Falling Star

Goodbyes and Train Rides

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Hang on!" I yell as I shove a few last minute items into my trunk.

Draco walks in anyway, surprisingly already dressed and ready.

"Did becoming a prefect suddenly turn you into a morning person?" I tease, closing and locking my trunk.

He shares a halfhearted scowl. "Father is leaving for a work meeting. He wants to tell us goodbye now since he won't be taking us to King's Cross."

"Oh. Okay. I'll be right down."

Father has never been one for sentimental goodbyes at the beginning of term, so I expect this to be one of his typical lectures. Don't disappoint me, Dahlia. Don't be a disgrace to the Malfoy name. Hold your tongue. Do this. Be that.

I roll my eyes and shuffle toward the door. I make it down to the parlor a few steps behind Draco. Our father is sitting in his chair reading The Daily Prophet, while Mother sits opposite him sipping tea.

Father lowers the paper and looks up at the two of us. His eyes appear to soften, and he smiles.

"When did you two grow up on us?" he asks, folding the paper and rising up out of his chair.

He makes his way to stand in front of Draco and claps him on the shoulders. "You already know I was a prefect Fifth Year when I was in school. One of the best years of my life. Enjoy it. Good things are going to happen this year."

Draco just nods; I'm sure he's a bit overwhelmed with the positive attention.

Father turns his attention to me next. My muscles involuntarily tense, bracing for a lecture or a screaming match.

He places his hand lightly on my shoulder. "While you're not a prefect this year, you're still in the top of your class right? Keep it up. Don't forget that you're a Malfoy this year. Represent the family well, as I know you can do." He squeezes my shoulder and drops his hand.

I also nod. That was...better than I expected.

"Good things are at work. Enjoy your year at school," Father says before going to kiss Mother on the cheek and disapparating.

I give Draco a sidelong glance, but he's still staring straight ahead. I wonder if he thinks our father's goodbye message was as weird as I do.

"Breakfast should be on the table. Why don't you two eat and then we'll head to King's Cross?" Mother instructs.

***

The train station is as busy as ever, muggles and wizards blending in with each other for the brief moments it takes the wizards to find Platform 9 3/4 and quietly slip through.

We had told Mother goodbye before entering the station, so now just Draco and I make our way through the enchanted platform. While I'm still excited to be returning to Hogwarts, my stomach hurts from the anxiety of seeing my friends again after all that happened this summer. I'm still confused and annoyed that I didn't receive a response from Hermione. Complete radio silence.

I didn't know what to expect from my friends this year, and that thought chilled me.

"I have to do some prefect stuff on the train for a bit, but you can still sit with me if you want," Draco offers, as he does every year.

This year, for the first time since First Year, I almost want to take him up on the offer. But I end up saying my normal answer of, "Thanks, but I think I'll sit by my friends."

With that, we go our separate ways.

I slide open the door to the compartment to find Harry sitting by himself. I flash a beaming smile as he turns to look at me.