Hermione's POV
"Bye, Mum! Bye, Dad!" I kiss my parent's cheeks and am startled to see my mum crying.
"Mum? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" I ask hesitantly, scared to know the answer.
"No, it's not that. It's just, well, look at you! You're off to your last year at Hogwarts, and you're head girl! Our little girl's growing up! This is everything we ever could've asked for, and more! You'll be up and leaving dear old mummy and daddy in no time!" Mum cries, hugging me. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.
"Mum, don't say that. I'll never leave you. I promise." I smile, wiping away her tears. Oh god, I'm late! I run to the brick wall.
"Mum, Dad, I'll owl you! Promise!" I yell behind me as I walk through the wall into the platform. I put my luggage into the luggage area and board the train. But before that, I see a white-blonde head and sigh. With Malfoy, or rather, Malferret, around, this year's not going to be an easy one.
Draco's POV
Oh, by the name of Merlin, could this get any more awkward? I groan inwardly and fidget. My mother suddenly hugs me. She puts her arms around me. I'm shocked, but still put my arms around her too. I haven't noticed how small she is. After a few seconds, she steps back and looks at me worriedly. My father puts an arm around her.
"Draco." I hear my father say gruffly, and I look up to meet his eyes. "We're... proud of you. He says uncertainly and quickly looks away. I feel tears and gulp them down. Malfoys don't cry.
"Thank you, father." Even to me, my voice sounds far away and distant. My father nods and glances at me again. He opens his mouth to say something, but my mother beats him to it.
"Draco, look after Rosalie. My little dragon..." She trails off. I nod. I want to hug her, hug my father, do something, but instead, I put on my cool facade, my signature smirk, and swagger over to the train.
On the way, I see Scarhead staring at me. I want to insult him, but instead I nod curtly at him and continue my path. He looks shocked, but doesn't say anything.
Harry's POV
Me, Ron, and Ginny hug the Weasleys and say our goodbyes. I hug Mrs. Weasley, high-five George, and I'm about to turn around and high-five Fred, when I realize for the hundredth time, he's not here anymore. I put my hand down awkwardly, and wait for the others.
I look around and see lots of familiar faces, but see some new ones too. As I scan the crowd, I meet Malferret's eyes. I prepare myself for the usual insult, but it doesn't come. Instead, he nods at me and looks away. What? I shake my head and keep on looking. I see Zabini looking at Ginny, and put a protective arm around her. He looks at me, smirks, and looks away. Ginny looks at me and raises an eyebrow questioningly. I shrug and we head over to the train.
Blaise's POV
I hug my mum and little sister. She looks at me and sucks her thumb. I smile and ruffle her hair. She takes her thumb out and flashes me a stunning smile. She's already beautiful, and she's only 6 years old. She looks just like Mum.
I wave and head towards to the train, and on the way, I see the Weaslette. Scarhead looks at me and puts an arm around her. I smirk. I guess he thinks I'm checking her out. No worries, Scarhead. She's a Weasley.
Ginny's POV
I hug mum and dad, kiss George on the cheek, and step back. I feel an empty space next to George, for Fred. I sigh. The mood of my family has been... down, since Fred... passed away.
I'm trying not to cry when Harry puts his arm around me. I raise an eyebrow at him and he shrugs. We head over to the train, but on the way, I see Parkinson. She doesn't look like a pug anymore, actually. She's kind of pretty. I take it back when she wrinkles her nose and glares at me. I glare at her, and look away.
Pansy's POV
I hug my parents and kiss daddy's cheek. I pick up my bags and walk to the luggage area.
I see the Weaslette, Scarhead, and the weasel king making their way to the train. I wrinkle my nose at them and glare at the Weaslette. She glares right back and looks away. I roll my eyes.
I look next to her. Scarhead has her arm around her, and the Weasel king walking beside them. Everyone clears a path for them, and they make their way onto the train.
Ron's POV
I walk alongside my best friend and my sister. Even though they broke up a few weeks ago, they're still the best of friends. Thankfully, though, it was a mutual breakup so I didn't have to beat Harry up.
As we're walking, I see a blonde girl walking towards the train. She's new to my eyes, and I watch her curiously. Sure, she's really pretty, stunningly beautiful, even, but she's not my type. I've kind of preferred brown or black haired women. I wave off the thought and board the train myself.
