Masquerade (Dramione)

Chapter 2

Dracos POV

Why did it have to be me? Every other kid who sided with Voldemort hadn't returned to school this year, but my mother had insisted that I was too smart to not finish my education. I had walked onto the platform hoping that some of my friends would have come back, but the few that did wouldnt even speak to me. Every first year who saw me ducked their head like I was going to hex them. It didnt take me long to give up on finding my friends, obviously they had all abandoned me. I stepped onto the train at the last second and stood in one of the seperations between the cars trying to remember where the head of house meeting was. Suddenly a girl came rushing by. She had a wild tangle of curly brown hair and a slim figure. Suddenly she tripped and sort of teetered out the door. I instinctivly reached out to help her. When I looked down at her I suddenly realized who she was, I was about to ask her if she was alright again or tell her to be more careful, she hadn't said a word yet. I no longer felt the desire to be mean to her. She had never done anything to me, in fact her friends had saved my life. Then it occured to me that it might be beneficial to keep up my reputation. I didnt want anyone to realize that I was lonely without my friends, I didnt want to appear weak. So I dropped her. I spent the entire head of house meeting being as rude as possible. I think it worked because Granger confronted me afterwards to tell me off. Its strange but she doesn't really look like herself. I mean it was obviously her, the same blushing Griffindor I'd met when I was eleven, but now she was kind of...attractive?

Her hair was no longer bushy and ugly. It was wavy and glossy and looked really soft. She had finally grown into those extra latge front teeth and had she always been so...curvy? Surely I would have noticed that before now.

Anyways, after the meeting I found an empty compartment and leaned my head against the window. Maybe if I tried hard enough I could make myself disappear. A few minutes later the compartment door opened and I didnt bother looking up.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" a girls voice asked. I muttered some sort of response and went back to my mopeing. I felt so pathetic, Draco Malfoy the prince of Slytherin, had been reduced to a sad friendless fool. After about a half hour, my sadness was interupted by a soft breathing sound. That girl must have fallen asleep. I kept my head down for a moment before my curiousity brimmed over.

She was curled up against the window with a book in her lap and a pair of thick heading glasses on the bridge of her delicate little nose. Her curly brown hair hung past her shoulders and a strand fell in her face, moving gently each time she exhaled.

The train was coming to a stop and I thought about waking her but realized that Hermione Granger probably wouldnt wamt to wake up to my face. I gathered my things and took another look at her as I was walking out the door. Who would have that Hermione Granger would ever be pretty? She definently was though, no doubt about it. I shook my head. People chang, and so can I. I reached out ans shook her shoulder gently, she stirred immediately, but I stepped out before she could open her eyes.

Maybe I could try being nicer to her. I mean not like her best friend or anything. Maybe just a little more polite. After all, she was a human being too.

Hermiones POV

My eyes opened slowly and for a moment I couldn't remember where I was, then it all came back to me and I glanced around the compartment hoping to find out what had woken me. I was alone but I distinctively remembered someone else in here with me. He must have left before I woke up. I checked my watch quickly, we were due to arrive in two minutes. I stood up quickly and my head spun, trying to ignore it I pulled my luggage down from the rack and opened the compartment door. I made my way down the train with my book tucked under my arm and my reading glasses dangling precariously from the same hand I was towing my luggage with. The train came to a stop and I clutched onto one of the compartment doors to steady myself. Once I stepped off the train I reached down and opened up Crookshanks' carrier. He disappeared into the crowd in a flash of brown and orange. I wasn't worried, he knew these grounds better than I did. I stood still for a moment to take it all in. All the familiar sights and sounds washed over me welcomingly. The train whistle echoing across tphe platform mingled with the sounds of Hagrid rounding up the first years, a rather difficult job because there were twice the usual amount due to the fact that all the students that would have been second years this year were still first years along with the new students. I watched with a smile on my face as he herded them onto the boats. It was traditional that the first years see Hogwarts in all its glory from the black lake. Luckily it hadn't taken long to repair the damages from the war.

"Hello Hermione" I glanced over my shoulder to catch a glimpse of my welcomer but resorted to turning around when I realized they were to short to spot. Luna Lovegood smiled up at me from much further down than usual. For a moment I was confused then I gasped in shock when I realized that she was sitting in a wheelchair.

"Luna! What happened?"

"Oh" Luna said, looking down as if she had just noticed the chair. "I got hit by a muscle rotting hex during the battle last year. Anyways, after a few months all the muscles and tissue in my legs was gone." she said all this very matter of factly, just like she would have spoken if she were telling me about wackspurts or the newest edition of the Quibbler. I was about to respond, but then a tall man walked up behind Luna and leaned down to kiss her cheek.

"The healers were able to stop it from spreading past her legs, but they say she won't be able to walk again." he says, looking into my eyes. It took a moment for it to click in my head. He was hardly recognisable without the chubby cheeks and clumzy stature.

"Neville?"

"Hey Hermione."

My jaw dropped open. Neville was handsome! The baby fat and acne had abandoned him completely and left him as a Witch Weekly heart throb. He stood at about six foot two and had lean, muscular arms. His black hair was styled in messy-casual waves that made his green eyes more noticable. I had never seen someone change that much over one summer, but it was definently working for him. It was obvious by the way that he looked at Luna and by the way she looked back, that they were in love and I was happy for them.

"I'm going to go say hi to Janie." Luna said, reaching up to grab Nevilles hand.

"Alright." he said, leaning in to kiss her, on the lips this time. Luna wheeled off and stared after her, with his worry clearly expressed on his face.

"She claims that it doesn't bother her, but I know that she misses things, like running and dancing."

"She's strong Neville, stronger than all of us."

" I know, but I want to help. I've been researching this plant from the sahara desert thats supposed to have amazing healing capabilities. Maybe when the school years over I can go looking for it." Neville said, looking hopeful.

" I thought the healers said she would never walk again."

"Healers don't know everything, some herbologists have cured illness' the best healers couldnt put a dent in."

"I'm sure everything will work out Neville."

Eventually we catch up to Harry and Ginny. They are cuddled up in one of the carriages with only one spot left.

"Go ahead." I tell Neville.

"Are you sure? I could wait?"

"Nah, I'm good."

After the carriage leaves I am all alone by the trail waiting for the next one. For some reason I feel like I don't have friends anymore. I mean sure they're still nice to me. But they've all moved on and found better things, they've paired off and no matter who I go to I'll always be the third wheel. This must be how Elizabeth Bennett felt when all her sisters,started ro get married and Charlotte married Mr. Collins. She was happy for them, but still sad because they were moving on and leaving her behind.