Chapter 4 – Red Train, Red Hair

'thoughts'

"speech"

All too soon it was September 1st. The Malfoys and Alex always traveled in style. To the station they rode in their long black limo. It was a magical limo that was bigger inside than outside so it held everyone with lots of space. Lucius and Narcissa were on the back seat, almost snuggling but not. Draco and Alex were opposite from them. They were not almost snuggling, they were snuggling. Alex had Draco's' head in his lap, playing with his hair as they were drove to the train station.

Soon the limo pulled up and they all got out. People were staring at them, even though they were in ordinary muggle clothing. The people were staring because of their presence. Most people's eyes' saw the heads of blond hair then fixed on the only black- haired one. Draco's and Alex's trunks were piled out of the trunk onto a cart by the driver, who then pushed them through the barrier.

Lucius cast a Notice-me-not charm. With that the Malfoys and Alex passed the barrier. Draco's eyes showed a little wonder, even though he was able to keep his face blank at the sight of the Hogwarts Express. Alex, on the other hand, had excitement written all over his face. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a huge area of red. On closer inspection it turned out to be red-headed people. Oh, Weasleys. Alex had heard his Mum and Dad (Narcissa and Lucius) talk about them. About how they have lots of kids and little money to spend on them.

'That can't be much fun. But I wonder if they will be my friends. They seem to be loud and fun.' Alex thought as he turned away. Draco and he headed towards the front of the train. Lucius, Narcissa, and the driver who had their trunks followed close behind. "Lets' go get a good compartment Draco." Alex said jumping around and onto the train.

"Driver please choose a compartment like Alex wants and put our things there." Draco said grabbing Alex's hand as he was looking around, but not where he was going. Suddenly Alex stopped jumping. Draco turned to look at what ever it was that had caught Alex's eye. As he followed where Alex's eyes were he saw a bushy haired girl getting pushed around by some older students.

"Alex…" Draco began. But before he could say another word Alex ran over, dragging Draco with him.

"Stop it!" Alex said loudly as he got close enough that they could hear him.

"Why should we? What's a pipsqueak like you going to do little girl? Is your big brother or sister gonna come beat me up?" The large overweight boy said.

"No, but you have to stop! What did she do to you?" Alex asked glaring at the much bigger boys.

"She didn't get out of my way quick enough. Now beat it before I beat you." The boy said reaching out to grab Alex. Next thing he knew he was facing an angry blonde that was bigger than the other two targets. "Who are you?" the large boy demanded.

"I am Draco Malfoy. If you know what's good for you, you will NEVER attempt to touch Alex again. Now leave this girl alone and go away." Draco said with a voice full of calm fury at the boy, the perfect picture of a true Malfoy the whole time. After all he had threatened to hurt Alex and nobody did that if Draco could stop it.

"So you're a Malfoy huh? Then why is the one you're protecting have black hair? Everyone knows the Malfoys are all blondes." The over weight idiot, as Draco had nicknamed him, asked.

"Because he's mine." Was all Draco said. Lucius and Narcissa came up behind them, but only Alex and Draco noticed.

"Is there a problem here?" Lucius asked, his voice completely cold.

"Yes sir. These mean boys were picking on her and threatened me." Alex said, once again standing beside Draco. But this time he had Draco's whole arm in his own, not just his hand. Of course it isn't like Draco cared.

"Well, that kind of behavior will not be tolerated. Run along boys before I expel you for threatening another student." Lucius said. The large boy and his idiot friends got away as quick as they could.

"Are you all right?" Alex asked the girl.

"Yes. Thank you for standing up for me. I'm Hermione Granger. Who are you?" Hermione asked sticking her hand out.

"I'm Alex and he's Draco. It's nice to meet you, but you must be a muggle-born not to know who we are, or at least who he is." Alex told her.

"Your right and it's nice to meet you too. Um, do you mind if I ask a question?" Hermione asked.

"You already asked one." Draco said.

"But go ahead and ask another." Alex replied, elbowing Draco in the side gently.

"What did he mean when he said you were his?" Hermione asked pointing at Draco. Alex pulled at his choker necklace, drawing her attention to it.

"See this necklace, the disk with an A on it?" Alex asked. Hermione nodded. "On the back it says "Property of Draco Malfoy". He asked me the day we met me if I would mind being his. I told him no, that I wouldn't mind. He then asked me on the day he had this made, a day later, if I minded wearing it, showing that I am his. I didn't mind. After all it's nice to belong to someone who cares about you and takes care of you like your special, even when your not. That is why I am his and always will be his." Alex explained.

