It was Kurt Hummel's first year at Hogwarts, and he was trembling with anxiety as he ran through the big brick wall at King's Cross and entered platform 9/3.
His brother; Finn, was right behind him and together with their mother and father, they walked up to a man who put their luggage into the big train named The Hogwarts Express. It was scarlet, and looked like it could contain twice as many people than it was built for. The smoke came up from its front, making the air above the people near it blurry. Kurt had been nervous about starting at Hogwarts, but somehow the train calmed him down. Something about its greatness and atmosphere made all his anxious thoughts disappear. His mother was praising Finn on being a good student this year, and how much she was hoping he'd end up in Gryffindor. Kurt looked out through the big crowd, and felt like he could faint at any second. He had never liked being around so many people. Through all the wizards and witches spread across the platform, he spotted a boy who had bright, blonde almost white hair, and a pale face. He was looking smug, while talking to his father, but as he turned to his mother to say goodbye his face expression changed to a softer one and he hugged her tight before walking towards the big train. Just as he did that Kurt realised his own father was trying to get in contact with him.
„Kurt," He said for the third time, and finally Kurt moved his look from the boy and looked up at his father. „Now. You know what we've been talking about."
„Gryffindor," Kurt said and sighed. His parents had both been in Gryffindor, and they were very anxious about him and Finn getting in there, too. He was almost certain about the fact that Finn would get into the House of the Brave, but he himself had always been attracted to the darker side, as much as an eleven year old can be. His parents knew, of course, nothing about this.
„We love you," His father said softly, „And even if you don't get in Gryffindor, we will still love you." Right, Kurt thought and fought the urge to roll his eyes. The Hogwarts Express started making a lot of noise, and additional smoke came out of it, as it was about to start.
„Hurry, hurry!" their mother commanded, as she pushed both Kurt and Finn towards the doors of the train. „See you soon!" She yelled. They waved through the window for a few seconds, before they both turned around and walked through the train, looking for an empty coupe. They passed some with one or a few persons in them, and a lot of full ones. Kurt had noticed the pale white-haired boy sitting in a coupe by himself, and convinced Finn to go back to that coupe and sit with him. Finn sighed and as they reached the coupe-door he slid it open and the pale boy quickly looked up at Finn with a cold look.
„What?" he asked yersely. Finn looked uncertain at Kurt before saying, „Can we sit with you?" The pale boy looked over Finn's shoulder and noticed Kurt before nodding slightly. „Thanks. The others are all filled." Kurt followed his brother into the coupe and sat down opposite of the boy. „I'm Finn Hudson," Finn said and smiled at the boy.
„Draco Malfoy," He said and looked at Kurt. „What about you? Can you talk?" Finn wrinkled his eyebrows, ready to defend his brother, but Kurt just smirked at the boy and nodded. „And you are…?"
„Kurt," Said Kurt and returned Draco Malfoy's gaze in a challenging way. He put out his hand and Draco looked at it for a second before shaking it. He seemed to loosen a bit up, because he leaned back into his seat and looked out the window, looking quite relaxed.
„So have you heard?" Asked Draco. „The famous Harry Potter is on this train," He said the name as if it was poisonous. Kurt basically ignored it, as he didn't think much of this Harry Potter character. He was happy that Lord Voldemort was out of the world, but as far as he thought and knew he didn't actually do anything, this Harry Potter. He was just a baby. Finn seemed to think differently though.
„Really?" He asked excited and quickly got up. „Excuse me," He mumbled as Draco nodded. He walked out of the coupe and down through the train.
„Is he your brother?" Draco asked, and Kurt nodded proudly.
„Half brother," he said.
„What house are you hoping to get into?" Draco asked quietly.
„My parents wants me in Gryffindor," Kurt started, and smiled as Draco scoffed. „But I'm hoping for Slytherin." Draco's lip twitched before he nodded agreeing.
Blaine Anderson was sitting in a coupe with his sister Rachel, and a few other students who were talking about something called Quidditch. Blaine and Rachel were muggle born, and didn't know anything about the wizard world until they had turned 11 and gotten their Hogwarts acceptance letters. As one of the students mentioned a thing called a 'quaffle' for the third time, Blaine interrupted, wanting to know what this game was about.
