Over the next few weeks living at Grimmauld Place became slightly more bearable. At least with the adults, Sirius especially, we had grown closer talking about the weird members of the family, and we even ceremoniously burned my name off the Black Family Tree. It was surprisingly weight-lifting to slowly watch my name burn away from the people I couldn't bear to live with anymore. All too soon though September first arrived and it was time to go back to Hogwarts. I woke up bright and early pulling my hair into a loose bun, and changed into a black loose-fitting skirt with purple and pink circles on it that hit me a few inches above the knee, and a dark pink v-neck tank top with spaghetti straps. It was way too hot outside to wear my school uniform to the Platform. I quickly slipped on some purple pumps, (yes Malfoy women learn how to walk everywhere in heels) and quietly made sure all of my things were packed into my trunk before heading downstairs for some breakfast.

"Good morning Emily, breakfast will be ready in a jiff." Mrs. Weasley said as soon as I stepped into the dining room.

"Do you need any help with anything?" I asked her.

"Thank you dear, but I think I have everything under control, have you checked to make sure everything's in your trunk?"

I nodded as the door opened and a very disheveled looking Harry walked in. I laughed openly as his hair stuck out more than usual; something that I didn't think was possible. "What?" He asked as he looked from my laughing to Mrs. Weasley trying to hide her giggles.

Before I could respond though, Sirius walked in and took one look at Harry before doing a double-take. "Whoa Harry! I think you need to tame that beast you call hair. It looks almost as wild as your Dad's did when he woke-up."

Harry mumbled something under his breath before trying unsuccessfully to flatten his hair with his hand.

Still laughing, I managed to ask Sirius if I could see his comb he kept with him at all times, and pulled Harry into a chair away from the table before trying to tame at least a little of his hair. "Gosh Harry did you toss and turn all night last night?" I asked trying to get a particularly stubborn knot out without hurting him.

He didn't answer my question, just winced.

When we finally managed to get to the train station, I had to go to the Prefects carriage with Ron and Hermione not surprised to find my brother sitting there with a Prefect badge pinned on his chest. "Emily!" He immediately grabbed my arm and pulled me into the seat beside him. "Where the bloody hellhave you been?"
I quickly wrenched my arm out of his grip. "That's none of your business Draco." I told him.

"The hell it isn't! I'm your brother!"

I glared at him. "Really? Because the brother I know wouldn't do something he didn't want to do just to make his father, who isn't that great of a father in the first place, happy."

He glared right back though I knew he was hurt. "It's not that simply Em and you know it."

"Yes it is Draco! I'm here! I'm fine aren't I? It is that simple!"

Suddenly someone cleared their throat loudly and I turned my attention to the Head Boy and Girl who were glaring at us. I glared right back but turned to face them as they gave out assignments.

As soon as the meeting was over I hurried out of the compartment practically running as I searched through the other doors trying to find Harry ignoring Pansy when she waved. Finally towards the end of the train I found him sitting Ginny, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood. They were quite an odd group to be sure. Harry smiled when I walked in and patted the seat next to him beside the window. I smiled back at him and joined him ignoring Ginny's intense glare of dislike as Harry wrapped an arm around my shoulder and I rested my head against his. "How did the meeting go?" Harry asked as I sighed.

"Guess who the other Slytherin prefect is?" I asked.

He thought about it for a moment before pulling me closer. "That sucks," He said.

I laughed without humor, "life tends to do that to me, make everything suck."

The door to the compartment opened and Ron and Hermione sat down next to Harry. "I'm starving," said Ron, stowing Pigwidgeon next to Hedwig, grabbing a Chocolate Frog from Harry.

"Well, there are two fifth-year prefects from each House," said Hermione, looking thoroughly disgusted. "Boy and girl from each."

"And guess who's a Slytherin prefect?" said Ron, still with his eyes closed.

"Malfoy," replied Harry at once.

"I just told him," I said not looking at them.

There was silence for a moment until Harry finally decided to change the subject.

"You're Emily Malfoy," Luna said suddenly peering at me from behind her upside down magazine.

I gave her a weird look. "I'm aware."

"You're in a compartment with a bunch of Gryffindors and a Ravenclaw."

I took my head off Harry's shoulder to stare at her. "I'm aware of that to, and I don't care what anyone says about that either. I want to sit with my boyfriend and his friends and no one's going to stop me from doing that."

I settled back against Harry's shoulder as Luna continued to give me a dreamy eyed look and Harry kissed the top of my head. After continuing to look at me for a moment she then turned her eyes to Hermione and Ron. "And you're Hermione Granger, and you're Ron Weasley. You took Padma Patil to the Ball."

"Yeah, I know I did," he said, looking mildly surprised.

"She didn't enjoy it very much," Luna informed him. "She doesn't think you treated her very well, because you wouldn't dance with her. I don't think I'd have minded," she added thoughtfully, "I don't like dancing very much."

She retreated behind The Quibbler again. Ron stared at the cover with his mouth hanging open for a few seconds, and then looked around at Ginny for some kind of explanation, but Ginny had stuffed her knuckles in her mouth to stop herself giggling. Ron shook his head, bemused, and then checked his watch.

"We're supposed to patrol the corridors every so often," he told Harry and Neville, "and we can give out punishments if people are misbehaving. I can't wait to get Crabbe and Goyle for something. . ."

"You're not supposed to abuse your position, Ron!" said Hermione sharply.

"Yeah, right, because Malfoy won't abuse it at all," said Ron sarcastically.

