Well, here goes chapter 2. I want to thank Krista for being the very first person to review my story, it means a lot to me. Thanks for the positive imput, and I can't wait to read your story. Please review with any suggestions, or comments. Thanks!! Phaedra

Chapter 2 Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Two weeks passed uneventfully. Hermione's classes were the same one's she had taken since her first year, only they were increasingly difficult. She found no trouble in achieving all A's since she preferred to drowned her thoughts among yellowing pages. She saw very little of Ron and Harry, and the two expressed their concern for her on several occasions. The three had once been inseparable. Now, the chasm which had formed over the summer seemed only to grow as the year progressed.
Hermione was careful to avoid Malfoy at all costs, since he was the only one to witness her break down. She always left the common room first for classes, and immersed herself in reading by the lake until the light in his room flickered off. She thought out a careful routine, in which she hoped she could avoid seeing him all year. The only thing she dreaded was the meeting coming up the following evening. This was one for all the prefects, and the head boy and girl to discuss a celebration before winter break. This meeting was not avoidable. A head girl was not allowed to miss something that important without being in the hospital wing, and she assumed they would just move the meeting there if that was the case. She slowly walked back to the common room at 6:30, praying Malfoy was with one of his stupid friends.

Draco had spent the two weeks since the encounter with Granger carefully avoiding her. He still didn't know how he should act around her. He waited for her to leave every morning before he would chance entering the common room, and he went straight to his room at 9:00, knowing she would still be studying somewhere. Something inside his gut told him that he had witnessed something more than frustration, and he silently respected that. He had no desire to make fun of her right now, which shocked him.
Draco was on edge about the perfect's meeting they were to hold that evening at 7:00. He knew he couldn't escape one night, though he had already tried. He decided he would call her a few names, just to keep the gossip down. The last thing he wanted was for the school to think he liked that dirty little witch. He returned to the common room at 6:15, and threw himself on the couch.

Hermione changed into a pair of jeans, and an old faded t-shirt. She threw her hair up in a sloppy ponytail, and then exited her room. She gasped at the sight of Malfoy sprawled upon the couch. She realized that she had not used the common room once since their arrival. Malfoy looked up at her, and his eyes grew slightly wider. He looked away quickly, pretending he didn't notice her. She threw him a terrible look and charged toward the hallway. "Hey, Granger" he called, "I don't know what was up with you, but I haven't told anyone, so let's just forget it ok?" "Yeah, it would be easy to forget anyone has feelings wouldn't it?" barked Hermione as she charged through the exit.

Draco sat in silence watching the area where her slender form had disappeared. He shrugged his shoulders, and made an agreement with himself that at least he tried. He also rose to his feet an left the common room. After turning left at the end of the dimly lit corridor he fell over something blocking his way.
"What the...." he yelled, thrashing his head back. He turned to see Hermione on all fours desperately searching the ground for something. She didn't even seem to notice he was there. "What are you doing?" he stated flatly, a little curious.
"It doesn't concern you" she gurgled. He could tell she was crying by the splatters on the ground, and the choking voice.
"Well, whatever" he said as he forced himself up. He started to take a step when he froze, Hermione let out a scream "NO!". She lunged forward and picked up the thing Draco was about to step on. He caught a slight glimpse of a golden heart.
"What's that?" he asked, trying to sound casual. The look she returned from her tear streaked face was enough to send him stumbling backwards again. He turned abruptly and left.

Hermione didn't know how it happened. One minute she was walking down the corridor, and the next her chain had broken, and the locket smashed upon the stone. The locket was her constant reminder that her mother loved her, and now it was shattered. After Malfoy had left she stared down into the face of her mother, and then gathered the piece of her father. She slowly turned around and walked back to her dorm. Once there she placed her prized possession under her pillow, and made an attempt to straighten her appearance. She cringed at the thought of Malfoy seeing her twice in utter despair. She slowly trudged back out into the hall, headed for the meeting.

