Draco's eyes snapped open, awakening from a deep sleep. The train wasn't moving, he just realized. It was the train's gentle bumps that kept him sleeping, but now he was wide-awake. He looked over to Hermione, who was still sound asleep. He smirked, adoring how innocent and peaceful she looked. He sat up, stretching, when an aching, jolting pain shocked his neck.

"Holy crap!" He cursed silently, shutting his eyes tightly and holding his head in a position that didn't hurt. He put his head in the wrong position when he was asleep, he figured, standing up with his head at the side. Caressing it lightly, he opened the door quietly and looked left and right, closing the compartment door. Suddenly the train looked larger, possibly since there was another section for dining. Picking a compartment randomly he opened it and stepped inside, finding Susan and Terry having an explicit conversation.

"Eh-hem," Draco obviously didn't care whether he was being rude or interrupting one bit. Once they looked up at him, he continued, "Has anyone noticed the train stopped?"

Susan looked out of the window, where gray clouds were forming and wild grass shivered with the breeze. "Huh, would you look at that?" She pondered, staring out of the window.

"Neither I have noticed. We were talking the entire time. Lovely moor, though," Terry replied, looking out of the window with her.

"Excuse me while I go find someone who cares," Draco replied monotone, figuring they would be of no help. He left their compartment without a good bye and went to the one next to it. Opening it, he found Professor Flitwick resting, snoring loudly against the windowpane.

"Excuse me, Professor?" Draco asked, stepping inside and tapping him lightly.

"What?! It was only grass!" Professor Flitwick shouted, snapping his eyes open and awakening.

"Beg pardon?" He asked, looking at the professor curiously.

"I mean weed! I mean a pipe! I mean...never mind," the professor propped himself up, looking up at Draco in puzzlement, "Dear gawd, child! What in heaven's name happened to your head?"

Draco snapped his head straight, then screamed in pain, putting it back down, "An unfortunate sleep. Why has the train stopped?"

Professor Flitwick looked out of the window and gasped, "I have no idea!" He stood up on his stubby feet and waddled over to the engine room in a hurry, brushing past Draco.

"OK! I'll just be over here..." Draco called out sarcastically, standing inside of the compartment. It seemed like it was about to rain. He looked down at his wrist, only to find his Quidditch gloves and uniform still on. He groaned, forgetting that he had practiced early on in the day. He was still in his deep green robe, which he considered he looked pretty damn sexy in. Admiring his form, Professor Flitwick walked in then.

"The train has broke down! The conductor has no idea how! It will take a while to fix…possibly all night…But don't worry! We'll be on our way before you can say muggle high school!" He told him, sitting back on his seat.

"Grreat. What am I supposed to do until then?" Draco asked, not looking happy at all.

"Well, you could read or have a civilized chat with Hermione or any of your other soon to be roommates!" Professor Flitwick suggested, looking up at him.

"Uh-huh, well, I'm going over there," Draco said, rolling his eyes and walking out of the compartment. Bloody train, he thought, walking back to his own compartment. Though it'll be fun messing around with Hermione, even if she can mess with my mind sometimes… He closed the door behind him and turned around, seeing Hermione still sound asleep. She looked cute in a way, and he couldn't help stare at her peaceful expression. He sat back down and sighed, leaning back down in his chair.

Getting his mind off of the sleeping Hermione, he closed his eyes. A small memory flashed across his mind and he shuttered. Milady saw him shiver and jumped on his lap for comfort, though not doing much on his side. She was there when it happened, so she knew why he was shivering.

It was a dark, eerie night when Lucius Malfoy seized a kitchen knife across Draco's stomach, drawing deep, crimson amounts of blood from it. Draco hissed in pain, stumbling backwards and hitting the corner of the counter sharply. Now he had a bruise on his eye, a deep cut on his stomach, and now an aching pain on the whim of his waist. He had tried reasoning and defending his side, but his father was too outraged to see beyond his own bloodshot eyes.

"You filthy back-stabber! Betray your own family and blood!" Lucius had hollered, prepared to make another cut or bruise in Draco's skin. "We raised you right and were destined for Voldemort's path, now you shan't belong anywhere! You're an outcast, and that's all you will ever be! No one! YOU ARE NO ONE! Leave this house, and never come back! I never want to look in the mirror again to think you were ever going to fulfill your family's fortune! LEAVE!" He swished the knife across Draco's shoulders, but he missed, Draco ducking. Milady hissed furiously, scratching Lucius' ankle quickly and running back behind Draco.

