A/N Hey all, it Anna here and this is my first chapter for this fanfic, I really hope you like it. ;)

"As I was saying," Malfoy started again but was cut off by some people running into the head's compartment. It was two fourth year students that Hermione didn't know.

"We need your help! Two of the 7th years got into a fight and they are sending every spell they know at each other but they keep on missing and hitting other people!" yelled the boy as the girl was ready to start crying. Malfoy and Hermione started running, but Hermione wasn't as fast as Malfoy and when she got to the fight Malfoy already froze the two boys that were fighting. They happened to be two Slytherin boys that were fighting over a pleased looking girl.

Hermione watched as Malfoy sorted everything out and gave out proper punishments. It surprised her how gentle he seemed to be and fair, so unlike the boy she though she knew. For a second she watched him almost dreamily, until Ron and Harry's faces swam into her thoughts. She silently scolded herself for forget the wrong Malfoy had done to them for 5 years.

Perhaps he had changed, but it was too late for forgiveness. Plus what about his father, the apple never falls too far from the tree. His kindness seemed real, but Hermione never let her guard down.

She suddenly snapped back when she realized Malfoy was standing beside her. He asked her "Was I fair?"

"Very," she replied with a smile.

They walked slowly back to their compartment.

"Now that it's settled I really must tell you something important." Malfoy continued.

Hermione sensed urgency, as though Malfoy needed to get something off his chest.

"I understand how I may have been rather cruel to you, but you must understand my father is not the kindest man on earth. There were imperious curses, and death threats, and Crabbe and Goyle were not my friends but rather guardians over me."

Hermione gasped, this was all huge news to her, and she couldn't believe that all theses years, there was a kind boy inside the monster she saw on the outside. When Malfoy continued his words fell out telling a story so frightful Hermione couldn't believe it.

"I don't think you can imagine, growing up in a house, where you are not a person but rather a pawn in a huge game of chess. I was always expected to spy on you and Ron and Harry, of course I had to watch Dumbledore and Snape, for Snape was not in a very comforting position. I had no friends to talk to, because the friends I had were all sons of Death Eaters and very proud about it, they wouldn't understand. They envied me, for my father was very well respected and Voldemort's right hand man. I could not talk to you because you had hated me; I had no one I could trust, and no one to understand me. Most people thought I was happy with my life and I was rotten to the core, but my father knew better, he enlisted the help of some very close friends, and I always felt their eyes on me, I pretended to change. 'Weasley is our King' was one of my cruel attempts, so I must apologize while I'm on the topic. Although I did everything, my father always saw through it, I was beaten and tortured and I never made him proud. Even my mother was cold to me, I never felt a mother's warmth that I so craved."

Hermione took a quick intake of air and felt the room spinning; this was all so fast and unreal. She didn't know what to do so she took Malfoy's hand and held it between hers as he talked, it seemed to surprise him but he continued.

"When my father was caught and sent to Azkaban I though I would be happy, but no it was not to be. At home my mother was going crazy because my father was gone; she was always chanting strange curses and looked like a mess. At school last year you may have noticed I was rather quiet, it's because I had no friends, I no longer had to be cruel but people didn't expect that, they still though I was rotten, or I was a snobby rich kid, there was nothing I could do but absorb myself in my studies, I though I could become a healer and work to save people, but I doubt anyone would trust me. "

Hermione stared at him in wonder, she couldn't think of something to say, or somehow to comfort him.

"And then with out my consent my parents, well this isn't the time to tell you."

Hermione replied "When the time comes, I be here to listen. Always."

Malfoy looked up and gave a small smile and a friendly hug. "Sorry to burden you with all this, first time I could talk to someone, I'm really sorry about your friends."

"No worries, we'll be okay." she replied, doubting she was right.

Hermione looked out the window and noticed that they were in front of Hogwarts. "We're here." she said simply.

The exited together, and began their Head duties although both were a little absent minded.

Once they reached the Grand Hall it was chaos. Students were running and greeting all their friends and animals were hooting and meowing or in Neville's case croaking. Hermione turned to smile at Malfoy but saw him talking to Dumbledore, she saw him turn paler then he already was and walked away following the headmaster down the hall.

Hermione quietly followed them to a nearby classroom. She thought that Dumbledore must be in a hurry because he didn't bother to even close the door, but that thought stayed very shortly because what Hermione heard next shocked her but even more …

it broke her heart.

A/N Hey all, please read and review. Also expect the next chapter very soon, by Sandra!

P.S. we didn't get a lot of reviews please review so we know what to improve on and stuff.