Malfoy sat on a chair and didn't move for thirty minutes. The ride must be over soon, he thought desperately, but when he checked his watch, he saw they still had another two or three hours. Perfect.

He knew he was mean to Hermione, but he wasn't about to apologize. He never apologized to anyone.

But he decided that there may have been some truth in her words when she said she'd push him in front of a rampaging rhino. He didn't think she'd really do it, knowing Hermione, it'd worse and more painful. Great.

So he got up, making sure his wand was in his pocket and went to her compartment again.

She was sitting down, looking out the window.

The storm had stopped, but it was still as black as night.

"Hey granger." Malfoy said announcing his presence.

"Hello." Was Hermione's reply without looking at him.

"Listen granger, I'm not going to say sorry, but-"

"Then why are you here?" Hermione asked still not looking at him.

"Would you let me finish?" Malfoy snapped. "anyway, like I was saying, I'm not going to apologize, but I don't think it's a good idea that we get off this train hating each other and ready to curse the other into oblivion."

Hermione remained quiet, but she did turn to look at him in the eye, not even blinking.

"Anyway," Malfoy went on, uncomfortably. "Because, like you know, we need each other to stay alive."

"Hmm, sounds like you are apologizing Malfoy." Hermione said almost smiling.

"Well, call it whatever you want granger." Malfoy said, though he didn't snap, he was just trying to get her to stop looking at him without blinking- it was unnatural.

"alright Malfoy. We're okay, and I wont curse you." Hermione said finally blinking. "But maybe we should start calling each other by the names we were given…"

"You mean like Draco and…Hermione?" he paused before he said her name.

"No, I mean the ones we're meant to go by for this protection program."

"oh."

"Because if we ever speak to each other, we have to say that name instead."

"And what makes you think we'll talk to each other?" Malfoy said though he was smirking.

"Oh nothing, besides the fact we'll be living only a street away, having pretty much the same classes…we're the only person the other one knows…yeah, nothing at all." Hermione replied sarcastically. "Oh, I really wish this train ride wouldn't take so long." She added frustrated looking back out the window.

"hmmm I suppose." Malfoy said. This…well, niceness between him and granger was unnerving. "What was you're name again?"

"Abby Forewell.' Hermione answered, and as expected, a lump rose in her throat because now she wasn't with Harry or Ron , and she couldn't speak to them either.

"Jason Gibbs." Malfoy said in mock politeness. "Who thinks up these names?"

"Someone who has nothing better to do I guess." Hermione answered smiling slightly and forcing herself to forget Hogwarts, to forget, Harry and Ron and most of all, to forget she was a witch, for none of that would help her.

"Yeah." Malfoy sat down on a seat and pulled out his wand. "Just so we don't disturb this new…rather weird, piece, I'm going to ask you first. Can I get a snake or not? Because I'm so board."

Hermione looked at him, then his wand. "Yes alright, but keep it over there." She pointed out quickly as Malfoy smirked and raised his wand.

"as you wish." He said smirking still, and in less then two seconds, a black snake was again slithering around on the floor.

Once it came close to Crookshanks's seat, and Hermione's cat hissed and spat until Draco got up, curled the snake around his arm and sat down again while it slithered around his head, neck and torso.

Hermione watched him a look of disgust and wonder on her face. "Since when have you been the doctor dolittle with animals?"

"Doctor who?"

"Never mind, just answer the question."

"Since I could cast this spell. And its just snakes. I trust snakes."

"Why?" Hermione said her eyes widening as the snake got closer and closer to Malfoy's throat. She thought for a brief moment, and hoped that it would bit him, but then mentally slapped herself for thinking such thoughts.

"Because snakes are cunning, and they're hunters. Every time they're different."

"Right…"

"here, if it'll make you feel better…" at first Hermione thought he was going to get rid of it, but he stood up and quickly crossed over to her and put the snake around her neck.

