[A/N- Chapter three! I'm typing this up because 1. I am an insomniac and 2. I am bored and everyone I know is busy today. Enjoy, and please review!!
Thanks to all of those who reviewed: akaSailorMars, Nichole Malfoy, Eve Granger, write more.
Special thanks to wipd cream and HP! Thank you for your encouragement and your comments. I agree with your comments- the Draco shown in the books is only a shield for what he really is.
Now, on with the story!!]
The train thundered along, making Draco feel ill. He leaned his head against a window and played mindlessly with the Prefect badge pinned to his chest. It had only been an hour since he had left King's Cross, but he already missed his mother. The thought of her all alone with his father for so long made him feel unbelievably guilty, even though his father would probably do the same thing if he was there. But now, no one would be there to comfort her.
Something big was going on, which would consequently mean more stress on his father. At the station, Lucius had become extremely interested in a large black dog that accompanied Potter. From what Draco had deduced from the whispers exchanged between his father, Mr. Crabbe, Mr. Goyle, and Mr. Boot, that dog was none other than Sirius Black. No doubt, that would come into play with whatever malicious plans they were creating.
Nausea set in as Draco thought bitterly about Black's stupidity. The man was obviously no idiot; he had been the first to ever break out of Azkaban. He must know that he had a mark on his back. He had a secret disguise that none of the Death Eaters had known about, and he had wasted it just for Potter.
What a special boy he is. Men risk their lives just to put him on a bloody train, Draco thought nastily.
Thinking about Potter made Draco feel particularly hateful towards him. Standing up, he said, "Come on, Crabbe, Goyle. Let's go pay a visit to our special friend Potter." They bumbled along behind him, chuckling stupidly.
Draco led the way down the corridor, checking each compartment for him. Finally, he found him, along with a whole pack of his admirers. Perfect, he thought. Draco slid the door open with a smirk and considered everyone sitting there one by one. There was a dazed looking blond girl, who did not look up from the magazine she was reading upside down. Next to her sat Longbottom, who still looked frightened at the sight of Draco and his friends, despite the glare he was attempting. An especially nasty sneer spread across Draco's face as he looked at Potter, Weasley, and Granger, all of whom were glowering back at him. He turned his eyes to the last member of the compartment.
The breath in Draco's mouth seemed to freeze for a moment. It was her! How could I have possibly missed her? She looked different than she had in June, a little taller, her red hair a little longer. She stared right back at him, with an unreadable expression on her face. Everyone else was looking upon him in anger, even the weird blond one, but as always, she just looked.
Draco forced his eyes away from her when Potter spoke. "What do you want?" he barked. Words started to come out of Draco's mouth. He said something prosaic about being made prefect while Potter had not been. Potter retorted by calling him a git.
All of Potter's cronies laughed loudly at this, to Draco's displeasure. Even she was, although her giggle seemed a little too forced, Draco noticed.
He's winning, he thought. I need to get out while I can still hold my head up.
When the laughter faltered, Draco turned to Potter, smirking arrogantly. "Well, if I were you, I'd be dogging my footsteps." He turned swiftly and started back towards his compartment.
Once there, he returned to his window seat and feigned sleep. He was not in the mood for the usual replay of events that usually occurred between himself, Crabbe, and Goyle after they had encountered Potter or one of his friends.
Something had changed in the way he looked at the girl. Ever since that day, in the classroom, Draco had felt something whenever they locked eyes, an odd sort of connection. They held an unlikely common bond, and although they had not spoken since that day, he knew that she understood. Whenever her brothers or Potter were fighting with him, she had always just stood there, staring in that odd way she did. But today, when he looked at her, something strange had happened. He had felt that connection, but also something else.
No! he thought fiercely. Don't even think it!
The thought still came, and stayed with Draco for the rest of the train ride.
I actually care about a Weasley.