Back in the middle compartment, Daphne crossed one leg with the other, and fed Freekey another almond. The adorable primate could never get enough of them, although she did like macadamia even more.
Nott had made himself comfy and was busying himself with a game of exploding snap with Zabini and Smith, being as polite as his blood supremacist bigotry would allow with Tracey, while ignoring Hopkins completely. Hopkins, Parvati, and Boot sat in another threesome, discussing quidditch and duelling and who was doing what.
A knock from the door distracted her. The door slid open to reveal the shoulder length red-hair of the Bones Heiress. "Heiress Bones, what a pleasant surprise."
Bones looked determined. She took a deep breath. "Heiress Greengrass, I must formally present my and my friend's apologies for the unacceptable behaviour of my friend, Heir Potter, upon your ambassador. I hope we can move beyond this." Susan bowed.
She scowled inwardly. Something happened, and she didn't know what. She clenched her teeth. Where the hell was Granger? She couldn't very well ask what the unacceptable behaviour was. She had no choice but to accept the apologies and miss an opportunity to extract concessions.
Nott stopped playing to listen.
"That's okay, Heiress Bones. Your apology is accepted. Although…" An idea shot through her head. "… Although it might be good too if Heir Potter came and presented his apologies directly. Maybe in half an hour? I'm sure we'd all feel better if the aggressor in this matter could apologise directly to the wronged."
Bones seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. "I can't promise, Heiress Greengrass, but I will do my utmost to drag Heir Potter's butt over here if I have to."
She nodded.
Bones left.
She turned to the stalled exploding snap game. "Heir Nott, your presence here has been very much appreciated and I look forward to more chats in the future. Could we ask for you to excuse us now? I fear we will need to be changing soon."
Nott looked around at the fully-robed witches and wizards sitting around the compartment. "As you wish, Heiress Greengrass." He stood and made his way to the compartment door, but not before the pack exploded again sending cards all over the compartment.
The door closed and she swung to Boot. "Terry, could you find Hermione and drag her back here? Preferably before Potter shows up?"
Boot, as one of her classmates in the pre-Hogwarts homeschool taught by Lady Davis, stood and gave her a thumbs up. "Sure, Daphne. I'm on it." Then he too left.
Tracey shot her an encouraging grin. She glared.
.....
In the first compartment, Harry stared out of the window, scanning the many trees along the train-line's edge.
Parkinson's high-pitched voice intruded on his survey. "What are you doing, Potter?"
He glanced back into the compartment. No one was paying much attention. Su Li, Millicent, Crabbe and Goyle were talking holidays. Draco was reading. "Bird watching."
"Bird watching?"
"Yep."
Pansy leaned over and tilted her head, causing her bob hair to fall down the sides of her face into her eyes. The girl brushed it back behind her ear. " Why ?"
"Can't a boy have a hobby?"
"But are you seriously expecting to be able to see any birds while we're moving in this train?"
"Well, the train does run over a magical lay line, and it radiates magic along the entire line of the country. You never know what interesting birds might decide to make their home here."
She huffed. "You're weird."
He smiled. "Thank you, Heiress Parkinson."
The door slid open and Nott stuck his head in. "Hey! You're never going to guess."
Draco didn't bother to look up from quidditch book. "Then I won't bother trying. What is it?"
Nott stepped into the compartment and looked triumphant. "Lord Slytherin has sent a vassal to Hogwarts!"
This got Draco's attention. "What?"
"There's this witch in our year called Hermione Granger. She's in there with the Gray. She's got a Slytherin vassal crest on her robes and everything. And she's obviously had pureblood training."
He smiled. Well done, Hermione.
Draco frowned. "Granger isn't a pureblood name."
Nott shrugged. "Maybe she's foreign."
"Did she sound foreign?"
"Well… no… so, a half-blood then?"
Draco shifted. "I'm not sure what to think about that."
Nott grinned. "I imagine you'll have no problem with it, after all, you've kept Potter here with you the whole time."
Draco frowned.
He stood up. "Well, I'd better go get changed."
Nott looked nonplussed. "But you're already wearing your robes."
"Yeah, but as much as I like these robes, I now have to go put on the standard robes again."
Draco raised an eyebrow. " Why ?"
....
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