By the time they arrived at Hogwarts, darkness had crept over the sky, giving the castle a daunting atmosphere.
The 1st years were lead into the Great Hall by a tall professor with a strict look in her eyes. The new students all knew in a split-second that they did not want to make her mad in any way. The professor; McGonagall walked up to the big head table where all the teachers sat, watching the new students; all busy exploring every inch and corner of the room with their hungry looks. McGonagall explained what was going to happen and called up „Abbott, Hannah." Everyone stared at her as she went up on the small chair and got an old hat placed on her head. A few moments passed before it shouted out „Hufflepuff!" „Anderson, Blaine!" She yelled, and a curly-haired boy went nervously up to the chair and sat down. The hat had barely touched his head before it shouted „Ravenclaw!" The boy went to join the other Ravenclaws. „Anderson, Rachel!" Professor McGonagall yelled and a nervous-looking girl with flat, dark brown hair practically fell over her own feet, trying to get to the small chair as fast as possible. The hat was silent for a long time before shouting out „Slytherin!". She ran down to the Slytherin table and sat down, and so it went on until it was Finn's turn. „Hudson, Finn." Finn got up, and was placed in Gryffindor as expected. „Hummel, Kurt!" Kurt tried to walk up to the chair, looking brave, and lifted up his chin as he sat down. Professor McGonagall put the hat on his head, and everything got dark as it covered his eyes. Kurt almost jumped as he heard a voice in his head.
„Bravery, yes… Oh but also… You sure have ambitions, boy. Yes, lots. Also a dark side. But is the lighter side greater…?Manipulative. You know how to act in given situations. Yes…" Kurt had kept quiet the whole time and unconsciously held his breath for a few seconds before the hat shouted out „Slytherin!" The hat was removed from his head, and he went down to the other Slytherins who were all cheering and applauding. As he did, he caught Malfoy's eye, and smiled at him as he sat down besides Rachel Anderson.
5 years later.
„Here we go again," Kurt sighed as he and Draco Malfoy sat down together in the Hogwarts Express, ready for another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Draco scoffed and threw his bag by the wall, before falling onto the seat. Kurt and Draco had been friends since the very first day of school, 5 years ago. Kurt had been aware of the fact that he was gay since their 4th year, where he had realised he liked Draco a bit more than as a friend. He hadn't told Draco any of this though, as he might get the wrong idea. They were best friends, and he did feel like he could tell Draco everything, but this probably was a bit too much. Draco wasn't exactly the best person to discuss these things with anyway. Mostly if Kurt had problems or were in a dilemma, he went to his brother Finn, who he had also told this secret to. Even though Finn respected this, and tried to help his brother, he did obviously not understand it, as he didn't understand why Kurt even bothered being friends with Draco in the first place. But him being in Slytherin and Finn being in Gryffindor made them different on a lot of levels. They rarely talked during the school hours, but they were able to engage in deep conversation or just be quiet in other's company whenever they were home.
Draco leaned back into his seat and stared out the window with his usual first-day-of-school look, that showed how desperately he wanted to be somewhere else.
„One year left," Draco mumbled. Kurt looked compassionate at his best friend, and neither of them spoke until the train set in motion.
„Did your parents sign your Hogsmeade permission slip this summer?" Draco asked after a long time with silence. Kurt looked surprised at him, and shook his head. Draco rarely asked Kurt about things like this. Actually he didn't really start conversations himself at all that much.
„No," Kurt murmured. „I don't know what it's for. It's not like I could switch to Gryffindor - even if I wanted." His parents had kept telling Kurt that they still loved him unconditionally, that it didn't matter that he was a Slytherin, but their actions showed differently. They treated Finn a lot better than him. Finn would get his way when it was reasonable, and Kurt would never get his no matter how right he was. And it was only on really good days they would give him permission for things Finn would do all the time –as in this case the Hogsmeade permission slip. Draco shook his head slowly and sighed.
„I'm tired of going there alone."
