Ashena Choron raced through the portal and onto Platform 9 ¾. She didn't see her friend, James, anywhere. While she had enjoyed spending the holiday with him and his family, that boy could lose anyone in a crowd!
The warning whistle sounded, alerting Ashena to her tardiness. Running to get her bags onto the train, she was not looking where she was going. Without warning, she had crashed into a wizard in a dark, trench like coat.
"Please, sir, I'm very sorry!" Ashena hurried to pick up her things, as they had fallen all over the platform, and blocked the path of other parents and students. "I didn't mean to—I'm just in a hurry and I—I truly am very sorry!"
"It's no trouble," the man stooped to help her pick up her suitcase and owl. "My wife is very particular about getting our son here well ahead of schedule. Where are your parents?"
"I—that is to say—they're not here," Ashena stammered, still very flustered.
The man did not respond, then: "How did you come, then?"
"Oh, my friend whom I stayed with over holiday brought me back, sir."
"I see," he said.
They both straightened and Ashena looked up at the man to thank him properly. Draco Malfoy, a member of the Ministry of Magic, held her gaze, a slight smile on his face.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Ashena stuck out her hand rather abruptly. "Thank you for assisting me."
"You're…welcome," Malfoy shook her hand, laughing quietly at the girl's shyness. "Do your parents write to you at school?"
"My mum did," Ashena shrugged, attempting to stay calm in front of a Ministry member. "But she hasn't lately."
"Well, then, may I write to you?"
"But, Mr. Malfoy—"
"Please, Draco."
"—you don't even know my name!"
"Well, then. Please tell me." Malfoy smiled at her. He liked this girl. By the looks of her she was only a little younger than him, pretty, with green eyes and teal hair. She wore Gryffindor robes, but that didn't seem to matter as much as it would have at an earlier point in his life.
Ashena eyed him, wary of his rather open manner. "My name is Ashena Choron. I am a Gryffindor, fourth year."
"I see." His smile reached his eyes, which danced when they looked at her. The attention made Ashena a bit light-headed.
The Express's final warning whistle sounded, snapping Ashena out of her fantasy. Malfoy helped her put her trunk and owl onto the train, escorting her to the nearest open door.
"May I write to you?" he asked again as the train began to pull out of the station.
"You may!" Ashena shouted as she moved farther and farther away from him as the train picked up speed.
Draco Malfoy chuckled to himself at the sight of Ashena leaning out of the train to watch him until the Hogwarts Express rounded the next corner and blocked her view. Something about her…but maybe it was only his desperation talking to him. After all, Astoria and he had had a great marriage for the longest time. But now that Scorpius was off at school and the manor was functioning on its own, for the most part, Malfoy's mind had begun to wander.
To long for other things.
Had he not always done what his father had wanted him to do? He had married a woman of pure blood, he had given his parents a grandson. What more could they want from him? His son had even been sorted into Slytherin—and had become a Seeker for their Quidditch team!
Now Draco Malfoy wanted something for himself. All those years of pleasing his father, he had pushed away someone he could have grown to like, even love. But Hermione Granger had married their classmate, Ronald Weasley, thus dashing Malfoy's hope of even reconciling with the trio he had so wanted to be a part of during his school term.
Then he had seen her.
Ashena Choron.
Ashena pulled her head back inside the train as it thundered down the tracks, taking her and carloads of other students back to Hogwarts. James, Lily, and Albus Severus Potter sat across the cabin from her. James looked at her disapprovingly.
"What?" Ashena asked.
"D'you know who that was?" James folded his arms.
"Who? Mr. Malfoy? Yeah, I know."
"Dad says we should keep our own counsel," Al reminded his older brother.
"I'm just worried for her is all!" James protested. "You don't mind, hey, Hera?"
Ashena gave a little smile at the use of the Potter's nickname for her.
"No, James. Thank you for your concern, but he was only helping me right my fallen cart."
"Looked to me like more than just your cart falling," James smirked good naturedly.
"Oh, knock it off!"
"Well it did! And what about you sticking your head out the window until we rounded the corner?"
"Maybe I saw someone!"
"I think you saw him, and didn't want to see him go."
"Cut it out, James!" Ashena folded her arms. "I don't need your permission to make friends!"
"But he works for the Ministry!" James protested. "And he's married!"
"So? Lots of wizards work for the Ministry!"
Lily looked up from a book she was reading.
"Who's to say he's changed? Uncle Ron doesn't talk about him very nicely." Lily smoothed her robes.
"Leave me alone," Ashena gazed out the window. "There's nothing wrong with gaining a friend."
