As Lucia approached Hogwarts, she felt a steady feeling of relief and salvation; not only was she going to her safe haven, but a certain Draco Malfoy would be on the other side of the school, not to mention in the dungeons.
The ride was very peaceful, save a few outbursts from Meghan about how much fun she intended to have this year in her house. There was very little they all had to say, since their summers were mostly spent at home studying for the coming year.
They were nearly to the school when Katherine put down her knitting and looked at Lucia expectantly. "You don't suppose Hogwarts is going to be the same this year?" The light attitude of the room suddenly became heavy with thought. Even Meghan looked suddenly sober and reminiscent.
"No, I don't think so at all." Lucia muttered, putting her book in her bag.
"What about all those Death Eaters, they're all coming back this year?" Bernice in turn put down her charcoal pencils.
"They're already back! I saw Crabbe and Goyle on the train, not to mention Draco." Meghan said excitedly, earning a nod of approval from Katherine.
"I wouldn't worry about it, they're harmless." Lucia told them, trying to deflate a situation she wasn't entirely comfortable with.
"That's a lie and you know it. Those boys are more trouble than they're worth." Katherine looked at me pointedly.
"I always liked trouble." Bernice snickered dreamily.
"You like it unless you're in it." Meghan laughed.
"What about you Lucia, do you like trouble?" Bernice asked, leaning forward.
"Of course she doesn't, Lucia doesn't even like arguing." Katherine observed.
Katherine was only slightly correct, Lucia did like peace, but only not when those around her became overtly sentimental. She liked a good amount of discontent, it made things more manageable.
"The reality of it is that they're outcasts now." Lucia stated, trying to settle the subject. "They don't belong at Hogwarts." She looked at each one of them pointedly.
"It's not like we're going to adopt them like a charity case Lucia. Merlin, sometimes you're just too intense." Bernice stared at her, somewhat aghast by her behavior.
"I'm not like you Bernie; I don't pride myself on being non-biased. I am a very biased person!" Lucia argued. "Perhaps you should try to evaluate your own mistake in trusting anyone with a wand."
"That was one time. One!" Bernice stood up, slowly getting angrier and angrier.
"That's a lie, what about Jessica, Tony, Markus, Rita, Pablo and Jane. For Christ's sake even me." Lucia continued to sit there, trying to keep her voice even despite the stress inside.
"You just want to cause conflict, that's all you want to do Lucia. I think you should leave." Katherine told her, grabbing Bernice's hand as Bernice fumed.
When Lucia exited the department, she left her friends alone with pieces to put together.
"Bernie, Bernie its ok. She didn't mean it. You know she doesn't. She's just angry at Draco, shhh." Meghan said, pulling Bernice down.
"You know what she's like at the beginning of the year. She's just built up with stress; she doesn't know how to release it." Katherine stroked her hand.
"She was right though. I don't know what I'm thinking. I'm so angry at myself." Bernice muttered.
"Let's just forget about it ok? Lucia will be better when we're at Hogwarts, you know that." Meghan said.
Meanwhile Lucia flew rampantly through the train, once again looking into compartments in search of a companion for the remainder of the ride. She was having no luck and assumed that the people she was civil with were on entirely different railcars.
Whether it was desperation or some unknown force, Lucia opened Draco Malfoy's compartment door and sat down as far away from him as she could. He looked up, surprised and even a little happy.
"Trouble in paradise, Sometimes?" He smirked at her behind his book.
"Shut the fuck up Malfoy." Lucia snapped, crossing her legs protectively and closing her body. She held up a finger as a warning.
"Was it that wench Turplan, or was it Puncible?" He leaned towards her with mild interest.
"Because you know, this is totally your business, except for the whole part where it's not." Lucia told him, not making eye contact.
"I bet it was that Puncible bitch. I saw what you did to her last year." Lucia's head ripped up from her lap at an astonishing speed.
"I did nothing to her!" She yelled, standing up.
"Why do I not believe you?" He laughed. "Pansy and I were laughing about it the other day. I remember it perfectly, almost like I am in a pensieve. Her, writhing in pain, with my aunt standing above her and you, Miss. Sometimes, running towards the opposite end of the building." He laughed maniacally while sitting down, not intimidated in the slightest by the wand that was now pointed at his neck.
