Chapter 1 - A World Without Change
The midday sun shone through the open window, illuminating a dark floor and casting much needed light into a sombre looking chamber. In the canopied bed to the far end of the room lay a young boy of fifteen with platinum blond hair. In his deep sleep he seemed an angel carved of ivory, oblivious to the light that was slowly infiltrating the darkness of his haven where he slept so peacefully.
A knock on the door quickly roused him from his dreams and he sat up, half asleep and rubbing at his eyes. When they finally opened to stare unfocusedly around the room, they revealed a piercing stare of greyish- blue. He slowly looked towards the door.
"What do you want? State your purpose for waking me!"
The door opened to reveal a man with long silver blond hair. Crossing the room quickly, he looked down at the boy bemusedly and crossed his arms across his chest with an air of satisfaction.
"Am I disturbing you Draco? Pardon me for intruding on what I hope were good dreams but unless you rouse yourself from your sleepy state, you WILL miss the train to Hogwarts and we all know what a shame that would be."
The boy slowly stretched and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. Looking up at the imposing figure towering above him, he gave a slight smirk.
"I'll be ready soon Father. Wouldn't want to keep old Dumbledore waiting now would we."
Lucius Malfoy smiled quickly at his son before spinning on his heel and heading for the door which promptly closed after him. Draco slowly dragged himself out of the bed and made his way to the mirror. Brushing his fingers through his straight hair and pushing a stray lock out of his eyes, he smirked at the reflection he made and just as quickly frowned. Turning away and grabbing a fresh robe from his closet, he made his way to the bathroom as the door slammed shut behind him.
*****
"Hermione GRANGER! You better have that chest down here in a couple of minutes or you are leaving without it!"
A young girl with messy brown hair and warm brown eyes looked towards her bedroom door nervously while fiddling with the contents of the enormous trunk on the floor in front of her.
"Almost done Daddy! I just need to finish packing my books. I want to make sure that I have everything."
For the sixth time that morning, she rummaged through the trunk. Once done, she quickly surveyed her general area. Satisfied that she hadn't forgotten anything she got up and walked over to her desk. Grabbing the wand lying on top of it, she turned to the trunk in the middle of her bedroom floor.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The trunk slowly levitated, swaying this way and that with the breeze. Hermione stared at it with an unblinking eye.
"Mobiliarbus!"
Holding her wand in front of her, Hermione headed for the door with the trunk floating ahead of her. Never breaking eye contact with the trunk, she carefully made her way down the stairs and out the front door to where her father waited to load her trunk into the car. As she deposited the trunk on the ground for her father to load, she smiled to herself. Ah... another year at Hogwarts with Ron and Harry!
*****
"ALL ABOARD!"
The conductor's voice rang through the air clearly as a bell clanged away, announcing the departure of the Hogwarts express. Many students were saying last minute goodbyes to family and friends in the seconds before they would have to climb aboard for another year at school. In the middle of all the hustle, Draco pushed his way through the gathering crowds towards the train. He knew that he had precious little time to spare and all his thoughts were on making it to the door...
"Watch out!"
The feminine cry rang in his ears and Draco barely had time to swerve in his attempts to avoid the cat that had run in front of his trolley. As he turned sharply, his trunk slid from its support and clamoured to the floor. As it struck the pavement sharply, the buckles slid open and out tumbled a wide variety of books and clothing.
"Crookshanks!"
A young brunette ran towards the trolley and scooped up her cat, cradling it gently and checking it for any bruises or broken bones. The cat meowed contentedly and snuggled into her embrace, seemingly unaware of the mayhem he had caused.
As people gathered to help collect the scattered belongings, the girl turned, red-faced, towards Draco.
*****
"Oh no"
The thought echoed through Hermione's mind as she turned to face the boy who had almost hit her cat.
"Oh no. Not him... not Malfoy..."
Biting down on her lip and attempting an apologetic smile, she lifted her eyes slowly to meet his. The icy eyes chilled her to core and her smile slipped as she fought to summon in herself the courage associated with Griffindor. Forcing herself to look grateful and fearless, she stared back at him.
"Thank you Draco," she said softly.
The boy looked down at her with utter contempt and twisted his face into a sardonic smile.
"What are you thanking ME for Mudblood?" he sneered at her, "If I had known that it was YOUR cat, I wouldn't have swerved!"
