I jumped on the train quickly, my robes in my hand. I had said goodbye to my parents at the manor this morning, just as I had last year.
I hadn't been keeping up with my friends nearly as much as I should have, so I was excited to see them today. Normally, Aria and I do our yearly visit to diagon alley for our school needs, but she went with Blaise this year. I didn't want to third wheel, so my father went and got all of my stuff for me this year.
I hadn't seen any of them since I had received my letter from Narcissa and abruptly left the train back in June. I was nervous to see them again, to say the least. I had butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.
I found our usual compartment and recognized all of them in the window immediately. Blaise being the only unusual face that never really sits in here. I quickly slid the door open, and jumped inside, sliding it shut behind me.
"HELLO EVERYONE!" I shouted, throwing my hands in the air, a giant smile spreading across my face.
"Jules!" The three girls yelled in unison, standing up and embracing me in a tight group hug.
"I've missed you all so much, you can't even begin to imagine!" I sighed, squeezing all of them back.
"Blaise, I even missed you! Can you believe it?" I laughed, quickly moving over from my friends and hugging him as well.
"Hardly." He chuckled, hugging me back.
I sat down to the left of Ari, Blaise at her right. Maggie and Dani sat across from us, giant grins on their faces now that we were all reunited.
"You guys hear about Potter?" Dani giggled. Her father worked at the Minstry so she was always full of gossip she shouldn't have known. She also loved to spill it.
"No.." Maggie trailed off. The rest of us shook our heads indicating that we hadn't either.
"Well, not only is he known as one of the biggest liars the wizarding world had probably ever seen. BUT, he was caught using magic in the muggle world a few days ago. Had to go to a trial and everything. Apparently, Dumbledore had to swoop in and save his ass. Now, he's just free to go. Walks around with no charges like nothing even happened." She spilled all at once. Maggie's eyes about popped out of her head.
Blaise was the first to speak up, "He is such a fucking moron." He laughed. "If I had to pick anybody that would be stupid enough to expose us all, he would be my first option without a doubt."
The rest of us laughed along with him.
"So, what was everyone up to this summer?" I chirped, excited to hear all the things I have missed from them.
Maggie went first, "Nothing much. My mother and I started a garden. I thought it was the most boring thing, but she seems to enjoy it. That's seriously all I can think of." She giggled. We all looked at her with weird faces. That's it?
"My family and I took a vacation to the muggle world. It was... interesting." Dani said, narrowing her eyes at the end of her sentence. "Don't feel like going back anytime soon. 2 out of 5 stars. Mm.. maybe 1.5."
"I hung out with Blaise." Ari shrugged her shoulders, her gaze turning over to look at him. A smile showed up on his face as she gave him all of her attention.
"I actually... can't tell you guys what I did yet. I went to the muggle world, as well. However, I had a... different experience." Blaise chuckled. "It's a secret. I plan on showing you all this Friday. Prepare yourselves." He wiggled his fingers at us like it was something scary. I rolled my eyes at him. Bit of an oddball, that one.
"Well, what about you?" Dani asked, looking in my direction. Everyone else turned their gaze on me, waiting on my answer.
"I was unfortunate enough to spend parts of my break with the Malfoy's." I made a smile that was obviously fake. "I had a great time with my parents when it was just us, but Merlin I hate that that family in particular is the one they choose to be best friends with. I just can't stand being around Draco that much." I huffed.
"Gee, way to make a guy feel good about his choice in friends.." Blaise said awkwardly.
"You are brave for putting up with Malfoy for as long as you have. I give you props, you beat me by a mile. I tried." I laughed. The others all chuckled with me.
The ride was typical for us. Talking, catching up, sleeping, eating. We had all missed each other so much, it felt so good to be together again. The train eventually pulled into the station, all of us standing up to grab our stuff.
"Um, can this be the year we stop the sprinting tradition and just wait out the crowd and casually walk out of here... cause a bitch is out of shape and I don't think I can out run the 11 year olds like I used to." Maggie laughed.
"Oh, thank Merlin. I was worried it was just me." Dani sighed with relief, her hand covering her chest.
"I wasn't running anyway." Blaise laughed. We all sat back on our seats, letting a few minutes pass by.
"Alright, I think the coast is clear by now." I sighed, standing back up off of the seat. The others followed suit. I opened the door and stepped outside. Everyone following after me.
