Chapter 2

"Quickly now boys. Do you have your robes? Books?"

"Yes," Harry and Ethan chorused.

"Tickets? Obviously, of course. How about wands? Ethan, did you pack your emergency na-"

"MUM!" Ethan yelled in horror as Harry subtly felt his pocket for his wand. His mother told them never to let it off their person, and Harry was going to make sure it was with him at all times (even in the shower!)

"Yes, mum," Harry said and gave her a hug before she could say anything else. "I'll miss you," he said.

"I love you, Harry," he whispered in his ear. "And Ethan!" she said, giving him a big hug when she finished with Harry. When they were finished, she continued. "I'll see you both for the Christmas Hols. Send the school owls often – I'll be sure to reply straight away. Make new friends. Oh, and," she pulled a few of sickles from her pocket and handed two to each of the boys. "Get yourself something sweet to eat on the train."

"Thanks, mum!" Ethan said and with a final hug, took his trunk and scampered onto the train.

"Harry," she called as her second son was about to get onto the train. He turned his head to look back at his mother. "Do your best. And protect your brother." At Harry's nod, she smiled. "I look forward to seeing all the spells you've learned when you come home. You're smart – I know you'll do great at Hogwarts."

Harry nodded, hoping he could live up to his mother's expectations. "Bye, mum," he said before turning back to the train and following his brother onto it.

"They say I have to go to the front of the train!" Ethan said frantically.

"Lower years ride in the first two cars, first years in the third," a tall, thin boy with neat sandy brown hair and freckles said. "I'm sorry if you two have to split up, but it's the rules. If you have any other questions, my name is Percy Weasley and I'm one of the prefects on this train. To your left are the lower and first year cars."

"Thanks," Harry said politely as the boy left. "I'll see you when we get to the castle, Ethan, don't worry. Until then, try to meet some people, yeah?"

Ethan nodded and followed Harry to the front of the train. He was strangely silent the entire way.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry.

Ethan shook his head. "It's just... I've never been apart from you, not really."

"Are you scared?" Harry asked with a bit of a smirk.

"No! I'm not scared of nothin'!"

"Well good, since you're so brave it'll be easy for you to make new friends."

Ethan blinked, realizing he'd been fooled. "Fine!" he said as they stopped before the second car. "I'll make awesome friends! Then I'll introduce you to them and you'll be jealous!"

"Later, Earache."

"Bye, Hercules," Ethan said back before entering the car, and Harry shivered slightly. Hercules was what his mum had wanted to name him, before deciding Harry would be better. He'd never thanked his mother more than when he heard that story.

Harry walked down the aisle. His bigger worn trunk was packed in the storage car, and he just had his wand and a book in one of the large pockets on his oversized robes (his mother's motto was "you'll grow into it.") There was a window on every door, and most of the compartments were already full. It seemed that the other students had already formed groups of friends.

As he passed by, he met eyes with a boy that had the same colour hair as Mr Malfoy. Before he could continue, the boy opened the compartment door. "Join us," he commanded.

Harry looked down the hallway. There were only a few more compartments remaining to check, and it would be impolite to reject the offer... "Alright, thank-you," Harry said and entered the compartment, taking the last empty seat next to the blonde boy.

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." Draco held out his hand.

"Harry Potter," Harry replied and shook it.

Draco smirked. "Potter, eh? I do believe that we own your... home."

"Your father owns it, along with half of Britain." He glanced over at the two boys across from them. "And if I may ask for your names..."

"This is Crabbe and Goyle," Draco said, gesturing to them vaguely. They grunted. "They're not terribly bright, so don't even try starting a conversation with them."

"So am I here just to relieve your boredom from the lack of good conversational partners?"

"Perhaps," Draco said good naturedly, "and if you play your cards right, you might just be promoted to lackey, like them."

"I wouldn't call that a promotion," Harry said, winking at Crabbe/Goyle, who gave a small smirk back. "However, if you throw in a broomstick, you've got yourself a deal." Harry couldn't believe he was actually joking with a Malfoy, not after he'd seen the state Mr Malfoy reduced his mother to multiple times. A bit of the happiness and charisma left Harry at that thought.

"I like you, Potter," Draco said abruptly. "I don't know why, but I do. I've decided we're going to become friends."

"Friendship isn't exactly something you can command from someone else," Harry said with a frown, all humour from before gone.

"Not friends, then: Comrades. Ubi amici, ibi opes. Where there are friends, there is wealth. You have much to profit from this arrangement."

"Wealth, hmm?" He couldn't dispute that having a Malfoy on his side would help leaps and bounds against people against half-bloods. "And what of you?"

"Let's just say that I know you're an investment worth making." Draco smirked and stuck out his hand once more. "What do you say to a covenant, Potter?"

More like a deal with the devil. But mother did tell me to make friends... Harry imitated Draco's smirk and shook his hand. However, something tells me that she wouldn't approve of this one.