Hermione stared at him in hurt and disbelief as he turned his back on her to finish re-strapping his trunk. Then, with tears rising in her eyes, she gathered what remained of her pride and fled with Crookshanks to the safety of the train where Harry and Ron would be waiting to welcome her with open arms.
*****
"Drat it! Drat it all!"
Draco followed the departing girl with his eyes and watched her board the train. Only then did he finally turn away to replace his trunk on the trolley. He had just managed to settle everything into place when a sound alerted him to the fact that the train was pulling out of the station. Swearing under his breath and grabbing a hold of the trolley bars, Draco made a mad dash for the doors of the train. Just when he thought that it was all in vain and that he had most certainly missed the train, it stopped.
"What in the - "
His question was cut short by the sudden appearance of the conductor at the back doors.
"Well now young Mr. Malfoy, sir... You almost didn't make it! Lucky for you someone was nice enough to inform us that you were here!"
Dropping down to the platform, he made his way over to where Draco was standing. Lifting the trunk, he walked back to the train and hoisted it up onto the little balcony outside the doors before climbing back up himself. Draco followed apprehensively and climbed on board where he then thanked the conductor for stopping. The conductor nodded and was just walking away when he was hesitantly called back.
"If I may inquire, who exactly informed you that I was still on the platform?"
The conductor smiled at him.
"A Miss Granger, sir. She said that it was her fault that you almost missed the train. You should really thank her, not me."
The conductor then headed down the aisle and vanished through the doors at the other end of the train cart, leaving Draco staring after him in silent thought.
*****
Hermione slept through most of the journey, only waking occasionally to stare out over this forest, or that lake. Usually the passing scenery kept her occupied for hours but Malfoy's outburst this morning had definitely put a damper on her spirits.
MUDBLOOD...
The word echoed through her brain and she felt the tears starting to rise up in her eyes once more. Beside her, she could hear Ron and Harry chattering away about Quidditch. She hadn't yet told them about the encounter with Draco. All it would have done is upset them and started a fight which is the last thing anyone needed considering the mess the world was in right now, what with Voldemort on the loose and Cedric Diggory dead. After boarding the train she'd left her trunk under her seat and gone to the bathroom to wipe her eyes. When she was heading back to find Harry and Ron, she'd happened to notice Draco running for the train. Much as she hated him, she knew that his missing the train would weigh on her conscience, so she kindly asked the conductor to stop for him before making her way back to her seat. Fortunately, no one had noticed so she didn't need to worry about Draco seeking her out.
"Hermione?"
Harry's voice intruded on her thoughts and she turned to him quickly and smiled, noticing that Ron was no longer sitting across from them. She knew that her eyes must be slightly red and teary, but the fact that she had been sleeping would easily explain the symptoms. However, Harry didn't even seem to notice the tears and asked instead whether she was feeling alright.
"I'm fine Harry," she responded easily, smiling a little, "Just a bit tired. I was packing until late into the night yesterday and I guess it just wore me down a little."
The answer seemed to satisfy him and he patted her arm softly. Excusing himself to go use the washroom and meet Ron at the snack cart, he opened the door and exited, letting it slide shut behind him... and leaving her alone with her thoughts.
*****
Draco looked at his face in the mirror and scowled back at his reflection. He'd been hiding in the washroom for an hour now, trying to avoid Granger at any cost. Why had she asked the conductor to stop? He sure as hell wouldn't have, not for her.
He turned away and slowly opened the door, relieved to see that she was nowhere in sight. Walking as quickly as possible, he wound his way back to his compartment and shut the door behind him. Crabbe and Goyle were out, probably at the snack cart, so he sat down by himself and studied the scenery they were passing by. The forest looked beautiful at this time of year. The seasons were just beginning to merge and everywhere you looked there were the flowers and berries of summer mixing with the red leaves, yellow leaves, and orange leaves of autumn. There was still the odd green tree, refusing to change or give in to the passing of time, standing tall and still in all its glory but even that tree would change sooner or later. It was inevitable.
Draco stared down at his hands. Hands that were so much like his father's. His mother had told him that... "You have your father's hands Draco." Everything about him was so much like his father. He couldn't escape that reality. The similarities between father and son were just too noticeable. Everyone looked at him and saw Lucius - after all, he was just another Malfoy.
"Well at least I'm not a muggle-loving Weasley."
Somehow, the thought didn't comfort him the way it used to.
