Chapter 5

Back to Hogwarts

Mrs Weasley woke everyone up early the next morning in order to get ready and make it to the Hogwarts Express. Roxanne was so nervous she couldn't eat her breakfast and had to sit down for a while to prevent herself from hyperventilating. Mr Weasley warned that the train mightn't even be there and they might have shut down the school due to the return of Voldemort, but the train was there. Though Harry noticed there was a reasonably less amount of students going this year.

"Is Hogwarts a small school?" asked Roxanne, as they reached King's Cross. Ebony was in her arms and Ginny had offered to look after Ivory, she was a cat lover just like Roxanne.

"No, its really big. But I guess some people aren't risking their children going to Hogwarts. Silly really, its more safe than their own homes," scorned Hermione, trying to keep Crookshanks still in her arms.

They said their goodbyes and Roxanne thanked Mrs Weasley for letting her stay. To her amazement Mrs Weasley hugged her suddenly.

"Don't listen to what anybody says, ok Roxanne?" she whispered to Roxanne, her eyes wide.

"Ok, bye Mrs Weasley, thank you for letting me stay," said Roxanne when she let go of her.

Ron and Hermione went to join the prefects while Harry, Ginny and Roxanne went o find a compartment. Unusually, there was a lot free. They chose one near the back and settled down.

"What was that about?" asked Ginny.

"She just said not to listen to anybody."

Ginny frowned and went back to stroking Ebony and Ivory. There was a small knock and in walked Neville. He looked healthier than last year and had an owl on his shoulder.

"Where's Trevor?" asked Ginny.

"I went on a camping trip in Wales during the summer and he jumped into a swamp and didn't come back," said Neville, in a don't-really-care voice.

Around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back the door and said, "anything off the trolley, dears?"

Roxanne hadn't had breakfast and was now quite hungry. She bought some Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Droobles Best Blowing Gum and many other things.

The last thing Harry wanted to happen happened. At about quarter past three, the compartment door slid open. In walked Malfoy, looking even more gaunt than usual, and Goyle, but Crabbe was nowhere to be seen. Instead Pansy Parkinson was by his side, clutching his arm. By the look on their faces they were surprised to have come across Harry and had clearly not meant to come into their compartment.

"Damn it. I really hoped you weren't going to come," said Ron scathingly.

"The feelings mutual," muttered Malfoy, he noticed Roxanne and said, "who are you?"

"None of your business," snapped Harry. He wasn't going to stand for Malfoy this year; he wasn't going to stand for anyone.

Malfoy kept staring at Roxanne, whether he heard Harry or not he didn't know.

"What's…your…name?" he asked again slowly, as if speaking to a two-year old.

"Roxanne," she said simply.

Malfoy rolled his eyes, "what's your surname."

"Look Malfoy, just get out," said Ron, getting bored with the ordeal.

"Calm down Weasley. I just want the girl's name, is that a crime?" he derided.

There was something different about Malfoy, Harry noticed. Maybe it was because his father was in Azkaban.

"Well maybe I don't want to give it to you. Now make like a ferret and scram!" said Roxanne, standing up, her crucifix necklace swinging around her neck.

Malfoy smirk flickered.

"Who do you think you are? A vampire?" said Pansy, squealing with laughter.

"That's rich, since you look like a rat and sound like a pig," muttered Ginny.

"I wouldn't talk about being rich if I were you, ginger. You're so poor you've forgotten the meaning," Pansy retorted.

It was Ron's turn to jump up this time, he whipped his wand out and pointed it a Pansy's stomach. She then took out her wand, as did Goyle. Malfoy didn't even move, but he changed his avid gaze from Roxanne to Ron.

"Come on Weasley, I don't want to have to hurt you," said Malfoy sardonically.

"Please do, it would give the Dementors a reason to lock you up with your father," said Harry, taking out his own wand.

In one swift movement Malfoy retrieved his wand and put it to Harry's neck before he could even move. The action was ominously fast.

"Don't you dare talk about my father that way," he hissed, pressing the wand into his neck.

"I'll talk about that bastard anyway I want, he deserves whatever he gets," growled Harry.

He prepared himself for a fight but Malfoy merely stepped back in the compartment doorway. His face was calm but his eyes showed pure loathing.

"You're going to regret ever crossing me, Harry," he said. Before closing the compartment door he glanced at Roxanne then Harry and said in a voice barely audible, "at least I have a father."

He strode off followed by Goyle and Pansy. Harry kicked the seat viciously and sat down.

"I hate it when people do that," said Neville, breaking the silence.

"Do what?" asked Ginny.

"Instead of attacking you they just warn you and walk away. Its worse than a fight," he said, shivering suddenly like someone had just placed a cold hand on his neck.

"That's like at school. My friend – who isn't anymore-," she added casually, "– said that I would wish I hadn't said what I'd said and then the next day I found my homework all torn up and I got a weeks detention," said Ginny seriously.

"Oh now I'm really worried," said Harry sarcastically, "he's gonna ruin my homework!"

"I wouldn't mess with him if I were you," said Roxanne.

"Why not? He's all talk no action," said Ron. He flattened his hair against his skull and did an impression of Malfoy walking then tripping over a bag.

"You have to be serious Ron! He's obviously met Voldemort and he could be a spy! He could even have the Imperius Curse on some Gryffindors!"

"I never thought of that!" said Hermione, a shocked expression crossing her face.

"If he has, Dumbledore would know," said Harry calmly. "And anyway, he's not exactly a great wizard." He sat back down next to Roxanne and helped himself to a chocolate frog. Roxanne still wasn't assured.

It started to get dark and stars twinkled in the velvet sky. A half crescent moon shone brightly and lit up the clouds around it making them look like strands of silver candyfloss. Roxanne had always been one for admiring nature's beauty so she watched the sky while the rest talked about who should be in the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"I really think Neville would be a good Beater," said Ron.

"But we already have two!" Harry pointed out.

"Actually Kirke has left," said Hermione.

"Oh...I didn't know he was in seventh year."

"You should have known. He was on your team!" Hermione said to Ron.

"Well he was crap so I didn't need to know his life story," snapped Ron.

"Maybe he wasn't very good because he had a bad arm or something," Hermione shot back.

"You'll have to get used to this," Harry mumbled to Roxanne, "they argue all the time."
"Hmm," replied Roxanne vaguely.

"Wow, that sky looks really nice," said Harry, noticing what Roxanne was staring at.

"Isn't it?" said Roxanne avidly. She yawned loudly, setting of a chain reaction of yawns in the compartment. She laid her head on Harry's shoulder and soon fell asleep. Harry cast Hermione a baffled look but she simply smiled back.