Hermione was so ready to scream but stopped herself as the triangular head rose and looked at her in the eye.

"They can smell fear." Draco said smirking.

"I cannot believe you are doing this!" Hermione said shaking but trying not to be afraid. The snake looked at her for a few more minutes before it was picked up by Malfoy who curled it around his arm.

Hermione stayed perfectly still for a few minutes, thinking Malfoy was going to give her the snake again but he didn't.

"right, this is boring now." Malfoy said then waved his wand and the snake was gone.

"You bore easily." Hermione remarked, stretching her fingers and rolling her shoulders. "But never, never put another snake around me again or I will curse you so hard…in fact…" Hermione pointed her wand at him but Malfoy reacted too and they both had their wands at each others hearts.

"Well, who shall move first?" Hermione asked, knowing she had the advantage of knowing more spells.

"I don't know, the one who chickens out I guess." Was Malfoy's reply.

"Ahh, and are you a chicken Jason Gibbs?" Hermione asked smiling at the name.

"No, I'm not, are you?"

They were so close; they could feel each others breath on their faces.

"No. I'm a lion." Hermione quickly pulled back and smiled. "I was only kidding. But go over there. You're too close for comfort."

Malfoy smirked. "ahh you are a chicken."

"Not as much as you."

"Chicken"

"Ferret"

"Chicken" Malfoy said then made clucking noises.

Hermione, without Malfoy noticing pointed her wand at him and muttered "Silencio" under her breath.

One second malfoy's voice was there, and the next, his mouth was moving without any sound.

He looked at Hermione was chuckling and gave her a stare that could kill voldemort himself.

"Well, this is how I like you Jason Gibbs- un able to speak." Hermione said enjoying her voice and the fact that it was the only one.

Malfoy gave her a look that plainly said, 'if you don't give me my voice back I'll personally murder you.'

Hermione smiled innocently. "But what do I get in return?"

Malfoy frowned. Then glared at her.

"Oh alright." Hermione cast the reverse and Malfoy's voice was back.

"You are a party pooper. Never take my voice away again." He said rubbing his throat then sitting down.

"You know, snakes like chicken."

"Is that supposed to mean something?" Hermione asked rising an eye brow.

"No. It's a fact."

They sat in silence for ten minutes when Malfoy pointed his wand at Hermione and her hair went static. "Well now, that's an improvement." Malfoy said controlling his laughter.

Hermione pointed her wand at her hair which was standing on end and returned it to normal.

"Aww, you really are no fun." Malfoy said pouting and sitting back.

When he saw that Hermione had simply returned to her book, he pointed his wand again, but this time at the book. "Accio book"

The book flew from Hermione's hands and into malfoy's. she sighed and looked at him. "Please give me my book back." She tried to remain clam, but it was proving hard.

"No because you're no fun."

"Oh, I can be fun." Hermione said standing up and walking towards him. "I can be lots of fun."

Malfoy looked at her as she came closer and closer, then bent down so she was almost kissing him.

"But, I just want my book back." And she snatched it and went back to her seat.

Malfoy smirked. "I think you don't even know the meaning of the word 'fun'"

"Oh I think I do. I'm just not fun when I'm around you and that's no crime." Hermione replied opening her book and looking for her page.

"alright then gran-forewell, while we're in this hell hole, you have to prove you're fun. At this school, if you're popular within two days, then ill believe you."

"And why should I prove it to you?"

"Because you'll have nothing better to do."

"Right then, and what about you?" Hermione asked looking over at him, "wont you become little Mr. popular?"

"Within a day or two, yes. All girls shall be dreaming of me, like they are in Hogwarts." Malfoy said smugly.

"yes, all but one girl." Hermione said pointing guestering to herself.

"Ha! By the end of the week, you'll be asking me out."

"Right Jason. Keep dreaming."

Malfoy smirked.

Hermione returned to her book for the rest of the train ride.

