All of the Slytherins were in one compartment for the train ride home, which meant that Leo and Marisa had to studiously ignore each other for the entire trip and could exchange no more than glances.

They exchanged Chocolate Frogs as well. Draco finally got hold of an Albus Dumbledore card, although he did make a snide remark about Muggle-lovers not deserving to be on the cards. They also exchanged their exam results: everyone had passed with good marks and Leo was pleased to find he'd come second to Hermione Granger.

Marisa was curled up in a corner, humming to herself as she nibbled at a frog. She looked tense and unhappy. Leo didn't like to say anything but he was quite worried about her.

"Hasn't been a bad year, has it?" he said to the group at large.

"No," replied Theo, "not bad at all. Shame about the Cup, but I suppose we'll just have to work harder next year."

"Yeah, if we work hard enough Dumbledore can do what he likes and we'll still win." Leo slipped his third chocolate frog into his mouth. He should probably stop there or he'd end up on a sugar high.

"We can't work much harder than we did this year," complained Tracey. "I was exhausted by the end of exams!"

"Well," said Draco, "I'm going to be Slytherin Seeker next year so I'll earn more points than you all put together."

Marisa shot him a glare and said coldly "I think not."

"Oh, you do, do you? What makes you think that?"

"I will be Seeker," said Marisa, "because I am the best flyer." She stared at him calmly, as if daring him to object.

As usual during confrontation between Marisa and Draco, Leo didn't know whose side to take. He wanted to support Marisa, but he knew that would have serious consequences. On the other hand, he simply couldn't help Draco against his closest ally.

So, also as usual, he remained neutral and said nothing. He knew that approach wouldn't work indefinitely but it was good enough for now.

"You're the best flyer?" asked Draco, outraged. "You've barely been on a broom in your life!"

Leo objected, but silently. It wasn't his choice to reveal that Marisa had actually been flying more or less every week for the past nine months.

"What?" she said flatly. "You mean like Potter, who's won two Quidditch matches for his house?"

"That's different," spat Draco.

"How so?" Marisa enquired, seeming almost genuinely interested.

"I – it just is!"

"That sounds suspiciously as if you can't think of any reason why it's different," replied Marisa.

Despite himself, Leo found himself grinning. He reached for another Frog to hide his amusement. One more couldn't hurt.

"Mudblood," said Draco, giving Marisa a glare.

"In other words," she replied, smiling, "I win." She flicked her Chocolate Frog wrapper at him. "And I've told you before. Don't call me that." Her eyes glittered. Everyone could read the unspoken threat they contained.

Draco was thoroughly beaten. "Whatever," he snapped. "Anyone want Wendelin the Weird?"

Blaise Zabini raised his hand. "I've been looking for her for ages!" he said triumphantly. "I have about ten of Cliodna if you need her."

Draco didn't, but Tracey Davis did, so they agreed a three-way swap in which Draco got Valentine Hawksworth from Tracey. Marisa offered to trade Pansy Parkinson her Rowena Ravenclaw card for Uric the Oddball but was declined.

And so the ride continued.

Several hours later, the train arrived at King's Cross Station. Leo had lost two rounds of Exploding Snap and Marisa had won Solitaire four times and was slightly sick after eating too many sweets.

"Come on," said Draco, grabbing his trunk and starting to heave it out of the compartment. "Let's go."

Leo hung back a little, though, until only himself and Marisa remained.

"Well," he said awkwardly, "see you next year. I hope you do become Seeker. You'll be great at it."

"Thanks," replied Marisa, smiling as she heaved her trunk out onto the platform. "Am I still allowed to use magic? Because levitating this trunk doesn't seem like a bad idea."

"I… don't actually know. I think so. Just do it if you like."

Marisa nodded. "Wingardium Leviosa," she said, pointing her wand at the trunk. It lifted a few millimetres off the ground. "See you next year!" she called, waving her free hand.

"Bye," said Leo as he dragged his own trunk towards where Draco was waiting with his parents.