JMDC: The Last Compartment
Title: The Last Compartment
Author: Black Silk
Pairing: H/D, if you squint. (I feel pathetic for not quite getting them there)
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Not Betaed.
Word count: 2,615
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling. I only put them in situations she would not; and if she did she would not dare publish them.
Author's note: My entry to enchanted_jae Monthly Drabble Challenge for August 2010, with the prompt of "I'm not moving". I have just a bit more of this in my head. Maybe I can crank some of it for next month's challenge. Oh, and if you see any mistakes and would like to point them out, go right ahead.
Summary: Harry, Ron and Hermione search for a compartment on the Hogwarts Express.
Harry arrived at Kings Cross station with his luggage ready to start a new year at the rebuilt Hogwarts. As he walked with the Weasleys and Hermione to the barrier that would lead them onto Platform 9 ¾, he could not help but feel apprehensive about the year to come. Hogwarts would not be the same. Many would be subdued; he had only to look at the family around him to see some of the effects the war had had on everyone in the Wizarding World.
He shook bad thought from his head and concentrated on projecting positivity for the year to come. He looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were holding had and sneaking smiles at each other. Despite the fact that they had been dating for months now, they still seemed to be in a first leg of their relationship. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that things prevented them from spending much time alone. Harry had caught them trying to sneak in a snog or two at the Barrow. Mrs. Weasley had insisted that Harry and Hermione stay there despite that Harry had Grimmauld Place and Hermione had her parents’ home.
Then Hermione had gone to Australia to retrieve her parents. After helping them regain their memories, she had spent the rest of summer with them. Leaving Ron to mope about. But now they were together again and Harry was sure that despite the fact that NEWTS were coming up and Hermione was sure to make them study, a lot, they would still find time to sneak into a deserted corner or other for a proper snog or whatever. Harry decided that he had best keep away from those thoughts. Hermione and Ron were like his siblings.
With the thought of siblings, he looked over at Ginny and noticed that she was eagerly looking around trying to locate someone. That someone being Neville Longbottom. A few days after the final battle, Ginny and Neville had come up to Harry to confess that they had fallen in love with each other. But Harry had not needed any explanations. He had seen the way Neville treated Ginny as an equal, like a true partner, someone he would fight along with. He had told Ginny and Neville that he was not angry that he too had come to realize that Ginny was more like a sister, someone he wasted to protect. He told them he was happy they had found someone who complimented them just so. Harry had given them his blessing to go off and be merry together.
Harry smiled as he remembered Neville’s gobsmacked impression. He had proved that he was not as oblivious as he once had been. When he looked over at Ginny again he saw that she was now had a beatific smile on her face. He followed her gaze and saw that Neville was standing next to his Grandmother near the barrier to Platform 9 ¾, clearly waiting for Ginny. If Harry was not mistaken, Neville was about to introduce Ginny official to his grandmother as his girlfriend.
When they reached Neville and his grandmother, Ginny took his arm and his grandmother took the other and they walked through the barrier, vanishing right in front of Harry’s eyes. But now before he saw the look that Ginny and Neville shared. Harry felt a pang, hoping one day he would have someone too.
Harry shook his head to clear such thoughts away for now. He had to focus on the year to come. Maybe there was someone waiting for him at Hogwarts. Now that the war was over maybe Harry could see that someone.
Harry, Ron and Hermione followed Neville and his two ladies, then Mr and Mrs Weasley. That’s it! Only four Weasleys showed this year and two of them were going to be leaving on the Hogwarts Express. Harry could not help but remember all the other trips to the train station; his first one in particular. The memories brought a fond smile to his lips as he went to say his fair-wells to his surrogate parents. He saw Mrs. Weasley start to tear up as she tried to hug Ron, Hermione and Harry all at once.
Finally, Harry boarded the train behind Hermione and Ron. Ginny and Neville were probably already sequestered somewhere getting reacquainted. He cast a glance at his two best friends wondering if they would abandon him once they were secure in a compartment to do some “reacquainting” as well. They could not very well start snogging right in front of Harry. He shuddered at the thought, remembering that one time he had walked in on them. Hermione caught the shudder and smiled at him bemused. Harry just smiled back and shook his head.
