Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (but different)

Chapter three

  Harry stared out the compartment window. He was sitting with Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom as Ron and Hermione had prefect duties to attend to. Harry was no longer bothered by the fact that they were prefects and he wasn't, as Dumbledore had explained why last year, though it was still annoying that he could not sit with them on the way to Hogwarts. This was their second to last year and he couldn't even ride on the train with his best friends. Not that Harry didn't like Neville and Luna, it was just instead of talking about quidditch or ways to kill Voldemort, they were talking about wrackspirts.... Neville looked nervously around the compartment as if watching for them.

  Harry sighed as Luna began telling them the best way to get rid of them. His mind started to drift off and he began thinking about Sirius again. Things would be different now without Sirius. For one thing, Harry no longer had anyone else to write letters to. During school, Hagrid and Sirius had been his only correspondents. It was especially helpful last year when Ron and Hermione were bickering and Harry needed someone to talk too. Harry focused on the loss of letter-writing; he didn't want to think about the other thoughts that had begun to haunt him over the summer. Especially the fact that he still blamed himself for Sirius' death. If only he hadn't believed Voldemort's scheme to get him to go to the Ministry, Sirius would still be alive.... Harry swallowed and brought himself back to the present. He didn't want to think about that right now. Instead, he turned his attention back to Luna. Thankfully, her and Neville's conversation had now turned to OWLS.

"I'm not very worried," she was saying, "my father thinks examinations are pointless as the only thing that really tests a wizard's magic is their ability to preform. And, as our adventure last year shows, I can preform." She smiled confidently.

"Wow, I wish I could think about it like that. My gran wanted my OWLS to turn out better than they did... they weren't terrible mind you, she just was a bit disappointed. What about you Harry, what were your grades like?" Neville asked turning toward Harry.

"Oh, well, not as good as Hermione's or anything, but they were alright." Harry decided to keep the D he got in History of Magic to himself. Just then, the compartment door opened and Ron and Hermione stepped inside.

"Ugh, I don't want to be a bloody prefect anymore," Ron complained as he slouched into the seat next to Harry. Hermione rolled her eyes as she sat opposite them as she claimed that "it's not that bad." Harry smiled, he was glad they were done with their duties for the day.

"Anyway, it's nice to see you Luna, Neville, how has your summers' been?" Hermione asked with a forced smile. Harry knew Hermione hated talking to Luna about her life because everything Luna said about it was insane. Plus Hermione never believed anything she had to say about all the magical creatures Hermione claimed she made up. Thankfully, Neville answered first. Harry allowed himself to zone out again because just then, he noticed Draco Malfoy walking past their compartment. He didn't stop in to say any rude remark or anything though, which Harry found to be strange. When the compartment got quiet again, he voiced his confusion.

  "Really? Huh, maybe he's finally started to grow up," Hermione said with disdain in her voice.

"Or maybe he doesn't want to mess with Harry since he got his father sent to Azkaban," Ron laughed. Harry laughed too, but he felt like that would be even more a reason for Malfoy to hate him and mess with him.

"Who cares," Neville said, "I just hope he continues to leave us alone," Harry agreed, but he still felt uncomfortable by the whole situation. Malfoy passing up an opportunity to make their lives miserable made Harry uneasy. He couldn't help but think Malfoy was up to something big, that would make jinxes in the train compartment seem like something that could be easily passed up. Maybe it was because Harry got his father sent to Azkaban, but instead of Malfoy being afraid, maybe he wanted revenge.

"Well, whatever it is, we can worry about it later," Luna said dreamily, pointing out the window at the Hogwarts castle that was looming not too far away. "We'd better change, I don't want to be late for the feast," she got up happily and grabbed her robes. The rest of the compartment did the same, and soon they all had their Hogwarts' uniforms on. Harry was just finishing clasping his robes when the Hogwarts' Express pulled into the train station.

Hey I know it's been literally forever but here's chapter three! I can't promise when the next chapter will be but I hope you enjoy!!