The compartment next to ours opened, causing all of us to look back at the noise. Potter. I made a disgusted face, and turned back around. I continued walking towards the train exit, Potter and his friends now following our group.
We continued walking in the same order even after we were off of the train. I turned around for a second to ask all of them a question.
"So, what do you guys want to do tonight? I want to do something fun." I beamed. They all stared at me in confusion at my enthusiasm.
"This is so unlike you." Dani laughed. "Also, we have class in the morning so it's not like we can do much. I think Blaise is right and we should have fun on Friday." She sighed. I knew she was right, but still. I wanted to do something.
"Oh, we'll be having fun this weekend. Don't you worry about that." He chuckled, a devious smirk on his lips. I turned back around and continued walking like I was before.
"Surprised the Ministry's still letting you walk around free, Potter." I heard an all too familiar voice spat behind all of us. My friends had stopped walking to watch the scene unfold. Nosey little mutts.
I wanted to just keep moving, avoid the confrontation going on behind me. I stopped a few feet ahead of them, waiting for them to join me again.
"You better enjoy it while you can. I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it." He jumped towards Harry to try and scare him. It must have worked because Harry had flinched back against the side of the train, but quickly lunged forward at Draco like he wanted to attack him.
Potter really is a Gryffindor. The guy has balls.
I surely thought Potter was going to give Draco a good punch. Weaslebee had to ruin all the fun and stop him though. Bummer.
Draco straightened out his suit jacket, making sure Harry didn't touch it. He looked back at Crabbe and Goyle with shock all over his face.
"What I tell you? Complete nutter." Draco spat, starting to walk away.
"Just stay away from me!" Harry yelled. Draco was facing away from him now, but a smirk appeared on his lips knowing he had upset Harry. My friends all watched as he walked past them, not saying anything about what had just happened.
Draco paused for a minute beside them before he had turned to look at Blaise.
"Zabini!" He shouted in joy. "Boy, am I glad to see you. When you're done snogging your little girlfriend maybe you'll finally join us for a drink later in our dorm!" He laughed.
We're not even old enough for that, how on earth do they plan on drinking? On the first night, too? We have class tomorrow for crying out loud! When would Draco have ever even tried drinking alcohol..
Blaise smiled back at him, "I've got some stuff for us. I'll meet you guys there." He winked.
"Delightful." Draco sighed. He gave the girls standing next to Blaise a disgusted look like he wasn't friendly with them just a few short months before. He turned to continue walking away while they all stood there, Crabbe and Goyle hot on his heels.
"What are you staring at, Brown?" He spat at me. I rolled my eyes, already annoyed with his stupid attitude. I haven't even entered the damn school and he was already starting his bullshit.
"Something ugly." I replied. My friends all snickered behind him. A small smirk formed on my lips when I saw their reactions. He didn't scare me like he thought he did.
Draco scoffed. "Please, that's not what you thought when you were moaning my name this summer." He chuckled, his smirk growing bigger as my face fell.
My stomach had dropped instantly, hurt by what he just announced in front of everyone. His eyes didn't so much as show an ounce of pity to my surprise, only grew darker at the rise he was getting out me.
I couldn't believe he just did that to me. I knew this was coming, but I wasn't expecting him to take it to that extent. .
He was back. The old Draco.
He turned around and looked at Crabbe and Goyle who were trying not to laugh.
"Let's get out of here, quickly." He said. "My past mistakes are starting to haunt me, it seems," he looked disgusted as he eyed me up and down.
His friends laughed with him as they all left where we were standing. I felt like tears were already forming in my eyes as he walked away.
"Juliet, don't get upset." Blaise trying helping. "I know him, he just says shit like that to get this kind of reaction out of people. We don't care, it's none of our business." He told me, walking up to me. His attempt at making me feel better didn't work.
I looked back at my friends. They looked like they didn't know what to think. Well, it's my word against his. I could just lie now.
You already look like you're going to cry, you idiot. I think they've already made their assumptions.
"He kissed me once. That was all. I regretted it, and he told me he wouldn't say anything." I half lied, my voice cracking. They looked like they believed me.
"Fucking jerk." Aria huffed, walking up to meet Blaise and I.
"I'll beat his ass." Maggie smiled, causing all of us to laugh. At this point, I think I want her to.
"Well, no more tears! Let's get going, I'm starving!" Dani said, walking up and hooking arms with me. We then made our way to the castle for the first time this year.