In an hour and a half, they had pulled up at platform nine and 3/4. They hulled their luggage off the train and saw that waiting for them on the platform was Fudge.

"Hello you two. I'm not staying long, just here to tell you very quickly that there's a gentleman waiting for you outside the station with a car. He'll take you to your new families then you're on your own." With a smile, he was gone.

"Great." Malfoy said sarcastically pulling his trunk along. "Just what I need to start this nightmare off. A muggle driver who'll look at us strangely, you with your fry pan squashed cat, trunk and hair, me with my trunk and good looks. Perfect."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him but walked over to the magical wall and walked through it. Kings Cross station was packed with muggles walking briskly past them, not noticing their trunks. They made their way over to the door and saw a man in a black jacket, black pants and white shirt waiting beside a, you guess it, black car.

He spotted Hermione and Draco and walked over to them, offered to help them carry their things to the car and climbed in the front seat, all without introducing himself.

Before climbing in the back seat, Draco and Hermione exchanged glances and both put their hands in their pockets were their wands were.

When they were in, Hermione closed the door and the driver turned the key and the engine kicked into life, and they pulled off the curb and into the traffic.

The driver didn't speak, but kept looking at them through his rear view mirror with sad eyes. Draco and Hermione didn't speak either but looked out the window at London which was passing by.

After about thirty minutes the driver spoke.

"I was told not to speak to you, but I cant stand it." He said looking at them again with such pity in his eyes that Hermione wondered what was wrong. "I'm sorry to hear about your parents, both of you."

With another glance at each other, Hermione and Draco had to think before the stories about their 'past' came back. Hermione was the first to speak.

"Thankyou." She said pretending to look sad at the memory.

"Yeah, thanks." Draco said a little less convincingly.

"I know you don't want to talk about it, so ill be quiet- oh, by the way, names Goopi, Goopi Gilbert, but my friends call me Goopi Gil." He smiled.

Draco snorted quietly with laughter, and thankfully only Hermione noticed.

Soon after he introduced himself, the driver pulled up in front of a double story house in a quiet street.

"Here's your stop." He said getting out and began taking the luggage out the back.

"Goopi? Who would name their child Goopi?" Draco asked quietly and snorting.

"I don't know." Hermione herself found it hard not to laugh. "But shut up and get out." She smiled and climbed out before Malfoy said anything else on their driver's name.

The house which stood in front of Hermione was like a little cottage. A pebble path lead from the road up to a little cream colored home, with brown windows. It was two story, and looked so cozy, Hermione hoped that this was her home because she would appreciate it unlike Malfoy. It had a nice little garden and everything.

A woman about 27 came out of the house and walked towards them, a warm and inviting smile on her face.

"I wasn't expecting you for another hour or so, but I guess the earlier the better!" she smiled at them. "You must be Abby Forewell, I'm Debby Moore" she shook Hermione's hand. Hermione, or Abby, liked her already. "And you must be Jason Gibbs."

Draco smiled for once in his life and shook the woman's hand. "Yes I am."

"I was so sorry to hear about both of you're…misfortunes." She looked at them sadly. "Are you related somehow?"

It took a great deal of self control to not laugh at this, but Hermione answered looking civilized. "No we're not related…in any way. We were told to be dropped off together though."

"Of course, I'll take Jason around to his new home soon." Debby smiled. "Here, come inside. I'll help you with your things."

It was then that Hermione noticed that Goopi had put their things next to them and driven off. Debby picked up Hermione's trunk and started off towards her house. Hermione took Crookshanks who was grouchy that he was in the cage and followed Debby. Draco rolled his eyes and went after them.

Hermione's mouth dropped when she walked in the door that Debby held open for her. The walls were a coffee colour and had photos and paintings of people and landscapes. Straight a head there was a stair case leading off to the upstairs rooms and to the right there was a dinning room and a kitchen, then to the left there was a lounge room which lead outside to a sitting area and a pool.