Draco didn't know exactly what he had just witnessed. It looked as though Granger had broken a necklace, nothing to get so worked up over. He chuckled to himself as he pictured Hermione pregnant, explaining her mood swings. The thing he couldn't stop thinking about however were the glances she threw at him every time. It was the strangest look he had ever seen. Something in her eyes told of pain, and understanding, but her actions told everyone, especially him, to back off.

Hermione filed into the small dungeon room a few minutes after Draco. She took all caution to avoid his searching glance, and moved to the far end of the room. Her cheeks grew hot when she glanced up and noticed she had been holding the entire meeting up. She mumbled some sort of apology, and continued to stare at her laced fingers sitting neatly on her lap.

"Now," began professor McGonagall, "We are rapidly approaching our winter holiday, therefore, some sort of celebration is in order. The staff has proposed a sort of winter dance, themed however you collective students wish. You may make any suggestion you wish at this time."

After a moment or two a fifth year perfect slowly raised her hand. McGonagall nodded her head as permission, and the girl quietly suggested a dance themed around family, and togetherness. She suggested we all dress a part, like fathers and mothers, and children.

Draco peered across the dimly lit room, and recognized the look in Hermione's eyes, is was barely concealed fear. He wasn't sure what could possibly upset her about that suggestion, assuming she loved her family. Then he noticed the casual nods of agreement circling the room, and her eyes grew even wider in panic. He mentally shrugged, and decided he owed her this. "That's a stupid idea, how many kids have lost someone in their family, that would only hurt." All eyes focused on Draco.

"And you have something better to offer Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall asked, both eyebrows raised to the middle of her forehead.

"Well, actually now that you mention it," he stole a quick look at Hermione, and he was taken aback by the sheer look of gratefulness she was displaying. His breath caught in his throat, but he forged on, "Yeah I was thinking maybe we could do sort of a founding fathers sort of dance, where we all dress up as they would of when Hogwarts first opened, celebrating the way they would have."

"That's a really good idea!" Hermione nearly shouted out of pure relief. Anything that wouldn't remind her of her mother. Her poor broken mother. The room all voiced approval, and within minutes it was decided. The theme of the dance was "Hogwarts, a History" cleverly named by Hermione herself.

After the meeting Hermione watched Draco leave the room. She felt like she owed him something. Was it just her imagination, or did he sort of just come to her rescue, even if he didn't know it. She decided she would try to say something nice, maybe show a little appreciation. She hurried down the corridor and nearly ran into his back at full force. She stopped short, and he turned around slowly, training his cold gaze on her.

"Um, I just wanted to say that was a really great suggestion in there" dear God thank you so much for saving me from the worst pain ever, " Do you have any ideas on how we can decorate it?"

Draco merely stared blankly at her, and slowly turned back around. He was at a loss for words. He had put together that this was some sort of a thank you on her part, but how could he let her know he understood, that he watched her every action. He shrugged mildly and then said, "I guess we could probably find some old stuff in some of the storage rooms, guess you better go do some research huh?" The last part of this was said in a bit of a biting tone, sort of a hint at how he felt being ignored constantly in favor of books, and idiots like Weasly and Potter.

Hermione was determined not to let that comment rile her temper, instead she shrugged and said "You're right, I should, we will make this the best winter festival ever. Maybe I can read up on some old games, and we can play those. That would be fun right?" She fidgeted nervously with the ends of her robes.

"Yeah, that would be alright. Well, I guess I'll see you at the festival." With that Draco continued walking, leaving no room for more conversation, and no pace to keep up with. Hermione stared at his back as he walked away. She had a feeling that he had helped her on purpose, and she didn't think that is was just her imagination that he was being semi decent to her. But what could he possibly mean by "See you at the festival" we share a common room for crying out loud. But then again, you haven't stayed in there for more than 2 minutes ever since that first day. Maybe he's right...