The next morning I am woken by an immense amount of screaming form the floors below.
"Shut it!" I holler knowing it is useless to even try to quiet whoever is hollering at such an earlier hour of the morning.
I quickly change into a green and black plaid skirt, a white button down shirt and a black sweater vest. I pull up my black knee-high socks, slipping into the only pair of high-heels I own. Once I am dressed I rush down the stairs, nearly running into Kreture.
As I step over the trunks that have been piled in the hall I spot Harry, who is standing next to a large black dog…Sirius.
"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Sirius, Dumbledore said no!" Mrs. Weasley, who looks rather flustered, exclaims.
"He won't listen," I state patting the bear like creature beside Harry.
"You're a bit dressed up," remarks Harry looking over at me.
"Yeah, you'll see me wearing stuff like this all the time at Hogwarts…it's just kind of what most girls wear there," I answer pulling anxiously at the left sleeve of my blouse.
"Oh, honestly…." says Mrs. Weasley coming back around the corner, "well, on your own head be it!"
With that she pulls the door open, stepping into the little sunlight that is able to penetrate the clouds, followed by Harry, the dog and me.
"Where's Tonks?" asks Harry looking around as we walk down the steps which vanish the moment our feet hit the pavement.
"She's waiting for us just up here," responds Mrs. Weasley.
A few minutes later we reach Tonks who has managed to disguise herself as a rather old woman.
"Is that her?" Harry questions me.
"That's Tonks," I respond with a smile.
"Wotcher, Harry," says Tonks with a wink. "Better hurry up, hadn't we, Molly?" she continues looking down at her watch.
"I know, I know," replies Mrs. Weasley with a moan, her pace quickening, "but Mad – Eye wanted to wait for Stugis…."
I tune her out, fantasying about the upcoming school year; Hogwarts' feasts, quidditch, late nights sitting by the fire in the common room, and best of all seeing my favorite member of Slytherin.
"So you dress to fit in I suppose," Tonks whispers pulling me from my thoughts.
"I plan on spending the train ride to Hogwarts with my boyfriend," I respond quietly, moving my ring from my ring finger to my middle finger then back again. "That is if he's not a prefect."
"Of course," answers Tonks before turning her attention back to the road along which we walk.
We reach King's Crossing a little over twenty minutes later. I gently pat Sirius on the head before turning to say my good-byes.
"Pleasure meeting you Mrs. Weasley. Tonks write as often as you possibly can. I'll see you in a bit Harry," I say rather quickly eager to get to the train.
"Of course," Tonks responds as I walk away.
I stand against the barrier between platforms nine and ten, pretending to people watch. As a rather large woman stop in front of me to check her ticket I sink into the bricks, stepping onto platform nine and three – quarters.
I quickly make my way through the crowd of people, boarding the train at the entrance nearest to me. I nearly run down the aisle towards the prefect's carriage. Yet, I am too late, sitting in the same carriage as the boy I have been longing to see all summer are three others, Pansy Parkinson, the Slytherin house's girl prefect and a boy and a girl who I do not know from Ravenclaw. I look down at the brightly colored carpet, feeling defeated. It is only a minute later that the carriage door slides open; I lift my eyes off the ground.
"Who from Gryffindor?" the boy who has exited the car questions, sliding the door shut behind him.
"Weasley and Granger," I announce allowing a rather flustered looking first year past me.
"Not Potter?"
No, not Harry, I have to go before someone sees us," I say quickly, leaning in and kissing the boy on the cheek before hurrying away.
I eventually find the car in which Harry sits, sliding the door open. I stand for a moment before taking a seat on the floor directly under the window.
"Isabelle, there's no reason to sit on the floor," says Harry.
"I'm perfectly fine, thank you. Do any of you happen to have a piece of parchment I can use?" I respond, looking around at the others in the compartment.
"Here," a girl with white – blonde hair says handing me the parchment before returning to whatever it is she is reading.
I pull out a piece of charcoal from the small satin bag I have been carrying around with me. I slowly begin to draw out the defined jaw bone of the one who has captured my heart.
"What are you drawing?" questions Ginny looking over at me.
"Nothing," I snap back rather quickly. "Sorry Ginny, it's just some guy."
"It's alright. Is it Harry?" she continues.
"No, not Harry," I state turning my attention back to my sketch, filling in one of the pupils.
"I'm starving," Ron announces as he and Hermione enter the car almost an hour later.
"Well, there are two fifth – year prefects from each house," states Hermione plopping down in the seat next to Ginny. "Boy and girl form each."
"And guess who's a Slytherin prefect?" asks Ron, his eyes closed.
"Malfoy," Harry and I say at the exact same time.
"Do you rehearse stuff like this, or does it just happen?" questions Ginny her eyes shifting between Harry and me.
"And that complete cow Pansy Parkinson," groans Hermione. "Oh, Isabelle, Malfoy asked me to give this to you." She continues after a moment, handing me a white sheet of paper.
I unfold it slowly, instantly recognizing Draco's semi – neat writing. His note read:
Meet me tonight after the feast, I'll wait for you. I've missed you loads.
