FORBIDDEN LOVE
CHAPTER ONE: REALISATIONS AND REGRET
A/N OK I am really new to this whole fan fiction concept, but I hope you like my story, please let me know what you all think, but don't be too nasty!!
The Hogwarts express thundered Northward, rain lashing at the windows, accompanied by the howling of the wind. It seemed very apt, thought Harry Potter to himself, that the weather mirrored his mood. Usually his impending return to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry would be nothing less than wonderful. This time however, it was thwarted by the sight that greeted him every time he directed his gaze toward his two best friends, Hermione and Ron. He should be happy for them. He WAS happy for them he told himself firmly. Yet as he watched them, their fingers entwined as Ron whispered in Hermiones ear, causing her to giggle, and a rosy hue to rise on her cheeks, he felt physically sick. Hermione. Sweet, clever, reliable Hermione. One of his best friends. Harry had never expected to feel anything deeper than friendship for the pretty, muggle-born girl. Despite this, the closer she grew to Ron, and the more he tried to fight his feelings, the more he was forced to accept the truth. He had, however unwittingly, fallen for her natural, simplistic charm.
A contented sigh invaded his thoughts, and, grateful for the interruption, he shifted his gaze downward. Ginny Weasley smiled in her sleep, her head resting comfortably in Harry's lap. He smiled ruefully down at her, and stroked her mass of red curls absent-mindedly. Ginny was his girlfriend now after all, and he loved her. Their relationship had caused conflict at first of course, what with Ginny being Ron's 'baby' sister, but now, everything had settled down, and everyone was happy for them. Especially Mrs Weasley, who adored Harry. He smiled to himself as he recalled Molly Weasleys rapt enthusiasm. Ginny shifted in his lap and her eyes fluttered open, heavy with sleep. She smiled up at her boyfriend before closing her eyes and returning to her dreams.
Harry leant back against the seat and tried to ignore Hermiones incessant giggling. At that moment, the doors to their carriage burst open to reveal Draco Malfoy flanked as ever by Crabbe and Goyle, his faithful side-kicks. Harry snorted – Goyle seemed to have grown even uglier over the summer – if it were possible.
Malfoy gazed round at them, shaking his head. "Oh sorry" He exclaimed, sounding anything but. "I didn't realise that I had stumbled across a meeting of the dating agency for the useless and the ugly."
Crabbe and Goyle laughed openly.
"Oh yeah, by the way Malfoy, we were just about to ask you to join, you do after all fit the criteria." Hermione commented drily.
"Yeah" Harry added. "But then we remembered – you've already found love with the delightful Goyle – how are the happy couple."
Ron sniggered at this uncharacteristic outburst from his normally laid-back friend.
"Oh shut it Weasley." Malfoy snapped, evidently irritated that Harry had got one up on him. His steely eyes fell on Hermione and Ron, their hands still tightly entwined. Malfoy pretended to retch.
"You two make me feel sick, although I suppose you're quite well suited, Weasleys got no money and Grangers got no looks – a match made in heaven."
Ron responded by telling Malfoy to do something very rude.
"Leave it Ron, he's not worth it." Ginny urged, the younger girl was not as accustomed to Malfoy as the others, and was rather afraid of his sharp tongue.
"And as for you and Potter." Malfoy spat. "Well at least that heifer of a mother you've got might be happy Weasley, could get her hands on some of the Potter cash.
This proved too much for Ron, who leaped from his seat, and squared up to the pale-faced Slytherin boy.
"Say that again you bastard, to my face this time." He yelled, his face now mere inches from Malfoys.
Ginny squealed in horror and buried her face in Harry's shoulder. A combination of the advancing figures of Crabbe and Goyle – both several times larger than Ron – and Hermione tugging his arm, urging him to sit down convinced a reluctant Ron to return to his seat.
"It's alright Gin." Hermione said soothingly, and Ginny raised her head, her pretty eyes fearful and filled with tears. Malfoy laughed coldly, and swept wordlessly from the carriage, his cronies lumbering in his wake. As the door slammed Ron was literally shaking with rage. Hermione placed a cool hand on his shoulder, calming him. Across the carriage Harry was doing much the same with Ginny. Neither Hermione nor Harry shared the Weasley's tendency to get worked up so easily, and they often shared a private joke about it. Hermione glanced up at Harry to find he was already studying her intently, searching her face – but for what? She wondered. However, as their gazes met, Hermione was not expecting to feel the way she did as she gazed into his deep green eyes…….