GINNY:

"Ginny dear, it's time to get up!! We're going to be late for the train!"

Ginny opened her eyes blearily and glanced at the clock. It was 8 o'clock already! She jumped out of bed and quickly threw on a white v-neck long sleeved shirt and a pair of apple-green jeans. She quickly stuffed the last of her books and things into her trunk. She rushed downstairs. She saw that Hermione and the rest of her family were already done breakfast. She grabbed a piece of toast and sat down.

She wondered if Harry was surviving all right. Harry had had to stay at Privet Drive with his family for precautions against Voldemort. Her family had been at Grimmauld Place, discussing things for the Order. Ginny still fumed about that. They still would not let her listen in. She was 16! They had let Hermione, Ron and Harry listen in when they were still 15! It just was not fair. Of course, they were the famous trio, so they could do just about whatever they wanted. She glared straight ahead just thinking about them.

Her mother started yelling again. "Everyone get your trunks down to the car right now! Hurry up now!"

Ginny gobbled down the rest of her toast and chugged a glass of orange juice. Fred and George had taught her that when she was young. Then she dashed back upstairs and grabbed her trunk, heaving it down the stairs.

In the garage, Hermione and Ron already had their trunks in the car. They were only waiting for Ginny now. Fred and George had their own flats on top of their shops, and were doing excellently. They had visited over the summer and gave Ron a few of their new sweets. He had a horn for a nose for at least 2 hours, and then had grown bat wings, which could have been useful except that they wouldn't let him fly, and were instead just a burden. Percy just kept away. There was an uneasy truce between him and the family now. And as always, Charlie and Bill were away at their respective jobs.

Ginny quickly dragged her trunk over to the new car her father had gotten to tamper with. Her mother was still upset about that. He hadn't told her about it before he had done it. However, she couldn't deny that it helped them a bunch. They didn't want to be intercepted in the Floo Network, so this was the best way to go, since none of the kids could Apparate yet. Not even Hermione or Ron, since they didn't turn 17 until later, during the school year.

Mr. Weasley put Ginny's trunk in the back with Ron's and Hermione's trunks. Then he slammed the door and Ginny got into the back next to Ron. Hermione was on his other side and Ron was blushing a bit at how close they were. Ginny moved a bit so that Ron could scoot a bit further away from Hermione if he wanted to. Mr. Weasley started the engine and off they went.

They arrived at the station with 45 minutes to go. They all quickly got carts and went through the barrier. They saw that many students were on the train but some were still milling around the station. Hurriedly, Ginny went and started heaving her trunk up the steps to get a compartment. She managed, but barely. She started dragging it down the train and near the back she found a compartment that was empty but for one person. She politely asked, "Can I sit here?"

AUBREY:

Aubrey stood in Platform 9 3/4 reading while waiting for the train. *I guess I was a little too early* she thought * Then again maybe not* as the Hogwarts Express pulled up to the platform. Barely able to let the train stop she jumped into one of the opening doors. She had always wanted to go to Hogwarts since she learned about it but had gone to Beaubatons instead. She grabbed the nearest compartment and changed into her new school robes - she had made them only a week ago - to Hogwarts standards (silver clasp - therefore room for change and style). She barely sat down again when a redheaded girl came in and ask if she could sit.

"'Course you can. My name's Aubrey Scarborough."

HERMIONE:

Hermione woke up bright and early since it was her favorite day of the year - the first day of school! She couldn't wait for classes to begin. She had already started reading through her text books, but there was still so much to learn. She got dressed quickly and went downstairs for breakfast. Mrs. Weasly made the best food; Hermione happily ate two servings of eggs, a muffin, and some orange juice. She had just finished with her breakfast when Ginny arrived at the table. "Everyone get your trunks down to the car right now! Hurry up now!" Mrs. Weasly exclaimed. Hermione's trunk was already in the car, for she certianly did not want to miss the train to school! The ride to the station was rather uneventful. Hermione said a quick good bye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasly. "Come on, let's go look for Harry!" She said to Ron.

HARRY:

Harry sat on his trunks at Platform 9 3/4 waiting for Ron and Hermione to arrive. He was amazed that he was even alive after the car ride he just took - Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had doted on Dudley yet again and had let him drive to the train station. A relatively nice (not really since it was with the Durleys) had turned into a nightmare the minute Dudley had run over the mailbox while trying to pull out of the driveway and it just got worse from there. But he didn't want to think about the Durleys now - he was more intent on finding his friends. He heard Hermione's familar voice and saw Ron's flaming hair walked towards them. "Hi," he said to them "you have know idea how nice it is to see you after two months with the Durleys."

LUNA:

Luna said goodbye to her father and crossed the barrier onto Platform 9 3/4. She always hated leaving him, afraid that he would get lonely by himself, but this year he had planned trip after trip, all over the globe, in search of new material for his magazine, The Quibbler. She pulled her trolley behind her and crossed quickly to the Hogwarts Express. As she boarded, she glanced around and saw Harry, Ron and Hermione talking on the platform. /Ahh, I'll find them later,/ she thought as she grabbed her trunk and her cat, Twibblet's cage and headed down the hall in search of an empty compartment. Finally finding one, she stowed away her trunk and let Twibblet out of her cage. Luna laid down on one of the benches, kicking her feet up onto the wall and crossing her ankles. She threw her head over the edge of the seat letting her waist-length dirty-blond hair hang down to the floor and being careful not to lose the dragon hair clips that she wore. The clips had been a gift from her Aunt Persephone, her mothers sister. They were tiny dragons that had been enchanted to unfurl their wings and roar every time she moved her head to quickly. They were great! Luna pulled out the latest issue of her fathers magazine - hot off the presses that morning - and began to read, upside down.

NEVILLE:

Now, remember, Neville..."

"Gran..."

"You've got to be a good, brave student an uphold the family honour..."

"Gran...."

"And if you forget anything else, i swear that you're going to have to buy your OWN remembrall this time..."

"GRAN!!" Neville's face flushed. "For goodness sakes, Gran, I'm in my last year of Hogwarts! I'm going to be getting a job soon! You don't need to keep hounding over me!"

Almost as soon as he'd said it, Neville wished he hadn't. He looked up at his grandmother, expecting some harsh sentiments from her respecting his rudeness. Instead, to his surprise, he saw something of a beam in her eyes.

"That's my boy. You be strong now, and don't let others try and make themselves seem better than you. Although, you could be a little nicer to your Gran," she said, sounding as though she was attempting to sound hurt. At that point, She dissapparated, leaving a confuddled Neville at the platform. During the summer, Neville had gotten his apparating liscence--his gran had made sure that he took the test as soon as he had turned 17. Surprisingly, he'd passed the test on his first try--although it had only been by one point.

Realising that he was just standing there, he quickly grabbed his things and headed in the direction of the train. His walk was a little less huffy than usual--his gran had put him on a diet over the summer, even though he had protested vehemently--and as a result, he didn't look quite as pudgy as he had the previous year. Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. However, Neville had to honestly say that he had missed chocolate frogs over the span of two months, and intended on helping himself to a few on the train.

Hopping onto the train, Neville looked around to see if anyone else had gotten on the train yet. He always hated being the first one on the train, because often times he felt like people purposely avoided joining his compartment. When he was about to give up hope and sit in a compartment of his own, he spotted Ginny and another girl sitting in a compartment. He felt slightly disgruntled--this was going to be his last year at hogwarts, and he still didn't recognise people in the younger grades. He didn't think she looked like a first year...

Neville cautiously walked into the compartment, as though broken bits of glass might be strewn about the floor. "Excuse me," he said, particularly to Ginny, since he didn't recognise the other girl, "Would you mind if I sat in your compartment?"

AUBREY:

Sure come in," Aubrey said to the boy who had just come into her compartment. "My name is Aubrey"

NEVILLE:

Neville flushed. Now he felt stupid for specifically asking Ginny, especially since Aubrey seemed so nice. He felt like he had been rude.

"My name's Neville," he said, and took the seat closest to the ailse, on Ginny's side. Even though she was nice, it didn't mean she wanted him to sit next to her.

"I don't mean to be rude at all," he stamered, "but I don't htink I've seen you around here before. Which house are you in?" He hoped he wasn't being rude.

GOYLE:

Goyle trundled over to the platform, sortof falling over his own weight.

"Board the train....Board the train..." his parents had drilled into him some sort of a mantra about the platform, and it sounded sortof familiar, but he supposed that if they really wanted him to remember it that much, that's prolly y they threatened to write it on his hand in blood.

"Bored the train...Bored the rain...." Suddenly he became very confused. The day was quite sunny. He looked up. Yup. Veerrry sunny. It looked as though it hadn't changed since he looked up last time. His head fell back down. Then he looked up again, with a sort of blobby motion. Not a cloud in the sky. Verry sunny indeed. For some reason his eyes started hurting, and he couldn't see very well. His head bobbed back down, frustrated with the pain, and his eyes squinched up...there was so much red everywhere. He opened his eyes reluctantly. They didn't hurt quite as much. so he kept on walking...but..where?

Great. He'd forgotten what he was doing. Oh well. He supposed he'd just find Draco and follow him. That's what he'd always done. He began stretching his neck, pushing little people out of his way, in the case that they, who were smaller and shorter than him, would obscure his vision of Draco, who was also quite tall.

AUBREY:

"I'm from Beaubatons, I just moved here from Paris. I've only been to Hogwarts once before and that was over the summer. The hat thingy put me in Gryffindor. It does feel kind of weird coming here for my last year of school though. What house are you in?" Aubrey said to Neville. *He's either really, really shy or crushing for the redhead... awwww*

HERMIONE:

"Hi," Harry said to them "you have know idea how nice it is to see you after two months with the Durleys." "It's great to see you, too!" Hermione exclaimed. "I wish you could have stayed with us at Ron's..." she said, and trailed off, knowing it was a touchy subject. She didn't want to make Harry feel left out.

"So," she said, changing the subject,"we better get on the train before all the compartments fill up!"

RON:

let's go find Harry!"

"huh, yeah! good idea, Hermione! you always have the good ones!"

she didn't seem to hear him say that.

Geez, where did Ginny run off to?

Ron followed Hermione around the station...and saw..HARRY!

"Ha-"

he was firmly interrupted by Hermione recieving Harry first.

Oh yeah..she hasn't been able to talk to him all summer..

slight blush.

Harry said something about a scarring experience with his pig-of-a-cousin...what was his name? Dumbley?

"well, Harry, don't wrorry! you're safe from him now---this last year, and then you;re free of those gits! Oh yeah, were you able to get your appareating license yet?'

Ron grinned.

ROSE:

She calmly rushed through the platform of 9 and 3/4s...

Rose looked on at the bright red train before her..

Third year already!

Rose rummaged through her black velvet drawstring purse,thr4ough her money.

Enough for a decent snack on the train..more than that..

Rose remembered fondly getting her pay from working at Madam Milkin's robes fopr all Occassions just yesterday

Rose wandered on towards the train...aiming for no particluar person or compartment..or railway..

Yesterday was a commemoration for her 5ht year working at the robes store.

.."now,dear, i'll give you a discount! you've been working so hard.."

.."thank..thank you.."

..."oh,good gracious! don't cry!"

.."but..you;re so nice to me.."

..."Oh, come off it..you'll make me cry, and my crying'sa lot uglier than yours!"

"mew"

Rose looked down at her blackcat, Moonshine.

"oh..don't worry, darling, I'll make sure you get a snack,too."

Rose patted her cat on the head.

Purrr, prrr..

"purr..."

Rose imitated her cat as she ascneded the steps..

Empty...no...

Empty...no..

Empty!--wait,no, someone's sleeping..

Rose couldn't find an empty apartment for the life of her.

*sigh*

Guess i'll have to settle for a relatively empty one...

The very next compartment she encountered consisted of three people--a red-headed gryffindor that she recognized, someone she didn't, and a brown-haired gryffindor boy..7th year, she thought.

"um.."

Her voice washardly percieved.

"might i intrude and have a seat here?"

GINNY:

"Oh, hello. My name's Ginny Weasley. It's nice to meet you. I haven't seen you before... where are you from? And what house?" Ginny didn't think Aubrey looked like a 3rd year or below...

"By the way I love your robes! I'm pretty sure you didn't get them at Madam Malkin's... she doesn't make that style. Though I like them very much. Where'd you get them?"

(ARCHIVER'S SUPERIMPOSITION: gINNY SAW A GIRL WITH BLONDE HAIR ENTER THE COMPARTMENT, AND ASK WITH A QUIET VOICE, "UM...MIGHT i INTRUDE AND HAVE A SEAT HERE?)

"Of course," Ginny answered the girl. She motioned to the seat next to Aubrey. "There's room right there. I'm sorry, I don't think I've seen you around. What's your name?"

AUBREY:

"Yeah I'm new here - a transfer from Beaubatons. I came over the summer to check out the place and the hat thing put me in the house er.. gryff-something. Though it is kinda pointless coming here for just the 7th year... Oh! and I made these robes. thanks!"

HARRY:

Harry followed the obviously excited Hermione along with Ron. She was always insane on the first day of school.

"Yeah, I got my license on my birthday. I can see why Fred and George apparated all over the place - its really fun. Have you gotten your license yet?"

RON:

"gotten mine? are you insane?"

Ron disapparated.

Then apparated Right in front of Harry.

Then disapparated.

Then apparated Next to Hermione. He was flushed with happiness.

"i've had it for a while! it's wicked!"

Due to Hermione's nearness, Ron's hand couldn';t avoid brushing hers.

An extreme flush.

Whoo...too close..

Ron had discovered his crush on her only a short time ago..and he realized that he's had it for a while..

He was resolved to tell her, in his seventh year, that he really loved her.

But maybe "love" is too strong a word?..Naww..

Ron stepped away.

HERMIONE:

"I got my license on my birthday. I can see why Fred and George apparated all over the place - its really fun. Have you gotten your license yet?" Harry asked.

"No, but I'll be getting mine on my birthday," Hermione said as Ron demonstrated his apparating ability. When he apparated next to her, his hand brushed hers and she blushed a bit; she thought she noticed Ron blushing, too, but maybe it was her imagination. Sometimes she thought he had a crush on her, too, but other times she wasn't so sure. She had thought about asking Harry, but if she was wrong, he would tease her to no end, not to mention that he would be sure to tell Ron how she felt about him which would be rather embarassing.

GINNY:

"Gryffindor, you mean?? Well that sounds wonderful! I'm in Gryffindor too, though I'm just a 6th year. Why did you come here? And do you think you could maybe make another one of those robes? They're fabulous! I'd love to see how they're made!"

BLAISE:

Blaise walked onto Platform 9 3/4. She could not yet apparate, since her birthday Is in December. Her parents would not be seeing her off this year. They were having lunch at the Parkinson's.

Blaise was worried that her father may be joining the Death Eaters. Apparently Voldemort was gathering all the supporters he could get. She was quite sure she wanted her parents involved with him. To tell you the truth the Light side has been seeming more and more appealing to her in these past few months. Especially Potter. Blaise blushed at the thought. He was really growing up.

Who knows? Maybe this year will be different. Maybe I finally have outgrown my shyness.

She spotted Draco over by the train. 'I think I'll go talk to him. Maybe we could be friends. That would be nice.' She thought as she walked over to him.

"Hello, Draco. How was your summer?" She asked.

AUBREY:

"I could show you, I guess but I am planning on turning this into a business. I made these with a muggle sewing machine though, no magic during the summer and all." Aubrey replied with a shrug. "I still need to think of a price. So are there any hotties here?"

HARRY:

Harry raised a semi-innocent eyebrow as both Ron and Hermione blushed. 'It's about time' he thought. It had always seemed that they had lovers quarrels - they should finally make something of it. Hopefully he wouldnt have to be the one to play matchmaker - Ginny would be better, he'd have to talk to her later. "It's a real shame we can't apparate at Hogwarts" He said while Hermione gave him a finally-someone-has-listened look. "So where are we gonna sit?"

NEVILLE:

Neville sat in the compartment, sortof shrinking back as Aubrey and Ginny began talking about robes. Personally, clothes were not a very interesting subject to Neville. He looked down at his feet. Most people could probabally tell, too--Neville felt sometimes that the stuff that his gran got for him sometimes were a little old-fashioned, not that he claimed himself to be an expert. eyes lowered, he snuck a glance at both Ginny and Aubrey. Did they have to talk about clothes? He witheld the impulse to sigh. He felt as though they didn't really notice him there--though, that was not an uncommon feeling to him.

ROSE:

Rose was sitting complacently in the compartment. she had decided to sit down, after no one had really recognized that she was asking anyways..

I doubt that they'd mind me much...

After not receiving any sort of recognition of her presence, Roes sighed..

It's always like this, i guess...

My own fault.

Oh well...

Rose looked on boredly at the people she was sharing a compartment with. Two of the girls were chatting happily about robes.

One, the redhead, apparently was a Gryffindor named Ginny.

Must be a sixth year--she has the looks of someone who'd passed through OWLS recently.

The other girl, Aubrey, was someone who transferred from the french wizarding school...

Called something like..er..Beau Bottoms, or something like that.

Rose wasn't exactly the best with french...

She noticed that the boy had hardly talked at all..

Poor guy.

Rose emphatized with him a little.

"um..is there something wrong, Mister?"

Rose tugged on the boy's sleeve, since her voice hardly ever got loud enough for anyone to hear her...

AUBREY:

So how's the potions classes here" Aubrey asked as a general question to the people of her compartment. "I've always loved potions - and herbology too. I think I read somewhere that there's a whomping willow on the ground but I didn't see it when I visited before."

NEVILLE:

Neville, feeling unnoticed, felt a tug on his arm.

"um..is there something wrong, Mister?"

"Err..." Neville said, not really knowing what to make of this. This was another person who he wasn't really sure of her identity. He was sure he'd seen her around before, but he couldn't tell it had been the hufflepuff or the ravenclaw tables that she'd been sitting at during feasting times. "No, nothing's wrong," he responded, smiling. "Thank you for asking though."

"So how's the potions classes here" Aubrey asked as a general question to the people of her compartment. "I've always loved potions - and herbology too. I think I read somewhere that there's a whomping willow on the ground but I didn't see it when I visited before." Neville practically flinched when she mentioned potions classes. Luckily, he'd never had to deal with them since he was a fifth year. If she was asking about potions as a sixth year, it probabally meant that she was going to be taking focused classes. He felt sincerely sorry for her. "Well," taking the invitation, "The teacher has something against gryffindor members."

GINNY:

Ginny was a little taken aback- no one had asked her that question straightforward before. She blushed a little. "Um... er... well, there are some pretty... er... nice people and... er... some kind ones... but... I don't really know anyone that's really... er... hott... that isn't a complete jerk. There is Dean, in your grade, and he's not bad at all, and Terry Boot seems pretty cute... but not really hott... except maybe for Harry... but he'd have to be your type." Ginny was a little uncomfortable with the subject. She had noticed some really hott guys but all of them weren't really that nice or anything.

"All right, if you want to keep it a secret, that's fine. I think they should be... 12 galleons. Very expensive, but I think they're worth it! Especially if they aren't made with magic!" She admired the robe a bit more.

GINNY:

Well, the teacher has something against Gryffindors..."

Ginny argued, "Not really! Professor Snape does pick on Gryffindors, but he picks on all the rest of the houses too! Except maybe his own. I don't know, I thought he kind of didn't mind me... He's really not that bad if you aren't too showy and if you aren't Harry or his friends." She smiled at Aubrey. "So are you taking the N.E.W.T.s class for Potions? That's hard... although I'm taking it too.... I don't know why. I guess because I want to become an Auror and I obviously need a N.E.W.T. in Potions to be one..."

AUBREY:

Aubrey thought about Ginny's response - why was she blushing? And she didn't think Neville like the way this conversation was going. "You'd look good with a blond." she said. "Thatd be wonderful if we were in the same class! And who's this Harry you keep talking about? Boyfriend?"

HERMIONE:

Hermione noticed Harry rasie his eyebrows. 'Oh no, I hope he didn't see me blush,' she thought."So where are we gonna sit?" Harry asked. "Wherever we can find an empty compartment is fine with me! Or maybe we can find Luna or Neville." Hermione picked up Crookshanks and headed towards the train.

