Disclaimer: Still don't own anything to do with Harry Potter... And still no Draco :(

A/N: Love reviews! Thanks to msroseross07, bella2404 and scaryneko! Oh and by the way scaryneko: I don't care that you thought your comment was rude! It was still a review and you said you liked my story! THANK YOU! And thanks to those who alerted/favourited my stories! NEXT CHAPTER!

Chapter 3

Sitting in the Great Hall at breakfast, Hermione was engrossed in her book. She didn't look up when Harry, Ron and Ginny sat down around her, laughing loudly about something Dean and Seamus had done. She didn't look up when the owls dropped off her post. She didn't look up because if she did, her eyes would immediately meet Malfoy's. And she did not want that. It had been three weeks since his attack, and although their eyes occasionally met in the halls, they did not speak. It worried Hermione that Malfoy didn't taunt her, Harry and Ron, like he used to. What was wrong?

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked up, startled.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay, Hermione?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry, too much study." Hermione lied.

Harry nodded and turned back to Ginny, much to Hermione's relief. This was getting out of hand. She had to stop worrying about him. He was a big boy now, he can handle his own shit.

Draco looked up from his breakfast. His eyes straight away locked onto Granger's not-so-bushy-anymore head. She was reading. Of course. Draco took this time to study her. She was lightly biting on her lower lip, like she was worried. Then she scowled. She was making faces at herself? No, Draco thought, it was more like she was arguing with herself. But about what? Draco shook himself. He wasn't supposed to wonder about what a Mudblood was concerned about. In a huff, Draco threw his cutlery next to his plate and stormed out of the Hall. As he was hurrying past the Gryffindors, some hissed and threw rude gestures his way. But as he looked out of the corner of his eye, he saw Granger look at him. For some reason, this just made Draco angrier.

"Woah did you see the look on his face?"

"-looked like he was ready to-"

"Wonder who-"

"He deserves-"

Hermione groaned to herself. Her bloody Gryffindor instincts were telling her to go help the poor guy. But the small, reckless part of her brain was telling her to let him suffer. Hermione sighed and stood up. She didn't have to talk to him. Just subtly walk past and check that he's not killing anyone.

"Library." She muttered to her friends, and left.

Hermione wandered up the stairs. She had reached the third level when she heard heavy breathing, like someone had been running. She rounded a corner and Malfoy was there, leaning against the wall, clutching his left forearm, tearing at his sleeve like he was trying to scratch something away. He was more pale than usual, and sweat was shinning on his face. Hermione hesitated. Again. Then she plucked up her courage and walked towards him cautiously.

"Uh... Malfoy?"

His head whipped up so fast Hermione heard it crunch.

"What do you want?" He hissed.

Hermione was taken aback.

"Are you okay?"

In answer, Malfoy pulled out his wand. "Back off Mudblood."

Hermione's jaw tightened. The slowly, she reached down to the sleeve of her left arm. She pulled it up, revealing the scarred word that Malfoy's aunt had left there.

"I know Malfoy. I know what I am. I accept that that's how people see me. It doesn't bother me now. I. Am. A. Mudblood. Get some new lines, Pureblood." She hissed the last word.

Then Hermione Granger, Mudblood, turned on her heel, and left.

"Shit."

Draco was furious. And kind of impressed. He hated knowing that his aunt had tortured that girl. He had hated watching. But he couldn't do anything then, so he was trying to forget that it even happened. But bloody Granger had to go and whip out her bloody scars and bloody remind him. After he had left the Great Hall, Draco had run away. He stopped when he was breathless, and in a moment of rage and regret, hatred and guilt, he had felt like ripping away the remains of his Dark Mark. So he tried. And got interrupted. Draco was getting annoyed at this. He was so annoyed that his father ruined his own son's life. He was enraged that he would be forever known as the Death Eater who got away with his crimes. Even though he never committed any. He was so annoyed that he just felt like hurting himself to save the rest of the world from doing it.

Suddenly, Draco was running in the direction that Granger had left. He had an idea. And it caused and evil smirk to creep up his face

A/N: Hey guys, so I know I used the whole Mudblood on the arm thing from the movie, but it's a cool idea. Please review! You have no idea how amazing it feels to know that people are reading this and when I get a review, I seriously get the giggles and do a happy dance :D even criticism is welcome! Oh yeah, I had to make Draco seem more like his old self... I know he's trying to change but I need to explain that it's difficult for him... More on that next chapter thought!

KaylaKay

xx