R U N N I N G

S E P T E M B E R 1ST - Draco's POV

"I've spent all of the love I saved
We were always a losing game
Small-town boy in a big arcade
I got addicted to a losing game"

We were finally on the way to the train so I could go back to school. I was excited to be a 2nd year and to see Hermione finally.

After being left by my parents, and one last hug from my mother, I walked to the entrance that would leave me by the last compartment and looked around for her. My heart fluttered in my chest at the prospect of seeing my best friend.

Suddenly, I heard her before I saw her, "Dray!" she screamed, running to me and jumping on me. I felt her wrap her legs around me, crushing me into a hug. I hugged her back tightly, enjoying her excitement to see me.

"I missed you so much, Dray. I spent the entire summer thinking about you" she told me, her face buried in my neck.

I sighed contently, "I missed you too love. Now come on. Let's go inside" I told her, setting her down gently.

I took a minute to look at her, she had grown and was taller than last year. She still looked like she was in a grade lower though. Her hair was less bushy and her teeth less big. She was just as pretty as she was last year when I met her.

We walked onto the train so we could get the last compartment and the minute I sat down, she was almost on top of me again.

She laid her head in my lap, "I really did miss you Dray. I'm so happy to see you" she told me, once again.

I smiled down at her, "Trust me, love, I missed you too. Now tell me about your summer" I answered.

We talked for nearly an hour before the train finally started moving. Another 10 minutes, and she was asleep on my lap. I stroked her hair as I watched her sleep. She looked peaceful.

After about an hour of Hermione sleeping on my lap, the door to the compartment opened, and in walked Blaise.

I held my fingers up to my lips and pointed at her. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene.

I felt myself slightly smirk at him, "Hello mate" I finally told him quietly.

He sat down in the seat in front of us, "Draco" he answered back nodding once.

He looked down at the sleeping girl and back at me, "Why is she asleep in your lap?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation.

"I don't know mate. She laid there herself and fell asleep. I take it she feels comfortable. She quite literally threw herself into my arms at the platform. She was very happy to see me" I told him, my voice taking a slight taunting edge.

I watched his fist close at my words, "Yes, I did see that. I didn't know you two were an item now." he answered back.

I looked at her and then at him, "Zabini, do you have a crush on Granger?" I asked him.

I watched Blaise almost stop breathing and look at me with wide eyes, "Yes. Yes I do, but so do you" he finally responded.

I nodded slowly but stayed silent, "I figured you liked her too when you'd get irritated when I flirted with her. She likes you too by the way, but she doesn't know it yet. I can tell in the way she looks at you. How she talks about you like you're her favorite person in the world. I suppose you are though. You're her first friend and the first person she met at her favorite school. She likes you though, even if she hasn't said it out loud. She did however tell me, that she would never date either of us for fear of losing us. She's scared of how it would affect the group dynamic. Can you imagine that? The dynamic was ruined the day I fell for a girl who loved her best friend. Can't compete with that mate" he answered bitterly.

I looked down at her in my lap, "Doesn't matter how much I like her, I can't introduce her to my world. Where I come from, it's dark and toxic. Someone so bright and good shouldn't be exposed to that. She would get hurt" I told him solemnly as I continued to stroke her hair gently.

Blaise nodded, "Then you need to be less possessive of her Malfoy. She deserves to find someone who will introduce her to their world" he answered back.

I nodded knowing he was right, but not wanting to admit it.