Hallo, and welcome to my first fanfic ever. Please give me feedback so I can improve my writing. Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in here, so there you go.

He looked out the dirty window at the rain pouring down and closed his eyes. Slowly, he opened them again and took a hit off his cigarette and exhaled little smoke rings into the still air. He took a drink of his coffee and looked at his companion across the table.

"Well?" his companion asked. "Is it true? Are you dating that Mudblood?"

"Muggle-born," he corrected absently. "No, I'm not dating her." His companion looked relieved, until he said, "I married her about a year ago." She looked shocked, as though he had suddenly grown a second head or something.

"Yeah, so what? At least she's of the opposite sex," he spat out.

Pansy flushed. "At least my family won't disown me for dirtying my family name," she sneered, then looked appalled when she realized what she said. Both Draco's parents were killed by the Dark Lord three years previously. "I'm sorry I said that."

Draco sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm sorry I brought it up," he mumbled. "You know I don't mind. That doesn't bother me much." He looked up at Pansy. "So, what do you think?" he asked casually.

"About what? Oh, I don't know." She shook her head. "Actually, I thought she was smart enough to avoid you." When he looked up at Pansy, sparks shooting out his eyes, she held up her hands in surrender. "Whatever happened to the Weasel King? I thought those two would be joined at the pelvis by now."

Draco took another hit off his cigarette. "His brothers Fred and George were killed in the war. Ron went into a deep depression. A year later, when he finally came out of it, he went to the front lines in search for his brothers' killer. Two years later he found out Blaise's father had done it. He died in the duel." Draco sighed and put his cigarette out and gestured to the waitress for a refill.

"How long ago was that?" she asked.

"Three years ago."

"Oh." Pansy was staring outside at the rain now, too, head resting on her hands. She looked thoughtful. Draco lit another cigarette and offered one to Pansy. She declined, then sighed.

"What?" Draco snapped.

"Oh, hell, Draco, why'd you have to get yourself involved with a Mud- um, Muggle-born? Especially her?" She sighed. "You could have anyone. You always could, you know."

"Yeah, well, when the Dark Lord killed my family, I couldn't just accept him. They were poor parents, but they were still my parents. So I left the Death Eaters," he said simply. Pansy gasped.

Eyes wide, she asked, "Where did you go?"

"I went to the only place I knew I'd be safe – London."

XXXXX

"I've been expecting you, Mr. Malfoy."

Filthy and bloodstained, Draco simply stood there. He blinked once and said, "Wha?"

Dumbledore strode forward, wrapped an arm about Draco's shoulders, and gently led him upstairs and into a bedroom. Finally, his brain grasped the fact that he'd run smack into what could very well be his death. His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to ask for help. He immediately closed it, wondering what he could possibly say to explain himself or his circumstances.

As the silence stretched on, he felt himself get nervous. Just say something, he thought to himself. "What are you doing here?"

"I am here at the invitation of Sirius Black," Dumbledore replied.

Confused, Draco repeated what his mother had told him. "Black is dead. This house hasn't been used since he died. Mother said I'd be... safe...?" He looked inquiringly at Dumbledore. "Will I?" he asked with a hunted look.

"Mr. Malfoy, right now, nowhere is safe. However," he continued, seeing the fear in Draco's eyes, "Voldemort will be hard pressed to find anyone here."

Draco's eyes relaxed, though his body was still tense, as though he expected to be attacked any moment. "What do you mean, 'anyone'? Are there other people here?"

Dumbledore paused, thinking. "Hermione Granger is here right now."

Draco paused, staring at Dumbledore. "R-really? Why? What's that got to do with me?"

Dumbledore rested a hand on Draco's shoulder. "More than you think. Let's go down and speak with her." Draco nodded and stood up.

XXXXX

Pansy's mouth was hanging open. "You – he – but – her?" she spluttered.

Taking a drink of his coffee, Draco stared at the tip of his cigarette. "You know, Pansy, I never thought I'd be telling this to anyone, especially you. However, since I kept your secret – you know, about your 'private time' – I feel you'll be able to keep this to yourself." She nodded her consent. If Draco had told anyone she liked girls – not boys – at school, she might possibly not be sitting there, or anywhere for that matter, ever again.

Reaching forward, she grabbed one of Draco's cigarettes. He raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. She also signaled the waitress and asked for a fire whiskey.

A/N: Sorry it's so short. I thought it was longer than that. Anyway, review me and let me know where to go from here.
-Kat