NEVILLE:

Neville felt his heart jump. Boyfriend? Could it be that Harry and Ginny were dating? It was true that Neville had a slight crush on Ginny--he'd first started crushing on her in his third year at hogwarts, and had so far never seen any indication that she'd liked him back after all--but he'd always kept up hope. If it were the case that Harry and Ginny were together, then it probabally meant he had no chance with her after all. He decided that he oughtn't jump to conclusions, though, and looked at Ginny, somewhat expectantly, for her response.

ROSE:

Rose was slightly comforted by the boy saying he was okay, and was also a little bit discocerted..

denial was a sign of not-okay-ness,

she was about to point that out, but then realized--oh that would be rude.. she stayed silent..

The girl with the fancy robes askeda bout herbology

the other people gave their opinions..

the boy obviously liked herbology a lot.

"its..okay.."

no one heard the third year hufflepuff.

Rose listened as they dawled on abotu schedules, houses, that sort of thing..

How does she know her schedule, anyways?

Rose was tempted to ask, when the touchy subject of a boyfriend came up.

Ginny was slightly going red over the "harry potter" guy..

Rose had heard of him. the daily prophet said such nasty things about him, for a period of time, and then revoked their statements..

which meant that he couldn't be too horrible of a person. a person that Ginny aparently crushed on for a while.

she looked up at the boy..

oo..poor guy.. i bet he likes her, too..

sigh

the travails of the unnoticeable.

that was something she shared in common with the guy.

the convesation wasn't quite going the way that Rose woudl have enjoyed.. still talking about Potter, and how he was nice and all..

Rose just couldn's stand people talking about their crushesto others. it was like some sort of bragging contest.

"if you like him, why are you so flustered telling us about this? woudln't it be badto beflustered about this in front of him?"

Her voice was so queit...she was certaion that ehr comment had gone on unheard...but, apparently, it had not.

GINNY:

"Thank you, I guess?" Ginny was glad to be off the topic of who she fancied. "Nope, Harry's just a friend of Ron's. I used to have a crush on him, but then I just got over him... 2 years ago, actually. He is free, though I don't know if he's looking for someone. I'm sure you've heard of him, the whole wizarding world has. Harry Potter?"

Gin looked over at Rose. "By the way, what classes do you have? Any N.E.W.T.s ones?"

AUBREY:

"oh," Aubrey said quietly at hearing the name Harry Potter. She had known that she was his age but it never really occured to her that she'd be going to school with him. Which is kind of stupid considering he would obviously attend Hogwarts. She'd have classes with him too. 'But what does it matter'

"Rose what year are you in?"

ROSE:

"What classes are you taking? any N.E.W.T.S?"

Rose stared a bit blankly at Ginny.

"N.E.W.T.S?" she said in a disbelieving voice.

"N.E.W.T.S? why would I--oh, dear.."

Rose looked down at the ground a bit embarrassed.

"um..I'm sorry, but..um...i'm in THIRD year, if you didn't know that..."

That was the first time she'd ever known to be mistaken for a sixth year.

*I wonder what made her think i was taking N.E.W.T.S?*

HERMIONE:

Hermione stormed ahead of the boys, opening compartment doors along the way searching for an empty one. She happened upon Luna, sitting upside down reading a book. 'This will do', Hermione said. She thought Luna was a bit strange, but liked her well enough.

"Harry, Ron, I found a compartent" she yelled.

"Hello, Luna, how was your summer?" Luna turned her head to look at Hermione and her dragon hair clips let out a load roar.

RON:

Ron was very pleased to find a compartment, when he remembered-- that he was a prefect,as was Hermione..

Oh, but that sooo was to the advantage of his good friend Harry..

Even if he didn't realize it himself.

"Oh, wait, Hermione", ron drawled, "we have to go to the prefect's compartment for a bit. right?"

He winked at Hermione, hoping she would get the hint. Knowing that it would be veery un-Hermione if she didn't.

LUNA:

Luna was reading a very interesting article - 'The Mighty Slempshacks and Where to Find Them' - When a voice cut through the air interrupting her <"Harry, Ron I found a compartment!">Luna swung her feet down and righted herself as Hermione came in followed shortly by Ron and then Harry. The tiny Dragon clips she was wearing gave out a roar and flapped their tiny little wings in protest of the sudden movement.

"Hello, Luna, how was your summer?" Hermione asked. Luna was just about to respond when Ron said "Oh, wait, Hermione we have to go to the Prefects compartment for a bit, right?" The next thing she knew, he did the strangest thing - he winked!

/Wonder what he did that for? Maybe he has something in his eye? Or...Maybe he finally told Hermione how he felt about her and they want to be alone. Who knows?/ Luna thought.

"My summer was alright. I traveled a bit and helped my Dad out at the magazine. I did get to see a Flumpilgat in Bolivia." Hermione seemed to know what she was talking about but, seeing the confused looks on the boys faces she continued, "They are kindof like very fluffy camels with antlers. They are a little skiddish around most people, but I got one to come right up to me! They are mainly used when trying to locate hard-to-find herbs. You just tell them what you need and they can find it like that," she said snapping her fingers. Turning to the boys she said, "So how was you guys' summer? Anything interesting happen?"

HERMIONE:

"Oh, wait, Hermione, we have to go to the prefect's compartment for a bit, right?" Ron said with a wink.

'He must want to give Luna and Harry some time to catch up', she thought. Neither Harry nor Luna had ever displayed anything other than friendly feelings towards each other, but over the summer, Hermione had confessed to Ron that she thought they would make a splendid couple. She liked Luna much better than that awful Cho that Harry had dated in their 5th year.

"Yes, we better be on our way. We don't want to be late for the Prefect meeting!"

HARRY:

"I guess we'll see you later then," Harry said. He didn't really mind be left with Luna to talk to. Even if she was a bit random. "So what's in this weeks Quibbler?"

GINNY:

"Oh my, I'm sorry Rose! I didn't know that you were a third year... I guess I assumed that you would be in my year. My bad! I'm taking N.E.W.T.s classes because I've taken my O.W.L.s... so sorry! I'm a bit spacey right now... my brain's just starting to work again! Which electives have you chosen?"

Ginny blushed a bit... she was really spacey all throughout summer. But she couldn't deny that Rose looked a bit older than 13.

LUNA:

Luna said goodbye to Hermione and Ron as they stowed away their things and headed for the prefects compartment.Luna settled back down tucking her feet underneath her and leaning back against the seat. She gazed at Harry as he asked "So, what's in this weeks Quibbler?"

Luna shrugged. "Not much. The same old stuff. Oh, but there is a great article about how certain officials in the Ministry of Magic have been taken over by Quimblees, a really rare form of poltergeists that seem to travel in packs and try to cause as much trouble as they possibly can." Still gazing at Harry, she tilted her head to the side and offered him the magazine. "Do you want to have a look?"

ROSE:

"my electives? well..."

Rose looked down at the ground.

Getting involved with people was so...well..

new..

she'd never really done it before.

and it wasn't so bad...

"um, runes, and arithmancy..."

GINNY:

"Arithmancy? Wow I took that... quite demanding, as I recall, but it really wasn't that bad. But you seem to be on the way to becoming another Hermione- Ancient Runes and Arithmancy together? wow... I congratulate you. Good luck with that!"

Gin suddenly saw the door slide open and the lunch cart lady asked, "Anything off the carts?" Ginny was soo hungry that she jumped up and said, "Yeah, please!" She walked out and started looking at all the different foods, trying to decide what she wanted.

HARRY:

"Sure, why not?" Harry replied. He didn't think Luna was all that bad... she wascertainly off her conker but that didn't mean that the rest of his friends weren't. Ron was definitely an oddball.

Harry took the Quibbler from her. He read a couple of the headlines and shook his head in disbelief. He looked up at Luna. "How does your father... er... find out about this stuff? I've never heard of half of these things!"

LUNA:

As Luna offered Harry her magazine he said <"Sure, why not?">Luna handed it over and as he began to read through it, she gazed out the window, daydreaming. She was brought out of her reverie when she heard him ask <"How does your father...er... find out about this stuff? I've never heard of half of these things!">

"Oh, Dad has his sources. He is constantly getting tips on different things. The magazine probably gets about fifty new tips a day! Then Dad just sends someone to check it out. Some of them turn out to be false leads of course, but he does get some good ones, too!" Glancing over at him she said, "So, how was your summer? Did you have to stay with your Aunt and Uncle for the whole summer, or did you get to see Ron?" She really hoped he had gotten to Ron's this summer. From what Harry had said, and what she had heard of his Aunt and Uncle, they seemed to be truly awful people. His cousin didn't seem to be any prize peach either. It was truly amazing that someone like Harry could have the same blood running through him as people like that. As she waited for his response she tilted her head to the side and absentmindedly pulled at a piece of her long hair.

HARRY:

"So he's never really seen any of those things, has he?" Harry asked a bit unconvinced. Luna mentioned something about his summer and Harry replied, "Well, I'm really not supposed to talk about it, but I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the time. It was for security, what with Voldemort's rising... how did you find out, anyway?"

AUBREY:

"I took arithmancy and runes in my third year too. I have a love affair going with arithmancy - its the type of thing you love or hate, though my professors haven't always been that good." Aubrey said and turned to Neville "Whats your favourite class?" she said as she got some bertie botts and some juice from the cart lady.

NEVILLE:

Neville looked up. He was a little surpised about how open about everything Aubrey was, even though they had all just met her. It was the type of personality that made other people feel less shy, and less worried about the impression that they would make on other people. Although, it probabally wouldn't have mattered in this subject area; Neville always opened up whenever it came to his favorite subject. His face glowed.

"Herbology," he swelled with pride. He couldn't help it--it was perhaps the only class at Hogwarts he'd ever done well in. "I really like working with plants, and everything about them," he said, taking a good look at the cart himself. His craving for chocolate frogs was stimulated once again as he gazed at their packages in the cart. "Five chocolate frogs, please,": he asked the cart lady. He noticed that Ginny still hadn't decided what she wanted off the cart yet. Blushing slightly, he asked her, "Erm...anything specific that you want? i could get it for you."

GINNY:

Neville came up beside her by the food cart. "Erm...anything specific that you want? i could get it for you."

Ginny looked carefully at Neville out of the corner of her eye. She saw that he was blushing a bit; he probably was a bit embarrassed about asking her. She wondered why, since she thought that she was pretty nice about it. She looked up at him and smiled, "Why, thanks Neville. I'd just like two Cauldron Cakes, but I can get them myself."

AUBREY:

"After you graduate you should check into going to this magical plant laboratory place in France - if you like herbology you'd love it there. My father used to work there. I always used to poke the mibletonias to get stink sap to pour on my brother or particular people I didn't like." Aubrey said and pulled a handful of Bertie Botts out of their bag, proceeding to eat them one by one with her eyes closed.

DRACO *FINALLY*:

Hello, Draco. How was your summer?" She asked.

Half-turning, Draco pinned Blaise with a cold, apathetic glance, one eyebrow quirking slightly as he surveyed her. She was Slytherin, the same year as he was, but he'd never really gotten to know her. The fact that she considered herself on a first-name basis with him was vaguely annoying, but gentleman that he was, it would be rude and ungracious not to respond to her.

Angling his body so that he faced her, Draco reached up and carelessly brushed some strands of silver-white from his eyes, his voice a deep, low drawl as he spoke. "The same as it always is, I suppose."

Which was to say that it hadn't exactly been pleasant. Lucius (he had taken to referring to his father by his given name rather than any sort of endearment) was home once more, and he had the marks to prove it. They were carefully concealed under his expensive, custom-tailored robes, however. Absently, he plucked invisible lint off the soft fabric of one of his arms, flicking it with elegant, tapered fingers. Blaise had no idea what his family life was like, and he did not intend to share it with her. The masses were, as a general rule, better off if sheltered from the darker aspects of life.

"Yours, Zabini?" He asked, tone bored and disinterested. She was spared having to reply by the entrace of Goyle, who slouched over and took up his position as Draco's shadow.

Folding one hand at his waist, Draco dropped into a short bow. "My apologies. I've just remembered an engagement I need to attend to. Goyle?" His tone immediately became sharper, commanding attention. "Find Crabbe and meet me on the train."

With that he turned, robes snapping and billowing behind him impressively as he strode onto the train. His destination was an empty compartment in the far back where he wouldn't be disturbed. And if it wasn't empty... well, it would be.

Because Draco Malfoy always got what he wanted.

SEVERUS/ROWENA:

Serverus Snape stalked down the halls of Hogwarts, his cloak swirling around him as he moved like a living shadow through the school. He had only just arrived back at Hogwarts, and had recived the news.

Yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. When would Dumbledore learn? When would he finally see that Serverus was the only person right for that job?

He threw the door of the DADA class open and stalked in, glaring at the back of the new teacher, who was crouched beside a box. "Well." he sneered.

The teacher straightened and turned around, facing Serverus. A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. "Hullo, Serverus." she said in the closest thing to a happy greeting that he had ever heard from her.

"Ah. Rowena. I... was not aware that you were the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It's been... a while." Serverus nearly beat a quick retreat. If Rowena knew... he would be a dead man.

"Years, Serverus. How've you been?"

"Very well, thank you. And you?"

"Oh, been a real roller coaster ride. Went back home, got hitched, had some kids, got widowed, got the job." The ghost of the smile flitted across Rowena's face again. "It's good to see you again. We should catch up on old times later on."

"That would be... nice." Serverus said hesitantly, his mind racing. He couldn't let her find out that he had been a Death Eater. And he definatly couldn't let her find out that he had seen her seventeen years ago. If she found out... she would kill him.

No, she wouldn't kill him. She would make him suffer. That was the way she was, after all.

"Oh damn. Serverus, I've got to dash off an owl. I'll catch you later." Rowena swept out of the room past him, no doubt heading for the owlry.

GINNY:

As Ginny was getting her Cauldron Cakes, she felt the need to go take a walk while eating them. Her legs were cramped and in getting up for her food her knees creaked in protest. She thought that she'd go for a walk, maybe to the loo so as to get changed. She stretched a bit as the lunch lady handed over her Cakes and she said to Neville and Aubrey, "Hey guys, I'll be back in a bit. I'm going off for a little walk." She didn't really have anything to say about Herbology, and therefore felt a bit uncomfortable there. She went into the compartment, finding her robes and walking out past the two of them, giving them a smile.

Walking down the train's corridor, she nibbled (OOC: yes aubrey, the way I eat my pudding) on a bit of the Cauldron Cake, savoring it and looking into windows of people. Under the arm she didn't hold the Cauldron Cake she had her bundle of robes. She didn't really notice anyone that she knew, mostly just younger students. And then she suddenly bumped into someone unexpectedly, as she had been eating her food and looking sideways. Her robes tumbled from beneath her arms and the Cauldron Cake smushed onto the person. She bent to grab her things while saying, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry I had no idea you were there!" She looked up and saw...

GOYLE:

Goyle finally spotted Draco on the platform, talking to this girl who seemed remotely familiar. Everyone seemed remotely familiar. Draco seemed a little more than remotely familiar. this place was remotely familiar. when would the remotely familiarness of it all stop being so friggin remotely familiar?? Goyle was really confused. He trundled up to Draco, relieved that now he would get some instruction on what he was supposed to do. Otherwise he probabally wouldn't do anything anyway. Draco saw Goyle, and bowed to the girl. 'Well,' he thought, 'its about time someone recognised how wonderful I am,' mistaking Draco's perfunctory bow as one that meant Draco was showing off Goyle and getting credit for it. He puffed out his chest, and, much to any sane beings surprise, he looked bigger than he did before.

"My apologies. I've just remembered an engagement I need to attend to. Goyle?" Draco's tone immediately became sharper, commanding attention. "Find Crabbe and meet me on the train."

'.....Train...train...where have i heard that word before? o well. it sounds remotely familiar. ggrr....' Before Goyle had a chance to get mad at his dislike towards the "remotely familiar," Draco turned and started turning towards this big metallic thing and entered it, striding towarsd an empty compartment near the back. Goyle, not knowing what else to do, followed him. He wondered dimly where Crabbe might be.

DRACO:

Annoyance lacing his features, Draco reached up with one hand and began to peel the Cauldron Cake from his robes in one purposeful, delicate motion. A Weasley. Of all the times he hadn't been paying attention to what was in front of him he would just have to smash into a breed of lesser witch and get her food all over him. All over his neat, expensive robes.

Not bothering to hide the disdain in his expression, he offered her a handful of smashed treat. "Misplace this, did you, Weasley? It must be such a hardship to be so daft," he added silkily.

Draco was suddenly aware of another presence behind him and he half-turned, grey eyes cold and assessing. "Goyle. I told you to get Crabbe. If you can't even obey such a simple order, I don't have any use for you."

DEAN:

In the car on the way to King's Cross Train Station, Dean studied the sketch he was working on just last night, adding a few lines here and there where he thought they were needed. He had his set of color pencils with him and he planned on doing a colored version on the train.

"Whatcha drawin'?" Dean's little brother Craig leaned over his arm to try to see Dean's sketchbook.

"Geroff me!" Dean shoved his brother away and slapped his sketchbook shut.

"Oh c'mon! You always let me see the other ones!"

"Yeah, well this one's private. So stay away if you don't mind."

"What could you be drawing that's private�" Craig's eyes scrunched up in thought and then suddenly grew wide. "I bet it's porn! Mo-om! Dean's drawing-" Dean quickly put his hand over his brother's mouth to muffle his next words and slapped him on the back of the head. "It's not /porn/, you pervert!" he hissed then looked to see if his mother had heard. She was deep in conversation with his father so Dean assumed she hadn't--with a house full of boys, one learns how to tune things out. He took his hand away from Craig's mouth and slapped him on the back of the head again.

"Ow!" Craig whined and rubbed at his head.

"How do you know about porn huh? Who's been corrupting my little brother?" Dean's honey colored eyes narrowed a little bit. Sure he was a bit of a mischief maker but that didn't mean he wasn't a responsible big brother�most of the time. Craig rolled his eyes.

"C'mon D, I'm in class 5 already! I know everything about sex!" (OOC: People I know in England say "Class 5" instead of "5th grade") Dean couldn't help but laugh. "Oh do you? Just do yourself a favor little man and don't flaunt this 'superior, class 5 knowledge' in front of your teachers. And quit hanging out with that bloke, Sean. He's not a good influence on you." He didn't like the fact that his brother was growing up so fast--a ten-year-old shouldn't know what porn is. Dean couldn't remember how old /he/ was when he learned about sex�it was like he just woke up one day and /knew/.

"Stop changing the subject! You have to show me the picture!" Craig whined, bringing Dean out of his thoughts.

Dean heaved a great sigh. "Fine, just /one/ look." Dean opened his book and showed his little brother the sketch.

"Whoa�.she's hot!"

Dean smacked Craig upside the head again.

"She's PRETTY! She's PRETTY, okay? PRET-TY! Will you quit hitting me now?" he pouted.

Dean studied the picture for himself. The sketch was a bit rough since he'd been working with charcoal and chalk but still looked good nonetheless. It was only after he'd finished the face that he realized he'd chosen the wrong medium with which to capture Virginia Weasley's beauty. Black and white didn't do justice to her face which had always been full of vibrant color: the gold of her skin tone, the green of her eyes, and his favorite part of her, the vibrant red color of her hair.

Dean had always thought Ginny was very attractive and he loved that it irked Ron so much that his sister had started attracting the attention of so many guys in the school. But Dean had never really thought seriously about a relationship with her since he figured that they were just not compatible that way. It wasn't until that night in the Gryffindor common room that he really started to fall for her. She had inspired him, lighting a fire inside of him that revealed parts of himself that he was never aware of. That summer, he couldn't put his hands down. He drew one picture after another, experimenting with different mediums, seeing the world in a whole new light. He drew his family, his friends and things in his home but mostly, he drew her. He revisited that night in Gryffindor tower many times in his head, trying to capture everything about that moment.

Dean was brought out of his reverie when the car pulled up to the King's Cross parking lot. Dean got himself a trolley for his trunk and his tawny owl, Switch's birdcage. He said goodbye to his parents, had a playful mock fistfight with both of his brothers, and gave his baby sister Vanessa a somewhat scratchy kiss on the cheek. She gurgled with pleasure and bat at his face. He laughed and gave her another kiss. "I'm gunna miss you the most. Don't get too big while I'm gone, k?" *It's funny how a little baby can turn you into a big pile of mush* he speculated as he left his family and pushed his trolley toward the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. He gave his family one last wave before he crossed the barrier and arrived at platform nine and three quarters.

