A/N: Hello, my wonderful readers! I have no idea why I didn't put this up earlier. I must have forgotten because I said I'd put it up the next night after chapter 1. Well whatever the reason for my mind slip, here is the long awaited chapter! Read and enjoy!

Chapter II

The English countryside flew by outside the window of the train. The sun was just beginning to set beneath the horizon; the blue sky turning orange, tinged with purple and pink. Elena sighed with boredom, resting her chin in her hand. She leaned her forehead against the window pane, savoring how it felt cool against her warm skin. Her eyes closed as she became absorbed in the music that flowed from her earbuds. A small, turquoise iPod sat beside her on the seat; the white and lime green rhinestones twinkling in the light. She mouthed the words faintly; her fingers fiddling with a long strand of her hair.

"Elena…"

Elena's eyes snapped open, and she felt herself slowly coming back to reality. She looked at the girl sitting across from her, her sister and twin. Her image was mirrored in Ellie's face, though her dark layers of hair framed her face in a choppy pixie-cut and were streaked with fuchsia. A large pair of violet and turquoise headphones rested about her slender neck. Identical sets of large, blue topaz-colored eyes stared back at each other; Ellie's were tinged with concern, masked by her usual amusement. Pausing her music, Elena pulled the earbuds from her ears and asked with a raised eyebrow, "Yeah, what is it?"

"Are you going to remain unsociable and just continue to stare out that window the whole ride to the school?" Her sister asked, the corners of her lips twitching to hide her smirk.

Elena maintained the bland look that was set on her face and gave her an indifferent shrug of her shoulders before replacing her earbuds in their former places. Her fingers paused as they were about to turn the music back on when something nudged her shoulder. A tender smile graced her lips as she glanced over at the golden head that rested there. Her younger brother Ethan sat fast asleep beside her, leaning on her heavily for support. His wire-rimmed glasses were skewed slightly across his face, and she could vaguely hear the gentle sound of his snoring. She nudged him back affectionately before returning her attention back to her iPod. Elena envied Ethan's ability to fall asleep in any form of moving transportation. Missing the smirk blooming in full on Ellie's face, Elena's attention snapped back to her when she heard her ask, "Do you think he'd notice if we drew on his face?"

Elena glared at her reproachfully, shaking her head as she muttered, "Very mature, Ellie. I suppose next you'll recommend that we spray whipped cream in his hair or hide his glasses."

Ellie smiled wide with glee and gushed, "How did you know?"

Elena rolled her eyes and continued to flip through her playlist. Seeing that she would gain no help in her schemes of tormenting their younger brother, Ellie turned her attention to the black and white ball of fluff that lay in her lap. She tickled it lightly, and a small ferret unfurled itself, butting its diminutive head against her hand. She watched as its small nose twitched as he took in his mistress' scent. Ellie tickled him beneath his chin, and its eyes closed in ecstasy. Elena eyed the creature with amusement. Ellie hardly went anywhere without bring Mo the ferret along; he was so attached to her that he became quite depressed if he were left behind. Mo also, harbored a deep resentment for pet carriers, which was why when the rest of the students carried their pets aboard in that fashion, they looked at how Mo had draped himself about Ellie's neck with interest. Elena found it a little ridiculous; the ferret was too spoiled. She too, had a pet: a female Maine Coon feline aptly christened The Duchess. As in her nature, The Duchess had a very pampered demeanor, though she was still content to pass the journey in her carrier, which sat on the other side of Elena.

Suddenly, Ethan began to stir again. Elena's eyes snapped over to him as he sat up properly with a groan. He pushed his glasses up onto his head and rubbed his eyes with his fists groggily. "How long have I been out?"

"Since we first sat down," Ellie answered with a smirk.

Elena threw her a look before turning to her brother and rubbing his back. "It's ok, Ethan. We were up early this morning."

"I didn't sleep good last night either. I was too nervous." He told her as he yawned, putting his glasses back into place. "I'm just not sure about this, Sis. I'm gonna miss all of my old friends. What if I can't make any new ones? What if they think I'm weird?"

"I'm sure you'll make lots of friends, Ethan." Elena assured him, comfortingly.

"Yeah, there's gotta be plenty of nerds that go to Hogwarts. You'll fit right in." Ellie chirped.

"Shut up!" Ethan snapped, agitatedly.

"You're not helping, Ellie." Elena added, blandly.

Ellie just shrugged, digging into the black and purple, messenger bag beside her and pulling out a small baggy of cheese. She opened the baggy and gave a cube to Mo, who gulped it down greedily. Elena turned to Ethan and asked, "Are you hungry? You haven't had anything since breakfast."

"I guess…" He admitted, vaguely.

"I'll go get us something. I think the cart went by just a second ago." Elena said, pulling the earbuds out of her ears and getting up from her seat. "Ellie, do you want anything?"

"Nope, I'm good." Ellie replied, popping a cheese cube into her mouth.

