Platform 9 3/4 was bustling as always when Ebony and the Malfoys got through the barrier and the sight of the scarlet red engine filled Ebony with joy. She was eager to slip away from her family and onto the train, but Lucius' frequent glares made sure that she stayed with them.
It was only once Narcissa had finished fussing over Draco and Lucius muttered that he had somewhere to be that she and Draco waved them goodbye and carried on up the platform. Ebony scanned around her for any sight of Neville but couldn't find him.
After about a minute Ebony realised that Draco must have found his friends as he was no longer walking beside her. 'Good,' she thought. Now there would be no unwanted questions or remarks from him. She boarded the train through a door near the back.
Luckily they had arrived fairly early so there were still plenty of empty compartments. She found one and had just tried and failed to lift her trunk onto the rack above her when there was a clatter and a yelp from outside the door. She smiled.
Popping her head out the door, she looked at the ground to find exactly who she thought she would. Neville. The brown-haired boy was sprawled on top of his trunk which was wedged in the passageway. She felt something on her foot and bent down to just in time to catch Trevor the toad who had decided to go for a wander before returning her attention to her friend on the floor.
"Need a hand?" Ebony said, trying to resist laughing. Neville looked up at her and grinned.
"Maybe," he replied.
They both snorted with laughter. Trevor hopped out of ebony's hand and into the open compartment. Ebony then helped slide the trunk out from under Neville and through the doorway. Neville shut the door behind him and together they managed to lift both trunks into the rack. They sank into seats, both tired from the effort.
It was only then that Neville noticed Ebony's face and his grin faltered."It's nothing", Ebony muttered before Neville even had a chance to open his mouth."I'm fine."
"You're clearly not.". Neville's smile had now been replaced with a look of concern. "What happened?"
Ebony was picking at her fingernails."Nothing. Not really. Just pissed off my mum alright?!" She didn't mean to snap. Neville looked taken aback. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.
"No I'm sorry," said Neville, giving her a sympathetic smile. "I shouldn't have brought it up."
"I just don't want to talk about it, let me forget that they exist for a couple of months."Ebony returned the smile. Neville's grin had returned, and he suggested a game of exploding snap.
It was then that the whistle blew, letting them know that they were off to Hogwarts for another year.