Chapter 2

September 1998

The train was picking up speed after leaving the station. The windows were steamed up from the damp in the air, it had been a rainy day in London when the train departed.

The rain fit the mood on the station platform. The crowd was thinner than normal. Some families missing a parent as they watched children safely on the train, other families missing children, siblings making the long journey North solo for the first time ever. All due to war. The Battle of Hogwarts was fresh in everyone's memories this morning.

Harry didn't want his presence adding to that, so he stuck to the shadows, as much as he could. He watched out for the people he knew and from his vantage point on the platform spotted the familiar heads of the Weasley's, Ginny and Ron, walking with Hermione. Ron and Hermione had managed to find her mother and father in Sydney, it took a lot of work from both of them to remove the memory charms that Hermione had placed but after 3 days there was recognition in their eyes when they looked at their daughter. They were now settled in a cottage just down the road from The Burrow and were opening a new Dentists practice in the village.

Just then Harry's attention was drawn to the sudden flash of blonde to his right. He felt the pull of emotions as he saw the boy, no man now. His face looked drawn and he had dark circles under his eyes. His hair no longer slicked back, falling to around his ears with a gentle bounce to it. Harry couldn't stop staring but he knew he needed to move and get on the train. As he slowly turned round the blonde haired man felt eyes on him and turned just in time to see Harry vanish on to the train. Malfoy followed behind and stepped onto the train, this would be the first journey he had made without the group of Slytherins surrounding him with adoration. The rest of the group had chosen not to return, or else had left the country for good with their parents after the war. 8 Year was going to be very different indeed.

Harry found a compartment near the rear of the train and the luggage carriage. He needed space to think and to adjust. The uniform for those adults returning, for in the wizarding world the 8 years were now adults all being over 17 years of age, was the sign of the changes happening after the war. They no longer belong to the school houses but a fifth separate house, House of Dumbledore, with colours of Scarlett, Blue, Green and Yellow and more peculiar the emblem on their uniforms was the school crest but with lemon sherbets in the centre square. Harry felt the corner of his mouth raise in a smile, for the Professor who believed everyone deserved a chance (Hagrid, Harry, Lupin and Tom Riddle had all felt his kindness), being remembered around the school at such a difficult time in the wizarding world in such a way, you couldn't help but smile.

The change in situation at school suited Harry. Being part of House of Dumbledore meant he avoided the chance of bumping into Ginny around the common room. That had been an awkward evening this summer back at Grimmauld place……..

Harry stood nervously in the kitchen talking to Kreacher as he prepared the food for the evening,

"Are you sure this is her favourite meal?" Harry said nervously.

"Yes" replied Kreacher, "I specifically asked Dobby what always needed replacing near Ginny's section on the Gryffindor table and this was it Master"

Kreacher laid the table in the dining room and soon the smells of roast chicken, roast potatoes with vegetables and a pudding of Jam Roly Poly with custard filled the house.

The knock came on the door not long after. Ginny stood there looking radiant and as Harry welcomed her in she took stock of the rooms around her, she couldn't believe the transformation having not stepped through the door since they left after Sirius's death.

"Wow Harry, this place looks wonderful now, not very you, but clean and homely" stated Ginny.

Harry was being modest and wouldn't take credit, instead directing Ginny's attention to Kreacher, who had appeared to inform them dinner was ready.

The meal went well, and conversation flowed between the two of them. It was once the meal was finished and Harry lead Ginny to the lounge looking at fulfilling the Ps on his letter that the atmosphere changed. They settled on the sofa and Harry gently placed his arm round her, drawing her closer, his lips finding their familiar place on hers, whilst his hand slowly moved lower looking at exploring new areas. As he moved though something in his head felt wrong. It was like being with his sister, but then he put that to the back of his mind, this was his best friends sister, of course they were close, so he went to try again.

Meanwhile Ginny's hand moved to his waist, her fingers lightly stroking his side. But then the same thoughts ran through her head, this felt wrong. They both pulled away and looked into each others eyes, and at that exact time the both came to the same conclusion, the spark had died. The clumsily untangled themselves and shortly after Ginny departed, less than 10 words had been said after the incident.

What neither of the realised was the reason behind the change…...

Harry was snapped out of his memories by the compartment door opening. The last person he was expecting was stood in the doorway. Malfoy, already changed into the new house robes, looking shy and bashful. Harry daren't breath in case the spell was broken, his eyes firmly fixed on the new hairstyle Malfoy had, which made Harry realise the hair didn't suit the name Malfoy, he was a Draco now. Harry heart seemed to be beating far too fast, and he was unsure about why, this was Draco, he'd been enemies with him for years, but now? Finally Draco broke the spell.

"Potter, I just wanted to say erm thank you for how you spoke for me at the trial", looking down at his feet, as he had been since he'd arrived at the compartment. Finally he raised his eyes to Harry's,

"and thank you for the letter, you were the first person to write to me since the battle". With that sentence hanging in the air Draco quickly moved away.

Harry was left wondering what kind of year this one was going to be at Hogwarts……..