Draco
It is evident he wrote this on the spur of the moment due to this notes lack of words and creativity his others possess. Not wanting the others to get a glimpse at it I refold it and slip it into the side of my shoe.
""What does he want?" asks Ron.
"Nothing, it's just his form of humor, it isn't all together every polite," I answer not looking directly at Ron as I say this, merely for a lack of caring to see the expression on his face.
Before Ron responds our compartment door sides open yet again, reveling Malfoy, Grabbe, and Goyle.
"What?" Harry snaps before Draco is even able to speak.
"Manners, Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention," sneers Draco. "You see I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments."
"Yeah," Harry responds eyeing Malfoy, "but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone."
At Harry's words Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville burst out into laughter. I look to Draco, whose lips curls as the laughter continues.
"Tell me, how does it feel being second – best to Weasley, Potter?" jeers Draco with a smug grin.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Hermione says sharply.
"I seem to have touched a nerve," says Draco with a smirk.
I let out a snort of laughter before quickly covering my mouth and nose with my hands, trying to pass it off as a sneeze, "Excuse me," I mumble.
"Ah, Isabelle, I presume you got my note," Draco says turning his attention to me.
Harry shifts in his seat his eyes glued to my face, "Yes, Hermione gave it to me." I respond looking up at Draco.
"And…." he prompts.
"I'll discuss its contents with you later," I answer with a small smile, which Draco returns.
"Well, just watch yourself, Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out of line," states Malfoy giving Harry one last malicious look before retreating out of the car, Grabbe and Goyle at his heels.
"I'll be right back," I announce before standing and walking out of our compartment.
I make my way slowly down the corridor, looking in each car, eventually I see Draco, sitting alone in a seat towards the back of the train.
"What was that all about?" I demand sitting down across from him.
"I was just having fun, lighten up Belle," Draco replies taking my hand in his.
"Lighten up? Draco, I have Harry where we need him," I explain.
"And where exactly is that? Where he hangs on your every word? I saw him when I addressed you," says Draco, I can see the frustration and hurt in his pale blue eyes.
"Draco, if I had wanted Harry I could have taken him years ago. But that's not how I wanted it to be. Instead I fought for two years to get what I really wanted, what I knew I deserved," I explain softly.
"Sap," jokes Malfoy after a few moments of silence.
"Shut up," I giggle before getting up and walking away.
"See you tonight!" Draco calls after me.
I re-enter the compartment in which my trunk is located and change into my robes silently. As I look around I am met with only cold glares.
"Why is everyone staring at me like that?" I question leaning my back up against the window.
"What was in the note Malfoy gave you?" Hermione asks eyeing my shoe.
"Exactly what I told Ron," I state.
"Oh really," continues Hermione obviously not knowing when to stop.
"Are you calling me a liar?" I ask my temper flailing up a bit.
"No, of course not," replies Hermione as the train jerks to a stop.
I stay in the compartment, watching as people file out of the train, "There you are," I say with a smile upon seeing Draco.
"Miss me?" he questions wrapping an arm around my slender waist.
"Don't you have something…important to do?" I joke pleased with the jealous look Pansy shoots me as she pushes past us.
"Shove some first – years in the right direction," replies Draco pulling me closer to his side so we are able to squeeze through the trains small exit door together.
"Weasley and Granger alert," I announce before moving away from Draco just a little.
"It doesn't matter," he replies glancing over his shoulder before reaching for my hand.
"We can't risk it, Hermione already suspects something," I state giving him my 'I'm sorry' look.
"I suppose you're correct," sighs Draco, dropping his hand back down to his side.
I give him a small smile before going to find Harry and the others I had sat with on the train ride to Hogwarts.
"Where were you?" Harry asks as I walk towards him.
"I just wanted to catch up with an old friend," I answer stopping in front of him. In truth I dislike lying to him. I have started to consider Harry a friend and he is family…though one must protect their family, no matter what it is they have to do.
Malfoy?" questions Harry.
"No, she's in Gryffindor. I'll introduce you," I say, running through the names of all the Gryffindor girls in my head, hoping Harry didn't know all of them already.
"Right," says Harry as Ron and Hermione join us.
"Where's Pig?" Ron asks referring to his small brown owl.
"That Luna girl was carrying him," replies Harry glancing towards the coaches.
A short distance away I can see Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy making their way to a coach. I long to go with them, to sit next to Draco, my head on his shoulder as he tells everyone what the summer held for him. Yet, I stay where I am; knowing that disappearing again would only cause more suspicion.
"Malfoy was being absolutely foul to a first – year back there," complains Hermione, her words pulling me from my ever pleasant thoughts. "I swear I'm going to report him, he's only had his badge three minutes and he's using it to bully people worse than ever…. Where's Crookshanks?"
"Ginny's got him," I state, spotting the perky red head coming towards us, a squirming cat in her arms.
"She's there," announces Harry as Ginny continues to walk.
"Thanks," Hermione says as Ginny, who has now reached us, hands over Crookshanks. "Come on; let's get a carriage together before they all fill up…." With that she takes off, I follow slowly behind wishing only to get out of the drizzle.
I take a seat by the window, watching the rain roll down it. Shortly after Ron and Harry join us and the coach takes off, winding its way up to the castle.