Chapter 8

Draco put his head back against the plush seating. His head pounded with the makings of a headache. Feeling a light weight in his lap he looked down to see Bitz looking up at him, her head cocked slightly to the side. Smiling at how cute she looked he said, 'Hey gorgeous, ready for the trip?'

Getting a small hum in response he smiled and scratched behind her silky ears. Looking at the collar that he had gotten her years ago he marveled at how clean it was, even though she was usually getting into trouble with him. Smiling he fingered it in a loving caress.

Bitz Malfoy
Companion to Amièe and Draco Malfoy

Saddened at the remembrance of his younger sister he dug in his carry on satchel to find their family picture. Like most wizarding photo graphs the people in the photos moved and interacted with one another.

He smiled sadly as a younger self and his sister hugged and gave big goofy grins to the camera, he was missing a tooth on his bottom and she was missing her two front teeth. His parents stood in one another's arms behind the two young children, looking on with pride and contentment shining through their eyes.

Tracing the outlines he shook his head and put the photo back into his satchel carefully. It was one of his most prized possessions; he didn't know what he would do if anything happened to it.

Stroking Bitz again he felt the headache come back full force. Pondering at how the photo had made him momentarily forget his pain he was startled when the door to his compartment opened.

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Emerald eyes followed the intricate etchings of the silver settings of the amulet, but they quickly moved onto the strange center. It appeared to be some drop shaped gem or orb that swirled the separate colors of silver, emerald green, and a pale, baby blue. Almost lost in the swirling of the colors he gave a quick shake of his head and then flipped it over, hoping for some explanation of some sort. Looking at it he could only see strangely blurred words that he guessed at saying 'Rewop Eput Uftne Serp Tsap'.

Wondering at it he thought maybe it could be someone's idea of a gag gift, but then he quickly discarded the idea as he looked at the beautiful swirling mist. Maybe it was something written in parstle tongue? No, he would have been able to understand it.
Maybe…

But he wasn't able to complete the thought as he was jolted out of his musings by the elbow of a copper haired teen.

'Sorry mate. It's really crowded with all these trunks right at the opening.'

Harry quickly pocketed the amulet, feeling it was something that he should keep to himself; something that he needed to protect more than anything else.

'No problem Ron. Come one, we better go find a compartment for us and the girls.'

Ron stared at his toes and scuffing one against the carpeted floor mumbled, 'Ummm….me…..'Mione….'

Coming up to the two were Ginny and Hermione. Ginny was laughing and Hermione bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Seeing Ron and Hermione she waved her hand and pulled Ginny forward. Reaching the boys the two girls stopped.

'Harry, Ron, you guys have to hear this. We were walking down the train right, and we go to open the bathroom door, inside…haha…inside Neville was apparently changing into his school robes…haha…and….haha…Hermione turns to him and says-'

Interrupting Ginny, Hermione, red faced, said to Ron, 'Come on, Dumbledore needs all head of houses, head boys and girls, and prefects to the front of the train.'

Harry put up his smiling mask and said, 'So you guys are heads now? Good job.'

While Ginny was looking at Hermione incredously Ron looked at Harry with a guilty and questioning glance.

'Come on Ron. You guys were Prefects and I didn't mind. Now go, you can't keep the rest waiting.' Harry inwardly let out a small growl of anger, were had they been when he was trying to save people from Voldemort?

Ginny lowered her gaze dismissively and Hermione and Ron walked briskly towards the front of the train. Ginny then looked up at Harry with a weary smile and watery eyes.

Harry looked at her, and not wanting to have to deal with a crying female said, 'Come on, let's go find a compartment.'

Ginny gave a nod of acknowledgment and followed him down the hall of doors. Behind most he heard the tell tale laughter of friends meeting up again after a summer of separation. Coming up to one he couldn't hear anything.

'This one seems empty.' Harry inwardly applauded himself on finding an empty compartment. He pulled back the door while smiling at Ginny.

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Pansey shook her head and said, 'No, I beat you two. Unlike your trivial relation visits, and grounding from broomstick I…' sniffling back a tear she continued on, '…I finally gave into Isaiah's want of sex…' sniffle '…and then he dumped me!'

Instantly Crabbe patted her knee and Goyle touched her arm reassuringly.

'I'll kill him.'

'Don't worry Panse, we're here for you.'

Draco looked at his three friends and said in a dead calm voice, 'I win.'

All three of his friends looked at him, Pansey with watery eyes, Goyle with his brown ones, and Crabbe with his own moss green ones.

'What are you talking about Draco?' Pansy managed to get it out between large gulps of air.

Draco looked her in the eyes and said, 'My mum's parent's came. Apparently my mom used to keep in really good contact with Gran, then when I was born in slowed down, and she slowly began to get worse and worse at keeping in touch with Gran. But then it all stopped. Gran said she was worried, and so after a couple years had decided that even if mum didn't want to talk to her, it was still her right to see her grandson. I had to make excuses for a whole week for my parents' absence.'

Crabbe said, 'Why didn't you just tell her they were dead?'

Draco stared at him and said, 'Because my Gran would die. Only thing keeping her alive is thinking that she wants to see the whole family together once I have my own children. She would de if she knew my mum was gone.'

Pansey pulled him into a hug, resting her head on his shoulder. Draco stroked Bitz who was curled up on his lap. At that moment the door to their compartment slid open and several things happened at once.

Pansey stretched out and made herself look sexy, like her and Draco were having a moment. Crabbe's and Goyle's eyes took on a dull gleam of stupidity. And Draco was happy to notice that Bitz disappeared, visually at least.

Looking to see who had interrupted Draco's eyes narrowed.

'Hello Potter.'

Harry looked at Draco and said, 'Hello Malfoy.'

Ginny's eyes lost their tearful look and now shone with hatred, 'Malfoy, go stick that pointed head of yours up your-'

'My, my Weasel; it looks like you aren't really a lady after all. I mean, ladies aren't supposed to talk or act vulgar.' Pansey said this in an acidly sweet voice.

Ginny glared at her and said, 'Well, then I guess that can count you out.'

Harry pushed Ginny behind him before she could say anything else. He didn't want anything happening that could make matters worse between the houses than they already were.

'Sorry Malfoy, we didn't know this compartment was taken. We'll leave you to it.' Harry tried to quickly close the compartment door before anything else happened.

Pansey gave a sharp laugh and said, 'Yeah, and this time wait until I'm through with him will you?'

But Harry hadn't heard her words; he was too intent on getting out of there.

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Ginny punched the cushion again, 'I can't believe them! They have the gall…the nerve!'

Harry smiled weakly at Ginny's frustration. She would soon wear herself out, and then he would be stuck having to deal with an awkward silence as she realized he was there.

'I mean, that slut Pansey had the nerve to call me unlady like!'

Harry smirked at the point she made, not wanting to speak up that appearances were often different from the actual goings on. But he didn't have to say anything as the compartment door was slid open and Hermione and Ron walked in. Hermione flopped into the seat beside Ginny and rested her head on the red heads shoulder. Ron dropped onto the seat beside Harry.

Hermione lifted her head from Ginny's shoulder as she felt the younger girl's tense form, 'What's the matter?'

'Malfoy.'

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Draco pondered the situation. Harry had left without a parting remark. He had left without any mean slandering of Draco or anything. Confusing himself Draco tried to figure out why he was so curious about Harry right then. He knew that Harry hadn't succeeded in the battle against Voldemort that had taken place that summer, but would Harry seriously give up over something like that? The fierce savior had lost all his fight because he had lost a battle. The wizarding world was in trouble if that was true, and for his own reasons, Draco needed to figure out how to get the old Harry back.

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