Disclaimer: ::singing:: I do not own Harry Potter! J.K Rowling does. She is a great writer! ::normally:: Now let the story roll!

In this Chapter: On the Train to Hogwarts! New Acquaintances and old!

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Harry checked his watch. Right on time! He ran through the wall and ran to his platform, which had been 9 ¾. He didn't even have to look at the numbers in the lit up signs. He knew where he was supposed to go, probably from getting off and on that platform so many times.

Hedwig was placed with his other stuff and Harry was looking for a place to sit. For the first 6 or 7 stalls were full of kids. And the next had a few adults. Finally he came across a stall with that girl he had remembered for so long.

"Hermione!"

"Oh, hello, Harry!" Hermione greeted smiling sweetly and, making him a space to sit. He sat next to her and looked across to meet the eyes of more adults. One sleeping soundly, and the other reading a book, not even so much as looking up to greet Harry.

"Excuse me," Harry said politely.

The man reading the book glared at him and slammed his book shut and grunted. "What do you want," he demanded.

This made Harry a bit nervous he tried to speak, but being as nervous as he was his throat had double clissed on him.

By then, the man sleeping was now awake from the loud noise the book had made when it closed.

"Well..." The other man said rudely.

"Brutus! Have some manners!" the now fully awake man scolded, "I must apologize for my brother's attitude. His name is Brutus and I am Magna."

Harry felt more comfortable and shook Magna's hand. "Pardon me, but why are there so many adults here? There can't be that many teachers at Hogwarts." Harry said.

"Oh, we are all here for the new Hogsmeade." Magna replied, "It was being fixed up last year and it's finally done. I fear it will be so crowded, we wont make it to that fancy new candy shop."

"I didn't hear about it," Harry said, "Sounds good though, huh, Hermione?" He gently nudged her and she smiled.

"And we want to get our Christmas shopping done before the rush comes in." Magna sighed looking at Brutus, who was already back to reading his book.

"You mean it's going to get worse than this?" Hermione wailed making a face.

"Oh yes," Magna said, "It's always full up around Christmas with people doing their last minute shopping, which is why I brought my brother because he's always doing things at the last minute.

Brutus grunted obnoxiously and everyone else laughed. "You're always such a "Scrooge!" Magna chuckled.

"Are there any new shops?" Hermione asked.

"Yes there is supposed to be a shop of dueling equipment. They've come out with some dern accessories to have to heave around with your wand. Waste of time if you ask me." The man replied then mumbled something about "youngsters" and "being to good for wands."

Harry suppressed his laughter and looked out the window at the leaves that were turning the slightest shades of orange and brown. They continue to have a pleasant conversation about new things until they came upon the subject of the matter of a new class.

"So what's this "new class" going to be?" Hermione asked a little displeased

"Woodshop." Magna said, "They want kids to learn to make things without magic."

"What? That's not a very good class," Harry said almost disgustedly.

Then, Brutus finally spoke again, "What do you mean "What?" I think it's a great idea! These kids need to learn to stop being lazy. Surely they can go through one class without learning magic."

"B-but, that's not what they come here for! They come to learn magic, not to be normal people." Harry argued.

Hermione agreed, but didn't say a thing, not wanting to tick the guy off again.

"Besides," Harry continued, "We already have a Study of Muggles class." He bit his lower lip and told himself not to say anything more negative. He knew he should respect his elders, even if he was an adult.

Brutus scowled and stuck his nose back into his book. Another frown greeted Magna and he tried to change the subject. "So what subjects are you two going to be teaching?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts" Harry said. Then, he looked at Hermione hoping for her to tell him what she was teaching."

Hermione bent over and told the man in his ear.

He smiled and said, "Oh, yes, that's a fine class."

Discouraged Harry looked down and shuffled his feet. Why was Hermione making him wait longer? Hadn't he suffered with suspense enough? How come she'd tell the other guy and not him. But he had no idea of what worse was coming.

At the side of his eye, he was greeted with a robe in the ugliest shade of green Harry had seen. And then, a voice came. A cold voice "Potter..." It was a voice he had found obnoxious for a long time. He was in no hurry to look up. He already knew who it was. He started looking up anyway hoping he was wrong... but, alas... He wasn't.

"Hello, Malfoy," Harry said in a harsh, almost torturing voice. His sight was focused on Draco Malfoy, who had changed, but not much. He still had his cold, hurtful eyes and bitter frown as he used to carry with him.

"Why are you here Potter?" Draco asked, putting the emphasis on the name "Potter" as he always did.

Harry said nothing. He hoped Draco would just leave him alone and that he wasn't there for the same reason that he, himself was. Hermione decided to answer for him.

"He's a new teacher here, as well as I" Hermione growled.

"Oh, Hermione..." Draco said coldly, "You, mud blood still here?"

Hermione frowned a little at the hurtful name she had been called. She looked down and easily held back crying. She had forgotten that it was okay for someone her age could cry, too."

"And why are you here, Malfoy?" Harry growled at him.

"I'm assisting Professor Snape in being the Assistant Teacher for the Potion's class" Draco said, proudly.

Hermione was easily cheered up by that. She bit her lower lip to suppress laughter, but Harry couldn't help himself and didn't want to anyway.

"What's funny about it?" Draco demanded.

It was pretty obvious that was the perfect job for Draco, but he was going to help Snape which gave them the laugh about him being Snape's pet. No one had liked Snape when they went to school there. Being a pet for one of the teachers meant they were being a suck-up, but being one for Snape meant they were desperate.

Harry couldn't believe it. Even though he knew Potions was the perfect job for Draco, he knew Draco didn't exactly love helping anyone, especially teachers, even Snape.

Harry glanced out the window once again to see it was night. He hadn't noticed how fast the time was going and before he knew it, the train was screeching to a stop.

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Yes I know these chapters are short but this is going to be my first "longish" story. And no I didn't lie. They are at Hogwarts aren't they. ::blows raspberry::