Dean found himself a compartment and stowed away his trunk then left to go find some of his friends.

GINNY:

"Misplace this, did you, Weasley? It must be such a hardship to be so daft."

Ginny stared up at the arrogant Malfoy. She hated having to look up at him, especially when he'd insulted her so. She flushed a light pink in anger and snarled back, "Well, at least I haven't misplaced something more important, such as... oh... I don't know.. my brain? Or maybe my sincerity? hm... or even my life. Stooping down so low that you're starting to command people now, Malfoy?" She took the smushed bit of Cauldron Cake and threw it at his face before turning around and stalking off. A split second after she turned she threw a 'Petrificus Totalus' over her shoulder. She smirked at that. 'Let's see how Malfoy deals with that one'. (ARCHIVER INTERPOSITION: SOMEHOW GIN CHANGED HER MIND SO THAT SHE DOESN'T TURN AROUND HERE, SO SHE CAN TURN AROUND LATER WHEN DEAN TUGS HER HAIR.)

DEAN:

Dean was walking down the corridor when he spotted a familiar head of red hair. Her back was to him but he knew that hair anywhere: it had to be Ginny. He crept up behind her, reached out, and tugged gently on a lock of her hair.

GINNY:

Ginny shrieked suddenly as someone pulled on her hair. She suddenly turned and was about to punch the person when she saw who it was. She smiled and said, "Oh, hello Dean. How are you?"

DRACO:

Having anticipated her, Draco deflected the hex with one impatient wave of his wand. She was animpertinent one, thinking that she could hex the likesof Draco Malfoy, Head Boy at Hogwarts in the middle of the train without properrepercussions.

His legs unfolded gracefully as he strode afterher, cauldron cake still smeared across his face. Hisexpression was marble blank and cool, eyes more like awall with their lack of depth, as he paused next toher and some other Gryffindor boy.

"I do hate to interrupt your little tryst," hesaid silkily, somehow managing to look both handsome and dignified even with food smeared all over his face. "But Weasley here has a mess she needs to clean up. I'll need to speak to her about the repercussions of her actions alone, if you don't mind?"

He smiled at Dean, though it was an empty, taunting smile. "But of course you won't, am I correct? We are both gentleman, and surely you can appreciate the value of discipline."

GOYLE:

Use? use Goyle? as if that was possible, Goyle vaguely thought. He trundled off, looking for Crabbe. He couldn't be that hard to spot. While he walked off, he heard Draco say more mean things to that weasley girl. He laughed. He liked hearing mean things. They were funny. Then he heard the red-head retaliate. He laughed more, just because it sounded funny. It never occurred to him that laughing at Draco getting creamed could be a bad thing. Nor did really occur to him that Draco wasn't having fun. He laughed some more, still wondering where Crabbe could be.

NEVILLE:

Neville felt embarrassed for having asked Ginny about the cakes now. He hadn't meant to seem like he was patronising her, although, looking back on his words, that was what it had seemed like. He felt like beating himself up for what he'd said.

"After you graduate you should check into going to this magical plant laboratory place in France - if you like herbology you'd love it there. My father used to work there. I always used to poke the mibletonias to get stink sap to pour on my brother or particular people I didn't like." Aubrey said and pulled a handful of Bertie Botts out of their bag, proceeding to eat them one by one with her eyes closed.

Neville sat back down, and popped a chocolate frog into his mouth. He felt a lovely tingly sensation as he chewed on it, feeling its creaminess and rejoicing at hte way that it eased down his esophagus. He could hardly contain his smile. "Seems like ages since I've had a chocolate frog," he reflected, more to himself than to anyone else in the world. Remembering where he was, he snapped out of his chocolate high and turned towards Aubrey, feeling slightly silly that she'd seen him obsess over a chocolate frog.

"Actually, I'm already looking at several different places," he commented, "Including one in France. My gran made the suggestion that I start figuring out where i want to go next now, so I don't get overloaded later in the year"

LUNA:

"So he's never really seen any of those things, has he?" Harry asked.

Luna suddenly stopped pulling on her hair and said, "Sure he has seen some of those things! He wouldn't print something that he didn't think was true." She didn't mean to sound so offended, but she knew that no one really took her father's magazine seriously and it did upset her.

She reached down and absentmindedly scratched Twibblet behind the ears lowering her gaze.

They sat in silence for a minute and then she heard Harry say in response to her question about his summer "Well, I'm really not supposed to talk about it, but I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the time. It was for security, what with Voldemort's rising... how did you find out, anyway?"

Peering up at him once more, she replied "Well, I've seen you at the Burrow a few times, that's all." She felt a blush come over her, and quickly averted her eyes becoming suddenly very interested in the sleeve of her robe.

"I know you've never really gotten along with your relatives, so I was just wondering if you got to get away from them this summer at all," Luna continued quickly, hoping that he hadn't noticed her blush.

DEAN:

Dean raised an eyebrow at Draco's words. The sarcasm in the blonde's polished words was not lost on him.

"I'm sure a true gentleman wouldn't force a lady to speak to him. Isn't that right, Ginny?" Dean looked down at Ginny. He noticed now that her cheeks were slightly flushed and her eyes were ablaze with anger. He couldn't remember ever seeing her this angry before...heck, he couldn't remember seeing Ginny angry at ALL.

DRACO:

Draco continued to smile pleasantly through the Cauldron Cake. "I'm sure he wouldn't. But, unless I'm mistaken, a true gentleman also wouldn't touch a lady unless she wished it to be so."

The remark was smooth and there was no bite to his tone, but one need only look into his eyes to see the malevolence there. Whether or not it was obvious to the casual observer, Dean harbored some sort of feelings for Ginny. From the casual touching to the possessiveness, it was fairly obvious to any dimwitted fool. But to someone with so shrewd a sense of observation and a keen mind, he might as well as dropped on one knee and proposed.

Bowing graciously, a near mirror of the move he had bestowed upon Blaise Zabini only moments before, Draco continued smiling as he spoke. "However, I daresay duty comes before breeding, and I must insist that Weasley comes with me only for a few moments. I'm certain you can find time to practice your unrequieted love while we speak."

Just to get under Dean's skin, Draco offered his arm to Ginny and smiled charmingly. "If you'll come with me?"

ROSE: Rose looked around at the people in her compartment--or, what was remaining. that Ginny girl seemed to be the one that the whole conmpartment was revolving around--aubrey didn't seem to interested in Neville, and Neville seemed to have a special attraction to Ginny.

Rose had nothing to say.

Bother..

"It seems hard...having to find out hwat youre all doing later..." Rose almost whispered...

"...But i know where I'll most likely end up--right where my older sister, and my father are--in the department of Mysteries..."

Rose wasn't sure how she felt about that resolution.. She'd always wanted to spend more time with her sister and her father, them being the ones in the family who were wizards, like her. But whenever they were with her, it was...empty. there was nothing.

That was what the department of Mysteries had done to them--taken away more than their presence, but almost their souls, too.

Rose looked down at the ground. her eyes were feeling hot.

She held her gloved right hand in her ungloved left hand, holding on to that mark that had been given to her so many years ago...

RON:

Ron started down to where the Prefect meeting was going to be held..

He sneaked a look back at where Harry was in the vompartment with Luna Lovegood.

He smirked to himself.

It's a good thing I'm his friend, Ron thought, or he'd NEVER be able to have an opportunity with girls...

then again...where have I gotten?

Ron turned back to Hermione, a slight blush on his face--unnoticeab;e, since usually he blushed with great fervor.

"so, what do make of it?" He querried, eyeing the compartment with Harry.

BLAISE:

The nerve! How dare he treat me like that! Me, Blaise Zabini. That bastard. I thought I was being nice! A little hello, how was your summer.... but noooooo. He just has to be a slimey little git. He thinks he's sooo perfect with all his money and his Quiditch skills. Well, I've got news for you! Blaise Zabini takes no shit from no one! I'll show him. No more little shy quiet girl. It's time for some change!

I stumbled onto the train and went in search of a compartment.

Full.

Full.

Full.

Full.

Not full.

Full.

Fu---

Wait a sec! I turned quickly and went back to the other compartment. Inside was Potter and some other girl reading a magazine upside down. Maybe I should go in? Surely, they're nicer than Malfoy. All the other compartments are full so I may as well give it a try. I opened the door slowly and peeked in. Potter looked up at me. The other girl was too engrossed in the magazine.

"Um... May I sit here?" I asked slowly, in my shy, quiet voice. Oh wow. What a great start to turning over a good leaf.

LUNA:

Luna looked up as the compartment door opened and a girl who looked vaguely familiar stepped in.

"Um... May I sit here?"

Luna shrugged her shoulders and said, "Sure. Have a seat." Making room for their new cabin mate, she moved over, clearing away some of her belongings.

"Aren't you in Slytherin?" Luna asked turning her unblinking gaze on the new girl.

AUBREY:

"I've already set up a robe shop in wizard Paris. My cousins taking care of it while I finish up school here." Aubrey didn't really know what to say to Neville or Rose, both of them seemed very detached and their thoughts were obviously elsewhere. She felt like exploring, seeing who else she could meet on the train. Also to wkae up her leg which had just fallen asleep. "Owwie," she said standing up "ick my leg's asleep, 'scuse me, I need a walk." A few minutes later found Aubrey aimlessly walking the train's length lost in her thoughts. Ginny seemed like she would be a great friend but if the rest of the school were as shy and quiet as Rose and Neville she may just have to do something drastic to mix things up. She was good at those types of things. She stopped to admire a pond the train was passing, 'I hope this year will be better than last'. She walked on with her eyes closed, trailing her hand along the compartment doors and humming to herself. When her song came to an end she opened the compartment door at her fingers tips, revealing a girl with very long dirty blonde hair and a hott guy with black hair. "Hello, my name is Aubrey and I'm lost. Can you tell me where the bathroom is?"

GINNY:

Ginny was glad that she was being defended, because she really couldn't stand this guy! He always got on her nerves. And she rarely got this angry. Very rarely. But she couldn't let Dean protect her- she had to stand up for herself. "That's all right Dean. I'm sure Malfoy and I could... er... work something out. Being the gentleman that he is, of course." She gave Malfoy a full out glare before smiling back at Dean. "Thank you very much though. Neville and two people I don't think you've met are back there. I bet you could get into the conversation back there." She turned back around and faced Draco. "Would you like to discuss the... repercussions... here or somewhere else?"

DRACO:

"Yes, do scamper off, Thomas," Draco added, lipsturning up into a delightfully dark, self-satisfied smirk. So she wanted to play that way, feign pride she did not have and 'deal' with him on her own. It really didn't matter to him in the least. Just one less body to deal with.

Gesturing in front of him, he fell into another mock bow. "Please, down the train. I have... private quarters we can use." He couldn't help but sneer as he spoke.

GINNY:

Ginny shivered a bit inside. He was really freaking her out. If she hadn't known that he hated herself and her family, she would have thought that he was trying to attack her or something. But she let nothing show on her face. She passively held Dean back and said, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You go find Neville and the two girls there and I'll be back soon."

She turned to Draco and spoke defiantely, "All right, Malfoy, but I'm not playing your little game. This will be by MY rules and not yours." She gave him a glare that challenged him, daring him to speak out against her.

HARRY:

know you've never really gotten along with your relatives, so I was just wondering if you got to get away from them this summer at all," Luna said.

Harry looked up in surprise. No one except Ron and Hermione really cared that his relatives were rude to him. He was actually very grateful. "Well, thanks for asking. Actually, not really, but that's all right. I find my ways to deal with them." He smiled at Luna. He noticed her hair was down in front of her face and wondered why she wouldn't look at him. (ARCHIVER INTERPOSITION: jUST THEN, hARRY HEARD A VOICE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE COMPARTMENT.)

"Hello, my name is Aubrey and I'm lost. Can you tell me where the bathroom is?"

Harry looked up at her. She was quite attractive, with her long red hair and beautiful green eyes. He blushed a bit at his thoughts and said, "Well, the loos are down the halls a bit in the next train car. You might want to check there." He looked down and tried to avoid eye contact with her.

DRACO:

She turned to Draco and spoke defiantely, "All right, Malfoy, but I'm not playing your little game. This will be by MY rules and not yours." She gave him a glare that challenged him, daring him to speak out against her.

He laughed then, low and velvety, straightening to his full height as he did so. Oh, but she /was/ a feisty one, definitely worthy of the title of Gryffindor. Reckless and stupid, he thought. For he could have easily been someone who inteded to harm her. There were many ways to hurt someone, and he knew them all; he'd been on the recieving end of his father's cold fury more times than he could recall.

"But of course, Weasley. Don't let our positions or social class stand in the way at all." He removed his wand, the wood polished and smooth, and flicked it once. All traces of the Cauldron Cake she had so elegantly smeared across his face vanished, leaving his smooth, pale skin immaculate.

"If you'll go first? I would rather not have to degrade you in the hallway."

LUNA:

Luna was waiting for the reply of their new arrival when Harry said, rather quietly, "Well, thanks for asking. Actually, not really, but that's all right. I find my ways to deal with them."

Luna looked up and gave him a smile. "That sucks that you didn't get to see your friends, but I'm glad you can atleast deal with them." As the girl from Slytherin was taking a seat, a face once again appeared in their compartment door. A pretty girl that Luna didn't know asked if anyone knew where the loo was. Harry politely gave her directions and Luna noticed him blush. She gazed down at her lap, wondering what that was all about, and once more went back to petting Twibblet, who purred back affectionately.

GOYLE:

Goyle bustled through the train. With the gracelessness that he possesed, it was miraculous that the train didn't fall apart.

'Oomph...bump...why are there so many people here?? and where is Crabbe...must..find...' Presently, Goyle bumped into someone who was so big he couldn't be crushed under Goyle's massive figure.

.."Crabbe?" Goyle grunted. "Ung!?" *translation. Crabbe, dear ol' chum, might that be your stunning vision that I am currently beholding?

NEVILLE:

Neville watched as Aubrey left the compartment. 'WEll, it looks like she thinks I'm weird,' he noted to himself. he sighed a little. And she seemed so nice...

Neville heard a small voice from somewhere within the compartment. He looked at Rose.

"Erm, Excuse me, but did you say something?" he asked. "I couldn't hear you."

CRABBE:

.."Crabbe?" Goyle grunted. "Ung!?" *translation. Crabbe, dear ol' chum, might that be your stunning vision that I am currently beholding?

"Doofus!"

No more had to be said between the two. Crabbe put an arm around Goyle's shoulders, took a sandwhich out form his pockeet, gave hafl to Goyle and one to his mouth, made a turn towards the train, and started walking towards it.

Crabbe looked at his companion in hte side of his eyes. "summer good, doof?"

ROSE:

Erm, Excuse me, but did you say something?" he asked. "I couldn't hear you."

Rose was a bit surprised when Neville talked to her. She, however, made no motion that she was.

"oh..."

Rose looked up at him.

"just...I'm afraid of what im going to have to do with my life...I have an older sister and my father in the Department of Mysteries, and..that place scares me.."

Rose, not wanting to continue along this type of conversation, went down to her bags.

She rummaged around for a bit..

then..

Here we go..

"Um...do you..like cats? this one's mine--named Moonshine"

Rose drew out from her spacious bag, her black, longhaired kitten. Very small at that, too.

Moonshine stared up at Neville, eyes bright, wide, and colorful.

Rose lightly tapped her cat's nose, whispering into her large, fluffy ears, "it's rude to stare, Moonshine..."

I don't really mind, though..you can sense it, too, his sadness? maybe you'll do a spell of good for him..

Rose looked up at Neville again, a ghost of a smile in her eyes.

"want to hold her? she's very nice--she won't bite."

HERMIONE:

"so, what do make of it?" Ron querried, eyeing the compartment with Harry. "I presume you're talking about Harry and Luna? I think they would make a splendid couple. But I don't know that Harry feels the same way," Hermione replied. She was about to suggest that Ron ask Harry about it when she noticed Ginny talking to Draco. She practically had to drag Ron past them. "Really, Ron, Ginny's grown up a lot and she can fight her own battles. Besides, we wouldn't want to be late to the Prefect meeting!" Hermione said, as if that would be the worst possible thing in the world. She was Head Girl now, and that git Draco was Head Boy, but she was hoping they would realize what a mistake they made choosing him when he didn't even show up to the meeting because he was too busy causing trouble with Ginny!"

DRACO:

As they walked by Draco's lips stretched into adark smirk. "Having fun, Weasel? You don't look very happy..."

Before Ron could do more than spin, redfaced,Draco had placed one hand on Ginny's elbow and begunto guide her down the hall. He knew the contact wouldinfuriate both Ron and Ginny, and delighted in it.Granger would have some time placating him after this.

"Oh, Granger, do tell everyone that I'll be a little late. I have a... disciplinary issue to deal with," he stressed the last words, wanting them to have a profound effect on the weasel, before making his way down the hall, fingers still lightly touching Ginny's elbow.

RON:

GIT!!

GIT!!!

GIT!!

...GIT WITH MY SISTER!!!

...GIT WITH MY PRECIOUS SISTER!!

...GIT DRAGGIN MY PRECIOUS SISTER DOWN THE HALL

--GIT TOUGCHING PRECIOUS SISTER!!!

Ron really couldn't think ofmuch else as Hermione was draggin him off to the prefect meeting..his face was completely red, and twisted into an expression of hatred and horror.

"Lemme go, Hermione! he's got my sister! he's got my sister! Must save Sister!! Hermione!!!"

bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger!!

Hermione must have worked out over the summer or SOMETHING, because she's not letting go!!

"Bugger.."

Ron thought up of the first charm he thought up of that came to his mind--which, strangely enough, was one that he had made himself over the summer, for the explicit purpose of Getting Back At That Sod Malfoy. It was a really, intricate charm, that had several nice, twisted complications--it was invinvible against invisible charms, stunning charms, silence charms, potions, transfigurations, and was...very pefect...

He'd taken some extra charms lessons from George and Fred over the summer, too.

with a wave of his wand...

"TENERA CATTUS!!!"

Ron grinned with triumph as he saw a pink fluffy kitty sticker appear on the back of Draco's robe...

It won't be long...take that, you git for having suspicious behavior with my sister!!!

Ron, still getting dragged off by Hermione, slightly appeased, only grinned as the fluffy kitty sticker, now accompanied by a periwinkle blue fluffy kitty sticker, started to sing the "Meow Mix" theme, something Ron had learned from Hermione.

and, for their appeasrances, they weren't the quietest kitties on the planet.

"MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW, MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW, MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW.."

The Ron gods were pleased: and for a while, it was good.

DRACO:

Draco was less than impressed. As a matter of fact, he was downright unimpressed. Though he almost had to commend the Weasel for his ingenuity, the last thing that he wanted were little singing kittens on his robes. However, this would play directly into his hands for his torture of the Weasley girl.

She would spend a nice, long detention washing all of his robes without the aid of house elves or magic. There wasn't anything she could do about it either; he was Head Boy, and what she had attempted to do in the hallway was enough to warrant a serious detention, should he feel the need to bring it to a teacher's attention. Being the gracious man that he was, he did not intend to do that; rather, he fully planned on lounging and watching her struggle through her detention while he did homework.

Glancing over his shoulder, fingers still brushing the fabric of Ginny's sleeve, he smiled at Ron. It was not a kind smile; it was very self-satisfied and perverse. "Thanks, Weasel. Your precious sister is going to have a delightful detention with this."

He paused in front of the door to a compartment near the back, flicking his wrist and watching almost boredly as the door slid open without him having to use his wand at all.

Tone droll and flat, he said, "Do take a seat, Weasley, and we can discuss the terms of your detention."

GOYLE:

Goyle took the half of the sandwich, and in the pact they had made in their first year, shoved it into his mouth gleefully, and put his arm around Crabbe's shoulder as well. It was a little difficult, because Crabbe also had his arm around his shoulder, and it was a big arm, and trying to fit another arm around that small shoulder-space area was kinda hard--but with much grunting, he succeeded.