"FINE. I never want to see another homicidal idiot like you again!" Draco yelled, backing out of the kitchen quickly.

"Draco?"

He snapped his eyes open from the sudden interruption, gasping. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he spotted Hermione sitting up across from him. Hermione was opening her eyes slowly, staring at him curiously.

"You look frightened, what's wrong?" She asked politely, hoping not to offend or upset him. She had her robe covering her for warmth.

"Nothing. What's it to you, anyway?" He snapped, folding his arms stubbornly.

"I was just trying to be polite!" She replied groggily, sitting up straight, "We're going to have to live together, remember? Can I not be civilized? Besides, why has the train stopped?"

"Finally, someone with at least half a brain has realized that…" Draco said, mainly to himself, "Something is wrong with the train. It will take a while, most likely leading up to walking on foot to the nearest gas station."

"Perfect, nothing I like more than spending the day on a small, cramped train in the middle of no where," Hermione murmured, stretching her muscles. Milady hopped over to her, sitting on her lap and staring up at her with big, round eyes, looking as though to say, "Keep talking to him! He needs to lower his conceited, stubbornness ways!"

"Traitor…" Draco muttered again, furrowing his brows.

"So, how excited are you about this super, fantabulastic year we are about to experience?" Hermione asked sarcastically, patting Milady's soft head.

"I plan to keep to myself and stomp on anyone who dares steer in my path," he replied, getting up and walking out of the compartment. He returned a few moments later with a silky soft, thick blanket in his hand from his suitcase. It was getting chilly, from the train being so drafty and all. As he sat back down, the window cracked open; falling a couple of inches down, bringing in more cold air. A crack of lightening bolted across the sky, with thunder backing it up. A few drops of rain trickled on the wild grass, as another bolt of lightening fly across the gray sky.

"Shit," Draco mumbled, getting up and attempting to pull the window back up into place. "Worthless piece of junk!" The windowpane wouldn't budge, as the rain increased and poured to the ground, now slipping in the compartment.

"Well this just made MY day!" Hermione groaned, fisting the wall. Draco cringed at the sky and cursed, falling back down heavily to his spot. He wrapped the blanket around him and shivered, staring at Hermione. Since she had her robe off and wrapped around her stomach, he could clearly see something quite personal forming more visible on her breasts through her tight black shirt. He smirked to himself, forgetting Hermione was looking at him for a second.

She glared at him angrily and covered her breasts with her arms, kicking him in the shins. He cursed in pain, as Milady seemed to glare at him too, as to say, "You should treat a lady with more respect!" He rolled his eyes as more rain poured in through the window, the sky growing darker. He sighed, loosening the blanket from around him. Her robe didn't seem to warm her enough.

"You want to share the blanket?" Draco offered kindly, yet still stubbornly as she shivered. She looked up at him suspiciously, then scooting Milady off a little and getting up to sit next to Draco and under his covers.

"You better not have some perverted trick up your sleeve, Draco," she warned, clutching the blanket up to her neck.

"Don't worry," he reassured, "I've been off duty for about two minutes."

