DISCLAIMER: THE WORLD OF HARRY POTTER BELONGS TO JK. ROWLING.
There was only three days left of school, so the students have classes, because they were in dire need to pack, and find all of their belongings. Laura and Stephanie had tried to talk to Harry, but he was finding it easier to be in exile, as the rest of the school still speculated what happened.
Oliver and Laura were officially a couple, though he had had to leave the next day, they promised to see each other and the first day of vacation. Fred and Stephanie were still a bit rocky, but every time one would look away, the other would just keep their eyes fixed upon their face with certain sadness. Stephanie hadn't told Laura what had happened with Fred, or what was said, some things are just meant to be between two people. But due to what George and Lee were speculating, Fred had felt slightly betrayed, and still mad at the fact that he knew she was still keeping something from him.
Laura just decided that Stephanie would just have to tell her when she was ready, after all, it's not like she was doing a good job of talking to Stephanie when it came to Sirius, but anyways, that was just a childish fantasy. After all, she had Oliver now.
It was finally the last day of term, and everyone was heading to the Hogwarts Express, excitedly anticipating 3 months free of school. Stephanie was running late, and had told the gang to just get a carriage and she would meet them in the train, because apparently she couldn't find her owl.
She was one of the last few students to trickle out of the Front Doors, and she wasn't sure if any carriages would still be available. Stephanie was trying to hold on to everything, but a big trunk, a cage, two bags, all crowing her view she naturally tripped as she was getting into the last carriage. She stumbled inside, apologizing for making such an entrance, and when she looked up she saw she was with Slytherins. Great, just my luck. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle all looked at her not saying a word, but they all had a sneer on their faces.
Stephanie decided to make the best of the situation and said, " Good thing school is over. Can't wait for summer. I am Stephanie by the way." And she took her seat next to Crabbe directly in front of Draco. " Draco. Draco Malfoy. This is Crabbe, and Goyle." Said the blonde Slytherin rather coldly.
" Nice to meet you all. What year are you guys in?"
" Fourth. You?"
" I am in fifth…" she was about to tell them she was in Gryffindor but thought better of it, plus she was sure they already knew anyhow.
It was a rather tense ride, not much was being said, and Stephanie simply hated it when people were uncomfortable, so she tried to ease the silence by asking some random questions.
" So… what are you guys up to for the summer?"
Crabbe and Goyle looked at Draco expecting him to speak for them as he always did.
"Not sure yet. Depends if my father finished building the quidditch pitch in the yard, and these two are probably going to stuff their faces with food all summer." Said Draco looking straight at Stephanie.
" Quidditch pitch huh?" Draco looked at her rather smugly, knowing he was making himself sound cool, not detecting the sarcasm in her voice, " What a dumb way to make yourself sound cool! " said Stephanie finally exasperated, shocking all the boys in the carriage. Draco frowned his eyebrows and said, " Excuse me?"
" Quidditch pitch honestly! Enough with the showing off, and you two, can't you answer for yourselves without having Draco speak for you! We aren't in first year you know…" before the boys could respond, the carriage had stopped and she was the first one to get out. " Thanks for a lovely ride boys." She said much to happily, and began unloading all her junk off the carriage.
Draco got out, and shoved her out of the way of the bags, taking them roughly from her. " Here let me do it! Obviously you are incapable." He spat.
She took a step back and very courteously said, " Why thank you, how thoughtful." Then she laughed and turned to the thestrals, and stroked them kindly. Draco watched her from the corner of his eye, wondering what the hell she was doing stroking air. " What the bloody hell are you doing!" he asked annoyingly.
" I am petting the thestrals…you know, the horses that pull the carriages…honestly, can't you see them…oh wait, probably not… oh well. Thanks for all your gracious help dear sir, next time try using a kinder tone! See ya next year." And with that she grabbed her stuff and hauled it through the train door, leaving a seething Draco Malfoy behind her.
NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY had ever patronized the great Draco Malfoy, or left him in loss of words.
"What are you looking at you great idiots! Take my stuff and find a compartment." He said angrily to the staring Crabbe and Goyle.
---
Once in the train, Stephanie easily found her friends, due to the roaring laughter coming from the end of the train.
