Chapter 2: Curiousity
I didn't leave the compartment for the rest of the journey, it was nice just to sit and get lost in my book forgetting all my problems. As I got into a carriage to take us the rest of the way to Hogwarts I noticed the Thestrals. We had learned about them several years ago just after Cedric's death but I'd never seen anyone die then. I looked around and noticed I wasn't the only person who had just had their first glimpse of these strange beasts, mine was not the only face filled with wonder. I had always wanted to know what Thestrals looked like but I had never wanted to see anyone die, I had never imagined then to be so curiously beautiful but so piercingly sad.
I climbed into the carriage and was joined by Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna who immediately bombarded me with questions like "Where were you?" "Why did you go?" "Are you all right?" "Did we do something to upset you?" all except Ron who remained in stony silence. I mumbled something about wanting to be alone and they seemed satisfied but still concerned.
As we sat in silence thoughts and worries whirled around my head. I was worried me and Ron would never be the same again. What if I had ruined things forever and he never spoke to me again? Would he ever forgive me? I just couldn't bare how sad he was and how much I hurt yet I knew I could never have carried on being with him. Still at the same time I looked at Harry and Ginny, Neville and Luna and envied their closeness. I wanted that feeling of love and devotion, complete trust and inseparability. The only person I knew who wanted that with me was Ron and I just had no feelings for him beyond friendship and guilt.
The feast was noisy, despite loss of several teachers that had been loved by all the students, until McGonagall got up and began to say a few words. "As we all know last year was turbulent to say the least, this school, all its students and the whole world suffered under Voldemort's reign of terror and the evil acts his death eaters carried out. Many of us have lost friends and family, leaving behind gaps that can never be filled. This school lost many brave students who gave their lives to the noble cause of freeing the world from the violence of Voldemort and his death eaters. I would like to take this moment for us to remember all those who died, either in battle or murdered in cold blood. We should appreciate the gift that they gave us and live through the following years of the freedom they never lived to see to the full. We should work hard to achieve the best of our abilities at school and in our lives as a tribute to those who lost their lives. This is a year of joy and celebration as well as peace and mourning. You may now go up to your dormitories to rest in preparation for tomorrow and the start of your lessons."
I didn't think of him for a few days as I got caught up in the school routine, he was in all my classes I just didn't think of him on the train sitting quietly with his Jane Eyre. It wasn't until I saw him walk into the library that the memories of shared peace on the train resurfaced. I didn't no what he had been hiding from but just like me he had certainly been hiding from something.
The feast didn't go down too well with the Slytherins. McGonagall said too much about Voldemort and a reign of terror. Although they knew the rest of the school had never supported Voldemort there were many bitter mutterings. I hear several people saying the rest of the school didn't know what they had destroyed, how much they would have loved him if they had known what his plans would have done to wizard kind, real pure wizards. I just stayed quiet I didn't need to pretend I was angry because I was just at the Slytherins not McGonagall. I didn't say anything I wasn't ready to be killed just yet.
I lost myself in day to day routine, getting up an hour before the rest of the school so I could have peace while I got ready in the mornings, it was nice to feel free from everyone else and the pressure I was under. She was in all my classes, Ancient runes, Arithmancy, Potions, Transfiguration and Charms. I didn't think anything of but she had been kind on the train it was nice to know not everyone judged.Slytherin hated me because I was different from them. The rest of the school hated me because I was Slytherin.
I didn't know much about her only that she worked hard, I was clever too second in every class but she was always first beating me to the post every time. I knew and she was friends with Harry Potter but she didn't look happy, something had happened to her. Something had happened to most of the school last year but she was different
Malfoy caught me watching her as I was wondering what was wrong and how I could approach her, I wanted to be her friend. He started to laugh. "Honestly Blaise are you so desperate that you have started looking at mudbloods, because I know Millicent is looking and I am sure she would just love you. Why don't you ask her instead? Anything is better than that know it all."
"Malfoy I am not interested in Granger that I can assure you, I was just wondering how some one with a family like hers beats me in every class. As for Millicent thanks but no thanks, right now I want to concentrate on work and wipe the smile off Granger's face as she feels what it's like to come second for a change."
Well at least I was partly telling the truth I didn't like her in that way. I wanted to find out why she was so sad, I wanted to comfort her. She was hiding from something on the train that day just like me, I just wanted to know what. So thats why when I walked into the library and I saw her sitting all alone at a small table I went and sat down with her sitting exactly opposite.