A/N: Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! For like two days I had no reviews but now I have five! Does anyone think Draco is too much OOC? Well he will have to be, since D/Hr is OOC as it is.

Yes, due to demand I've decided this WILL be D/Hr. And no, it won't be a romance where one day "I hate you" and the next day they're in a broom closet. No no no no no. I mean right now they hate each other. I have to admit they would make a nice couple.

So anyway, please review. I'd like feedback and feel free to tell me what to work on.

Disclaimer: I do not own HP, or Draco…unfortunately…

IMPORTANT NOTE! Now that HBP has come out, this is AU! I WILL be working on a postHBP story called 'Desperate For escape' eventually, but I have to get more inspiration. This chapter has also been modified since I felt things were moving too quickly. Anyway enjoy!

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Chapter 2: What's with him? (Yes I will change POV in the story)

(Hermione POV)

History of magic…it is fascinating to see what happened a long time ago…then again sometimes it's just so boring. Maybe if we had a professor who made class more interesting more people would pay attention, though I doubt it.

Sighing I place my quill on the desk for a moment. My hand is getting tired. I know I need to keep taking notes, this is sure to be on the end of the year exams but for some reason I just don't have the will to. Closing my eyes I lean back in my seat for a moment. It was a late night last night.

Of course, Harry and Ron had been busy playing wizard chess. I don't see the point of the game; it's completely idiotic and pointless. This leaves me sitting on the side doing that transfiguration essay that is due in two weeks. Of course once I got started I wanted to complete it, so I kept going. The result had been being up until two in the morning with my ten-sheet parchment essay complete.

Picking up my quill I begin to write again. No time to dwell on last night, I have notes to take. Can't let myself zone out, I need to do well!

I feel someone's eyes on me, but don't turn around. We have important information being spoken right now, why am I the only one taking notes? And who is looking at me? The only one behind me is Malfoy…

I really want to turn around to see if it is Malfoy, but I feel the persons gaze leave and let out a breath I had been holding. Why would Malfoy be looking at me? Glancing behind me, I see it is Malfoy…he looks completely zoned out which is strange for him. Usually he is provoking someone or at least taking a couple notes.

Why am I thinking about him anyway? I have schoolwork to do! I push Malfoy out of my thoughts and continue to write, until I hear a loud thump, like a chair. I turn around and see Malfoy clutching the table. He sneers at everyone and I roll my eyes, turning around. What a prat.

There are a few minutes of silence. Glancing around, just about everyone is asleep and those who aren't are close to it. I put my quill down once more as he repeats some things I read out of the book already.

I hear someone groan behind me, but decide to ignore it. I'm done turning around for Malfoy. I deserve the chance to zone off a little in history of magic.

After a few minutes of blissful silence (except for Professor Binns) I hear something behind me again. I look to see Malfoy almost fall off his chair again, looking surprised. Maybe even a tinge of fear. How…weird. Looking away, I stare blankly at my parchment. What's with him?

The bell rings a few minutes later. Startled I rush around to gather my things and replace them in my bag. Walking up to Harry and Ron I catch the end of a sentence.

"Finally cracked."

"Who's cracked?" I ask, glancing at Malfoy to see him putting away his things, normal look back on his pale face. Whatever, who cares about Malfoy?"

"Malfoy has," Ron answered. "Almost falling off his chair, never thought he'd crack this early but obviously."

I was about to respond about how he should mind his own business when Malfoy walked over.

"Have a good sleep Weasel? Desk must be better then sleeping on the floor back home huh?" He asks, smirk on his face. In his eyes though…he didn't look happy. Looking in his eyes, all I could remember was the fear that had laid there. What had frightened him?

"Sod off Malfoy," Harry tells him, grabbing Ron, clearly intent on dragging Ron off to stop him from fighting Malfoy. Smart Harry.

"Oh look, the Weasel needs a keeper to carry him away and save him from his reality."

That was sad compared to his usual work. What is up with him lately?

"At least he has friends and isn't a worthless slave to his father!"

Harry! How could you say that? Malfoy looks shocked that's one way to put it. His mouth is even hanging open. Even more strange was that he had that look again…frightened, confused, even hurt?

I don't understand why Harry and Ron didn't see it. Malfoy pushes his way past me and heads toward the door.

"Run like the coward you are!"

"Ron!" I say, surprised in them both. I watch as Malfoy leaves the room and glare at the two of them. "That's cold you two! Honestly do you know what you guys sounded like just now? You sounded just like him!"

I strode out of the room and hear Ron mutter, "What's with her?" Scowling I walk faster, tripping over something sitting in the hallway.

It was a book. Lord Of The Rings; one of my favorites. Curiously I open the cover and flip through the pages. At the very back, in the corner of the page is a name, very small and hard to see. Squinting, I look at the name and can feel surprise fill me up. "Draco Malfoy?"

