposed isolation, snarled, "So what am I supposed to do then? Just wait until she quits coming to meals all together?"

Fed up with Ron's dramatics, and the attention he was drawing to their table, she whispered harshly, "No, you ninny, talk to her after dinner at the Prefects meeting." At the rather thoughtful look that suddenly came into Ron's eyes she asked, "You have tried talking to her at Prefects meetings, haven't you?" The sudden blush that flooded Ron's face was more than enough answer for Ginny and she shook her head in amazement. How her brother could completely miss the simplest things sometimes was beyond her.

Harry, sitting on the other side of Ron from Ginny, turned his attention from the squabbling siblings to where Hermione sat surrounded by her books. Everyday for the past two weeks, while Ron and Ginny had argued, he'd been watching Hermione. Not once had he seen her flip a page in whatever book she was 'reading' during the meal. He knew she was lost in her memories and despite Ron's very obvious worry over her Harry thought she seemed to be doing a bit better now than when they'd first arrived. Her color was better and her eyes weren't nearly as puffy and dark which meant she was at least eating and sleeping better now. Just because she wasn't her normal bubbly self wasn't enough for him to worry about, if she stopped eating or sleeping, though, then he would worry.

Hermione could feel Harry's eyes on her again and she gave a small smile. Although his concern wasn't as obvious to the rest of the school as Ron's was, Hermione appreciated Harry's much more. He kept his distance and just let her be. She knew that he'd be there when she was ready to talk but for the time being Hermione just wanted to be left alone and Harry, unlike Ron, was respectful and understanding of that.

Finishing up her dinner Hermione set down her fork and started to put her books back into her bag. As she arranged them so they'd all fit she mumbled to herself, "I really should be studying more," because if Harry had noticed that she wasn't really studying during meals, there would be even more concern for her well-being. Finally all situated, Hermione climbed off the bench and turned to leave but not without first sneaking a look at Harry, who was still watching her, and flashing him a small smile to thank him for his understanding. She waited until Harry nodded and then she hurried out of the Great Hall to go do some actual studying before for the Prefects meeting that night.

Hermione rubbed her eyes and glared at her watch. She'd been studying for an hour and was at a really interesting passage but now she had to go to the Prefects meeting. Getting up from her desk, she gave a stretch gathered and up her robes from where she'd tossed them on her bed, revealing Crookshanks curled up in a ball dozing, and walked out the door.

It didn't take Hermione long to reach the Library despite having to go down three floors; she'd been there so many times should could have gotten there in her sleep. As she entered the library, she waved sweetly to Madam Pince and then continued on to where the rest of the Prefects were meeting.

As she reached the table they'd all agreed on Hermione wondered if somehow she'd missed the meeting but then, out of one of the rows of books, Draco emerged and gave her a cold smile. "Granger," he said by way of acknowledgement as he sat down in one of the two chairs at one end of the table.

"Malfoy," she answered just as coolly before taking the chair next to him. As she sat and waited for the other students to show Hermione didn't know what to do. If it had been anybody from any other house, she would have easily been able to talk about the upcoming meeting but with Draco Malfoy she was just at a lost. So with nothing else to do Hermione just stared at her hands, noting the ink spots on her fingers from taking notes. Grimacing at the sight she rubbed at the spots trying to make them go away but only succeeded in making them bigger.

She was about to get up and start browsing the books when she finally heard footsteps and voices announcing one of the Prefect groups arriving. Looking in the direction of the voices, Hermione was relieved to see that Ravenclaw was first to arrive with Slytherin only a couple paces behind them. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor both wandered in a few minutes after the first two.

As the Gryffindor Prefects entered the library, Hermione just waited for Ron to approach her. It didn't take long. Luckily for Hermione, she was talking with one of the younger Ravenclaws about something so when he asked if he could talk to her, she just answered distractedly, "Sorry Ron, I'm busy." She felt more than saw Ron go take a seat and she felt bad but he just wouldn't get the point.

As soon as all the Prefects were gathered and seated, Draco cleared his throat and started the meeting. Almost as soon as the Slytherin Head Boy started talking, Hermione's brain went elsewhere. She only spoke when the others asked her a question directly; otherwise she let Draco handle everything. The meeting was nearly over when Hermione was brought back to attention by one of the fifth year Hufflepuffs asking her something. Not quite hearing the question Hermione asked the girl to repeat it.

"I asked if it was true that your parents were killed in Diagon Alley. You seem awful distracted and I thought that might be why." As the girl waited for Hermione's answer she flinched as one of her classmates elbowed her in the side, and hissed something at her about being rude.

