Unmasked

I Hope I'm Wrong

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters, settings, etc. They belong to J.K. Rowling.

Snow fell over London as the Christmas break came to an end for another year. White flakes sparkled in the hair of many students as they crossed onto Platform 9 ¾ , their boots leaving delicate tracks towards the train's carriages. Parents, siblings, and guardians alike stood waving to their loved ones as the train puffed out of the station, heading for Hogwarts. On board were a load of magical students who, truthfully, had no idea what the next few months had in store for them, or of the truths that would be revealed.

For Harry Potter, it seemed as though everything would be the same as it were. Same friends, same school, same problems. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as he boarded the Hogwarts Express, shaking snow out of his unruly black hair. He glanced side to side, scanning for an empty compartment.

"Left, Harry," huffed Hermione impatiently, heaving her bag of school books onto her shoulder.

Harry rolled his eyes, doing as she said. Striding through the narrow aisle, he peeked into compartment after compartment, looking for an empty one. He caught the eyes of many curious students, many of whom were girls trying to catch his attention. He ignored them, averting his gaze, much to the girls' dismay. An empty compartment caught his eye about halfway down and he beckoned to Ron and Hermione. "Down here, come on, before the train turns that first bend and we get thrown through the glass." Harry slid the glass door aside and stepped in, plopping down on the bench.

Hermione followed Ron inside, slumping her books on the bench. She glared at Harry. "Should have let me go first," she puffed.

"Why'd you bring so many books, Hermione?" Ron questioned, eyeing the bundle beside her.

"I brought them to get ahead, Ronald!"

"To get ahead, or for 'light reading'?" Harry sniggered.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't go asking me for help anytime soon, you two, I swear."

Harry and Ron broke into laughter. The two started into a lighthearted conversation about quidditch while Hermione stuck her nose into yet another school book. The two glanced up at her after a while of her silence, aside from the odd flipping of a page.

"How's your chapter of A History of Magic, 'Mione?" Ron asked.

She didn't look up. "Interesting." Both boys raised their brows at her, which she could see over the top of her book. She acquiesced. "Boring." Hermione sighed, placing the book on the bench beside her.

"Want anything from the trolley?" Harry voiced.

Hermione shrugged; Ron scoffed. "Did you really ask me that?"

Harry laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."

The group rose from their seats and turned left down the aisle towards where the trolley witch was rolling her treats along. The three hurried towards her and she stopped, smiling at the three. "Anything from the trolley dears?"

Harry surveyed the group who motioned that it was up to him. "Er, three pumpkin pasties, three chocolate frogs, and... three licorice wands, please." Harry searched his pockets for the change as another figure emerged from behind the trolley witch.

"Three pumpkin pasties, please," Malfoy announced. Harry glanced up at the blond, startled, and almost dropped his change. He had his head turned away from the group, not making eye contact. In fact, he didn't even make eye contact with the trolley witch.

"Here you go, dear," she said, handing Malfoy the pastries, and taking the coins from him. He fumbled one and reached for it, revealing the other side of his face. Harry almost dropped his coins again. Half of Draco's face was blue and purple, a cut under his eye causing it to swell. As his coat swung open at the movement, Harry also caught a glimpse of bruises on his neck and shoulder. Malfoy quickly recovered as the trolley witch rolled away, stuffing Harry's coins in her pocket.