She tried as hard as she could to keep warm under the blanket while keeping a clear, small distance between the two. As a silence followed and the only sound to be heard was the trickling of rain and pounding of thunder, they soon became drowsy once more. Another moment passed before they both closed their eyes, leaning back against the wall with a peaceful sleep of comfort.

~~~~~~

Hermione opened her eyes slowly, snuggling closer to what was keeping her so comfortable and warm. She looked down and gaped in shock. Draco and her were leaning against the wall together with the blanket wrapped around them, his arm also wrapped around her waist. His chest was firm and warm too, she could tell, trying not to awaken Draco. His arms were to strong and protective, she felt she could lay there with him all day. Thus as dreams come to and end, so do moments. She looked up to find his gray, misty eyes open, staring into a blank oblivion before him. He looked thoughtful; not to be disturbed, but surely he had noticed that she was awake, but refused to look at her.

"I admit, I had another nightmare," he stated, still staring at nothing, "But it was of neither fiction or malformed creatures. Just a memory, another faulty memory…"

"Are you alright?" She asked, seeing he was in no mood to be a sarcastic bastard.

"Fine, as always. Yet I can never put my finger on why," he replied surely, crossing his eyebrows.

"Um," Hermione paused, shifting in the seat, "how exactly did we end up like this?"

"What does it matter but that we are warm and not wet? We probably shifted in this position during our sleep, looking for warmth and comfort… Not a bad way to wake up though, eh?" Draco replied, squeezing her lightly with his arm.

She glared up at him, but mentally agreed. It was still drizzling, and it seemed to be around six at night. The train still wasn't moving. "Isn't it scary? How this train has stopped in the middle of a moor and that any creature could waltz up in? Like a headless horseman or vampire of some sort? It scares me, at least," she questioned, scooting closer to him from frightening herself. True, anything could happen. And possibly no one would ever find out. Sooner or later, of course, but in the meantime it seemed unlikely the train would budge another centimeter.

"Very likely. I only wish to be in London, surrounded by people. They all may be ignorant twits, but a crowd is sort of comforting in a way. Showing you're not alone in the world," Draco answered, making little circles on her skin with his finger. How can he be so sarcastic one minute, then completely reasonable the next? Hermione thought, annoyed. They weren't supposed to be engaged in each other's presence, but they were, for warmth. And even that reason was questionable, maybe not just for warmth. She was growing attached to the brat somehow, and as much as she hated to say it, she didn't mind sleeping next to him in the drafty compartment.

~~~~~~

"How is the engine now, Buck?" Professor Flitwick asked, entering the engine room. Buck, the conductor, looked completely confused and puzzled.

"Nothin' new. Ay, dunno if it'll work thee all night! Tha' better stay put, I'll get 'er workin' soon," Buck replied in heavy Yorkshire, bending down to check for something. He waved the heater with a cloth once.

PHOOM.

A huge, blazing fire crackled out of the stove and almost caught Buck and Professor Flitwick on fire. They backed off quickly as the fire soon caught on to other parts of the train and grew. No surprise, there wasn't any water on the train and no fire extinguisher. They attempted to stomp on the flickers of fires, but they just kept regrouping. They gasped in shock and ran out of the engine room, opening the doors of the student's compartments.

Buck opened Draco and Hermione's room, the two still sleeping. Milady looked up at him and meowed, sniffing the air for smoke, and began biting at the blanket. The heavy puffs of black smoke were making their way down the train. Buck dashed by their side and threw off the blanket, shaking them quickly.

"Get up, you chindlens! There's a fire a brewing!" He shouted as they opened their eyes slowly. Once acknowledging that there was a fire in the train, they jumped up at the same time looked around, wondering what had happened. The crackling fire was making it's way to their compartment, so Buck slammed the door shut.

"You two best not go out that way! Tha' must open the window and jump!" Buck advised, opening the already open window wider, letting in more rain since it was still raining. Milady hopped out first, being the one with most agility. Draco grabbed his blanket and threw it outside, scrambling out next.

"Oh sure! Save your blanket!" Hermione shouted, hopping out. She almost bashed her head to the ground, thankfully Draco catching her before she could even touch the grass.

Buck hopped out next, stumbling as doing so. Milady stared in silence as the train began burning up, slowing down though from the heavy rain. Hermione shivered, and Draco sighed annoyingly, setting his not too wet blanket around her shoulders. He didn't necessarily LIKE her, but she was company. They watched in silence as the rain cooled the fire down to a stop, Draco then braking the silence as usual.

"Well. You don't see that very often," he said, shuffling his feet.

"Now that just 'idn't make a damned sense," Buck added, scratching his nearly bald head, "The ministry only wanded to pay ho much for the cost of the half year trip for tha'. Though it didn't hit a ball that they should'a put in water or anything else that would'a made some sense in a fire!"

"Where's the others?" Hermione questioned, stepping towards the crisped train. Terry, Susan, and Professor Flitwick walked from behind the train just then, stunned.

"We had enough time to get through the door, what did you guys do?" Susan asked, walking towards them, rubbing her arms for warmth.

"Jumped through the window. And yes, we know how sensible and intelligent that was," Draco replied sarcastically, picking up his freezing wet cat.