"It wasn't my fault. I swear." Lucia was fighting back some invisible tears that refused to come out.
"But it was my dear, maybe if you hadn't run away-" he was cut off.
"If I hadn't run away I would be dead right now. Surely you can understand that concept?" she replied viciously.
"Your bark is so much worse than your bite." He smirked, pushing her wand aside.
"What's your problem? Just twenty minutes ago you were trying to help me, mind you it was still a criticism, but you still were sincere." Lucia put her wand by her side and looked down at him with a mildly pained expression.
"Surely you don't think I care about you? You make me laugh sometimes." He laughed at his own pun.
Lucia let out a muted grunt and collapsed onto her seat. "She doesn't even hate me for it. Why doesn't she hate me?" she asked no one in particular.
"Why don't you hate me?"
"Oh I do Malfoy." She spat maliciously. "If I can say I hate anything truly, with my soul, it would be you."
"I'm honored to receive such a strong emotion from the likes of you."
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
"All these walls Sometimes. All these walls could come down with just a little love."
"Love is a joke for couples who want an excuse for a divorce."
"Love is the deepest emotion you can feel."
"You know so much about love Malfoy. After all you fucking killed in the name of it." She yelled sarcastically.
"You don't know anything about what I've done Sometimes. Why I did what I did was out of love. Love for myself, my family, and my friends. Do you know how much I would have lost if I failed?"
"Do you know how much everyone else lost because you succeeded?"
"I'm done with you."
"Good."
After moments of silence and muffled sniffles from Lucia both looked at each other for a moment.
"You understand me so well, but I don't know shit about you." Lucia finally stated, losing her cool demeanor.
"I would like to know you better." Draco stood up, in an attempt to sit closer to her.
She suddenly became flustered and confused and put her hands in front of her defensively. "I-I should go apologize." She grabbed her bag and shuffled out of the compartment. She had nearly reached her friends when she turned around and opened Draco's door once again and letting out a barely distinguishable "Thanks for knowing things that I don't." Before shutting it behind her and rushing back to her friends.
After making peace they arrived at Hogwarts, mostly in one piece besides the almost inseparable nature of Bernice and Lucia. Their apology had strengthened the odd bond between the odd friends.
That night McGonagall made a somber speech about the need to reunite after years of separation that she said ultimately caused the war. Lucia had to agree, but she found herself scoffing at the idea. Uniting with the Slytherin's was not on her to-do list.
The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher's name was Hubert Forsworth who was a squat old man with plenty of scars, Lucia and her friends had a quick laugh about it before listening to McGonagall once again. There was also a new Ancient Runes instructor named Polly Kilgore, who was a pale pretty woman who looked to be in her early thirties. Then there was a Muggle Studies instructor named Sisto Burnam, he was a man who dressed like a muggle and had thick black hair and soft eyes. Lastly was the Transfigurations Professor, who was middle aged man who was dark and handsome, but with light eyes.
"Seeing as I was the old Head of House for Gryffindor we are in need of replacement. Usually we use Professors who have taught here for many years but instead we have decided to elect Professor Kilgore. I hope that none of you will make her stay uncomfortable." She looked at a Gryffindor, I recognized as Dean Thomas, especially hard. "To the rest of you, Argus Filch has reminded me to inform you that the Forbidden forest is off limits and you are not allowed to perform magic in the halls."
"Like that'll stop us." muttered Bernice, receiving a soft laugh from her friends.
"Have a happy school year, let the feast begin." McGonagall said.
The table was suddenly flooded by the most appetizing food Lucia had seen in what seemed like years.
"Gods I missed this school." Lucia let out, piling meat pies onto her plate before turning to the clotted cream and scones.
Meghan walked over from the Huffelpuff table and slipped in between Bernice and Katherine.
"Did you get a look at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?" She asked. "He looks like he couldn't defend a mouse let alone a person!" she let out a laugh.
"I'm sure he wouldn't have been hired if he didn't know how to defend himself." Bernice told her.
"I wonder what side of the war he was on." Said Katherine thoughtfully.
"Did you even listen to McGonagall's speech? We need to separate ourselves from the war and who was a part of it. Otherwise things won't get better." Bernice said passionately.
"That isn't going to happen, Bernie. It's impossible for some of us to forget." Lucia stated.
