"What are you waiting for? Get in the bloody train, Mudbloods!"
The yelling of a lesser known Death Eater snapped all of us out of fear-induced trance that had settled on us. The 9 ¾ train wasn't as brilliant and majestic as it was years before; years before the rule of Death Eaters. It's once gleaming red paint that shone like diamonds was now dull and gloomy. At every door to each compartment held a Death Eater. There were no more families trying to remind their kids to remember to treat their animals properly, warn them to do good at school or tell them they will see them during the Winter Break. Now, it was filled with gloomy children who are not purebloods and a swarm of Death Eaters watching the progression.
There was no more laughing and giggling with Ron and Harry. Being a purebloods but blood traitors, the Weasley's, alongside with Harry Potter, were in a different location, held in captivity. All of Ministry's employees were held in captivity, but not as guarded as the members of Orders of Phoenix. The killer and the perpetrator of the Dark Lord were treated with more caution than that was served in Azkaban.
As I was about to board the train with the Patils, I was roughly grabbed by the elbow from behind. I turned around to see who it was just to realize it was a Death Eater. I swallowed, trying bring the some comfort to my dry throat. He pulled me away from the throngs of people. Some students stopped to watch what was going but was prodded with wands held by the Dark Servants.
"Mudblood Granger, you have a special seating arrangements than the rest of these filth." the Death Eater hissed as he turned around to look at me.
"Oh, the joy. I feel special." I spat out, sarcastically. In return, he gripped my elbow with such anger that I let out a yelp of pain. "Let go of me, you swine!" He just let out a guffaw as we continued walking (or being dragged, whatever you prefer). We walked down the train so much that students and Death Eater alike started to dwindle down. It seemed like we were heading towards the end of the train.
As we neared the train, I saw two cloaked figures standing by the doorway. One of the Death Eaters was holding a cane causing the blood that is running through my veins to freeze over. I knew who the wielder of the cane was but I couldn't figure out the stockier Death Eater he was talking to.
"Mr. Malfoy, I got Granger like you've asked. Mr. Lestrange, it is nice to see you." greeted the Death Eater towards his superiors. The other two slowly turned around, their skeleton half masks giving them the aura of death, and smirked at me. Lucius Malfoy raised his cane and placed it under my chin and pushed it upwards. I sneered at him in return but it just made him snicker.
"When you told me that she was a feisty one, I really didn't believe you. I was wrong." the burly one, Lestrange (Rodolphus or Rabastan?) said which made Malfoy give his infamous smirk towards his friend. "What should we do? Make her kneel?"
Malfoy thought about it then shook his head. "It is time to depart. We will make her kneel once we get situated." he decided, making me internally sigh in relief. "Get inside, Granger." Not wanting to make them mad, I followed their instructions and stepped inside the train. Suddenly, a round object was pressed against my back and was pushed hard but I caught myself with a hop. Realizing that Malfoy pushed me with his cane, I swirled around fast and glared at the piece of shit. But they were too busy laughing like school boys then receive my glare. Calm down, they are just trying to get a rise out of you.
Ah, special arrangements for Mudblood like me. For Half-Bloods, there were seats to sit on. For Muggle Borns, there were none. Few students were sitting on the floor of the train, huddling together. I went to the farthest corner of the train and slumped down, looking at the two Death Eater who sat on their, and only, chairs. The door to the train closed which led Malfoy to bring his hood down and removing of his mask.
His to die for platinum blond hair was tied back with a black ribbon. His blue eyes was cold giving him an aristocratic look and his powerful jaw made people think twice about messing with him. He scanned the whole train compartment with a sneer and he caught my eyes. His slightly full lips pulled upwards at the corner to make a smirk. I just stared at him, confused. Where was Draco? Narcissa?
"Can I ask you something, Lucius?" I asked and everyone in the train looked at me with two emotions: awe and warning looks. No one had ever called the Death Eaters by their first name. The said man rose his eyebrows but didn't comment on it.
"What is it, Granger?"
"I am not trying to be funny or anything. This is honest to god question. I am not trying to take? a piss at you." I warned. My question would cause him to blow up in rage.