Crabbe looked at his companion in hte side of his eyes. "summer good, doof?" "Ung," Goyle responded, meaning that well, it had been so-so. he laughed heavily. "an' you moron?" he responded. Just then he remembered about Draco's request.

"Um..Draco.." he said slowly, meaning something like, "Tell me on the way, we gotta find Draco."

They disengaged from their shoulder-arm-hug thing; two of them abreast would simply not fit through the corridor. Goyle lead the way, seeing as he was the last one who had seen Draco. However, Draco was not where he had left him. He'd moved. Why did he have to move? He was too small to move and be able still to figure out his whereabouts. He needed to be big and smarter, like Crabbe and him. "MRRg..." he mumbled, meaning, "what i do for Draco..." Something bright and shiny attracted Goyle's vision, and his thoughts completely fell from Draco..."Shinyy...." He turned to look at the shiny red material, and followed it, Crabbe in tow. He followed it into a compartment, where, consequently, Draco also was, with his shiny hair too. He looked at the shiny material from before, and, realising that it was the hair of a weasley, felt like barfing.

"EEWww..."

NEVILLE:

Neville could tell that Rose was scared about her future, and wanted to console her saying that she was only in her third year at school--but he noticed her uneasiness, and decided against it. "Um...do you..like cats? this one's mine--named Moonshine" Rose drew out from her spacious bag, her black, longhaired kitten. Very small at that, too.

Moonshine stared up at Neville, eyes bright, wide, and colorful. Rose lightly tapped her cat's nose, whispering into her large, fluffy ears, "it's rude to stare, Moonshine..." Rose looked up at Neville again, a ghost of a smile in her eyes.

"want to hold her? she's very nice--she won't bite." Neville looked at the cat, knowing that he was much better with plants than with actual animals--his experiences with Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures class had been somewhat scarring--but, looking from the cat's colorful eyes to Fose's slightly smiling face, and couldn't find the heart to say no.

"Sure," he said, not sounding entirely sure of himself. Rose placed the tiny black kitten in Neville's arms. He couldn't help but notice the frailty of the kitten's figure, and the softness of her fur. A small smile crept into his face, as though he were cradling a newborn child. He felt prompted to lightly stroke the kitten behind her ears, and she purred quietly. "She's a rather sweet little tyke," Neville said, already taking a liking to her.

DRACO:

Glancing over at their entrance, Draco eyed them disdainfully for a few brief moments. Crabbe and Goyle were getting on his nerves more often than not lately. He only kept them around for muscle, and he didn't even need that anymore, being Head Boy and adept in several classes of magic as he was. Yet, he had not tried to get rid of them yet. He told himself that it was because it would just be too much of an effort.

Certainly not because they were the only two who could stand his company.

His robes were still singing incessantly as he sat there, and to make matters worse, the kittens seemed to be multiplying. In one graceful move he took his robe from his shoulders, the material spilling over his hands almost like liquid, and threw it at Crabbe and Goyle.

"Take this and find somewhere to sit. I'll be there after the Prefect meeting," he said boredly, absently rolling his shoulders.

He had not changed into his Hogwarts school uniform yet. Generally, he did so after the meetings, when there wouldn't be a rush for the toilets. As such, he was dressed in a pair of black slacks, a white, button-down shirt, and a black vest. His cuffs were unbuttoned and exposed pale, slender wrists. He seemed utterly unaware of just how sophisticated and downright sexy he looked; he could fill out his suits now, and many a girl at one of his fathers' cocktail parties had noticed.

Folding his hands in front of him, he crossed one leg over the other at the knee and slouched, a smirk playing on his lips. "Now that we're... alone, we can discuss the terms of your detention. Assuming, of course, you're willing to take discipline from myself? Otherwise we'll have to get into contact with a higher form of authority, and I'm sure we both don't want that." His tone of voice, however, suggested that he would like nothing more.

LUCIUS:

As the girl hurried past him Lucius inclined his head to her, smiling softly. He knew who she was, of course; Rowena Mox. Her husband had been killed by Death Eaters, if he recalled properly. One of which was teaching Potions at the very school she now inhabited. Another of which, had just smiled demurely at her.

It was funny how things worked out sometimes.

His boots thumped faintly against the stone floor as he strode into the classroom, his presence immediately filling the room. He was like a beacon compared the the dark of the room and the person in it; where Severus was pale and black Lucius was blonde, his clothing rich and delicately colored. They were like night and day in some aspects, and startlingly similar in others.

"Severus," Lucius greeted, his tone soft and velvety. Much like his hands had been on that smooth, alabaster skin...

When the other whipped around Lucius remained smiling, hands folded comfortably in front of him. He hadn't seen Severus in a long time. Certainly not since his release from Azkaban. And wasn't it interesting, that Severus was one of the people who had helped to put him there? Lucius had always known he was a traitor, but even he hadn't assumed the Potions Masters' treachery went so deep.

"It's been a very long time." There was something about the way he said it, his voice more like a lover's caress than a friend's greeting.

SEVERUS:

Severus took an instinctive step back from Lucius. "Not long enough. I thought that you would still be in prison." he sneered, looking down his nose at his former compatriat. "I wonder how much the Malfoy family estate is out by seeing you freed?"

LUCIUS:

It amused him how Severus shied away from him like a frightened animal. He hadn't used to do that before. No, before he'd been only too willing to come closer.

"We both know very well how... persuasive I can be, Severus." His lips stretched into a handsome smile. "Don't we?"

SEVERUS:

"What do you want here, Lucius? I'm certain Dumbeldore would be very interested to know that you're here." Severus kept one hand down straight. With a flick of the wrist, out would come a single small throwing knife, which he would cheerfully put into the man who had twisted his life like a girl twisting hair around his finger.

Strapped to the other arm was his wand, also ready at hand with the flick of a wrist. But Severus knew better than to try and draw a wand on Lucius... at least, not without first putting the knife into his former friend.

LUCIUS:

"Do I have to have a reason to visit, Severus?" He asked, inclining his head. He stepped seemingly carelessly toward the other man, extending one hand to gesture around the room. "I was not intending to see you at all, if you want me to be perfectly honest. I wasn't aware this was your domain now."

Which, of course, it wasn't. Dumbeldore, the old fool, might have trusted Severus, but he was not senile enough to allow a former Death Eater the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Which meant that Rowena most likely held the position now, a fact that amused him to no end. His inital reason for coming to Hogwarts was now fulfilled; he knew who would be teaching his son DADA this year.

But now, now he had something else fun to play with. And it had been a very long time since he'd seen Severus under any conditions except hostile ones.

Still smiling graciously, he reached up and brushed a few curls from his eyes. "What Dumbledore doesn't know certainly won't kill him." Though it could... "I am merely a parent curious as to who has the Dark Arts post this year."

Defense Against the Dark Arts was rubbish. The only way to learn to protect yourself from something was to study it extensively, and Hogwarts' piddly attempt at defense was utterly useless in the real world.

Which was exactly why Draco was properly 'educated' whenever he was home. When the time was right, Draco would sucess him as Voldemort's most loyal follower, and then Albus would realize the err of his ways.

SEVERUS:

"But it might kill you. As I recall, your last parting with Miss Mox was somewhat less than... cordial. In fact, as I recall it, there was a great deal of throwing of sharp objects and the threat to... turn you over to her father." Severus clucked his tongue. "It's always so sad to see relationships end like that. Weren't you enganged to her?"

LUCIUS:

"Briefly." Lucius returned amicably, absently brushing at a stray piece of lint on his arm. "If I recall, when our engagement ended you were the one to pick up the pieces."

A very direct slap. He continued to smile, however. "But I've found that I much prefer fair-haired partners. I do believe you've met my wife, Narcissa?"

SEVERUS:

Severus' smile at Lucius was posativly nasty. "I'm sure Narcissa would be absolutly facinated to hear all about it. I've been given to understand that she does find such things entertaining."

LUCIUS:

Lucius laughed, low and charming. Such tactics would have worked on him had he harbored the slightest feelings for his wife. Considering he did not, however, he merely found it amusing. Little Severus was going to have to try much harder if he wanted to get under his skin.

"She's quite the agreeable pet, isn't she?" He mused, reaching up to finger his collar absently. "A model wife. I was much wiser to chose her over that Mox woman."

His eyes became cold and hard all at once, and his smile took on a sinister, dark edge. "She found a husband though, didn't she? Pity, the end he found..."

Lucius clucked his tongue before pressing one hand to his waist, offering his former ally a short bow. "If you don't mind, however, I do believe Draco will be arriving at school soon. I have not had the pleasure of visiting him for quite some time."

SEVERUS/ROWENA:

Severus noted the bit of movement over Lucius' shoulder, then took another step back.

"You're right, you know, Lucius." Rowena announced from the doorway. "Narcissa is a much better match for you. What was it Da Vinci said? That which attracts us most is ourselves?" She stepped forward, her cloak swirling around her ankles. "And I would have nutered you if you'd continued your ways while married to me. But I'm quite sure your wife doesn't really care." She moved past Lucius to pick up a long dagger on her desk. "I am so very surprised that you know about Byron. But you always did have your nose in everyone else' business."

Rowena turned around, not even the ghost of a smile on her face. "Get out of Hogwarts, Lucius, before I cut off your head and leave it on a pike as a warning to all others."

LUCIUS:

Lucius' smile turned delighted when he saw Rowena, and he bowed once more, a greeting murmured to her as she continued to speak. He straightened when she finished and smiled at her, a flash of even, white teeth in a near porcelain-perfect face.

"You'll find that I'm a very educated man, Rowena." Here his gaze slipped to Severus briefly, before his cold grey eyes settled on her. "And I don't doubt that you would try to, what was it? 'Neuter' me. Such a vulgar phrase, not at all befitting the lady you are."

His cloak swirled around him impressively as he turned, inclining his head once to Severus, before doing the same to Rowena. He was finished here; Draco needed to be reminded of a few things when he arrived back at Hogwarts, and he couldn't very well do that in front of witnesses. They might not approve of the Malfoy family code of conduct, and the repercussions for breaking it.

"And Narcissa isn't a whit like me, Rowena. But then, your downfall always was underestimating those you opposed."

With those parting words he left, stride confident and smile still gracing his features, to wait for his son to arrive from Hogwarts.

ROWENA/SEVERUS:

Rowena put the knife back down. "Gods, I hate that man. One of these days..." she shook her head and looked at Severus. "This is not the way to start the school year. I almost feel sorry for his son."

Severus nodded in agreement, visions of his knife driven deep into Lucius' ribs dancing in his head. He would have cheerfully told Rowena that Lucius had been there the night her husband had died, if that wouldn't have lead to his own slow and painful death. "You have my condolences."

"About Byron?"

"About ever dating Lucius."

"I plead temporary insanity. What's your excuse?"

"Ah... I do not know what you mean, Miss Mox."

"It's Mrs. Xanathos now, and I heard most of the conversation."

"Then I must also plead temporary insanity. Your new name.... is utterly apropriate."

"Papa certainly liked it."

GINNY:

Now that we're... alone, we can discuss the terms of your detention. Assuming, of course, you're willing to take discipline from myself? Otherwise we'll have to get into contact with a higher form of authority, and I'm sure we both don't want that."

Ginny grumbled in her seat. She sat straightbacked so as to show Malfoy her height and that she was not afraid of him in the least. She simply smirked at him and pulled her hair back over her shoulder, shrugging carelessly and saying, "Taking 'discipline' from you would be perfectly fine, thank you very much. I don't think we need to bring in teachers, for I'm sure they have a lot more to worry about. There's no need to bother them with so... trifle... a matter. Now what do you insist I do for you?"

Ginny leaned back a bit and folded her hands over her crossed legs. She was upset at having detention for simply bumping into Draco, but she wouldn't let him get her cross and upset. She had better things to do than mess around with him and do whatever he told her to. Which started to confuse her since she had agreed to come with him. What started to confuse her even more was the fact that she'd just thought of him as Draco, and not Malfoy...

DRACO:

He almost had to give her credit for not shrinking down under his imposing stare as many a younger student had. In fact, she seemed quite determined to show him just how unafraid she was, a tactic he knew quite well. How many times had he employed it with his father? How many times had it backfired and sent him sprawling across the floor? It would be so easy to follow his father's example and intimidate her further, twist and twist until she broke...

He mentally shook himself. Lucius must be prominent on his thoughts because of his untimely return from Azkaban. He hadn't even seen the man since Christmas last year. There was no reason to be thinking about him. The fact that he was disgusted him.

He was not his father. Intimidation he employed to survive, not for the mere pleasure of seeing other people slowly chip away until they shattered. He wore his arrogance like armour, keeping everyone at arm's length, afraid that if he let anyone too close he would lose his tightly-constructed self-restrain. He was his father's son, after all. What would happen if he turned out to be the same as Lucius?

Damn the Weasley girl for sending his thoughts spiraling like this. He realized with the force of a physical slap to the face that she reminded him of himself before he'd learned the rules. Before he'd known just what it was to be a child in the Malfoy manor. The only difference was, she was free and unbroken.

Eyes cold and narrowed, like twin shards of ice, he began to speak in a much more quiet, biting tone than even he had meant. "For the attempted use of the Body Bind hex as well as taunting your superiors you will serve me two detentions. You will wash and press every robe and suit that I own without the aid of magic."

Absently, he reached up and adjusted his tie, his manner aloof and cold. "And just because I don't like you, Weasley, I'm going to supervise."

BLAISE:

"Yes, I am in Slytherin. I don't believe we've met. I'm Blaise Zabini," she said. Then turning to Harry, "You must be Harry Potter. In the six years we've been at Hogwarts, I don't believe we've been properly introduced," extending her hand towards Harry.

I surprised myself my saying this cool, with a mysterious air to my voice. The girl seemed nice enough, but befriending Potter may be more... productive.

AUBREY:

Xia xia and danke schoen." Aubrey gave a little bow to the hot black haired-guy and a wink to the two girls in the compartment. She walked out into the hall singing "Say "Night-ie night" and kiss me - Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me - While I'm alone and blue as can be - Dream a little dream of me ---" fading out to humming. She was always one to randomly start singing various songs. After finding her way safetly to bathroom she felt much better. 'Note: never eat grass and black forest cake together again.' It had taken her a full 5 minutes to brush the taste out of her teeth. Taking a breath of now fresh air she continued wandering the corridors.

DEAN:

Draco continued to smile pleasantly through the Cauldron Cake. "I'm sure he wouldn't. But, unless I'm mistaken, a true gentleman also wouldn't touch a lady unless she wished it to be so."

Dean grew was enraged with Draco's words. Just where did this guy come off? But deep down inside of him, there was a little voice that admitted that he did touch Ginny (a lot) whenever possible. Of course it was always casual but that didn't necessarily mean it was welcome. Dean scanned Ginny's face then, to see if he could read her reaction. A horrible thought occurred to him then. What if she was only nice to him because she pitied him but inwardly wished he would just leave her alone. If that was the case, he would gladly dig a hole in the ground and stay there for the rest of his life, because it would be far better than seeing Ginny and knowing she /pitied/ him. Dean started to respond when Draco cut him off.

"However, I daresay duty comes before breeding, and I must insist that Weasley comes with me only for a few moments. I'm certain you can find time to practice your unrequieted love while we speak."

Unrequited love? Oh that little ferret was going to get it. His hands tensed at his sides.

"Just say the words Ginny, just SAY them and I'll kill the bastard," Dean spoke through gritted teeth.

"That's all right Dean. I'm sure Malfoy and I could... er... work something out. Being the gentleman that he is, of course." She gave Malfoy a full out glare before smiling back at Dean. "Thank you very much though. Neville and two people I don't think you've met are back there. I bet you could get into the conversation back there."

Was Dean missing something here? Ginny was /volunteering/ to go with Malfoy? Something did not seem right. Maybe Ginny really /was/ sick of him. The thought made Dean feel sick to his stomach.

"Yes, do scamper off, Thomas," Draco added, lips turning up into a delightfully dark, self-satisfied smirk.

That was it. Dean was going to hex this kid into another dimension.

Ginny passively held Dean back and said, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. You go find Neville and the two girls there and I'll be back soon."

He looked down at her, at those beautiful eyes that seemed to plead with him and he found he couldn't say no. He sighed and half turned so his back was to Malfoy and he was facing Ginny. He secretly slipped an Exacto knife in the pocket of her robes and muttered "If he tries anything slick with you, ram it into his thigh and twist." He winked at her and left to find Neville or possibly Harry or Ron on the train. (OOC: normally I'd make him look for Seamus since they're best friends but nobody's playing him so lets just pretend he's somewhere else right now.) He didn't really expect Ginny to /use/ the Exacto knife but she'd have to see him again in order to return it, wouldn't she?

*Old habits die hard don't they?* Dean thought to himself. He still couldn't forget Draco's words as he walked alone down the train corridor. Did Ginny really want him to get lost? He suddenly regretted his transparent attempt to get Ginny to see him again. Was she just a few yards away, rolling her eyes and thinking up ways to break it to him easily that she just wasn't interested in him?

He now dreaded seeing Ginny again.

DRAGOS:

Dragos walked the length of the train's hallway, unable to truely stay at rest during the journey, recent events playing over in his mind. He had no trunk to watch anyways.. Aside from a modest little gold pouch at his side, tied to his black leather belt. He was wearing a pair of loose jeans, his durable leather shoes worn but holding up amiably beneath him. Aside from a black t shirt, he had a his satchel hanging over one shoulder. Most all his possessions were in there. A decent grade broom with a strap was on his other shoulder, his wand was tucked into a black leather sheath at his side. Leather was one of his favorite materials : Strong, long lasting and decent at protecting things, it also had a pleasant smell to it. He glanced at students as he passed, walking over by a window, thinking of things. He could just as easily pass for a muggle as he could for a possible staff member, when he took up a firmer face. But the looks for him was that of a student, albiet an odd one. He watched outside the window, gauging how fast they were going and wondering to himself, thinking before moving on down the aisles, wondering how they would receive him at the.. Castle, was it? He asked himself, mentally.

LUNA:

As Luna sat petting her cat, the girl who had asked where the loo was thanked Harry and then went on her way. Looking up she heard the other girl say, "Yes, I am in Slytherin.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Blaise Zabini," Luna opened her mouth to introduce herself, but Blaise promptly turned to Harry and said, "You must be Harry Potter. In the six years we've been at Hogwarts, I don't believe we've been properly introduced," With that she extended her hand towards Harry. Luna glanced away beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the situation and wondering if she should leave. Deciding not to, Luna did what she did best, picked up The Quibbler and promptly hid herself behind it, not wanting to interrupt anything.

LUCRIZIA/ROWENA:

Luci Mox sat on the edge of her youngest brother's bed and looked into the dark mirror on her lap, reading the words that floated up like alphabet soup. So. What does Mother want? I've got no business at Hogwarts.

But aparently she did. And Luci had never been one to argue with her mother, not over things like this. Whatever it was, it was clearly too important for her to miss.

She picked up her pen and drew it across the mirror, writing a brief message informing her mother that she would be at Hogwarts as soon as she could get there.

******

Rowena looked at the black looking glass and smiled, unseen by Severus, who had just left. "Excellent. I wonder what Lucius will have to say about you, pet? Nothing good, I imagine." She ran a hand over the mirror and blanked it out, then draped a cloth over it. "But I'm sure Draco will be very interested in you."

HARRY:

"You must be Harry Potter. In the six years we've been at Hogwarts, I don't believe we've been properly introduced," Blaise extended her hand towards Harry.

Harry looked at the hand cautiously and took it firmly. "No, I don't believe we have. Harry Potter." He looked at Blaise calculatingly. She seemed like a smooth, well-bred girl, but he could not tell how dark she was, since she seemed the type to be very deceiving. "Is there anything you need?"

HERMIONE:

"TENERA CATTUS!!!" Ron said as he waved his wand in Draco's direction.

"Ron!" Hermione gasped. She was about to reprimand him for cursing Draco because as a prefect, he should be setting an example for other students, not acting out. But she stopped herself, knowing it would do no good; Ron was very protective of Ginny. As Head Girl and Head Boy, it was Hermione and Draco's job to run the meeting. Since Draco failed to show up, Hermione quickly took charge. She introduced the new Prefects, discussed the rules, and told everyone the passwords for their respective houses.

