Chapter Two

NOTICE: Don't own any thing of J.K.R. except for the characters I made up.

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Location: Hogwart Express

Draco Malfoy sat alone in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express. The gentle motion of the fast moving train made a soft rhythmic thudding sound. He had had a rough summer. Witnessing his father's trial didn't really do him any good. Draco knows Lucius Malfoy had a lot of power in the ministry, but after his down fall, every witch and wizard turned against him for revenge because of the people he had stepped on to get to the top. Draco's mother had cried after the trial but he knew that she was faking it in order to get sympathy from others. She always did love attentions. After Lucius is sentenced in Azkaban for life, she gets all of his unspent fortune.

Did Draco miss his father? Heck no, he loved the freedom he felt now; he loved how he can do what ever he wanted and not get punished for it. Draco had expected himself to be sorry for his father, his family, but he felt no such thing, he never even loved his father. Without his father's little spies in Hogwarts, Draco can befriend who ever he wanted, even Potter and Weasley, but he really prefer not to become friends with Scar Head and Weasel King. Getting rid of Crabbe and Goyal was his first mission, then some nice, quiet alone time.

Getting himself into a comfortable position in the sunlit compartment, Draco propped up 100 Permanent Jinxes To Scar Your Enemies For Life and started reading. He found it hard to concentrate. His mind was drifting.

Wonder what mother is doing…heh, probably at some island drink Vodka and partying with the natives. She said there's going to be something special happening this year at Hogwarts…knowing Dumbledore it's probably going to be something like learn square dancing. The madman. Draco was just starting to list all the synonyms for the word "mental" when his compartment door slid open.

"Hey, this is a privet party. Get out." Draco said sounding irritated and pretended to read.

"Oh really?" A clear, crisp female voice retorted."I see no party."

Draco looked up, annoyed at the figure at the doorway and was about to tell her to sod off when he realized who it is. He was surprised at first, he could barely recognize Ginny Weasley. Instead of a frizzy mass of red hair, her curls were a dark auburn color. She had grown a few inches over the summer making her long legs more noticeable under the knee high skirt that all female students of Hogwarts must wear beneath their robes. She was slightly tanned from flying under the sun and her walnut shaped hazel eyes swirled with bright colors. Ginny Weasley had changed. In Draco Malfoy's words, she's almost pretty.

Ginny raised an eyebrow at the Slytherin's silence and opened her mouth to speak but Draco cut her off.

"What do you want Weasley?" he asked. Ginny was shocked to find his tone not menacing, threatening, or nasty. Just…bemused.

She opened her mouth to answer but quickly closed it. A second later she said, "Nothing at all." And turned to leave, but another figure emerged behind Ginny.

"We were just wondering if we could share a compartment with you." Said a pretty girl with short black hair. Draco realized her as Olivia Blade, one of the girls that Ginny Weasly hangs out with. "Every where else is full." Olivia smiled sweetly and Ginny rolled her eyes.

"No, we can look around some more." Ginny said and walked out, only to have Olivia pull her back in.

"So what do you say Malfoy?" Ginny's friend said, ignoring her friend's comment earlier.

"No." Draco said and turned back to his book. He was answered with a small sigh from the girl with the dark hair.

I wonder…what would Wonder Boy and his sidekick Weasel do if they find their favorite little red head sitting with the big bad Malfoy…

"However…" Draco said slowly and immediately Olivia Blade's head snapped up to face him. He smirked at this and said, "You can stay if …you buy my lunch."

"Unbelievable!" Ginny exclaimed, her hazel eyes burning with annoyance. "N-

"Deal!" Olivia interrupted Ginny's mid sentence causing her to get an I-can't-believe-you-are-my-friend stare from Ginny. The black haired girl shrugged and sat down across from Draco whose nose was in his book again.

Ginny can't believe what she was seeing, her best friend making a compromise with the king of Slytherin prats and the king himself, reading. She didn't want to sit with him. Just the sight of his arrogant face makes her want to slap him and tell him that he doesn't own the world. But every else was full. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had taken the last seats with Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, Dean and Seamus. They really couldn't squish in.

