I Am a New Day Rising

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews!!

Kamikawi ~ You went ABOVE AND BEYOND, I assure you!! But it was very much appreciated. I really liked your ideas of the flashbacks…I didn’t even think of it. I’ll keep it in mind. Also – I clearly am heading down an anti-Ron path with this one, but I never liked him…except Rubert Grint kinda makes me smile. Anyway. I’ll try not to make it too outrageous.

Fallingstar ~ Sorry about the grammar mistakes. *Blushes* It doesn’t matter how many times I reread it, I still miss one or two things =( I’ll try harder, promise. Haha On a lighter note, you are so right about “Ni” verses “Nee”. Let me explain. My name is Ronni and well I just always associate N-I with the sound Nee. But I can see now how some people might read it Neye. So, that being said. I’ve changed it. Not a big change that I think it would hurt the story at this point. Thanks for your input =).

Smurphy ~ I must confess I do love it when Ron has a bad rep as well. You won’t be disappointed, I assure you. I’m glad you liked the praying, I went back and forth about putting that bit in – I didn’t want to offend anyone. But even in my not-very-religious life, I believe that God forgives above all else, and if God forgave him than everyone else could too.

To those who reviewed asking for an update =) I must oblige.


Chapter 2: Sitting Next to Her, the Princess and the Passenger

“Ah. How I’ve missed this train.” Draco drawled as he plopped himself beside Hermione in the trio’s usual compartment.

“Come now, Malfoy.” Harry smirked. “This is a totally new experience for you.”

“How do you mean, Potter?” Draco asked taking a Muggle fiction novel from his bag.

“Well. This compartment is uncharted territory for you. This is the Golden Trio’s compartment; it’s exclusive.” Harry’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Hermione smirked, knowing full well Harry despised the term coined by their peers. “Very true, Harry. He should count himself among the elite now. He’s one of us.” She played along with his charade.

“What?!” Ron exclaimed. “No he isn’t! It’s the Golden TRIO, Hermione. Malfoy would make it four, not three.”

“Oh so you can do math.” Hermione snapped. Ron’s face reddened with anger. “You know Harry and I were being sarcastic. The three of us aren’t any better than anyone else, you git.”

Draco put a hand on her denim-clad thigh to stop her rant. His light tough instantly calmed her. Draco smiled inwardly as he watched her take a soothing breath. “Doesn’t matter, Nee. I don’t want to be a part of your stupid club anyway.”

She smiled devilishly at him. “Just a groupie then?”

“Doesn’t that mean has to have sex with one of us?” Harry laughed.

“Are you offering, Potter?” Draco raised an eyebrow at him.

“No, but Hermione might.” Harry answered behind a snicker.

Ron groaned, but Hermione just smiled as she turned back to her magazine. Draco grinned at Hermione’s silent reaction.

“Maybe.” He mused. His grin widened when he noticed the light shade of pink that crept up her cheeks.

“Don’t you have your own friends to go annoy?” Ron had had enough of their flirting.

“Really, Ron. We are his friends, and the only person he’s annoying is you.” Harry stated looking at the red head with an air of distain. Ron didn’t respond, visibly hurt by Harry’s straightforward response. Harry turned to Draco once he was satisfied Ron received his message. “How was the cottage, Malfoy?”

“Oh. Father named it Malfoy Cottage.”

Ron snorted. “Original.”

“Yes well,” Draco tried to ignore Ron’s intrusion, “it’s certainly not as big as the Manor, but-“

“Oh nonsense!” Hermione broke in. “It’s hardly a cottage at all; it’s so big! Really, Harry it is quite wonderful. It’s open and airy, but still feels like a real home. And it’s three floors, but the bottom one is just where the house elves will do all their work. The second floor has the living area. You know, the living room and the parlor and the dining room and the office and the library. Oh! You should see the library!” Hermione was interrupted by Draco’s deep laugh. “What?” She asked him.

