(A/N: Hello readers, thanks for waiting. This chapter is a bit short but it's quite important so pay attention! :) Hope you enjoy. Oh and I failed to mention in the previous chapter that Hermione's father is going to be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It mentions it in this chapter but I though I'd give you a head's up!)

Disclaimer: (I don't think I put one up on the other chapters.. Whoops.) As much as I would like to own the Harry Potter series, I don't. I only own this plot and my mistakes. Everything else belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter Four: Consequences of Eavesdropping

September 3, 1998

(Draco POV)

I wasn't sure what the hell I was getting myself into. But as soon as the train started moving I knew it was too late to go back.

The train was a lot smaller than years before since it was only the advisors. It was only then when I wondered if Blaise Zabini had come. I figured not since he had hated Hogwarts as much as I did. I hadn't talked to him all summer. In fact, I hadn't talked to anyone all summer-not since the war.

I preferred to be left alone anyway. That's why I was walking down the train isle looking for an empty compartment. I was pitiful. Then I saw Potter. Potty, Weasel and the Mudblood sitting together just like olden times.

I tried to ignore them and keep walking, but their door was open and it was hard not to hear Granger's loud, bitter voice say, "But he's not dead, we saw the Dark Mark in the sky not two days ago. That's the only-"

"It's not nice to eavesdrop, Malfoy." Ron said, cutting Hermione off.

I stood there, frozen, staring at Granger. Did she just say what I think she said? They saw the Dark Mark in the sky? The Dark Lord is dead… Just then my left forearm started burning like fire under my sleeve. I slapped my right hand to it.

"Well who said I was a nice person?" I said with a fake smirk. "You should really shut your door, y'know." My voice cracked. I slammed their door shut and practically ran to the back of the train where I finally found and empty compartment.

Questions flooded my mind. I sat down and buried my face in my hands. I couldn't hear any thing but the blood pounding in my ears.

This can't be happening.

* * * * *

(Hermione POV)

"It's not nice to eavesdrop, Malfoy." Ron said cutting me off mid-sentence.

I looked up at the doorway to see Draco Malfoy standing frozen in our doorway. His cold eyes bore into mine sending chills up my spine. He stood there for a couple seconds before gripping his left forearm and saying, "Well who said I was a nice person?" He flashed his famous smirk before adding, "You should really keep your door shut, y'know." His voice cracked. He slammed our door shut and walked down the hall. I kept staring at the door.

"What the bloody hell is he doing here?" Ron asked.

His eyes were so cold…

"Do you think he heard us?" I faintly heard Harry say.

Ron snorted. "Didn't you see the look on his face? Of course he heard us."

The look on his face; he looked so pale, vacant…

I subconsciously registered Harry saying my name.

"Hello? Earth to Hermione?" Ron shouted and clapped his hands in front of my face.

I jumped. "What? Sorry-I…"

"You okay, Hermione?" Harry asked. "You almost look as pale as Mal-ferret.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, I just spaced out for a second." I said, recovering myself.

Ron laughed, "I'll say."

Changing the subject I asked, "So how is this all going to work? I mean we're at school but the Order has to meet. We have things to discuss now that things… aren't over."

"Lupin and everyone talked to McGonagall." Harry stated. "She knows everything now and is letting us use the shrieking shack whenever we need to meet."

"Not to mention that your father is now the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Ron added.

I nodded. I stared out the window at the cloudy sky and said, "I wonder… How many others saw the Dark Mark too?"

* * * * *

(Draco POV)

This can't be happening. I thought. Not again. I listed off all the possibilities of mistakes in my head from, maybe they just saw oddly shaped clouds, to, maybe I just heard them wrong… But those didn't explain why my left arm felt like a wildfire.

I heard a knock on my door and I looked up to see a girl sliding it open. Nothing about her looked familiar.

"Excuse me? Sorry to bother, but all the other compartments are full. Do you mind if I join you?" She asked.

I though about lying and saying that the seats were taken, but I figured she was alone and looked shy; she wouldn't talk much. "Erm, yeah sure. Go ahead." I offered.

"Thanks" she said with a smile and sat directly across from me. I was wrong about judging her as shy. "I don't seem to remember you. Did you go to Hogwarts all seven years?"

I nodded, avoiding her gaze.

"So did I. Strange we never crossed ways… I'm from Ravenclaw; I'm Elizabeth, by the way." She held out her open hand. "Elizabeth Marks."

I hesitated then made eye contact with her. "Slytherin." I said grabbing her hand. "I'm Draco Malfoy."

She froze, wide-eyed and quickly pulled her hand away and set it next the other in her lap.

I leaned back into my seat. That was the reaction I was looking for when she first saw my face.

"Is it true then? Are you really a…?"

"A death eater?" I finished for her. " No. I was but…" I sighed. "No, I'm not a death eater. Sorry to disappoint you."

I heard a short laugh escape her lips. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to seem rude, I just… I just don't know why I didn't recognize you. It's a pleasure to meet you, Draco Malfoy."

It's a pleasure to meet me? That's new… I didn't say anything back. I don't think she expected me to; she just picked up her magazine, the "Quibbler" and left me to my silence.

I must have dozed off at some point because I soon found myself awakening to the sound of the plump lady behind the candy cart, "Anything from the trolley, dear?"

I shook my head and she continued on her way down the train. That was when I realized I was alone again. On the seat where the girl had been sitting was a piece of parchment that read in fancy, curly letters, Elizabeth Marks. And after a mere five seconds the ink disappeared and the parchment disintegrated into a thousand little ashes.

The train jolted to a stop and I looked out the window. The castle was in view. Let's do this.

(A/N: Hope you liked it ;) Please review, I like to know what you guys think, even if it's just four words; it's better than nothing.)