Ginny Weasley heaved a small sigh and sat down. Her summer didn't go quite well, after what happened between her and Michael Corner, Ginny wasn't exactly the same. A lot of people noticed that. People like Harry or Lupin would ask her if she was feeling alright because she look a bit "off".

You could say she is over with Corner. But now she has to face him again at school and she has no idea what she will do. Just restrain yourself from punching him in the face…maybe hexing is okaaay…

A piece of folded parchment flew to her lap. Ginny took it and gave Olivia a questioning look. She mouthed the word, "Read it". Ginny sighed again and opened the parchment. She didn't see what was the point of doing this when they were sitting next to each other, oh wait…Malfoy's here…

On the note, in tight curvy handwriting were these words:

O: Malfoy has gotten a lot hotter over the summer…

Ginny scowled and grabbed a quill from her pocket and started writing furiously.

G: You must be blind. I suggest you get your eyes checked.

Now it was her friend's turn to scowl.

O: No, I'm serious, you have to admit it. I know you think he's good looking.

G: I see no difference in him since 1st year.

O: ooooooook…. You're the one who needs to get her eyes checked. So what are you going to do about that jerk Corner? I can help you hex him. My aunt told me a new spell; she says it has different side effects on different people. Ha! Maybe he will sprout antlers!

G: That is tempting but I think I will just jinx him whenever he talks to me…

O: I have an idea.

Ginny looked up at her friend who was grinning mischievously then went back to writing.

G: Knowing you, it's going to be awful.

O: Gee, thanks…

I think you need a new boyfriend. Someone hot and fun…someone like… Malfoy.

Ginny, who was reading over her friend's shoulder let out a loud snort.

Draco was currently trying to read despite the sound of quills scratching over and over again, look up from his book at Ginny's un-lady like manner.

Ginny caught his curious gaze and blushed, "What are you looking at?" she snapped.

"Oh, nothing, nothing at all…" Malfoy smirked and went back to his book.

Ginny was just about to tell him to wipe that ugly sneer off his face and a paper ball hit her on the head. It bounced off her forehead and landed neatly by her side. Annoyed, she picked it up and opened it.

O: Just a thought really. I wouldn't mind going out with him.

Ginny crumpled the paper, grumbling under her breath, then decided to tear it into shreds instead. Stuffing the remainders of their notes into her pocket, Ginny looked at her watch.

"Ron and Hermione are probably at the Prefect meeting already, I bet we can get their seats if we hurry." She said to Olivia.

"Oh…but…Malfoy." Olivia said and looked longingly at the blonde haired Slytherin.

"Yeah Weasley, what about my lunch?" Draco Malfoy said setting his books down and stared demandingly at Ginny.

"You can eat your a-"

"At Hogsmead, our treat." Olivia Blade cut in quickly and gently kicked Ginny's foot. The red head rolled her eyes.

"Forget it, I don't think I want to be seen with you in public," Malfoy said coldly.

I had sat in the same compartment with a Weasley, hell, and what does the ungrateful little Gryffindor do? Tell me to eat my unmentionables, the wench...He's going soft and Draco does not like the sound of that. Almost makes him wish his father were still here. Draco sighed and sleeked back his silvery hair.

Potter and Weasley weren't even here for a good show. What a disappointment.

He rose from his seat slowly and walked towards the door.

"Where're you going?" Olivia said almost too eagerly.

"Prefect meeting." He answered not looking at her. His gaze was focused on Ginny Weasley who was staring out of the window, pretending he wasn't there. She knows I'm looking at her. He couldn't help but smirk.

Draco noticed the way her hair glowed under the light and developed a sudden urge to touch it but hastily fought it off. He walked out of the compartment without a second glance, leaving Olivia Blade standing, looking kind of disappointed.

A lanky, blonde haired boy sat by himself in the Slytherin Table away from the crowds of students in the front. He calmly sipped from his goblet of pumpkin juice and studied a certain girl from the table across from him. He took a large gulp and a figure blocked his view of the pretty red head.

"Hey!" Draco Malfoy said rather crossly.

