DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter

Please review? Please?

The mellow whistle of the Hogwarts Express pierced the air as students rushed around Platform 9 ¾. The train attendants hollered out the last call for passengers. Carts of bags and belongings were being swiftly maneuvered to the luggage cars. Parents were shouting quick goodbyes as they ushered their children through the opened doors of the bright red train. The whistle blew one last time before it started to slowly but smoothly pull away from the station. Billowy puffs of white smoke spilled up and out of the engine's smoke stack. A good number of arms and hands could be seen stretching out the large passenger windows waving to the crowds at the platform being left behind. Inside, an out of breath Draco finally found a cabin with some overly familiar faces.

"There you are, Drake! We were beginning to worry you weren't going to make it."

Draco sat down heavily with a sigh of relief next to the short black haired wizard that had spoken. He threw his feet up on the seat opposite, next to where Crabbe and Goyle were sitting.

"Barely" he grumbled. "I got a little distracted and was late getting my books."

"Yeah, well, it's a good thing no one likes us or we may not have been able to promise you such a good seat" Blaise joked with a wink. Draco gave a curt laugh.

The smirk on Blaise's face turned down suddenly when he saw the side of Draco's face. His cheek was ever so slightly bruised. Draco felt his eyes on him so he gave Blaise a "don't bring it up" look. Instead, Blaise turned to Crabbe and Goyle.

"Hey, why don't you guys go find the sweets trolley and get everyone something?"

Goyle scoffed. "Yeah, with what? We're not exactly sent away rich like you guys."

Rolling his eyes Blaise took out a small handful of coins from his pocket and chucked them at Goyle's head. "Beat it" he ordered.

The two boys looked at each other before reluctantly heading out of the cabin. As soon as the door slid shut behind them, Blaise shifted in his seat to fully face the blonde haired wizard. Draco didn't look back.

"I guess your father didn't take too kindly to you being late" he said quietly. Draco gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Not at all" he muttered, crossing his arms loosely against his chest and slumping down into the seat.

Blaise winced at the thought. Then with a careful finger he lightly grazed it across the discolored skin. Draco flinched away.

"What are you doing?" he hissed. Blaise looked at him seriously.

"Nothing, I'm just a little worried about you."

"Why, because of this? Blaise, come on. You're going soft on me. My father can get a bit physical, but he would never beat me. A slap at the very most."

Draco hated having to defend his father when it came to his parenting skills because he never saw anything wrong with it. When he deserved it, he was slapped. It wasn't nearly as often as everyone seemed to think and Draco took it without complaint.

"Alright, alright" Blaise said with a sigh, leaning back in his seat. A moment of silence passed between them before Draco shifted his eyes up at him.

"You're going to bring this up again in the future, aren't you?"

Blaise gave him a small nod. "Most likely."

A surrendering breath of air escaped Draco's mouth, dropping the subject and going back to staring at the empty seat across from him. Blaise leaned away from him, resting his elbow on the windowsill and watching the trees whiz past. They sat like this in a comfortable silence, lost in their respective thoughts until the cabin door slid open again.

"It's about bloody time" Draco grumbled, sitting up expecting Crabbe or Goyle to toss him something from the trolley. Instead, he stopped and stared at the body leaning in the doorway. It was definitely not Crabbe or Goyle.

"You guys mind if I join you?" the tiny voice asked sweetly. Blaise's face lit up.

"Not at all, Pansy! Come right in!"

The petite black haired witch practically skipped to the seat opposite him, but then shifted down a bit to be closer to Draco.

"Hello" she said with a hand outstretched in Draco's direction. "I'm Pansy Parkinson."

He took a quick look at Blaise before reaching out and lightly shaking her hand. "Draco Malfoy" he answered stiffly. She giggled.

"I know who you are, silly! There aren't many who don't know the Malfoys."

Draco smirked. I'll bet. He looked her over.

"I've seen you around school before."