GINNY:

"For the attempted use of the Body Bind hex as well as taunting your superiors you will serve me two detentions. You will wash and press every robe and suit that I own without the aid of magic. And just because I don't like you, Weasley, I'm going to supervise."

Ginny sat gaping at him. He was actually going to make her scrub HIS clothes... and all of them!! Just for bumping into him!! She knew her mouth was flapping like a fish out of water but she could not find the words to show her emotion justice. She groped around in her pocket for the Exacto-knife Dean had handed her. She contemplated using it for a second, but thought better of it. Killing Malfoy would mean her life and Dean's, seeing as how he had given it to her, and that would get her no where. She closed her eyes and counted to ten slowly, taking deep breaths, her chest heaving. Once she got herself under control, she opened her eyes and stared back as menacingly as she could. Calmly she asked, "Dearest Head Boy, where will I be serving this detention? And what will you allow me to use to get the... erm.... fluffy kitty stickers off?"

She sat there staring back at Draco as hard as she could, trying to let him know that she was not going to go easily at all. If she even went, he'd have a hard fight coming, and it was better to let him know now. 'Well, well, ^Malfoy^, the game has just begun. But there is no way you're winning, not without a fight at least,' Ginny thought vehemently. Outwardly, she serenly stared at him, willing him to feel any sort of emotion other than smooth carelessness or powerful command.

DRACO:

Though Draco showed no outward inclination that he noticed what she was doing at all, he saw her fingering something in her pocket. A wand, perhaps? It wouldn't do at all for her to try to hex him again. She'd just make things worse on herself.

He considered it one of her--few--wise moves when she stilled and did not draw her wand.

Calmly she asked, "Dearest Head Boy, where will I be serving this detention? And what will you allow me to use to get the... erm.... fluffy kitty stickers off?"

Smirk widening, Draco absently reached down and brushed his fingers over one of the kittens. It only continued to sing louder. "You'll be serving your detentions in a branch of the dungeons. Oh don't worry, Weasley, we won't be disturbing Professor Snape." He very nearly sneered at her, but controlled the impulse. It was ridiculous how much dislike everyone harbored for the Potions master simply because he was different and just a bit biased. Severus was, in fact, the only teacher that Draco ever showed due respect to.

"As for these stickers... you might want to ask your darling Weasel brother. He is, after all, why I'm wearing them."

SHINOBU:

alright, now, Shin, we expect wonderous things of you!"

"lots of good grades.."

"lots of fun memories.."

"and lots of good pranks!"

Shinobu finished off her cousin's "lecture". They were like this every year when they saw her off to Hogwarts--even though they were Muggles, they absolutely insisted on seeing her off, despite the danger to themselves.

"I'm alright--just hand me that duffle, and I'll be off!"

Shinobu had to stand on her tip-toes--and her cousins had to bend over--for her to kiss them on the cheek.

"we set your mother off like this one, you know--"

"i know, I know, cousin Fyord! and it still creeps me out that you're older than her.."

The other cousin, blonde and blue-eyed like his twin, scoffed. "well, fine then if you'll be like that.."

Shinobu only smiled.

"baka!"

--

After completing her good-byes, Shinobu headed off towards the train. N.E.W.T.S this year! I can hardly wait for the challenges that await me this year!!!

She smiled to herself, then..

"oof!"

Some brute had pushed her off to the side, almost knocking her over.

"hey, you..."

but he already left.

"grrrrrrrr..."

Shinobu's breen-blue eyes flahsed. Her nose wrinkled. Her eybrows slanted in surpressed Fury.

I'll show that over-grown lummox...

Who was named...

Ah.

Crabbe, was it then?

Oh yes..

Shinobu only glared further as the massive figure, teamed with another massive figure, walked into the train.

"those Malfoy Goons..."

Shinobu did not exactly like Malfoy. Afterall, "that Kwon man" was last heard associating with Luxy, his dad. anyone that asociated with "that Kwon guy" after what happened with her parents, coudl not in any way be sane. And his son very much paralelled his Father.

Shinobu cast a disolusionment spell on herself--no one noticed, because she was :

a--short!

b--INconspicuous! and

c--no one was looking for her, anyways...

Shinobu followed the muscular-fatsoes down the hallway, where she soon saw those hated features--Malfoy. Ick.

He was talking to a red-haired girl in the compartment--something about discipline?

nooo...he can't be using torture on innocent fellow students, can he? oo...BAKA!!

Her eyes crinkled underneath her idisolusionment charm.

To do anything right now would be conspicuous.. to HIM, that is. but..to someone else..

Ohohohohohoho.

Shinobu looked up (yush, they're VEERy much taller than her, and attract pidgeons, too) to Crabbe and Goyle--more like the back of their heads--and smirked.

And so it begins...

"Wingardium Leviosa"

CRABBE:

Crabbe walked with Goyle throught the train...

"yeah, it sucked. No good food around. Pasty, dry stuff, and no chocolate." My parents had the inspired idea to take us on a trip to Japan over the summer. It was hideous! the only thing they gave us was rice balls with tiny bits of raw fish on it and horseraddish extract--eeeeww!! and no sugar, either! all hideous confections of oil and water, my friend, oil and water...

Contrary to what many people believed,Crabbe was VERY picky about his food. He refused to eat anything that did not have a lot of fat or sugar in them--which, unfortunately for him, the sushi he was served had a great LACK in. and he had to eat that way for 5 days, poor bloke.

The two finally made it to where Draco was--in the cvorridor with--a Weasley?

Draco sure was weird to actually be seen talking to that girl--no matter that it was a disciplinary matter, he still looked weired talking to her. As crabbe munched on his sanwhich half, he couldn'thelp but have a lsight tummy-acvhe as he looked on at Draco saying things to the Weasley in disciplinary terms--the two of them together reminded Crabbe of the Sushi he'd eaten over the summer: pretty, but no taste.

Pretty..

Crabbe had to force down his gag reflex, as it would be extremely bad for him to throw up on Draco when he was getting into the swing of dishing out punishments to the Weasley brat. All was well--I shall not let the sushi ruin this...

However, something else was going to Ruin crabbe's stomach condition.

"Wingardium Leviosa"

"eh--?" What in bloody hell do you think you are attempting, you-- you person that i can't see, you?

Crabbe felt the lack of ground beneath him--and it became even harder for him to force down his gag reflex.

DRAGOS:

Dragos looked around as he heard some sounds of interest, and the sound of.. A cat? He paid attention to the sound, then started walking down the train's path towards it, coming to an interesting scene with two rather large men, a girl behind them, and the sounds coming from the doorway, voices and meows. "Excuse me.." He said as he approached with a soft voice, just loud enough to be heard. "Is someone.. Feeding a cat sugar, or some such? Dear me, you seem to be floating.." Dragos held back a smile, watching this.

DRACO:

Being Head Boy as well as Crabbe and Goyle's retainer while they were at Hogwarts (he refused to refer to them as friends), Draco could not very well sit still while they were levitated just outside of his compartment. It seemed that today everyone had decided as one unintelligable mass that they were going to wreak havoc on the new Head Boy. Normally he would have scoffed at such an idea, but right now he was vaguely annoyed with the Weasley girl and her idiot brother.

"Just a moment," he said softly, barely sparing her a glance as he swept out of the room, cloak abandoned on the seat. The kittens had transferred to his suit. He would have to file that for further notice.

Folding his arms gracefully, Draco leaned in the doorway of his compartment, effectively blocking Weasley from any means of escape while still presenting himself to the hallway. He had a calm, almost lazy sort of authority about him, but if you looked into his cold, flat eyes and the thin, set line of his mouth it was easy enough to tell that he did not approve.

He flicked his wand, performing the counter-hex, and gently set Crabbe back down a few feet away so that he could look at the culprit. She was just a little girl. If he so chose, he could have her squashed.

However, that was not the diplomatic way of doing things.

"I want your name, year, and house, if applicable." He said softly. While he did not exactly 'like' Crabbe and Goyle, they were his, and anyone who caused them hurt or harm would regret it.

Eyes flicking down the train, he offered no semblance to a smile or smirk to the people gathered. "To your compartments. There's nothing to see here, and the train's starting."

LUNA:

Luna glanced over the top of her magazine with an amused look on her face when she heard Harry say, "Is there anything you need?" Luna actually had to surpress a giggle, as she was pretty sure that this was not the tone of conversation that Blaise had planned on. As Harry waited for her response, Luna looked at him and raised an eyebrow quizzically. /I wonder if Harry even realizes that she is trying to flirt with him?/ Luna thought to herself. /Probably not./Luna made a mental note to keep an eye out for this girl, she didn't really trust her and she wasn't completely sure what her plan was.

DRAGOS:

Dragos watched with amusement as a new figure stepped into the hall, his hands that were absently rubbing each other now stopping. Did that guy have a kitten in his pocket, or perhaps his familiar was a cat? He tilted his head to the side as he watched the scene, biting his tongue discretely to keep himself from laughing at it all. He didn't feel like going back to his compartment anyways, there was someone else in there whom's company he didn't enjoy. Always better to watch other people getting into trouble and fights then staring at a wall. At least the two big fellows didn't round onto the girl, and the blonde headed, important seeming, kitty singing teen seemed to be handling it well. Dragos looked at his satchel as it let out a small chirp sound, not quite that of a bird. He reached into one pocket, taking out a treat, and slipping it into his bag to an out of sight critter.

BLAISE:

"Is there anything you need?"

"Is there anything I need?!?!?!" she repeated, standing up.

"Anything I need? Well, thats got to be the first time I heard someone ask what I need in my life! There's a lot of things I need. I need some respect! I need some attention! I need some acknowledgement! All I asked him was how his summer was!!! But, noooo.... He doesn't care about me. I'm just Blaise Zabini! He doesn't need to show me any courtesy! As long as he gets his way everything is just peachy! I won't take it any more!!!! I'm sick and tired of being ignored. Nobody cares! Nobody gives me a second glance! IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!!"

I sat back down, trying to catch my breath. It felt good to get everything off of my chest. I should do this more often.

LUNA:

/Wow,/ Luna thought /I wonder if she realizes that was her out-loud voice?/ But Luna did not ask this for fear that a very nasty hex would be hurled her way. Completely taken aback by the sudden out-burst from their new cabin- mate, Luna turned to face her and with genuine concern in her voice asked, "Are you alright? Who doesn't care about you?" She noticed that Blaise was trying hard to control her breathing and it appeared she was trying to calm herself down. Luna put down her magazine and reached out to try and comfort her, but thinking better of it, she awkwardly placed her hands back in her lap instead. "I'm sorry if you felt we were ignoring you," she said confused "That wasn't our intention at all." Luna looked quickly at Harry, trying to signal him to back her up.

GINNY:

"As for these stickers... you might want to ask your darling Weasel brother. He is, after all, why I'm wearing them."

Ginny opened her mouth to retort, and started laughing. Hard. She wanted to stop but couldn't control herself. All thoughts about hurting him flew out of her head as she laughed. "Couldn't even block one of my brother's spells?" She fought for control and gained it, albeit with a very difficult struggle. "All right, but wouldn't that require me to leave the room?"

Draco didn't answer. He had gone outside. She looked over his arms (he was blocking the doorway) and tried to see what had happened. By the looks of it, Crabbe was floating in the air. Draco had lowered him down. But he was blocking her way out. She assumed this was because he didn't want her to escape. She didn't like the fact that she was now caged, but she couldn't do anything about it. But she was planning in her head. There was no way Draco would get away with trapping her. She would get back at him, one way or another...

DRACO:

Weasley's words settled a bit too close to his own thoughts on the matter for comfort, so he had chosen to leave without responding to her. It wasn't as if simply because a comment was made that it had to be replied to; he was above her station and needn't worry about such things. It pricked, however, and drew just a little blood. For it was something his father would have told him, only there would have been consequences instead of laughter.

Briefly, he wondered at the last time he had heard anyone laugh. Surely not the charming, deceptive laughs his father often employed; they could not count. His mother he had never seen wear an expression except hesitant happiness or pure and utter arrogance. He, himself, had found little cause to laugh at overthe years unless it was someone else's pain. And that was never truly laughing. It was mocking.

Clearing the thoughts from his head, he glanced around the compartment as to see who had levitated Crabbe when Pansy came around the corner hurriedly, bookbag over one shoulder near bursting, still applying lipstick as she went. He very nearly sighed out loud; the girl was obsessive about hiding her face and looks, and tended to wear baggy, concealing clothing and about three more inches of makeup than she needed. She also tended to get distracted and not watch where she was going, and was liable to thump into someone if she didn't watch out.

"Pansy," he said, pausing abruptly; he had intended to stop her from tripping over her own feet when instead she had collided with seemingly thin air and fallen smartly on her bottom, bookbag splitting open and cosmetics flying every which-way.

Eyes narrowed now, Draco immediately abandoned thoughts of Virginia Weasley in the compartment behind him and strode over, eyes catching the blurring air as the invisible form moved about. Either they had an invisibiliy cloak, or were under a charm. Considering their appearance it was the charm, as he would have been able to see nothing had it been a cloak like Potter's, he muttered the charm to reveal the person.

Girl. Small, tiny girl, his mind corrected. She didn't look at all apologetic.

Without sparing her a second glance, knowing that he could pick her out in a crowd if need be, Draco knealt beside Pansy and began to gather her books for her. "Are you all right, Pansy?" he asked, tone much more human than most gave him credit for.

She bit her lip and nodded. There was a great red streak across one cheek where her lipstick had slipped. "I'm fine, Draco. You don't have to help me. Really. Wasn't there someone you were dealing with?"

Draco waved a hand impatiently. "Weasley can wait. Certainly I should be allowed a few moments from my duties to assist a classmate."

Pansy was one of the few people he very nearly considered a friend. She was unwaveringly loyal and never doubted him in the least. At the same time, however, she had a mind and she used it. Whenever he needed counsel he would go to her, and she him. It was a rather advantageous relationship. But they weren't friends. A Malfoy could not be permitted to have friends. Only servants and followers.

He mended her bag quickly and set the books inside, offering his hand to her in a casual move of breeding. She accepted it and stood, offering him a smile as she put the bag over her shoulder once more."Thanks. You'd better get back before someone accuses you of being a good guy."

Draco merely arched one eyebrow at her, speaking dryly. "I highly doubt it, Pansy. Our little audience is quite determined to hate me at all costs." And, inclining his head, he dismissed her. She did the same, turning and venturing down another hallway to find a place to sit. They never said goodbye to one another. Though Draco was not foolish enough to believe in such things as superstition, Pansy was, and she simply refused to say such a thing lest something terrible befall either of them.

Flicking his eyes down to where the girl sat, he said coldly, all at once the haughty rich boy everyone loved to hate, "You are to wait in the adjoining compartment for me to finish with Weasley so we can discuss your behavioral issues. Should you decide not to be there for any reaon, the repercussions will be more severe."

With that he turned and strode back down to where Ginny was contained. Apparently someone had been standing in her way a few moments ago that prevented her total escape, for surely he would have thought that she would run at the first possible moment. He had no doubt that she was as ill-inclined to be in the same car with him as he was to be with her.

Something about her earlier comment bothered him, so as he seated himself, he raised one hand to examine his nails. The kittens were still meowing cheerfully.

"Oh, and by the way, Weasley--I would have been able to dodge your idiot brother's spell had he not fired it at my back. I wasn't aware Gryffindors had less scruples than the common Slytherin."

It had been a long time since he'd lowered himself enough to take an opponent the coward's way. He did not intend to do so ever again. That was how his father played, and Draco Malfoy was not his father.

SHINOBU:

Shinobu had expected that the bastard Malfoy would know the anti-dilalusionment charm. that was why she was sooo prepeared..

She saw Draco's gaze eyeing her up and down, 'sizing me up I expect.. But he'd got the wrong face..'

Shinobu had always been a careful girl--took after her mother, some said, in that aspect. She hadn't been able to adjust her height in the metamorph, but changing her face was good enough.

What draco saw was a short, brunette girl with freckles, and her hair cut evenly at her shoudlers, with brown eyes, and a very sinister face.

what he woould have seen, if he;'d known better, would have been a short, curly-black-haired girl with grteen-blue eyes, hair past her waist, and very amused blue-green eyes. and NOT a sinister face--more like a very, very cherubic face. (that was her own opinion.)

"You are to wait in the adjoining compartment for me to finish with Weasley so we can discuss your behavioral issues. Should you decide not to be there for any reaon, the repercussions will be more severe."

"of course, Mister Meaney-head!", playing the part of the first year she was soo trying to convey..

Shinobu promptly got upform her seat, then, as his back was in facing her, whilst no one else was looking, disolusioned herself AGAIN, then walked down the hallway.

Shinobu slinetly shut the compartment door behind her, and, as she undid the charm, transfigured back to her real form.

Too bad for him that this isn't on the school registry...

Shinobu herself wondered why the fact that she was a Metamorphagus had alluded the attention of the student information papers. she'd checked them before, and had seen things such as "Harry Potter: parselmouth", and ".....:Lycanthrope", and there was alsoa big list of students who could see thestrals, but when she'd come upon her own papers, there had been..nothing of the sort.

Maybe they don't know? but that's weird--it'sregualted by the ministry of magic that special ingformtaiton about students be listed, in case certain disciplanary measurements can be adjusteddue to certain maladies, or anything---

Shinobu decided to stop wondering about it. Afterall, wahtever they didn't know about her, was good for her anyways. it worked to her assiduous pranking advantage.

'Speaking of which, I should prolly check those records again---they might have updated.'

"HUM...i can hardly wait to see Peeves again," she said to no one in particular. Peeves, afterall, was her access to special places and information that other students, and even some teachers, weren't privy too...common room passwords, secret passages, good hiding spots, anything that involved a good prank opportunity..

However, Shinobu had always refused whenever Peeves had offered her copies of the tests.

He's a fickle poltergeist, at that--i neverknwo when he's trying to pull the plug on me...

PANSY:

Pushing open the very same door herself, Pansy arched one eyebrow at the girl before her, noting that she was indeed very different looking from the girl she had just seen enter the compartment. A quick scan of the room told her that no one else was present, and being that the window was still shut, there was no way or her to have escaped. You could not, after all, Apparate on Hogwarts or its property.

This girl had not been looking very kindly at Draco a few moments ago, and from the looks of the current situation, was determined to foil him at any cost. This did not go appreciated by Pansy. Anyone who slighted Draco Malfoy had her to answer to, and she generally was not very kind about it.

Resting her hand on her bookbag absently, she tapped her face with her wand and murmured a quiet glamour spell to fix her lipstick. "I do beg you pardon. I was under the impression that a disobedient first-year was in the compartment. Have you any idea where she might have gotten to?"

Her tone was cool and almost pleasant. She knew perfectly well where that first year had gotten to--she was standing directly in front of her. Perhaps it had been some sort of complex spell that had changed her appearance, or perhaps she was a Metamorphmagus, though she was certain that Draco would know if she had been. The school kept tabs on that, after all, and Dumbledore was not one to miss anything.

Offering the girl a smile that was not at all pleasant, she shifted her bag. "Unless you happen to be the first year in question. In which case, I think I'll sit with you until Draco comes along."

DRAGOS:

Dragos watched with a bemused interest as the teen moved through the halls, listening and watching, looking at the girl that appeared behind the two men. He noted there seemed to be cats on the man, and couldn't help but laugh briefly, wondering if the blonde thought it was some kind of fashion. "Thats.. Cute." He said softly followed by another laugh, wondering how many people would be wearing those anyways. He moved closer to the door, listening and watching the rather large teens with one eye. Such people with size tended to be arrogant trouble makers from his experience, save for a few gentle giants.

What were they doing standing in the halls anyways? Probably doing the same thing he was.. Being a nosey bunch like those two? It was possible, but they didn't seem to be the curious types. Well. Maybe curious about something if they could eat it. Good thing they weren't made of sure, he thought bemusedly.

SHINOBU:

strange girl entered apartment--wearing too much make-up...

and blast, she'd followed me. Kuso!!!

..playing innocent obviously doesn't work..

...hum..wait a second...dracocalled her..Pansy? oh..

Shinobu's face went a little soft--not from fear, but of pity...

ooo dear, I really don't want to say it...

