We were almost 11 at the time when he told me; I remember it well. Like it was yesterday, in fact. But so many years have past between then and now.

"Sssh," he whispers. "Please stop crying, Hermione," Draco begs. "I promise it'll be okay?" Draco rubbed my shoulder as I leaned my head on his.

"How can you say that! We're not allowed to be friends anymore. I'm forbidden from Malfoy Manor and we cannot be seen together anymore! How is it going to be okay?" I sobbed into him.

"We'll find a way!"

"No, we can't! I heard the way your father spoke of me! That I was a filthy little Mu-"

"Ssssh," Draco begs. "Don't say that! It's not what you are! You're my friend, Hermione."

I turned away from him and looked out the train window. "Does it matter?"

"Does what matter?"

"That I'm Muggle-born? And you're a pureblood? Does it mean anything?"

"No, Hermione. It means nothing."

6 YEARS LATER...

I barely remember a time now when I didn't hate you. The past was so long ago that it doesn't even have an effect on my feelings towards you now. Now, all I remember are the moments after that day. The things you did to me. The horrible names you called me. But most of all, I remember how many times you lied to me. You promised me that it meant nothing. But from that moment on, it was all that really mattered.

"Hermione, whats wrong?" Harry asked, stuffing his face with chicken.

"Nothing, why?"

"You seem a little down?" He shrugged.

"Can you blame her? With who she got for head boy! I'd let the Whomping Willow have me instead of bunking with him," Ron said, sliding into the table and helping himself to some turkey leg.

"What are you on about? They haven't picked a head boy yet?" Harry said, slightly distracted as Ginny had moved in beside Lavender Brown.

"They just did, saw it posted in the common room!" Ron murmured, shoving as much food into his mouth as possible.

"Well, who is, then?" Harry bellowed.

Ron's head dropped slightly and he sighed. "There's your answer there!" he said, nodding towards the Main entrance. Draco Malfoy entered the Hall, and the Slytherin table cheered. I felt my insides clench.

"No," I whispered.

The Slytherin table cheered louder the closer Malfoy got. She watched him walk, and for the first time in years, looked at how much he had changed since they were children. He was taller-much taller-and his shouders were broader and more toned. He was slightly lanky in his stride but held himself well. He pushed his blond hair back out of his face and stared blankly ahead at the cheering crowd. His face was eerily pale. There was a slight sheen of sweat forming on his forhead. He looked worried...scared.

"Bloody git," Ron muttered under his breath.

"You can't be expected to share a room with him!" Harry protested, eyeing Ginny out of the corner of his eye as she moved next to Dean.

I was aware Harry was speaking directly to me, but my mind wandered back to Malfoy as he sat down in his usual seat at the Slytherin table. I was aware I was going to have to share a dormitory with him for the rest of the year, but all I was aware of at that moment was the look on Malfoy's face as he stared across the Hall.

"You should go talk to Dumbledore?" Harry suggested, assessing my condition.
"No, no, it's fine. I'm sure Dumbledore chose Malfoy for a reason. He must be up to scratch," I replied with a fake smile.

"You''re really going to live with him? Hermione, you know what he is now? You know what he's become, we've talked about this," Harry whispered, leaning across the table. I shook my head in protest.

"Harry, you don't know that you can't base everything upon theory. You don't have proof that Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater," I protested.

"I know what I saw, Hermione!" Harry barked, rising from the table quickly. I rose to follow him, but Ron's hand caught, dragging me back down again.

"Leave him off, he's on edge with Quidditch," Ron proposed.

But I noticed that Ginny's hand had found Dean's under the table, and knew the reason for Harry's dismay. I smirked slightly.

"You okay, Hermione?" Ron asked, pausing for a moment.

"I'm fine, don't worry," I said.

"Can't you just sleep in your room instead of living with Malfoy?" Ron asked brightly.

"No, they've given away my room already. My things are in the prefects' room already. Malfoy's are probably already there now too," I said, picking at my dessert.

"You know, you could always stay with me and Harry. Sleep in one of our beds. I'd sleep on the floor and you could sleep in mine. I wouldn't mind. I just don't trust Malfoy not to harm you while you sleep. I wouldn't mind, really. I'd sleep in the common room with you if you'd like. Well, not sleep as in sleep sleep, but stay with you if you wanted company..." I watched Ron stumble over his words nervously. I smiled a little to myself.

"It's okay, Ron, I'll be fine. I trust Dumbledore decision," I stated, comforting Ron.

"If you say so. The offer is always open. Want me to have a word with him?"

I knew Malfoy could take on Ron any day. But I smiled reassuringly anyway.

"It's okay, Ron, I can take care of myself. Don't worry. I'm going to go to the library for a while. I'll see you and Harry at Hagrid's later, okay?" I said, exiting from the table.

Ron smiled in response as his mouth was too full with food to respond. I gathered my books and strolled towards the exit.

On reaching the top of the tables, I chanced a quick glance towards the Slytherin table. Towards the spot my eyes hadn't searched in many years. Pansy met my glance and scowled. I dismissed her mundane glance and turned to Malfoy, only to find he was staring at me also. I stopped almost too noticeably. His grey eyes held mine briefly, and I knew in that moment that he knew I was head girl and that we would be forced to live together. But mostly, I was aware in that brief second that our eyes met, that he remembered us. He remembered our lives, our friendship, and our crush, and when his eyes dropped back down to the table, I knew he would rather forget.