A small gentle knock finally woke Draco up. He opened his eyes and saw a small body sliding through the door. He recognised who it was, the one and only Hermione.

"I didn't tell you yesterday but I forgive you. Good morning." She gave him a small timid smile.

"Morning" he rubbed his eyes before looking at the clock. "Great I missed breakfast."

"Oh no you didn't, I actually brought you some food up for you. Theodore's idea actually." Hermione exited only to come back with a small plate of eggs, bacon, and a green apple along with a glass of pumpkin juice.

"Oh umm thanks." He said before getting a bite of the apple.

"Oh by the way McGonagal said that we have to get decorations ready for incoming students, I already told everyone what to do. You just have to help levitate some banners." Hermione sat next to him looking at the food, that was originally for her because she needed to plan things in her room but Draco also needed to eat.

As if he could read her mind he looked at her offering some food which she gratefully accepted. "What is Theo doing?"

"Well him and Luna are helping clean the first year tables and organise where everything will go in the Great Hall."

"Him and lovegood?" Draco rained an eyebrow as Hermione slowly nodded.

"Anyways, you should probably get dressed and all so we can help out. I'll be in my room sorting out my stuff." Hermione left with the empty plate and an almost finished glass of pumpkin juice.

He got up getting one of his black buttoned up shirts with black slacks and shoes. He showered and got dressed quickly before going to Hermione's room.

Draco knocked on her door until she said to come in. When he walked in he saw Hermione on her bed with her eyes glued to the book. "Umm Granger? Ready to go?"

"Yeah let me just finish this chapter." Draco patiently waited leaning back on the doorframe until she put her book down. "Sorry it's just a really good book."

Draco nodded and they walked out together to the Great Hall where everything was almost ready, they just needed to finish the banners. Draco looked around finding Theo and Luna talking in a booth pointing at a paper and smiling. He smirked knowing that his friend fancied loony but wouldn't admit it.

"Wingardium leviosa" he pointed at a banner making it fly up to it's place.

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"Lovegood I think we did a good job on organising this place." Theo said with a wide grin.

Luna was wearing some of Hermione's muggle clothes, a blue hoodie and jeans. "I think we did anyway I better go feed the Thestrals." She got up going to the kitchen with Theo walking behind her.

"How about I join you and you inform me more about the creatures?"

"That would be lovely Theodore but are you sure. They're really misunderstood creatures and a lot of people don't like them." Luna picked out some apples from the kitchen along with other things putting them in a bag.

"Well I'll be able to relate to them then." He took the bag from her carrying it as she put food in.

"Well then let's go." She walked and he followed her until they reached the forest where they saw the animals.

A few minutes passed of feeding them and talking about them so they headed back to the castle.

"So are you doing the commentary for Quidditch again?" Theo asked suddenly putting his hands on his front pockets.

"No, I wasn't so good at it. Are you going to join your Quidditch team?"

"You were funny and yes I'm joining. Hopefully." Theo looked down at his feet while walking "oh I've been meaning to ask you, how come people know nargles if they're invisible? How are they seen?"

"With spectacles like the ones I have. You can get them on the Quibbler, my dad's magazine." Luna explained still looking around at her surroundings.

"Ok," he looked at his watch, "it's almost time to get ready for the incoming students." He looked over at Luna who nodded quietly.

They walked in silence together and Theo made it a point to walk her to her tower. After dropping her off, he walked down to the Slytherin common room finding Draco along the way.

"Someone looks happy, who did you shag this time?" Draco raised an eyebrow at his friend.

Theo looked at him and rolled his eyes. "No one, I was just talking to Lun-Lovegood."

Draco raised an eyebrow at his friend choosing not to comment on it. "Mate thanks for the food in the morning."

Theo stopped walking and looked at Draco, "as much as I like being the first person you've said thanks to, what in Salazar's name are you talking about?"

"First of all, I've said thank you before and second of all, the food that you told Granger to take me."

"The only thing I told Granger was to place me with someone that was not on Slytherin. The Slytherin girl gives me the creeps. She smiled at me me winked, the smile was not a sweet smile it was a creepy one. Like she could see behind my clothes which only made me uncomfortable." Theo shivered at the thought.

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"Mione why did you leave with your food after telling everyone what to do in the morning?" Ginny asked as she sat across her friend in the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione looked up from her book and closed it placing it on her legs. "I wanted to finish reading the books." Hermione didn't really lie since that was her original thought. Then she heard soft snores from Draco's room and she decided to try to talk to him. "Gin, would you forgive someone who hurt you but umm had a reason to do it? Like if they had to protect you from something worse."

"Well if it was life or death circumstances then yes. Who are you talking about Mione? Ronald didn't hurt you did he?! Oh he's going to hear from me, you'll see I'll send him a howler and it will say: RONALD WEASLEY YOU ARE SO LUCKY THST IM ALL THE WAY OVER HERE BECAUSE I WOULD BE KICKING YOUR BLOODY ARSE-"

"Gin! It wasn't Ron. We ended on good terms. It's umm another person." Hermione looked down at her book debating on wether  she should tell her or not.

