Yellow Badger [3]// Harry Potter // Draco Malfoy

These Troubled Times

Chapter Three: These Troubled Times

There was no sparkle in his grey eyes when I saw him on the platform.
Around me, students ran at their friends and pulled their trunks to the back of the train. Our trunks were already on the train ready to go, we just had to say goodbye to Gran. On the large station clock, we had five minutes before the train set off to Hogwarts.

"Are you sure you are ready?" Gran asked me, straightening out my jacket, "We can always delay it by a week."
I put my hands on hers, "Granny, I am ok."
Gran put her hands on my face," My sweet girl."
"Gran we have to go," Neville said putting his arm around me, "I'll look after my big sister."
Gran nodded composing herself as she took a deep breath," You both stay out of trouble. No, leaving the castle to break into the Ministry, find Chambers under the school or chase Death Eater. Ok?"
"Yes, gran." Neville and I said.
She nodded pushing us in the direction of the train and I stopped to look at it. This would be the second to last time I board this train to go to school and it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Neville and I found a compartment together, Drizella curled up by my legs as usual and my guitar was out before we left the station. My brother had a theory that plants reacted to music so we thought it was a good way to spend the next twelve hours.
We left the compartment door open as Seamus, Dean, Hadleigh and Isabelle joined. My best friend had a huge goofy smile on her face and I instantly knew why, I just really wanted to know what he gave her. As we left the cities behind, outside the windows became calmingly green. Ginny came up to our compartment with a pink floofball on her shoulder, slapping Seamus's arm, Dean stood up to stand next to her.
"Quibbler." Luna's voice echoed down the train.
Looking down, she passed one Neville who smiled at the girl before she moved on.

Seamus glanced at me," We are ok right?"
"Why do you ask?" I questioned, my strumming faltered.
The Gryffindor looked off," I wasn't exactly the greatest of friends for a while. I know that, and I miss you as my friend."
"How about we start slow, and build it back?" I suggested, "just small steps."
Seamus's face broke out into a smile," Perfect."
"Just, stay away from me in potions, I like the hair on my head," I said warningly.
He threw his hands up in surrender," I'm not taking potions any more, Snape said I was a fire risk."
Hadleigh barked out a laugh," Not shite."

After the fifth hour on this train, I needed to pee. Putting my guitar in the case safely, I pushed my way through to the back of the train.
My ears perked up as I thought I heard someone shout my name. I stopped walking, looking around to see who had called me, but there was no one behind me or in front of me in this train carriage. Eyebrows furrowed, I jumped as someone banged on the glass next to me.
Harry beckoned me in and I refrained from rolling my eyes as I opened the compartment door, closing it behind me.

"What I need to pee," I started
"What was Draco doing with that weird-looking cabinet? And who were all those people." Harry asked me quickly.
"Death Eaters." I said, the answer obvious," Fenrir Grayback was more than enough evidence of that. The Cabinet could be for their new hideout."
"Don't you see?" Harry said, turning to the other two, "It was a ceremony. An initiation. "
Hermione closed the book she was reading, "Stop it, Harry. I know where you're going with this and have been for hours."
"It happened. He's one of them." Harry told us, confidently.
"One of who?" Ron questioned.
I sighed, "You can't be serious."
"Harry's under the impression Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater." Hermione rolled her eyes.
Ron laughed," You're barking. What would You-Know-Who want with a sod like Malfoy?"
I gestured towards Ron," He has a point, and you don't have a good judge of character. First year, you thought it was Snape - it was Quirrel, Second year, you thought it was Draco, it was Tom Riddle, Third year, Sirius, and it was Peter. Should I keep going?"
"Oh, then what's he doing in Borgin and Burkes? Browsing for furniture?" Harry scoffed, offended no one was believing him.
"It's a creepy shop. He's a creepy bloke." Ron said looking at Harry
Harry looked at me and Hermione" His father is a Death Eater. It only makes sense. Besides, Hermione and Celyn saw it with their own eyes"
I put a hand on his shoulder," Harry, Draco's father was arrested this summer, he has a right be be angry or make rash financial choices. We don't know what they have been through. But, if it makes you feel better, I will ask him in Potions, because I sit on the same table as him with Blaise and Hadleigh."
"How are you friends with Zabini?" Ron asked, his brow raised.
I shrugged," Snape put us on the same table for the last five years, and he's a very misunderstood soul."
Ron didn't look convinced.
"I need some air," Harry said suddenly, standing up and taking something from the top shelf.
"I'm going to Pee," I looked at the two in the compartment," See you later."