"Just leave your things here, and I'll make you some tea." Debby said closing the door behind Draco. She went into the kitchen and boiled the water while Hermione and Draco sat themselves down at the dinning table without saying anything.

"I realize this must be confusing and new to you, but ill try to make it as comfortable as possible." Debby said returning with three cups of tea. "My husband, Matt is away on business and wont return for a few months."

Hermione smiled and Draco just drank his tea.

"When you're done with that, ill take you to your home Jason.' Debby said. "Abby, would you like to come?"

'Yes, I think so." Hermione answered smiling at debby and sipping her tea.

A few minutes of silence passed and they had all finished their tea so Debby suggested showing Draco his home.

They left Hermione's things in the foyer and made their way outside, Draco dragging his trunk behind him.

They walked for about three minuets before stopping in front of a house that was colored a silvery white with black windows. It too was two stories, but had a small garden and a black roof.

A woman greeted them walking briskly from the house and Hermione was reminded of Professor McGonagall.

"You must be Jason Gibbs.' She said in a chirpy voice. She may look strict with her hair pulled back in a high pony tale, and a slightly pointed nose, but her voice suggested she was very nice once she was known. "My name is Meggie Parkinson, and this-"

A man also walked out and stopped by his wife. "This is my husband, Ethan."

Ethan held out his hand and shook draco's.

"And you must be Debby Moore. Is that correct?" the woman said looking at debby who nodded and smiled. "Pleased to meet you. Thank you for offering to walk him here. Poor thing." She sighed.

"right well, I have to get Abby settled in, so-" Debby began but Ethan stopped her.

"Abby?" he looked around and saw Hermione. He smiled. "Oh, forgive me, I am so sorry, I didn't see you there. How are you?"

"Umm, I've been better." Hermione answered shaking his out stretched hand.

"Oh of course, of course," Ethan nodded knowingly.

"Yes, well, I'm sure we'll probably be in touch, as these two are going to the same school. It was a pleasure to meet you. Good day." Debby said smiling and leading Hermione away.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder and saw Draco look at her almost worryingly before Meggie lead him inside, while Ethan grabbed his trunk.

"So Abby." Debby said as they were walking home. "I am truly sorry about the incident. I will try my hardest to help you feel at home."

"Thank you." Hermione answered smiling. "Its just hard."

"Of course it is. But this is a lovely part of London, and I'm sure you'll love it here. Besides, you and that Jason seam to have a connection." Debby winked at her and Hermione laughed.

"Yes I guess…but I don't really know him." Hermione lied.

"Are you sure?" Debby asked, not seeing Hermione's face, that clearly said 'oh my god, how did she know?' and continued. "You seam to have known each other for years."

"Oh well, they kept us close together for a few days…" Hermione said thinking.

"Yes…well, I'll show you to your room?" Debby said opening the front door and waiting for Hermione to walk inside.

"Alright." Hermione agreed and grabbed her trunk and cat and followed Debby up the stairs and down a corridor with two doors before stopping at a third and going inside.

It was a fairly large room, with a double bed, a walk in closet, a desk and a computer, and another door that adjoined to the bathroom.

"Wow." Was all Hermione said. Debby smiled at Hermione's expression.

"I'll leave you to settle in and explore. But if you leave the house, could you please find me first so I know you're gone?"

"Sure." Hermione said nodding.

"Right, I'll call you for dinner if you're hungry." Debby gave her another smile and closed the door behind her.

Hermione knew that Debby would make this easy, and she was glad. If she had been stuck with a rude and mean family, she was sure that she'd rather have taken her chance with Voldemort.

Crookshanks's meow filled her ears and Hermione let him out making sure he could only explore the room. Hermione hulled her trunk onto her bed and opened it. She took out her pjs and put them under one of the pillows on her new bed, and started un loading all her things into the walk in closet. Her wand…where was she supposed to put that?

