Once a Death Eater...

Chapter 3 - Hogwarts Express

"Hurry up Ronald, we're going to be late!" Hermione screeched as the time slowly ticked closer to 11:00am.

The four of them ran down the platform at King's Cross Station, tumbling through the wall onto platform 9¾. They scooped up their bags, throwing them onto the train and boarding just in time as the train began to pull out of the station.

"If you two didn't want to stop for those treacle tarts, we wouldn't have nearly missed the train." Laughed Ginny as they began to make their way down the compartments, huffing a breath, obviously exhausted from their run.

"Harry made us stop, I just obliged. Who can say no to a treacle tart?" Ron protested.

The four of them walked down the train, they passed a full compartment that had Luna, Neville, Hannah, Parvati and Susan. They waved through the window and carried on down the train, telling them they'll all catch up when they stop.

Ginny ducked into a compartments with a few seventh years in, saying a quick goodbye to the group, while Harry, Ron and Hermione carried on down the train hoping for a free compartment. They came to the end of the train until there was one final cabin. They peered through the window, Ron groaning when he saw the two occupants, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini.

"We're not really gonna sit with these Slytherin prats are we?" Ron protested.

"Quiet Ron, there's no other places to sit." Hermione shushed, sliding the door open. "Hey guys, mind if we sit here?" Hermione asked politely, Pansy and Blaise both gave a big smile, rather unexpectantly.

"We'd love that." Pansy said helping them with their bags. "We actually both wanted to see you three." Pansy continued.

"To apologise." Blaise concluded. "Hopefully this year we can start over, as friends?" The two Slytherins looked at them with hope in their eyes.

The admission took Hermione, Ron and Harry by surprise, never did they expect this to happen today. Being apologised to by Slytherins is quite rare but to make this the best year at Hogwarts yet, they didn't want any rivalries or any hate.

"Of course we can be friends." Hermione started, taking her seat.

"Yeah sure." Harry said, smiling at the Slytherins.

"Errrr sure." Ron eloquently professed.

"Great! You know not many people are coming back for eighth year so we may as well all stick together and have a real super year!" Pansy began, "there's around 16 of us I think."

"They've made a special year eight dorm this year just for us, assigning rooms to pairs." Blaise explained, "I heard from Slughorn when I wrote to him yesterday."

"Oh that's so cool, more time for us all to spend together." Hermione said, clearly excited about the prospect of us all being much closer together this year.

The train ride was mostly filled with playful banter and talking about what they did over the summer. Harry mainly just listened but answered the questions when they were directed towards him. He concluded that Pansy and Blaise are actually pretty cool and he could tell they were sorry for everything they ever did. At one point, Harry actually had to tell them to stop apologising. He could tell that this was going to be a great year with them all getting on with one another, yeah nothing was going to disturb this peaceful train ride or the prospect of this amazing year.

"Can I sit here please?"

The compartment door had slid open while Harry was in deep thought and never did he imagine who'd be stood there. Grey, dull eyes looked around the little cabin, hands playing with themselves, a strained voice.

"The others further down said if I didn't move away from them, they'd throw me off the train."

Draco Malfoy stood at the entrance, looking as pathetic and desperate as he did just earlier when Harry saw him in Diagon Alley. His eyes had dark circles under them and his silver-blonde hair looked dull. Draco himself looked quite thin, overall he looked a real mess.

"No! Get out of here you fucking rat!" Ron shouted, everyone jumped at how intense it was and Draco scurried quickly away. "Why the fuck is he on this train? WHY is he coming to Hogwarts?"

Pansy made a face of disgust, and sneered to where Draco was stood. "You didn't hear? Apparently as part of his probation he has to attend Hogwarts for his final year." Pansy scoffed and continued, "He tried contacting me a few days ago but I really don't want anything to do with him, little dweeb."

Blaise let out a laugh, "Yeah fuck that guy, you heard he's fucking broke now as well. His dad had to give all his money to pay for war reparations before going to Azkaban. He lost everything."

Harry silently thought how that explained earlier in Diagon Alley in that little, dirty book shop, he must've been trying to buy school supplies. The muggle clothing makes sense too, no money for the clothes he used to wear. What a sad little life he leads now.

"They had to sell the Manor, don't know where he lives now, don't care really after the things he did." Blaise explained.

Did he deserve this? Harry really thought to himself, the sentence Draco was given is his punishment and life seems to have taken much more from him. He could see the desperation and loneliness in those grey eyes, poor, bullied and abused.

"Who do you think Harry?" Hermione asked laughing.

"What? About what?"

"Who do you think you'll be sharing a room with of course?" Hermione laughed, "I hope I get Ron" she said cuddling up to him.

"Ewww Romione!" Pansy laughed.

Like that, they fell into a laughter filled conversation for the rest of the train ride, none of them sparing a thought for the grey eyed boy sat on his own at the very back of the train crying softly to himself.

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When the trained finally pulled into the station at Hogsmeade, the three Gryffindors and the two Slytherins were much better acquainted, friends even. They met up with the other eighth years on the platform, all exchanging hugs and laughing with one another. They quickly gathered up their bags and made their way to the carriages.

They all pilled into the carriages, many of them could see the thestrals now. Having witnessed death during the war, their appearance was a grim reminder of the horror they were all subjected to. However, their bleak outlook was soon remedied by Luna, commenting on what amazing creatures they are. Perhaps, the horror of war and witnessing death gave one small, beautiful gift in being able to appreciate the magnificence of these animals.

While Luna was giving everyone a talk on what thestrals are and the carriage began to move forward, a scuffle caught Harry's attention. Malfoy was being tossed out of a carriage a little further back.

"No fucking Death Eaters here, stupid wanker." Harry heard a younger Ravenclaw kid shout as they threw Draco out of the carriage and into the mud. Harry's carriage turned a corner, blocking Draco from view so he couldn't see how the rest of the interaction played out.

"He bloody deserves it I reckon." Ron leant over with a glare on his face, apparently the only other one noticing what just happened.

"Yeah, I guess he does." Harry replied, unsure of himself.

He quickly pushed it from his mind however re-joining the conversation just as Luna started to talk about Jubblewamfs. Everyone gave a groan and then a laugh as they slowly made their way up to the splendour of Hogwarts castle to start their final year.

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