Chapter I

"Draco, stop fidgeting." Narcissa Malfoy scolded her son as Madame Malkin began fitting him for his new robes. His mother ran a long finger over different panels of fabric before settling on one that Draco knew would be the most expensive. "If you don't stop moving they won't fit you right. You'll look ungainly at school and I will not have my son looking like he came off the street!" Her voice raised a little as did her eyebrow and Draco tried to stand still.

Narcissa sighed and turned to Madame Malkin. "Use the Onyx." She said pointing to one of the swatches of fabric.

"It's ten Galleons a yard." Madame Malkin looked up at her from measuring Draco's ankle.

Narcissa pretended to not hear the price. "I must visit Ollivander's. I will be back to pick him up shortly. I expect him to be fitted and ready to go when I return." Narcissa swept out of the shop quickly and Draco slouched over some.

"Stand up straight for me please." Madame Malkin instructed him and Draco reluctantly complied. He was always impressed by how many times his mother could use the word "I" in a conversation. "Are you really just a first year?" Madame Malkin commented. "You're tall enough to be at least a second year. Short third year even."

Draco smirked. He had always been tall for his age. The bell on the door rang as someone entered the shop. There was no way his mother had made it back this fast. Madame Malkin walked to the front of the store and returned with a dark haired, scruffy looking boy.

He had never met this boy at any of his Father's functions. He was a skinny boy with glasses and messy hair. Draco curled his lip a bit at the boy's appearance. The boy looked lost and confused so Draco assumed that he must also be a first year. As this boy very well may be one of his new classmates, Draco decided to introduce himself. Once they got to Hogwarts, everyone would know who Draco Malfoy was. Most boys his age liked Quidditch and Draco was quite a decent flyer. He decided that he might as well brag about it. As Draco talked he watched the scruffy boy, trying to figure out who he may be or what house that he might be sorted into. He didn't say much in response to Draco's comments about Quidditch; Draco rolled his eyes and little and wrote him off of Ravenclaw right away.

As their conversation continued Draco felt like his father's words were coming out of his mouth. He had never really met anyone who didn't adhere to idea that Purebloods were superior and Draco wanted to push the point with this boy. He wanted to see how much he could say before the boy agreed or started yelling. He obviously didn't come from the same circles as Draco did judging by his clothing, but it wasn't just wealthy wizards who admired Pureblood status.

The boy looked very uncomfortable as Draco expanded on the subject and Draco heard Madame Malkin clear her throat a few times at Draco's comments. He kicked some cloth from under his feet and gave up on the boy next to him. He would probably will tell everyone at school that they are friends just because Draco spoke to him once. Draco liked attention, but was fickle and picky about those he let enjoy his company. So far this boy seemed like an idiot.

The boy's fitting was done before his (probably because he stood still the whole time). Madame Malkin finished with Draco in another minute and his Mother waltzed in shortly after. Placing a good amount of gold coins on the counter, Narcissa collected Draco's robes.

"Come, Draco. Your Father is waiting at the wand shop." Draco walked after his mother, dropping his shoulders and wanting all this school shopping to be over so he could look at the new racing brooms.

Hermione sat down in an empty cabin, her stomach in knots. She was on her way to a school to learn witchcraft and magic! She had never been more excited or anxious. She patted her hands on her knees before pulling Hogwarts A History out of her bag and began to read. Learning about a whole new world that she was now a part of was what excited her most.

It wasn't long before a chubby boy opened the door to the cabin. "Do you mind if I sit in here?" He asked almost out of breath. Hermione smiled and motioned to the seat across from her.

"Please." She said as the boy smiled and plopped down. "I'm Hermione Granger. Are you a first year?"

The boy nodded anxiously. "I'm Neville Longbottom. What are you reading?"

"Hogwarts A History." Hermione said proudly. "My parents are non-magical. I don't know much about Hogwarts so I am trying to learn."

Neville smiled at her. "All of my family are wizards and witches, but I don't know much about Hogwarts either."

"Really?" Hermione was intrigued by this boy who grew up in her new world. Slightly surprised that Neville also didn't know much of what was in store for the pair of them, she pelted him with questions about magic and the magical world until the trolley came by selling sweets.

Hermione passed on the candies, too excited to eat. But Neville dug in his pockets to produce some strange coins. As he dug into a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Neville grabbed his pockets.

"Oh no…" He groaned.

"What is it?" Hermione placed her book on the seat next to her.

"I've lost my toad. Trevor." Neville looked like he was going to be sick. Hermione wasn't sure if it was from all the candy or his lost toad. "My Gran is going to kill me." Neville was crawling around on the floor at this point.

Standing up, Hermione said. "Well he probably hopped out when the trolley came by. That's the only time the door has been open. You look down the right side of the train, I'll look left. He can't have gone far."

Neville sniffled and wiped his nose on his sleeve and gave a small smile. "Thanks."

Hermione headed down the train knocking on door and asking if anyone had seen a toad named Trevor. A few cabins full of older students ignored her completely. One cabin she came to was filled with kids a few years older than her, but already in robes with green snakes on the breast. Hermione recognized it right away as the crest of Slytherin House.

"Excuse me, has anyone here seen a toad hopping by? His name is Trevor." Hermione asked politely.

One of the older girls looked Hermione over with a distasteful look. "What?" She finally asked,her voice sharp.

