Authors Note: WARNING! THIS IS A HERMIONE/DRACO FIC. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS COUPLING PLEASE DO NOT FLAME. YOU ARE CONTINUING TO READ WILLINGLY. This is my first serious Harry Potter fic. that I've decided to plan and go along with. I do not own the characters or setting, but a bit of the plot is mine.

Chapter One

"I absolutely will not allow you two to go along with this scheme," Hermione scowled at the two teenage boys sitting across from her at the table, "I've allowed you guys to become Crabbe and Goyle, drag me through a hidden hole in the floor under a three headed dog, organize an illegal group of wizards learning defense, and managed never to get expelled. I don't think I should risk my chances with a petty prank you'd like to pull on Draco Malfoy."

"Are you defending him from us?" Ron spat, closing his book with rage.

"No, I'm only saying that I won't be involved in this Ronald. Now please allow me to finish-."

"I can't believe this. You actually feel something for that scum!"

"I absolutely do not! I cannot believe that you would say such a thing directed towards me. His father is in Azkaban and I highly doubt that has come to terms with him yet. I only feel pity towards him, no sympathy or hormones involved. Now, Ronald, Harry, I need to finish up with my studying. Then I will retreat to dinner and will continue my day with a long nap since today is Saturday. I'd highly hope you don't do what you're planning on doing…"

"See you later, Hermione," Harry offered as he rushed after Ron, who was currently storming away.

"I can't believe that red-head of a boy…thinking that I of all people would have feelings for that wretched Malfoy…" she hissed under her breath flipping through a book, "Curse it, I can't even concentrate now!"

She slammed the book shut and gathered her bag to leave the library.

"Granger, I don't believe I've had a chance to speak with you this year…" Malfoy sneered coming from behind a bookshelf, "Though I do believe you've been speaking of me quite fancifully."

"Go to perdition, Draco," Hermione snapped tossing her hair back and walking out the door.

"I'm not done with you, Granger!" he shouted rushing after her and grabbing her arm, "I only want to talk."

"Talk? To me? The horrible mudblood?"

"Please, Granger, I really don't have time for games…"

"Fine," she hissed walking back into the library and leading him behind a particularly abandoned reading area, "what are you wanting?"

"Thanks…for saying what you said to Weasley…that was nice of you…"

"Since when do you care?" she asked looking at her nails with interest, "That's not really why I'm here, is it?"

"…No…actually…It's been granted my burden to give you this…Honestly Granger, I'm so sorry…."

"For what Draco? For-." He shoved a piece of folded paper into her ribs and walked away briskly, as if her accusations had affected him.

She opened it only to find Dumbledore's neat handwriting.

Ms.Granger,

I am sorry to inform you that today, at 3 this morning, your parents were found dead inside your lovely house. We are quite sure that this is the effect from a Death Eater attack on your home. You are now in the custody of the Weasley's until further notice.

With great sympathy,

Professor and Headmaster Dumbledore

Malfoy had read the note, that was what he had been apologizing for, she realized; he was only a few paces away.

"Malfoy!" she shouted over her shoulder, fighting back the tears as she ran to him. He turned to look at her, a dazed look in his eyes.

"You-you read this…didn't you?" she asked holding up the letter.

"Yes," he said looking down at the ground beside him, "Granger-."

"You had no right to read this…you are not concerned at all in my life, and you had no right…"

He held out a similar piece of paper to her.

"Read this, so that we'll be even."

She opened it and began to read it silently.

"No mudblood, read it out loud."

She looked up at him warily and started to read it quietly, her voice shaking.

"Mr. Draco Malfoy, I am sorry to inform you that…your father has been…executed for the death of…Mr. And Mrs. Granger, both muggles and parents of Hermione Granger…" She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Keep reading," he demanded through gritted teeth.

"He was captured a short distance from the house, and was taken back to Azkaban…the prison he had escaped from due to an unnamable source. With sympathy, Professor and Headmaster Dumbledore."

"See Granger," he said gingerly taking the letter from her hands, "we're more alike than you think…"

"No, I am nothing like you and your family, Malfoy," she choked, not caring to wipe away the tears.

"Believe it or not, Granger," he said smirking, "I'm better than the man they killed today."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"I let you in on a secret no one else will know about until the Daily Prophet comes out," he said crumbling up the letter, "and you need me, because I'm the only one who's going to understand you. Sure, Potter's parents were killed by Voldemort, but he didn't know them…you knew yours, didn't you Granger. And I knew mine. I've watched them wilt away right in front of me, and you knew it was coming too. You just didn't know how to stop it…and I can see it in your eyes. The fear, and the doubt…I'm different than my father…I would have spared them."

With that he left a shocked Hermione standing there, her books fallen to the ground.