The midday sun shone through the open window, illuminating a dark floor and casting much needed light into a sombre looking chamber. In the canopied bed to the far end of the room lay a young boy of fifteen with platinum blond hair. In his deep sleep he seemed an angel carved of ivory, oblivious to the light that was slowly infiltrating the darkness of his haven where he slept so peacefully.
A knock on the door quickly roused him from his dreams and he sat up, half asleep and rubbing at his eyes. When they finally opened to stare unfocusedly around the room, they revealed a piercing stare of greyish- blue. He slowly looked towards the door.
"What do you want? State your purpose for waking me!"
The door opened to reveal a man with long silver blond hair. Crossing the room quickly, he looked down at the boy bemusedly and crossed his arms across his chest with an air of satisfaction.
"Am I disturbing you Draco? Pardon me for intruding on what I hope were good dreams but unless you rouse yourself from your sleepy state, you WILL miss the train to Hogwarts and we all know what a shame that would be."
The boy slowly stretched and threw his legs over the edge of the bed. Looking up at the imposing figure towering above him, he gave a slight smirk.
"I'll be ready soon Father. Wouldn't want to keep old Dumbledore waiting now would we."
Lucius Malfoy smiled quickly at his son before spinning on his heel and heading for the door which promptly closed after him. Draco slowly dragged himself out of the bed and made his way to the mirror. Brushing his fingers through his straight hair and pushing a stray lock out of his eyes, he smirked at the reflection he made and just as quickly frowned. Turning away and grabbing a fresh robe from his closet, he made his way to the bathroom as the door slammed shut behind him.
*****
"Hermione GRANGER! You better have that chest down here in a couple of minutes or you are leaving without it!"
A young girl with messy brown hair and warm brown eyes looked towards her bedroom door nervously while fiddling with the contents of the enormous trunk on the floor in front of her.
"Almost done Daddy! I just need to finish packing my books. I want to make sure that I have everything."
For the sixth time that morning, she rummaged through the trunk. Once done, she quickly surveyed her general area. Satisfied that she hadn't forgotten anything she got up and walked over to her desk. Grabbing the wand lying on top of it, she turned to the trunk in the middle of her bedroom floor.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The trunk slowly levitated, swaying this way and that with the breeze. Hermione stared at it with an unblinking eye.
"Mobiliarbus!"
Holding her wand in front of her, Hermione headed for the door with the trunk floating ahead of her. Never breaking eye contact with the trunk, she carefully made her way down the stairs and out the front door to where her father waited to load her trunk into the car. As she deposited the trunk on the ground for her father to load, she smiled to herself. Ah... another year at Hogwarts with Ron and Harry!
*****
"ALL ABOARD!"
The conductor's voice rang through the air clearly as a bell clanged away, announcing the departure of the Hogwarts express. Many students were saying last minute goodbyes to family and friends in the seconds before they would have to climb aboard for another year at school. In the middle of all the hustle, Draco pushed his way through the gathering crowds towards the train. He knew that he had precious little time to spare and all his thoughts were on making it to the door...
"Watch out!"
The feminine cry rang in his ears and Draco barely had time to swerve in his attempts to avoid the cat that had run in front of his trolley. As he turned sharply, his trunk slid from its support and clamoured to the floor. As it struck the pavement sharply, the buckles slid open and out tumbled a wide variety of books and clothing.
"Crookshanks!"
A young brunette ran towards the trolley and scooped up her cat, cradling it gently and checking it for any bruises or broken bones. The cat meowed contentedly and snuggled into her embrace, seemingly unaware of the mayhem he had caused.
As people gathered to help collect the scattered belongings, the girl turned, red-faced, towards Draco.
*****
"Oh no"
The thought echoed through Hermione's mind as she turned to face the boy who had almost hit her cat.
"Oh no. Not him... not Malfoy..."
Biting down on her lip and attempting an apologetic smile, she lifted her eyes slowly to meet his. The icy eyes chilled her to core and her smile slipped as she fought to summon in herself the courage associated with Griffindor. Forcing herself to look grateful and fearless, she stared back at him.
"Thank you Draco," she said softly.
The boy looked down at her with utter contempt and twisted his face into a sardonic smile.
"What are you thanking ME for Mudblood?" he sneered at her, "If I had known that it was YOUR cat, I wouldn't have swerved!"
