Disclaimer- I don't own anything.

Thank you to my beta lyrabelaqua, you rock.

Tough, you think you've got the stuff
You're telling me and anyone
You're hard enough
You don't have to put up a fight
You don't have to always be right
Let me take some of the punches
For you tonight

Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone

We fight all the time
You and I...that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need...I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more
U2- Sometimes you can't make it on your own

Draco sat in his room staring at the letter on his desk. The man who'd been writing had sent another letter.

"Draco?" he heard, a split second before the door to the bathroom opened to reveal Hermione.

"Yeah?" he asked, snatching the letter off of the desk and stuffing it back into the envelope, then throwing it on his desk next to a pile of parchment.

"Why were you nice to me today?" she asked.

"I don't know." he answered with a shrug. She'd come into his room to ask him something like that?

"I...you...hmm." he looked up at her when she seemed to be able to form a sentence.

"What?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Here." was all she said before a letter was pushed at him and she turned and fled the room.

Draco glanced down at the letter and then back up at the now empty doorway. He'd been nice to her because it was the first time he'd actually been able to enjoy a Hogsmeade visit in a bookstore instead of Zonko's. His eyes returned to the letter and his eyes grew wide. He picked up the envelope that he'd thrown down before she'd come in. Same hand writing, only different addresses. He glanced back up at the doorway again, to make sure she was truly gone, then opened the letter and read.

'Mudblood,

You're disgusting. I should have finished you off while I had the chance. I saw you in Hogsmeade, in the book store, actually. You've really grown since I've last saw you. Of course, I don't expect you to remember me. It's been so long and I don't think I made a huge impression in your life. How is the back, by the way? I've heard that back injuries are dreadful when healing. Do tell me how you got through it. I've been told that you and Draco Malfoy are spending time together- imagine my surprise to see you both entering a book store and exiting at the same time, holding hands down the street no less. Everything is going according to plan; you only have to wait a little while longer before the plan is revealed to you- ask Draco sometime- he might be willing to tell you. I'm afraid this is good-bye for now. I seem to have an aching toothache that is in great need of attention, but don't worry; I've found the perfect dentists for my problem, Granger & Granger. Well, I must go. Wouldn't want to keep the good dentists waiting.

T. F.

Draco stared at the parchment in his hands and then tore his eyes away to once again look at the doorway; it was still empty.

"Hermione?" he called as he stood up and walked through the bathroom to her room. She wasn't there. "Hermione?" he called again as he walked through her room and into the common room.

Glancing around the common room he could tell she wasn't there either.

"Draco?" he heard from the portrait hole.

Glancing up he saw Hermione, eyes wide, staring at him. "Where were you?" he asked before taking a seat on a couch.

"I had to talk to Dumbledore." she answered as her face grew pale, as if just remembering something awful.

"About the letter?" he asked unnecessarily.

"Yes. Do you have it still? He wants to see it." she answered while glancing at his empty hands.

"Yeah, I have it. Wait here, I'll go and get it." he assured her before pulling himself off of the couch and making his way back into his room.

He grabbed the letter and went back into the common room.

"Here." he said when he walked over to her. "What are you going to tell Dumbledore?" he asked out of curiosity.

"Let me worry about that." she said curtly before taking the letter and walking out of the dorm.

Draco stared at her before following. "What the hell does that mean, 'let me worry about that'?" he asked as he caught up with her.

"Why should I tell you anything? You'll go running back to let all the stupid Death-Eaters what my next move is!" she exploded at him as she came to a stop and whirled to face him. Just leave me alone! I've put all of that behind me and just when I think I've gotten over it, you come along, demand that I go with you and it all comes back. Why the hell did you do that? You had no right! I know you hate me, I've come to that conclusion along time ago, but you sunk to a new low when you dug this up to throw at me. You make me sick!" she ended before she set off again towards Dumbledore's office.

Draco stared after her in shock. She'd just accused him of having anything to do with the crazy deranged person that sent her the letter. He admitted that he wasn't the most honorable person, but he wouldn't stoop so low as to associate with the filth that wrote the letters. After an inner battle, he ran after her and made his way to Dumbledore's gargoyle just in time to see it spring back into place. Damn, he'd never been good at naming sweets.

"Pumpkin pastries." he said in a commanding voice, only to find that gargoyle in the same place. "Damn, uh… Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans." he tried again in a slightly less commanding tone. Still nothing. "Those blasted thing's he's always trying to shove on everyone. What's their name… lemon bean? No… lemon… lemon drop!" he guessed again and gave a sigh of relief when the gargoyle jumped aside and let him step onto the stairway that instantly began moving.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. Please come in." he heard from the door as soon as he stepped off of the steps and onto the small landing.

He sighed and opened the door to find Hermione sitting in a chair opposite of the headmaster. She didn't look to be in the best mood so he nodded at her and greeted the headmaster with a 'hello' before sitting down next to the Head girl.

"I am aware that you have read the letter that Miss. Granger has received today. I am very disturbed by the contents and would like to ask if you have any idea of how or why she has been contacted." Dumbledore said, his eyes devoid of the familiar twinkle.

