A/N: Sorry for the delay - I started my new job and it's taking me some time to get used to it. You know, it's quite tiring. Anyway… I finally got to write Malfoy in this chapter, yay! Tell me what you think! :o)

Chapter 3. On the Hogwarts Express

The first day of term was interesting to say the least. The beginning of the day went by quite normally, considering the circumstances. We were carefully escorted to platform 9 ¾, our trolleys rattling under the weight of our trunks. Over on Ron's trolley Pigwidgeon was hooting happily in his cage whilst Hedwig shot him angry glares.

We said goodbye to Moody, Mum and Dad then climbed on the Hogwarts Express through the scurrying of other students. Hermione lead the search for an empty compartment whilst the rest of us struggled to get through the masses. I held on to Harry's hand so as not to get lost in the crowd. The only thing I hated about the start of term was the journey to Hogwarts. It was just so tedious. At that moment I lost Harry's hand as another group of students pushed past.

The train was beginning to move. If I just stayed in the corridor it would soon clear up and I could find a place to sit. I suspected the trio wouldn't want me interfering anyway. No, I would find Luna, I decided triumphantly.

Come to think about it, I hadn't heard from her all summer. I had always thought her kind of strange before last year, but I had to admit that she had really come into her own at the Department Of Mysteries. Now I missed her like mad.

Where is Harry? An annoying little voice in my head kept asking me.

Why had he left me anyway? If it had been purely an accident he would have backtracked and found me right here. Yet almost 10 minutes had passed with no sign of the offender. I crossed my arms as I felt the train reach a faster speed. The corridor was now clear. I was just about to start making my way down it when I heard a familiar voice behind me, and despite all my efforts, I could not repress the shiver that the induced.

"Ah… look who it is…" He drawled - "Sweet, little Weasley…"

If he was trying to get a rise out of me I would not give him that pleasure. I ignored him as he stepped a little closer. His breath on my neck unnerved me and for a moment I wondered if he had heard of my little infatuation with him. He was sure acting like it. I tried to keep Harry's face clear in my mind as I bit my lip. Then I remembered that I did not like Harry like that anymore.

"…Oh, come on Ginny… Just because you associate with mudblood's…and lets face it your family is not exactly the best sort… doesn't mean we can't be civil, now does it? I mean, I'm completely prepared to forget about your nasty Bat-bogies. Brush it all under the carpet, as they say…"

He was obviously expecting a slap. I would not yield to his wishes any more than he would to mine. I just turned coolly to find him rather closer to me than I'd hoped. This time he had no Crabbe and Goyle guarding him. He was alone. I shivered a little as I plunged my hand in my pocket to reach my wand.

"Go away, Malfoy." I said, my hand sweating a little as I clutched my wand, still hidden in my robes. I would not hesitate to use it on the swine if he got too close. But just what was too close for me?

"Be careful - " He touched his shiny prefect badge lightly, " - I might just dock some points for your mouth."

"You - "

"Careful…" He warned me again, his face twisting into an evil smile. "Anyway, as I was saying - "

"Leave her alone, Malfoy!"

Harry.

In an instant Malfoy's attention shifted from me to Harry, who was now standing a few feet behind me. I felt wary. This was bound to cause a fight and everyone would be in trouble again on our first day of school. I stepped back a little, reaching for Harry's arm. It was merely an attempt to keep him from hexing Malfoy to hell and back but Malfoy obviously took it the wrong way.

"Ah, Potter-The-Hero - to the rescue… " Malfoy muttered, his face now wiped clean of any emotion. Even the evil grin that had resided there a few minutes ago was gone. I thought he looked rather like I imagined a dead person would look. No expression and pale as a ghost… yet even so I could not help but to find him slightly attractive.

"Get lost Malfoy." Harry grabbed my wrist with his free arm and made to pull me away when Malfoy grabbed my shoulder.

"Now, Now… didn't that little talk we were just having have any effect on you?" He whispered loud enough for Harry to hear. It worked. Harry was hooked.

"What talk?" Harry cocked his head at me slightly as I rolled my eyes.

"About talking in a civilized manner." Malfoy answered earnestly. I was about to be sick. There was no way that Malfoy could be saying this. This was all just to get some sort of reaction from either Harry or myself.

"Come on Gin, let's go." Harry said at last, turning. He had finally cottoned on to what Malfoy was trying to do. He pulled me by my wrist and I made to turn but the Slytherin still had hold of my shoulder. Harry's grip tightened on my wrist as he noticed, and I winced. He was actually hurting me.

"Malfoy, I'm warning you…" He raised his wand maliciously. Malfoy glared first at Harry, then at me and for a fleeting moment thought I saw something other than sincere hate in his eyes. Then a sly smile appeared on his face and I was sure it had been just a figment of my imagination.