They waved to Ron’s parents as the train started to move, then they began to dragged their trunks along with them until with a “For goodness sakes,” Hermione took out her wand and cast a levitating charm on all three trunks. She nodded at her good work and proceeded to lead the boys in a hunt for an empty compartment.
However, that turned out to be easier said than done. As they progressed along the train, they found each and every car was already full to the brim with students. They reached the last car and were hoping against hope that one of the compartments was empty. No such luck! They had one last door to open. They were all pretty dejected by this point. Harry was not willing to sit in the hallway throughout the whole ride!
Harry had let Hermione or Ron open all the other doors, unwilling to cause a raucous with his appearance or have someone sacrifice their hard won seats to give over to the Boy Who Lived Twice. This time he shouldered his way to stand in front of his friends, hoping that if there was someone one in there he would be able to persuade whoever it was to let them sit with them. He was not too proud of himself as he squared his shoulders and plastered a winning smile on his face and opened the door.
The smile fell from his face to be replaced open-mouthed shock. There was one lone person in this last compartment and that one person was none other than Draco Malfoy. Malfoy’s head had shot up when Harry had slid the door open. He looked behind Harry and spied Hermione and Ron and crossed his arms across his chest.
“Oh, no. I am not moving.” And with that declaration he turned his head and proceeded to glare out the window.
~*~*~*~
Draco had been reluctant to go back to Hogwarts to make-up his 7th year. But then again, if you had almost been convicted for being “in league” with a madman, who would not be reluctant. After some thought and much persuading from his mother, he had bought his books and had prepared to be on the Hogwarts Express on the 1st of September for his “8th” year.
So that is why he was at Kings Cross with his trunk and a borrowed wand. Ollivander was not back in business yet. Even if he was, Draco doubted he would have sold anyone from his family a wand considering he had been a resident of the Malfoy dungeons not too long ago.
Draco was early, very early. He had apperated directly onto Platform 9 ¾ because he wanted to avoid the muggles. Not because he hated them or thought himself better than them, but because they made him uncomfortable. He did not know how to act around them. He was glad that new Headmistress McGonagall had asked that the purebloods to partake in a specially designed Muggle Studies class. Draco would never admit it to anyone, but he wanted to learn about the muggles and he wanted to be able to feel comfortable around them.
If the Ministry did not release his father’s holdings and vaults then he would be forced to work. He was not sure he would be able to get a job in the Wizarding World after this year, so if forced, he would look for a muggle job. But only after exhausting every other option.
He looked around and saw very few students. The ones that were there were probably first years, eager to get a start at Hogwarts. Draco chose to ignore them and made his way to the train his trunk levitating behind him. He boarded and made his went to the last car and to the last compartment. He did not want to be bothered. Hopefully, the train would not be too full; he hoped the other “8th” years chose to apperate to Hogwarts. This year that had been an option, but Draco wanted to experience the drawn out anticipation from previous years. All but last, when all he had felt was dread at reaching Hogwarts because he knew it would be indirectly run by Voldemort. But now he was free.
Draco stored his trunk and sat down near the window. His mind quickly fades to the farewell he had shared with his mother no more than thirty minutes before. His mother had become a lot more affectionate after the final battle. His father too. It had all started with that one shared hug in the Great Hall once Voldemort had been killed by Harry Potter. Potter. No. Draco shook his head. Now was not the time to think of Potter. He would think of him when he saw him. He was hoping that would not be too soon.
His mother had hugged him and kissed him when he was leaving small flat that they had shared in London for most of the summer. Their assets had been frozen and seized and whatnot when his father had been sentenced to Azkaban. So when Narcissa and Draco had been cleared of most charges, they had been given a monthly stipend. Narcissa had shown resilience that Draco had not known she possessed and found them a flat to live in while still having enough to live, if not to the extent they had known before, at least comfortably.