"I've been getting the letters since the beginning of term, actually." he started. "My father hired him for… he was hired by my father. I received a letter as well, telling me that I was watched in Hogsmeade today. I didn't see anyone out of the ordinary though.

Hermione showed me her letter after I read mine… that's all I really know."

"I see." the old wizard said to the two teenagers sitting across from him. "Mr. Malfoy, are you aware that Miss. Granger was attacked by a wizard before she came to Hogwarts?"

Draco glanced at Hermione and then back at Dumbledore. "No, sir, I wasn't." he said quietly.

"Yes, it was terrible."

"How was she able to come back Hogwarts so soon after the attack?" he asked as his mind flashed back to the scar on her back. It looked as though it had healed years ago.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy. When I said before Hogwarts, I meant before first year. How old were you, Miss. Granger?"

Draco turned to watch as the girl in question turned a shade of red that even the Wesley's hadn't accomplished yet.

"Nine, sir." she answered while her gaze landed on the floor.

"No need to be embarrassed, Miss. Granger. You've overcome it, which is a feat to be proud of." Dumbledore assured her.

Draco stared at her and turned pale. This was the family, Hermione Granger and her mother and father. The family from his letters.

"Mr. Malfoy? Do you have something you wish to tell us?" Draco tore his gaze away from her to look at Dumbledore.

"My father." he breathed.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, for your loss." Dumbledore said, his eyes curious.

"No, my father, the man wrote me a letter talking about how he tortured a muggle family. He said my father was behind it." he said, his eyes looking to the floor.

He heard Hermione gasp beside him and sighed deeply. He had enjoyed today, he hadn't gone into a bookstore to just browse in ages. Hermione had the same taste in books as he did; he was surprised to find out. They argued but they came to mutual ground within an hour after the first words were said. He didn't know how they'd gotten along for the rest of the day, but the three broomsticks had been enjoyable too. She was a different person when she was in her own element. He'd seen the change in her when they stepped into the bookstore and soon let his interest take over his actions instead of hatred or spite.

"I'm sorry." he said softly to Hermione, not knowing what else to say.

She sniffed in response but that was the only noise in the room.

"I don't know who's writing the letters. I have ten of them in my room." he said into the silence.

He looked up to see Dumbledore looking at him with what looked like pride in his eyes. Draco hadn't seen the look that often and the look was gone in an instant. He looked back down at his shoes, not bothering to glance at Hermione; she'd be glaring at him anyway.

"Can you remember your father speaking of anyone with the initials T.F.?" Dumbledore asked in a grave tone.

"No. I only knew of him speaking to my aunts." Draco answered honestly.

"Oh yes, your aunts. I am under the impression that you are to stay with them during the holidays."

"I haven't sent them an owl yet, but I suppose that's correct." he answered after some thought. He'd be able to see Raliegh for the first time in what seemed like forever. He didn't even know what she looked like.

"Professor?" he heard from beside him.

"Yes, Miss. Granger." Dumbledore answered.

"What will I do for break? My parent's are in danger...what can we do?" she asked after a shaky breath.

"Excellent question, Miss. Granger." Dumbledore answered.

Draco stared at him and then rolled his eyes. The man and his damn riddle language. This was an important issue.

"I would like to speak to your parent's before making any decisions." Dumbledore finally answered. "It would be best for you to remain at Hogwarts for the holidays until something is done about the writer of these letters." he finished after a pause.

Draco finally glanced at Hermione to find her wiping her face with the arm of her...his sweater. Her eyes met his and she stilled. He gave her a weak smile and then turned to Dumbledore after seeing her eyes narrow. She didn't believe him. For some reason the thought that she didn't believe him about something of this nature hurt him. Today had been fun and he'd wanted to ask her to Hogsmeade again, but now it looked bleak. She should know better then that. He wouldn't have spent a whole bloody day with her if he was planning on killing her or her parents. He glared at the headmaster before getting up and leaving the office. He didn't deserve to be accused of something because his father had done something and he'd be damned if Hermione was going to make him feel bad for being related to the biggest arsehole in the entire wizarding community.

"Mr. Malfoy?" He heard the headmaster call from the office he had just left.

Draco straightened his shoulders and stepped onto the stairs and walked down them. He walked to the Head dorm and thankfully didn't encounter anyone. After making it to the dorm he stepped into the common room and went straight to his room. He lay down and stared at the ceiling. He didn't want to lose what was started in Hogsmeade with her, but with the way she looked at him… it looked like what had been started was already in flames. With a large drawn out sigh he got off of his bed and started to write. He didn't know anything about the man writing the letters but he had an idea of how to find out.

Hermione walked into the common room after her meeting with Dumbledore with a new view of the world around her. She wanted to go home and stay close to her parents, but that wasn't an option anymore. She looked at Draco's closed door and grimaced when she remembered the look on his face when she'd looked at him. She'd been upset but that didn't seem to matter to him. She remembered back to earlier that day and the trip to Hogsmeade. It was nice to have him around; he didn't even seem concerned about anything around them, only the books. She believed him about not knowing but she didn't know how to tell him now. He'd stormed out of the office and didn't even look back when she and Dumbledore called after him. She had to talk to someone about what to do. It wouldn't be fair to her or Draco if she didn't at least try to reach out and say she was sorry.