Adventure 1: Part 2
Neville's Toad
"Come off it. It's only a toad." Draco drawled as his henchmen cackled quietly behind him.
I was confused at what he said for a moment, and then I realized he was holding a toad in his hand. He misunderstood me! I was squealing with delight. Draco Malfoy was in my train compartment talking to me! I mean, I know he is one of the bad guys in the series…but I think that if someone had just reached out to him while he was young and showed him some real love – not love that comes with rules and prices – then he would have turned out differently.
"What is it with all the first years? Second years and up just stand out of the way of the toad, but you all have to scream."
"First years?" I asked. I was 19, not 11. But then, I caught my reflection in the window and I saw that I was indeed back to my 11-year-old self.
"Whoa…this is crazy." I shook my head.
"What's wrong with you?" Draco asked.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing," I gave him a big grin. "Sorry, I dozed off on the train and forgot where I was for a moment…is that your toad?" I asked.
"Gross no. It's that Longbottom's toad. Nicked it when he wasn't looking, didn't I?"
"So that's what happened to it…" I said; more to myself than anyone else, but Crabbe heard me and shot me a nasty look.
"What, you gonna tattle now?" he growled.
"Oh no! Of course not!" This seemed to appease the group of boys and they made themselves at home in my compartment.
"I'm Malfoy by the way. Draco Malfoy. And this is Crabbe and Goyle. Who are you?" Draco asked as he sprawled out on a bench he had apparently claimed as his own.
"My name is MJ Rose," I was still standing in the middle of the compartment, at a loss on what to do, seeing as how the three boys took up all the seats.
"Rose, huh? What house are you going to be in, do you know?"
"Oh, any house is fine with me!" I giggled.
"What, don't you have any certain traits that would put you in a house? Or are you Hufflepuff material?" Draco sneered at the name.
"Oh…well you see, I don't know…I have never had anyone tell me what I'm like." His expression softened a bit, but his lofty air returned seconds later.
"Well I for one am going to be in Slytherin; my whole family as been in that house for generations. I think you would work well in the house too, Rose. Your eyes match our colors." He gave me a sly grin as my face turned a bright pink. It's true my eyes are green…so was Draco actually a playboy? He definitely had the looks and attitude for it.
