You Don't Know

Chapter 2 - The Hogwarts Express

Draco approached his usual carriage towards the end of the train. He knew that Crabbe and Goyle would be there, waiting for him as usual. They didn't really have a friendship, it was more out of convenience of their parents. Ever since they could walk they were thrown together and expected to make nice. His father had been the leader of their trio and, like their fathers, that's the way it had worked out for them. Unlike Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were like their fathers. Dim witted and did as they were told. On occasions, this worked out in Draco's advantage. They never questioned his actions or motives. However, unlike 'true friends' Draco could never confide in them his deepest hopes, dreams, desires and secrets. They were kept between him and the night sky.

When he was younger, he had enjoyed the company of Crabbe and Goyle, but as time went on Draco had changed and Crabbe and Goyle had remained the same. He had grown to dislike them, but, as they were told how things were to be, Draco had remained 'friends' with them.

Draco unenthusiastically slid open the carriage door. He was met as he expected with the solid and large boys who were Crabbe and Goyle. They gave Draco their usual non-verbal nod of recognition and went back to staring straight ahead - one of the few things they were actual good at. Draco sighed and sat back closing his eyes, wishing it would all be over.

They had been travelling for almost an hour when the jolting of the train woke Draco up. Crabbe and Goyle were exactly as they were when he had closed his eyes. Draco sat up as he heard noises at the other end of the carriage. A door opening, the clanging of the train then it slamming shut. 'Must be the lady with the food cart' he told himself reaching for the money pouch he had in his pocket. He hadn't eaten since last night and was starving. He watched the door waiting for the old grey haired woman with the trolley, but she didn't come. Instead, Harry Potter followed by Ron Weasley appeared in the doorway. 'No. Not now,' Draco told himself. For some forgotten reason, Harry and he had always held grudges against each other. Draco didn't think he hated him. Though he hated acting the way, he did. He always felt foolish and immature, but that was what was expected of him. That was the way a Malfoy should act, but it wasn't the way he wanted to act. In a way he felt jealous of Harry, he was free to be who he wanted to be, to be friends with who he wanted to be friends with.

Their eyes met. Harry's were so full of anger towards him. Silence fell between them, with the other waiting for the other to make the first move. Draco sat silently determined not to say anything at all. The tension grew until Harry was nudged by Ron to move on. Harry gave one more hateful glance then left. Draco slouched in his chair. Harry had every right to hate him. In the past six years, Draco had made many attempts to upset him, and Draco didn't know why he did this. He didn't want to, it just was. His father's hate for 'the boy who lived' had made Draco have to hate Harry too, or make it at least look that way. He began to think that it was too late to change. As much as he would like to, he couldn't undo the past, so was there any point to this. The damage had been done. It was too late. ' No! No it isn't,' he told himself.

*****

Ron and Harry made their way down the carriages.

"That was so weird," exclaimed Ron.

Harry turned to face him.

"God, Malfoy really pisses me off. He gets on my nerves," said Harry hitting the train's wall.

"Did you see the way he looked at me?" asked Harry

"Yeah, that was the weird part. It was Creepy," replied Ron opening the train door.

"She has to be in one of these compartments. It's the only one we haven't checked," said Harry.

"I can't believe she's still mad at us."

"We did ruin her chances at being head girl."

"Yeah, but all summer. She didn't reply to any of my letters."

"Me too," said Harry glumly.

It had been unlike Hermione to stay mad at them this long. She always came around eventually. It truly had been an accident. They didn't want to have her chances at head girl ruined. They both knew that she had been working towards it the whole time she had been at Hogwarts. They knew that no matter how many times they said sorry she needed time, but that wasn't them. They couldn't stand not being friends with her.

They found her sitting in a carriage by her self buried in a book. Ron and Harry entered and sat across from her.

"Hi," they both said timidly.

Hermione didn't look up from her book. She was too mad at them. She had dreamed of being head girl and these to goofs had ruined it, but at the same time she couldn't help but love them both. They had been great friends. She so wanted to forgive them and have them as friends again, but what they had done had really hurt her. They could suffer a little longer.

"We're sorry," said Harry carefully so as to not make Hermione mad.

"At least you're still a Prefect," said Ron

This made Hermione look up from her book

"Just," she said coldly.

"Come on, Herm. When are you going forgive us? It's been torture not having you as a friend all summer," pleaded Ron

"We missed you," added Harry in a soft voice.

Hermione placed her book on the seat next to her. She looked up at Ron and Harry. Her lips began to curl at their edges.

"I think you two have learnt your lesson," she said with a grin.

"Oh Herm," said Ron and Harry, giving her a large hug.

Deep down, Hermione knew that a part of her would never forgive them, but she valued their friendship more then anything in the world. She couldn't imagine finishing her last year not being friends with them.