“Oh, nothing, Nee. Please continue telling Potter and Weasley about MY house.”

“Oh. Sorry. I just love it.” Hermione pouted as she sank into the bench and started to read her magazine again.

Draco frowned. He wasn’t upset that she loved it. He was jumping for joy because the honest truth was he imagined her there. Draco imagined what it would be like for their children to be running up the stairs into the parlor or out into the garden. He imagined what it would be like to have Hermione waiting in his office when he got home from work with a report on how their youngest son finally pulled himself up to stand that day. He was frowning because he was afraid he offended her. “Oh. Nee. I’m sorry. I’m glad you love the house. I expect you’ll be there often. Please, really, finish telling Potter about the Cottage.”

“No, Draco. It’s fine. You finish.”

Draco sighed and turned to Harry. “Well the library is quite massive, much larger than the one we had at the Manor. And the top floor has all the bedrooms. There’s the master bedroom suite and three others bedrooms, each with their own bathroom. They are all very nice. The best part is how bright it all is. I must say, it’s the very opposite of the Manor. My father went from one extreme to the other.”

“But you like it?” Harry asked.

“Very much. The garden is awesome.”

“Oh yes the garden! So beautiful!” Hermione sat back up in excitement, but realized her interruption. “Oh. Sorry.” Draco and Harry laughed at her. “It’s just really lovely.”

“Well isn’t that nice.” Ron muttered.

Hermione ignored him. “It’s really the largest cottage I’ve ever seen.”

“Size isn’t everything, Hermione.” Ron said. Ron was referring to the house, obviously. Hermione, however, could not let go of the double meaning.

“I beg to differ, Ron.” She winked at Draco.

Out of surprise Draco choked on the butterbeer he had just opened. “And you’d know, my virgin princess of Gryffindor?” Draco smirked at her. Hermione threw her head back letting out a gorgeous laugh. Ron, however, ruined Draco’s moment of admiration.

“She’s not yours, Malfoy.” Ron spit out.

“Enough, Ron.” Hermione sighed. “It was only a joke.” Draco inwardly fumed at the stubborn red head. Anyone could see that Ron still had feelings for Hermione, but everyone could also see that Hermione no longer had feelings for Ron. Draco constantly felt like he was competing with Ron for Hermione, when in actuality it was not even a contest. His glare at Ron ended abruptly when he felt a small hand land gently on his leg. He looked down at it and then up at the owner in surprise. Hermione gazed at him with sincerity. She patted his leg lightly and gave him a small smile. He returned it and settled back into the bench to continue reading his book.

The compartment remained subdued for a long while before an unwanted interruption abruptly ended the silence. “Well, well. What do we have here?” Pansy Parkinson’s seductive voice floated into the compartment. Unfortunately for Pansy, who was still standing in the hallway, she could only see Draco in the compartment. Pansy leaned against the wall and made eye contact with Draco. He stared at her emotionlessly. “I missed you this summer, Draco.”

“That was completely one sided, I assure you.” He drawled, glancing over at Hermione. Of course, Pansy thought he was looking out the window.

“You didn’t miss me? I stayed up late almost every night, hoping that you’d come into visit me. Why didn’t you? Do I not make you happy now that you are aligned with the Order?”

“You never made me happy, Pansy. That’s the reason we were never officially together.”

“Oh nonsense, Draco. We were together. What about all those nights in your dorm room? We were pretty good together then.”

Hermione snorted loudly, alerting Pansy of the others in the compartment. Hermione smiled sheepishly at Draco, who raised an eyebrow at her involuntary reaction. Pansy walked to the doorway and her mouth dropped.

“You can’t be serious, Draco! I thought you were just going to the Order for sanctuary! Not to find new friends!” Her shock quickly turned into a sickening, sweet smile. “I’m here now. So come sit in our compartment like always. We can have a good snog.”

“Really, Pansy. You’re making yourself look like a fool. Please leave.”

