AN: yer. treat as if this is my first ever fic. because all other stuff i've ever written has been bull. this is for max btw. and suze. and anyone else who's part of the art room lot.

Disclaimer: none of the settings from now on are mine, i don't think. Tom and That Lot are. but anyone/where you recognise definately isn't.
:

King Cross Station on a Saturday morning at 10:30 is far too busy for it to be normal, all those commuters for god's sake. Slowly, almost painfully, the kids from school start arriving, I think Tom and I, and the rest of that lot, were the first here.

That's what he wanted to tell me the other night. After the whole Ronald drama, I stormed back into the club and demanded that Tom take me back to his house immediately. Which, being the most wonderful guy alive, he obliged without question.

In the end, I got to curl up with him in an oversized t-shirt and pair of boxers and sleep, trying to ignore the beginnings of a headache.

Next morning, over breakfast, he sat me down and showed me his acceptance letter. Meaning that for the first time, I'm going to be myself at school.

Right now, the lot of us are doing our ass shake dancing, very publicly and trying to sing along to some music blaring for Em's mobile phone. A hairgrip clatters to the floor as a do an amazingly spectacular spin and jump and the large red ribbon bow in my hair starts floating down the station.

'Shit, ASHHHHH!!'

Ash stops mid shake and looks at me expectantly as someone taps me on the shoulder, 'This yours?'

It's Malfoy, hand stretched towards me, clutching onto the lost ribbon. I bite my lip, blush slightly, mumble my thanks, retrieve my bow and dance off to join That Lot.

'Five minutes left, yous lot.'

'Who's he?'

'You going to miss me?'

You well like him.'

'Shut up.'

'Shut your face up.'

'I'm trying to say bye.'

'And I'm trying to say you want his babies.'

'I DO NOT WANT DRACO MALFOY'S BABIES!'

'Well at least we know who he is now.'

'Piss off.'

I hug and kiss everyone goodbye, pausing when I reach Ash, slapping him playfully round the face, then continuing with the rounds.

I take hold of the trolley and guide Tom towards the barrier, I've already pre-warned him on the whole walking through the solid barrier thing, and stride steadily towards it. I only stop to look back on That Lot, all of whom seem to be crying.

In front of the two of us stands the gleaming scarlet train, steam bellowing out of the chimney thing and making everything and everyone seem hazy. We board the train, and go in search of a free carriage. Which doesn't seem humanly possible until we reach one with Ginny waiting on her own in it.

Seeing as she's not her brother, or with him for that matter, sitting with her, when everywhere else is full seems to be the only sensible, logical thing to do.

Tom takes the seat near the window, and I settle close to his side, resting my head on his chest. Ginny looks up, questioning me with her eyes, as he starts stroking my hair.

What's the deal with the guy?

What guy?

The guy playing with you…

Tom.

What's the deal?

Best friend since ever. He's exchanging here.

Fair enough. I'll leave you to it.

With a final look is our direction; accompanied by a smirk; she leaves the carriage. The atmosphere brightens up immediately and the two of us quite literally make ourselves at home, spreading all our junk out and opening the first of many packs of cookies and donuts.

From London, all the way to about Leeds, people leave us alone with our conversation about nothing, and us trying to plan how we can sneak out for the Cute Is What We Aim For gig in January, followed by Son of Dork in February.

Until Harry decides to pay us a little visit. He doesn't even bother to knock as he enters our space, just walks in and plonks himself down on the only free seat he can find.

I stop mid sentence, smiling in his direction. I never actually realised how awkward the whole re-uniting thing would be. I thought that we could just go back to normal, even though I tried my hardest to forget the other side of me. The side that school know. I've been dreading the moment when my two worlds would collide.

And now that moment's come. And I'm bricking it. But the two guys are just sat there making small talk while I have a spaz in my mind. I slowly start to relax, paying attention to my intercostal diaphragmatic breathing techniques, raising my soft pallet with every breath I take in, allowing only 2 per minute if at all possible.

'Just wanted to say hi,' Harry whispers as he stands to leave.

And before I can say anything, he's gone.

It's dark when we arrive at Hogsmeade, and as we step cautiously off the machine, a fine sheet of rain soaks every one of us to the skin.

'Oh shit, me fringe,' I wail in unison with Tom as we throw ourselves into the nearest carriage.

'Shit. Fuck. Wank. Shit. Bastard. Fuck. My first day at new school and I'm going to have a 'fro for a fringe.'

'You look amazing.'

'Really?' he's not asking as such, more pleading, as I join in desperately trying to flatten his curling fringe, 'Why isn't yours going all poof too?'

'Because I'm amazing and put a charm on it.'

'Ooh. You baby Einstein.'

'Don't cha just love it?' I laugh, sort out his mess and glance around at the others in the carriage we high jacked.

'Granger,'

'Malfoy.'

Shit he gets more gorgeous ever time I see him. He's grown his fringe longer now, so it sweeps over and covers one bright blue eye, and comes down to about his chin. The back is shorter and all messed up. He's stretching his ear. Wow. At the moment there's a fang of some kind in it. I reach up and subconsciously fiddle with my own hole, now nearly 10mm, still giving the king of evil the once over. His shoulders have definitely gotten broader, and he's less arrogant, more fragile somehow.

'Pardon?'

Shit, I didn't realise he was talking to me.

'No, I was just telling your friend how intelligent you are.'

Ok. Maybe he wasn't talking to me. But honestly, what were you expecting, proclamations of love? Look what happened last time.

'Move it you obese slag,' Tom moans into my ear as he manhandles me out of the carriage and up the steps into the main entrance.

'M'off. Got to go get sorted or something like that.'

'Houses.'

'What I said.'

I laugh.

'Good look gorgeous,' I say kissing him.

Next thing I know, I'm making my way up to the common room and bed, with my head in a tizz. Tom's in Slytherin. As in, my best friend in the world is in a totally different house to me. Which means I'll hardly see him. And. What if he goes all evil on me?

That would be just awful. He'll be best friends with Malfoy by tomorrow morning.