"We need to get on the train. Will you be ok? Our driver will help you with your trunk." Alex said as he was lead away by Draco onto the train.

A few minutes later the train was ready to leave. After warnings to be good, hugs and kisses from mothers, and playful teasing from fathers everyone was on and waving back at their parents. Even Draco and Alex were waving. Draco of course was much more reserved in his farewell, while Alex was waving back at Lucius and Narcissa with all his might till the train rounded the corner and they were lost from site.

"Why don't we go find Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle now Alex?" Draco asked, taking Alex's mind off the fact that they wouldn't see Lucius and Narcissa till Christmas vacation.

"Ok." Alex said. It didn't take long for them to find Crabbe and Goyle. They joined Alex and Draco in searching for Blaise.

While looking for Blaise they had to hide from Pansy once. She was stalking the hall, looking for Draco. Fortunately she did not find them. Unfortunately, in Draco's opinion anyway, they had hidden in a compartment with three third-year Gryffindors. Three people who you just can't seem to forget. Fred and George Weasley and Lee Jordan.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Fred asked.

"Seems like a few little firstys have come in." George stated as he looked at them.

"I wonder have they come to see my spider?" Lee Jordan asked. Alex perked up at the mention of the spider.

"Can I see it? Please?" Alex asked looking hopeful.

"Sure but keep the door closed, otherwise it could escape." George said.

"Crabbe, Goyle go find Blaise and stay with him. We'll come find you three later." Draco said. Greg and Vince nodded and left closing the door behind them. They were glad for an excuse not to stay because they were not fond of spiders.

"Hey sit here." Fred said, indicating the spot next to him.

"What are your names?" George asked. "I assume that the blond is a Malfoy, but you miss I have no clue."

"One I'm a guy, not a girl. Two he is a Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. And I'm Alex. And three would I be correct in saying that two of you are Weasleys?" Alex asked sitting down next to Fred. Draco sat moodily next to Alex, not pleased at all.

"Your right. I'm Lee Jordan, 3rd year. They are the famous Weasley twins Fred and George, also 3rd years."

"But you may call me Forge and him Gred. After all we call ourselves that all the time." Said George or now Forge.

"And since we call ourselves that all the time we wouldn't want you to get confused now would we?" Fred now Gred said. Alex giggled.

"Was that a giggle I heard?" Forge asked.

"Does that mean someone finds us funny?" Gred asked.

"Yes and yes." Was all Alex said, not shy at all anymore.

"Here's the spider." Lee said, handing the box over to Alex. Alex looked in and smiled. Right before sticking his hand in. As his hand came out of the box it gently held the spider. Three third-years stared in amazement.

"Wow." Was all the three said.

"Draco." Alex called. Draco turned to Alex.

"Yes?" Draco said his voice friendly sounding only to Alex.

"Draco, I like these three. Can I be friends with them please?" Alex asked looking at Draco with puppy eyes. Alex didn't know the power his eyes held over others.

"Alex you know that I'll be put in Slytherin. These three are Gryffindors. The two don't mix well." Draco answered very carefully NOT looking at Alex.

"But I don't care and neither do you and you know it. Besides aren't you always saying that Malfoys don't follow any rules but their own?" Alex asked, looking down at his lap with tears in his eyes. The twins and Lee had no idea how Draco didn't cave immediately with the puppy eyes, let alone the teary ones.

"I know." Draco said, glaring at the opposite wall, still not looking at Alex.

"You didn't answer my question Draco! Can I be friends with them?" Alex exclaimed, and then asked. Draco had been surprised and had looked at Alex. He buckled.

"Sure." Was all Draco got to say before Alex had him in a huge hug. Luckily Alex had already put the spider back in the box.

Shortly after Draco and Alex left the compartment, intending to find their friends. Finding them was no trouble. Crabbe and Goyle were there snacking on what they had bought earlier. Soon they were all changing into their robes. Except Alex who had worn a dark purple robe that was a favorite of his. Next thing they knew, they were there.

"First years this way please! First years!" A giant of a man called. This man was Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of the keys and grounds at Hogwarts. Draco and Alex had seen Hogwarts before, so were not quite as awed as the other first years. But they had never seen it from this view, so still were a little dazed by Hogwarts beauty as they got into the boats as instructed. Draco, Alex, Blaise, and to their extreme disgust Pansy, were in a boat together. As the boats moved across the water Alex spoke to Draco.

"This is going to be great." Alex said. Draco looked out of the corner of his eye at Alex and said softly under his breath

"It sure is." Before turning his attention back to the castle. "It sure is."