Pansy threw herself at Draco’s feet, causing Hermione to laugh out loud. Draco’s eyes widened at the over anxious young woman in front of him. He tried to push Pansy’s arms off of his body. “Draco! Why are you saying these things? Why don’t you want to snog me? Don’t you love me still?”

“Your disgusting!” Hermione barked out through her laughter.

Draco’s eyes widened once again as Pansy rounded on Hermione. “What? Are you with him now?”

“No. I’m not.” Hermione said, not backing down.

“Well obviously, you filthy mudblood. Draco would never shag the likes of you.”

“Rather a mudblood than a whore.” Hermione spat. Pansy gasped in shock. Draco and Harry snorted loudly. Ron stared back and forth between the two young women. “You should be ashamed of yourself, throwing yourself at man. Didn’t your mother teach you decency?”

“Well, I’ve never! How dare you!” Pansy sputtered.

“I think it’s time for you to leave, Pansy.” Draco drawled, pushing the sputtering witch out the compartment door and slamming it shut. “Well, well Nee. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

Hermione shrugged and started to flip through her magazine. “Last year I probably wouldn’t. But I’m not putting up with her shit this year.” Ron coughed at the curse word that slipped from her mouth. Hermione pursed her lips. “Yea. Sorry. I know.”

Draco wanted to kiss her. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her senseless. Seeing her verbally attack Pansy drove him mad with arousal. He loved the timid, shy, always proper Hermione Granger, but the minute she turned into loud, outspoken, a little bit vulgar Hermione Granger he lusted after her. All he could do was stare at her.

“Really, Dray. Read your book.” Hermione smiled at him, slightly embarrassed. He smiled back and picked up his novel. Every once and a while he looked up to glance at her. Sometimes he caught her staring at him, and she would snap her head back down into her magazine as that lovely pink covered her cheeks. Each time it happened his heart warmed.

Less then ten minutes later, Ginny entered the compartment. “You’ll never guess, so I’m just going to tell you.” She said as she settled down into Harry’s side. “Pansy is down the hall balling her eyes out about loosing something. I couldn’t catch what, but she looks like a four year old throwing a temper tantrum. She’s stomping her feet and screaming ‘Mine! Mine! Mine! Not hers! Mine!’” Hermione, Draco, and Harry thought the story was hilarious, knowing exactly what it pertained too. Ron, however, was not entertained. “Do you know what she’s talking about?” Ginny asked, looking at Harry.

Harry took a quick glance at Ron. Then he looked at Draco and Hermione, who were currently smiling ridiculously at each other. “Yea. I’ll tell you later.” He kissed her forehead and she snuggled into him.

Nearly an hour later, Hermione had finished her magazine and huffed in her boredom. She looked out the window, but the scenery was not new and did not offer any source of entertainment. She huffed again. She dug in her bag to find something else to read. Coming up with nothing, she huffed one more time.

“My God, Hermione.” Draco sighed putting his book on his lap. “Why are you huffing?”

She reddened in embarrassment and his annoyance disappeared. “I’m bored, and I can’t find anything to do.”

“Didn’t you bring an extra book like I told you too?” Draco asked smugly.

“No, Dad.” Hermione retorted sarcastically. She huffed again and threw her back on the back of the compartment bench.

“Well that’s your own fault.” Draco said turning back to his book. “Stop huffing. It’s annoying.”

“Here, here.” Harry agreed.

Hermione shot him a look that made him never want to speak again. She turned side ways on the bench and looked at Draco.

“What?” He drawled, turning his head to face her.

“Lets play a game.” Hermione offered.

Draco held up his book and shook it. “I’m reading.”

Hermione pouted. Draco shook his head and turned back to his book. Hermione started to fake whine. “Please, Dray. Pretty please. Play with me.” Draco did not even try to hide his groan of arousal; he was hoping the rest of the compartment took it as a groan of frustration. Listening to Hermione beg was something he could quickly get used too. He tucked the memory into his brain to pull out for later use.