Hermione stared at him in hurt and disbelief as he turned his back on her to finish re-strapping his trunk. Then, with tears rising in her eyes, she gathered what remained of her pride and fled with Crookshanks to the safety of the train where Harry and Ron would be waiting to welcome her with open arms.
*****
"Drat it! Drat it all!"
Draco followed the departing girl with his eyes and watched her board the train. Only then did he finally turn away to replace his trunk on the trolley. He had just managed to settle everything into place when a sound alerted him to the fact that the train was pulling out of the station. Swearing under his breath and grabbing a hold of the trolley bars, Draco made a mad dash for the doors of the train. Just when he thought that it was all in vain and that he had most certainly missed the train, it stopped.
"What in the - "
His question was cut short by the sudden appearance of the conductor at the back doors.
"Well now young Mr. Malfoy, sir... You almost didn't make it! Lucky for you someone was nice enough to inform us that you were here!"
Dropping down to the platform, he made his way over to where Draco was standing. Lifting the trunk, he walked back to the train and hoisted it up onto the little balcony outside the doors before climbing back up himself. Draco followed apprehensively and climbed on board where he then thanked the conductor for stopping. The conductor nodded and was just walking away when he was hesitantly called back.
"If I may inquire, who exactly informed you that I was still on the platform?"
The conductor smiled at him.
"A Miss Granger, sir. She said that it was her fault that you almost missed the train. You should really thank her, not me."
The conductor then headed down the aisle and vanished through the doors at the other end of the train cart, leaving Draco staring after him in silent thought.
*****
Hermione slept through most of the journey, only waking occasionally to stare out over this forest, or that lake. Usually the passing scenery kept her occupied for hours but Malfoy's outburst this morning had definitely put a damper on her spirits.
MUDBLOOD...
The word echoed through her brain and she felt the tears starting to rise up in her eyes once more. Beside her, she could hear Ron and Harry chattering away about Quidditch. She hadn't yet told them about the encounter with Draco. All it would have done is upset them and started a fight which is the last thing anyone needed considering the mess the world was in right now, what with Voldemort on the loose and Cedric Diggory dead. After boarding the train she'd left her trunk under her seat and gone to the bathroom to wipe her eyes. When she was heading back to find Harry and Ron, she'd happened to notice Draco running for the train. Much as she hated him, she knew that his missing the train would weigh on her conscience, so she kindly asked the conductor to stop for him before making her way back to her seat. Fortunately, no one had noticed so she didn't need to worry about Draco seeking her out.
"Hermione?"
Harry's voice intruded on her thoughts and she turned to him quickly and smiled, noticing that Ron was no longer sitting across from them. She knew that her eyes must be slightly red and teary, but the fact that she had been sleeping would easily explain the symptoms. However, Harry didn't even seem to notice the tears and asked instead whether she was feeling alright.
"I'm fine Harry," she responded easily, smiling a little, "Just a bit tired. I was packing until late into the night yesterday and I guess it just wore me down a little."
The answer seemed to satisfy him and he patted her arm softly. Excusing himself to go use the washroom and meet Ron at the snack cart, he opened the door and exited, letting it slide shut behind him... and leaving her alone with her thoughts.
*****
Draco looked at his face in the mirror and scowled back at his reflection. He'd been hiding in the washroom for an hour now, trying to avoid Granger at any cost. Why had she asked the conductor to stop? He sure as hell wouldn't have, not for her.
He turned away and slowly opened the door, relieved to see that she was nowhere in sight. Walking as quickly as possible, he wound his way back to his compartment and shut the door behind him. Crabbe and Goyle were out, probably at the snack cart, so he sat down by himself and studied the scenery they were passing by. The forest looked beautiful at this time of year. The seasons were just beginning to merge and everywhere you looked there were the flowers and berries of summer mixing with the red leaves, yellow leaves, and orange leaves of autumn. There was still the odd green tree, refusing to change or give in to the passing of time, standing tall and still in all its glory but even that tree would change sooner or later. It was inevitable.
Draco stared down at his hands. Hands that were so much like his father's. His mother had told him that... "You have your father's hands Draco." Everything about him was so much like his father. He couldn't escape that reality. The similarities between father and son were just too noticeable. Everyone looked at him and saw Lucius - after all, he was just another Malfoy.
"Well at least I'm not a muggle-loving Weasley."
Somehow, the thought didn't comfort him the way it used to.
