Thanks for all the comments. you made my day, this chapter is kind of boring, but i needed a way to transition into what i have planned, and i repeat I HATE SPELLING AND GRAMMER! so forgive ;)

chapter 4 - adjustments

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Hermione woke to find it already late afternoon. A tray of food was laid out for her by her door. Along with it was a sealed envelope and a large package. Hermione examined the food tray, and chooseing a piece of toast moved on to the letter. It was from Professor McGonagall.

Dear Miss Granger,

I would like to request a meeting with you to ensure that

you are adjusting well and that you will be ready to perform

to your abilities when the term starts in one weeks time. Ive taken

it upon myself to gather your books and any other supplied you may need for your 7th year.

Also, we have much to discuss about your inheritance.

Please meet me tonight in my office.

Thank you,

Professor McGonagall

Hermione moved her attention from the letter to the package, where she found the school supplies she had purchased with the Weasleys. Slightly damaged from how she dropped them, but otherwise good as new. 'Someone from the order must have found them and gathered them for me' she thought as she fingered through the goods, setting the books in a circle around her, trying to organize it all. Her fingers fell onto a small box. Her stomach did flip flops when she realized what it was. Opening the box she found quills, the quills Ronald Weasley had bought her, probably hours before he took off to be with Harry. Her heart sank, she felt like she betrayed him. She felt like she betrayed the boy she had loved as a friend, and had wanted to become so much more with. What would he have said to her if he found out she spent the day with Draco Malfoy? 'Broken nose or not, it was an over all peaceful day in the presence of someone who had tormented Ron, a million times more than he had ever tormented me.' she thought. Visions of Rons depressed and defeated face filled her mind. How had she done that to her friends. What would Harry say? 'Harry hated Malf...Draco' she corrected herself. 'Harry hates him more than any of us, and with good reasons.'

Hermione begin to wonder if it was all true, was Draco really now sorry, like he had told her the night before. Did he really mean what he said about wanting to take it all back? She didnt know if she was really ready to handle such a change in the norm. Now that she was surrounded by books, and the warm and comforting sun was beating in on her through her windows, the whole ordeal last night seemed less and less real. The pain that had clouded her seemed to be edging away, slightly, but she really could feel the sunshine breaking through and giving her a new sense. She felt like she was back at school, not just living in an old castle. She felt almost happy while she glanced at the covers of her new ancient runes text, and her new herbology book. Everything from the summer seemed to vanish and she just wanted to go down to the great hall and start her day, the way she always used to. Maybe she would try and see if one of the school owls could track Ron and Harry, maybe if they knew what happened they would choose to come back to school, sooner rather than later. Afterall, Harry got letters to Sirius when he was in hiding.

Hermione quickly got dressed, feeling new life comming into her as she took the time to care about herself, her appearance, and her health. She quickly finished all the rest of her breakfast, feeling more full than she had all week and went down to the Gryffandor common room. A ball of orange ran out to her from under a chair.

"Crookshanks" she squeeled, suprised and delighted to see her old friend. 'I should also right the order, they deserve my thanks for all they've done.' After scratching Crookshanks behind the ear for several miniutes she continued her way through the corridors, letting the happy school memmories flood back to her. Memmories of Harry and Ron and Ginny, and even Neville and Luna. 'I wont be alone' she thought. 'Even if Harry and Ron do take their time getting here, I wont be alone, i have friends now.' It would be different from her first year when she spent most of her time alone. Even now she studied in the library with students from ravenclaw, and she often times discussed herbology with Neville and the Hufflepuffs. No, she wouldnet be alone this year, no matter what.

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Draco woke early in the morning to a small knocking on his door. His heart jumped as he ran to open it for Hermione, but Hermione wasent there. Dobby was holding up an envelope with the Hogwarts seal. Nodding his thanks to the elf, he closed the door and opened his letter.

Dear Mr. Malfoy

I would like to request a meeting with you to ensure that

you are adjusting well you will be ready to perform to your abilities

when the term starts in one weeks time.

Also, we have much to discuss about your inheritance.

Please meet me in my office this afternoon.
Thank you,

Professor McGonagall

Draco read the letter. 'His inheritance?' he thought, unsure of what that would mean. Afterall now that he had betrayed the deatheaters he was sure he would no longer be recieving any aid, financially or otherwise. He was also certin the funding for his schooling would be revoked and he would be in debt to the school for years to come. He winced as his scar started to burn. He was angry, and he wanted him to come back now.

Setting aside the letter Draco crawled back into his bed and thought of more important matters, mainly Hermione Granger. He had definately felt something for her he had never felt before. He originally marked it as pity and guild, but after touching her skin he knew it was something else. In that small instant he wanted nothing but to devour her, to grab her and make her his. He knew it was wrong, and he knew she now hated him even more for insinuation it all. She was the one who grabbed his hand and he had assumed she was feeling the same way, and he messed it up. He made the wrong assumtion, she was just being friendly, making a peace offering, and he had turned it around and made it an insult. Something else to ruin any chances he had of correcting all the wrongs he had ever done to her.

He couldent help but dwell on her looks and her feel for several more miniutes. He couldent help but to feel his heart sink deeper and deeper into himself as he thought about how much this creature of beauty now hated him. He had been with girls, and the ones he hadent been with all wanted him, except for her it seemed. She never once looked his way in anything more than discust and disapproval. He could understand because he never saw anything more to her than her blood, and how it was tainted. He mentally corrected himself, HE was the one with tainted blood.