Euu, she's gonna hate me for this...not good thing, but... Anything to get out of tha prat's power!!

...even though I suck at intimidation...so it most likely wont work...

"Oh! Hu-Hullo? oh, Pansy Parkinson, right? You're just the person I was looking for!"

Shinobu got up from her seat--not much of a height difference, really, considering her height--and walked over to the other side of the compartment, where Pansy was complacently sitting. "

I wanted to know--what do thestrals look like? I'm doing a reseach project on them, and I heard that you could see them..."

Actually, Shinobu already knew what thestrals looked liked--from reading about them in texts. But anything to get Pansy's mind off the current subject would do.

"I'm also curious about how their real appearance differed from the vague descriptions that textbooks gave. A vague description form a person who'd seen them would really help..."

Shinobu could only hope that Pansy didn't make the connection that--who could she have heard it from, that would know? Shinobu really hoped she wouldn't do that. ...and I've just told her that I know she's seen someone die.

PANSY:

Pansy's eyes widened a bit and she felt her grip on her bag tighten. How did this girl know she could see Thestrals? And to use it against her like this--the only people she knew that would even consider it were the famous Potter trio. No one else ever dared to pick on her for fear of facing Draco's wrath. This girl, apparently, didn't care.

But she wasn't here to worry about herself. Not yet.

"I'm also curious about how their real appearance differed from the vague descriptions that textbooks gave. A vague description form a person who'd seen them would really help..."

Offering the girl a smile that was lacking in all essential warmth, Pansy reached into her bag and pulled out a bag containing her various cosmetics. She began to apply blush as she spoke. "I really don't know what you're talking about. I've never seen anyone die in my life. Certainly you're mistaking me for someone else."

Snapping the container shut with sharp finality, she glanced back over to the girl, eyes cold and not showing the fear she felt. She was remembering the night her father had stumbled in, cloaked in blood, sightless eyes taking him across the carpet and into the house only to collapse in a crimson pool on the ground.

"But even if I had," she continued pleasantly enough, "it wouldn't be a means of intimidating me. They are, after all, only animals. The great oaf Hagrid brought them to us last year and assured us they were perfectly harmless. If you need information for your report, you should see him."

SHINOBU:

Denial was a hard, cruel existence.

Shinobu was not about to advocate that she was NOT mistaken--befcause then she'dsugest that she had hard evidence somewhere..and Shonbu was not willing to have her undercover career jeapordized now.

"But even if I had," she continued pleasantly enough, "it wouldn't be a means of intimidating me. They are, after all, only animals. The great oaf Hagrid brought them to us last year and assured us they were perfectly harmless. If you need information for your report, you should see him."

Beeeeeehhh...

Shinobu was well aware that Hagrid was not exactly the most flapping mouth when it came to thestrals. other mythical beasts, you could never get him to stop, but...thestrals were a different story.

And in reality, the only reason why Shinobu was interested in Thestrals was the rumor that death eaters rode them.

Shinobu surpressed a shudder. A death eater.What "that Kwon guy" most likely had run off to become. Not the most pleasing of Ideas at the moment...

And shinobu realized sh eshoudl try to distrac the girl from staying there, lest Draco pop in an dfigure things out for himself.

That would suck extremely. Must not let happen, must NOT let happen...

"...you said earlier that you saw a 1st year come in here? I don't know exactly what you mean--what did they look like? were they invisible?"

GINNY:

Ginny was about to say something more when Malfoy stared off into space, but then he suddenly got up and started outside. She was startled by this movement and went to the door. However, Goyle was standing in her way and she couldn't escape. She cursed her terrible luck once more and stood on her tip-toes, trying to look over his shoulder. By the looks of it, Malfoy had discovered another person to give detention to- a seemingly innocent first year. He'd probably be easier on this one, even though she'd used magic right in front of him. It made Ginny angrier but she figured she'd get him back anyway... She had to congratulate Ron for getting Malfoy in the first place.

As she sat back down in her seat, Malfoy walked in and she sat up straighter, daring him to comment on anything more. He seemed in a foul mood, judging by his quiet voice. It seemed like the calm before the storm.

"Oh, and by the way, Weasley--I would have been able to dodge your idiot brother's spell had he not fired it at my back. I wasn't aware Gryffindors had less scruples than the common Slytherin."

Gin flared at the comment again, but backed down. She knew that it had bothered him that Ron had gotten the better of him- it had to have. Knowing his overbearing pride, she wouldn't have been surprised. She simply said, "Oh, I don't think it's possible for us to be lower, or behave any lower than the common Slytherin. Now, if that's all, Malfoy, I would like to go ask my dearest brother how to get those stickers off and I do believe you have a meeting to attend? When shall I serve my detentions for you?"

GOYLE:

Goyle sympathized with Crabbe's terrible food exposure in Japan. It seemed rough, having to eat puny foods for five whole days.. Suddenly, Crabbe was flying. Goyle was shocked. He had never known Crabbe could fly before. As a matter of fact, he was feeling hurt--they'd eaten together at the slytherin table for how long now, and he hadn't told him?? Goyle began cursing at Crabbe. Then, he saw that crabbe seemed not to be having fun. That made Goyle laugh. He always laughed whenever anyone else was in a pickle--it was just so funny.

'Maybe...' he thought...'he's flying because he ate sushi...' Goyle made a mental note to never eat sushi. Then he forgot it two seconds later. Then Draco came out of hte compartment with that weasley girl in it and made Crabbe stop flying. Goyle couldn't help but laugh. He laughed some more. He didn't even realise htat he was blocking Ginny's way out of the compartment, but that's just as well anyway, since Draco prolly would've killed him had he let her escape.

"YOu..." he said through gasps, pointing at the now-fully-on-the-floor Crabbe, "You...stupid...hahahaha...."

AUBREY:

There was a racket down a couple of cars that Aubrey could hear quite clearly. Not really know how to descibe it but .... stupid, she wasn't sure but the laughter just sounded stupid. 'There must be someone that just really has no brains here if they can manage to make laughter sound so idiotic...' She swiftly turned away from it though she didn't want to go back to her compartment yet. Closing her eyes she continued down the corridor humming another song, that had to be the most efficiant way of finding a compartment that she knew of - well it had worked last time anyway (and had gotten her some eye candy with that black-haired guy).

Reaching the end of her song she opened her eyes very surprised to find the same door as where she was twenty minutes ago. It seemed there was someone else there too, someone practically screaming about how nobody listened to her or something along those lines. How annoying. Oh well. "Hi again!" she opened the door, "mind if I sit with you?"

DRAGOS:

Dragos watched the two with a faint interest, then decided to amuse himself. He turned, taking some candy wrappers from his pocket he'd had earlier. He took some ferret treats from his pocket, and wrapped them inside the wrappers before dropping a handful quietly on the floor while looking as though removing one from his pocket, and walked off down the train as if not noticing. Whomever ate them, probably the two big ones, Dragos didn't need to see. He was amused just knowing that in a subtle way, he'd be teaching someone a lesson about life. But what lesson was that, he thought. Many different ones could be learned by eatting something like that.. Ah well. Seeming a little happier then before, he let on a small smile, chuckling softly as he passed the last ferret treat (in his pocket) into his bag, which as those around him noticed, chirpped happily and proceeded to make little crunching and rustling noises as he walked.

CRABBE:

"hahaha..you..stupid/"

Crabbe turned his head, and squinted his eyes into even thinner slits than what they usually were.. "Who's stupid, doof?"

Crabbe, in anger, drew out form his pocket--his ULTIMATE WEAPON: a bar of daaaarrrkk choooooccoooooaalalaalallalaaaaiaiaiaiaiteeeyyy... (ooc--crabbe's mind slurs at the thought of having food in his hand htat he hasn't eaten yet.)

"HA."

Crabbe downed the chocolate bar--wrapper and all--and smirked towards Goyle. The haz ein his mind form having food not in his mouth and in his hand was dissapatating...

"I have chocoalte. You do not. MUAH."

Crabbe knew the danger zone which he had trodden in--breaking the Crabbe/Goyle peace agreement of 1980!! Where in cases where chocolate was scarce, The crabbe/goyle a-holdin the chocolate would share with all other crabbe/goyles present. Yes, Crabbe had broken that sacred covenant...but NO Goyle called a Crabbe stupid....

ROSE:

"yeah..I found Moonshine at this center for abandoned baby animals in the Muggle world...Though, I do believe she's part Kneazle, but I can never find out how to make sure..."

Rose was always the one to open up when talking about Moonshine. She was just too cute of a kitten to not gush--in some aspects--about. "Gushing" in Rose's world was talking slowly, with a slight life in her tone that there normally wasn't.

Rose's eyelids batted (unflirtatiously). She looked at how moonshine was just in pure heaven in Neville's gentle hold.

"You must be very good with plants, to have that touch...Me, I'm more into runes than plants, but...Living things are precious,nonetheless..."

GOYLE:

HA." Crabbe downed the chocolate bar--wrapper and all--and smirked towards Goyle. The haz ein his mind form having food not in his mouth and in his hand was dissapatating... "I have chocolate. You do not. MUAH."

Goyle looked at him in shock. If he knew his food principles correctly, Crabbe had just violated the Goyle-Crabbe pact of 1980. There were only so many ways to undo the wrong of hte crime committed--and since Goyle could remember none of them, there would be hell to pay. (ooc: lol, i laugh at the improper english that i didn't even realise i had done while i was writing this post... ^^; i think it adds to goyle's stupidity.)

"Muaaa!!" Goyle attacked, aiming his fist in the stomach *the worst place to hit a food-monger* of his former comrade, Crabbe. "Lesse da chocolate now, mua!!" *translation; Ha, you fiendish fiendy-fiend, take that, as I hit the place where you have hidden the coveted chocolate! mayhaps in pennace, you will throw it up now!!*

After dealing the blow, Goyle happened to have his eye attracted by something on the floor, wrapped up in a shiny container-ish thing. To Goyle, that meant only one thing--FOOD. He dropped to the floor, forgetting all about his recent blow to Crabbe, and began, one by one, to open the candies in frustration, because they had two wrappers, the outer ones being very shiny and with recognizable colours on them, and the inner layer being rougher with the words "ferret fetish" on them *not that Goyle could actually READ what they said...* and hurriedly popped them into his mouth.

CRABBE:

Muaaa!!"

OOF!!!

"Lesse da chocolate now, mua!!"

"yooouu.."

Before Crabbe could retaliate, however, Goyle bent over and was very adamant about consuming something--without him???

Oh wait, I violated the pact...guess he has a right--wrong!!!

"Shove off!" *transaltion: even though I hath offended thee, scallywag, thou shall'st not getteth away with eating elsethings in front of me!!!*

Crabbe shoved Goyle away as Goyle consumed one candy-thing, and grabbed at antoher candy thing on the ground, Not even bothering to take the wrapper off (ooc--these are still the ferret fetish candies thingies), just to show that miscreant Goyle that Crabbe ad much more style that Goyle did. That was when-- UGGGHHH!!! THIS IS WORSE THAN SUSHI!!! (ooc--by the way, I looooove sushi. it's just crabbe that doesn't like it. me loves sushi, yup-diddy-doo-dah-day..)

...MUST FIND TRAIN LAVATORY!!! MUST USE TECHNICOLOR YAWN MEASURES TO GET UNTASTY TASTE OUT OF MOUTH!!!

and with that, Crabbe lumbered (because he's not exactly of the correct structure to dash, really) down the hall, to where he last remebered the lavatory being.

the thought struck him that Goyle had eaten them, too.

ILL BEAT HIM TO THE ICKY FOOD DISPOSING AREA!!

And it became a race...

No mercy to those who get squashed in the onslaught of heavy feet.

DRAGOS:

Dragos chuckled softly as he heard the teens screamed after falling for the ploy so easily, he heard their thunderous movements such as that as a herd of cowss stampeeding, he ducked into a booth and out of the narrow hallway with haste, paying no attention whatsoever to the people inside or what they were doing. As soon as they had passed, he excused himself with a small bow, and left the room, shaking his head. "I hope they enjoyed your treats.."

NEVILLE:

yeah..I found Moonshine at this center for abandoned baby animals in the Muggle world...Though, I do believe she's part Kneazle, but I can never find out how to make sure..."

Part Kneazle? Neville had never thought that any type of animal could be from two different species, but he supposed that if it was a magical animal, there might be some exceptions.

Petting moonshine fondly, Neville noted that Rose was talking a little louder than she had been previously. He supposed it was the effect of talking about the kitten--it was something he was familiar with, since he did the same whenever he talked about plants.

"You must be very good with plants, to have that touch...Me, I'm more into runes than plants, but...Living things are precious,nonetheless..."

He smiled, and blushed slightly. He didn't get complimented very often. "Well," he stuttered, "I do like them a lot...just tending to them makes me happy. Why do you like runes?" he queried, not rudely.

PANSY:

"...you said earlier that you saw a 1st year come in here? I don't know exactly what you mean--what did they look like? were they invisible?"

"Funny you should ask," Pansy intoned pleasantly, snapping the makeup container shut and digging through her purse for another one. "She was invisible, for a time. I think you have a very good idea of just how long she was invisible and where she went, too."

Playing innocent was not going to work. This girl had slighted Draco and attempted to get away without punishment. That simply wasn't done. Draco Malfoy may not have many 'friends', but he had a closely-knit group of people who watched out for him and he, in turn, looked out for them. They did not /have/ anyone else. When you hurt one of them, you paid for it from them all.

Carefully she resumed touching up her makeup, trying in an unconscious effort to cover as much skin as she possibly could so that she was hardly recognizable. People were used to seeing the Pansy Parkinson beneath layers of makeup; they'd told her since she was very small just how ugly and snotty she looked, so she'd taken to hiding it all away. The only person who had ever stood up for her was Draco.

She'd been a first year then, and some third-year boys were having fun tossing insults at her and pushing her around. Pug-faced, disgusting, ugly Pansy, they'd crooned. She looks like a hippogriff ran over her face. Oh, look, she's crying, isn't that funny? She's not only ugly, but she's a little baby, too. Pansy would /never/ forget the way that Draco had, at only eleven years old, stepped in front of them calmly and raised his wand to throat level of one of them. All she could see from the ground was his back, but he spoke in such a low, careful voice. "Leave her alone." "What're you going to do about it, shrimp? Rat-faced little shrimp."

The blow hit him in the chest before he could blink and he went spiraling backward, impacting the wall with a sick sort of thump. Draco did not move, merely angled his head, and said more firmly, "Shall I show you again?"

The boys had made no short occassion of picking up their sore but not seriously wounded comrade and rushed off for a teacher. As Pansy sat on the ground, tears streaming down her unpainted face, he merely knealt and extended one hand, saying simple, "I will help you up."

As she slid her hand into his she offered him a very small smile which he did not return. "Thank you. I... don't know who you are."

"Draco Malfoy." He said it so precisely, with a small, self-depricating smile. "And you are Pansy Parkinson. May I call you Pansy?"

She nodded. "I..." Pansy bit her lower lip and blurted, "Can we be friends?"

His eyes clouded briefly, brows etching together just slightly. "I don't have friends, Pansy. But I'll protect you."

As he nodded and turned away from her, she couldn't help but feel that it was almost the same thing... Shaking her head, Pansy cleared her expression and gazed intently at the girl for a moment. "Surely you would have noticed if the door had opened of its own accord and then shut without assistance."

DRACO:

Oh, I don't think it's possible for us to be lower, or behave any lower than the common Slytherin. Now, if that's all, Malfoy, I would like to go ask my dearest brother how to get those stickers off and I do believe you have a meeting to attend? When shall I serve my detentions for you?"

Draco offered her a slow, mirthless smile. People could be so idiotic and prejudiced. Simply because one was attending Hogwarts in the house Slytherin did not mean that they were low, lying, cheating scum. Certainly, Slytherin had turned out more than its fair share of Death Eaters and dark wizards, but not everyone was to be held by the same color views. However, to people like Weasley, who had spent a good time of her life under Potter-worship, he supposed he was very much of the same mold his father was.

Ever since Draco had been old enough to understand what hate was it had, had a name. Harry Potter. While the wizarding world at large had loved him before he had spoken his first word, Harry Potter had been a name whispered in low hisses, accompanied by the most hateful of feelings as Draco had grown up. He was the reason Voldemort was dead. Lucius had nearly been sent to prison because of Harry Potter.

When he had first attended Hogwarts, Draco had extended the hand of friendship to Harry Potter. Get him on your side and use him, his father had told him, make him yours and then exploit him. Draco had complied to his father's wishes, and attempted to get Harry Potter on his side.

But no, Harry Potter was not to be pursuaded. He was too good for the likes of Draco Malfoy, and instead assosciated himself with Ronald Weasley and riffraff like his family. He'd been publicly disgraced by everyone's favorite, Potter the hero. Potter and his champions had sought to make his life Hell ever since the Sorting. A Malfoy never allowed his enemy to get the upper hand; he would win, at all costs.

Some people called him elitist. They were blinded by their niave love for Potter, or they would see that he and his friends were every bit elitist as Draco was. No one could get close to them and their circle; if you weren't good enough or honorable enough for the Great Harry Potter then you were a miniscule bug.

Draco had come from a life where his father's name meant everything. All that he had, all that he ever /would/ have to prove his worth lay in the name Malfoy. And to have Harry Potter shun him so openly, in front of the whole school...

Reaching up and brushing some hair from his eyes, Draco glanced back at Ginny, his voice still that soft, unnervingly calm tone. "You will serve your detentions tomorrow and the day after."

Unconsciously he reached up and massaged his temples. A migraine was pounging behind his temples, and he would have to sequester himself away and brew and antidote as soon as he had a moment to himself. Much as the general public did not like to believe it, Draco Malfoy took his responsibilities deathly seriously, and he had never slacked as Prefect. He would not fail as Head Boy, even at risk of his own health.

"You may go. I've no more use for you."

HARRY:

Harry was a bit stunned at this outburst from Blaise. He couldn't think up anything to say as Luna told her they weren't intentionally ignoring her. He made a muffled sort of sound that seemed to be a jumble of words he couldn't understand or had trouble forming. He was very bewildered by this. He also thought it a bit annoying... she wasn't the only one with problems! There was no reason for her to go all out and yell at them like that. He had not been trying to ignore her at all. That wasn't his intention. But there were obviously some hard feelings because she wasn't important enough... That in itself was being selfish, not to mention everything else she had added about other people not caring about her. He rolled his eyes in his mind and tried to ignore her outburst.

Then he noticed, standing in the door, the girl who had asked where the loo was. His cheeks tinged a bit despite his best efforts not to let her see that. She asked if she could come in. Harry smiled to her and said, "Sure, come on in..." He looked Blaise straight in the eye and said, "Look, I'm sorry if your life isn't all you want it to be... no body's is. I really didn't mean to ignore you, and I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't burst out at me like that."

He sat down in his seat and waited for Blaise's reaction, judging how she would react to this truth. He stared at her contemplatingly.

SHINOBU:

Shinobu would ahve cursed profusely in japanese if that girl was not there. There was no tricking this over-fluffed make-up hog.

And why is she so adamant about me getting punished by draco, anyways? I didn't DO ANYTHING to draco--just that ginormous sturdy pincussion friend of his--unless she likes him--eeewwwww. Maybe i'll aske her about that.

"...Is there any particular reason why you're doing this? I mean, that guy--crabbe, was it? it was just a levitation spell, for crying out loud! and no one else got involcved with it, anyways...I mean, I would think a girl like you would like that Malfoy-sempai,"(hissing this with much animosity) "not a food-monger like that monster that got the laws of gravity temporarily disbanded...Unless your thirst for little girls' blood like mine has corrupted all your senses, and you enjoy watching other girls of my age scream with terror...what is it with you people and terrorizing 6th years, anywyas? first, malfoy getting on weasley-san's case, and now you, trtying to milk my apparent helplessness for all its worth...maybe you're just acting righteously and trying to root out all the people you find offenders, or something, but whatever your crusade is, it's sickening, and i'm not going to be your victim."

And with that, shinobu turned her face to the window.

Now, this spell is a bit complicated, so must say somethign catchy before leaving,s os she doesn't catch on...

"and you know, that make-up was made out of the skins of some poor Blast-ended skrewts. Eww. not what i'd want to put on my face."

