Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or it's characters. But you probably already knew that.
Chapter 2: Petrified.
Nervous is wouldn't be the right adjective to describe how Draco Malfoy was feeling about returning to school for his 7th, well 8th, year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Panic-Stricken
Petrified
Terror-Filled
Etc. etc.
Now those felt like more appropriate terms to describe how he was feeling right now.
Standing alone in the middle of platform 9 3/4, he was practically shaking with fear. He would never admit that he felt these feelings out loud of course, but it didn't mean he didn't feel them.
He knew that this year wouldn't be like his previous (he hoped to bloody Merlin it was nothing like his sixth year). He knew that the Malfoy name no longer carried the prestige and power it once did in the wizarding community, and he was under no assumption that his classmates would welcome him back with open arms.
He didn't blame them. Really, he didn't. His family, namely the former Malfoy patriarch, had done horrible and dehumanizing things in the name of a "pure" society. And they had lost.
Lost everything.
Quite literally, actually.
The Malfoy fortune, except for a small percentage, had been depleted when the Wizengamot had ordered them to pay over 3 million gallons, each, as fines for "war crimes". His father had been hauled away to Azkaban to serve out a ten-year sentence.
How he got out of a life sentence, Draco would never know. Nor did he think he really wanted to.
His mother had been put on house-arrest. Permanently. In a small-muggle community-so she could learn tolerance. Her magic and wand stripped away from her.
And their ancient family manor was now in the possession of the Ministry, most likely to be torn apart when the Aurors went looking for dark magic artifacts.
And Draco had been sentenced to a 3 year house arrest term. After he completed his final year at Hogwarts. And a 5 month "extra curricular" course on Muggle lifestyles and lessons. Or as Draco called it the "Muggle Crash Course".
Because the Wizengamot had decided since he was barely out of boyhood, it would do best if Draco finished his education so after his sentence was completed, he would return as a "functioning member of Wizarding society."
Yeah no…three years is definitely not enough time for me to be a "functioning" member of anything. He had thought dryly when his sentence had been read to him.
In short. Draco Malfoy knew that his life-at 17 years-was basically over.
He glanced around the crowded platform, noticing that it was decidedly emptier than it had been in previous years. But there were still families dropping off their wide-eyed first years and anxious second years. He noticed a host of former order members entering the Hogwarts Express-trailed by lesser known Gryffindors. There were also a slew of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs shuffling onto the locomotive. But as grey his eyes scanned the small crowd, he saw no familiar flashes of green and silver.
So-no Slytherin's.
Grand He thought to himself. Might as well start my isolation early, in the dungeons no less. How fitting.
Running a pale hand through his equally pale hair, he let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. It was only one year. He could do this and then three years of blissful peace and solitude.
He could do this even if it killed him.
Actually the more he thought about it, it might actually kill him. Considering the amount of hatred he would undoubtedly be getting from his fellow students.
"Fuck" He hissed to himself as the whistle blew. Signaling the last students to board the train. He knew that there was no more time to stall the inevitable.
Standing up as straight as his body would allow. He held his head up high as he grabbed his trunk and boarded the train. His gut twisting with anxiety as he entered the familiar train.
Draco thought he might actually throw up.
When he finally found an empty compartment, far away from other students. He opened it and cast quick locking and silencing charms when he slipped inside. He didn't need the hatred to start early on. If he could have these five measly hours of peace, then he would take them.
After throwing his trunk in the luggage rack above the seat. He slunk down into the cushioned seat and put his head in his hands.
One year Draco, that's all you need to do.
One year.
9 months really.
That's barely any time at all when you think about it.
He chanted his soothing mantra in his head, trying to convince himself that he could in fact get through this year alive. He didn't notice the familiar bushy head of hair stroll past his compartment-alone. Pausing when they saw who occupied it.
If he had, he would have seen the same look of trepidation in her amber colored eyes as she observed him.
He would have seen the same look of fear echoed on her heart shaped face.
But most of all he would of seen the look of understanding. The look- that if he had seen it-would have made him pause and stare back.
But alas he did not see any of these things.
Not yet anyway.
A/N: Aannnnd sorry I was too excited to introduce Draco to the story so I uploaded this one as well. The next chapter is a goodie and it explains a little of Hermione's summer. And some familiar characters come in!. Please review- and don't be shy! If my writing sucks I want to know! Thanks for reading
Love ya!-S