"Oh!" she squeaked. "You have?" Her cheeks went slightly pink. Draco would have thought it to be cute if he didn't feel that something was terribly off-putting about this girl.

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Duh, of course you've seen her around. She's a Slytherin."

"Ah" Draco murmured absentmindedly, trying to figure out why she was rubbing him the wrong way when he hadn't even formally met her before.

"Well I don't often spend much time in the common room, but people do tend to say that my face is pretty unforgettable!" she chimed with a flip of her straight, shoulder length hair, flashing a bright smile Draco's way.

Bingo.

If it was one thing Draco couldn't stand in a girl, it was incredible self-centeredness. This girl had it written all over her flawless, painted face. He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed and almost getting a feeling of disappointment. The thought of having a girlfriend had recently become, not a personal need, but almost a necessity. He wasn't sure how long he could keep a high status among his peers if he was never even seen with a girl. Almost as in a response to him leaning back, Pansy scooted herself forward in her seat. She was answering questions from Blaise about her summer, but she kept her dark eyes on Draco. He exhaled slowly through his nose.

It may not be pretty, but accepting Pansy into our little group might be able to prolong my bachelor status…

In all honesty he really wasn't interested in a relationship. He much preferred being alone and not having to consider anyone else in his thoughts or actions. It was much easier when he only had himself to tend to.

The sudden screeching sound of the train's brakes brought Draco back from his thoughts. The trio exchanged confused glances.

"There's no way we're there yet…" Blaise mused.

An abrupt stop jerked Draco and Blaise back against their seats. Pansy flew forward dramatically with a squeak of surprise, landing conveniently in between the two boys. Draco tried to shift over to put some much needed space between them, but he quickly found that she had sat on the end of his robe, thus keeping him glued to her side.

"It's starting to get really dark really fast" Pansy whined as she looked out the window, biting her lip nervously.

As soon as she spoke the cabin lights flickered sporadically before dying out all together. Pansy whimpered quietly, leaning against Draco. He was not looking forward to the rest of the train ride if she was going to be this touchy-feely with him.

All of a sudden the door slammed open and all three jumped simultaneously. Pansy cried out in alarm at the large dark figure in the doorway as Draco whipped out his wand shouting Lumos! The blinding light emitted from the tip filled the cabin causing everyone to squint and shield their eyes.

"Blimey, Malfoy cut it out! We can't see!"

Recognizing Crabbe's voice, Draco angrily muttered Nox and extinguished the light.

"Fucking hell," he growled as the two boys with armfuls of candy entered and sat down, "you guys almost gave us bloody heart attacks!"

"I'm pretty sure I had one" Blaise groaned with his head in his hands. Pansy was on the verge of hyperventilating, her hand over her heart.

Crabbe and Goyle mumbled apologies before occupying their mouths with some of the candy they had bought. Blaise grabbed a few pieces as well, offering some to Pansy. Draco just stared out the window, the darkness illuminated slightly by a dim blue light coming from somewhere outside. A cold shiver traveled up and down his spine. He turned his attention toward Pansy who was noisily sucking on a lollipop. She looked up at him slyly.

"Want to share?" she asked flirtatiously, offering the lollipop to him.

Draco shook his head slowly, ignoring the question. "I can see your breath."

Drawing her eyebrows together in confusion, Pansy exhaled. The light gray wisps of air floated toward the center of the group before dispersing. It suddenly started to get very cold very fast. Pansy huddled against Draco's side. Goyle cupped his hand together and blew into them, trying to warm them up. Blaise wrapped his robe around himself.

"Hey look!"

Everyone turned toward Crabbe by the window who was pointing at the window. The glass seemed to be quickly fogging over. Blaise swiped a finger across the clouded window leaving a trail behind.

"It's ice" he said in surprise, looking up at Draco.

All of a sudden a giant black shadow flew past the window outside. Pansy gasped loudly and stared at the frozen glass along with everyone else. No one said a word. Draco finally broke the silence.

"What the hell is going on?"