Chapter 3
Peculiarity
"Whoa, Hermione." Harry looked at his best friend in astonishment.
"I'm sick of him!" She said, sitting down in a huff. "He's always so mean to us!"
"Well, yeah. We're Gryffindor, and he's Slytherin." Ron explained.
"He's just so…peculiar!" She continued, not noticing Ron's and Harry's face pale. "I mean, he's got good grade and could be a genius. He's so evil though! He could work for the light, be a spy, but he won't for some odd reason."
Harry cleared his throat and asked, "He's peculiar?"
"YES! He is so peculiar and bizarre and any other synonymous word."
Ron paled another two shades under his freckles. "Hermione, you like him."
"What! NO, I DON'T!"
"Hermione. When you say someone is peculiar, it means you like them." Harry explained carefully.
Hermione went so pale, she looked like a ghost. "I. Don't. Like. Him. He's evil! There's no way I can like him! I hate him!" When no one said anything she sighed. "Guys, have I ever denied anything?"
"No." Harry and Ron admitted at the same time.
"So, let's forget I ever said the word peculiar. In fact, that word is no longer in my vocabulary."
"Yeah." Harry agreed. Although Ron and he still looked wary.
Eventually, they forgot about the event entirely and hopped to safer topics.
Draco was just pulling on his robes when one of his least favorite people showed up.
"Hey Draco." Pansy Parkinson said, fingers exploring Draco's hair.
"Hello Pansy." Draco answered, twisting out of her grip carefully. "I was just going to look for the cart lady. I'll be back later." He stepped out of the room without another word.
Walking through the train, he sighed. Some of the Slytherins are alright, but most are horrible at being friends. Crabbe and Goyle are alright because they are too stupid to realize what I'm talking about. Pansy is just…there are no wards to describe her, she is that terrifying. Reflecting on all of his 'friends', Draco made it to the front of the train.
"How much longer until we get there?" Draco asked the engineer automatically.
"About ten minutes." The engineer replied darkly.
Walking back to his cabin, he grabbed Hogwarts: A History and his coat. Then the train's whistle blew.
