Anya Vincent

"Goodbye, boys," Lucius called from Platform 9 3/4. The two waved goodbye and settled into their compartment. Crabbe and Goyle sat across from them, waiting impatiently for the trolley to come with food.

"Is your father going to come this year?" Crabbe asked. Draco looked at him suspiciously. He never asked questions.

"I don't know, Crabbe. Why do you ask?"

"My father wanted to know," he replied shortly and checked again for the trolley.

"Why would Father come?" Harry asked Draco. Draco shrugged.

"He's in the Ministry. The whole thing with He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named, is driving everyone batty. They might need him to watch the school. Or something. Do you think Snape will fail me now?" Draco asked. Harry shrugged then remembered Lucius's conversation with Snape three weeks before.

"Do you know anything about Snape? Aside from the fact that he's been a teacher longer than I've been alive?" Harry asked. It was Draco's turn to shrug.

"I might. What do you know?" Draco asked, but Harry wasn't fooled. Draco was pretending to know something just to get Harry to tell him. He had been duped in the past, but those days were behind him.

"Nothing, or I wouldn't have asked," Harry retorted. Maybe he could get Draco to talk. Draco took the bait.

"Alright, I know that he used to be married and that they had a daughter. She was named after him. Serena or something like that. Dad says she's really pretty. But his wife died because of something he did and now his daughter hates him. Father told me she goes the Durmstrang, but Mother told me that she's been going to Hogwarts for all her years. Just under a different name," he explained.

"Well, I knew the part about his wife and his daughter hating him, but thanks anyway," Harry told him.

"You little," Draco began.

"Anything off the trolley?" the woman with the trolley asked. Crabbe and Goyle cheered and grabbed as much as they could buy. Harry and Draco shook their heads in unison.

Harry watched the people go back and forth between the compartments and laugh as they found friends. He zoned away after a while and almost fell asleep. But a pretty face broke his concentration. Anya Vincent. Harry didn't know how she had gotten in Slytherin, she was gorgeous, and smart, and braver than most. She helped Harry solve his riddles for the Cup last year and had even been taken to be with the mermaids in the Second Task. She had even given him the gillyweed that had saved his life. Aside from Draco, she was Harry's other best friend. She didn't own an owl, she had a falcon like Draco, so she couldn't send messages from Germany where she was visiting. He had missed her company.

"Hiya, Harry," she said and walked in. She had let her dark hair grow out to below her shoulders and her blue eyes sparkled. She gave him a hug and Harry invited her to sit with them. Draco made a funny noise in his throat and continued reading Harry's illegal spellbook for the Firebolt. She shook her head.

"Why not, Anya? You don't have another boyfriend, right?" Harry asked, teasing.

"Another, Harry? I don't even have one! It seems that no one wants me," she sighed, playfully. Harry knew this was a cue, but he couldn't say anything. The words seemed caught in his throat. She waited a few more seconds then, with a wave, left to find other friends.

"Good job there, lady-killer," Draco taunted. Harry punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"You ask her then," he challenged.

"Maybe I will."

"NO! Draco, no. I'll do it!" Harry cried, panic in his voice. Draco had grown taller, much taller than his mother, in fact. He had mischievous gleam in his eye that girls seemed to find attractive. He could have any Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff girl he wanted. All he needed to do was ask. Harry knew he would ask Anya. She might not go with him, but he would ask. Harry didn't want to take the chance.

"Next Hogsmeade visit, ask her," Draco ordered, "Or I will." Harry agreed as Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

"Shut up, pigs," Harry told them and they complied.