"Eh, Professor! We're gonna have to walk the rest of the way once the chindlins have picked up wha's left of their luggage," Buck told the terrified professor. They waited for the fire to settle, before trudging over to one area of the train to retrieve whatever was left of their luggage. Surprisingly, most of their stuff hadn't been touched, except for some charred parts and one suitcase that had completely been burned to a crisp, which was Hermione's set of clothing. She groaned in annoyance, kicking a small part of the wrecked train.

"Well, hence the fact that half of my clothing has been burnt to a crisp, I'm just peachy!" Hermione said in bright sarcasm, picking up what was left of her luggage.

"We're goin' hafta walk o' foot to the nearest town, which is 'bout two or three miles down the moor," Buck told them, putting his hand above his forehead in a salute to see beyond the light

"Suppose it's good for the heart, anyway! A good excursive!" Professor Flitwick added, picking up his luggage and began trailing down the wild grass.

"Yea, and the adrenaline rush of a fire sure boots up the heart rate!" Draco cheered sarcastically, picking up his luggage and letting Milady go in front of him to follow the professor. Hermione, still wearing the blanket, held her robe in the other hand and dragged her luggage after them, Susan and Terry following with content faces.

"Those cheap bastards! I have no owl to send a letter to 'em, no water, no nothing! All’s I gots is a pack of trail mix and lighter to get me threw the day! Well, this is never gonna happen again!" Buck announced, falling behind.

"Surely they had a good explanation. Possibly they were low on budget," Terry suggested, walking next to Susan.

"Possibly, but you never see the ministry doing anything useful, do you? They practically let Voldemort waltz up to Hogwarts and cause all sorts of bloody crap!" Susan protested, flipping her two braids behind her shoulders.

"Would you all just shut up about it! It's over, and all we can do is walk our feet off to the bloody bone of the ankle and complain about how miserable the higher council of wizards have ruined our year!" Draco ended it, huffing as he slouched his shoulders. He did not look happy, so no one dared reply. Hermione glanced up at him quickly, hoping not to have caught his eye to make him angrier. But the glimpse she did catch was he being miserably angry at the world. Before he had looked so peaceful and agreeable, funny how someone can change within the hour. Draco did that a lot. He never let emotions get high strung in a big web of mess that made him more miserable than he already was. He probably had never loved, and the only woman he had was his mother. Hell, the only real date he ever had was with Pansy Parkinson, and you can see how wonderful and perky she always was. A little puppy waiting on his every move, then news got around and she didn't love the rich Malfoy anymore.

Hermione knew he had other admirers, obviously with his perfectly sculpted body, but they only liked him for one thing or the other: his money or his looks. And even if someone did ask him out, he would probably see right through her and refuse on the spot.

He was probably a virgin.

Hermione sort of gave a giggle at the thought. Draco Malfoy, pure evil and sexy in every way, a virgin? She wasn't one to talk, but it was humorous all the same. I mean if you'd just look at him, he gave you that aura that made sure you knew he was naughty and full of angst and venom. But once you think about it he was too sour and stubborn to ever love or even consider the thought of fucking some pathetic being that disgusted him one way or another. Then again she was glad he was probably a virgin, then he wouldn't have the sudden urge to pump into someone like her when she sleeping.

"Ew," she muttered as they passed a rabbit hole, thinking of the thought of Draco pumping into her. EW! She thought, in a sort of childish stage. She did that a lot, just think of something nasty and say something to brake a silence. Then she could never get the thought out of her head.

"What?" Draco asked, a bit more softened than before. His temper had probably cooled down by the breeze. Their legs were already aching, already walking for ten minutes.

"Nothing," Hermione answered in an instant, changing her expression quickly. Draco and Hermione were walking pretty slowly; Milady, Professor Flitwick, Buck, Terry and Susan were already feet ahead of them. They were probably trying to consume their energy for the long walk. Either that or they just felt lazy.

"So, what are you going to do this year?" She asked, clearing her throat as the others began breaking the silence as well, corrupting in conversations.

"Keep to myself, and if a disgusting muggle dares touch me, don't expect me to smile and greet them with a cheery warmness," he replied, pulling up his green sleeve and checking the time. Six p.m. Hermione glanced at him, take note of his uniform.

