On the Train

On September 1st, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy arrived at platform 9 and ¾ at 10:00 am sharp. Draco found an empty compartment and had the house elves store his luggage then said goodbye to his mother. He searched the platform for Harry but found no trace of him. It was still early so he waited. At twenty after ten Crabbe and Goyle showed up, joining Draco in his compartment. Draco had told both of them about meeting the famous Harry Potter. Naturally, the two boys were properly impressed.

After another half hour Draco was bored. He searched the platform for Harry once more but still there was no sign. When he got back to his compartment he started a quick game of exploding snap, but he found that he couldn't concentrate.

At exactly 11:00 am the train to Hogwarts left the station. Draco knew Harry had to be on the train now so he started to search, leaving Crabbe and Goyle behind. He started at one end of the train, peeking into every compartment until finally he found Harry, at the other end of the train of course. Harry wasn't alone either. A red headed boy sat across from him. The other seats were covered with candies and chocolates and treats of every kind.

"What's this? A party? And no one invited me?" Draco asked of Harry, feigning hurt.

"Draco! Come sit down," Harry said with a smile, clearing a space beside him.

Draco sat, picking up a Liquorice Wand as he did. The red head stared at Draco, none to friendly either.

"Who's this? A new friend?" Draco asked. He stared back at the red-head, smirking.

Harry smiled, nodding. "This is Ron Weasley. He's just starting this year too," Harry informed Draco. "Ron, this is Draco Malfoy."

"A Weasley, hm? I've heard of you from my father," Draco frowned in thought, "I think I met your brother or someone working at Gringotts."

Ron blinked. "Yea uh…that would be Bill," Ron continued staring warily. Harry looked back and forth between them, confused. Draco sighed.

"Let me guess," Draco said. "Your father has told you nasty things about my family and all the rotten stuff we do to our enemies, yes?"

Ron blinked again. "Something like that," he said

"Well, I would tell you not to believe everything you hear, except it happens to be true," Ron blanched. "Beware!" Draco cackled at him, wiggling his fingers in the red-head's direction.

"Drake, you're scaring him," Harry admonished, smiling again. "Ron, don't take him seriously. You were about to show me that spell."

"What spell is that?" Draco asked, easily accepting the change in topic.

"He's going to turn his rat Scabbers yellow," Harry said.

"Why would you want to turn a rat yellow?" Draco asked cynically. Harry shrugged. "Well go ahead," Draco waved a hand imperically. Ron raised his wand, still frowning at Draco doubtfully and was about to do the spell when the compartment door slid open. A round-faced boy and a bushy haired girl were standing in the doorway. The girl was already wearing her Hogwarts robes.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," the girl said in a bossy tone.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it," Said Ron, but she wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then," She sat down beside him. Ron was taken aback. Draco smirked at Ron's discomfort.

"Er—all right," Ron cleared his throat.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,

Turn this stupid fat rat yellow."

He waved his wand, but nothing happened. The rat stayed grey and asleep. Draco snickered.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. She then went on a whole speech about herself, Hogwarts and learning the set books off by heart, ending with "--I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

"I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.

"Draco Malfoy, at your service," Draco said politely.

"Harry Potter," said Harry.

"Are you really?" said Hermione excitedly. "I know all about you, of course—I got a few extra books for background reading and you're in at least three of them."

"Am I?" said Harry, dazed.

"Goodness, didn't you know? If it were me I would find out all I could. Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You three had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon," She left taking the toadless boy with her.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron. He tossed his wand on the seat beside him. "Stupid spell—George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."

"George? You have two brothers?" Draco asked.

"Five, actually. And a little sister," Ron sighed. "You could say I have a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have left—Bill was head boy and Charlie was Quidditch captain. Percy is a prefect. Fred and George mess around, but they still get good marks and everyone likes them. Everyone expects me to do as well as them, but if I do, so what? Nothing I have is really mine either. I've got Bill's robes, Charlie's wand and Percy's old rat."

"What houses were your brothers in?" asked Harry.

"Gryffindor, all of them," said Ron. "Mum and Dad were in it too."

"You might be in Slytherin," Draco said, thinking out loud.

"What! Why would I be in Slytherin! Why would I want to be in Slytherin?" Ron exclaimed, outraged.

Draco scowled, "Because, like you said, you have a lot to live up to. With all of your brothers doing well you have to be ambitious to even be noticed. If you're ambitious, Slytherin is the place to be."

Ron was still indignant though he seemed to be considering Draco's words.

"And just because a few people who happened to be really nasty came from Slytherin doesn't mean it's all bad," Draco added with a frown.

"Yeah right. Like You-know-who was in Slytherin," Ron countered sharply.

"Like I said, a few people have given Slytherin a bad name," Draco threw back at him.

"Guys, stop it," Harry interrupted, "We don't know what houses we'll be in, and it won't matter till we get there so lets get along and finish off these candies, ok? Truce?"

"I don't know what you mean, Harry. We were just having a friendly discussion here," Draco said calmly.

"You were?"

"We were?"

"Yes we were. What would you call it?"

"Um… arguing?" ventured Harry.

"If we were arguing he would be unconscious on the floor," Draco said happily.

"Wouldn't that be fighting?" Harry asked as Ron spluttered.

"Nope. If we were fighting, he'd be dead," Draco grinned.

Ron gave Draco an incredulous look.

"You're crazy," Ron said.

"Yes, I know," Draco said with a bland smile.

Harry rolled his eyes at him and again suggested they finish the sweets. There was silence in the compartment for a few minutes, while everyone munched on treats. Finally Ron spoke up,

"What's your Quidditch team Harry?"

"Er—I don't know any," Harry confessed.

"What!" Ron was dumbfounded. "I say the Chuddly Canons are the best—"

"The Cannons!" Draco said in utter disbelief. "You must be joking. They didn't even make the World Cup, and they haven't for a long time…"

Draco and Ron continued arguing over the best teams while Harry watched. Neither would give in and both seemed to be enjoying the argument, so Harry said nothing. He had nothing to say, really. He watched the other two, swinging his head from one to the other as if he were at a tennis match. Eventually, Harry noticed the darkening of the sky outside; the train was slowing down as well. A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."