Better Man

The Longest Train Ride

If there were ever a time in wizarding history that Hermione might curse the Hogwarts Express, it was at this very moment. She cursed the founders for not letting them disapparate within the grounds for she would no doubt be elsewhere in this moment. Instead, she was arguing with Malfoy about prefect rounds.
"No, Mahalia and Deery both have quidditch practise on Tuesdays, you numpty!" Hermione snapped, sick of Malfoy and his lack of cooperation. Mahalia Mayne and Edward Deery were the Ravenclaw prefects and were two of the chasers.
"Well, then they'll have to choose: quidditch or being a prefect," Malfoy drawled. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh, like you did?" Hermione retorted. Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "You just don't want them on the team because you know they'll annihilate Slytherin."
"I seriously doubt that. Even if it were true, that would make them our only serious threat, what with Potty and Weasel gone, Gryffindor is toast."
"Oh I'm sorry, they were going to come back this year for quidditch but they thought it was more important to put away cowards like your father," Hermione shot back. Malfoy leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.
"I'm going to need a break so I can gather the strength to deal with you," Malfoy sighed, rubbing his temples. Hermione laughed sarcastically, stood up and gathered her things. She opened the carriage door and turned back to face him.
"I'll be back in thirty minutes. Get it together by then," Hermione said snidely. She closed the door and walked off.
Passing through, she peered into each the carriages as she went by, hoping Ginny wasn't too far away. Sure enough, they were at the very end of the train. By the time Hermione reaches them, she only had about 15 minutes left of her "break."
"Hermione! How's Head Girl life treating you?" Ginny asked, glancing up from her Gobstones game with Luna. Neville was also there, Hermione was pleased to see.
"Malfoy's being... Malfoy," Hermione sighed, flopping down into the seat next to Neville.
"I'm surprised they let him back this year," Luna remarked, studying the game intensely. Hermione had to agree.
"Maybe McGonagall thinks he's changed," Ginny suggested with a wry smile. Hermione grinned back.
"I doubt it. She probably figured that's what Dumbledore would have done," Hermione replied.
"That would make sense, given Dumbledore's past misjudgements," Ginny retorted, finally beating Luna.
"He was always kind to me when I was locked in his cellar," Luna interjected as she began putting the Gobstones away.
"Yeah but Luna, you were locked in his cellar. That's not exactly the calling card of a good guy," Hermione pointed out. Ginny nodded in agreement.
"Although, he didn't reveal Harry when you guys were captured at the mansion, did he?" Ginny said thoughtfully.
"I suppose, but he did try to kill Dumbledore! And he hurt Katie, remember?" Hermione argued.
"I think he was scared, I heard they were going to kill his family if he didn't do what he was told," Neville said quietly. Hermione was surprised to hear him defend a boy who had relentlessly bullied him from the moment they stepped into the train so many years ago.
"Everyone was scared, not everybody became a Death Eater," Hermione pointed out.
"No, I know. But I do think it must've been hard for him. It wasn't like he was just a wizard on the street, plucked out to do Voldemort's bidding. His family were deeply involved and his home was used as a base. That must've been hard for him."
"Yeah well, I think it was harder on Harry to walk to his death in the Dark Forest but sure, let's feel sorry for a ferret," Hermione growled. Why were they defending him? They had all been scared but they didn't turn to a homicidal death cult. Hermione glanced around her watch. She still had a few minutes to spare but she needed space from her friends.
"I have to go," Hermione muttered, waving her lacklustre goodbyes to her friends. Closing the door behind her, she was almost relieved to be away from them.
Even if it meant spending time with the controversial subject in question.