"So, tell me… does your brother know you are going out with Potter? I wouldn't imagine he'd be too pleased."

I was quite surprised. For a guy who seemingly tried to disguise his own feelings he was pretty good at reading other peoples thoughts. I had been thinking of what Ron would say if he found out Harry and I were having a 'thing'. Although, could you really call it that? We hadn't done anything - Harry had just repeated the little routine of stroking my hair until I fell asleep. It didn't mean we were really together, did it? And I didn't exactly feel like that about Harry anyway, did I? Harry soon answered my questions.

"We're not together, Malfoy. I'm looking after a friend, isn't that what friends are supposed to do? Oh, wait… you wouldn't know would you!" He said, gripping my wrist even tighter. I could tell the Slytherin was annoying him, but I was now beginning to lose feeling in my fingertips. Why was he doing this?

I made to pull my wrist away from Harry but he didn't seem to notice. I was going to have to kick him soon or something.

"Harry…" I started

"Looks like you're hurting her, Potter." Malfoy said. At least someone had noticed. Harry did not loosen his grip, much to my surprise, but made to pull me away again.

"Harry… ouch that…" I tried again but to no avail.

Hello, earth calling Harry…

"Potter… let her go you're hurting her." For perhaps the third time in a space of five minutes Malfoy had surprised me. He was now raising his wand at Harry. His voice was cool as ever, but his eyes were a blaze. He was not trying to help me, was he?

No, he's just looking for an excuse for a fight.

Harry let go of my wrist abruptly, and the feeling began to return to it again. He made to plunge at Malfoy but I was in the way.

"Get out of the way Ginny, he's asking for it!" Harry pushed me away and I stumbled but stepped in the way again as I saw both boys pointing their wand at one another. I faced Harry.

"Harry, leave it. He's just looking for an excuse for a fight. He's a prefect, you know you'll get into trouble and he won't." I tried to reason, but Harry wouldn't budge. Realizing defeat I turned to Malfoy.

"Malfoy, you do remember what happened to you at the end of last year?" I asked, imitating his trademark smirk. "We wouldn't want that to happen again now, would we? If you don't go, I'll fight you with Harry!" I warned him.

I did know a few really good hexes, and there was less chance of Harry getting hurt when there were two of us against the Slytherin. Still, I shivered as I clenched my wand tightly. It seemed, though, that the memory of his defeat at the end of the previous school year did not phase Malfoy at all.

He smiled slyly, and walked a little closer to me with his wand raised, until the tip of it touched my chest. I would not give him the satisfaction of reacting in any way. He stared at me for a while, neither of us willing to give in, then his eyes narrowed, effectively masking his emotions.

"It would be very unwise… " He whispered, the tip of his wand still on me. Something about his whole being unnerved me to the point of wanting to run away. I stepped back a little, towards Harry and felt his hand on my arm, which reassured me immensely, as long as he wouldn't start squeezing it again. I pointed my wand at Malfoy defiantly.

"I would fight you anytime. It's your last chance." I said, punctuating my words as if I was talking to a five-year-old.

Then something happened that I did not expect. He actually smiled. Not a sly, smug or evil smile, but a real smile. He looked almost… happy.

Malfoy, happy?

"I'll remember that, Weasley." He said. The smile even reached his eyes, I was sure of it. He looked triumphant. He lowered his wand and turned on his heels, walking away.

Malfoy left behind a very angry Harry and an even more confused me.

XXXX

The rest of the journey was spent in almost utter silence - at least for Harry's part and mine. Ron and Hermione were so busy arguing about some prefect duties, that they didn't even notice our quietness.

As I watched Hermione pacing the small length of our compartment, red faced and waving her hands like a lunatic, I contemplated the meaning of Malfoy's behavior. Why had he acted so strange? It was as if he had tried to be civil.

After the events of last year I didn't think Malfoy would ever even talk to any of us. But to me it seemed that he had actually been making an effort, in his own little way. Well, at least until Harry had showed up.

And what was it with Harry? I rubbed my wrist absentmindedly. He could really be quite violent sometimes. His 'Expelliarmus' I could still handle, as I had attacked him first… but had he realized how hard he'd been gripping my wrist? Malfoy had noticed. He'd told Harry to leave me alone. Even a small gesture like that was quite surprising from someone like Malfoy, I thought, reflecting. Maybe he was really trying to change now that the secret of Voldemort and the Death Eaters was out. I shrugged the thought away as soon as it entered my brain - the blonde Slytherin hated mudbloods. Surely he would do anything to rid the world of them.

