Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 1

A/N

Just to clarify, the rest of the book will be in present tense now.

My mum looks around, confused. 'Where - where in the world is platform -?'
'Nine and three quarters. Hurry up, dad! We can't be late!' I hear someone else say. I tug at my mum's sleeve and she follows me. I am following a mess of bushy hair in front of me, and watch as the girl takes her place in front of a stone wall. Huh? She runs at the wall and disappears. I blink furiously. I head toward the wall and pat it, gasping as my hand goes straight through. 'Here!' I shout, grabbing my trolley.
'What are you doing, Alyssia?' My mum screams as I begin running at the wall. I close my eyes and wait for the impact, but it does not come.

I open my eyes and find myself on a crowded platform. My mum and sister emerge moments later and stand, awestruck. In front of us is a scarlet steam train, and I pull them forward, excited to board. 'Okay, mum.' I say as the whistle is blown. 'I'll miss you.' She pulls me into a tight hug and mumbles something into my blonde hair. 'I'll miss you, too.' Is she crying? She is! My mum wipes a tear from her face and smiles at me. I bend down and hug my little sister tightly. 'I'll miss you, Morgan.'
'Miss you.' She replies, kissing my cheek. I take my things and board the train, dumping my luggage and checking each cabin, but they're all full. Until one. Eventually, I'm sick of looking, and find a compartment in which two boys sit, one with jet black hair, and another with bright red. 'Excuse me,' I say once I slide the door back, causing both boys to look up. 'Would you mind? Everywhere else is full.'
'Not at all, go ahead.' The boy with the dark hair says.
'Thanks.' I breath, smiling. A whistle blows and I rush over to the window, waving frantically at my mum and sister as the train pulls away.

It takes me all of ten minutes to pull out a book and start reading. 'Book worm much?' I hear the boy with red hair ask.
'I'm just trying to catch up on what everyone else knows, I find it fansinating.'
'Oh, you muggle-born?' The boy's expression softens a little as I nod. 'Must be dead confusing.' He shakes his head, taking a bite of something that looks like chocolate. 'What's your name?' He asks thickly through eating.
'Alyssia Dolittle. And you?'
'Ron. Ron Weasley.' I turn to the boy next to him.
'Harry. Harry Potter.'
'Of course you are!' I cover my mouth. 'Oh, sorry! That must sound so rude! I was just reading a book the other day and you were in it, I'm so sorry.'
'There are books about me?'
'Oh yes, loads.' I say, surprised he's never heard of them.

The door slides open. 'Has anyone seen a toad? A boy called Neville has lost one.' I recognise the bushy hair, the girl I followed to the platform. 'No, sorry. I can help you look, though?' After we exchange brief conversation, I get up and help the girl look around. We search the whole train for the toad named Trevor, but can't seem to find it. In this time, I learn that the girl's name is Hermione, she is muggle-born just like me, and that she is also interested by the wizard world. 'I'm so sorry we couldn't find the toad.' I say to Hermione.
'Yes, well I'd better go tell Neville. It was lovely meeting you.'
'You too, I'm sure I'll see you round.' As I turn, I almost walk straight into someone. 'Woah, watch it -'
'Sorry.' I mutter.
'Alyssia?'

I look up to see Draco grinning at me. 'Oh, hey.'
'Sorry, I didn't realise it was you.' He says, looking around.
'It's fine. How are you?'
'I'm good. Just walking a bit, really. Fancy coming to sit with me for a while?'
'Yeah, okay. I can't stay long, I must change soon.' Draco leads me toward the very back of the train, and a crowd of people call his name. I feel suddenly shy. 'Who's your friend?' A girl asks snidely as we approach. Draco sighs,
'Alyssia, everyone. Everyone, Alyssia.' He takes a seat next to the girl and I perch myself next to him. Introductions are getting old. In all honesty, the following conversation is quite boring. Draco makes individual conversation with me at times when he can clearly tell I'm not paying attention, but the girl I've learnt to be named Pansy keeps giving me funny looks. 'I'd better go and change.' I smile, standing. Draco walks me back to my compartment, and we talk of little but hisself. 'I don't think your friends like me.'
'Why?' He asks as we reach the compartment.
'They think I'm too nice.' I give him a small smile, and he stands awkwardly. 'Well, I'll be going now.'
'Okay, see you in school!' Draco grins.

'Where've you been?' Ron asks when I slip inside and pull out my robes frantically.
'Awfully sorry, we couldn't find the toad and then I ran into someone I met in Diagon Alley, we were just catching up.' I explain. Ron nods as I pull the black robes over my head. 'What house do you want to be in, then?' I ask mildly.
'Not Slytherin.' They both chorus.
'Why?'
'Ain't a witch or wizard that didn't go bad in that house, nasty lot they are. I want to be in Gryffindor, whole family has been. Can't be the one to break tradition.'
'As long as it's not Slytherin I'm easy.' Harry shrugs. 'How about you?'
'Well, I've done a bit of reading on the houses. I did touch up on the dark-wizards produced in Slytherin House, and -'
'Get to the point!'
'Well, I'm muggle-born, so I'm not really sure. I know about them, of course, but I'd much rather see for myself when I get there. And it's not my decision - the sorting hat decides that.' I say matter-of-factly. Ron nods in a grave fashion.
'C'mon, we'll be there shortly.'

-*-

Currently, we are awaiting to walk into the hall. I'm standing talking to Ron and Harry when a woman called Professor McGonagall tells us all to hush and proceed to the Great Hall. The doors open to reveal a vast room with a high ceiling and floating candles. 'See that ceiling?' It's Hermione.
'It's bewitched.' We chorus.
'Hogwarts: A History?' I ask, grinning at a Hermione who is smiling widely.
'Yes.' She nods as we all spill into the thin corridor between two of four long tables. We reach the front and gather around another table full of staff, a stool and old battered hat also in place. Names are called in alphabetical order, and I start when I realise I will be near the top. 'Dolittle, Alyssia.' McGonagall shouts. I take a deep breath and mount the stool, waiting. The hat is placed upon my head and a voice speaks in my ear. 'Hmm, difficult. Bright, very bright indeed, but there's just as much bravery as there is talent. But where do I put you? You could do well in Ravenclaw, yes, but what about Gryffindor?' The sorting hat continues to ponder for a while before abruptly shouting, 'Gryffindor!' There's a wild amount of clapping from the Gryffindor table and I dismount the stone steps, making my way there. I smile at Draco on my way past and he nods back.

Once seated, I wait for the rest of the students to be sorted. I clap loudly when Hermione takes her seat next to me after also being sorted into Gryffindor. I hold my breath a little when I hear, 'Malfoy, Draco'. I watch as the sorting hat brushes the top of his head, shouts, 'Slytherin!' Draco grins and dismounts, taking his seat at the table. He looks over and sees me, smiling weakly, and I smile back. I know Gryffindor and Slytherin are supposed to hate each other, but that shouldn't make a difference, right? Once everyone is sorted, both Harry and Ron have sat down opposite me and we watch as the vast feast appears before our eyes. After we eat and leave the hall, I notice Draco waiting for me outside. He approaches me and stares at me intently. 'This doesn't change anything, right?'
'Nope.'
'Good. Well, I'll see you later, then?' He glares somewhere behind me.
'Sure.' When I turn around, Ron and Harry are looking at me.
'What does a git like Malfoy want?'
'Never mind.' I shrug, following them and the other Gryffindor first-years up the stairs.