Chapter Six

Draco boarded the train along with the others. Draco didn't feel any sadness at not being able to sit with Crabbe and Goyle. The year before they had had a falling out and they hadn't talked since. Draco had spent the rest of last year away from everyone else, escaping the Hogwarts grounds and going into the forest. What really got Draco was everyone coming up to say hello and relate their summer holidays.

He hadn't had so many people coming up to him smiling and chatting he didn't know how to react. He was separated from Ron, Harry and Hermione and was directed towards another compartment by a group of sixth years.

"So how was your summer, Drake?" An unrecognizable face asked.

Draco looked up at the girl, not knowing what to say.

"No need to ask him." Another person started. "His summers are always great. Harry Potter stays with them."

The conversation then turned to Harry and Draco leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, wishing they were already at Hogwarts.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the train, Ginny was sitting quietly in another compartment reading some of the texts for that year. If she was going to be a seventh year, she'd have to work extra hard, seeing as she was only at a sixth year level. She was going through her potions book when the compartment opened and in stepped Crabbe and Goyle. They both looked evilly at the two other people sitting across from Ginny and they immediately left.

"Well," Crabbe began. "If it isn't Virginia."

They both sat across from her, their enormous bodies filling up most of the seat.

"Aren't you going to say 'Hi?'" Goyle asked. "Or do you still think you're too good for us?"

Ginny ran through her memories of last year, trying to find justifiable cause for these two goons to hate the Malfoy heir. She did remember seeing Draco alone a lot and Crabbe and Goyle looking surlyier than usual. But she had no idea how those circumstances came to be.

"Maybe to her we're just two flys on the wall." Crabbe suggested.

Ginny closed her eyes, trying to calm her beating heart. "Ok," She thought to herself. "You are not Ginny Weasley, you're Virginia Malfoy. You're rich, powerful, and you don't have to take crap from anyone." Ginny repeated this over and over until a new since of courage began to grow.

"Maybe we should loosen her tongue for her." The two began laughing, but stopped suddenly when they saw the glare Ginny was giving them.

"You touch me and you'll wish you had never stepped foot on this train." Ginny said, a little shakily, but it was enough to stop the smiles on their faces.

"Oh yeah, what are you going to do?"

"I guess you'll just have to find out. I spent a good time this summer studying some excellent curses that I would just love to try out." Ginny brought her wand out from the fold of her cloak.

"You're bluffing." Goyle said, but he didn't look so sure.

Ginny raised her wand, but Crabbe and Goyle stood up and left. "She's a selfish brat anyway, let's go." She heard them say as they walked down the isle.

~*~*~

Ginny was so distraught at knowing she didn't have any real friends, that she couldn't enjoy the beginning of term feast. She hadn't heard a world Dumbledore said, and she barely ate two bites. At the end of the feast she followed the other Slytherin's towards their common room. She looked around, not knowing where to go. She followed a few girls up a winding stair case and along a narrow passage were several doors. Some of them had the names of the years and others had student's names. She looked at all the doors until she came to one that had her name on it, written in silver.

She opened the door and found herself in a circular room with a vaulted roof that ended in a point. The four poster bed had emerald green bed sheets and hanging from the posts were silver drapes that fluttered in the wind coming from the open window next to it. There was a dresser and a wardrobe along with full length mirror. At the end of the bed was her trunk and across from her was another door.

Curious, Ginny walked towards it and opened it. She was greeted by a thick darkness. She pulled out her wand and said lumos and the light from her wand showed her the bathroom. There was a circular tub in the middle that was empty at present. Towels were hanging on the wall to the right and to he left were the toilets.

"Wow." Ginny arched her eyebrows. "Wait 'till my friends hear about this."

On the other side of the castle, in the Gryffindor common room sat Draco. He was sorely disappointed in finding out he'd have to share a room with four other sixth years, along with his bathroom. He was sitting in front of the fire, staring at the dancing flames until someone came up and sat next to him.

"Hey, Drake."

Draco looked up at Harry then rolled his eyes.

"Look, I know you must be going through a lot, being the youngest and all. If you ever need someone to talk to I'm here for you." Harry said.

"Look, I don't need a pep talk from you." Draco said.

"I know you don't, Drake, but if ever you need someone, remember that, ok?"

Draco nodded his head and watched Harry get up an walk towards the boys' dorms. A strange feeling came over Draco. No one had ever offered friendship to Draco unless there were strings attached. If he didn't know any better he'd think Harry was after something.

"Gosh, I can tell this life is gonna suck until I find a way out of here."


(A/N: Hey guys, no I have not died or moved or been in a terrible accident that would prevent me from getting online. I've been in school and doing church stuff and dating. WOO, it's a crazy life! I hope you enjoy this latest chapter and I want you to know I'm trying my hardes to update.

Oh yeah, AOL was doing this thing where you send in a video explaining why you should be a "red carpet host" for the COS premier in NY and I entered it and if I am in the top five finalists I'm asking you guys to vote for me! That is of course if you're wonderful video's aren't in the top five!

Thanks a whole bunch! love y'all!)