The Train Ride Fifth Year

Harry soon found himself on the train back to Hogwarts. Draco had, in fact, been disowned after his display at the Ministry. His mother sent him one final letter, stating how disgusting she thought it was that he would rather befriend a blood traitor than continue on in the Malfoy name. Harry had given his friend space, but he knew the boy hurt because of what his mother said.

It was now a few days later, and Draco seemed a lot better. Harry smiled over at his friend and god-brother.

"What's got you so happy, Dragon?" Harry asked. Draco smirked. He turned to Hermione, who was reading a book on horcruxes, oblivious to the young man standing in front of her. He cleared his throat. Hermione looked up.

"Yes, Draco? Is there something you would like?" She asked. Draco smiled.

"Miss Granger, you are by far the most beautiful girl on this train. You are smart, you are courageous, and you are kind. I would be most blessed if you would consider going with me to our first Hogsmeade Weekend on a date."

Harry smirked and snorted in disbelief. At least it had not taken Draco six years to begin to make a move on Hermione. Harry looked happily at his friend, who was now smiling and blushing. He enjoyed the fact she had gotten her teeth fixed last year during the tournament. She smiled ever so beautifully now. He thought the two of them would make a great pair.

"I would love to, Draco. What should I wear on a date?"

Draco smirked. "Something nice."

Severys popped his head out of Draco's sleeve and slithered over to Hermione, waiting for her to shower affection on him. Hermione giggled. She looked at Harry when the snake hissed.

"He said that he's glad you said yes. He was getting tired of practicing with Draco himself." Harry translated, not looking up from his newly trace-free wand. Draco blushed and punched Harry. "Hey! Don't kill the messenger!"

Draco snorted.

"You are not the innocent in this." Harry smirked. "At least now you know how it's done, Potter. Better make a move soon."

"Maybe I will," he muttered, very interested in Dragon at the moment. Dragon panted and barked in agreement with Draco. Harry tilted his head. "Traitor."

He moved over to Luna and took the magazine out of her hand. She looked up.

"Yes, Harry?"

"Luna, would you do me the honor of going to Hogsmeade?" Harry asked simply. He paused. "With me, of course. I assumed you would be going to Hogsmeade."

Luna nodded and smiled. "Of course, Harry."

Harry gave her back the magazine and moved back over to Draco and Hermione.

"See, and I didn't need hours of practice."

Draco rolled his eyes, but blushed all the same.

"So, Draco, have you decided what you're doing for your living situation, now that you can't go back to Malfoy Manor?" Hermione asked.

Draco sighed.

"Well, I can't very well live with Uncle Sev, no matter how much I would love to. His position would be compromised the moment he knowingly took my side over my father's. He had to publicly disown me as a godson last week at a Death Eater meeting. It just would not be a good idea to put him in that kind of danger."

"You could always stay with me," Hermione offered.

Draco smirked.

"As much as I'd love that, the rest of the wizarding world is still old-fashioned. Even if we had rooms on different wings of the house, they would assume the worst of you. I could not do that to you. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Hermione blushed and giggled.

"You could always live with Sirius. He is your cousin, after all," Harry suggested. Draco shook his head.

"If he was found not guilty, definitely. However, he could not fight for custody until then. I overheard something about Aunt Andy suing for custody. I'll probably end up there."

Harry smiled.

"Well, have you met your Aunt Andy yet?"

Draco glared. "She'll be better than your aunt."

Harry held up his hands in surrender.

"First of all, that is not hard to be, just saying. Second of all, no harm meant by that statement, Dragon."

Draco sighed and placed his hands over his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Harry. This has just been really hard and I can't even really meet with Uncle Sev in public anymore. He has to be cruel to us all in class. He seemed pretty frustrated with how tied his hands are right now last time I saw him."

Harry smiled lopsidedly.

"I know, Dragon. He explained this all to me, too. He's both our godfather and he can't acknowledge that. He is frustrated. Sirius is frustrated, as well. Things will get better, though. Just think, this year we are going to lock your father away! It might free up Severus a little bit." Hermione swatted his arm. "Ow! Hey! I was just saying…"

"That we would lock up Lucius Malfoy, yes I heard. Harry, be a little more considerate. It still is Draco's father!"

Harry huffed.

"He disowned him publicly. I should know, I was there."

Draco rolled his eyes.

"Neither of you is helping right now." Both looked over to him apologetically. "I'll get over it. I have my brother and best friend with me. We will all be fine."

"Have you at least heard from your aunt?" Hermione asked.

Draco smirked.

"As a matter of fact, I have." Draco pulled out a piece of parchment. He cleared his throat. "Would you like to hear it?"

Hermione giggled and nodded. Harry plucked it from his friend's hand.

"Allow me, good sir." Harry cleared his throat. "My dearest Draco," Harry stopped. "Hm, interesting, she hasn't even met you yet. How does she know you're her dearest?" Draco threw one of the carriage cushions at him. "Okay, okay. My dearest Draco, it reads.

"I know you may not know me. I have heard from Dora that you two have met, and I am deeply grateful to hear that your views do not echo your father and mother. I have heard of your plight from my dear daughter. I know how hard it is to be thrown out of your family. I have heard that you do not have a place to stay. If you would like, you are more than welcome to come stay with us, here. It is not much, but Ted and I both feel that a young man such as yourself should not be thrown out on the streets. I have heard rumors of you living with our cousin, who shall not be named for his own safety. If that is true, and you enjoy it there, I will not force you to leave. However, Ted and I have taken the necessary steps to gain custody of you so that the Department of Child Welfare does not come in and force you into an orphanage.

"I know this letter is not as lighthearted as a letter from an aunt should be. I wish we could have gotten to know each other before all this. Dora seems to think you're a fine young man. She also told me you are close friends with young Harry. I am so glad that you have found your own way and not taken the road your parents planned out for you. I am sure it was against their wishes for you to befriend the young boy, but Dora tells me great things about him and I know that he can help you, as well. Feel free to keep in touch. We are both thinking of you. Love, Aunt Andy." Harry smiled. "See, Dragon, you could always go and live with Andromeda. She seems to really care for you. At least, she's heard a lot about you."

Draco smirked.

"Can I have my letter back, please?"

Harry rolled his eyes and gave the letter back. Right then, the train stopped.

"Ready for another year?" Hermione asked Harry.

Harry shrugged.

"As ready as I'll ever be." He got up and motioned for Dragon to follow. They all disembarked from the train and headed off to another year at Hogwarts.