" There you guys are, I could hear you two wagons away!" she said as she came in.
" You took awhile!" said Lee who had been in the middle of doing a handstand and falling on his ass.
"What in the world are you doing?" said Stephanie laughing a bit.
" Lee was trying to prove to George that it is possible to sit in the air upside down." Replied Laura.
" Oh, I see, ok ok I wont ask any questions." Laughed Stephanie.
The train ride was quite enjoyable; Stephanie sat by the window in front of Laura. And the boys were next to them doing odd things. After about an hour of Stephanie dazing out at the countryside, Laura kicked her in the shin.
" Ow what was that for?"
Laura stared at her pointedly meaning what's that matter with you? Stephanie just shrugged and looked back outside.
" OW! Stop kicking me!"
Laura just grabbed Stephanie's hand and said, " We got to go."
The boys looked up and George said, " Oi! Where are you guys going?"
Laura poked her head out of the hallway and said, " gonna find food!" after all that would sound believable.
" Hey, bring back some chocolate frogs." Yelled Lee, and Laura nodded and closed the compartment door. Then she dragged Stephanie away and down the hall where she suddenly stopped her and said. " What's the matter, I know something is bothering you."
"What are you talking about?" said Stephanie looking out at the window behind Laura.
" Don't play dumb with me, I have known you long enough to know when something is wrong."
"I don't care…" said Stephanie in a small voice, as if she was holding back tears.
Laura put her arm around her shoulders and said, " Come on you can talk to me, what are friends for."
All of a sudden, Stephanie shocked on her words and said, " It's Fred, I can't make him understand our situation, I can't keep lying to him, and I am tired…I don't know if I can do this…" Laura's eyes started tearing up seeing her friend cry and in a barely audible voice, Stephanie said, " …I don't want to grow up…"
They just hugged and both cried, finally overwhelmed by their commanding situation, then Laura said, " We are in this together, and we are going to come out together, and as for Fred, I know he loves you. Come on, lets go find food, or George is going to go berserk."
In the meantime, back in the compartment…
" I won!" yelled George after the second game of exploding snaps. Fred threw his cards down and George raised an eyebrow at him, mumbling, " well no need to be such a sore loser…" and Lee helped him clean up the mess.
" What is wrong with her!" finally said Frederick exasperated.
" Ahh, girl troubles dear friend. I see you and Stephanie haven't really sorted everything out…" nodded Lee motioning for Fred to continue talking.
" Well when we went outside to talk, she kept trying to calm me down, and by God I AM BLOODY CALMED DOWN! And then she was trying not to cry, and I can't bear to see her cry, but I was too angry to hug her. And then, all of a sudden, as if she thought of something, her face became blank, and she stood up straight and tall with no trace of mirth on her face. It was as if I had killed something in her…I don't know what to do…" he ended looking defeated.
" Well, it seems there is a lot the girls aren't telling us, but we have known them so long, they are bound to tell us sooner of later. And besides, we ARE their knights in shining armor, so not to worry." Chimed George in to help.
" Hmmm…but you know, if anything was to happen to her, I don't think I could control myself to go after the bastard who hurt her." Said Fred.
" That my friend, is something we would all do." Said Lee and the conversation was over, and Fred felt somewhat better to having brought this up with his friends.
He couldn't explain it, when he was with Stephanie, he felt whole, her smile that was just his, the way she breathed when she leaned in to him. Regrets, he had a few, but then again, to few to mention. He did what he had to do, so he would continue on loving her, each careful step along the highway, his way he would love her, because even if he bit off more then he could chew, he couldn't picture his future life without her by his side.
" Chocolate anyone!" said Laura as she returned to the compartment, holding 15 chocolate frogs in her arms. Lee and George raced to her arms, tumbling her over, grabbing for the chocolate like crazed animals.
"… Well don't all come running at once…" mumbled Laura as she stood up rubbing her butt.
" Hey, what happened to Stephanie?" said George looking up from his chocolate.
" Oh, that's funny I thought she was behind me. Maybe she went to the bathroom."
"I'll be right back." Said Fred as he got up and left the compartment.
" What's up with him?" asked Laura.