His mother had wanted to see him off, but then she had started tearing up. She had look away and let him go on his own. Draco knew it was because she did not want to show such weakness in public. Some things never change.
Draco focused on the scenes outside his window. The platform was teaming with people now. Most of them were adults looking longingly at the train. That must mean that the train was getting ready to depart. He had not realized that he had been reflecting for so long. He watched a few students quickly hug parents and hop onto the train. Then before he knew it the train was moving. Stragglers ran to jump on the train before it left them behind and London was suddenly behind him.
Draco turned his attention to the door, praying that no one would open it. He wanted to be alone and did not want someone who was sure to stare at him in loathing or fear to sit with him for hours on end while the journeyed to Hogwarts.
Alas, his prayers were not to be answered, because not more than two minutes had gone by when the door started to slid open. At first Draco was taken aback because there stood Harry Potter, smiling at him, Draco Malfoy. Then smile faded to a look of surprise and Draco saw that Weasley and Granger were standing behind their friend; they all had their trunks. No doubt they were looking for an empty compartment. Well they were not going to get his!
Draco folded his arms across his chest and gave Potter his best glare. “Oh, no. I am not moving.” He then turned his glare to the window. Leaving the decision to the Golden Trio of whether they wanted to share the compartment with Draco Malfoy for the next now doubt interminable hours.
~*~*~*~
Harry saw no way around it. They were going to have to share a compartment with Malfoy for the duration of the journey. Harry sighed, and levitated his trunk to the overhead shelve across from Malfoy. He was going to be the brave Gryffindor and nice friend and sit across from Malfoy. He looked over at his friends and he was pleased to note that Hermione was also going to be a brave Gryffindor and too the seat next to Draco. At least she does not have to look straight at him, Harry thought.
When he looked over at Ron, he was not surprised to see his best friend of seven odd years staring at Harry and Hermione as if they had just spouted an extra head each, taken doggy mushrooms and were now dancing naked in the Forbidden Forest. Then Ron shook his head as if to banish the image Harry had created from his mind.
Harry was very proud of Ron when he closed his open mouth, stored his trunk and sat across from Hermione, pushing himself into the corner closer to the door so as to be as far away from Malfoy as possible. Harry watched as Hermione gave him a charming smile.
Now that they were all settled in, Hermione took out a book for each of them to study and handed them out, excluding Malfoy, or course. If he wanted to study, he could very well get his own book, Harry thought spitefully.
Harry tried to read, he honestly did. But he was distracted because Malfoy was pouting. He was pouting out the window, no doubt at the fact that he had to share closed quarters with his three least favourite people, now that Voldemort and his aunt were dead, that is. So for some odd reason Harry had to stare at a pouting Malfoy.
Harry watched as Malfoy pouted for a good five minutes. And he wondered how someone could pout for so long. Probably had something to do with him being a spoilt brat. Then he watched as Malfoy relaxed his lips. Guess he finally tired of pouting. Harry watched as Malfoy licked his lips. Harry noticed that they were nice lips, but only subconsciously. Harry watched as Malfoy leaned his head against the window and started to drift to sleep. Then suddenly, Harry Potter was watching Draco Malfoy sleep. He was noticing that Malfoy looked very calm and serene when he was sleeping. Harry wanted to call Malfoy Draco while Harry was watching him sleep. So, Harry started to refer to his rival of seven years as Draco, only in head of course. It would not do to say the name out loud. Maybe later, when he was alone.
There was a noise to Harry’s right and he turned to see Hermione and Ron getting up. They tried to explain that they were going for a walk to stretch their legs. They even suggested, reluctantly, that Harry should come with them. Harry knew they were after some private time, so he politely declined. Besides he wanted to go get on with his new hobby. Watching Draco sleep. Bloody hell, he thought as he heard Hermione and Ron leave because he was already watching Draco again, it looks like I am obsessed with Draco Malfoy again.
He shrugged the thought away, deciding to think about when Draco was not sleeping right in front of him. He settled in. I’m not moving until the train stop or Draco waked up, which ever some first. I wonder if Draco snores.