Harry cocked an eyebrow at his curly haired friend. “Wow. Hermione. That’s blunt.” Harry muttered. “Do you want us to leave?”

Ginny smacked his shoulder lightly. “Relax, Harry.”

Hermione blushed at the inference of her statements. She turned back to Draco and pouted again, batting her eyelashes obnoxiously. Draco chuckled and, giving in to her antics, turned his body to face hers. “Yay!” She bounced around in her seat and then held out her two hands, palms up.

“What do you want me to do?” Draco asked, clearly confused.

“It’s a Muggle game.” Hermione explained. “Put your hands on mine, palms down.” Draco did as she said. Hermione’s stomach warmed when his large, callused hands landed on hers. “Right. Now. The point of the game is to not let me slap your hands.”

“What?” Before Draco could further the question, Hermione swung her hands out from under his and slapped the tops of his hands - hard. “Ow!” He rubbed his hands and glared at Harry and Ginny who were laughing hysterically. “This game is violent!”

“You’re supposed to pull your hands away before she hits you, mate.” Harry offered.

“Well maybe she should have told me that.”

“Ok, lets try again, you cry baby.” Hermione teased. This time when she went to slap his hands, she missed entirely. She tried again and again, but lost every time.

Draco pouted at her. “Poor, ickly Hermione can’t hit my hands.”

“Oh shut it.” Hermione snapped playfully. The compartment switched focus from the Muggle game to Ron as he huffed and stood up, walking to the door.

“Muggle games are for children.” He muttered loud enough for everyone to hear him before he left he compartment.

After Ron exited, Harry rolled his eyes. “Yet just last night he made me play Go Fish.”

Hermione snickered then turned her attention back to the task at hand: trying to beat Draco. “Let’s switch.” On Draco’s first, second, and third try he slapped Hermione’s hands. Hermione pouted again and muttered. “Maybe I shouldn’t have asked a Seeker to play.”

Draco laughed sexily. “Maybe you shouldn’t have. Are you done with your game, Nee?” Hermione nodded moodily. She turned to sit the correct way on the bench. “Don’t be a sore loser.” Draco desperately wanted to kiss her pouting lips, to make her smile. As their flirting continued, he became more and more sure that she wanted him to kiss her. But he wasn’t ready to chance it.

Some time later Draco felt Hermione’s head slump onto his shoulder. He tried to glance down at her without moving too much. He glanced back up and saw Harry smiling at them. “What do I do?” Draco whispered nervously.

“If I was you, mate, I’d put your arm around her. Take advantage of that shit.” He offered his advice sounding extremely Muggle.

Draco looked at him, “Yea, Potter. Thanks.” Even with the sarcasm in his voice, he took Harry’s advice. He slowly eased her sleeping body up and slipped his arm around her shoulder. She immediately snuggled deeper into his side, resting her head on his chest. The way her legs came up under her bottom made Draco think she was actually awake. But as she sighed and whispered incoherently, he realized she was still dreaming. He smiled at the way she nestled perfectly against him. He would not have moved her for the world. He leaned his cheek against her hair, breathing in her heavenly honey scent. He brushed his lips against her hairline and turned back to his book.

Two hours later, Hermione was still sleeping soundly against Draco. Ron had yet to return, but the prefects had come around to let everyone know they were close to the school. Harry had left to help Ginny with her trunk, promising to meet them at the carriages. Draco gently shook Hermione to wake her up.

“Mmm?” Hermione moaned as she came back to consciousness. She didn’t move from her spot, instead she cuddled closer to Draco. He wrapped his arm around her tighter and whispered, “Nee? Wake up. We’re almost to Hogwarts.”

“Mmm?” This time Hermione sat up and looked around the compartment. “Was I leaning on you?” She asked.

“Yes.” Draco answered simply, not at all bothered. Her face reddened and Draco chuckled quietly. He moved a stray curl off her face. “Pink suits you, Hermione.” He whispered so quietly that if they were not the only two in the compartment, only she would have heard it. She smiled shyly at him before he said, “I’ll go outside so you can change into your school clothes.” She nodded and watched him leave the compartment.

