-/Approximately 10:45 am, Kings Cross Station, September 1st/-
Draco tapped his foot impatiently and leaned out from the line to see how close he and his parents were to platform 9 3/4. Most of the magical folk around Draco were disheveled and looked half asleep. His parents were not an exception with their unbrushed hair, slept-in clothes, and dazed expressions. Meanwhile, Draco already wore his school robes and had taken the time to freshen up, this was due to how early the boy had risen that morning. While Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy had spent last evening entertaining important and rich guests, their son was preparing for the next day.
The sluggish line moved only every few minutes as each family in front of the Malfoys discreetly walked through the brick wall one at a time. Draco was about to complain loudly about the wait when he heard a loud popping noise beside him. The Malfoy's house-elf peeked around Draco's robe to look up at his masters. Mr. Malfoy frowned so that his drunken face looked rather sickly and said angrily, "What are you doing here elf? Apparating in full view of muggles are you now?" The house-elf seemed to shrink to half his size under the glare. "S- sorry Master Malfoy, Dobby didn't think of the c-consequences." the house-elf said in his annoyingly squeaky voice. Dracos's father winced and turned away, apparently not sober enough to argue with the little elf.
Dobby looked up at Draco and tugged at his black school robe. When the boy looked down with his usual disgusted frown, Dobby reached something from inside his pillow sheet. "Young Master Malfoy forgot something in his room" the elf tried his best to whisper "Dobby thought you would need it before leaving for school." Now it was Draco's turn to be annoyed, What could I have forgotten? He thought I could've sworn I packed everything. The family in front of the Malfoys moved up a few places and when the line stalled, Draco kneeled to the little elf's height, still making sure Dobby was hidden from view. Draco looked the elf right in his large eyes "What did I leave? Come on you stupid house-elf, give it to me." Dobby unclenched his fist and let a folded paper fall into Draco's open hand.
Draco unfolded the paper on his knee then immediately closed it again before grabbing the front of Dobby's pillowcase clothing. "Where did you find this, elf?" he said angrily "Where?" The little elf trembled under the young boy's glare and mumbled something incoherent. Draco was about to slug him but the house-elf was inadvertently saved by a cane bonking into his large head. Holding onto the cane like it was the only thing keeping her standing, Mrs. Malfoy looked down at the boy and house-elf. She tiredly motioned for her son to stand and dusted invisible particles from his robes. "What were you doing on the floor, Draco? And conversing with the help no less" Draco didn't answer his mother as he was far too busy glaring daggers at Dobby, who was looking away guiltily. But there was no time to yell at the house-elf because the Malfoy's were next in line to pass through the wall.
Still frustrated, the pale-faced boy stomped until he was right in front of the wall. He turned to his parents and was surprised to not find them behind him but standing adjacent to the wall. "Aren't you coming with me to the platform?" Draco asked, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice. His father shook his head so his blond ponytail swung back and forth. "Son, we have early appointments and your mother would like to get more sleep." he patted Dracos shoulder in what he believed was a fatherly gesture. "Good luck this year, Crabb and Goyle's sons are expecting you to meet them on the train." Draco could hardly conceal the disgust on his face, what his father meant was that those boys would watch him and report back to Mr. Malfoy if his son did anything wrong. Still scowling, Draco let his mother kiss his cheek and then watched as Dobby apparated away with a pop, and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy walked away into the crowd and disappeared from view. Draco clenched his fist angrily and discovered the paper still there. He shoves it deep into a pocket before walking through the wall.
It was no easy matter for Draco to get on the Hogwarts Express. Most students were already on the train and waving through the windows at their relatives who stood blocking any entrances. After shoving his trunk onto a small portly wizard dressed in red, Draco pushed his way through parents and grandparents until he finally entered a train car near the end of the lineup. This car was bustling with students of all ages talking and laughing with each other. Draco squeezed between two young witches excitedly talking about all the classes they wanted to take, and his mind wandered to other things besides school. Like if Harry had made it on the train or if his stupid muggle relatives had even bothered to drop him off, and how he needed to remember to keep very personal things hidden away from annoying house-elves.
While walking past crowded compartments, Draco heard snippets of whispered conversation about a Potter being on the train. He didn't really care, but his father certainly would, as Mr. Malfoy was oddly obsessed with any information regarding the Boy Who Lived. Draco was deep in thought when he saw a familiar head of messy black hair in the compartment ahead. Through the thin window, he could see Harry talking to a freckled, red-haired boy. Harry looked similar from when Draco last saw him, maybe a bit more skinny and longer hair that now hung into the boy's green eyes. An unfamiliar feeling of excitement filled Draco, Harry was here and the past month hadn't been fake. He quickly pushed past an older student in the narrow hall before sliding open the door to Harry's compartment with a little more force than strictly necessary.
Later, Draco would reprimand himself for behaving so impulsively, and what a sight he was, bursting into that small compartment with nothing but a breathless greeting. He was saved from more embarrassment by Harry's face lighting up with a very bright smile. "D! Wow, you're here!" Draco didn't say anything for a moment partly because he was still catching his breath, but mostly because he was surprised that the great Draco Malfoy didn't know what to say. Harry didn't seem to notice Draco's odd silence, the excited boy just smiled and looked across to a still shell shocked Ron Weasley. "Ron, this is-'' Harry paused and then said in his impersonation of Draco, a very haughty and overdramatized tone, "-The Draco Malfoy of the Malfoy family." This absurd introduction broke Draco out of his stupor, he straightened and crossed his arms, "I can engage in pleasantries myself, thank you, Harry." Draco looked Ron up and down. "Especially, when it's with someone that's hardly a pureblood himself."
Ron colored, Draco's desired reaction, but a look at Harry's face made Draco's triumph dwindle. The boy wizard seemed startled and angry, and when his eyes met Draco's, they were filled with hurt. Harry spoke with a tone of voice so stern that it surprised even himself. "Draco, how could you even think to say that?" Draco looked around nervously before stepping out of the compartment. "Harry, can I have a word? Somewhere else?" Harry stood "Brilliant idea, Draco. Lead the way." They exited the compartment, Harry waved to Ron as he left but the other boy didn't seem to notice as he was busy staring out the window in complete shock.