"Well I'm here if you ever need to talk now we should get ready since we need to greet the first years." Ginny and Hermione hugged before going their separate ways to change.

When Hermione got to her common room, she saw Draco, already reading with his Slytherin robes, sleeping on the couch. She saw that he was having another nightmare as he was twitching on the couch moving his head.

"Draco" she whispered getting closer shaking him ever so lightly so he would wake up.

He shot up grabbing his wand shooting a spell at Hermione without thinking making her fly backwards and hitting the wall. His eyes widened when he realised what he did and ran to help her up. "Don't ever do that again Granger."

Hermione stood up with the help of Draco. "Sorry" she mumbled.

"It was my fault." He looked down.

Hermione looked for his eyes but he focused on the floor and so she began walking away to her room. Then something stopped her, her curiosity. "Draco?"

"Yes Granger?"

"Why do you have a lot of nightmares?" She looked intensely into his silvery grey stormy orbs.

"That is something I will not talk about Granger."

Hermione but her lip, "well just know I'm here if you need to talk. You know, like yesterday." She took a deep breath before going in to change.

When she finally came out, there was no sign of Draco so she left.

At the feast, Hermione tuned out everything since she was starving. All she could think about was eating.

McGonagal talked and everyone was quiet until a brown owl flew to Draco's table dropping a paper to him.

Hermione looked up and met his eyes filled with worry. He looked down getting his cold facade back on his face. McGonagal introduced the prefects and heads before quickly starting the meal.

Hermione ate satisfying her hunger and once the feast was done she followed Draco up to their common room as the prefects guided the kids to their common rooms.

"Draco, what's that?" She pointed at the paper he had in his hands.

"Mum sent me this." He handed her the letter without hesitation.

Draco

Please don't worry about the newspaper that says I'm getting my trial done tomorrow. Trust me, everything will me fine. Just know I love you no matter what.

Love
Narcissa

"She sent you the Daily Prophet? Can I see it?"

Draco nodded handing her the paper.

Narcissa Malfoy: Deatheater or innocent

NARCISSA MALFOY WILL BE GETTING A TRIAL TOMORROW TO SEE IF SHE IS A DEATHEATER LIKE HER HUSBAND. IF THINGS GO BAD FOR HER THEN SHE WILL BE SENT TO AZKABAN. SURELY SHE DESERVES THAT FOR WHAT HER HUSBAND HAS DONE.

Hermione stopped reading, it was too much for her. It made her feel bad about Draco.

Draco looked at the paper once Hermione gave it to him and threw it to the fire. "She's innocent" he whispered.

"I kno-"

"Granger, you don't know everything." He glared at her before storming to his room.

Hermione left to patrol the halls having an excuse for Draco in anyone asked anything. 'Why is he acting like this? What can I do to help him? What if I can't help him? What if his mum gets locked up? What will happen to him?'

She said goodnight to her friend once they finished patrolling and she went to check in on Draco.

She opened the door of his bedroom knowing he was probably in there and not sleeping.

"What do you want Granger? Come to make fun of me or something?" He said in his usual cold tone.

Hermione didn't say anything, instead she sat across from him on the bed.

"I said what do you want?" He repeated glaring at her.

"Please, let me help you. Please." She whispered.

"How? Ending my life? You don't care so go away."

Hermione stood up and walked over to him. "I'm sorry." She mumbled.

Draco stayed quiet but turned to face her.

"Look I don't know everything, I admit it. I don't know how to fully understand you but I want to help you. I know for a fact that you don't trust me but I'm here if you need to talk. I'm willing to forgive you for the past and I hope you do the same." She waited a second before leaving him to his thoughts.

''I want you to help me but you can't. I'm already broken and nothing can fully fix me. Just go back to hating me Granger and leave me to rot in my thoughts.' Draco whispered some spells and closed his eyes forcing himself to sleep.

He kept on scratching his mark as it stung him. It went on for an hour or so. He cursed under his breath, he had to see if there was something in the common room to try finding anything that would help him. He could feel some blood on his skin from all the scratching.

He went over to the couch where he found the bushy-haired Gryffindor sleeping with a book on her hands. "Only you Granger."

He debated wether or not carry her to her room and decided to do so. He quickly wrapped his hand with his jumper and picked her up.

She woke up once he placed her on the bed. "Dra-Draco?"

Draco looked at her and nodded before beginning walking away.

"Wait." She got up walking towards him. "What happened to your arm?"

"Nothing."

"Come" she grabbed his hand dragging him to the light and unwrapping his jumper from his arm throwing it to his bed. "You're bleeding! Where's my wand?" She grabbed her wand from the nightstand and whispered some spells on his wounds. "Merlin's beard what happened?!"

"Nothing." He avoided her gaze and jerked his arms away from her grasp.

"Tell me." She reached his hand again making him turn around. "Stop shutting yourself out, I'm trying to be your friend."