~Not quite the end~
Part 2
Author: Black Silk
Pairing: H/D, if you squint. (I feel pathetic for not quite getting them there)
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Not Betaed.
Word count: 2,615
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling. I only put them in situations she would not; and if she did she would not dare publish them.
Author's note: My entry to enchanted_jae Monthly Drabble Challenge for August 2010, with the prompt of "I'm not moving". I have just a bit more of this in my head. Maybe I can crank some of it for next month's challenge. Oh, and if you see any mistakes and would like to point them out, go right ahead.
Summary: Harry, Ron and Hermione search for a compartment on the Hogwarts Express.
Harry arrived at Kings Cross station with his luggage ready to start a new year at the rebuilt Hogwarts. As he walked with the Weasleys and Hermione to the barrier that would lead them onto Platform 9 ¾, he could not help but feel apprehensive about the year to come. Hogwarts would not be the same. Many would be subdued; he had only to look at the family around him to see some of the effects the war had had on everyone in the Wizarding World.
He shook bad thought from his head and concentrated on projecting positivity for the year to come. He looked over at Ron and Hermione. They were holding had and sneaking smiles at each other. Despite the fact that they had been dating for months now, they still seemed to be in a first leg of their relationship. Maybe that had something to do with the fact that things prevented them from spending much time alone. Harry had caught them trying to sneak in a snog or two at the Barrow. Mrs. Weasley had insisted that Harry and Hermione stay there despite that Harry had Grimmauld Place and Hermione had her parents’ home.
Then Hermione had gone to Australia to retrieve her parents. After helping them regain their memories, she had spent the rest of summer with them. Leaving Ron to mope about. But now they were together again and Harry was sure that despite the fact that NEWTS were coming up and Hermione was sure to make them study, a lot, they would still find time to sneak into a deserted corner or other for a proper snog or whatever. Harry decided that he had best keep away from those thoughts. Hermione and Ron were like his siblings.
With the thought of siblings, he looked over at Ginny and noticed that she was eagerly looking around trying to locate someone. That someone being Neville Longbottom. A few days after the final battle, Ginny and Neville had come up to Harry to confess that they had fallen in love with each other. But Harry had not needed any explanations. He had seen the way Neville treated Ginny as an equal, like a true partner, someone he would fight along with. He had told Ginny and Neville that he was not angry that he too had come to realize that Ginny was more like a sister, someone he wasted to protect. He told them he was happy they had found someone who complimented them just so. Harry had given them his blessing to go off and be merry together.
Harry smiled as he remembered Neville’s gobsmacked impression. He had proved that he was not as oblivious as he once had been. When he looked over at Ginny again he saw that she was now had a beatific smile on her face. He followed her gaze and saw that Neville was standing next to his Grandmother near the barrier to Platform 9 ¾, clearly waiting for Ginny. If Harry was not mistaken, Neville was about to introduce Ginny official to his grandmother as his girlfriend.
When they reached Neville and his grandmother, Ginny took his arm and his grandmother took the other and they walked through the barrier, vanishing right in front of Harry’s eyes. But now before he saw the look that Ginny and Neville shared. Harry felt a pang, hoping one day he would have someone too.
Harry shook his head to clear such thoughts away for now. He had to focus on the year to come. Maybe there was someone waiting for him at Hogwarts. Now that the war was over maybe Harry could see that someone.
Harry, Ron and Hermione followed Neville and his two ladies, then Mr and Mrs Weasley. That’s it! Only four Weasleys showed this year and two of them were going to be leaving on the Hogwarts Express. Harry could not help but remember all the other trips to the train station; his first one in particular. The memories brought a fond smile to his lips as he went to say his fair-wells to his surrogate parents. He saw Mrs. Weasley start to tear up as she tried to hug Ron, Hermione and Harry all at once.
Finally, Harry boarded the train behind Hermione and Ron. Ginny and Neville were probably already sequestered somewhere getting reacquainted. He cast a glance at his two best friends wondering if they would abandon him once they were secure in a compartment to do some “reacquainting” as well. They could not very well start snogging right in front of Harry. He shuddered at the thought, remembering that one time he had walked in on them. Hermione caught the shudder and smiled at him bemused. Harry just smiled back and shook his head.