The calculationsfinished in her head, shinobu immeadietly cast her spell on herself--the space-lasp spell, one that she had developed herself.--spoken in classical backwards language...

"***************!!!"

and "poof," shinobu dissappeared from the compartment--

--colors...--

She popped up again in the girls' train lavatory, where she made a quick appearance change-to tall, straight and short blonde hair, with brown eyes, and oval head, transfigured hte appearance of her bags, and stepped out to find a "protected' compartment--one with OTHER PEOPLE in it.

lucky that my time-lapse spell allowed my things to come with me...I shoudl sit down before the "after-effects"come in... the after effects were slight dizziness spells. her head already felt a bit weird as it was.

Shinobu found a handy-dandy compartment that was already stock full of people, so she passed that one. then...

Oo, good, only one other person--

"excuse me, sir, but might I sit here?"

DRAGOS:

Dragos looked up from his seat, leaning back against it with his bag at his side, and his broom laid across the seat at his side. He nodded his head to her, after a moment of hesistation, keeping an eye on her and studying her over. "Please.. Sit." He thought about it for a moment. 'Maybe I could transfigure some water into vodka..' Bemused with the thought, he made a mental note to remember it for future use, if it worked. It could.. Yes. And it'd be amusing to see someone pick up an innocent flask or goblet of water, then gasp as the liquid burned as though the fires of hell in their belly going down. "You look as though one of the big men knocked you through a loop."

SHINOBU:

"big men? oh, those cronies of Malfoy? no, I'm rather untouched by their antics.."

Antics. what a word that so fails to capture their essence...

Shinobu sat down (morphed to the point of lack of recognition), and turned to the boy across from her.

"So, what's your name? never seen you before...You're definitely not in my house..."

DRAGOS:

"No, you haven't seen me before, and I doubt I am of one of your houses.. My name is Dragos, Pskov. What is your's?" He asked in turn, watching her with a hint more caution as he nodded. "Yes.. Antics. Seems they ate something that didn't agree with them for a change. Can't imagine what that was." He chuckled a little, shaking his head a bit. "Locust."

GINNY:

"You may go. I've no more use for you."

Ginny glanced at him before leaving. He all of a sudden seemed less rude, less obnoxious, and more aged when he started rubbing his temples. She felt a bit of sympathy for him, for he seemed burdened. However, in some weird, twisted way, he looked more normal than he usually did, smirking and mocking and acting just like ice. She shook her head, and smiled sarcastically, saying, "Oh Malfoy, just a quick thought- there is no way you'll use me and get away with it. I'll make sure of it."

She stepped out of the doorway and contemplated where to go. She decided to make her way to the loo and get dressed before going to see Ron after his Prefects' meeting. She made her way left and started walking down the train.

PANSY:

The calculationsfinished in her head, shinobu immeadietly cast her spell on herself--the space-lasp spell, one that she had developed herself.--spoken in classical backwards language...

Pansy's shoulders stiffened at the comment about her makeup, but she didn't look up from her laborous application of it. Layer after layer would hide who she really was, would hide how ugly a face she'd been cursed with at birth, and there was nothing anyone could say that would persuade her not to apply so much. Except perhaps Draco, though he'd been telling her for years that she needn't apply so much. While Draco was not a person accustomed to lying (she'd never heard him do it in all the time she'd known him, except where Potter was concerned), somehow she just couldn't believe it when he told her that she would look fine if she went without.

He obviously didn't understand what it was like to be a girl, and an ugly one at that. When people judged females it was by their faces first and minds last, which was why she came up short a lot of the time. It didn't help that she was from a poor family. People like Draco could get away with looking like a hippogriff's behind because of their name and money, but not her.

Pansy glanced over after a small 'poof' sounded, and blinked in mild bemusement. The girl was gone. However, she'd found out what she needed to know. Draco could deal with her later if he so chose to, or he could turn her in to one of the house heads. It wouldn't be difficult to find who she was considering she was probably the only Metamorphmagus attending Hogwarts now.

Sighing, she carefully and meticuluously began packing away the flashy, brightly colored makeup containers and turned to glance out the window. Her reflection stared back at her from the glass, paled and slightly transparent, but Pansy didn't need color to see how disgusting she looked. Inches of foundation, coats of dark red lipstick, and enough mascera to satisfy the lashes of the entire Slytherin House. She did look bad with all the makeup on, but she still maintained that she would look worse with any less. At least people blamed her bad looks mostly on poor make-up skills rather than genetics.

Crossing her legs at the ankle, she reached up and brushed a few strands of her dark hair behind one ear, resigning herself to sitting alone the entire trip to Hogwarts.

DRACO:

"Oh Malfoy, just a quick thought- there is no way you'll use me and get away with it. I'll make sure of it."

Pausing, fingertips resting on his pale, damp brow, he stared at her a moment without saying anything. She seemed not to notice his scrutiny however, and merely turned and walked out of the compartment, air and manner indicating that she was finished with him and wanted nothing else to do.

He wasn't used to being dismissed; generally he did so. It was also strange to have someone else have the last word. In a way, it was like being beaten, and he didn't care for the sensation. Years of constant pain and disgrace had taught him what happened when you allowed yourself to be defeated.

Right now, however, he didn't have the slightest inclination to chase after her and try to get another witty quip in. He simply did not feel well enough. Besides, there was that blasted Prefects meeting he had to attend, and had most likely already missed half of.

Drawing himself up, not paying any mind to the kittens still insistently mewing except for the fact that they were irritating his migraine all the more, he stepped out of the compartment stiffy, posture straight and only wavering slightly. It took enormous effort not to give in and just sit down, as every motion caused him more pain than the last, but a Malfoy did not show weakness to anyone. They did not even, in fact, admit it to themselves.

He would have made it to the meeting without incident had someone not come blasting out of a compartment and collided with him, sending him sprawling forward and attempting to catch himself. Fatigue and pain dulled his coordination and his legs tangled briefly before he caught himself on the wall, gasping against the wave of nausea that roiled up from his stomach.

Not even bothering to see who it had been he slapped one hand over his mouth and took off down the hallway, legs unfolding and carrying him surprisingly quickly. Anyone that was in his way he pushed aside, and it felt like hours until he made it to the loos, though it was only a few minutes.

He didn't even realize that Weasley was in his way until he shoved her roughly out of it, the door to the loo opening of its own accord as he dropped to his knees and collapsed in on himself, heaving and panting as he lost what little he had managed to eat that day. His hand shook as he gripped the sides of the toilet, body lurching once more, pain tightening his chest.

If there was anyone watching anymore he had no idea, nor did he care. His breathing was shallow and quick as he reached up with a shaking hand to flush the toilet, hair falling haphazardly in his face, skin pale and blotched with sweat. His entire body ached and thrummed with vicious pain, and he closed his eyes, drawing a handkerchief up to his mouth with trembling fingers as he slid down alongside a wall, attempting in vain to sort out his breathing.

BLAISE:

He looked Blaise straight in the eye and said, "Look, I'm sorry if your life isn't all you want it to be... no body's is. I really didn't mean to ignore you, and I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't burst out at me like that."

He sat down in his seat and waited for Blaise's reaction, judging how she would react to this truth. He stared at her contemplatingly.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking down at my feet. Apparently, I upseted him. Nice going.

"I didn't mean to scare you, or anything, by busting out like that. I should have had better control of my emotions," I looked down at my feet. I really do owe them SOME sort of an explanation from my out burst. Who was I, to start rambling on like some lunitic? I should just be glad father wasn't there. Who knows what would have happened then. With all that has changed with him. But.... No. I must stop thinking about him. He doesn't care about me, or any of my opinons.

I looked back up at Potter and that girl. She seemed very nice. A lot nicer than Potter.

"It's just, I never had anyone to talk to. I know other people have problems. I'm really not that selfish. I mean, atleast you guys have friends to talk to, to tell all of your problems to. I just thought you guys might understand."

I stood up and smoothed out my robes. I needed to get out. I needed to get a breath of fresh air. If I remember correctly, there was a window in the bathroom. I turned to the nice looking girl.

"Could you please watch Mystic," I said, pointing toward my grey eagle owl, "I have to go to the bathroom."

I gave her a small smile and walked past the girl who just entered, giving her a little wave.

I shut the compartment door slowly and took a deep breath. I tear slide down my cheek.

I missed having father home this summer. Before, he let me call him Daddy. Daddy's little princess. That's what I was, but not anymore. Now he's joining the Death Eaters. He wants me to call him 'father'. I hate that word. A small sob escaped my lips. Mother wasn't any better. We were never that close, but now she won't even stay in the same room with me for more than she had to. Not here. I can't start crying here. I wiped my tears away, and set off towards the bathroom.

SHINOBU:

"I see...Dragos.."

Shinobu was uncmfortably reminded of a certain annoying prat with a name that sounded very much similar--but there was noway she was going to just abotu now talk about that, no, noo..

"Yes--they're quite odd, i must agree.ee."

Shinobu'as headache went from mild pain to large split.

KUSOOO!!! this is my 12th morph today (ooc--she morphed severaltimes on her way to the train, wonder how the heck she did it..) 'and I used that time-space spell, too...ooooiiii..stars....'

And with that, Shinobu, her morph failing, fainted in her seat.

DRAGOS:

Dragos frowned as he saw the girl faint, and stood up, walking over towards her cautiously. The paranoid thing that he was, he felt her wrist first for signs of a hidden weapon before stroking his own chin. Unarmed there, not too much danger. He took out his wand, and went back to his bag, taking out a bottle of water. He undid the cap first to allow air flow, then tapped it with his wand and whispered 'Chilarius', the bottle became instantly more opaque due to the temperature change, condensation building up on the outside of it. He poured some of the cold water into his hand, and dumped it onto her face from the palm. "Are you well? Should I seek a nurse?"

SHINOBU:

"whuuuhh...starzzzzz..."

Shinobu had never really been healed from anything like a splash of water vefore--and it certainly wanst;going to start wokring now, without hideous side-effects.

Having morphed so many times that day, and aving returned to her short an normal state, (though she was complely unaware of this), she was a bit..delirious.

"oh, heyooo, mister tomato, how are you?don'tyou dare get squashed now,people's feet area bit too iunpleasant of a death fo ryotu,pretty,pretty, pretty...wehehehe..I think i'll take a naaAP! whoah, legs are sluchy! slishy...spishy...ichy..fishy..hehe..."

Indeed, any person who might ahve been her friend at all woudl have been scared by her lack of composure. Any other person would just be very, very confused.

DRAGOS:

You should calm yourself. Clear your thoughts.." He glanced at her shifting, and was begining to wonder if she was indeed a student at all. Maybe she was a magical critter of some kind, but he doubted it. "Stop speaking for a few moments, and drink." He put a little more water on her face, then gave her the bottle before moving back over to his seat and sitting down, waiting. If she didn't adjust, he could always leave, or find someone to help her. At least, he thought it was a her.. Unless she'd shifted again.

AUBREY:

"Mystic will be fine with me." Aubrey said to the girl, not quite sure why she hadn't asked the blonde or the black haired guy. After the girl had left Aubrey sat down next to the other girl.

"Who was that?" Aubrey said more to herself than to the others, "I sort of feel bad for her, of course - I didn't hear what she was shouting about so I might be pitying her for no reason." It seemed that everyone she had met so far had emotional problems, she hoped the school wasn't going to be like that. Being incredibly resiliant, she really never saw the point of dwelling over things that happened to her. And she did have problems of her own, but that never meant she had to scream them to the world - in those matters she kept to herself. She could easily count on her hand the number of outbursts she had in her life time; always the easy-going happy pillar of strength others came to when they had problems.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't introduce myself properly. I'm Aubrey Scarborough and I am no longer lost. I came here from Beaubatons for my last year of school. Er..." she bit her lip, what else had people been asking her? "And I'm in Gryffindor."

GINNY:

Ginny was almost at the loo when she felt someone roughly push her aside. She was about to turn and yell at the person when she noticed that it was Malfoy. A bit curious as to his lack of mannerisms, she saw that he was rushing toward the loo and tumbled in. Then, to her immense surprise, she heard retching sounds.

She looked around the length of the train car. No one was here and she was the only one who knew that Malfoy was sick. Sighing to herself and cursing her helping nature, she walked in. By the time she stepped into the doorway, Malfoy had puked up all he could and she was grateful. Noticing that he was very pale and shaky, she went over to the sink and took out her hankerchief, rinsing it with water.

Returning to Malfoy, she moved his hand away and lifted his chin, saying, "Now Malfoy, don't say anything. At least let me finish before you breath a word." She then took the handkerchief, slowly and gently wiping his face. She stared at his blank face before concentrating again on her hand. She didn't want him to see the sadness she felt for him, not even sympathy since she knew he'd kill her if he found out she had sympathy for him.

Now though, she got a glimpse of him showing pain, and it simply threw her off. She'd always thought of Malfoy as the cold, immovable type that would never show any emotion but anger or mocking happiness (OOC: wow, strange combination, that... don't know if it's even possible but oh well) and it started changing what she thought of him.

But refusing to let herself think of him any further, she finished and sat back on her heels, asking him a bit warmly, "Do you want some bread, or some water?"

DRACO:

All Draco could do was stare for a few moments. It had thrown him completely off balance when Weasley had come into the bathroom and, instead of laughing or even making things worse, instead sponged his face and cleaned it for him. The move was so foreign to him that it left him feeling very empty and very unsure of what to do. No one had ever paused to care for him. His own mother had never been able to dirty her hands when he'd been beaten by Lucius; it was the house elves who always patched him up and nursed his wounds. To have another human do so ripped the ground from under him and he had no idea how to catch his feet.

On the heels of uncertainly came annoyance, and his migraine quickly turned it to anger. What right did she have to invade his space and tend to him? He hadn't asked for assistance. It showed that he was weak and incapable of caring for himself. No one was ever allowed to see a Malfoy in weakness. The repercussions were almost more than he could stand to think about.

Seventeen years old and still afraid of his father. He truly was a weak, despicable being. But he didn't need that rubbed in his face by anyone, especially not a Weasley. Not a Potter worshipper. It made the injury to his pride that much more severe. And that mattered to him. Because, really, pride was all Draco had in the world.

Drawing himself up, he tried to school his expression into one of haughty indifference, though pain still thinned his lips. His face was perfectly white, though shame was causing streaks of pale pink to stand out visibly against his cheeks, and he was all the more infuriated by them. Malfoys did not suffer mortification, and they did not show it publicly even if they did.

"No, Weasley." He injected as much aloof, cold venom into his voice as he could, though his migraine still pounded painfully against his temples. It was all he could do to keep himself conscious. "I don't need nor want the likes of your assistance. Now, do scurry off and giggle to all your little friends about me, will you? I don't desire to be in your presence any longer."

His angry words hid how very small and almost afraid he was. It was strange to him to have someone care and speak to him warmly, aside from Pansy. And it burned him to think that as soon as she was away the entire school would know that he wasn't perfect, unflappable Draco Malfoy, but instead just a common person who'd been sick on the train. Malfoys did not disgrace themselves like that in front of anyone. Potter would probably just have a field day with this.

"Well? Go," he snapped, wincing despite himself, though resisting the urge to massage his temples. "I'm sure Potter will just be absolutely bloody thrilled. Who knows, you might even get a date for something this good."

DRAGOS:

Dragos looked down at her and waited for her to rise, then he found her being rather incoherant, and got up. "Call out, if you decide you need help." He said, nodding his head before excusing himself into the hall, taking his satchel with him as he went along. An interesting encounter, he thought to himself, was that one of the things this school taught? It wold certainly be useful.. But probably hard to learn. Anything that can be useful is always difficult.

HARRY:

"Who was that?" Aubrey had asked quietly.

Harry looked to her and said, "It was Blaise Zabini... I guess she was a bit on edge. Maybe I was a bit hard on her..." he thought, mroe to himself. Then he heard that she was in Gryffindor, and he perked up.

"Are you really in Gryffindor? I am too! It's a good house... er... not to say Ravenclaw isn't." Harry blushed a bit. He'd forgotten that Luna was a Ravenclaw.

LUNA:

Luna watched as Blaise left the compartment and a new girl, Aubrey, made her way inside. Harry and her seemed to hit it off, so Luna picked back up her magazine and began to read. As she made her way through another article, she heard Harry say, "Are you really in Gryffindor? I am too! It's a good house... er... not to say Ravenclaw isn't." At this, Luna looked up and noticed that Harry was blushing. /That's odd,/ she thought, smiling. "Don't worry about it. Gryffindor is a cool house." Turning towards Aubrey, she added, "You'll love it. There are a lot of really special people in Gryffindor." Realizing a moment too late what she had said, she began to blush furiously and quickly averted her eyes, busying herself with straightening her robes. /Why did I say that! Stupid, stupid.../ she thought as she blushed even harder. Luna looked up, thankfully, as Blaise's owl- Mystic - suddenly began to twitter madly. She stood up, rather quickly, and began stroking the owls feathers and cooing affectionately, in an effort to calm Mystic down.

AUBREY:

"Great! So you're in - wait, what's your names?" Aubrey interrupted herself, a habit that she never seemed to be able to break. The blonde was blushing as she soothed Blaise's owl.'Another crush? Lot's of hormones at this school...' she thought as she remembered Neville who was so obviously in love with Ginny. "And how long til we reach Hogwarts?"

LUNA:

Luna gazed up when Aubrey asked their names. "Umm, I'm Luna Lovegood and he's Harry Potter," she said quietly, almost inaudibly. She was actually a little surprised she didn't know who Harry was. Everyone seemed to know who Harry was. "So," Luna continued as she settled back down curling her feet up underneath her and still holding Mystic's cage in her hand. "Beaxbatons, huh? I've heard it's really nice there. Did you like it?"

"Oh, and we have to be getting close to Hogwarts," she said as she looked outside and saw the darkness rolling in and the sconces on the cabin walls begin to come to life.

GINNY:

"No, Weasley. I don't need nor want the likes of your assistance. Now, do scurry off and giggle to all your little friends about me, will you? I don't desire to be in your presence any longer. Well? Go. I'm sure Potter will just be absolutely bloody thrilled. Who knows, you might even get a date for something this good."

Ginny sat back stiffly. She was enraged. Here she was, trying to be a good person in helping Malfoy and all he could do was sit there and insult her. Her lips thinned and she snapped back, "First of all, I'm sorry if that's what you think of me. I don't glory in other people's suffering, unlike you. Secondly, I'm sorry I ever cared. Just because someone tries to be nice to you... Thirdly, I AM NOT IN LOVE WITH HARRY POTTER! I COULD CARE LESS WHAT HE THINKS OF THIS!"

She got up and whipped around, not even noticing her handkerchief had slipped. She stormed out and slammed the door shut behind her. Walking back towards where Neville and Rose sat, she fumed along the way, almost stomping in her anger. How dare Malfoy be so insolent when she just helped him? It wasn't like she really wanted to, she just felt bad. Never again. She would never try to help that ungrateful spoiled brat again.

DRACO:

There wansn't a flicker of change in his expression as Ginny shouted at him, but Draco could honestly say that he was surprised he should produce such a violent outburst. Virginia Weasley was, perhaps, the only woman he had ever seen who could do a complete one-eighty in personality; kind and caring one moment, ready to take his head from his shoulders and feed it to the dogs the next. She was rather confusing, and he didn't care for it. Deciding to ignore the sudden question as to when he had begun referring to her as a woman in his mind, Draco watched her leave with an air of something akin to regret, though he wouldn't admit it to himself. She had been kind to him, Merlin only knew why, and he had treated her as he would everyone else. It was only natural however; he had no idea what to do with kindess, and it wasn't her place, in any case. There could not be another human on the train so wholly unrelated to him or in any position so far from his own. Their lives were almost like night and day, and she had no right to care about him. As his gaze dropped he noticed her handkerchief laying disregarded on the floor. In her fury she must have not noticed it fall. Reaching with slightly trembling fingers, for his migraine still plauged him, he gently picked it up and ran his thumb along the damn fabric. It would be simple indeed to just leave it on the floor and let someone else return it to her, or more likely, keep it for their own. He had no idea at all why he slowly slipped it into his pocket next to his own handkerchief. Slowly drawing himself to a standing position, he breathed shallowly once before stepping outside of the loo, expression very much his own haughty one, though there was a paleness to his complexion that even he had not carried before. He was full aware that he looked sickly, but he did not care. Pity the person to point it out. "Strange girl," he murmured, hand sliding into his pocket again as he ran his fingers along the fabric. Strange indeed

HARRY:

"Oh, and we have to be getting close to Hogwarts" Luna was saying to Aubrey.