"Suit yourself." Erica stated with a shrug, opening the door to their compartment.

She shut it behind her before making her way down the car. Many of the other students had their uniforms on already, making Elena feel a little out of place in her jeans and sweater. Eventually, she found the food cart. It was laden all kinds of sweets and other snacks. The older woman tending it smiled up cheerfully at her and asked, "What would you like, love?"

Elena fished out some coins from her pocket, looking over the horde of candy. "Um, yeah…I'll have a box of Bertie Botts and a licorice snake."

The lady took out a box of jellybeans and a long, thick, red licorice stick shaped like a snake and handed them to Elena. She gave the lady some coins and thanked her. Just when she was turning to head back to her compartment, Elena bumped right into someone, dropping the box of Bertie Botts on the floor. Rubbing her head, Elena kneeled down to pick up the jellybeans and remarked to the person she had run into, "I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there."

The person in front of her scoffed and returned in a curt tone, "Obviously."

A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as her embarrassment and temper flickered. Her eyes narrowed a bit, dark eyebrows knitting together in irritation as she rose to face the offended person. "I said I was sor…"

Elena trailed off as she met a pair of stormy gray eyes. Her eyes flew open in recognition as she took in the astounded expression on Draco's pale face. A smile quickly spread across her lips as she subconsciously moved a piece of her dark bangs from her face.

"Hey," She greeted, ecstatically.

But Draco didn't return her enthusiasm. In fact, he looked as if he had swallowed something unrepentantly large. Elena's smile faltered slightly, but then, some motion beside him drew her attention. A short girl with inky black hair and a pug-like face appeared at Draco's side, threading her arm through his possessively. On his other side was a tall, African boy, who was looking her over with some amount of interest. The girl glared up at her over her wrinkled nose, asking Draco, "Do you know her?"

Elena watched as Draco stared at her for a moment before his gaze became oddly blank.

"No," he replied, coolly.

She flinched slightly; his words had cut into her like knives. Elena stared at him imploringly, confusion written all over her face. She was so lost. Why was he pretending like he didn't know her? Then, she watched as irritation marred his handsome face.

"Are you going to move or what?" He snapped, shortly.

Elena glared back at him out of reflex and returned with a growl, "Gladly."

With that, she stepped out of his way and stalked back down the car. As she was leaving, Elena caught part of their conversation.

"She was certainly odd." The girl griped.

"Indeed," Draco agreed, "bloody stupid Yank."

Elena fought the tears that were swelling in the corners of her eyes and increased her pace. She didn't know what had just happened. That prick may have looked like him, but that wasn't the Draco she had met over the summer. Shivering, Elena felt as if she had suddenly caught a chill, even though her anger seemed to be about ready to boil over. She was thankful when she came back to her car. When she got to her compartment, Elena threw open the door, slamming it shut behind her. The noise spooked Mo, and he scurried up Ellie's shoulder and curled himself up into a ball amongst her hair, hoping to be unnoticeable. Ellie and Ethan looked up at her in shock of her display of anger. Elena's eyes were smoldering as she looked around the compartment. She threw Ethan his jellybeans, who caught them jerkily. She stalked over to her seat and sat down irritably, tearing into her licorice snake viciously and sticking her earbuds back in.

An awkward silence fell over the compartment as everyone quietly ate their snacks. Ellie surveyed her twin critically, taking in how distressed she appeared to be. Reaching up, she stroked Mo reassuringly, the uneasiness of the atmosphere causing him to remain curled in his ball. Eventually, Elena's eyes drifted away from the window and met her sister's gaze. Ellie rose a dark eyebrow in question, and Elena kept on chewing her licorice broodingly.

"Don't ask." She growled in warning.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Ellie assured her, holding up her hands defensively.

Elena stared at her a moment longer before tearing off another piece of her snake and looking back out the window. She let her music drown out the world around her, wanting to be as far away as possible. Mechanically, she scratched at her arm through her sweater; something seeming to burn at her skin, irritating it. Her heart ached, causing a pressure to build in her chest that was nearly unbearable. Draco's cold disregard had hurt more than she would have ever had expected. Tears stung at her eyes once more, and she closed them in the attempt to fight them off. Confusion ate at her, and though she didn't mean to, Elena replayed their meeting over and over again in her mind for the next few minutes that ticked by.

It couldn't have been him she had decided. Draco had never been anything, but kind and charming to her. That person…he was too cold and austere. When she opened her eyes again, she noticed how dark it had become outside. The moon rose to replace the sun; the shadows were the clouds swirled gloomily up in the sky. She figured it wouldn't be long before they reached the school. With a sigh, Elena stated quietly, "We should get changed into out uniforms."

Ellie nodded in agreement and with a wave of her hand, the compartment shades close.

A/N: Oh snap! Just thought I'd give you all a wtf? moment. I'm just awesome like that. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. I'll try to update sooner this time. Promise! Well, you know what to do. Reviews are appreciated! Lots of Love, LoR