"Some like you perhaps? I dunno' I think you should warm up to Draco." Bernice elbowed Lucia lightly.
"Not going to happen." Lucia replied, stabbing a chunk of ham and devouring it with a mad ferocity.
"He's certainly warmed up to you. He is so attractive." Meghan sighed.
"I don't understand what you see in him." Katherine told them smugly.
"Besides a fine piece of arse? Nothing." Bernice grinned.
"His arse isn't even that… fine. It's rather- well I'm not sure. I don't exactly stare at guys rear ends." Lucia spluttered out.
"You should start." Bernice nudged her again. "It's quite fun."
"Yeah Lucia, you've never had a boyfriend and you're not exactly ugly." Meghan commented.
Lucia looked at her tartly. "You've never had one either. And besides, I hate men."
"You know exactly why I haven't dated. They aren't worth it." Meghan twirled some of her straight hair.
"Precisely, and it's foolish to think that one guy, a death eater no less, is worth it." Lucia exclaimed.
"We aren't even talking about Draco anymore. Just guys in general." Katherine observed.
"Just stop talking; I'm getting a little tired." Lucia grabbed a pastry and crammed it into her mouth.
"I think you're interested in Draco." Bernice observed.
"I would have to disagree." Lucia managed to say through layers of bread and frosting. "Lucia Sometimes is not interested in anyone."
They sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the chatter around them and the subtle warmth of Hogwarts.
"I heard your aunt died. I'm sorry." Katherine said.
"She was a retched woman, I'm surprised I was even invited to the funeral, let alone put in her Will." Lucia muttered, pushing food around her plate in a bored manner.
"She left you something? Oh do tell us what!" Commanded Meghan.
"It was more of a challenge. I had to find out who my father was, and in turn receive her fortune. I'm competing against my cousin Ferdinand, what competition. He's about as competent as a doorknob." Lucia explained.
"He has a fine arse too." Bernice commented.
"Gods Bernice, he's my fucking cousin!" Lucia muttered before remembering. "Wait, no he isn't. Well that explains his lack of the Sometimes family intellect."
"You're so egotistical; you're almost as bad a Slytherin." Katherine chastised.
"I am not. It's well known that the Sometimes family has excellent scholars." Lucia stated proudly.
"Your mother being the exception?" Bernice inquired.
"My mother… was quite smart when she was not looking to get laid. I'm afraid all the shagging has gone to her brain." Lucia laughed.
"You speak so highly of her; you must have such a great relationship." Meghan said, sarcastically.
"What about your parents Meghan? Are they still worried about Hogwarts?" Katherine asked.
"They don't exactly understand the wizarding world yet. I don't think they quite get the fact that the war has ended." Meghan muttered.
"Well you came back, didn't you?" Bernice asked.
"Just barely, they weren't eager by any means." Meghan rolled her eyes.
"I'm happy you're back." Lucia said, reaching over Bernice to grab her hand.
"I would have missed the hell out of you guys." She said sentimentally.
Lucia chose to ignore that comment and continue eating, pushing ideas of Draco and school from her mind for a few moments before standing up and heading to the Ravenclaw tower.
She passed the statue of Rowena Ravenclaw with very little concern and strolled up to the brass knocker.
"Four men were in a boat on the lake. The boat turns over, and all four men sink to the bottom of the lake, yet not a single man got wet! Why?" asked the bronze eagle.
"Honestly, what is with everyone and relationships? No single man got wet because they were all married or in a relationship. Holy hell can you leave me alone?" She plowed into the common room, dashing up the stairs into her room and dumped her carryon bag on her bed.
Lucia had a lot to think about that night, and while she lay in bed, mulling over a certain blonde Slytherin whilst her friends were sleeping, she unknowingly uncovered a part of her that had been dormant since the day she was born. Her harsh demeanor was suddenly interrupted by something soft and painful, something she had seen cross her mothers face hundreds of times before.
Lucia Sometimes was deeply attracted to Draco Malfoy. It was decided, and from that moment on, everything would change for him and her.
But she would not admit this feeling to anyone, not to herself, not to him, not to anyone else. So she tucked it away behind her heart, hoping maybe dust will collect around it and smother it until there was no room to grow. She would be happy with that, happy with a distant attraction, wouldn't she?