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(Draco's POV)

After walking aimlessly for a while I found myself in a deserted corridor. I'd never been here before and slowly leaned against the wall. Looking around I noticed that the only light was a lone torch down near the dead end of the corridor. Sighing a slid down the wall to the floor, looking at the wall in front of me.

The real question here was…well I don't know. It's really confusing. I mean…what if you always did what your father told you otherwise you'd be punished? What if your life was in danger if you didn't do something, even if it was wrong? What if you had been brought up to hate everything and everyone who is not pureblood, otherwise you were in trouble with the people who should care about you and protect you?

Welcome to my life.

I have to tell you, it's hard. Especially when you're starting to doubt your father. I mean don't get me wrong; I was already doubting him before. I didn't think many fathers punished their children by hitting them, but I always thought I deserved it. Now, I'm not so sure.

I've always deserved it. I mean, when I was about nine I was playing with a muggle. How stupid was that! I know muggles are nowhere near the superiority of us pure bloods but still…I had just wanted someone to play with.

But it was my fault; I deserved everything I got after that. No matter what I do, it will never be enough, because my father expects better of me.

I'll always be punished…I'll always deserve it.

I mean I'm a Malfoy; I shouldn't be doing stupid things like playing with muggles or something like that. There are some things I can't help…like my grades. I really try, I get second…but second isn't good enough.

It doesn't help that there are people all around that would tell my father if I even got insulted. He will probably know about mine and Potters 'talk' by this evening, when I'll get an owl saying how I can't let Potter insult me.

Suddenly, I look up as a shadow falls over me.

/…/…/…/…/…/…/…/ (Normal POV)

Hermione had decided she better return his book, plus she could apologize for her friends. That really was rude to say. She didn't like Malfoy but she wasn't going to be mean like that, it just wasn't her.

"What do you want mudblood?" Draco snapped, glaring at her. Quickly he stood up, a look of disgust on his pale face.

Hermione glared. "I came to say sorry for what my friends said, it really wasn't fair of them," she said, anger welling up. She comes to say something nice and he starts getting mad at her!

"I don't need to hear 'sorry' and I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me because of something your stupid friend said, which isn't even true! Get out of my site!" he spat.

Turning, Hermione started to stomp off. Realizing she was still clutching his book she spun around again and faced him. "And I found your book!" she yelled, in blind anger throwing it at him. She smirked as it hit him on the head and turned to leave when a piece of parchment caught her eye. Picking it up, thinking it fell out of the book, she turned away again, hoping he hadn't see her walk off with it.

He hadn't.

"Stupid little mudblood…thinking she can…" He trailed off as he recognized the book, he must have dropped it. But that meant….

No! No, it has to be in here! Draco thought, flipping through the pages. But that was it, it was gone. The letter…it was out there, anyone could find it, anyone could read it! His father would be furious with him. Snapping the book closed he looked up and down the corridor in search of the letter. No such luck, the letter from his father was gone.

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Ungrateful little slimy git Hermione thought, storming down the halls to her dormitory. How could he be such a, a

"Hippogriff!" Hermione said loudly, storming inside when the fat lady let her in, though lecturing about how it wasn't nice to yell at portraits who didn't do anything to you.

Storming into her dormitory she was glad to see it empty. Everyone was probably at the Great Hall or something. "Why am I letting him get to me? Like he could really be possible of kindness!"

Suddenly noticing something clutched in her hand, she opened it. "Oh yes, the parchment."

She slowly sat down on the bed, wondering if she should read it or not. It was Draco's private business, but he was rude, and she was curious.

Slowly she opened the parchment and read what she found to be a letter.

Dear Draco,

I know it is only a few days into term, but I must give you this reminder. You are not to be beaten in grades by that filthy mudblood, do you hear me? How could you let a filthy mudblood be better then you? Don't give me anything about Crabbe and them, because that isn't the issue here. The issue is keeping the Malfoy name pure.

Furthermore I cannot believe you would do something like that! How could you shame us by being kind to a mudblood first year, Gryffindor non the less! I do not care for your excuses; we will discuss this when you come home for holiday break.

I don't know what is wrong with you lately! How could you sink to the level of mudbloods! I've been informed you barley even insult Potter and his two sidekicks anymore!

You should see your mother boy, she's so lost without me here to command her around. Maybe it would be better to get rid of her, remember how she used to care for you?

I am allowed to send an owl once in awhile so you will not always hear from me, but mark my words, you will pay if you do not uphold the family name. I can still receive owls, and I will not be in Azkaban much longer. Watch the papers.

Destroy this letter after you read it. If I hear anyone has seen this but you I will personally kill you, and it will not be a quick death you can believe me. If I don't hear improvement in your behavior I will pull you out of Hogwarts the second I'm out of this place, do you hear me boy!

Lucius

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I'm sorry this took me so much longer then I thought it would. I'd answer reviews but I want to get this up before pizza gets here. I'll try not to take so long next time.

Please review