At a loss, I let out a small sigh.

Harry was acting strange, too. Maybe it was the loss of Sirius and going back to his horrible Aunt and Uncles, or perhaps it was that awful Grimmauld Place along with all the painful memories of his godfather … but he had definitely changed. He seemed slightly more thoughtful and quiet when he was with the group. With me he had never once spoken of Sirius, even though I had tried to bring it up occasionally. Mum had told me that talking was the best way to help with loss, and I thoroughly believed it true. Harry, however did not want to talk. He had even snapped at me once when I had tried to talk to him about the Department Of Mysteries.

Our little meeting with Malfoy had also proved his change. I mean, what had Malfoy really done to provoke him at that particular time? He had only suggested that I was with Harry, which Harry had promptly denied. Harry wasn't ashamed of me was he?

I rubbed my wrist again; wondering how long it would be before Harry would apologize. It wasn't that serious, but I was sure the two red marks left by his death-grip would leave some healthy (or unhealthy) bruises. I scowled at him, willing him to notice I was not happy with him. Next to me he yawned and leant his head back closing his eyes. His arms were crossed but I noted that he still had hold of his wand in one hand.

Typical.

XXXX

After the sorting that night I retired early. I felt too tired for the noise and commotion of the common room, and it was getting too late to go to the library. So I decided to start unpacking.

It would seem strange sleeping in a room without Harry, after doing so for almost two weeks. But at least I wasn't completely alone, and at least Hogwarts felt more safe and welcoming than Grimmauld Place. I was just beginning to unpack my clothes and books, when I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in!" I chirped and a moment later one familiar bushy-haired girl poked her head round the door.

"Hey, Ginny! Are you ok? We've been wondering where you got to." Hermione sounded flushed. No doubt she'd just been arguing with Ron again.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired." I lied. In fact, I was a little angry with Harry, as he had quite succeeded in ignoring me since the encounter with Malfoy on the train.

"Oh. Well… I've got some interesting news." Hermione lowered her voice excitedly.

" Malfoy has moved out of home and is having nothing to do with his parents anymore. Something to do with the Death Eaters and their escape. His father had apparently pushed him too far after he got out of Azkaban and Malfoy ran away. Dumbledore organized him a place to stay for the remainder of the holidays."

"How did you hear that?" I was in awe. Hermione was never one for gossip. She pointed at her badge and smiled.

"I heard him talking to one of the Slytherin prefects before we had our meeting this morning. I didn't want to tell you in front of Harry though."

I got it. She knew. Who had she heard it from? Yes, I had been infatuated with Malfoy last year, but that didn't mean I was going to jump into his arms as soon as he decided against the Death Eaters. It didn't change his personality, and it didn't change the fact that he was a Slytherin. And it didn't change the fact that he probably didn't even like me!

"Hermione…" I started.

"Look, Ginny, Harry just told me about what happened on the train. I just want you to know that even though he hurt you he was only trying to help you. By getting you away from Malfoy, Ginny, he was trying to protect you." Hermione was talking extremely fast and somehow I knew that she was soon going to get to it. The crunch.

"So, I just wanted to say that even though these things are happening with Malfoy… even though he may seem a little nicer…He's still the same old Malfoy. H-he knows that you like him, Ginny." She finished uncertainly, flushing even more furiously, as if it was the first time she had spoken in such detail about Malfoy.

I didn't understand. I had only told Lisa and Michelle - two of my closest friends. So how comes the news had now reached Hermione… and even Draco Malfoy? If the matter hadn't been so serious, the thought of the Slytherin hearing about it would have been quite comical. An image of a very smug Malfoy suddenly popped into my head, and I couldn't help the small smile forming on my lips.

That would explain the way he'd behaved on the train. Suddenly I thought of something.

"Hermione… how do you know?" I frowned, wondering faintly if she owned a pair of 'extendable ears'.

"I… umm… I overheard someone telling someone else in the library. So, it's true then? You like Malfoy?"

"Liked." I corrected. There was no way I was going to admit that I still found him intriguing. Hermione seemed to sigh of relief.

"But it still doesn't change the fact that Malfoy knows… If he keeps taunting you Ginny…" Hermione looked rather panicky.

"It's ok Hermione. It's not like I can't handle myself. I'm just worried about someone telling Harry and Ron." The thought of this made my insides squirm.

"Come on Gin, you know as well as I do that they would never believe Malfoy. And don't worry, I won't tell them." Hermione said reassuringly.

"I'm not worried about you…" I moped, suddenly feeling quite depressed. "I'm thinking about the rest of the school."

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Thank you for all the encouraging reviews that I have received o far! xxx

Sara