Rosalie's POV
I'm fuming by the time I board the train. I swear, I'm going to kill Draco. He said he would help me, the bloody wanker. I turn around and I bump into someone. I think it's Draco, and I yell at him.
"Draco Malfoy, I swear I'll rip your bloody heart out and transfigure you into a pink tutu wearing ferret, so Merlin help me-" I get cut off as I realize this isn't Draco, far from it actually.
It's actually a pretty brunette, tall and lean with soft features that I've shocked into a look of confusion. I'm about to apologize when someone, I think a Hufflepuff, pushes me into her accidentally. I hit the ground with a loud thud, as does the brunette. I rub my aching shoulder, and she winces as she pats her head gingerly. I jump up, blushing, and help her up as well.
"Hi, I'm Rosalie. Sorry about that." I grin and stick my hand out for a shake. She accepts, and smiles too.
"I'm Hermione. Nice to meet you! Oh, and it's ok. The whole shouting at me and then falling on me thing, I mean." She laughs.
Soon, we're chatting like old friends, when I notice Hermione's face has gone grim and her wand is out. I turn around and my cousin brother, along with Blaise and Pansy, are in identical positions. I take a deep breath, and scream this time;
"DRACO MALFOY, YOU BETTER HAVE A BLOODY EXPLANATION FOR WHERE YOU AND YOUR LITTLE POSSE WERE OR, MERLIN HELP ME, I'LL TURN YOU INTO A FRIGGIN' BLOOMING FERRET, LIKE I ALWAYS PROMISED I WOULD, BUT THIS TIME, I'LL ACTUALLY DO IT!" I breathe in. Whew! That was a mouthful. Wait, now that I think of it, why are their faces so grim?
As soon as I finish that thought, a new gang comes up behind Hermione, identical glares on their faces and their wands pointed at Draco. Wait, what the hell?
"Oy, Mudblood, . Fancy seeing you here. Of course, you being the know-it-all, I guess you would be." Draco speaks up first. I send a death glare his way, but he ignores me.
"Well, Malferret. Still with the same crew, I see. Of course, with your huge ego and the head size to match, who else would want to be around you?" Hermione retorts back as cool as a cucumber. I smile as Draco turns red with anger but quickly change it into a frown when Pansy shakes her head slightly, warning me.
"Oh, Weaslette. I didn't see you there. Go play with your own friends. The big kids are talking." Blaise spits out, glaring.
"Well, Zabini, if you would get your head out of your arse for just one second and look around, you would see I'm much better at hexing than you are, so kindly shut up." The pretty redhead glowers. I'm turning red to cover up my laughter.
"Weasel King, still wearing hand-me-downs?" Pansy snarls in the tall redhead's direction. "Of course, that's the only thing you could afford." She smirks.
"Parkinson, at least I can afford to cover up." The tall redhead gestures at her chest and Pansy looks like she's going to cry. Oh no he didn't!
"The-boy-who-just-wouldn't-die is back, mmm? Better cover up that little scar of yours before I rip it off for you!" I glare at Harry Potter, the one I recognize from the covers of magazines. Hermione looks hurt, but Draco is looking at me with pride.
"Oh, are you a Malfoy too? Good for you! You have the ego the size of a hippogriff, a brain the size of a pinhead, and a heart the size of a crumb." He shoots back. I blink my tears back, and Hermione glares at Potter. I thank her with my eyes, but she looks away, still hurt. A tear leaks out the corner of my eye, and Draco sees it. He looks absolutely livid.
Just then, like they'd made a deal or something, they fire curses at each other. I fire mine a little too late. Thankfully, because the train jolts as it pulls away, our jinxes all miss their target. Unfortunately, they hit innocent spectators. A girl turns bright pink, and her friend starts dancing the irish jig. Her boyfriend turns into a ferret, and his friend gets pimples all over his face. On the opposite side, a boy sneezes uncontrollably. His friend jumps about, and his brother can't move at all. A first year looks horrified as she looks at her hands, which are shrinking. I sigh.
Me, Draco, Pansy, and Blaise push through one part of the crowd, and when I look back, Hermione, Potter, and the others are doing the same on the other side We find an empty compartment and sit down. Abruptly, Draco stands up.
"Head boy duties." He says gruffly, and walks out. I start talking to Pansy about makeup, and Blaise reads his book.