Pink suites me? She shook her head, but kept smiling as she changed into her school robes leaving her muggle clothes underneath. She was curious about how this year would transpire. If she continued to flirt with Draco this way, she would probably neglect her studies. But Hermione could ace her exams right now if she was asked. She had read all five of her NEWTS books in the past week. Her smile grew as she thought of possibly walking hand in hand with Draco to and from class.

Outside the compartment Draco waited patiently for Hermione to open the door. He smiled and shook his head at how happy he was. A year ago he would have laughed in someone’s face if they had tried to tell him he would be in love with Hermione Granger and his family was free from the Dark Lord’s tyranny. His family. His smile faltered when he thought of his mother. His father had told him Voldemort murdered her, and it pained him to know his mothers last memory of him was in agony. It had taken months for him to realize her death was not his fault. He was pulled out of his reverie when Ron came back to the compartment.

He completely ignored Draco’s presences and reached for the handle to the door. Draco put a hand over hid before he could open it. “Do you think I’m standing out here for my health? Hermione is changing.”

Ron smirked. “I’ve seen her naked before.” It didn’t matter that he actually hadn’t, Draco didn’t know that.

“Ever the gentleman, Weasley.” Draco’s insides twitched with jealousy.

Just then Hermione opened the door. She frowned at the two men glaring at each other. “Draco, can you please help me with my trunk?”

He nodded, but of course Ron interrupted. “I’ll get it for you, Hermione.”

Draco shook his head as Ron stormed into the compartment and pulled Hermione’s trunk off the rack. “Okay.” Hermione said slowly. “Thank you.” She gave Draco an apologetic look. He shrugged in response and grabbed his own trunk. The fact that Ron had ‘seen Hermione naked’ played heavily on his mind. He knew they had a past, but had he been wrong about the virgin comments? He tried to shake it off as all of them exited the train and found a carriage. Draco and Ron dropped the trunks off in the pile with the rest, and Ron ran into the train to grab his own trunk. He missed the fact that Hermione moved her hand to the crook of Draco’s arm as they walked to the carriages. He smiled handsomely at her and she gave a timid smile back.

Draco could hear all of their peers whisper as they walked past. He smirked, knowing the talk was mixed between his family betrayal to Voldemort and the fact that Hermione was on his arm. “They are all talking about us, Dray.” Hermione whispered, clearly annoyed.

Draco smiles. “You aren’t used to the spotlight yet, Nee?” She scowled at his teasing. “Oh enough.” He opened the door to an empty carriage. When she stepped on the first step he wrapped an arm around her waist to stop her and leaned into her ear. “They are talking about you anyway.” She looked at him questioningly. “You’re hair is dancing in the sunset.”

Hermione blush deeply and nodded a thank you before ducking into the carriage. Just as he was about to enter and sit beside her, Ron pushed him out of the way and took his seat to Hermione’s left. Draco fumed.

He quickly tried to regain control of his temper. In his efforts he spotted a flower patch a few feet from the carriage. He picked one of the small purple blossoms and jogged back to the carriage. He waited patiently for Harry and Ginny to get in before entering himself. He sat down next to Hermione and when she smiled at him, he smiled back.

He slipped the flower gently between her hair and her ear. Silently he brushed his hand over her hair and watched her eyes soften. His heart skipped a beat at her beauty.

Ginny sighed. “I remember when you did that same thing, Harry.”

“Yes. So do I.” Harry kissed his girlfriend gently on the lips. Draco felt a stab of jealousy over their kiss; he wanted to kiss his Hermione. He, however, settled for the satisfaction of watching Ron scowl at Hermione’s giddiness over the flower.


A/N: The title of the chapter is from Secret Smile by the Rascal Flatts. All of these songs are on my itunes and I highly recommend them =).