Iris and I weaved through the crowded Kings Cross train station and headed towards our school's platform. I was eager to see my friends and get on the train. Iris craned her head looking for her own friends. I nearly squealed when I saw my best friend, Hermione Granger.

Hermione waved excitedly once she saw me and I sprinted towards her. I toppled to the ground when I collided into someone. It was my classmate Draco Malfoy. I was surprised when he held his hand out for me, we never got along well. The moment his hand touched mine, my mind was flooded with brilliantly clear images. I was consumed by anguish, fear and hatred. I thought I would cry. I could feel everything Draco felt perfectly in my mind. This had never happened to me before. Draco stared at me in complete bewilderment, as if he knew what I was seeing. I jumped away from his touch.

"Did you-did that just-never mind." I mumbled as I sprinted to Hermione again.

Hermione held her arms wide open for me, I nearly jumped into them. We hadn't seen each other in over a month which was not like us at all.

"How are you Mel? I refuse to go that long without seeing each other again."

"Same here. I'm great. But I just had the strangest encounter with-"

"Thanks for abandoning me Mel." Iris **sneered jokingly.

Hermione and I laughed and Iris rolled her eyes. I nudged Iris in the ribs and gestured towards her group of friends, including her new crush Bradley.

"See you later." Iris called as she headed towards them.

"Thanks for abandoning me!" I teased.

Hermione and I linked arms and headed towards the train. She talked animatedly to me but I couldn't focus on her words. I was still dumbfounded by the incident with Draco Malfoy. I had been born a telepath, I could hear every single person's thoughts as if they were speaking aloud, I could see whatever they thought. But I had never been affected by someone's thoughts like this before. And I never expected to feel Draco Malfoy's thoughts like this.

Draco and I had hardly spoken throughout our six years at Hogwarts, though he tormented my friends relentlessly. So I couldn't understand why his thoughts would affect me so much. I wanted to touch him again, to see if the same thing would happen again.

My thoughts were interrupted when my two other best friends Harry Potter and Ron Weasley entered our compartment. They sat across from us, smiling brightly. I could sense perfectly how eager Ron was to see Hermione, I knew she felt the same. I snorted at their thoughts and Hermione glared at me, somehow knowing I was eavesdropping. Harry gazed at me with wide eyes, we hadn't seen each other all summer. He could hardly sleep because he was so anxious to see me. I avoided Harry's eyes and stared at my hands, I wasn't sure if I could handle whatever Harry was thinking.

"Hey Mel!"

"Hey Seamus." I said as I smiled to our fellow Gryffindor.

"Tell Wood I said congrats on makin' it to Puddlemere!"

"Will do." I said shortly.

My eyes caught Harry's gaze, he was frowning apologetically. He was trying not to think about the recent conversation he had with Oliver about ending our relationship.

"Sorry Mel." Harry whispered softly.

Hermione stared at us, unsure of what was going on. Her eyebrows furrowed when she saw tears welling my eyes.

"Out, both of you. Bring back some sweets." Hermione ordered.

Ron and Harry stumbled through the compartment door and Hermione closed it behind them. She sat across from me, confused by my tears.

"Oliver broke up with me."

"What? When? Are you sure?"

I laughed stiffly and wiped the tears. "I'm sure. He claims his new team will require too much of his time and he can't focus on our relationship right now."

"That git! I could hex him until he can't even ride his broom!"

"You'll have to get in line." I mumbled through my tears.

"I'm so sorry Mel. You deserve better than that."

"I know, thanks Hermione."

Hermione hugged me tightly and patted my back. Harry and Ron were back at our compartment a moment later, clutching several boxes of chocolate. I pulled Ron beside me and took one of the boxes from his hand. Hermione glared at me and I rolled my eyes, but I didn't want Harry to sit next to me when I was so vulnerable. I stuffed the chocolate into my mouth and slumped my head against Ron's shoulder. I didn't want to dwell on Oliver anymore.

"Well another year begins, think we'll survive?" Ron asked bemusedly.

I stared out the window as the Hogwarts Express pulled away from the platform.

"I sure hope so." I whispered quietly.