Hermione had just started another year of school, and was in high spirits. She loved to learn, and spent no time at all in reading her new textbooks cover to cover. While she had no problem paying attention in class, she was finding it difficult to stay focused between classes. Each time she entered the halls, she found her eyes searching for the white blonde hair of the boy she had met in the last few weeks of the previous school year. At the time, she had assumed he had recently moved to the area, and that his parents were keeping him home until the new school year. Now that summer had come and gone, and the new year had begun, Hermione was sure that Draco would be starting classes in his new school. She was anxious to talk to him. He, so far, was the only person she'd ever met who didn't seem to be upset, or frightened by her unique abilities. However, as the days went by, she caught no glimpse of him, and her spirits began to sink. Maybe she had imagined their encounter. Maybe she was so desperate to find someone that could understand her that she had created him in her mind. An imaginary friend. She had read that sometimes people who were very lonely would create imaginary people, and truly convince themselves that these new friends were real. It was a psychological condition.

"Maybe I'm crazy." Hermione thought to herself as she wandered down to the abandoned park where she often liked to study. It was so old and run down that none of the children played here anymore, leaving it peacefully quiet and secluded. Sitting by the pond, she began to pull out her school books. Suddenly she had a thought. Draco had told her that he lived on the other side of the woods. If she could see his home with her own eyes, then she would have proof he was real. She got to her feet, stuffed her books back in her bag and set off through the trees. After walking for, what to her, felt like hours, the trees began to thin and Hermione could see a small secluded road. Stepping out onto the pavement, a miraculous sight stood before her just down the road. An enormous metal gate stood at the beginning of a long driveway. The drive curved through trees and gardens, right up to the front doors of a beautiful and intimidating mansion, much larger than any house Hermione had ever seen. As she ventured toward the gate, she could see a large plaque with the words "Malfoy Manor" etched into it with curly gold lettering.

"This is it!" Thought Hermione, her excitement mounting. "He said his last name was Malfoy. This is where he lives! I knew I wasn't imagining him." But even as she thought these words, her heart sank a little. He was real, and yet, he didn't seek her out. Wasn't he just as excited at finding someone who understood him? Wasn't he as lonely as she was?

"What are you doing here?" The panicked voice made Hermione jump. She looked around, and Draco was peering from being the iron gate. "You can't be here!" He spoke a little louder now, though still not much louder than a whisper. "Go away!"

Hermione scowled, "what is wrong with you? I just want to talk to you." She took a step towards him. "Aren't you excited to find someone else like you? Someone who can make things happen by magic?"

"Stop!" Draco said in the same hushed voice. He thought she seemed like the persistent type, and he did not want his family to catch her here. She took another step towards him, and he resigned. "okay, okay..just go back!" He said hurriedly, glancing around. "Go back to the pond. I'll come meet you there. You just can't be here okay? If my father sees you..." His voice broke. He was afraid for her. "Go! I'll meet you there" he insisted when she didn't move.

Hermione looked at him with a skeptical glare. "You promise?" She questioned.

Draco made eye contact with her. His cold gray eyes, gazing into her warm brown ones. "I promise." He said.

With a nod Hermione turned and headed back through the woods. True to his word, Draco met her there a few hours later. "I'm sorry it took so long." He gave her an apologetic look. "I had to wait until my father left...but...I'm glad you waited." He sat down on the ground next to her.

Over the next few months, Draco and Hermione met every chance they could. Hermione waited every afternoon for him, and Draco came whenever he could get away without his father noticing. Before they knew it a friendship began to blossom. Draco told Hermione all about the wizarding world, insisting that she would be able to join him at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry once they were old enough. Hermione told Draco about the muggle world. She laughed as he found the most ordinary things unusual. He didn't understand why muggles went to school so young, and he grew to resent the hours she was unable to spend with him due to her classes. Finally, Hermione's summer break arrived, and she was able to spend every day with Draco in the tiny park that had become their safe haven. They wiled away the days telling each other anything and everything. Hermione told Draco the stories she had learned as a child of Cinderella, Snow White, and Beauty and the Beast. Draco told Hermione tales from his world like Babbity Rabbity, and the Tale of the Three Brothers. They talked about their families. Draco became envious of the love and devotion Hermione's parents seemed to show her. His own parents, he knew loved him, but they were cold, and severe. Hermione listened with bated breath while Draco told her of the mistreatment his father often showed him when he lost his temper. She held his hand, and cried with him on those occasions when he showed up to the park with bruises and jinx marks.

Then the day came when Hermione received her letter from Hogwarts. She was so excited, she rushed to the park, letter in hand. She couldn't wait to show Draco. "Draco!" She called as he came into view. She waved her letter in the air and a smile broke across Draco's face.

"I got mine too!" He yelled and he ran towards her. She threw herself into his arms, and the friends hugged, excitement building inside of them. They threw themselves down on the grass, and laughed. "I can't wait." Draco sighed. "Once we're at school, we can hang out all the time. We're going to learn so much cool stuff, and we'll get our wands!" He looked over at her. "You're going to be in Slytherin with me! You'll have to be. We get along so well, how could you not?"

Hermione sat up. "What's Slytherin?" Draco was shocked that he hadn't told her yet about the four Hogwarts houses. He quickly launched into an explanation, describing the traits of each house. "My whole family has been in Slytherin, so I know I will be." He finished. " All the best pureblood families are. Slytherin only takes the most pure wizards."

Hermione frowned, her forehead creasing slightly. "Well then I can't be." She said slowly "Can I?"

"What do you mean?" Draco asked raising his eyebrows.

"I'm a muggle-born." Hermione explained, and Draco's heart dropped into his stomach. "If Slytherin only takes pure blood wizards, then I will be put in one of the other houses."

Draco looked at his hands. He should have realized this sooner. He had been too excited about starting Hogwarts with his best friend. He never took the time to think about the fact that they wouldn't be together.

"Don't worry." Said Hermione, sensing his disappointment. "We'll still hang out. All the time." She insisted.

Draco nodded. "yeah," he agreed. "all the time." Though in his heart, he knew that as a Slytherin, it would never be acceptable for him to be seen spending time with anyone outside of his own house.