Chapter 1: Back to School
"Well...bye then, Uncle Vernon." Harry said quickly before leaving on the train to Hogwarts.
Uncle Vernon only grunted, which was the closest thing to a word Harry had heard all day. He had not forgiven Harry for threatening to use the Leg-Locker Curse on Dudley that morning. He gave everyone quite a scare, though his aunt and uncle were fully aware that Harry was not to use magic outside of Hogwarts.
Harry walked through the barrier of platforms 9 and 10 and was immediately greeted by Hermione, who gave him a big hug. For some reason, Harry felt his face go red.
"Hi Harry! I'm really sorry I didn't write much to you over the summer, I was pretty busy." Hermione apologized.
Harry could tell she meant it. He was a little worried over the summer because of her lack of letters, but he just couldn't see why he should stay angry.
"It's okay," he replied.
Right then, Draco Malfoy casually strolled up to the two of them.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry asked coldly.
"Harry, come on now, don't be so rude." Hermione scolded him.
She turned to Draco.
"Hey," she said in a tone of voice Harry had never heard her use before, "how was your summer?"
"It was great when you were around." Draco answered, his eyes twinkling in a strange way.
Harry gave the both of them a look of extreme confusion.
"Harry, you know Draco and I are going out," Hermione said, reading the look on his face. "Don't you?"
Harry just stood there for a while, baffled. He questioned how Hermione could like someone like Malfoy. Even more, he wondered how Malfoy could, all of a sudden, take a liking to a Muggleborn.
"H-how can you like her?" he stammered, breaking the awkward silence in the group.
Hermione looked hurt, and Harry realized he had phrased the question in a very stupid way.
"I mean, her parents are Muggles," Harry continued. "Not that that's a bad thing," he added, "but—
"Let me explain, Potter," Malfoy interrupted. "I've changed. My father doesn't control my life anymore."
Hermione glowed.
"He's made a complete turnaround!" she bragged proudly.
Harry wasn't sure if he believed this, so he just shrugged.
"Okay. If you say so."
"We should probably get settled, then." Hermione said as she looked for an empty compartment.
Harry felt very strange. Now that he had gotten over the confusion, he felt something else, and he wasn't sure why. The emotion was envy, and it was so strong, Harry felt as if it was his first time experiencing it.
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