"What is it, Granger?" asked Lucius again and I sighed.
"Where is Draco? Mrs. Malfoy?" I honestly was curious. Lucius face became tight and his lips stretched into a grim line. I knew that was a bad question but I grew up with Draco and I never had problems with Narcissa, not even when I was tortured by Bellatrix at the Malfoy Manor.
"They are at the Manor. Don't worry about them, Granger." answered Lucius, surprisingly civil. But there was no ease or contempt in his eyes like one would expect from a man like Lucius. No, his eyes were guarded but I still could see the fear. Are they really not at the Manor? Is he still not trustworthy among his peers? My eyes flitted to Lestrange who still had his mask on but his hood down, his curly brown hair spilling around his mask. Did Lestrange trust Malfoy at all? The way they were speaking, yes; Lestrange trusted him.
I nodded to tell him that our conversation was over and I huddled closer to the wall, looking out the window, at the passing scenery. The scenery used to bring happiness to me, knowing that my home was getting closer. Now, I was filled with dread. Hogwarts was going to become like a prison to us non-Pureblood wizards and witches. Instead of being homey feel to it, it will be cold. It's not going to be comfortable for us, especially us Muggle Borns.
Are we going to treated like how Bellatrix tortured me? Suddenly, not having my wand made me feel vulnerable and naked. They said that if they liked our behavior in school, they will give our wands back. I don't know what they meant by that. Are we going to have classes? If so, what? How To Be A Death Eater 101? Probably DADA but more with Dark Magic. Potions? Definitely. Hopefully no Divinations. Let there be Runes! I wonder who our teachers would be. Most of the teachers are in imprisonment for siding with Dumbledore.
I glanced back at Lucius who was looking at his cane. Will he be a professor? I actually wouldn't mind at all if he thought. I may not like him, but I knew for sure that he was an intelligent guy. I felt a tug of my robe to my side. I looked to see it was a petite girl with thick, sun bleached brown hair that was wavy. Her big, blue eyes reminded me of a bunny and she was hesitant to meet my eyes.
"Yes?" I asked her and she gave a flitting glance at the Dark Servants then looked back at me.
"You talked to them so easily. How so?" she asked, softly.
"I have known Lucius since I was eleven years old. We haven't seen things eye to eye sometimes but there are times when I admit that he is intelligent. It's no wonder he was the second person that the Dark Lord went to." I whispered back to her and she gave me a look of wonder. "Yes, I know that I have complimented the enemy but when you see something amazing, you comment on it. No matter where they stand on their ideals. Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. I am-"
"Hermione Granger. I know. You are like a hero to us. I am Robin Tully." she introduced herself then turned red. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off like that."
"Don't worry about it. What House were you in?" I asked, knowing that she knew which House I belonged in. She blushed and looked away.
"Slytherin. What people say that there are no Muggle-Born or Mudbloods in Slytherin are wrong. There were couple of us and we stuck together. I knew all about Blood prejudice that the Purebloods in Slytherin, even some in Ravenclaw, have before I got sorted into Slytherin." answered Robin, looking at her long, slender fingers. "Despite being bullied, I loved being a Slytherin. I don't know why. Maybe it's the way we solve things. Smart but not in traditional way. We would find other ways to finish our homework."
I could see how much she liked being a Slytherin and how she misses it. I felt guilty for thinking that everyone in Slytherin were bad. There were several Muggle Borns Slytherin but they were too scared to come out. Damn, Salazar and his ideals! I just smiled at her and she smiled back. I hope we stay together in Hogwarts. Robin was too sweet to be amongst the likes of Death Eaters.
"It's another hour from Hogwarts." said Lestrange, causing all of us to jump in surprise. "Now because you guys are special, you have different arrangements. You will share a room with a partner you choose or we will choose for you if you misbehave. You will only have your classes and recreational. For the Magical Creatures class that used to be taught by the great oaf Hagrid, you will be taught in the Forbidden Forest."
There was a murmur among the kids but Lucius cleared his throat to bring our attention back to Lestrange. An ugly smirk was playing on his face which caused dread to fill me.
"And each of you will be given the Dark Mark."