Eleanor Snape- Book 2

And The Score for the New School Year Is... Me:0, Pansy:1

"Well, how was everyone's vacation? I went to Uruguay!" Pansy exclaimed when we first took our seats on the Hogwarts Express. It was darker then usual, for the sky was black with the shadow of pouring rain.

"What the heck is a Uruguay?" Goyle asked while playing with a pink piece of ribbon, that I assume was once one of Sarah Beth's bows, around his wrist.

"Not what, where. It's a country...idiot." She smiled, making me want to throw something at her. "Did anyone else go anywhere this summer?"

"I went to the beach, like always." Vincent sighed, getting a chocolate frog from his truck. Goyle quickly took it from him and ripped off the paper. "Hey!" Vincent went to grab it from him. A second later the two were wrestling each other in the floor.

"Anyone else?" Pansy looked straight at me. "What about you, El-E-Nore? Did you do anything special?"

"No." I mumbled as I interlaced my fingers with Draco's.

"Except being in St. Mungo's." Draco sneered.

"Oh, really?" Pansy purring with fake concern. "What was wrong? Did your nasty, greasy hair start sprouting mold or something?"

"She had Scrofungulus." Vincent panted from under Goyle. With Gregory distracted, he took the opportunity to roll over, putting himself on top.

"Really? That must have been terrible...Too bad you got better so soon. You could have stayed ill and missed this year of school...Maybe you could be in Potions with people of your skill!"

"I might not have been here," Added Draco, "Father actually considered sending me to Dumstrand rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore- The man's such a Muggle-lover- and Dumbstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Dumstrang takes a far more sensible view then Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Dumstang students actually lean them, not just the defense rubbish we do."

Wow... Learning Dark Arts sounded pretty amazing. Learning the spells my Father had done (and sometimes used on me) seemed like a wonderful idea. But Draco would have left me here with all the Mudbloods, all alone. I had to agree with Mrs. Malfoy on that one.

"I'm glad you stayed." I shot him a faint, tired smile.

"I'm not." He stood up. "I want out of this scho-"

"Hello!" All of our heads turned to the compartment door to be greeted by Sarah Beth and her big, over-sized pink bow. Her hair was cut chin length, but as curly as ever. Her face was housing more freckles then it had since the last time I saw her (If that was possible).

"Hey, Sarah Beth!" Goyle, who was done fighting with Vince, nervously waved from his seat. Sarah Beth pranced into the middle of the room and looked around. All of the seats that weren't occupied by people were taken by our trunks. She shrugged and sat on Gregory's lap. "Where did your hair go? It's all short?" He touched the bottom of her wild curls.

"I cut it off so it won't get in the way when I play Quidditch this year!" She announced, throwing her hands up in the air for emphasis. I sneered. I couldn't see fragile, little, girly Sarah Beth Cumberland playing Quiditch. But then again, she did blacken my eye that one time...I wiped away my smile.

"So, you're playing Quidditch?" Goyle excitedly exclaimed as he shot Vincent a questioning look. Vince nodded and Goyle kissed her on the cheek.

"Why would you want to play?" Draco scoffed, sitting back down beside me.

"Because, apparently, I would be a wicked chaser!" She giggled as Gregory squeezed her sides. I eyed them with envy; Draco didn't do anything like that to me anymore.