Draco has had the worst summer of his life. He killed someone. He killed Ginny Weasley.
When Ginny fell through the window she screamed. He panicked. He heard footsteps rushing up the stairs towards the dorm. What he did next was like a reflex. He covered himself with the cloak, and as soon as the doorway was clear as people went to look out the window, he snuck back out just as he snuck in.
He did not want to think about it, but he couldn't think of anything else. Even in his sleep, he would have nightmares about it. He didn't tell anyone. Not even his father, and definitely not Harry.
On September 1, Draco apparated with his father to King's Cross Station. Like every year. There he found Harry, whom he hasn't seen since April. They greeted each other, and went to find a compartment to sit. As they were looking for a compartment on the train they bumped into Hermione, who warmly greeted Harry, but not Draco, whom she simply nodded towards. After a short conversation between Harry and Hermione, Hermione was about to leave.
"You should come join us," Draco offered, with a somewhat nervous smile on his face. Why did he offer that? Was it the guilt?
Both Harry and Hermione exchanged confused, maybe surprised, looks before Harry agreed, "yeah, you totally should."
So she did.
They continued to look for an empty compartment, but to no avail. They ended up sharing a compartment with a man, who was definitely too old to be a student, taking a nap.
The train ride was off to a good start. Draco missed being with Harry, and being around him seemed to distract him from the guilt he carried around all summer. Him and Hermione did not speak directly to one another, but them being a part of the same conversation was already a step. Was it a step in the right direction?
The train slows down. It stops.
"Have we reached Hogwarts already?" Asked Hermione, and looked out the window.
"I don't think so." Draco answered, following suit.
"Is it me or is it getting chilly in here?" Harry rubbed his shoulders for warmth.
The lights started glitching, and then turned off.
It was indeed getting chilly. And foggy as well.
Suddenly, they heard the door behind them slide, so they turned around. What they saw was a man, no not a man, it had no legs, it was floating. Whatever it was, it wore a cloak, and the cloak was hiding it face. Its bony hand was holding the compartment's door.
A dementor. He recalled his mother describing dementors to him, the guards of Azkaban, where his aunt Bella was sent after the war.
Draco started hearing Ginny Weasley's scream as she fell from the Gryffindor tower. He was actually hearing it now.
"Harry? Hermione? Are you alright?" Draco called for his friends.
"I am, but I don't think Harry is…" Hermione called back.
He looked in their direction, and he saw Harry unconscious.
He was hearing the footsteps now too. Very clearly. The footsteps back in Gryffindor tower.
"What are we gonna do?" He asked.
Before Hermione could answer, something moved in the compartment. The man that was sleeping earlier was now standing and pointing his wand at the dementor.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Suddenly, it was too bright. Out of his wand, a glowing wolf chased the dementors away, and soon it was warm again, and the compartment lights were on again.
Draco looked at Harry, he was still unconscious. Draco crossed to Harry's side of the compartment. He felt his face with his hands. "His face is very cold." He pointed out, concerned. He then went ahead and pressed his ear against Harry's chest, "but he's breathing."
"He'll be okay," came a raspy voice from behind Draco. It was the man that cast the dementors away. "Eat these." He handed Hermione and Draco a bar of chocolate each, before he left the compartment. Probably to check on the other students.
Harry stayed unconscious for the rest of the ride. Draco and Hermione just sat in awkward silence, both staring at anything but each other.