Enchanting Expedition, a Story

Eleven

Chapter Eleven- Train Rides

The rest of the break went by quickly to every Weasley's dismay. However, Kat and Harry were a little excited to go back. Harry had a mystery to solve and Kat had friends she wanted to see. Of course, they felt bad to admit these thoughts when they thought of how Molly and Ginny probably felt.

Giving her family that remained home hugs, she, Harry, and Ron boarded Hogwarts Express and quickly found Hermione and Skylar already sat together near the middle of the train. Knowing that Draco would be at the back of the train, she decided to stay with these friends and would meet up with Draco and the others when the train got to Hogwarts.

Hermione and Skylar had already caught up with each other and asked how their break went. Ron and Harry told most of it and Kat briefly said that she had fun at the Malfoy's and told Skylar to expect her at some parties soon. Skylar explained that because she wasn't as loopy as her sister and father, only she was allowed at some of the parties and when asked who her family was, explained why her hair wasn't as strikingly blonde to why she isn't like her family.

"Oh yeah, have you guys started studying for final exams yet?" Kat brought up after a moment of silence after everyone said their condolences to Sky about her mom's death.

"Yes, I was even able to get help from my parents who went through my books and helped me organize what to study and when. I have enough material to study until the exams!" Hermione started to ramble while Skyler just said that she'd start to study in two weeks time. Harry just shrugged and said that exams were still months away and that he had quidditch to worry about. Ron shrugged as well and said studying was boring. Earning three eye rolls, Ron rolled his eyes back.
Kat waves at her friends as she leaves the compartment early to find her Slytherin friends. She walks into their compartment near the very end of the train to find a red-faced Draco and a smirking Blaise and Pansy. Crabbe and Goyle just ogle at her.

"I've clearly walked in at a bad time, I'll come back once we're at Hogwa-"

"No this is the perfect time Kat, do come in," Draco waved Kat over, "please." Seeing the pleading looks from Pansy and Blaise to come back in just a minute, Kat knew something was up. They must've been trying to worm some type of information out of Draco. She quickly tried to think of some sort of excuse to come back in a few minutes. Looking down, she found two very good reasons.

"Trevor! Neville must've lost his toad again, sorry Draco but I've got a mission to complete now. Oh, I've forgotten to change into my school uniform too! Looks like I'll probably return in about 5 minutes." She looks at Blaise and Pansy to make sure they catch her hint to hurry.

She leaves without letting Draco protest and try to track down Neville. Funnily enough, Kat hears his voice carry down the hall of this car asking people if they'd seen a toad.

"I have." Kat simply said and Neville nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Oh, Kat! Thank you so much! You'd better change, you know. We're nearly at school." He lets her know and she points out that he'd forgotten his Gryffindor tie. Neville blushes and thanks her again before returning to whichever compartment he came ever.

Kat ducks into the nearest bathroom and changes into her uniform. She takes a minute to look in the mirror to criticize some minor imperfections on her face. Kat then walks out, deciding that she's wasted enough time, and slowly walks to the almost-last compartment. She pauses outside before the doors so they can't see her and tries to hear some of the conversation.

"I am telling you that I do not like her like that! I don't even know where you get that idea. I knew you lot were thick but I didn't think you were this thick! If anyone likes her then- then it's you, Blaise!" Kat hears Draco ramble on.

'See self? I told you it was a good idea to not start liking him, he sounds almost disgusted with the thought of liking me like that.' Kat reasoned with herself, ignoring the parts of her brain that were hurt by that last bit. She walked in after a few seconds of silence, putting on a smile. "Didn't take too long to find Neville, he was already looking for Trevor." Kat laughed a little.

"Well, we're damn well near the castle now so I would hope so. We're getting off in a few minutes, we all might as well just start to walk to the nearest exit." Draco commanded and they all stood up to stretch and get ready. A frown settled on Kat's face until Blaise looked over at her with a questioning gaze.

"Blaise, what day is it?" She asked suddenly.

"The 26th of March, why?"

"Oh, just needed to know how long I had until April 1st." Kat heard the brakes being pumped and quickly sat down, pushing her back into a corner. Draco did the same, as did Blaise, but everyone else fell to the floor when the train came to a sudden stop.

After gathering the rest of their carry-on luggage, they all walked off the train and took the supposedly-horseless carriages to the castle. She and Skylar had talked about the creatures that they both could see and nobody else could, Skylar telling her that they were called thestrals. Skylar warned Kat not to talk about them to anyone unless she wanted to explain how she could see them. Kat quickly pet the thestral, making sure no one saw her. As she climbed into the carriage she looked out the window, watching the scenery pass. Once they got to the castle, everyone ate dinner then went to bed.

Kat woke the next day ready for classes to hurry and be over with. Kat nibbled on a piece of toast to calm her stomach until lunch. The day seemed to fly by and it felt like a moment had passed before she was back in the Common Room studying her notes from all her classes that day. She must've zoned out because a hand waving in front of her face while she was working on an essay for Potions.

"Hello? Anybody there? Oh good, you are alive. I was wondering if you were tired enough to go to bed yet. It's past midnight." Draco informed Kat.

"No, I'm fine thanks. You should go to bed though, I have some homework I need to finish up and I won't have time to do anything over the weekend."

"Why, what's going on this weekend?" Draco demanded.

"Well, it's Fred and George's birthdays on Saturday and it'll be insane from what I've heard about their parties. I was going to let myself recover on Sunday."

"Oh, don't work yourself too hard tonight then. See you in the morning, goodnight." And with that, Draco went to his dorm to sleep. Kat sighed in relief and jot down another body paragraph she came up with for the homework. She then decided to go on to bed, or else she'd really regret it in the morning.
She found it difficult to fall asleep but eventually she was blessed and drifted off.