There was a window next to the bed so Hermione put her wand there, deciding that if debby asked about it, she would say her parents had bought as a joke for one of her birthdays and it was something that she was allowed to keep to remind her of them. Yes, that sounds right and believable.

When she was unpacked, she yawed and realized how tired she was. Hermione had a very quick shower and climbed into bed. Her cat climbed onto the bed and curled up behind her legs and began purring.

About two hours later, Debby knocked softly on Hermione's door and waited for a response. When she didn't, she quietly opened the door, saw Hermione sleeping and closed the door again.

"Poor thing." She said quietly to herself then went down stairs again.

Draco was surprised of how alone he felt after Hermione was lead off. He was with two strangers, and he was going into their house. They seamed nice enough, but would he be able to be nice back? For a minuet he doubted it, but then he remembered he was Draco Malfoy and that he can do anything he set his mind to. Even if that meant being nice. God forbid.

Inside, the walls were a cream colour with peach type carpet. There was a kitchen to the left, and a dinning room. To the right, there was a small study. When Meggie asked Draco to follow her, they walked through the kitchen and dinning room, and then into a lounge room with a staircase to one side. When she showed him upstairs, she led him down a corridor that had six doors. The first one Meggie said was a spare room, the next was a bathroom, and the next was his room. She said the other two where hers and Ethan's room, and their bathroom.

His room was brilliant. It had a desk and computer, a large closet, a double bed and a door leading off to the bathroom. There was another door which led to a small balcony that overlooked their back yard which had a pool, a large oak tree and a paved area and garden table.

"You like it?" Meggie asked smiling.

"Yes, it's great." Draco smiled at her. "Thank you."

"Well now, ill leave you alone, and please, if you need anything, just ask."

Draco nodded. She left him alone in his new room and for a minuet Draco wondered on what to do. He decided to go to bed as he had a long and tiring arguing day with granger. He had a shower and jumped into bed, closing the curtains which blocked a little of the moon which was shinning now in the dark sky.

The next morning Hermione woke up with the sun shinning through her eye lids. She yawned, stretched and got up. She had slept much better then what she thought she would have, and of course, woke early, before Debby.

She got up and dressed, stowed her wand in her pocket and went down stairs. On the table, Debby left her a note.

Abby, in case you wake before I do, here's a little bit of money. I'm sure you would like to wonder around so, here, spend this on whatever. If you need me, call me on this number:

At the bottom there was a home number. Hermione tore the number off carefully and put it in her pocket. She counted the money on the table. It was plenty for a small amount of shopping so Hermione put it in her pocket and went outside for a walk and exploration.

Draco woke up around the time the sun was rising and slowly got up and dressed. He went down stairs and saw Ethan sitting at the kitchen table, drinking something out of a thick white mug.

"Morning Jason. Sleep well?" Ethan asked as Draco sat opposite him.

"Yes it was great." He replied.

"Right that's good." Ethan was dressed in black pants, white shirt and business jacket. "I'm always up this early." Ethan said watching Draco who was looking at him. "I have to go to work soon anyway. Oh, here, Meggie wanted me to give you this," he reached into his pocket and pulled out muggle money. "Use this today. Just look around the area. If you get lost, then call this number," he pulled out another piece of paper with a number on it. "Have a good day, ive got to go."

Draco nodded. "Alright. Thanks."

About ten minutes after Ethan left, Draco left himself and walked down the street, the way Hermione lived.

But he ran into her half way there.

"Oh, I never thought you were a morning person." Hermione said smiling innocently.

"I continue to surprise." Draco smirked. "Out for a morning walk?"

"Yes. You?"

"Of course. Why else would I be out here?"

"I don't know…maybe the muggles were scaring you." Hermione suggested.

'Actually," Malfoy continued to smirk. "they aren't that bad."

"Wow. I never thought I'd hear you say that." Hermione said looking shocked for a brief moment. "But then, the snake cant have poison in his fangs forever."

Draco's smirk widened. "No, he cant."