They waved to Ron’s parents as the train started to move, then they began to dragged their trunks along with them until with a “For goodness sakes,” Hermione took out her wand and cast a levitating charm on all three trunks. She nodded at her good work and proceeded to lead the boys in a hunt for an empty compartment.
However, that turned out to be easier said than done. As they progressed along the train, they found each and every car was already full to the brim with students. They reached the last car and were hoping against hope that one of the compartments was empty. No such luck! They had one last door to open. They were all pretty dejected by this point. Harry was not willing to sit in the hallway throughout the whole ride!
Harry had let Hermione or Ron open all the other doors, unwilling to cause a raucous with his appearance or have someone sacrifice their hard won seats to give over to the Boy Who Lived Twice. This time he shouldered his way to stand in front of his friends, hoping that if there was someone one in there he would be able to persuade whoever it was to let them sit with them. He was not too proud of himself as he squared his shoulders and plastered a winning smile on his face and opened the door.
The smile fell from his face to be replaced open-mouthed shock. There was one lone person in this last compartment and that one person was none other than Draco Malfoy. Malfoy’s head had shot up when Harry had slid the door open. He looked behind Harry and spied Hermione and Ron and crossed his arms across his chest.
“Oh, no. I am not moving.” And with that declaration he turned his head and proceeded to glare out the window.
~*~*~*~
Draco had been reluctant to go back to Hogwarts to make-up his 7th year. But then again, if you had almost been convicted for being “in league” with a madman, who would not be reluctant. After some thought and much persuading from his mother, he had bought his books and had prepared to be on the Hogwarts Express on the 1st of September for his “8th” year.
So that is why he was at Kings Cross with his trunk and a borrowed wand. Ollivander was not back in business yet. Even if he was, Draco doubted he would have sold anyone from his family a wand considering he had been a resident of the Malfoy dungeons not too long ago.
Draco was early, very early. He had apperated directly onto Platform 9 ¾ because he wanted to avoid the muggles. Not because he hated them or thought himself better than them, but because they made him uncomfortable. He did not know how to act around them. He was glad that new Headmistress McGonagall had asked that the purebloods to partake in a specially designed Muggle Studies class. Draco would never admit it to anyone, but he wanted to learn about the muggles and he wanted to be able to feel comfortable around them.
If the Ministry did not release his father’s holdings and vaults then he would be forced to work. He was not sure he would be able to get a job in the Wizarding World after this year, so if forced, he would look for a muggle job. But only after exhausting every other option.
He looked around and saw very few students. The ones that were there were probably first years, eager to get a start at Hogwarts. Draco chose to ignore them and made his way to the train his trunk levitating behind him. He boarded and made his went to the last car and to the last compartment. He did not want to be bothered. Hopefully, the train would not be too full; he hoped the other “8th” years chose to apperate to Hogwarts. This year that had been an option, but Draco wanted to experience the drawn out anticipation from previous years. All but last, when all he had felt was dread at reaching Hogwarts because he knew it would be indirectly run by Voldemort. But now he was free.
Draco stored his trunk and sat down near the window. His mind quickly fades to the farewell he had shared with his mother no more than thirty minutes before. His mother had become a lot more affectionate after the final battle. His father too. It had all started with that one shared hug in the Great Hall once Voldemort had been killed by Harry Potter. Potter. No. Draco shook his head. Now was not the time to think of Potter. He would think of him when he saw him. He was hoping that would not be too soon.
His mother had hugged him and kissed him when he was leaving small flat that they had shared in London for most of the summer. Their assets had been frozen and seized and whatnot when his father had been sentenced to Azkaban. So when Narcissa and Draco had been cleared of most charges, they had been given a monthly stipend. Narcissa had shown resilience that Draco had not known she possessed and found them a flat to live in while still having enough to live, if not to the extent they had known before, at least comfortably.