Draco let his mind turn to his friends, or lack of friends as the case seemed to be. Once the semester started it was going to get rough around the dungeons. Most of slytherin serves Voldemort, and those who dont support those who did. 'Everyones going to be out to get me, i doubt McGonagall thought of that when she decided to make me head boy.' he thought to himself. 'I'll probably be poisoned to death before Christmas.'

Draco let his mind fall on his mother, who he would never see again. He wouldent say it was "love" exactly what he had for her. Years of abuse and neglect and indifference had squashed the hopes of that, but there was still caring, something he didnt want to go away, normality, consistancy, it all left when she was killed. He knew she loved him, even if she wasent allowed to show it. 'When father was in Azkaban, things were different' he thought. 'I may not have loved her, but we grew close, I knew she loved me, even if I didnt love her back.' Draco dwelled on the meaning of love until it was time to get up and go see Professor McGonagall.

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Hermione left from the owlery hours later, happy with the letters she sent out. To Harry and Ron she told them what happened, leaving out any parts involving Draco, so they didnt worry, but she want them to come back. To the order she wrote her thanks, and to Mrs. Weasley she wrote an appology for how she treated her. The last thing she wanted to do was make Mrs. Weasley feel unwanted, she was the closest thing to a mother she had now.

Glancing at her watch she decided to go see if McGonagall was ready to see her. Turning the corner she saw draco departing her office, looking disheveled. Hermionie felt a twing of pity for him. Her whole Hogwarts career she had always thought of him as regal and well kept. 'If i had money like his id be the same way too' she scoffed to hersself.

"Hey Draco" she called

He turned and stood straight. Years of habit of appearing in control and important, even if it wasent the case. Hermione ran up to him, the air between them was static. Their gestures towards each other were awkward. She didnt know what to make of this man, but aftereverything, they were'nt enemys anymore. After spending the whole day pondering the privieous evening, Hermione had decided to trust Draco at his word, that he was sorry and did want to take it all back.

"Hello Gran...sorry, hello Hermione" he said, looking past her instead of at her. His stomach doing flip flops, his nerves were getting the better of him.

Hermione stared at him for a second, she realized she had seen more emotions out of this man in the past 24 hours than she had in the past 6 years. The realization made it easier for her to ask "Would you like to get together for dinner again?" Like that was what had happened the night before, two old friends getting together to chat about the good old days. She smiled at her own thought.

Dracos mind exploded. Was she smiling at him? Relief spread through him. It seemed as though nothing that was said or done would have any lasting effects, she was smiling at him, and all was well with the world. "I suppose that sounds alright, ill meet you in the kitchens?" He tried to hide the excitement in his voice. He had been at Hogwarts for a week and the only time he had a meal with someone else it was with her the night before, and that had been a special circumstance.

She nodded at him and he nodded his head, turned, and walked away. Hermione then turned her attention on the office door. She wasent sure what they were talking about, and she hoped it wouldent take long, her stomach was growling and she wanted nothing more than to leave with Draco for the kitchens right now, instead she knocked on the door.

McGonagall answered and lead her up the stairs and inside the room. She realized she hadent been in Dumbledors office since he past, and she was glad McGonagall had kept it the same way it was. Looking up she noticed a portrait of Dumbledor snoozing. She wasent sure but she swore she saw the faintest twinkle of his eye, and a wink, but it was gone so fast, she wasent sure if she had just imagined it.

"Miss Granger" began McGonagall while she took her seat behind the desk. Hermione took her seat opposite her. "I take it by his bruised face you had a chance to meet with Mr. Malfoy? She gave Hermione a stern look.

Hermione gulped, she didnt realize she might see those, but she was sure he had no bruises when she just spoke with him. "Did you heal them?" she asked?

"I did, and you will know no such actions will be tolerated again, however given the circumstances, and the fact Mr. Malfoy made me promise not to punish you for it, I will have to let it slide this time. But no more violence please Hermione, we've all had to suffer in our own ways, lets try to make Hogwarts be different for you all this year." She waited for Hermione to nod before she continued.

"Now, the most important reason your here is for me to make sure your doing alright. I know this is a hard time for you, but classes start in a week, if you would like to be excused from the first week or so I would be happy to arrange it?" she asked.

"NO!" said Hermione, a bit too loudly. "I mean, no please. Im looking forward to getting my mind onto my studies, its what my parents would have wanted me to do." she looked down, mentioning her parents made her eyes begin to water.

"As i assumed." she said, a sad smile formed on her face. They sat in silence, honoring the dead before she continued. "Now, about the inheritence"

"Excuse me Professor, what inheritence? My family was'nt wealthy."

"Maybe not, but they were wise like you Miss Granger, they put money aside since you were a child, and it has grown considerably. Your not rich, but upon your graduation, you will be able to live comfortably. Also, your family house and other property will be yours to either sell or keep, the choice is yours but you dont have to make it right now. All can wait until your ready, however long it may be."

"What about Hogwarts?"

"Your parents have already paid this years tuition, as well as a small amount of money for you to shop at Hogsmeed this year, It is all set up in your school account. Once the semester starts i will make sure you recieve it."

Hermione smiled, her parents were so thoughtful, so kind. Tears welled in her eyes again, the images of their faces flashed in her mind. It was'nt fair to them to have to die, they were good people. "Thank you for your time." said Hermione, suddenly desprate to get out of there, to stop talking about things as unimportant as money. She would have given all the money in the world to have them back. She would rather be poor and on the street than without her mother and father. She stood up to leave.

"I meant what i said Miss Granger, if you change your mind about needing a few weeks off, just let me know." McGonagall was sincere.

Hermione turned and smiled, she hade'nt ment to be rude. "Thank you Professor McGonagall, for everything" and she turned and left the office, heading straight for the kitchens.