Chapter 2

The train pulled out of the station and, as the commotion ended, the four Slytherins took their seats.

"So...?" Goyle asked, looking pointedly at Malfoy.

"So...what?" Draco asked, confused.

"Tell us about her! Who is she? Do we know her? What does she look like? What house is she in?"

"Calm down. I can only answer one question at a time." Draco sat for a couple minutes in complete silence, the other three hanging onto his every breath, waiting for him to speak. Finally, he said, "She's perfect."

Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle sat waiting for more. Once they realized it wasn't coming, they sighed, annoyed, and flopped back onto the seats.

Draco sat, immersed in thought. She IS perfect. The way her brown hair flows down her back. The way she smiles when she's truly happy. Then he sighed. The way she doesn't notice me after six years. She only sees me as "the bad guy". I want to be someone different this year. And, at that moment, Draco swore to himself that this year would be different. He only had one year. One year to turn her entire perception of him around. And just one year to make her fall in love with him too.

~O~O~

As the train pulled out of King's Cross Station, Harry and Ron sat down and began talking about quidditch. Hermione couldn't keep her mind off what she had just told Ginny. She wanted her to read the letter, she wanted her reaction, she wanted to know what Ginny thought. Who it was, why they waited until now to write it.

"Ginny! Come with me?" Hermione winked pointedly at her best friend.

"Where are you guys going?" Harry asked.

"Erm, the bathroom. Then to find the trolley. I'm hungry."

" Want to get me some Bertie Botts Beans?"

Hermione sighed. "Sure. C'mon Ginny!"

"Okay, okay. Im coming."

Bring the scroll Hermione mouthed at her. Ginny nodded and followed Hermione out of the door. They found an empty compartment and sat down so Ginny could read the letter. After a good ten minutes of sitting and staring, Ginny finally moved. She slowly lowered the parchment onto her lap.

"Merlin's beard! Who was this? This is, well, it's beautiful! You have no clue who it was?"

"Nope. No idea. It came to my house about a week ago. I do think its lovely. This person must really like me."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Well of course they do! You don't think someone would take weeks perfecting this," she held up the giant, unraveled, four foot scroll, "to say that they want to be your best friend. This person is obviously IN LOVE with you."

Hermione sat there for a minute, comprehending what Ginny had said. Someone loves me? Honestly, she was a little flattered.

"Of course! Cant you tell! This is big. Like BIG! We have to find out who this was."

"I don't know..." Hermione said, a little apprehensive.

"Hermione," Ginny sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingers. "There is no possible way you can tell me you DONT want to know who this is."

"Well, I do. But what if..."

"What if nothing! We will find out who it is. End of story! Now lets go get Harry his Bertie Botts Beans before him and Ron start wondering."

The two girls left the compartment they were sitting in and went in search of the trolley. They saw it outside the prefects' compartment near the front of the train and stood in line behind a tall, blonde boy who had his hair slicked back. He had very broad shoulders which Hermione noticed and was rather attracted to. He was in front of the trolley, wiggling his fingers as he went to pick up a Chocolate Frog, but then stopped and headed for a Liquorice Wand instead. After several minutes of carefully weighing his options, he finally grabbed a Pumpkin Pastie and paid 2 sickles for it. He turned around without looking where he was going and bumped right into Hermione and Ginny. When he stood up, his face was angry, but then softened when he saw who it was. Before she could look at him though, his face became stone once more and he said, "Watch where you're going, Mudblood." and he stalked off.

~O~O~

"Im going to get something from the trolley. Anyone want anything?" Draco stood up.

"No, thanks." they all chorused.

"Okay. I'll be back soon." He left the compartment. As he walked down the hallways of the train, he noticed that there weren't many of his fellow classmates who had come back to finish their last year. That weird Loony girl, or whatever her name was, was sitting in a compartment with Longbottom, holding his hand. Well, its nice to see that he's finally got someone. Never thought he would. Never thought either of them would. I guess freaks are attracted to freaks." He found the trolley up by the prefects' compartment.

"Thank you!" the lady from the trolley called over her shoulder as she left their compartment.

"Hey! Lady! Dont go anywhere." Draco rushed down to her. He stood at the trolley looking at all there was to choose from. He had almost forgotten how much food this lady carried around on a cart all day. I wouldnt be able to eat all in a week if you paid me. He thought to himself. He noticed the chocolate Frogs, always his favorites, and was about to grab one when he saw a large stack of Liquorice Wands. He stood with his hand suspended over the cart wiggling his fingers, weighing his options. He realized that he hadnt brought a lot of money out of his compartment, so he was forced to choose the least expensive thing there. Grumbling, he pulled two silver sickles out of the pocket of his jeans and handed them to the Lady, then grabbed a Pumpkin Pastie and turned around. He hadnt even taken his first step when he crashed into someone and fell to the ground. He was furious. He was about to get up and tell them off when he noticed who it was. Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age, was on the ground along with the Weasley girl. His face fell, and his stone grey eyes looked apologetic for a minute. No! She hates you! You cant be like this to her! He pulled his face into a grim scowl before she stood up and looked at him.

"Watch where you're going, Mudblood." He turned around and stalked off towards the boys' bathroom. As soon as he turned the corner he broke down into sobs. He ran into the bathroom and locked himself in a stall.

I hate this! He sobbed. I cant believe I just said that to her. She probably hates me even more now. She probably wants to kill me. I dont blame her. Im awful.

Just then, he heard the sound of the bathroom door flying open. He gave a loud sniff and pulled himself together before exiting the stall.

"Oh! Hey, Crabbe." Draco said when he saw who was standing there.

"Hey!" then Crabbe looked at Draco's eyes, which were very red and puffy. "You okay man?"

Draco gave a heavy sigh. "Yeah. Im fine."

As he left the bathroom, he thought to himself That could possibly be the biggest lie I've ever told.