This penetrated Harry's thinking and he looked up, saying, "Yeah, I guess so. Would you two please excuse me? I think I'll go find a place to change into robes... you two might also want to do the same."

Harry got up and dusted himself off before quickly gathering his things and heading out the door.

RON: Ron stiffled a Yawn.

*sigh*

'same things for the past few years..duties to follow thorugh and set a good example for the younger years..you are the prize of your houses, mnight as well act like one, blah blah blah.'

Ron looked over the Hermione.

She seems to be enjoying herself...but then again, she's head girl--bit different form run-of-the mill prefect...Well, that's good for her, she deseres that\, what with helping me get through my exams every year...speaking of Head girls..

Where in bloody hell was--*snicker*--mr. Head Boy? He certainly does hve a big head...

Ron could only imagine the torture that Draco was going through at the moment. Ron's face beamed.

He wondered aloud, at a whipser to himself--" i wonder how harry's doing..."

DRACO:

As Draco walked stiffy down the halls, mood considerably bemused, who should appear before him but his most loathed acquaintance, the one and only Harry Potter. Ginny's words echoed in his head rather insistently, and he couldn't help but smirk a bit as he surveyed the other boy with thinly veiled disdain.

"Well, well, Potter." Amusement laced his words as he inclined his head, lips turned upward into a smirk."Off to one of your fan gatherings?"

DEAN:

Dean had been walking down the corridor of the train when a small girl came barreling into him. He quickly grabbed her before she overbalanced and held her steady.

"Whoa, what's the rush?" He gave her a friendly smile but it faded away when he noticed that it was Blaise Zabini. He quickly let go of her as if she was on fire and glanced around as if he would find a group of sneering Slytherins hiding around nearby, ready to move in for the kill. But aside from a few innocent looking first years, there was nobody in sight. He looked back down at her and opened his mouth to say something when he realized with a start that the girl's violet eyes were filled with tears. Immediately all feelings of paranoia escaped him to be replaced with fraternal instinct.

"Hey�what's wrong?" He asked tentatively. He may have been feeling brotherly but that didn't mean he was stupid. Experience had taught him that Slytherins (especially the girls) were like live wire. You do not want to provoke them.

AUBREY:

"See you later then," Aubrey gave a little wave to Harry as he left. It was like he was ashamed of his name - the way he got up and left so quickly. "Dieu, is everyone here happiness challenged? It wasn't even like this in the States." She slapped her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry I didn't realize I said that out loud," she starred at Luna for a minute, she would understand - 'I think.' - "It's just that everyone I've met so far is incredibly non-talkitive and sullen, crushing on someone they're too shy to tell the truth to, screaming how life is unfair to them or seemingly ashamed of themselves. Know what I mean? It's just so much easier to be open. Well I've found life is easier that way, easier to deal with."

"Er... sorry again, I'm babbling and I just met you not even 5 minutes ago." She started petting Blaise' owl

LUNA:

Luna waved goodbye to Harry, and looked over at Aubrey when she heard her say, "Dieu, is everyone here happiness challenged? It wasn't even like this in the States. I'm sorry I didn't realize I said that out loud." She stared at Luna for a minute and then continued, "It's just that everyone I've met so far is incredibly non-talkitive and sullen, crushing on someone they're too shy to tell the truth to, screaming how life is unfair to them or seemingly ashamed ofthemselves. Know what I mean? It's just so much easier to be open. Well I've found life is easier that way, easier to deal with. Er... sorry again, I'm babbling and I just met you not even 5 minutes ago." Luna laughed as she heard Aubrey's analysis of the people she had met so far. "Don't worry about it," Luna said. "People normally aren't this... umm... awkward. I don't know what it is this year. Maybe it's something in the air!" She waved her hand dismissively, laughing once again. "Ok, let's start this over." She extended her hand warmly and, smiling, said "Hi! I'm Luna. I'm a 6th year Ravenclaw who most people would describe as a little quirky. How about yourself?"

GOYLE:

As soon as Goyle began scarfing down the shiny foodstuffs that were on the floor, Crabbe followed suit. He tried pushing him out of the way, in order to be the one who stuffed the most food into his mouth. After all, it had been CRABBE who broke the pact--not him. "Gerroff!! Mine!!" he shouted. Crabbe, however, didn't seem to care, and pushed him back, and started eating the candies WHOLE, without even bothering to take off the shiny wrappers. That was unfair. Crabbe didn't have to deal with the difficulty of taking off two wrappers, so he would be able to eat at a much faster pace. Goyle, undaunted, shoved him again, and began popping them into his face without so much a wince as he, too, opted for the plasticky taste. Ha. Stupid Crabbe.

However, while madly filling his gullet, Goyle noticed something was starting to hurt somewhere. Two seconds and six treats later, he figured out what it was--his stomach, the most important organ in his body, was spasming in pain. He bent over double, howling. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Crabbe run off towards the loo, and through his fuzzy glance, thought...'grr..Crabbe...trying to get away...grr...'

With much effort, Goyle stood up, and chased Crabbe, limping, towards the restroom. He was going to yell, "Graaa!! Crabbe!!! YOu," Which meant, "*outcry of rage* Crabbe!! How could you! You despoiler of the pact, and you who runs away with tail inbetween fat-ass legs!! Damn you all!! *meaning both his stomach and his mouth*," however, he felt that if he should open his mouth, something other than words would spill out.

Crabbe managed to beat him to the loo. Goyle had half a mind to beat everything living out of his former comrade, and another half that only knew food; however, the first half changed its mind when the second half instinctively knew that it must--must--must reach a sink or something.....

"BLEAAAAAAHH....." went Goyle. Translation not necessary, nor is a visual description needed.

Goyle looked up from the sink, with still a little bit of spittle hanging from his mouth, and saw Crabbe still purging. He smiled, and a warm fuzzy feeling overwhelmed him--that of bonding. Here, in the loo of the..big...metal thingy-whatchamahoozit, The current Crabbe and Goyles of hogwarts were together, spewing guts from who knows what--but they were doing it together, that's what mattered. Goyle wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

The two of them walked out of the bathroom together--well, okay, Goyle went first after a nice shove, since they couldn't really fit through the door at the same time--and headed over to the compartment that they had previously been located. Draco passed by them, face sligtly green, to the restroom. Goyle remarked that it was quite a shame he couldn't have gotten sicker earlier, because then they all could've had a nice bonding moment.

CRABBE:

Crabbe reached the loo--just before Goyle, HA!!

"**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************!!!" (Ew! we'll leave it to your imagination!)

Crabbe finally finished purging, and saw--Goyle, with his doofus mug looking at Crabbe with that kind of look. Crabbe's shoulders relaxed.

The amends had been made--repent, suffer, bond. The ways of the Crabbe/Goyle code. Crabbe made a "crabbe-ish"smile thing to Goyle, and wathced him as he stepped outside. Crabbe followed.

They passed draco--looking green--towards the bathroom.

I wonder hwat happened to him? huh. Guess it'llbe left at that. Never seen draco Green before...

Crabbe's hands went to the other pocket, and drew out--two chocolate bars. they were the best remedy for sick stomachs in the Crabbe motto.

"doofus--I have an extra." *I can't believe we had such a great misunderstanding...to think wthis oall could have been solved if I'd just reached in to food reserve pocket number 432-001! what a silly dispute among comrades...*

Crabbe handed the chocolate bar to Goyle

ROSE:

why i like Runes?let's see..."

Rose leaned over, her head resting on her right, black-gloved hand. Why she liked runes...

"for starters, there's a lot of history stored in runes, as well as fascinating stories. They were languages tdeveloped by ancient peoples for communication, stories, religious relfections,a dn were the ties of ancient times. They were also used in religious ceremonies---some cases, not all. Runes say a lot about the culture of a society, as well as have special...associated powers connected to them. They did use them to supposedly summon up their gods,the few that used them in such a manner...They have a very intriguing history..."

Rose's gaze towards the other side of the vompartment was blank. Her face was back to the downcast silent gaze that she had worn on her countenance when fist stepping into the compartment. Runes were interesting--and she was forever tied to them..

Rose sat up, staring idly at her gloved hand

It ties me up...

AUBREY:

Aubrey was relieved to hear Luna laughing. It wasn't normal for her to have even tiny outbrusts like that; it wasn't good for anyones health if she truely got angry. She laughed with Luna and took her hand. Luna had changed from the rather untalkitive blushing girl from when Harry had been there. It was a nice change.

"I'm still Aubrey and a 7th year Griffindor. And quirky isn't even a tenth of the things I've been called." She smiled.

HARRY:

"Off to one of your fan gatherings?"

Harry paused and took a deep breath. He would not let his anger get the better of him. He turned to face Draco and said, griiting his teeth, "No, actually, and why would it matter to you what I was doing? Afraid I'll go steal all YOUR supporters...? Don't worry, I wouldn't want them anyway." Harry gave him the stoniest glare he could and started walking away, trying to get out of his sight before he punched the guy senseless

HERMIONE:

/That went well!/ Hermione thought as the Prefect meeting came to an end. Draco never showed up so she was able to have complete control over the situation herself, which she loved. She headed over to Ron. "Let's go see how Harry's doing."

BLAISE:

I looked up into the boys honey brown eyes. They held a certain emotion in them that I cannot quite describe. He was rather tall, and not that bad looking. He was wearing his school robes already and--- my god! He's a Gryfindor!!! I can't believe I thought of a Gryfindor like that! A Mudblood at that. Not that I have anything against Mudbloods...Da- Father does. And if Father does, than I do, too.

"Hey�what's wrong?" He asked tentatively. He seemed rather concerned, but it's hard to tell. He- Dean I think he name was- could be very decieving. I've heard about the kind of mischeif he pulls, from people around the common room.

I blinked the tears out of my eyes. I can't let anyone see my weakness. I bent my head back and looked him square in the eye.

"I'm perfectly alright, thank you very much," I said. He did help me from falling so maybe I should be a little more polite. Although, I wounldn't have almost fallen if it weren't for him.

I gave him a small smile and said, "Thank you for catching my fall. Now if you excuse me, I was on my way to the bathroom."

I walked off in the direction of the bathroom. I needed time to think about something.

DRAGOS:

Dragos glanced around, thinking he had heard something from down the hall.. Then shook his head, disregarding it. He glanced off as he approached, looking towards the loo at a passing blonde, then at two large teens that seemed to have righted themselves. He smiled some, letting out a soft chuckle before stepping out of the aisle to beside a window, gazing out of it. He took out his flask, and his wand, giving it a soft tap and muttering something under his breath. He openned it, and sipped at the contents.. orange juice. 'Good' he thought to himself, and took a mouthful of the sweet juice before putting the flask away.

The terrain outside the window whisked by and changed as the train powered on. The train line was one unyeilding path through the nature around it, the track so set and determined and the locomotive a metal beast pushing through it all come hell or high water. "Kind of like a wizard.. I can see why they wish us to ride on this to the school." He mused to himself with another soft chuckle, his eyes closed while his thoughts meandered along through his head. He took out a list from a hidden pocket in the side of his pants, and looked over the parchment. A list of ingrediants for a potion he'd have to gather, not too hard to find. He shouldn't even have trouble brewing it as it wasn't even a notable potion, just one to make one's body more resistant to common toxins.

"It will have to do.. For now." He said with a sigh, then folded the paper and put it away again. "One goal at a time, set along a tack.." He murmured to himself with a chuckle.

DRACO:

"No, actually, and why would it matter to you what I was doing? Afraid I'll go steal all YOUR supporters...? Don't worry, I wouldn't want them anyway."

Draco just smirked at him, reaching up to absently flick some silver-white hair from his eyes. He was full aware that he was still pale and a bit feeble looking, but damned if he would show weakness to Potter. He'd already exposed himself in front of that Weasley girl; there was no need to do so in front of his rival since birth.

"No, I don't imagine you would, Potter," he said softly, the barest of a shadow flickering in his eyes.

Potter was already leaving, and normally he would have pursued the other boy and tortured him, but he simply didn't have the energy. When he saw Weasel and Granger coming down the hall he smirked at them, nodding to Ron and winking at Hermione.

"Good evening, Granger," he all but purred. "Terribly sorry I couldn't make it to the meeting...perhaps we'll have to get together and you can fill me in, hm?"

With that he turned and sauntered past them, utilizing his breeding to the fullest degree. His act was flawless, of course, as Lucius had taught him.

Pausing with one hand on the door of a compartment, he looked back over his shoulder and smiled suddenly, a rather disarming, charming turning of the lips. "Tea perhaps? Or would Weasel get...jealous?"

Before she could answer he'd slid into the compartment, the barest of smiles gracing his lips, and seated himself opposite to Pansy for the ride to Hogwarts.

HERMIONE:

On their way back to their compartment, Hermione and Ron ran into their least favorite person, Draco Malfoy.

"Good evening, Granger," he all but purred."Terribly sorry I couldn't make it to the meeting...

"It's o.k., Malfoy, we hardley noticed your absence," Hermione replied cooly.

"Perhaps we'll have to get together and you can fill mein, hm? Tea perhaps? Or would Weasel get...jealous?". Before she could answer he'd slid into the compartment, the barest of smiles gracing his lips.

/Don't let him get to you/ Hermione thought to herself. /He's not worth it./

BILL:

Bill Weasley was lost, not that he was about to tell anyone that. Just because it had been a few years since he'd been to Hogsmead didn't mean he shouldn't still know his way around.

So why was it he couldn't find the new Gringotts branch?

He wandered around the town, his hands tucked into his pockets and his hair tucked up into his hat, his feet slowly taking him up a hill. He recognized this hill, and he knew that if he got to the top, he'd be able to see the whole town.

He was rather surprised to find something at the top of the hill.

It was Gringotts.

"Well, that's convenient."

LUNA:

Aubrey laughed and took her hand, saying "I'm still Aubrey and a 7th year Griffindor. And quirky isn't even a tenth of the things I've been called."

"Nice to meet you. Yeah, I've been called a few different things myself." Luna said shrugging her shoulders so that her long hair fall down her back. "I guess, I just don't particularly care what people think of me! I am me - and that's it. Take it or leave it." She smiled once more and continued, "So you're just transferring to Hogwarts, huh? You'll love it! It is quite possibly one of the greatest places in the world, and Professor Dumbledore is one of the greatest Headmasters of all times." As she glanced over at Aubrey, the train suddenly began to slow signalling their arrival to Hogsmeade Station. "Oh!" she cried out in surprise, "I guess were here!" Luna began grabbing her things and she carried them to the door. She quickly looked out, trying to spot Harry in the already exuberient crowd that was forming in the hallways. His belongings were still sitting in the compartment and she didn't care to leave them unattended.

GOYLE:

doofus--I have an extra." *I can't believe we had such a great misunderstanding...to think wthis oall could have been solved if I'd just reached in to food reserve pocket number 432-001! what a silly dispute amongcomrades...*

Crabbe handed the chocolate bar to Goyle

Goyle snagged the chocolate bar in his hands, eagerly ripped off the wrapping, and stuffed it into his mouth. Ah...the wonders of hte crabbe-goyle code...He smiled at Crabbe, or, at least, did something that maybe HE thought was a smile, but any regular person might've taken as a threat. "mrfhaaa.." escaped his mouth, as well as a bit of brownish spit. What he meant, was, of course, "Why, Vincent, you are indeed most right. I cannot believe how terse we were with each other. I am just glad that we managed to make up."

swallowing his chocolate thoughtlessly, as Goyle's are prone to do, he lurched slightly when the train came to a stop.

AUBREY: That's exactly my philosophy on life!!! And yeah I'm sure I'll enjoy my time here." Aubrey went to stand up to leave the train when she tripped over nothing. Letting out an indistinguishable sound she uprighted herself. "Don't mind me I'm a total klutz, can't even walk unless there's music playing. And it doesn't help that I love high-heeled shoes. Er, do you think we should bring Harry's things in for him?"

GINNY:

Ginny walked back to her compartment before hearing a voice saying, "Five minutes until we reach Hogwarts. Please leave your luggage on the train, as it will be taken to the castle separately."

She stopped midstep and hurried back towards the girls' loo, conscious of the fact that she still held her robes, even after Malfoy bumped into her and her finding him again. She needed to change, and quickly too. Reaching the door of the loo, she quickly walked in, locked the door, and changed. Walking swiftly out she carried her muggle clothing back to her compartment. In the compartment, she smiled at Rose and Neville, saying, "Oh hello! I suppose we'll be reaching Hogwarts in a few minutes."

She put her things�away and got into the corridor again, not wanting to be stuck in the compartment when everybody rushed out. She sighed, thinking, 'Another year at Hogwarts...'

HARRY:

Harry finished in the boys' loo and walked quickly back as he felt the train lurch to a stop. At the door of his compartment, he stuck his head in and smiled, hearing the last of Aubrey's question and responding, "No, thanks, I'll do it myself. I'm so glad we're finally at Hogwarts..."

DRAGOS:

He was brought from his thoughts finally as he heard the commotion around him, glancing from left to right, then at�now decidedly not green scenery outside. He stroked his chin, then got into the walkway again and started to move with the flow of people as they moved along, staying silent, only listening when they would begin to talk around him. He had nothing to talk about, and no friends in the crowd : And therefore, no need to talk. At least those two brutes were no where near him from what he saw.. He sighed, then took a small bit of a sandwhich from a pocket and finished it off. Soon, he'd see what his new 'home' was all about..

AUBREY:

"Ok, er.. d'you mind if I sit with you at the banquet? I was gonna sit with that Ginny girl but I kinda lost her halfway though the train ride, the again I don't even know where my original compartment is..."�

BLAISE:

I splashed some cold water on my face as I felt the train come to a stop. I quickly dried off and looked in the mirror.

I had changed a lot over the summer. My face seemed more thin, but it was a good change. My cheek bones were more obvious. My nose was the same old nose it was when I left Hogwarts. My breasts had filled out, though, and I had a nice, trim waist, thanks to Mother's exercise program she made up for me. But the thing that changed the most this summer were my eyes. The lost their sparkle. Their shine.� Now, they're dull, almost lifeless. With hardly any emotion present in them.

I stepped back from the mirror. It was pointless to wallow in self pity. It would get me nowhere. Besides, Thomas seemed okay. He wasn't exactly mean to me. He was almost... polite. I took a deep breath. I have to get off this train. I'm not thinking properly. I mean really. A Gryffindor nice to a Slytheren? Maybe I should take a quick trip to St. Mungo's and get a check-up.

I turned, and pushed the door open. The halls were still clear. Everyone most still be gathering personal items like chapstick, or fixing their hair up for the Welcome Feast.

I had to check on Mystic still and make sure she was alright. I hope that girl looked after her while I was gone. She seemed nice enough. I should have asked for her name. Luna seemed alright, too. Even though she was a year younger, she didn't seem that bad.

The compartment door slid right open. The two girls were talking quietly together. Potter must have left already to join the rest of the Dream Team.

"Hello," I said, walking into the compartment, "I hope Mystic wasn't much trouble for you." I walked over and petted the gray owl. She looked just fine.

"I just want to make sure she was alright before I got of the train. Thanks for watching her," I smiled nicly, trying to be polite.

CRABBE:

Crabbe smiled (maybe?) to Goyle. It was good to have a mutual understanding with a fellow person likeyou.

Lurch.

Wham.

Owie.

Crabbe fell on the ground--the train had stopped (ooc-0--say, gin? we';ll just say tyhat this is the future....next 5 minutos..bwahha...),� and (unfortunately foir Goyle) had pushed Gioyle to the ground in the process.

....OI!!! MUST GET UP!! MUST CHECK FOOD RESERVE POCKET #348-9 TO SEE IF CONTENTS ARE SAFE!!!

As Crabbe was trying to get up, whifh as very difficult to do, He got himself untangled, possibly maiming Goyle in the process, and finally manged to get himself right...

"...doof?" *Are you quoite alright,my dear chum? I hope you are not worse fo the wear....*