"Right…well…erm…" this was so awkward for Hermione that she didn't know what to say. After a pause, she spoke again. "Do you want to look around here with me?"

"What? Like a date?" Draco winked.

"Absolutely not. If you don't want to then-" Hermione walked past him but Draco grabbed her arm.

"I was kidding. Alright, ill look around with you."

"Oh good, because you never have a sense of humor." Hermione smirked at him.

"Okay, first of all, that's my smirk, second of all, I do have a sense of humor, and third of all, lets just go." He said walking away.

This is going to be such a long…whatever it is, Hermione thought as she followed him, keeping a few paces behind. I cant believe I'm here without Harry or Ron, and only Malfoy. God damn Voldemort and god damn the ministry of magic! It's their fault I'm here. Hermione sighed and continued walking, her head bowed, and not actually noticing all the things around her that were there to see.

Draco was though. There was some funny metal thing on wheels that sped past him, and made a sound like it was angry when he tried to cross the road in front of it.

How rude, though Draco as he quickly crossed the road and waited for Hermione on the other side.

She, somehow managed to avoid being beeped at without even looking up. But when she got closer, Draco saw she had been crying silently, as a line of shining tears were on her cheeks, heading only south. For a minute, he felt bad for her, and a tinge of pity, but he brushed that off quickly. He thought of making a rude comment, and teasing her, but the fact was, he felt the same way she did- alone, lost and completely unprotected. So he decided to say something else.

"Hey granger, your crying." Well, it wasn't rude at least just…dull.

"Well spotted." Hermione remarked wiping her tears away and turning down a street that was very crowded with people. These people, Hermione thought, aren't away from their friends and family. A group of girls walked past, giggled at Malfoy and went along, blushing and whispering.

Malfoy smirked at the muggle girls when they looked at him but didn't say a word as he court up to Hermione who seamed to be looking for something.

A small brown building with two doors; one with a blue woman figure on it, the other with a male. Hermione pushed the woman door open and disappeared in side. For a joke, Draco was about to follow her, but decided not to.

In the public bathroom, Hermione surveyed her reflection in the slightly dirty mirror. Her eyes were rimmed red, her cheeks were flushed and she had tears on her face. Turning the tap on, Hermione rinsed her face in cold water. She dried her hands on her shirt and went back outside to see Malfoy leaning casually against a wall, and it seamed he had already collected a fan club. Three giggling gits, as Hermione called them, were crowed around him, talking and blushing.

"Well," Hermione heard Malfoy said as she got closer. "I moved here only yesterday. Yes, I am clever, and I know that I'm-"

Hermione thought about interrupting, but then thought better of it and decided to let Malfoy have his moment of fame. So she sat herself on a wooden bench, next to an old woman who was throwing pieces of brown bread to some flocking pigeons.

Hermione looked up the street and saw it was a busy market, with stalls and shops everywhere, and lots of normal people, buzzing around, buying and carrying objects in plastic bags.

She waited on that bench, watching the old woman feeding the pigeons, and when the woman left, she waited for ten minuets, glancing over at Malfoy to see he still had the three giggling gits entertained. She got up, bought an ice-cream, ate it, got up again and bought a box of chocolates as a thank you gift for Debby and got a drink. But even after twenty minutes, Malfoy still hadn't shaken his fans off.

Hermione stood, waved at Malfoy, which got his attention, then turned her back and waved without turning around and walked off. She walked along the shops, going in some, or just observing their windows. The stalls had a few interesting things, but Hermione had a lot of self control so she didn't buy anything that was unnecessary. Hermione occasionally looked around, but couldn't spot Malfoy, and didn't worry- he was big enough to look after himself.

Two hours later, Hermione had had enough so she made her way back carefully watching out for Malfoy. She saw him sitting on the same bench she had waited for him on, looking around and fiddling with his ring.