" Him and Stephanie are apparently having some troubles. I guess he wants to apologize." Said Lee as he stuffed his face with chocolate.
" Oh that, I see…"
Fredmade his way down the train. He was looking for Stephanie, because he had to talk to her, to explain, away from their friends.
" Oh so we meet again dear sirs." Said Stephanie to Draco and his gang as she had been coming out of the bathroom they had been coming out of their compartment.
Draco smirked when he saw her; a rather sexy smirk, and he did a very elaborate bow and said, " So we do my lady. To what to I owe this great pleasure?"
Stephanie raised her eyebrows, catching on to the game, and did a small courtesy replying, " Why my dear sir, have you not looked at the time? It is time for a spot of tea, wouldn't you say?"
" Why of course my dear, how silly of me."
" Oi Stephanie!" said Fred as he looked above a small crowd of first years in the hallway. Draco looked up and saw Fred making his way through the small teens, " Aah, I see we must depart. Farewell my lady." And he turned back inside his compartment. Stephanie was chuckling softly as Fred came up behind her. He was slightly out of breath as he spoke, " Stephanie, oh gosh I found you!…"
Stephanie smiled, and said, " Yes, the train can be tricky Fred…"
He just hugged her, and then looked up and centered his eyes in hers, " Listen, I just want to apologize, I hate us fighting, and though I know there are stuff you aren't telling us, it's ok. I trust you. Just don't get hurt, otherwise it becomes my business." He smiled at the last part, and Stephanie could have just melted.
She leaned in for a kiss, and whispering on his lips she said, " You know Fred, I think I might just love you." And then she kissed him. He felt like he could have soared into the sky, flying up high with the happiness that he felt.
They continued kissing rather passionately, unknowingly in front of Draco's compartment.
DRACO'S POV:
Wow, didn't think I'd run into her again. Shit man, the girl you have been admiring from a far for 2 years, in the hallway, talking to me…well duh, I am the most eligible sexy guy in Hogwarts. I bet even Saint Potter is jealous of my good look, that's probably why he always fights with me. Yup that must be it! ….
" So we do my lady. To what to I owe this great pleasure?" Stephanie raised her eyebrows, catching on to the game, and did a small courtesy replying, " Why my dear sir, have you not looked at the time? It is time for a spot of tea, wouldn't you say?"
Wow she looks good, and hey, she is funny too, better continue this little game.
" Why of course my dear, how silly of me."
" Oi Stephanie!" said George as he looked above a small crowd of first years in the hallway.
OH SHIT! Why now! Damn you weasel! " Aah, I see we must depart. Farewell my lady." And he turned back inside his compartment. Stephanie was chuckling softly..
HA! At least I made her laugh…what a nice laugh. If only we could have talked longer…damn you weasel! What does she see in you anyhow!
BACK TO NORMAL
As Draco watched them kiss, his scowl darkened, and he turned to the window, completely disgusted at his own feelings and the display of sunny affection that seemed so unattainable.
Hand in hand, Stephanie and Fred walked back to their friends, who clapped when they saw they had made up.
" FINALLY! I didn't know how long I could continue the funeral march!" exclaimed George.
They all laughed, told jokes, played truth or dare, occasionally looking at one another with the knowledge that the future would be different. Especially after Dumbeldore had announced that Voldemort was back, they had to be prepared for some pretty tough times ahead, but just now; in the train, laughing, that was the stuff life was made of, so even if war broke out, the nights would be better since they had each other.
When the train pulled in the station, Laura had been daydreaming about the way Sirius had looked at her, his kiss on her forehead, the way his warmth sent shivers everywhere in her body…she was brought back from her reveries and began her diplomatic descend off the train, pushing all thought of the older man away.
" I guess this is it," said Stephanie.
" Yeah, for now, but we're going to see each other like everyday!" said Lee.
" True true, but this time next year, it's going to be your guise's last year. Leaving me and Laura all alone for our seventh year."
" Way to cheer up the mood Stephanie." Said George," Plus don't even worry, cuz the boys and me aren't going anywhere. You can run, you can hide, but we'll just follow you until you curse the day you even met us!" They all laughed, hugged, and promised to write and see each other during the vacation.