"So Draco, how was your summer?"
"Very uneventful Parkinson." Draco responded dryly.
"Ooh, someone's in a bad mood."
"Not my fault you annoy me."
Pansy hugged Draco's arm. "Oh come now, you love it."
"I'd rather be tortured than be annoyed by you Parkinson. Now let go of me." Draco snarled at her.
Pansy got quiet for a minute and then broke the silence. "Did you hear about the Death Eaters at the World Cup? At least several muggles were attacked. After that the Dark Mark appeared in the sky."
"Who hasn't hear about it? It was in all the papers."
"Oh, um.. what's your class schedule look like?"
"Dammit Parkinson! Shut up! This train ride is boring enough already. I don't need you making it any worse. Let me sleep."
"Still having trouble sleeping Drake?"
Draco groaned. "For Merlins sake! Shut the fuck up! And don't call me Drake. It's Draco. Call me Drake again and I'll start calling you Pugface Parkinson again. Draco stood up immediately and went looking for an empty compartment to sleep in. While scanning each compartment Draco came across one he presumed was empty. He entered and inside asleep on a seat was Hermione. Draco closed the door behind him quietly and locked it. He sat on the seat across from her and propped his head again the window. He stayed awake for about thirty minutes, watching the witch sleep peacefully. Slowly, he dripped to sleep.
About another thirty minutes later Draco was awoken by being smacked on top of his head. "OW!" He looked up to see Hermione glaring at him. "Why must you always hit me?"
"Draco have you gone mad?! Why're you in here?" Hermione hissed at him.
"I wanted somewhere quiet to sleep."
"And you just HAD to choose the compartment i was already asleep in? What it someone saw you?"
"No one saw me so calm your arse down."
Hermione smacked him across his face. "Don't tell me to calm down! First the World Cup and now here? I'm starting to think you're the one stalking me!"
Draco cleared his throat. "Need I remind you about my birthday when I found you wandering the woods near my house? And you cornering me in a dressing room in Diagon Alley? So if I'm correct that's two for two. I guess you could say we're equally stalking each other."
"I was only wandering those woods because you were my boyfriend at the time! You were the one to start stalking me after we broke up."
"I don't recall it being an official break up Granger."
"Excuse me? I found out you were going to become a Death Eater! Do you honestly think I'd want to date you after you received the mark!?"
Draco got quiet. "I'll just go find another compartment." Draco began to stand up but Hermione pushed him back down into the seat.
"You got the mark... didn't you?" Draco didn't answer. "Draco tell me you didnt.."
"I didn't. Not yet."
"Yet? What do you mean yet?! Are you completely mental?!" Hermione sighed heavily. "And why do you think it wasn't an official break up? Your dad wants me dead just because of my dirty blood." Hermione looked down at her feet.
"Nevermind him. My mother loves you." The witch looked up at Draco.
"Really..?"
"Yeah, she can tell you make me happy."
Hermione just stared at Draco. Without thinking she leaned in toward him and kissed his lips. Draco hesitantly kissed her back, then cupped her face with his hand to pull her close. Hermione moved her body into his lap and deepened the kiss. After a few seconds Draco pulled away, wincing in pain.
"What's wrong..?" Hermione said softly.
"My chest..it burns.."
Hermione immediately got out of his lap and lifted his shirt. "Draco, the word's freshly carved in again. Let me go get someone."
"No! It's fine. I'm fine." Draco pulled down his shirt.
"Draco, please...let me get help."
"No Granger. It'll heal. I'll be fine."
Hermione sat there feeling helpless, wishing she could help him. "What if..what if it only happens when I touch you..?"
"Then my father is probably behind it."
"Draco you need to tell someone. Or I will."
"No you will not. If you do, I will never forgive you."
"Well if I don't and something worse happens to you, I'll never forgive myself."
Draco stood up. "I have to go." He walked toward the door but Hermione stopped him by grabbing his wrist.
"Draco, please stay.."
He turned around to look at her. "Why?"
"So I can make sure you'll be okay.."
"But why would you care? You hate me."
"Oh yes Draco. Because I would totally snog someone I hate." Hermione replied sarcastically. After a few minutes of silence Draco spoke up.
"What if your friends find out you snogged a Death Eater?" Draco laughed to himself.
Hermione smiled. "What if your friends find out you snogged a mudblood?" Both their smiles faded once the word was said.
"Don't say that word." Draco said softly.
"Well why not? You're the one who called me that in the first place."
"And I still regret it to this day Granger."
"Do you have any other regrets?"
"Not chasing after you that night." Hermione looked at Draco and hugged him gently.
"I regret running."
"I think I love you Granger."
Hermione slowly pulled away and slapped Draco hard across the face.
"OW! What was that for?!"
"For saying that after you haven't written me all summer! Merlin Draco. You're horrible at this romance thing."
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Draco rubbed his cheek. "That hurt."
Hermione gently kissed his cheek. "Better?" Draco nodded and kissed her forehead. "I have to go back to Harry and Ron."
Draco sighed. "Of course."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"They follow you around everywhere like lost puppies. It makes it impossible for me to approach you."
"Well your cronies follow you around everywhere as well. Especially Pansy." Hermione crossed her arms and looked out the window.
"Aw is someone jealous?"
"Most certainly not, Malfoy."
"Liar."
"Okay maybe a little... Harry and Ron never follow me to the library."
"Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy never follow me there either. Maybe we could meet there every morning before breakfast?"
"Seriously? I never would've thought you would go to the library."
"Well that's probably because you're too busy with your nose buried into a book. I mean you're the first in our year while I'm second."
"Oh poor little Malfoy. Do you always have to be first in everything?"
"Well my parents expect perfection so yes."
Hermione smiled. "Fine. See you tomorrow morning, 7:30?"
Draco nodded, "7:30."