𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 (𝖽𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗅𝖿𝗈𝗒 𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋)

Chapter 13

*One week later*

I woke up and got dressed.

Today we are going back to Hogwarts and I am so excited. I didn't like the thought of Malfoy being there, but having Malfoy there was better than Dudley.

"Rise and shine, girlies!" Mrs Weasley said, knocking on our bedroom door.

"We're already up, mum!" Ginny called back.

I looked at Hermione and Ginny.

"Are you two excited about Hogwarts?" I asked.

"Uh, yes!" They both replied.

We laughed and went downstairs.

On the Hogwarts Express, we sat in a compartment alone.

We chatted for a while, but then a familiar voice drifted through the open door.

"... Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore, the man's such a Mudblood-lover, and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff. But Mother didn't like the idea of me going to a school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do...." Malfoy explained.

I sighed.

"So he thinks Durmstrang would have suited him, does he? I wish he had gone, then we wouldn't have to put up with him!" Hermione said angrily, closing the compartment door.

I looked away and out the window.

I was lost in my thought when that familiar voice appeared, loud and clear.

"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley."

Ron and Neville, who had come in earlier, had been talking about the Quidditch World Cup.

Malfoy appeared in the doorway, with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

"Don't remember taking you to join us, Malfoy," said Harry coldly.

"Weasley, what is that?" Malfoy asked, pointing at Pig's cage.

A sleeve of Ron's dress robes was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the mouldy lace cuff very obvious.

Ron moved to stuff the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too fast for him; he seized the sleeve and pulled.

"Look at this!" said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up the robes to show Crabbe and Goyle.

"Weasley, you weren't thinking of wearing these, were you? I mean, they were very fashionable in about eighteen ninety..." Malfoy sneered.

"Malfoy, give them back!" I demanded, standing up.

I was ignored.

"Eat dung, Malfoy!" Ron yelled, snatching the dress robes back.

Malfoy and his goons laughed.

"So, going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's one involved as well, you know... you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won..."

I glared at Malfoy, a scowl on my face, my fists clenched.

"What are you talking about?" snapped Ron.

"Are you going to enter?" Malfoy repeated. "I suppose you will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"

I looked at Harry and then back at Malfoy. I stepped up to him and punched him in the gut.