Distance // Draco Malfoy

Chapter 34

The platform is swarming once again. The first of September always presents a heavy crowd and much noise. I quickly board the train with Ron, Harry and Hermione, and we eventually find an empty compartment to sit in during the journey. Hermione brandishes her copy of the Daily Prophet, where the main story is the terrorisation of the World Cup. 'I'll be two minutes, I need to pee.' I inform them, and Harry and Ron burst into a fit of giggles. 'Coming from the two boys whose hair is almost as long as mine.' I snap, and they stop laughing, glaring at me and Hermione, as we are both now laughing hysterically.

On my way, I run into Ginny, and stand talking to her for a good while. Then, I feel myself being hoisted into the air, and I let out a miniature shriek, causing multiple stares. I hear a soft laughter in my ear. 'Put me down.' I huff impatiently, glancing over my shoulder at the white-blonde hair. 'Fine.' As I am settled once again upon the ground, I turn around and press my lips to Draco's, who seems rather surprised. 'Told you I'd give you a proper welcome on the first.' I smirk, and he grins, his arms still around my waist, mine around his neck. 'Couldn't just give you that bog-standard one at the World Cup, now, could I?'
'Draco?' I hear Pansy behind me, and I roll my eyes. He peers out from behind me and smiles at Pansy. 'Oh, hi. I'll see you guys in the compartment.' I feel almost as shocked as Pansy looks when I turn around, and Draco is grinning verdantly. When she turns and walks away, Draco grabs my hand. 'Are we good?'
'Yeah, of course. Why?'

'Just because I was so blunt when I left at the World Cup. And everything with Pansy.'
'You had a right, I was a bit discommoded at first, but I don't say I blame anyone for leaving that place. And as for Parkinson - well, she's simply Delphic.'
'Modern English, Lyssa?' I roll my eyes at Draco's comment. 'Did you actually go back to the site afterwards?'
'Yeah. How do you know?' I ask, my brows furrowing.
'It got back to my dad at the Ministry, I was dead worried. I wanted to contact you, but I didn't know where you were staying afterwards, so I couldn't.'
'We had to look for Harry, he got lost in the crowds and we got split up. We found him in the campsite. He'd suffered a kick to the head and been knocked cold, but he was well awake when we found him. We nearly got stupefied by ten ministry guys.'
'Jesus, I was so worried. I thought you would've bloody died. You absolute nutter.' Draco laughs, kissing my lips again whilst I smile.

'Alyssia?' I hear Hermione saying, and I pull away from Draco quickly.
'Yes?'
'Just thought I'd see where you were, I guessed you'd ran into someone.' She observes Draco with narrowed eyes at this, 'Anyways, you might want to come back soon, we're almost there. We need to change into our robes.'
'Okay, I won't be long.' I smile, and she turns and begins to walk back down the train. I turn back to Draco. 'I guess I should go.' At this, Draco groans.
'At least walk back to my compartment with me?' He pleads. I sigh but take his hand firmer and begin to walk down the long and thin corridor of the carriage with him. Once reaching the compartment filled with Slytherins, Draco grins and I press my lips to his quickly, noticing sounds of disgust and faces being pulled. 'See you later.' I mumble.
'Love you.' Draco replies happily.
'You're in an abnormally good mood.' I laugh, only to get a shrug in return. 'Love you, too.'
'God.' I hear Pansy mutter as I turn and walk away.

I can hardly look at Hermione once I get back to the compartment and pull my robes over my head. 'I hope I didn't interrupt there.' Hermione smirks, and I feel my cheeks going red. 'Well,' I shrug. Harry looks up.
'Interrupt what?'
'The Dralyssia snog fest.' Hermione creases, and I begin to wish the world would swallow me whole so I could disappear. 'Please don't use the word "snog", I thoroughly despise it.' I cringe. Harry is looking at me sternly.
'That's disgusting.' Harry wrinkles up his face. 'You two never stop.'
'Thank you for your rectitude, Harry, but I don't think there is anything wrong with kissing someone when you're dating them.' I roll my eyes and glance out of the window at the Hogwarts castle coming ever closer.

-*-

Once seated in the Great Hall, Dumbledore gets up and begins his speech. Harry and Ron were fuming when they found out there will be no Quidditch for a whole year. The hall quietens as Dumbledore gets up and addresses the school (A/N Niamh you saved my life here). 'Now that we're all settled in and sorted, I'd like to make an announcement.' Everyone in the hall is looking at Dumbledore intently. 'Hogwarts will not only be your home this year, but also the home to some very special guests.' Me and Hermione exchange looks, both clearly wondering what Dumbledore could possibly be talking about. 'You see, Hogwarts has been chosen -' The doors bang open, and every head in the Great Hall turns to see Filch, hurrying, his knees being kicked high in the air, down the centre of the Hall. I can't help but giggle, even when I attempt to stifle it. It's not every day that one sees the caretaker running in such an oddly amusing fashion. He stops at Dumbledore, out of breath and weary-looking, to whisper something. Faces are sniggering, people relishing this opportunity of seeing Filch in such an odd way. Everyone hates him.

'So,' Dumbledore begins once again as Filch runs from the hall. 'Hogwarts has been chosen to host a legendary event. The Triwizard Tournament.' I exchange looks with my friends. The Triwizard Tournament is huge, and exceedingly dangerous. So dangerous, this one is the first one to be held in years. 'For those of you who do not know, the Triwizard Tournament is a competition which brings three schools together for a series of magical contests. A single student is selected from each school. Once entered, you stand alone. And believe me when I say this competition is not for the faint hearted.' Fred and George are looking at Dumbledore with wide eyes and grins of interest on their faces.

That changes when they find out you have to be seventeen in order to enter.

'And now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies of the Beauxbatons academy of magic.' The school turns to see a handful of girls in blue dresses walk into the hall. I note that every single boy in the hall is staring wide-eyed, including Draco, which makes me huff, and is something I am not countenanced for. Their headmaster appears part-giant. 'Blimey, that's one big woman.' Seamus mutters to Ron.
'They're not that pretty, are they?' I ask Ginny hotly, watching as the boys across the hall stand and applause. I watch and clap once, very unimpressed. 'And now let us welcome our friends from the north, the proud sons of Durmstrang, and their headmaster, Igor Karkaroff.' Heads turn again to see the boys that are now making their way into the hall, performing incredibly difficult acrobatics. 'Not bad.' I mutter to Hermione, smirking. I'm in the mood for Draco to taste some of his own medicine.

'It's him. It's Viktor Krum.' Ron breaths as the headmaster and the Quidditch player walk into the hall. Even I feel very stunned. He really was brilliant at the World Cup. I exchange another look with Hermione, watching as the Durmstrangs seat themselves at the Slytherin table. 'Another quiet year.' I whisper to Hermione, chuckling, and the both of us smirk as Dumbledore continues to speak.