His mother had wanted to see him off, but then she had started tearing up. She had look away and let him go on his own. Draco knew it was because she did not want to show such weakness in public. Some things never change.
Draco focused on the scenes outside his window. The platform was teaming with people now. Most of them were adults looking longingly at the train. That must mean that the train was getting ready to depart. He had not realized that he had been reflecting for so long. He watched a few students quickly hug parents and hop onto the train. Then before he knew it the train was moving. Stragglers ran to jump on the train before it left them behind and London was suddenly behind him.
Draco turned his attention to the door, praying that no one would open it. He wanted to be alone and did not want someone who was sure to stare at him in loathing or fear to sit with him for hours on end while the journeyed to Hogwarts.
Alas, his prayers were not to be answered, because not more than two minutes had gone by when the door started to slid open. At first Draco was taken aback because there stood Harry Potter, smiling at him, Draco Malfoy. Then smile faded to a look of surprise and Draco saw that Weasley and Granger were standing behind their friend; they all had their trunks. No doubt they were looking for an empty compartment. Well they were not going to get his!
Draco folded his arms across his chest and gave Potter his best glare. “Oh, no. I am not moving.” He then turned his glare to the window. Leaving the decision to the Golden Trio of whether they wanted to share the compartment with Draco Malfoy for the next now doubt interminable hours.
~*~*~*~
Harry saw no way around it. They were going to have to share a compartment with Malfoy for the duration of the journey. Harry sighed, and levitated his trunk to the overhead shelve across from Malfoy. He was going to be the brave Gryffindor and nice friend and sit across from Malfoy. He looked over at his friends and he was pleased to note that Hermione was also going to be a brave Gryffindor and too the seat next to Draco. At least she does not have to look straight at him, Harry thought.
When he looked over at Ron, he was not surprised to see his best friend of seven odd years staring at Harry and Hermione as if they had just spouted an extra head each, taken doggy mushrooms and were now dancing naked in the Forbidden Forest. Then Ron shook his head as if to banish the image Harry had created from his mind.
Harry was very proud of Ron when he closed his open mouth, stored his trunk and sat across from Hermione, pushing himself into the corner closer to the door so as to be as far away from Malfoy as possible. Harry watched as Hermione gave him a charming smile.
Now that they were all settled in, Hermione took out a book for each of them to study and handed them out, excluding Malfoy, or course. If he wanted to study, he could very well get his own book, Harry thought spitefully.
Harry tried to read, he honestly did. But he was distracted because Malfoy was pouting. He was pouting out the window, no doubt at the fact that he had to share closed quarters with his three least favourite people, now that Voldemort and his aunt were dead, that is. So for some odd reason Harry had to stare at a pouting Malfoy.
Harry watched as Malfoy pouted for a good five minutes. And he wondered how someone could pout for so long. Probably had something to do with him being a spoilt brat. Then he watched as Malfoy relaxed his lips. Guess he finally tired of pouting. Harry watched as Malfoy licked his lips. Harry noticed that they were nice lips, but only subconsciously. Harry watched as Malfoy leaned his head against the window and started to drift to sleep. Then suddenly, Harry Potter was watching Draco Malfoy sleep. He was noticing that Malfoy looked very calm and serene when he was sleeping. Harry wanted to call Malfoy Draco while Harry was watching him sleep. So, Harry started to refer to his rival of seven years as Draco, only in head of course. It would not do to say the name out loud. Maybe later, when he was alone.
There was a noise to Harry’s right and he turned to see Hermione and Ron getting up. They tried to explain that they were going for a walk to stretch their legs. They even suggested, reluctantly, that Harry should come with them. Harry knew they were after some private time, so he politely declined. Besides he wanted to go get on with his new hobby. Watching Draco sleep. Bloody hell, he thought as he heard Hermione and Ron leave because he was already watching Draco again, it looks like I am obsessed with Draco Malfoy again.
He shrugged the thought away, deciding to think about when Draco was not sleeping right in front of him. He settled in. I’m not moving until the train stop or Draco waked up, which ever some first. I wonder if Draco snores.
~Not quite the end~
Part 2