Hermione breathed in and began again. "A boy has lost his pet toad, Trevor. Have you seen it?"

The girl blinked twice staring at Hermione. She felt very small and uncomfortable. The whole cabin was silent for another moment before the same girl said, "Get out. Can't you see that you're intruding?"

Hermione blushed a deep red. "Oh, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to inter-"

"Leave!" She hissed at her before slamming the door in Hermione's face.

That was so rude! Hermione shook her head and her bushy hair moved along with her. I hope not everyone is like that terrible girl. She set off further down the train.

She didn't have any luck so she went to catch up with Neville. They came to a cabin with a dark haired boy and a red haired boy who looking like he was trying to perform a spell. Intrigued, Hermione stopped in and watched as the red haired boy chanted a little rhyme and made sparks fly at his pet rat. Hermione suppressed a laugh and wanted to show off some of the things she had been practicing. The dark haired boy's glasses were broken and she pointed her wand at his face. With a wave of her wand his glasses were as good as new. Hermione, beaming and proud of herself, introduced herself to the two boys who sat looking floored at her ability.

As they introduced themselves, Hermione felt a jolt in her stomach when the dark haired boy said his name was Harry Potter. In her readings she had come across his name and it hadn't dawned on her that he would be going to school the same year as her yet. The red haired boy's name was Ron Weasley, and he seemed more interested in his pile of candy than in talking with her. Hermione left them to their sweets and travelled on to find Neville.

Hermione and Neville gave up on trying to find Trevor and she excused herself while she went to change into her school robes. She walked up to the front of the train and asked the conductor how long they would be. He assured her it wouldn't be too much longer and she should get her things ready. Hermione was ready to start school.

On her way back to her cabin, Hermione heard a boy yell. Moments later two large boys ran past her, pushing her down. One of her hands was bleeding quite a bit and she sat on the floor holding it for a moment and trying to find something to clean it up with. She huffed and was greeted by a long pale hand reaching down towards her. Cautiously she took it with her uninjured hand and saw that it belong to a tall, blonde boy.

He looked her over and smirked. "What's so funny?" She asked as she straightened her skirt.

He shrugged. "Nothing." She noticed that he was already in his robes too.

She gave him a small smile. His grey eyes were studying her face and it made Hermione want to shrink away a little. Excusing herself, she said, "Well I guess I will see you at school." Hermione started to moved past him, but the boy placed his hand against the wall so that his arm blocked her way. "Excuse me!" Hermione was liking this boy less and less. There was something about him that set her on edge. And he wouldn't stop staring at her.

"You're welcome." The blonde boy said haughtily.

She blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you." Hermione was fully embarrassed now and wanted nothing more than to go back to her compartment and read so she could forget this ever happened.

"I'm sure you can pay me back somehow." The boy smirked again and walked past her. "See you at school." Hermione gave a small wave as he turned from her. She shook her head, bushy hair falling in her face and continued on. She stopped in the cabin with Harry Potter and his red headed friend again. She had a feeling that the sleeping rat had something to do with the other boy's bloodied hand.

Hermione returned to her cabin just in time to find Neville and leave the train. She had finally arrived at Hogwarts.

Draco pushed his way off of the train and saw the large man that had accompanied, who he now knew to be Harry Potter, in Diagon Alley. Famous Harry Potter… thought he was too good to be friends with him. The Malfoy name was one of the oldest and well renowned names in the wizarding world! Fine, then. If he chose to be friends with people like that dirty looking Weasley, maybe Potter was not all that people made him out to be. Draco's family sure didn't think much of Harry.

The only reason Draco wanted to be friends with him was for just in case. His popularity plus Draco's own would quickly make them a driving force in the school. 'But I can do that on my own.' Thought Draco. Plus his Father had mentioned that Harry Potter would be coming to Hogwarts this year and asked Draco to keep an eye out for him. Weren't you supposed to keep your enemies close?

As the large man named Hagrid shuffled the first years into the boats Draco caught sight of the pretty girl he ran into on the train. Goyle had just knocked her over and she was too pretty for Draco not to act like a gentleman. His mother had him in etiquette classes since he was three and he knew the proper way to act, he just didn't always feel like it. But when he saw her sitting on the floor, Draco couldn't help but notice her round face and soft brown eyes. Not to mention her large, thick hair, that was impossible to miss. She looked at him briefly before climbing into a boat with a fat boy who looked like he was about to fall into the water. Draco snorted and she shot a glare at him.

Her hair was wild and her teeth were big, but she was still pretty. Draco was a little jealous that some bumbling idiot was getting to sit next to her on the ride to the castle. Crabbe was having a hard time climbing into the boat. Hagrid walked by and picked him up. Once he placed him in the boat it sunk a good five inches into the water. "Yer a biggun!" Hagrid said. "An' that's alot comin' from me!" He laughed.

Draco languidly got in, much easier for him due to his long legs. Goyle followed by flopping into the boat. "You're going to sink us. Get out." Draco ordered Goyle. He fumbled and ended up falling in the water when he climbed out of the boat. Draco noticed the boat starting to move across the water by itself. 'Good. I'm not rowing across this blasted lake.' Draco sat back and looked for the pretty girl again. The moonlight was shining off her hair brightly.

"This is going to be a good year."