„Bring Rachel." As soon as the words had left Kurt's lips, Draco quickly turned his head to give Kurt a harsh, horrifying look, he normally only gave him whenever he mentioned Harry Potter.
„Why would I ever bring Anderson? You're her friend. I'm just your friend," He said and returned to looking out the window, at the passing meadows and hills.
„She's okay once you get to know-"
„A mudblood like her doesn't belong in Slytherin. She should just have been put into Ravenclaw with her brother. In that house she could really be the overachiever she is," Draco said in a condescending tone.
„She's ambitious, Draco. I would think you'd know what's that like," Kurt pointed out. Draco rolled his eyes and Kurt figured it would be better just drop the subject. After having known Draco for six years, reading him wasn't the hardest thing to do. Only a moment after Draco had said this, Rachel opened the door to their coupe and smiled at Kurt.
„Any room for me?" She asked carefully, and Draco gave Kurt a penetrating look before resuming his staring out the window.
„Sure," Kurt said and Rachel sat down besides him.
„Thanks," She said and smiled again. „So are you finally going to Hogsmeade this year?" She asked, and looked cautiously at Draco as he scoffed. Kurt smiled awkwardly, ignoring Draco as he answered.
They were halfway to Hogwarts when Draco opened his eyes after having slept for a while. Kurt movedhis look from Rachel and smirked at Draco.
„Morning, sunshine."
„Did…" Draco began and a terrified look grew on his face. „Did I fall asleep?" Kurt nodded and got slightly scared as Draco's eyes became distant like he was seeing something they couldn't. „What's wrong?" Asked Rachel and looked worried at Draco who looked at Kurt without really seeing him. Potter, Draco thought, unconsciously mouthing the words. He quickly got up and hurried out of the coupe, almost falling over as he ran around the corner and down the hall. Kurt looked confused at Rachel, who, too, didn't know what to think.
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were sitting in a coupe together discussing the upcoming year.
„Think that Slughorn guy is any good?" Asked Ron, chewing on a cauldron cake.
„I sure hope so," Hermione said. „It's impossible to be worse than Snape, anyway," Harry chuckled and sighed.
„When I met him, he seemed—" He began but stopped as he felt a shooting pain behind his ribs.
„Harry, are you—What's wrong?" Hermione said and cautiously stood up, as Harry put his hands to his head, which felt like it was about to blow up any second. He managed to let out a small moan of pain in between the sudden stings in his stomach.
„Ron, go get help," Hermione demanded, and looked panicky at one of her best friend who was twisting in pain. Ron ran out of the coupe and down the hall.
„Harry, can you—" Hermione held back a scream as Harry fell to the floor and shouted in pain. „Harry!" She looked up as she heard someone enter the coupe. „Malfoy?" She whispered confused as Draco swiftly came into the coupe and sat down besides Harry, taking out his wand. She was about to say something, as she saw the terrified look in his eyes. He put his free hand on Harry's left cheek, trying to make his head stop moving.
„Potter!" Draco said, trying to steady his voice, though he had never felt more nervous and pressured. „Look at me."
„What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked, feeling more helpless than ever, looking at Harry suffering. „What are you doing?"
„Shut up, Granger." Draco snapped, fixing his eyes upon Harry's. „Look at me!" Another shout of pain came from Harry and Draco put his head closer to Harry's and said „Potter, listen." For a split-second Harry made eye contact with Draco and Hermione watched as Draco mumbled „Retexamus somniare." An orange bubble slowly came out of the tip of Draco's wand and flew directly into Harry's stomach. The second it disappeared Harry fell back onto the floor not moving a muscle, his breath still slightly faster than normal, but the painful expression on his face had disappeared. Hermione quickly held him in to her and looked confused at Draco who was looking extremely exhausted. The two boys were staring at each other, Harry with a confused, slightly fascinated look and Draco looking worried and uncomfortable.
„What did you do?" Harry said calmly, not sure what had just happened. „How did you know—"
„Don't mention it," Draco said coolly and got up and quickly got out of the coupe without closing the door. Harry looked puzzled after his enemy who had just saved his life, barely noticing Hermione whimpering by his side.