Bad Blood | Draco Malfoy

e i g h t e e n

Mira

The Hogwarts Express gradually slows down at Platform 9 3/4. All the parents standing on the platform bustle forward to meet their children after months of them being away. I turn to Tracey and Blaise and smile at them. "I'm going to miss you guys," I sigh, standing up. We all embrace each other, laughing stupidly.

"Thanks for sticking with me this year when Pansy was being a bitch," Tracey says.

          "Thanks to you both for standing up for me against Malfoy," I respond.

          "I'm sorry he's horrible to you," Blaise sighs. "You don't deserve it at all."

          I shrug nonchalantly.  "I don't care about him at all."

          After collecting our trunks and weaving past the excited students also trying to leave the train, the three of us finally find ourselves upon the platform, searching for our parents. Blaise sees his mother from a distance and quickly turns to Tracey and me, saying goodbye and hurrying away.

"How does a sleepover at mine sound?" Tracey asks as we still search for our families. There's no point in me looking for anyone, they have to come to me.

"A sleepover?" I ask. "I've never been to one."

"Then make mine the first," Tracey smiles. Her eyes travel from mine to a spot in the distance. She smiles and waves at someone and then turns to me. "Write to me and say when you're allowed round, and we'll sort something out with Blaise too. Bye, Mira." Tracey pulls me into one last hug before walking to her parents and out of my sight.

Alone, I walk further down the platform, feeling slightly scared. Mum and Dave are so used to picking up Tia from King's Cross that their other child who spent seven years in France completely slipped their mind. What if Mum and Dave forgot me? Just like Dad and Belle will forget about me once they get married and have a baby - that's what has been bothering me for so long: I'm scared they'll replace their brain damaged daughter with a perfect child who has no disorder of any sort. It sounds so stupid, but it's also a strong possibility.

A hand touches my shoulder and I jump slightly. When I spin around I'm met with a tall young man with light stubble on his tanned skin and dark, tousled hair. "Hey, Mimi, miss me?" Elliot. I beam in delight and dump my trunk on the floor, throwing my arms around my brother.

"Elliot, I missed you," I say quietly, pulling away from him. "I heard your moving to Paris with your girlfriend."

"Oh, about that..." he scratches the back of his head, glancing around. "I'm not moving to Paris anymore. I'm moving here!" I can't help but squeal with delight and hug Elliot once again.

"Can I move in with you then?" I ask.

"You've got Mum to get past before you can even think about moving in with me," Elliot chuckles. "Come on, we've got to get back home."

***

Mum and Dave greet me at the door with Tia, telling me that they thought Elliot picking me up would be a nice surprise. They didn't forget me, which is a good thing. During dinner that evening, we eat rice with chicken curry (Mum's favourite Indian dish) while talking about Hogwarts.

"So how's Slytherin, then?" Mum raises her eyebrows and grins at me. I say it's alright, glancing to Tia who holds a look of disgust at the mention of my house. "I don't know how Tia got into Gryffindor; it was bizarre."