I really wished they would stop talking about him. I didn't want to think about my brother. Harry seemed to notice as I tensed and changed the subject. They continued talking for a while as I leaned my head against the window my hair covering my face as tears rolled down my cheek. I really did miss my brother. I know I made the right decision when I ran away, but I really wish he would have come with me. He's really not a bad guy. . . Well to me anyway.

Luna had just finished taking her magazine back from Harry when Hermione insulted her Dad when the door opened for a third time. I immediately felt Harry grip my hand tight and realized who it must be. "What?" Harry said aggressively, before Draco could open his mouth.

"Manners Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention," drawled Draco. "You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments."

"Yeah," said Harry, "but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone."

Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville laughed, and I squeezed Harry's hand warning him.

"Tell me, how does it feel being second-best to Weasley, Potter?" he asked.

Okay that was definitely out of line even for Draco. I wonder if he was like this all the time when I wasn't with him. Hermione seemed to be thinking alone the same lines as me. "Shut up, Malfoy," said Hermione sharply.

I had to admire that in the Gryffindor, she was not afraid to stand up for herself.

"I seem to have touched a nerve," said Malfoy, smirking. "Well, just watch yourself, Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out of line."

"Get out!" said Hermione, standing up.

"I'm not afraid of you Mudblood!"

Okay that was definitely enough I sat up quickly and pointed my wand at my brother. "There is no need to call her that Draco, get out."

Draco's eyes widened as he recognized me and he seemed too shocked to move. "Here! These are the people you went to! The Mudblood, the Blood Traitor and-" He looked down and caught sight of Harry and mine's joined hands. His glare became icy as he turned his gaze to Harry. "My Sister Potter! What did you do to her? I swear I'm going to-"

I flicked my wand at him and he blasted backwards against the edge of the train and I shut the door of the compartment with another flick. Draco's eyes met mine on the ground and I had never seen him look so upset. I broke our gaze and turned back to the window once again covering my face with my hair.

I felt Harry scoot closer to me and he started rubbing soothing circles on my hand.

"We'd all better change into our robes." Hermione said quietly some time later as we neared Hogsmeade.

When the train finally stopped I climbed out with Harry our hands linked ignoring all the staring as Harry's arm wrapped around my waist. "Where's Hagrid?" Harry asked and who I was happy to see was ignoring the looks we were getting as well.

"I don't know," said Ginny, "but we'd better get out of the way, we're blocking the door."

"Oh yeah. . ."

We got separated as we moved along the platform and when we finally made it to the carriages we decided to wait on Ron and Hermione, Harry finally pulled me aside. "You want to talk?"

That was something I loved about Harry. He didn't ask, "Are you all right?" like a normal guy would. He knew I wasn't all right and he wasn't going to force me to talk about it. I smiled at him and reached up to brush my thumb across his cheek. "Not tonight, maybe later but right now I'm just exhausted. Speaking of exhausted, have you been having nightmares again?"

He nodded, "that same one about the corridor. It's driving me insane."

I smiled at him, "you'll figure it out. I have faith in you."

Just then a group of Slytherin girls in my year walked by and shoved me so hard I would have fallen if Harry hadn't been there, and walked away laughing. Harry helped me stand up glaring at the girls. "You can sit with us at the Feast you know. I won't let anyone be mean to you."

"I'm fine," I said. "I'm not going to the Feast anyway. There's something I've got to do."

Harry gave me a confused look and opened his mouth to, I'm sure, ask me what I had to do, but Ron and Hermione came up then.

"Malfoy was being absolutely foul to a first year back there, I swear I'm going to report him, he's only had his badge three minutes and he's using it to bully people worse than ever. . . Come on; let's get a carriage together before they all fill up. . ." Hermione said heading to the nearest unoccupied coach. I started to follow her, but Harry stayed behind with Ron.

"What are those things, d'you reckon?" he asked Ron, nodding at the carriages.

"What things?"
"Those horse things."

"What horse things?" I asked Harry.

"The horse things pulling the carriages!" said Harry impatiently.

I gave Harry a worried look. The carriages always pulled themselves…

"What are you talking about?" Ron said.

"I'm talking about – look!" Harry grabbed Ron's arm and wheeled him about so that he was facing the front of the carriage. Ron looked around for whatever Harry was talking about and then looked right back at Harry.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?"

"At the – there, between the shafts! Harnessed to the coach! It's right there in front – Can't . . . can't you see them?"

"See what?"

"Can't you see what's pulling the carriages?" Harry asked looking at Ron and me.

"Are you feeling all right, Harry?" Ron asked looking concerned.

"I . . . yeah . . ."

"Shall we get in, then?" said Ron uncertainly.

"Yeah," said Harry. "Yeah, go on . . ."

"It's all right," said a dreamy voice from beside Harry as Ron vanished into the coach's dark interior. "You're not going mad or anything. I can see them too."

"Can you?" said Harry desperately, turning to Luna.

"Oh yes," said Luna, "I've been able to see them ever since my first day here. They've always pulled the carriages. Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am."

Smiling faintly, she climbed into the musty interior of the carriage after Ron.

Well that was definitely not reassuring.

A/N: Thank you all for your reviews I really appreciate them, but I need at least one review per chapter to update so please if you can spend some time it only takes five seconds to review. Please?

P.S. Can anybody else NOT WAIT for HP7 Part 1? I have been reading reviews and it sounds amazing. I have NEVER been more excited for a movie in my life.