"Were you practicing this morning?" She asked, grinning.

"In fact, I was. Lost track of the time, I had woken up at four in the morning and was practicing for about three hours," he answered, sighing. Might as well put their differences aside. Didn't mean he still wasn't going to be arrogant with her...

"Strictly polite, but you're better than Harry. What I don't get with him is he grabs a broom and starts flying like a professional," Hermione laughed, watching as Terry flirted with Susan. Ah.

"Well, um, thanks. I've been at it ever since I was eight," he thanked, messing around with his gloves.

Right as she was about to reply, Buck interrupted them, "Aye! My calculations was wrong! Look, a gas station an' book store up along there!" They all snapped their head forward, staring intently ahead of them. Indeed, there was a dirt road with a bookstore and gas station at either side, except the gas station seemed more like a candy store with a gas pump. The buildings seemed to have aged a good deal, since the bricks and layers of wood were pealing and cracking, but they still looked decent and petite.

"Happy days!" Professor Flitwick cheered, speeding up his pace to run into the gas station.

"What's a muggle landmark going to do? Let us take a ride on a pretty brick and fly away?" Draco asked sarcastically, looking unimpressed.

"Aye, but that's exactly precise! I'd warrant every last knut of me to say they have a phone!" Buck replied with a warm grin, looking up at the sunset.

"Beg pardon?" Draco asked smugly, as Terry interrupted.

"Correct, Sir, but there are no phone wires of any sort. I highly doubt there is a phone or any sort of communication line here," Terry advised, catching up to Buck with a sweaty forehead. He wasn't much of the athlete or a guy that gets out much; he was bookworm and mostly afraid of anything that could infect you or even touch you, or hell, he was afraid of everything that had germs. He was a pale, scrawny boy, and Susan seemed to like that in him.

"Aye, but there be a small chance we get a night's sleep or faster transportation," Buck replied, keeping his hopes up. Soon enough they paced to the entrance of the gas station; Professor Flitwick already inside. They all stood around, Buck going inside as well, when Terry turned around to look at the miraculous bookstore.

"It’s wonderful," he breathed, expression looking as though he were in heaven. Draco turned around as well to face the wood and stone building. He cocked a brow at it, thinking hard of something. He had forgotten something…but what?

"Oh, come on!" He groaned, balling his fists and digging his nails into the flesh of his palms. He sped back from where they had wandered from, frantic and irritated.

"Uuhhh…." Susan scratched her head, confused and squinting one eye.

"I take it he forgot something?" Hermione guessed, gazing at Draco as he disappeared in the horizon and turning back to the old bookstore.

"Well, as I was saying," Terry continued, ignoring the fact that the Slytherin had made a complete freak out "A bookstore, I love the rich text and content of books!"

Hermione nodded, smiling. She turned to the gas station door and stepped inside, a little bell ringing above her loudly.

"Drat," she heard Buck mutter, walking towards her with his head hung, "Tha’ was right. They have no phone. But ‘e says to me that they have small upstairs bedrooms in the bookstore. There not be a house for miles. Town is a long ways down, so we better ask to sleep in the bedrooms ‘night."

Hermione sighed, looking up to the ceiling and back down to face the conductor, "Ok, I’ll tell the others." She dragged her feet back outside in the cold air, only to find no one in sight. Smiling a little, Terry must have dragged Susan in the old bookstore. She strode across the small dirt road and inside the store, finding Terry and Susan right away.

"They have everything!" Terry gasped in disbelief, looking from left to right in the cozy store. It was a lot more comfortable than outside, and staying here a night wouldn’t be a bother at all. It had dusty, tall windows and a white ceiling with navy carpeting, ancient chandeliers strung about. It looked smaller from outside, but inside it seemed like the bookshelves could go on forever. They were long, tall oaken shelves, aged for many years and to last for many more. The books all seemed together, but appeared to be as though they all had been one of the first publishing. Then, at the front and a few feet ahead of her, was a curved wooden desk with stacks of yellow, aged papers on it, an old woman with grey hair behind it all.

"Good evening, how is thy?" She asked in a cheerful, thick voice, cheeks red and glowing.

"Um, good, how are you?" Hermione returned the polite question, taking note that she was probably a Quaker.

