The rain thrashed against the window of the train as it sped along the tracks. Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked along the train peeking in the windows looking for an empty compartment. Hermione braced herself up against the walls of the train trying to balance herself. Harry opened a door to a compartment and smiled, "Hey Neville."
Inside the compartment was Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. Harry sat down next to Neville with Ron on his other side. Hermione sat down across from them next to Luna. Luna looked up at Hermione and smiled her dreamy smile.
"I thought for sure you three wouldn't be coming back. Gran didn't really give me a choice" Neville said sadly
"Yeah, my mum either." Ron said grudgingly.
Neville looked up at Hermione's robes. "Wow, Head Girl! Not that it surprises me." He looked over at Harry and Ron expecting to see a badge.
"No, it's not us." Harry said "It's Malfoy"
Neville gasped, "What?! Why would McGonagall make Malfoy Head Boy?"
"We're wondering the same thing" Ron said with a snort
"It's probably because she sees in him what you all don't" Luna said turning a page of her book
"I'm sorry?" Ron asked with a confused look on his face
"She sees remorse. I'm sure she's hoping that Hermione and Draco can reunite the school. Haven't you noticed the Slytherins are more alienated now than ever?"
Hermione sat back. She had noticed and it was something she had anticipated. All of the Death Eaters who were captured had children who were Slytherins. There was a big article published in the Daily Prophet about the mass incarceration. Everyone would know about it by now. But what was she supposed to do about it? How could her and Draco reunite the school?
"That sounds like a load of bull-" Ron started, but was interrupted by the compartment door opening. Everyone looked up to see Draco sticking his head in.
He looked visibly uncomfortable. He looked around at everyone before his eyes landed on Hermione. Hermione saw Neville reach for his wand out of the corner of her eye.
"You won't be needing that, Longbottom." Draco said staring at Neville "I came here for Granger. McGonagall wants us to meet with the Prefects before we arrive. I thought we should probably discuss what we're going to say."
Hermione blushed as everyone's head turned towards her. Why was she blushing? She looked at Draco and her eyes met his. Those cool grey eyes. Were his eyes always this color?
"Right" She said snapping back to reality. She stood up and grabbed her bag.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Ron asked standing up
Hermione felt irritated. She wished he would stop treating her like she couldn't take care of herself. "No, I don't." She snapped and followed Draco out of the compartment before Ron could say another word.
She followed Draco to the end of the train to the Prefects compartment. She walked inside and looked around. It was empty. She placed her bag down and sat in a seat facing Draco. He scratched his chin and looked at her. Her stomach fluttered.
"So" He started
"I think we should address the elephant in the room" Hermione stated
Draco stopped talking and froze. "It's what everyone is going to want to know anyway. There's no way we can get around it, so it's probably best that we just address it head on." Hermione finished
"I don't owe anyone an explanation." Draco said flatly.
Hermione frowned, "Really? Do you honestly believe that?"
Draco sighed and rubbed his head in frustration, "I don't know what McGonagall was thinking. Nothing I say is going to be good enough. I should have just said no and kept my head down this year."
Hermione paused. She wasn't sure what to say. A part of her felt like she should say something comforting and reassuring, but the other part of her agreed with him. What had McGonagall been thinking? How on Earth were they supposed to work together? Who was going to listen to him after everything his family did? How could Hermione work with him after everything his family did to her?
Draco looked at Hermione pleadingly, "I can't give an explanation because I don't have one. If you have not been in my shoes, you can't possibly understand what I was feeling. No one knows what it's like to have the Dark Lord stand over you issuing demands. No one knows what it's like to have him roaming the halls of your childhood home; sitting at your dinner table ordering you to kill someone. No one knows what it was like to look Professor Dumbledore in the eye and-" Draco stopped suddenly and looked away.
"I don't expect them to understand, because I don't fully understand myself. I'm not sure that I ever will. What I do know is that I'm a different person now. I have to be." His voice cracked and he fidgeted in his seat.
Draco tapped his hand nervously on the table looking out the window. Hermione swallowed. She hadn't expected any of this. What is this she was feeling? Remorse? She had thought a lot about what he said about his parents being cowards and she realized for the first time that he was a product of his environment. What would he have been like if he had grown up in a different home. Hermione couldn't have imagined that any progressive thoughts and opinions would have gone over well in the Malfoy household. How could he have been anything other than what he was raised to be? But is that an excuse? Does that make it okay?
Hermione reached her hand out and placed it on top of Draco's hand. He flinched at her touch and pulled away. Hermione blushed. "I'm sorry, I thought…I didn't mean to." She stood up.
"Maybe I should go"
Draco stood up too, "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean."
"It's okay" Hermione started inching toward the door.
"No, don't go." Draco rushed toward her. He covered the length of the compartment in two steps and then he was in front of her.
Hermione leaned her back against the door staring at him. He was right in front of him. She could smell that woodsy scented cologne on him. She could feel his warm breath with every inhale.
Draco searched her eyes pleadingly, "Please, don't leave. I didn't mean to offend you."
Hermione said nothing. She was afraid to speak. Afraid to continue inhaling his scent. She held her breath.
"You caught me off guard. No one touches me but my mother and-" Draco stopped suddenly. He blushed and looked away. "That came out wrong" He stated quickly
Hermione let out a giggle. Draco looked up surprisingly and smiled. He took a step towards her and let out a small laugh. "I really hope you don't feel-"
"Let it go. I'm okay." Hermione stated smiling. "I'll keep my hands to myself next time."
"Let's hope not" Draco said. He reached up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ears. His fingers grazed her check and rested at her collar bone. Hermione inhaled sharply as her eyes found his.
What are these feelings? Hermione's heart began to race. She couldn't. There's no way she could. There was too much that had been done, too much that had been said. Too much history.
Draco seemed to sense her thoughts. He lowered his hand and took a step back. Reflexively, Hermione's hand went to where Draco had left her collar bone.
"So" Draco cleared his throat, "shall we get started?"