Hermione couldn't help but smile. He looked so board and so…un Malfoy like, that she wished she had a camera. She would send it to Harry and Ron…no, don't think about them. Hermione pushed that thought from her mind and walked over to him cautiously.

"Mal-Jason?" Hermione asked.

"Oh hello. Decided to come back?" 'Jason' snapped looking up.

"What? You were surrounded by a giggling bandit of girls. I didn't want to be apart of it." Hermione snapped back.

"Well you could have waited." Malfoy pocked his tongue out.

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked putting her hands on her hips. "I waited for 20 minutes!"

"Well you should have waited 30 minutes."

Hermione's face turned to rage. "I shouldn't have waited at all!"

And she stormed off in a huff, not turning around.

Malfoy rolled his eyes and followed her. "Oh come on granger."

Hermione didn't reply. She didn't say a word until they were outside her new home.

"Talk to me, or did that pan squashed cat get your tongue?" Malfoy asked folding his arms and stopping behind her.

"Stop calling my cat names Malfoy!" Hermione shouted, completely forgetting the fact that his new last name was 'Gibbs'. "I don't want to be here, and I don't want to be away from Harry or Ron in a world that I know I can be attacked. Id rather be at Hogwarts, learning and reading in peace!" she shouted, using words that she knew she shouldn't be using. She walked up the path to the house and stopped at the door as Malfoy spoke.

"Look granger you have to get a back bone! Potter and Weasley can no longer protect you any more! You, for once in your life, are on your own! Deal with it!" Malfoy replied angrily- she was smart and beautiful but she wasn't using her brains….wait, did he just call her beautiful? Crap.

"And why cant they be?" Hermione shouted, tearing clouding her vision of the boy in front of her home. "They can protect me much better then this place can!"

"I can protect you!" Malfoy retorted before he knew what he was saying.

Hermione looked at him shocked and Malfoy mentally kicked himself.

She was going to say something but was too mad to take it all in so she just opened the door and went inside.

Malfoy swore under his breath and walked on until he came to his house and went inside. He walked straight up to his room and threw himself on his bed, looking up at the ceiling.

Hermione lent against the front door, thinking. That was different.

She heard someone make a noise in the kitchen and saw Debby sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of tea in her hands.

"I didn't mean to over hear." She said looking apologetic.

"What? Oh, you could hear us hu?" Hermione walked over and sat opposite her and saw that Debby's face was bursting with questions. "I…Look, I'm sorry. I promise, I will tell you everything, the truth when…when I'm ready and have come to terms with it myself…"

"I understand Abby. I don't want to pressure you into anything too soon." Debby smiled and Hermione was so glad she had more time to think things through. "By the way, you start school not tomorrow but the next day okay?"

"Yeah alright." The bag crinkled in Hermione's hand and she remembered the chocolate box. "Oh here," she said, handing them over. "I bought you this as a small thank you for…for everything."

"You didn't have to do that." Debby opened the bag and smiled. "Thank you anyway, and your welcome."

Hermione smiled at her and wondered to herself when Dumbledore will contact them. She was sure that Debby would want to know what was up if owls started flying around her house.

"Have you had something to eat?" Debby asked standing up and walking over into the kitchen.

"Erm I had an ice-cream that's about it." Hermione answered.

"Would you like a sandwich?"

"Sure…ill get it." Hermione started to get up but debby held her hand in a stop gesture.

"No, let me."

After eating her sandwich, Hermione talked to Debby.

"Well," Debby said, "I'm not working at the moment. Matt brings in all the money."

"What does he do?" Hermione asked getting up and boiling the kettle.

"Matt? He's a doctor. At the moment, he's in Africa helping a small village."

"He sounds nice." Hermione said then had a sudden image of Malfoy in an Africa village, injecting healthy needles into sick little children. She had to cough to cover her snort of laughter. If she ever saw Malfoy do something that wasn't 99 selfish, she'd die of shock.