Hermione wanted to answer that question calmly and rationally and, after two weeks, she would have thought she'd be capable of doing that. She was dead wrong. She was about to open her mouth to answer the girl when her eyes filled up with tears. Not willing to let any of the younger years, let alone the seventh years, see her cry, Hermione bolted into the maze of books surrounding the table they were sitting at.

Behind her, Hermione could hear Draco dismiss all the Prefects and so she stopped running. Leaning against one of the bookshelves, she slid down the end of it until she was on the floor her knees drawn up to her chin as she cried for what seemed like the millionth time since her parents had died.

After a few minutes, Hermione was able to calm herself enough to wipe her tears from her cheeks and as she did that she saw two feet and the bottom of somebody's robes. Curious as to who could sneak up on her without her hearing, Hermione followed the robes up until she was greeted by a grey eyed gaze and shocking white-blond hair. More than a little surprised, Hermione just sat with her mouth dropped open for a moment before snapping it shut and looking away in shame. Just the person she needed least to see her a puffy-eyed mess was the one person who did see her that way.

Draco had let the Prefects go back to their dorms when Hermione had run off into the library and he had nearly had to throw Ron out by force. For some reason, the stupid Gryffindor just didn't get it that Hermione didn't want him around, everybody in the school could see that but him apparently. Once Draco had managed to get Ron to leave, he had set off in search of Hermione.

He found her not far from where the Prefect meeting had been, curled up in much the same way he'd found her on the train. She was crying again so he just stood there and waited for her to be done. As he waited he watched her and couldn't help but feel a strange sort of sympathy for her, which surprised him. Why would he feel anything, even something so simple as sympathy (which he could later play off as pity) for a Gryffindor? Let alone this Gryffindor, his enemy's best friend? And what was weirder still, was that he wasn't bothered by this in the least. Now, completely baffled, the Head Boy was lost in his own thoughts until the sounds of Hermione's crying stopped.

Looking at the girl where she sat on the floor, her eyes all puffy and her cheeks stained with her tears, Draco couldn't help but want to try and comfort her somehow. When she turned away from him it made that urge even stronger and before he could stop himself, Draco was kneeling beside Hermione and he had placed one hand on her shoulder.

The hand on her shoulder made Hermione flinch, and not just because she knew who it belonged to. It had been so long since she'd let anybody touch her that she was unused to it. She hadn't even let Ginny give her a friendly good morning hug; something that she'd gotten from the girl for the past five years. So, to now feel Draco's hand on her shoulder, a boy who she'd hated since the day she came to Hogwarts, Hermione couldn't help but flinch.

Draco felt Hermione flinch under his touch and he was tempted to pull away but instead he just asked her softly, "Do you want to talk about it?"

The look Hermione turned on him surprised Draco more than the words that poured from her lips, "And what would you know about losing your parents to Voldemort?" Her tone was as venomous as Draco had ever heard from her, even on the occasions he'd called her a mudblood she hadn't sounded so angry. Against his better judgment, Draco didn't remove his hand from her shoulder, in fact he gave it a gentle squeeze and looked her in the eyes.

Hermione was more than a little shocked at the sincere feeling Draco was showing her right at that moment and nearly burst into tears again. Luckily he looked away and she was able to get herself back under control before he turned back to look at her again. "Come on Grange - Hermione, lets go find somewhere to sit, this floor is kind of hard," he said when he finally did look at her again. The fact that he used her first name was just added to the growing list of surprising things that Draco was apparently capable of and stored for later examination. Instead of reacting to his use of her name, Hermione just grabbed his offered hand, which she noted was rough in all the right places but essentially smooth, and let him help her up. She also let him lead her to a pair of fluffy cushy chairs back in a back corner of the library.

When Madame Pince came to shoo them out of the library, Draco told her that they were having a rather important discussion; she just nodded and left them alone after telling them to take their time. After all, who would guess that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy would be discussing anything besides the things they were required to discuss.

It was nearly midnight when Draco and Hermione finally left the library and even later than that by the time Hermione got back to Gryffindor Tower. Whispering the password to the Fat Lady, Hermione made sure to be very quiet entering the common room. She was nearly to the girls staircase when somebody cleared their throat behind her from one of the couches. Knowing instantly who it was, Hermione just bolted up the stairs. She really didn't have the energy right now to argue with Ron and she knew thats exactly what would happen if she waited to see what he wanted.

Once inside her room Hermione shut the door and locked it then, without even bothering to light any candles, she wandered over to her trunk and dug out her pajamas. After a quick change, she flopped into bed and fell immediately into a dreamless sleep, the first she'd had in weeks.