A/N: Well, after receiving all of those wonderful reviews for A Child's Tale, I've finally decided to post a sequel! This will most likely be a two-shot, unless mounds of inspiration suddenly hit me and I find myself motivated to write even more! But for now, consider it a two chaptered story!
So, I really hope that you will all like it and that I don't disappoint anyone! It's especially dedicated to all of you sweet reviewers who pestered me to write a sequel! You guys are all too kind!
Love,
Jess
Disclaimer: J.K's beautiful creation still isn't mine.
Innocence Outlasts the Phenomenon of Time
Draco Malfoy was nervous.
Well…actually, nervous was a very big understatement as to how he really felt at the moment.
You see, this was little Draco's very first time on the legendary Hogwart's Express.
The first time he'd ever really be part of the magical community; the first time he'd be leaving for the wonderful place that is Hogwarts; the first time he'd get to meet so many other kids just like him…it was basically the beginning of his new life as a true wizard.
His mother had been reduced to tears as she had said her goodbyes. She had hugged him tightly (which had really been quite embarrassing, but necessary all the same), and had told him just how proud she really was to call him her son.
Lucius had merely warned him to honor the family name...or Draco would have to face the proper consequences.
Draco rubbed his right arm subconsciously over one of the many deep gashes that had healed into nothing more than a hideous scar. The permanent marks were what Lucius liked to call consequences.
He sighed heavily as he made his way through the train. Every compartment seemed to be occupied…
He really had no interest in sitting with some other random students. Not that he was shy or anything! He just felt exceptionally anxious as of the moment and didn't feel like having people for company. Nothing more or less than a good, long book would be able to calm his agitated nerves.
He breathed a sigh of relief as he finally found an empty compartment.
He laboriously clambered his way into the small room, unceremoniously dumping his trunk onto the floor and instantly dropping to his knees to search for any novel that might preoccupy his mind for at least a few hours.
His hand made contact with a curiously smooth and cold surface.
He pulled the mysterious object out, only to realize that it was a glass jar.
An amused smile spread across his sharp yet still childlike features as he noticed what was inside.
A particularly attractive purple butterfly flapped its wings innocently at him before flying a couple laps around the glass cylinder and coming to rest on a tiny little branch.
It had been Narcissa's idea to put an everlasting charm upon the adorable little creature. Her son had seemed to like the miniscule individual so much; she couldn't bear the idea of the poor thing dying some day.
So she had cast a charm upon it and told Draco to feed his companion once every two or three days. She hadn't expected him to remember his task but had been pleasantly surprised to see little Draco carry about his job every single day, taking care of the delicate insect without ever neglecting his duties, not even once.
It was still in perfect health and condition.
Draco's grin stretched as he continued to observe his little friend. His mother must have decided to pack it along to give him a little bit of encouragement.
A reminiscent look dawned upon his face as he remembered that day. The day that had brought this tiny little thing upon him…
It seemed like such a long time ago.
Draco still remembered how hard he had been crying when he had managed to escape his father. Lucius had been so concentrated on torturing the captive that had been assigned to him by the Dark Lord that he had never even realized when his son had fled from the scene.
Draco still got nauseas whenever he remembered the silent screams uttered through the old man's bleeding lips. Lucius had thought it a good idea to bring Draco along to the Muggle's house to see what true Death Eaters had to do in order to obtain information for their master.
A constructive experience, he had called it.
Draco had called it a living Hell.
After escaping, he had blindly staggered his way through the Muggle neighborhood, only to stumble upon a welcoming little park.
It was there, in that park, that he had met the little girl who had given him his miniature companion.
Draco couldn't quite recall her name now. The details of their meeting had grown blurred over the years.
He could only remember the vivid, lively look in her chocolaty brown eyes, the intriguing tumble of curls that had cascaded down to the small of her back, the shy little smile that had adorned her lips whenever she looked at him and the delicate blush that had crept onto her already rosy cheeks when he had kissed her goodbye.
All those details had stayed engraved into his memory, for some reason or another.
Draco sighed as he gently deposited the jar onto a seat, quickly picked out a book and hopped up onto a bench himself.
He briefly wondered whatever had happened to the girl, before delicately opening the tattered novel and plunging into its world of oblivion.
Hermione sighed as yet another compartment door slammed shut in front of her face.
It wasn't her fault that that boy named Neville had lost his toad! Why was everyone treating her like the most annoying little parasite to ever contaminate the Earth?
"They could at least make an effort to be polite." She mumbled, as she stumbled her way down the moving train's hallway.
Other than the obnoxious behavior she had had to endure though, Hermione had found herself in Heaven the minute she had emerged from that strange barrier and onto Platform Nine and ¾.
She still couldn't wrap her head around the idea that she was actually a witch. If it hadn't been for all of those fantasy novels she loved to read, she never would've been able to consider the very suggestion in the first place!
But, here she was, on a train ready to burst with magical children, miraculous objects and bizarre mysteries around every corner.
And she was wasting her time searching for a toad!
But Neville had looked so pitiful when he had asked her for her help. She just couldn't refuse him.
She heaved another sigh as the train gave a particularly nasty lurch. She still had a few more compartments to go.
She squared her small shoulders as she stopped in front of yet another big, red door and smartly knocked three times upon its hard surface.
Draco looked up as he heard a knock at the door.
He dismissed the interruption with a shrug. He didn't know anybody here, so nobody could possibly be looking for him.
It must be some kid trying to play a tiresome prank or something. He thought indifferently.
The knocking stubbornly persisted, however, growing louder and louder with every blow.
Draco sighed heavily as he got up, deciding that he'd have to scold the annoying little brat and send him away himself if he ever wanted some peace and quite.
He arranged his features into a stern glare before reaching over and pulling the door open.
Hermione let out a frustrated moan as she pounded onto the door for the tenth time.
She knew that somebody was in there! The light pouring out from the slight crack beneath the door clearly proved that fact. Why the heck wouldn't the person just open up already?
Sunlight streamed out of the compartment as its entrance finally started to slowly slide its way open. Hermione raised her hands up to cover her eyes as she was momentarily blinded.
"Well, you certainly aren't the speediest guy out there, are you?" She asked cheerfully, her face still shielded from the harsh rays.
Hermione's eyes widened as she lowered her hands and caught sight of the boy on the other side of the door.
She knew that face.
She knew that pale complexion, those stormy gray eyes and that silvery blond hair.
Something shiny behind the boy suddenly caught her eye. She leaned over to pear on top of his shoulder. A glass jar lay on one of the red velvet seats, with a certain something flapping its delicate wings inside of it.
A purple certain something.
Realization hit her.
"Draco?" She gasped.
A/N: And the verdict? Let me know what you think of it so far, please!