~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unlock a treasure trove of stories and join a community where your imagination can soar
become a Patron and dive into the adventure today!
you'll get exclusive early access to over 30+ chapters ahead of what's posted here!
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
http//patreon.com/NAnami725
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where did you last see him?" Harry asked.
"Before I got on the train…" Neville said miserably. "But Gran said he probably got on without me knowing," he added, attempting to sound hopeful, but failing miserably.
Ron and Harry looked at each other.
"Well, what does he like? Does he have any favorite foods? Does he like cool places or warm?" Harry asked, walking down the hall of the long train.
"Uh, he likes flies, and uh…warm damp places," he said, keeping up.
"The commode," Harry whispered. "Where are the bathrooms?" he asked.
Ron shrugged, just as a brown haired girl approached them.
"Still can't find your toad, Neville?" she asked.
"No, Hermione, but they're helping me."
"Oh, that's good. I'm Hermione Granger," she said, looking to Ron and Harry.
"Ron Weasley."
"Harry Potter."
Neville's eyes widened, his mouth falling open.
Hermione held her surprise more in check.
"Are you really? Well, I've read all about you, of course."
"In 'Modern Magical History'? Or 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts'?" Harry asked.
"Both," she said, surprised, "and in 'Great Events of the Twentieth Century'."
"I just skimmed over that one, I honestly don't think that one's that accurate…"
"Really, why?"
"Ahh!"
They turned to find someone running towards them.
"A toad! Tried to jump on my head!" a girl screamed.
They watched her continue down the hall before going to the restrooms.
"You three stay out here, I'll go in," Hermione said, before entering the small girl's room.
A moment later, she came back with the toad.
"Here you go, Neville," she said, handing the toad to him.
"Thank you," he said, before looking to Harry and Ron. "I would have never thought about him being in the bathroom, th-thanks…"
"No problem, Neville," Harry said, ignoring Neville's apparent nervousness.
All four of them then went back, Harry leading them to his and Ron's compartment.
Opening the compartment, they were surprised to find it occupied; Harry and Ron stopped, side-by-side, just beyond the doorway, Hermione and Neville behind them.
The blond haired boy and two larger boys were in there.
"We heard that Harry Potter was in this compartment. So it's you, is it?" the blond boy asked, looking to Harry.
Harry's eyes narrowed, trying not to think about the previous feelings he had gotten from this boy.
"I suppose you are, all you had to say was 'yes' you know," he said, taking a step towards Harry, his two buddies sitting by Harry and Ron's candy.
Harry glanced at the pile of candy, finding it a little smaller than they had left it. Harry caught the boy to the left quickly swallow a mouthful.
Mistaking Harry's glance at the candy for a curious look towards his two friends, the boy spoke again.
"This is Crabbe and Goyle. And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Harry felt the rush of memories pound through his mind.
Darkly robed people left a burning village, turning to face him.
"Good work, Lucius, you make the Malfoy family proud."
Harry forced back the memory and distant thoughts of Hatred, Murder, and Power.
He didn't really hear what Draco had been saying, but noticing that Ron had his fists clenched, he figured it had involved family insults.
"—friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there," Malfoy said, holding out his hand for Harry to take.
Harry just looked at it for a long moment, causing odd looks to pass from Crabbe and Goyle, and an annoyed one to surface on Malfoy's.
After another second of thought, Harry took hold Malfoy's hand.
"I'm certain I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, but thanks for showing me without a doubt who the worst sort are." His eyes trailed from Crabbe to Goyle, until they came back to rest on Malfoy.
"Well, I'm glad I could assist you in that. Care to join us?" Malfoy asked, clearly not getting what Harry had hinted at.
"No, but take some sweets, I can see you and your buddies have welcomed yourself to them already," he said, stepping out of Malfoy's line to the hall. Ron and the others followed Harry's lead, clearing a path for Draco and his friends to leave.
Malfoy gave him an odd look before giving a surprisingly respectful nod, grabbed some more candy, along with Crabbe and Goyle, and headed out.
"And Draco?" Harry asked when Draco had passed him.
"Yeah?" he asked, turning in the hall, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione facing him.
"Don't ever say things like that about people around me again; I didn't defeat Voldemort to come back to the Wizarding World to hear pitiful banter and arrogant insults."
Harry returned the respectful nod Draco had given him earlier, ignoring the looks from Ron, Neville, and Hermione, as well as the wide-eyed stares from Draco and his two guards.
Harry went into his compartment without another word and sat down by the window, quickly being followed by Ron, Neville, and Hermione, who closed the door, before they all sat down—the small pile of treats between Harry and Neville.
"Wow, Harry, I don't know what to say," Ron said.
Harry shrugged.
"You said You-Know-Who's name…" Nevile squeaked.
"Oh, I guess I did. But why shouldn't we? Being afraid of saying his name is just giving him more power," Harry said.
"Wow, I've never heard it put that way before," Ron said before giving a wide grin. "And the look on Malfoy's face was hilarious."
"I've heard about the Malfoy's. They are partial to purebloods, don't like muggleborns, and as we just saw, unbelievably rude," Hermione spat.
"'Muggleborns?'" Harry asked.
They looked at him for a moment.
"I'm a muggleborn. They're people who have a non-magic parent or parents," Hermione explained.
"Oh. So, 'purebloods' are…" Harry asked.
"I am, for the most part, and Neville's family is," Ron said, making Neville go pink.
Harry looked to Neville curiously, making Neville go pinker still.
"What's your last name?" Harry asked.
"Lo-Longbottom," he answered.
The name sounded familiar to Harry, and like the previous times that day, a memory surfaced.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unlock a treasure trove of stories and join a community where your imagination can soar
become a Patron and dive into the adventure today!
you'll get exclusive early access to over 30+ chapters ahead of what's posted here!
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
http//patreon.com/NAnami725
~~~~~~~~~~~~~