Chapter Three: The Train Ride to Hogwarts

There are several dialogue quotes taken from JK Rowling's Chamber of Secrets in this book. This is to convey the same story she wrote, but from another character's POV. The quotes taken directly from the book have three quotation marks (instead of two) around them to signify she wrote them and that I am citing them. Because I am transforming pieces of her work into something new this falls under the Fair Use Act. Additionally, JK Rowling has stated that she is okay with noncommercial fan fiction. All direct quotes, the Harry Potter storyline, and the characters all belong to JK Rowling.

The last week or so of summer vacation, Draco spent every waking moment on his brand new Nimbus 2001. It was truly the best broom that money could buy. Not even all of the professional quidditch players had managed to get their hands on one at this point. Because his father had placed the broom on hold before it was even released, it had cost them a thousand galleons. It was not uncommon for a family of wizards to live on a salary of only three thousand galleons a year. However, money truly meant nothing to the Malfoy family, and Draco was used to lavish gifts.

The broom itself was truly amazing, like nothing else Draco had ridden before. He practiced quidditch all day, training for the house team, and took joy rides at night. Truth be told, even if he hadn't loved flying, Draco would have done anything to get out of the stone cold, mundane manor.

Now, on September 1st, 1994, Draco descended down the grand staircase with his trunk, owl, and broomstick. Narcissa was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for him with tears already in her eyes. "Mum, we've been through this before," Draco moaned, in the sort of way that young boys do, detesting emotional confrontation.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it," she whispered back, wrapping him in a warm hug.

Draco and his father said goodbye with a handshake, before Draco made his way to the fireplace, and shouted King's Cross very, very clearly. Draco checked the clock as he made his way to the platform, 9:45 am... early as usual. He pushed his way through the muggles, who ever so often shot an odd look at his owl.

When Draco was absolutely sure that no one was looking, he walked straight through the barrier between platforms nine and ten, as he had before. Just like last year, he was the first one to get on the train. He chose a compartment for him and his friends to occupy, taking one of the window seats.

Draco was enjoying his peace, when not ten minutes later, a familiar bushy haired girl with big front teeth opened the sliding door, and sat down across from him. "Granger?" Draco scoffed. "What are you doing here? Where are your miserable friends?"

"Oh they won't be here until a minute or two before departure," Hermione said, just a tad condescendingly.

"That doesn't mean you can come bother me," Draco scoffed. "I guess your used to poking your big head around where it's not wanted."

"I wanted to thank you," said Hermione. Draco rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. "I also wanted to tell you that I never told anyone... about how comforted me on Halloween night."

"There was nothing to tell," Draco insisted, coldly.

"I still want to be your friend." Hermione pressed. "I think you're a good person, and Ron and Harry will come along."

"What makes you think I would want to be friends with blood traitors and muggle borns?" Draco spit through clenched teeth.

"Because despite how you were raised, and what people have taught you, I know that you are smart enough to know that blood purity doesn't matter. I know that because... I think we're quite similar actually," said Hermione.

For just a moment, Draco considered it. It would be so nice to just relax, and enjoy school. In a perfect world there would be no games, no hierarchy, no legacies... Life could be fun, and not so serious all the time. But this wasn't a perfect world, and even at age twelve Draco knew that. His parents would never forgive him, and living life without a family was not something any twelve year old would choose to do.

"You don't know me," Draco said, and despite the harshness of his words, he did not raise his voice at her. "How dare you compare me, a descendent of the Black family, to someone by the likes of you. I thought you were supposed to be smart, so how many times will it take for this to sink into your head? I don't want to be your friend. I don't want to be seen with you. I don't like you."

Hermione didn't respond for a moment, but she eventually looked at him and said, "If that was really the truth, then why are you still here?"

Maybe Hermione hoped that by catching Draco in such a contradiction, he would admit she was right and stay. However, Draco took that as his cue to leave, and exited the compartment. He walked several minutes down the train before picking a new compartment to wait for his friends in.

At around 10:30, Blaise, Daphne, and Pansy made their way to Draco's compartment on the train. "It feels like it has been ages," Pansy exclaimed excitedly, looking mostly at Draco any time she spoke.