"I’m doing fine, thank thee for asking," she replied, nodding her head, "Thee friends seem a little high strong."

"Oh yes, our train just burned down for some reason and we have been walking for the past hour. I heard you have some spare rooms above here?" She asked, getting straight to the point.

"Indeed. I’m too sorry thy train burned down! Thee and thy friends may stay the night, to make it a little more simples on you. I won’t badger back and forth until thy ease into the question. Thy wishes to sleep, correct?" The lady replied as Hermione stepped forward with ease.

"Thank you!" She thanked, putting out a hand to shake, "I’m Hermione Granger, by the way."

"Oh, excuse me for not introducing myself! I’m Jackie Weshart; owner of this bookstore as my husband is owner of the gas station. People think we’re odd for living so far from civilization, but I like the peace and quiet! We don’t get much business, but it’s still a nice way to end our lives," Jackie greeted, shaking hands.

Hermione smiled politely and peered over at Terry, who was looking at each and every book in the aisle, "Thank you so much again!" Hermione thanked, running after Terry, as he was about to get a little too incautious with a bookshelf.

~~~~~~

"Are you sure, Susan?" Hermione asked carefully as Susan stood at the doorway of the upstairs. There was one big bed for Hermione and Susan to share, but Susan insisted on not invading Hermione’s personal space. She was going to sleep down stairs on a couch in the book area, where she considered it to be quiet. But Hermione knew that was a cover-up to talk with Terry. They were good kids and would never ‘mess around’ in bed, but she got the feeling her friend liked Terry, a lot. She smiled at the cute thought and closed the door after Susan argued about how Hermione needed some time alone.

Ok, whatever suits you, Hermione thought pulling on her plaid mini skirt again. She hated the thing, but hey, it was something to sleep in. Her suitcase was placed neatly at the side of the king size bed; Terry’s bedroom just next door. She sighed again, falling to the comfy bed. The first time she had really relaxed all day. It was certainly ‘relaxing’ in Draco’s arms, but this was by herself. For once, she had her own room during the year. Well, not necessarily, it was only one night and all, but still…Hermione shook her head, thinking ‘screw it’ to the thought.

Then she remembered she needed a shower. She could not go a day with out taking a shower when she knew one was working so near by. She stood up and padded across the wooden panels, opening a door that led to a small bathroom with a shower.

She practically just jumped out of her out fit and into the shower, then jumped back out. She was sleepy, damn it! She wasn’t going to waste more time in a cold shower. Eek, cold. Cold wasn’t a friend with her breasts. Spotting a towel quickly when she hopped back out, she wrapped it around her.

Damn, this is small! She thought as it barely covered her breasts and thighs. Oh well, it wasn’t like anyone was going to see her anyway. She flipped her wet hair behind her back and steadied out of the bathroom, finding another out fit instead. Then deciding, who cares? I’ll get back in the mini skirt…

Right as she was about to go back into the bathroom, the door cracked open slowly. She stopped in mid step and stared at the door intently. Draco, what surprise, stepped inside with his luggage and the leather backpack he had left on the train. Inside, he noticed Hermione and dropped his jaw, smirking.

This year just keeps getting better and better…she thought, trying to cover up all of her bare body parts, only to show more cleavage. I hate men!

+TBC+

Chapter Four of Thoughtless: Avaunt tonight my heart is light! (I had to say that) Anyway, whoopee for Hermione, in yet another conflict with HIM. They travel into the nearest town, already missing their first day of Muggle School. And they go to a muggle-

BrAnDi’s Note: Whoa, that was long again. Ally was all, what are you doing uploading?!?! You’re not done, write more! Screw that, bubba, my bologna DOES have a first name!!! BUT IT DON’T TELL ME WHAT IT IS!!! Ok, this chapter went by FAST! I was all, whoa, when I saw how many pages it was. Damn, I’m writing a lot of pages recently. Well, I’ll upload pretty soon; I have four days off to write. I’m going to be writing the next chapter of Damned Eyes (sequel to Demon Beneath My Will) and even though NOT MANY people read it, like I said screw the reviews because I consider it a good story and I’m finishing it, gawd damn it! Man, nothing is on Wednesday! Whoa, I wanna watch The Simpsons now, bye borko! What the hell was that?!?

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