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"Oh! I'm sorry!"

Draco looked up, startled. The bushy-haired Granger girl stood in the doorway. "I did knock, but nobody answered." She looked embarrassed.

Draco was very glad that he'd wiped away the stray tear. He tilted his head at her. "Yes?" he said, trying to sound polite.

Hermione blinked. "Mrs Weasley just came back with some sandwiches from the tea room and, well…I was wondering if you wanted some."

Draco stared at her. She floundered on. "Well, you've just been in here for a long time and it's 2:00 p.m. already, so it thought you might be hungry." The words came out in a rush. "Or I could get you some tea, or a Butterbeer-"

"No," interrupted Draco before they both got more embarrassed. "Thank you, I'm fine."

"Oh," said Hermione awkwardly. "Well, I'm uh...sorry...I'll just leave you in peace for now." She ducked out of the room, her face a bright crimson.

Draco smiled ruefully as an ironic thought occurred to him. We certainly have come a long way from spitting at eachother, thought the blond teenager wryly, shaking his head as he remembered one of his very first encounters with the brunette.

His head still swimming with memories, he looked down at Lyra's diary again, and went still. As if his thoughts had summoned it, the diary entry lay neatly in front of him.

Saturday 5th September 1992

Today Ron, Hermione and I were accompanying Harry and the Quidditch team to the pitch for their morning practice. We were intercepted along the way by Marcus Flint and the Slytherin team. Flint had a note from Snape giving the Slytherin team the pitch to "train their new Seeker". I was shocked when I found out who it was.

Draco. Draco was the new Seeker for Slytherin.

Thinking about it now, I want to curse him. I remember the times we used to play together on our broomsticks, pretending we were representing England (yeah, well, everyone does it at some point. Except maybe Hermione. She HATES flying). I was better than him at flying. I had this ability to know where the flyer was headed next. As such I was usually able to intercept Draco when it was his turn with the 'Quaffle' (we used a regular ball). Quidditch was the thing I was excited about the most. Well, that and going to Hogwarts. Draco never seemed to mind. But, looking into his eyes right then, I realised he was gloating.

Because Draco had been appointed Seeker, Father had gifted the whole team with brand-spanking new Nimbus 2001's, the latest broom to hit the market. Or maybe Draco had become Seeker because of the brooms. Go figure. But money always talked in my world, and it definitely talked here.

But enough about that part. It's what happened next that makes me want to scream.

"Well at least no-one had to buy their way onto the Gryffindor team," said Hermione in an acidic tone. "They got in on pure talent."

Draco pushed his way to the front of his new team. "No-one asked you, you filthy little Mudblood."

Sitting here now, part of me is still stunned with disbelief. I hadn't realised how disgusting he was until now! I hate him! I can't believe that he would do such a thing!

Ron attempted to make Draco eat his words-"You'll pay for that Malfoy! Eat slugs!"-but his Spellotape-repaired wand backfired on him, and he ended up eating slugs…or at least spewing them out. Ugh! Hermione, Harry and I had to take him at a mad dash to Hagrid's. I don't think I've ever seen Hermione that close to tears ever since we almost got killed by the troll in first year. Thankfully we assured her that she was worth twelve of Malfoy. She is, after all, the brightest witch in our year. She's beaten Draco in every test we've had. I know that would make Father boil, and I told Hermione as much, earning myself a laugh.

But I can't believe that Draco would say that. I didn't believe that he could be capable of such a thing…until now. Now part of me hates him…and I'm terrified. Because I could see how Draco looked at Hermione with such loathing today. I don't want to be like that. I don't want to hate anyone. Because after I've finished hating Draco today, I'm exhausted. Empty. Numb. I'm terrified of being reduced to just hate, especially when I've just found people I love.

On a somewhat (hopefully) brighter note, Ginny, the only Weasley daughter and the girl I was sharing her room with, was Sorted into Gryffindor as well. It was nice to hang out in the common room with her. She was shy at first, but she quickly warmed to the people around her (apart from Harry. I think she has a crush on him). And she can definitely defend herself against the likes of Fred and George-well, she's been doing that her whole life.

So, a good day, or bad?

I still can't decide. As I think about it now, I only know that I hate Draco Malfoy…yet I'm terrified of what he is too. He's a bag of hate. And I don't want to be like that. But I'm hopeful too, because part of me knows that, with friends and family like the Weasleys, especially Ginny and Ron, and Harry and Hermione of course, I will never be like that.

But I'm worried that Draco will get himself into trouble one day, trouble far deeper than any of us could give him.

A knock at the door jolted Draco out of the diary. He turned as the door opened.

"Malfoy?"

Hermione stood in the doorway. "You time's up," she said politely.

"How do you do it?" The words left Draco's mouth before he could stop them.

Hermione looked puzzled. "Do what?"

"Be so…civil. After everything that's been done to you. After everything…I've done."

"It's water under the bridge," replied Hermione softly. "And Lyra probably wouldn't like it if we started duelling in the hospital." She paused, studying him. "Are you alright? Do you need to sit down?"

Draco realised then that he was openly trembling, his hands clenched into fists. He dropped into a chair. "Have you read it?" His voice was quieter now.

Hermione shook her head, knowing instantly what "it" Draco was referring to. "You're supposed to read it first," she replied, still concerned.

"I'm sorry. For what I said in second year." Again, the words slipped out without warning.

A startled look crossed Hermione's face before she sat down next to him on another chair. "We all say stupid things when we're young."

Draco laughed bitterly. "That's me. A stupid thing."

To his surprise Hermione answered him. "You are not a stupid thing, Draco Malfoy. I saw the way you duelled with Lyra against the Carrows. You're not stupid," she repeated, holding his grey eyes with her own brown orbs, "it just took you longer than most to find what you were looking for."

"But she's terrified of me," whispered Draco, gesturing at the diary. At the passage. "She was twelve! And she was already terrified of hate. She was terrified of becoming numb, empty. Nothing. She was afraid of becoming…me. I did all that. In second year! With four words." His last words were a whisper which trickled through the now silent room.

"Like I said, we all say stupid things when we're younger," replied Hermione firmly. "Just be glad that you're here now, with Lyra. Put it behind you." She stood, looking down at me. "Let's go, before one of the Weasleys thinks you've hexed me," she said, trying to lighten the mood. She was rewarded with a smile, albeit a bitter one, but it was a smile all the same. The blond boy nodded and stood smoothly. Hermione pretended not to notice as he swiped quickly at his eyes. Together they left the room.

Well...at least they're not hexing eachother :)
Hope you liked it!

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