"I'm so glad to be away from my sister, Astoria," Daphne groaned. "She won't stop complaining about how she turns eleven in a couple weeks, and how unfair it is that she can't come till next year because she just missed the cut off.

"You think you have it bad?" Asked Blaise. "Ever since the funeral I have spent my summer break with my mother and her new boyfriend, Naevius Veridian. His a fine guy... but just annoying really."

"Draco, is something wrong? You've barely said a word," Pansy asked worriedly.

This seemed to snap Draco out of his thoughts. "Hm? Oh- uh sorry. I was just thinking... I actually wanted to ask you guys something. Have you ever heard of the Chamber os Secrets?"

Blaise let out a laugh, "You haven't mate? It's only the most well known Hogwarts legend."

"Well maybe that's why I haven't heard of it then," Draco spit back. "I don't bother myself with fictional things."

"Well that's the thing," Pansy shuddered. "No one knows if it's actually real or fictional."

"Oh come on Pans," Daphne said, turning to her. "You don't really believe-"

Draco cut her off. "Will someone please just tell me?"

"Alright, alright" said Blaise. "Once upon a time-"

"Blaise, cut the crap," Draco interjected.

"So moody today!" Said Blaise. "If you want me to tell you, you're going to have to shut up and stop acting like a twat."

Draco huffed, but didn't argue with his friend. "Once upon a time," Blaise continued. "The four founders of Gryffindor were arguing about whether or not muggle borns should be accepted to Hogwarts. Seeing as Salazar was the only one who cared, he was out-voted, and it was determined that any witch or wizard would be accepted. Some believe that Salazar Slytherin made a chamber, hidden in the school, that only he and his heir could open. The legend is that one day his heir will return and unleash the monster from the chamber onto the muggle born students."

Pansy was visibly shaken by hearing the story again, but Daphne rolled her eyes. "It's just a rumor," she insisted. "A nasty rumor created by Gryffindors to make us Slytherins out to be horrible people."

Blaise shrugged. "I mean... There are bad people in every house. I agree with you that people are always trying to discredit Slytherins...but it could be true.

"What do you think, Draco?" Pansy asked, looking at him with wide eyes.

"It's like Daphne said, Pans. It's just a rumor," said Draco, but his smile did not reach his eyes.

The four Slytherins chatted on and on, as if summer had never happened, and they were together all the time they had been apart. Soon the worries about the Chamber of Secrets were long forgotten as they gorged themselves on sweets that they bought from the trolly.

Suddenly there was a loud knock on their compartment door, and then it swung open with a loud bang. Crabbe and Goyle stood before them wide eyed and out of breath.

"What the hell-" Blaise started, but before he could get another word in, Crabbe cut him off.

"Harry Potter and his pet Weasley are not on the train to Hogwarts!" He shouted.

"Oh... okay?" Daphne answered completely confused.

"Guess he decided he was too good for the wizarding world?" Draco asked. He was happy... but mostly just confused at this strange situation.

"Oh no," Goyle responded, shaking his head vigorously. "They are coming to Hogwarts."

"Out with it Goyle!" Pansy shrieked, overcome by the excitement.

Goyle pointed out the window behind them. All four Slytherins pressed their noses to the glass to see a vintage looking car in the distance flying through the sky. After just a few moments, it flew up higher into the clouds and out of sight.

"No way," Draco scoffed.

"Way," Crabbe argued. "People have been spotting them right and left. The Weasley twins swear they had a flying car at home, just like that one."

"That's so dangerous," Daphne muttered.

"And admittedly... pretty brilliant," Blaise added.

Draco shot him a look, but said only, "Brilliant or not, this time he's going to be expelled."

Everyone groaned. "Not this again Draco. I thought we were past this." Daphne said, hopelessly.

"Guys think about it!" Draco argued. "He is risking the exposure of our world. This time he will be expelled for sure. You'll see."

Draco continued to believe that this was the time the adults would see Harry for the rule breaker he was, and expel him for once and for all... And Draco wanted to be sure everyone else knew this as well. Draco talked about Harry's future expulsion through the rest of the train ride, he talked about it through the sorting ceremony, the feast, and their whole walk to their dorms. The only thing that shut Draco up for the night was Blaise chucking a book at his head and threatening to hex him if he did not shut the hell up. Draco went to bed dreaming about how Harry Potter would be gone by the next morning.