Chapter 2: Nikolas
Wand in hand, I opened the door. Standing, with his back to me, was the one person I had hoped to never see again, the one person who could ruin the life I had here at Hogwarts.
"Hello, Invidia," he said without turning around.
"How did you know it was me?" I whispered. Every thought I had of my responsibilities as Head-Girl flew out of my head. Every happy memory of Hogwarts was forgotten. The Hermione I had become gave way to the Invidia I used to be.
"I always know you," he replied in a soft voice. He continued to gaze out the window at the crowd of Hogwarts students.
Seeing him was a complete shock. I couldn't think of anything to say, all I could do was stare at his back, remembering the little things that had attracted me to him so long ago, the things that I had tried to forget – like the way his thick auburn hair hid streaks of gold and copper and had a way of curling when he let it air-dry, the way his beautiful hazel eyes would go from copper-brown to gold to green, depending on his mood. As I stood there, remembering, he turned around and I saw the permanent dimple in his right cheek and the scar along his jaw where I had cut him in a fit of anger. He walked towards me, stopping when he was within reach.
"Nikolas . . ." Being this close to him made me nervous and scared. He was the cause of so much happiness and pain. "Nikolas, what are you doing here?"
"Invidia . . ." he whispered as he reached out to me. I stood there, trembling as he caressed my right left cheek, drawing his thumb across my lips. "Molto tempo è passato, il mio cuore.(1)"
Hearing the Italian, I snapped out of the daze that Nikolas had put me in, and stepped back, slightly raising the wand I still held in my hand. I could see the hurt in his eyes, but refused to fall under again. He put his arm down and started to say something, but was interrupted by a crude laugh.
I spun around, heart pounding.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?" Draco Malfoy laughed, eyes glinting. "I see you've meet the resident Mudblood, Sesso." I tensed, raising my wand. "Now, now, Granger. Mustn't give our new student a bad impression of Hogwarts' Head-Girl." Overwhelmed by everything that has happened, I pushed by Malfoy and ran out.
I ran to my compartment just in time for the tears to fall. I couldn't believe everything that was happening. First, finding out that I would have to share a dorm with Draco Malfoy, and then seeing Nikolas and reliving everything. What else could happen?
:Breathe: I told myself. :Just breathe. All that's in the past. It has nothing to do with now, with Hogwarts. Forget it. Forget him.: I calmed myself down and left the compartment.
"Hermione!" I heard as I got off the train. "Hermione! What took you so long!" Ginny ran up to me, her red hair flying behind her. "Did you see the new guy? He's HOT!"
"Ginny!" I laughed, nervously. Ginny didn't know that I knew him, that I had a history with him, and I wasn't about to tell her or anyone else. "You're with Harry!"
"I know, but I can still look," she said, giving me a wink. "Besides, Harry's not here right now. He's not going to know. Anyway. Did you see him? What do you think? Gonna give it a shot? I mean, you and Ron aren't happening anymore, and you're available now, so?"
"Ginny, no," I hated lying to her, but if I said that I had, she would just start interrogating me about what I thought of him – a discussion I did not want to have. "I haven't seen him yet, and besides, I'll be too busy to have a boyfriend right now."
"Well, okay," she said as we walked to the carriages. "Anyway, maybe it wouldn't be a good idea, with him being friends with Malfoy and all."
"Where'd you here that from?"
"From Luna. You know how she always hears everything. Don't know how, but she does. She says that he's to be a Ravenclaw, but is close friends with Malfoy. Something about them spending summers together the last couple of years. He used to . . ."
"He spent summers with Malfoy? How come?" Ginny gave me an odd look before answering.
"His brother worked with Draco's father – he was Lucius Malfoy's Paris contact. He lived with his brother, so went to the Paris wizarding school, but transferred because his parents lived in London and he wanted to be closer to them ever since his brother died a couple of months ago."
"His brother is dead?" The news shocked me. As much as I hated Jalen, the news still shocked me. I had never expected that to happen. "How?"
"I don't know . . ." Ginny gave me a weird look. "Luna didn't say . . . 'Mione, are you okay?"
"What?" I asked her, distracted.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. It's just the thought of death after everything that's happened the last few years."
"Okay . . . if you're sure . . ."
"Yeah . . . Ginny, I've got to go. The Heads have to ride together. They want us to 'bond.' I'll see you later, okay?"
"Yeah, sure," Ginny gave me a quick hug and ran off to join Harry, Luna, and Ron. "Give Draco a big kiss for me, 'Mione!" she tossed over her shoulder, laughing.
I watched her and the others enter the carriage and turned to my own, dreading having to see Malfoy again. Why couldn't Ron be the Head-Boy? Why did it have to be Malfoy? I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the taunts that I knew he would throw at me during the ride to Hogwarts. I took another deep breathe and entered the carriage.
"Hello, Invidia," I heard as I sat down.
"Nikolas? What are you doing here? Get out!" I stood back up, hands forming fists, anger making my heart pound.
"Invidia, relax!" Nikolas yelled as he raised his arms in a defensive move. "Draco said that I could ride with him. I didn't know you would be here."
"Only the Heads are allowed in here," I said as I clenched my teeth. "You are not permitted in here."
"Yes, he is, Granger," Malfoy said, entering the carriage. "Prof. Snape gave his permission because the other carriages are full."
"Fine!" I said as I plopped back down. "Fine, just leave me alone." I crossed my arms and turned away from them.
"Sa non e non saprà," Nikolas said in a low tone so that only I could hear. "Prometto,il mio cuore.(2)" I refused to look at him and heard him sigh before turning to Malfoy and starting up a conversation in French.
I passed the trip in quiet, ignoring the two boys that shared the carriage with me. I had a lot to think about, so the solitude was welcome.
(1) Molto . . .cuore: It's been a long time, my heart.
(2) Sa . . . Prometto: He doesn't know and I won't tell him. I promise, my heart."
