Hufflepuff In The Family

Compartment Talks

"Gee, why won't you let me see what you're writing?" Ron complained from beside me. After getting bored of his attempts to look over my shoulder, I shifted in my seat to put my back against the wall with my feet on my brother's lap. He'd shoved them off almost immediately but I put them back on again.

"Because Ronald, I'm a young woman who wants to keep some parts of her life secret from her overbearing brother who will almost definitely run and tell her other overbearing brothers."

"Come on, I'm your twin brother! You've told me everything since we were five, why now won't you let me read your writing?" I rolled my eyes and continued to scribble away in the notebook. Ron turned to his friends for help. "You guys agree with me right?"

Hermione shifted uncomfortably, glancing between me and Harry. We'd agreed not to tell anyone for a while but I wasn't entirely sure whether that extended to Hermione as Harry had told me she was the sole person he confided in about his feelings toward me and she was the one who so heavily pushed toward him telling me.

Harry had been mindlessly flipping through the pages of some Quidditch book but he looked up at Ron's question. He coughed, glanced at me then looked down to hide his smirk. "I got to be honest, Ron I'm on your sister's side. You should respect her privacy."

I grinned at him and, after checking my brother wasn't watching, I winked at him. He began to cough suddenly and his best friend looked at him in alarm. The bushy-haired girl beside him smirked knowingly.

Before my brother could squeeze in another argument, the doors to our carriage flew open. Leaning on the door was none other than Draco Malfoy himself, smirking nonchalantly as usual. Ron sat up straight immediately and Harry glanced at me before turning to meet the blonde's gaze.

He'd certainly grown in the past few months. He stood taller, not just in height but in attitude and his hair was still as brilliantly blonde as ever. It was slicked back as usual but it seemed to suit him more, like he'd grown into the style.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry asked, moving to get up. The boy in the doorway waved his hand and, though looking terribly displeased about it, Harry returned to his seat.

"Relax, Potter I'm not here for you although trust me, I won't be letting you off the hook all year long. I'm here for Weasley." He looked directly at me, his voice dripped in elegance. Ron looked confused.

"Not you, you idiot," I said, punching my brother lightly in the arm. "I'm guessing he wants to talk to me."

"Finally, one intelligent Weasley. I wondered when they'd get it right." I glared at him and he put his hands up as an apology. "Care to step outside, Nay?" After the Yule Ball last year, we'd hung out loads and had been exchanging letters all summer. Neither Harry nor the rest of my family was particularly thrilled about the friendship but it's my life and if I choose to put my faith in a boy who others refuse to see the good in then that's my decision. Anyway, after much discussion, he decided he hated my name and wanted to give me a nickname but didn't want to use 'Gina' like the rest of my friends or 'Gee' like my brother and so he instead took the final part of my name 'Na' and made it 'Nay'. He's refused to call me anything except that since.

"Yeah, sure." Harry looked less than impressed but I smiled warmly at him, handing him my journal. "Look after this for me Harry. You can read it just don't let Ron get a peak." Harry smiled weakly and I followed Draco out of the compartment, ignoring my twin's protests.

"What's up Draco?" I asked. I leaned on the door as he stood in front of me. He was so different from Harry it completely baffled me. If I got a sickle for every time Harry rubbed the back of his neck or coughed or looked down during one of our conversations, let's just say we wouldn't be living at the Burrow anymore. Draco, however, stood with an air of importance, like a boy who's never been told he wasn't good enough.

"I just wanted to see how your summer was and ask if you're available to catch up tonight, after the sorting."

"Oh, um sure. The usual spot?" He nodded politely and the corners of my mouth tugged upwards. "Is that all?"

"That's all. I'll let you get back to umm... your friends now."

"Don't be mean Draco," I scolded as I pulled open the door again.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Nay," he replied as he disappeared down the corridor.

Everyone went silent as I entered. Harry was riffling through the last few pages of my journal though I could tell he was only miming it to piss Ron off. Despite the fact I'd given him my permission, he still respected my privacy. The look of betrayal on my brother's face was something to marvel at.

"What did he want?" Asked Hermione, breaking the silence neither my brother nor Harry were prepared to do.

"Just to ask how my summer was." I didn't elaborate and no one asked me to. They knew of my friendship with the Slytherin boy but that was all they ever asked and that's all I ever told. "Right you and you," I said, pointing to Harry and Ron. "Out. We are going to change into our robes and I suggest you two do the same. It's not long until we arrive." Ron still looking bitter and Harry blushing ever so slightly got up and left the compartment, Harry dropping my diary into my hands before he left.