"Hi Draco!" the figure gushed taking in his protest as a greeting. Draco looked up to find Pansy Parkinson standing before him with a smile as fake as her nose. He decided to ignore her and maybe she would go away. Disregarding Draco's silence, Pansy went on. "I just want you to know, Drakie dear, that I will always be there for you when you need someone to lean on." She winked. "Even though your father is in Azkaban and your family has no power over the ministry whatsoever." She added and gave him what she thought was a cute smile and strolled away.

She just wants a good snog. Eh, don't blame her. Draco smirked to himself and continued to watch Ginny Weasley chatting happily to her friends. She smiles so brightly, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed... Why didn't he ever notice that before?

Because you were over conceited in yourself, you baboon. A little voice said in his head.

Oh…since when do I talk to myself?

Since summer.

Ah…that's not healthy.

Sure it is! I'm your conscience; you know…the one you got after your father's hearing.

Draco frowned.

You mean I didn't have a conscience before that.

Nope.

Ok…I got to remember to go see a healer.

They won't be able to see what's wrong with you…

We'll see.

The only problem you have deeeeeeeaaar is you fancying a Weasley.

Liar.

Oh admit it.

Fine. Yes I think she is appealing but that doesn't mean anything. She's friend with the Golden Trio so therefore she might as well as be counted ugly.

Brat.

You can't say that, I am you and therefore you are mocking yourself.

Yes but I am ashamed of yourself.

That doesn't even make sense!

Across the table, curious Gryffindors watched Draco's odd different facial expressions.

"What's wrong with him?" Ron asked, amused at the cool collected Malfoy suddenly breaking down. "Maybe he finally lost it!" he said sounding hopeful.

"I dunno...I hope he is." said Harry grinning like Ron.

"Must be because of his father's hearing."Hermione said thoughtfully. "Weren't you sitting with him on the train Ginny?"she asked.

Ginny, who wasn't paying attention dropped her fork at Hermione's words and stammered "N-no"

"Really? Because Olivia sa-"

"Wrong! She said wrong!" Ginny said and gave a quick glance at her brother who was listening in, looking a bitcrossed at the fact his sister might be socializing with the "enemy". She hated it when her brother over react.

Hermione, being the smart and witty one, quickly understood and changed the subject to Quidditch, distracting Ron by a mile.

Ginny sighed in relief.

Where is Olivia anyway…Ginny looked over the tabled and saw her sitting with Ernie Macmillan talking animatedly to him. Ginny couldn't help but laugh at her friend. The school is just like asea full of cute boys that she must fish out. Pity them...Speaking of cute boys…I have to admit…Malfoy doesn't look too shabby. Ginny glanced up from her plate and looked over where Draco was sitting. Their eyes met and for a second and Ginny felt like warm water was being poured over her. She felt light and fuzzy.

He looked a bit taken back from being caught staring but smirked nonetheless. Ginny returned it with a mocking smile and looked away.

He's gorgeous…yes…but has a rotten personality so he might as well as be counted ugly anyway. Yeah um…really ugly…But Ginny found her eyes back on the blonde Slytherin. He did act weird today. Not as evil and stuck up as usual. The impact of his father's sentence didn't seem to really affect him…I guess they were never close…

The Beginning of the Year feast went by merrily. Everyone thought that Dumbledore would introduce the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher but it seems that he or she has not yet arrived. They were dismissed and Ginny walked alone to the Gryffindore dormitories. She didn't bother to wait for Olivia though she might get yelled at for it. It was a tiring day and Ginny just wanted to sleep. As she took a turn to the next corridor a familiar voice called her name. She twirled around to find Michael Corner standing there with the usual sheepish expression. Aggravated, Ginny turned away and kept walking. He quickly caught up to her and blocked her from her portrait hole.

"Hi Gin." He said smiling boyishly. Ginny glared at him and pulled out her wand causing him to take a giant step back.

"Look, I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry and that maybe you could give me an-"

"Silencio." Ginny said almost lazily and Michael Corner clasped his hands around his throat, horrorstruck.

"That was rather harsh dear…" the portrait of the Fat Lady said leaning to her right to get a better view of the boy.

"Not at all. Sizzling Pudding." Ginny said and entered the portrait hole without a second glance.

A/N

So…second chappie down and a lot more to go. I think it's a bit rushed so pleeeeeeaaaase point out mistakes. I also don't think I spell Draco's father's name right. Ah well…

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