The One With All The Slytherins

Chapter 14: Year 2

The Hogwarts Express left in five minutes. That meant that I was late, which was surprising to nobody. I was just now arriving to King's Cross Station so I had to sprint to get to Platform 9 ¾. I had forgotten to enlarge my trunks and shove all of my textbooks, supplies, and ingredients for this year in there the night before so I had to do that at the Leaky Cauldron at the last minute. The Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione were already here because they had taken special Ministry cars so I had to have a Ministry worker apparate me here. It was not a pleasant ride.

    After dinner the night before, I had helped Fred, George, and Ron bewitch Percy's Head Boy badge to say Big Head Boy. I thought it was hysterical and Percy would lose his mind when he saw it but Harry didn't find it that amusing so I knew something was wrong with him. I didn't want to read his mind, though, so I didn't. He would tell me when he was ready.

    I ran through the Platform only to hear the train whistling. The man at the luggage area took my trunks and I sprinted to meet the train. Someone viciously grabbed my waist and I thought it was an adult and I was going to get kidnapped and die and never be able to go back to Hogwarts again but when he pulled me up onto the train, all of those thoughts vanished. I was yanked around like a rag doll and I was starting to get dizzy. I think they realized that because they grabbed my hips again to steady me. I closed my eyes then opened them. Malfoy was standing inches from my face, grabbing onto my body like his life depended on it.

    "Where's Lainey?" I demanded, pushing him off of me.

    "This way," He directed coldly, scrunching up his nose. He headed toward the Slytherin compartment in the back while I followed. I suddenly spotted my best friend for the first time in two months and we both squealed and she jumped up from her seat to hug me. Malfoy rolled his eyes as he sat down below me.

    Ashley jumped out in front of Lainey and hugged me wildly. "Oh, I am just so excited to see you again, Ariana! Lainey's not listening to any of the stories I'm telling-"

    "I am too! Move so I can say hi, Ashley," Lainey demanded. I smiled at her.

"Thanks, Ashley. I'd love to hear your stories but can it wait until the Feast? I think I'm going to take a nap," I said slowly, looking at Lainey. I hugged her and we sat down as the train began to pick up speed.

    "Yeah, that's okay!" Ashley said excitedly.

    I was squished in between the wall and Malfoy for a good three hours before I remembered that I was so used to waking up at 1pm everyday that I had fallen asleep on the train from waking up so much earlier this morning.

Harper was suddenly clapping violently in my face for me to get up. "Brian's here! Move over."

I opened my eyes and blinked. I had been resting my head on Malfoy's shoulder. I sat up, revolted, and began to walk out.

"Oh no you don't," Malfoy snarled, yanking my wrist back down. I growled at him and sank further into my seat, far away from Malfoy. Brian sat down next to me, closest to the wall and, just to spite Malfoy, I turned around and rested my head on Brian's shoulder. I could feel Malfoy's displeasure radiating off of him.

    "Oh. Hi," Brian greeted, grinning down at me.

    "Hello," I whispered to him. "You shoulder is extremely comfortable."

    He laughed. "Thank you. I'm sure yours is too."

    "It is," I replied smoothly.

    "Mmm."

    "How was your summer, Ariana?" Ashley asked me, tugging on my shirt. I lifted my head from Brian's shoulder.

    "Terribly boring. Was yours good, I hope?"