Chapter 3- The Long Way There (2)
Hermione bit her lip nervously, wondering what to do in this awkward situation. "So Lilly," she said finally. "What did you do all holidays?."
"Hasn't a new pub started up there?" Harry asked, getting Hermione's idea. They must ignore Draco, and speak as if they hadn't noticed Draco.
"How could you be so rude?" Harry was startled for a minute, then realised that again Draco was speaking. "You know Lilly can only afford to eat what people leave in gutters!"
They ignored his comment once again, and thus the conversation continued in this awkward, stilted manner with Draco interrupting with rude remarks whenever he could. Soon both the girls were almost in tears, and Harry and Ron were filled with rage.
Finally, Ron couldn't take it any more. "It'll take more than your little barbs to make me mad!" he hissed.
Draco stood up, and pulled out a jet black wand. "Oh yes? Maybe my wand will then."
Lilly stood up as well, holding out her wand. "I'll handle this, guys," she murmured. "I've been longing to practice the new curse I learnt."
Draco smirked. "Ooh, tangling with the son of a Death Eater are we? Not a wise choice. I've been-" He snickered. "Dying, if you will, to practice the killing curse."
Lilly widened her eyes. "You wouldn't dare. People go to Azkaban for less than that."
Draco's expression suddenly turned from mocking to deadly serious. A weariness that a seventeen year old should not know lined every aspect of his face, and his eyes hid in their cold masses a secret sorrow. "Do I look like I care, Grawp?" It wasn't a rude, sarcastic comment- it was a question, and one that Lilly dared not answer.
"You're mad," she whispered.
A dry smile crept over his face. "Perhaps."
The train suddenly pulled to a halt, and gratefully the group piled out of the train, Draco following at a distance. Overhead, thunder boomed and lightening forked through the sky, while a steady stream of rain began to fall.
"Strange weather for early September," Harry whispered. The Gryffindor's nodded.
Suddenly they realised that Draco was behind them, watching the sky with a strange glint in his eye. "And so the school year begins," he whispered.