AN: well this is different from the first draft

also, I'm becoming slightly worried that this is going to become seventy chapters or something and surpass My Immortal XD

and sorry for not updating, I've been very busy!

The sliding doors alerted Aurum to the presence of Draco who stood in the doorway with a serious mood. He grimaced at the empty seat across from his friend.

"I can't believe You-Know-Who's really back." Draco sighed.

"Grandma's super worried. I'm being sent to a safe house this summer." Aurum held her rooster in her lap, petting him subconsciously.

"Well, hopefully I will be too. I can't imagine staying at home with ex-Death Eaters. What if Aurors came to investigate? I wouldn't want to be a part of that." Draco furrowed his brow.

As the train was being loaded, Aurum couldn't help but notice Crabbe shove Draco slightly on his way past as if in envy. Draco turned around angrily, but seeing who it was, he backed off. Instead of pursuing him, Draco sat next to Aurum with a scoff.

"They've gone to the dark side for sure." Draco noted.

"I wish we could just go back to the days when we just hung out in the common room, by the lake, or at Hogsmeade." Aurum leaned against Draco.

"I do too, but it seems the world is just trying to tear us apart." Draco grumbled. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be."

Aurum moved away from him, shaking her head. "You shouldn't say things like that. We were meant to all be equal. We can't help that we became friends. You can't help that you like Hermione. We can't help but be equal."

"You're right." Draco conceded.

"I hope Gregory is happy with his new friends," Aurum said.

"I hope Crabbe's happy with his." Draco rolled his eyes.

"You've never told me how you all met, by the way." Aurum leaned against Draco again. He smiled, remembering their first meeting.

"Yeah, well, it wasn't all that spectacular. Our parents were the real friends. They set us up to be friends too when we were shopping at Diagon Alley for the first time. Then, we found each other on the train." Draco beamed. "I liked Goyle alright, but Crabbe was slightly more on top of things. He had a charm to him and he was clever. Funny, too. I knew at that point that since our humor and thinking was similar, we'd be friends for a while. Sad that wasn't the case." Draco pouted. "I—I really liked him..."

"I'm sorry." Aurum put her arm around his waist. He returned the gesture.

"It's okay. Maybe we were doomed to be this way." Draco bit his lip.

"We'll get them back eventually." Aurum assured him. "We'll be friends once more."

The sliding doors opened again, this time, it was Gregory. He held a dismal expression and appeared frustrated that he had to be here, but the more Aurum looked, it seemed more like pained.

Gregory stared out of the window as he said, "I just want you to know, Aura, before I leave you, that I would do anything for you. I love you and I would die for you. I won't be around anymore because I don't want to see you in pain."

Draco glared at Gregory, obviously upset he was taking the time out of his life just to say this. It seemed to him that it was meant to specifically hurt Aurum.

"I'm not a coward," Gregory said before leaving.

Aurum looked Draco up and down. Draco wrapped his arms around her, nestling her in whatever warmth he had to give.

"Say, Aurum," Draco began, pausing for Aurum's reply.

"Yes?" her eyes started filling with dread for what he was about to ask, but nothing was necessarily off-limits.

"Was anyone else there when You-Know-Who came back? Besides Harry, Argentum, and Pettigrew." Draco shuffled around to face her.

Aurum looked up, pretending to be recalling something, but really just avoiding his wavering stare. She didn't wish to tell him that his father was there along with Crabbe and Goyle's because it wasn't any of her business to tell anybody else's secrets. She would prefer them tell it on their own time rather than have to explain herself what she couldn't possibly know.

"Not that I'm aware." Aurum managed to slip out, trying her hardest not to outright lie. She was unsuccessful in this attempt.

Yet, Draco sat back with a contented smile and she couldn't help but feel as though her little white lie had done its job.

"Good," he said.

AN: this one is intentionally short

We continue with Order of the Phoenix.

and I'm probably going to start calling ship names just the old fashioned way like Dracaurum or something like that. Well, the other ship names are fine, it's just Princessfrogshipping sounds a little off :/