Bad Blood | Draco Malfoy

n i n e

          The time comes for Tia and I to return to Hogwarts.  We haven't spoken since Christmas Day and I don't think either of us plan to speak for a while.  Once we board the Hogwarts Express I immediately speed away from my sister and find a compartment alone.  I manage to find an empty one right at the end of the train so I dump my stuff inside and take a seat, running my hands through my hair.  It only takes a few minutes before the train departs.

          Mum is really disappointed in the both of us.  Me especially.  She thought I forgave Tia and that we were getting better.  What she doesn't understand is I was six at the time and I didn't understand what was happening.  Now I'm nearly fourteen, I have a clear understanding and I'm doubting the forgiveness I blindly gave Tia eight years ago.  My head aches just thinking about it.

          The compartment door slides open and two people enter with wide grins on their faces.  "Mira!  There you are!"  A voice that I know I recognise says.  I look at her with a smile and find something about her that can tell me who she is.  Light eyes.  Dark hair.  Knows me well enough to call me by my first name... Tracey.  And if that's Tracey the dark skinned and good looking boy beside her must be Blaise.

          "Hey Tracey, Blaise!"  I stand up and envelope them in a hug.  When we all pull away, we sit down and then we start talking.

          "How was your Christmas?"  Blaise asks.

          "Good," I lie.  "What about you and Tracey?"

           "Mine was great," Tracey smiles.  "My parents got me a new wand as the core of my  old one was a bit dodgy."  Tracey lifts her wand out of her pocket and waves it around.  It's a long, thin and dark brown with intricate designs upon the top half of the wand.  Mine is alike, though the whole wand is carved with designs and a few diamonds are encrusted within mine.

          "My mother's new boyfriend recently moved in over Christmas," Blaise sighs.  "He's such an arse; I preferred the occasional visits that he did.  I can't bare to deal with him for whatever time I get at home."

          "You'll get used to it," I say.  "I felt the same in France when my father got himself a girlfriend.  She's really lovely though.  You've just got to try, I guess."

          "You really don't speak much about France, do you?"  Blaise gives me a one sided grin.  "With you it's like reading a book - you learn something new every time you open up."

          "I like to keep to myself," I smile coolly and lean back.

          "I like that about you," Tracey nods.  "You're not one to spill it all."

          If I did this back in Beauxbatons, maybe they'd have liked me more.

          The train ride consisted with funny stories and jokes about family, people in Hogwarts, or the things we see on the Daily Prophet like the accusations of Black here, there, everywhere.  I also learn more about the pair: Tracey lives in Somerset with her parents and older sister; Blaise lives with his mother in Cornwall; they're both older than me (unfortunately); and that Blaise is pureblooded and Tracey is a half-blood.  I managed to tell them a little about Elliot, Belle and Dad as well as Mum and Dave too.

          When we finally reach Hogwarts, the three of us seat ourselves at the very end of the table in the Great Hall and begin to eat. I eat my butternut squash soup peacefully, listening to Tracey talk about how much she hates Care of Magical Creatures. "It's pathetic! Not to mention our oaf of a teacher. He's the groundskeeper - not a teacher! I'm pretty sure you need qualifications or something from the Ministry to call yourself a teacher, no?"