There is a slight itch  that's been bothering Hermione Granger for the last two weeks but she isn't quite sure how to make it stop. She's tried many calming spells and many different potions - within moderation and with careful studying to make sure none of them cause any bad affects - and none of them have fixed it. Ronald has been babying over her for it. Asking if she's needing to go to the doctor and keeps implying that maybe it's because she's returning to school without him and, 'Oh, why don't you just not go your last year and work at the ministry with Harry and I? It would be so much better and besides - what could they teach to the brightest witch of our age?" Lots actually - they could teach lots. There is an infinite amount of things she could learn and him suggesting that she not go every time she gets a little snippy gets on her last blooming nerve.

Well, it's not that he keeps bringing it up that bothers her - she knows he is just saying that because he cares and wants to keep her close to him, it's more of that he's wanting her to throw away a perfectly needed - and wanted - education so that she can follow his dream and be near him and the blooming bastard isn't willing to give up his to be near her! Things have been different since the war and he's really been trying, but something to her just doesn't feel  right. As if maybe there's a chance he's pushing it so much because he too feels their whole relationship was built on a misconception of friendly feelings and then pure adrenaline.  

No, she's just over thinking it. Going to Hogwarts is what started this whole thing and maybe it will fix it too. She needs a little space and distraction from Ron and what better place than in a class room? Nothing grabs Hermione's attention like a good book and lesson. Yes, she believes this was the right choice because now not only is she getting her N.E.W.T.s, but she is getting the chance to finally find herself. A chance to be something other than the smart girl or a third of the "Golden Trio" as the tabloids have grown to call her, Harry, and Ron.

"Are you alive Granger?" comes a voice from the end of the compartment. Hermione lifts her head up off of the window and tiredly looks at the young man leaning against the door frame with a slight smirk. His blonde hair is smoothed back in his usual fashion and he's wearing an all black suit and tie. Despite seeing his smirk, the young woman, can tell that he too hasn't slept since the war.

She rolls her eyes slightly and watches him standing there - too exhausted to answer that question. Yes, she is alive, but is she really living anymore? Or did that sense of her die with the war?

He purses his lips and raises an eyebrow before shutting the compartment door and walking over to sit across from her. "Not talking eh? That's a first" he says in a mock surprise tone.

"Oh shut it, Malfoy. It's been a long day" she says it with less annoyance than she expected - and guessing from his expression, the infamous Draco Malfoy wasn't expecting such a not unpleasant response either.

"It's been a long year" he says this and it causes her to look at his expression a little closer. She isn't sure why but for some reason, he isn't acting like the Draco Malfoy she knows. Or does she know him? She knows how he is for his family and how he is for Harry, but how is he as himself? Who is Draco Malfoy? Hermione thinks about it and realizes he is just like her in that sense. They both have been molded by others around them and now that they're here where they are, they are finally growing as themselves.

Suddenly the doors the compartment fling open and it causes Hermione and Draco to both jump. She realizes quite quickly that they had been staring at each other; while she was wondering about him, the muggle-born wonder's just what the pureblood was thinking of her.

"Hermione! There you are! I've been looking all over for you. Wanted to see if you'd join me in my compartment because Ron said you'd be coming alone" Ginny Weasley stands at the door of the compartment looking surprised and curious. "However....you aren't alone-" her voice trails off looking between the two.

Hermione slightly grimaces at this and at what Ginny must be thinking. Sitting alone in a closed compartment with her boyfriend and best friend's nemesis! The nerve of her! She should have been more careful - and yet she wasn't. Why is that?

Malfoy stands up and says, "Actually, I was just leaving. When I came to this compartment I hadn't realized it was occupied until I opened it-"

Ginny interrupts him with one of her snarky remarks, "and yet you decided to stay, Malfoy?"

Hermione raises an eyebrow about to respond when Malfoy looks at her with a slight smirk, "Looked like interesting company!" his voice and expression soften and he looks from the ginger to the brunette. "I apologize" are the last words he says before he leaves the two girls with looks of more surprise and confusion.

"I don't think I've ever heard that bloke apologize for anything!" Ginny says with the surprise - and even some respect - dripping from her words. "Odd".

"Very odd", she says. Ginny nods and then begins talking about random things. Hermione barely listens though. She wonders why he apologized - was it just for sitting in her compartment or for something else; she also wonders why he mentioned the bit about interesting company - is Malfoy implying that he would enjoy her company? Or is she just going bonkers?

Authors Note:

I hope you enjoy reading this - please comment your thoughts of Amortentia and polite/constructive criticism is always wanted! Don't forget to add the story so you get updates, please vote, and feel free to follow me - I always follow back!

Thank You So Much Lovelies,

RebelliousRedRose