"Yes. He'll be away for a few months…that poor village has a lot of ill people and he's only got him and three others to put it back together healthily." Debby smiled sadly. "I do miss him, but others need him more I suppose." She paused then continued. "anyway…I was born in the heart of London, but even though I love London, its all very rushed and busy, so, that's why I live a little further out of the main drag. Much more nicer and peaceful."

Hermione smiled and Debby bit her tongue. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up London…"

"What?" Hermione had to think for a minute then remembered that she was born in London and that's where the 'tragedy' happened. "It's alright."

"Are you sure? Maybe I should leave you alone…"

"No, its alright. Really. I prefer company rather then being alone. Its too quiet." Hermione smiled.

Debby laughed. "Yes…but you know, if you were with that…Jason Gibbs, you wouldn't be alone." She winked.

Hermione snorted. "Yeah right."

"Oh why not? He's very cute and nice."

"that's what he shows you." Hermione said briskly.

Malfoy sat in his room for hours, just staring up at the ceiling. He learnt this- his ceiling had 13 small lines, 3 black spots and in 2 places the painter had hit a rough spot. He also realized that he shouldn't have said 'I can protect you' to granger. Nope, never again.

Meggie knocked softly on his door. "Jason? May I come in?"

"Sure." Malfoy replied, though he wasn't really in the mood for company.

Meggie walked in, carrying a small tray. "I'm sorry to disturb you." She said smiling as she closed the door with her foot and walked over to his bed side table, placing the tray down.

Malfoy saw it had a bowl of soup and a plate of bread.

"Are you alright? You seamed a little upset when you came home before"

"Yeah but it doesn't matter. I just…said the wrong thing." Malfoy said, half telling the truth.

"Oh, I hope it wasn't too bad." Meggie said looking serious, as though she thought he might have gotten into trouble with, what are they called? Please men? No, police men, that's the one.

"No, nothing I cant handle." Malfoy smirked.

"Alright. Well, I just thought you might be hungry…its terrible weather outside so Ethan and I had soup for lunch and I thought you might want some."

"Oh, thanks." Malfoy nodded his head and Meggie got up and left.

Malfoy looked over at the window and saw it was black, raining and windy. He was so absorbed in his ceiling, which is strange in its self, and his thoughts, a jungle in which he's always know he could get lost in for hours that he hadn't noticed the storm that was brewing outside.

He was amazed that he hadn't heard it. The thunder was loud and shook the house sometimes and the lightning lit up the sky. He could see why Meggie thought it was nice to have some soup in this weather. He looked back at the tray, sat up and put it on his lap. The spoon reflected his jagged image as he dipped it into the steaming liquid.

It burned his throat as he slipped it into his mouth and he felt it go into his stomach.

He was nervous. It was only about the third time in his life that he was nervous. The first was meeting friends of his fathers (cough death eaters cough) and the second was going to Hogwarts. Now, he was nervous because of this muggle school. How different would it be? Would he be alright?

Oh, pull yourself together Draco! Malfoy said to himself angrily. You can do this. Its like everything else in your life- a push over. Don't worry, you'll do this. Yes, you will do this or you'll hand yourself over to Fudge. Crap. Alright ill do it.

Now stop talking to yourself. What? Oh.

Hermione was up in her room, listening to the stereo. She didn't know why she was staring into nothing, thinking about Malfoy, of all, rude, incoherent and heartless people that she knew. Wait, he was the only rude, incoherent and heartless person that she knew. That explained it.

She reckoned that being at a muggle school, she will be the dominate one, but she wasn't ready to bet on it. He had surprised her before.

Looooong I know, but I couldn't help it. I wrote this and the second one when the first one was just up so yeah.

In this chap I was going to have Hermione tell Debby the truth but…I thought it was too soon. Next chap- THE FIRST SCHOOL ENCOUNTER. That's the chap name and should be written shortly. It might not have classes in it I don't know, but it definitely has the school…but I think its towards the end…meh.

Aj.