The Ride Back
It was a clear September morning, the train departing to Hogwarts was ready and the platform 9 3/4 was packed with students of different ages, and although it wasn't as loud and cheerful as it had been for years in the past, a slight air of relief and newfound happiness was spreading around. The Golden Trio arrived along Ginny and were already prepared for whatever destiny had for them on this new year of school, so each one of them carried their bags onto the train and found an empty compartment were they settled down and waited for the nearby future. Because Hermione and Ron were sitting together, there was a slight awkward tension when the former couple sat down, specially because Harry and Ginny had already informed their respective best friends of the situation and they were watching them closely in case something were to happen, but nothing ever came.
As the train left the station, the silence became more comfortable; Ginny was watching out the window, Harry and Ron were asleep and Hermione was reading a book while laying down in her boyfriend's lap. Everyone was calm as the noise outside the compartment started to die, all the students already settled down and enjoying their ride back to Hogwarts, all but the three lonely souls that roamed around the train looking for an empty and quiet place to sit, while wearing gloomy expressions in their faces and dark clothes that matched their feelings: these were the members of the Slytherin trio, who had already gotten all the hate they thought they could handle from most of the students they had crossed paths with. As they reached the end of the train and caught a glimpse of the Savior boy along with his friends, Draco had decided that he wouldn't wait any longer to do the things he thought were right, which in this case was Blaise's idea, he wasn't being controlled by anyone else after all, and so he hurried to stand in front of his friends and open the glass door to the golden compartment.
Ron and Harry were suddenly awoken by the sound of an opening door, and they opened their eyes to find a very shocked and red-faced couple of Slytherins standing before their leader, who was currently wearing a nervous expression as his eyes traveled between the four people staring at him.
-Granger, Weasleys, Potter- Draco acknowledged without looking at anyone in particular.
-Bloody hell Malfoy, don't you know how to knock?- Replied Ron in a very annoyed tone.
Draco ignored this comment while gathering his courage and organizing the thoughts in his head.
-I wanted to... apologize, for my behavior in the past years; I now understand I was after the wrong ideas and I'm truly and deeply sorry about... *sigh* everything- The young Malfoy spoke looking at his hands and lifting his head only after he had finished his small but honest apology; he heard a couple "sorry" from behind him as he looked at the shocked expressions of the four Gryffindors in front of him.
He saw Harry and Ginny share a look before nodding in acceptance and mouthing small "thanks"; Hermione shifted in her chair instead, closing her book and putting a string of loose hair behind her ear as she eyed her friends with her mouth slightly open, and as her eyes met Draco's, some words escaped her pink lips.
-Thanks... We~I sincerely accept your apologies... and offer some back myself...I guess- She said in a soft and sweet voice as her eyes drifted between everyone present, it was obvious she was used to talking for her friends in a motherly kind of way, but the young brunette realized this was a situation in which she couldn't do that, and she was right not to.
-Yeah? Well I don't, piss off Malfoy- Exclaimed Ron angrily as he stood up, locked the door and pulled the curtain down, leaving three bewildered Slytherins outside and three equally perplexed Gryffindors staring at him.
-Come on Draco, we're done here- Said Pansy as he pulled Draco into the next compartment, which was thankfully empty.
Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly under his glasses in response of the little show his best friend had just made and in anticipation of the fight everyone could sense was coming. Both girls were glaring at the red-headed boy as he sat back down with his arms crossed. Ginny took a deep breath as she stood up and then walked towards the door.
-You're a git Ronald- She said as she turned around and went to find Neville and Luna, not wanting to be near the tension that was rising up between her brother and his girlfriend. Hermione stood up to follow her friend, but was stopped right outside the door by Ron's hand grabbing her wrist.
-Hermione, wait-
-What is it Ronald?-
-What's the matter? Is not like that Death Eater deserves our forgiveness anyways, so I don't get what you're getting all mad about- Said Ron between light amused giggles.
-Do you think this is funny Ron?! That was completely uncivilized and immature. You just blew up a perfectly good bonding opportunity and-
-Bonding opportunity?! Do you really want to be friends with a Death Eater?!-
-Stop calling him that! He is not a Death Eater anymore Ronald, Voldermort is dead and it's obvious Malfoy wants to change. Besides I don't see anything wrong with wanting to be friends with him-
-You fancy him, don't you?- Said Ron with jealousy starting to burn inside him, how could she be saying such things? Hermione was starting incredulously at her partner; sure, she couldn't deny Malfoy was very attractive and had his charms, he wasn't "the Slytherin Prince" for nothing, but how could her boyfriend say such things?
-I do not understand at all how you got to that conclusion, but-
-See?! You didn't deny it and you're even looking for more excuses! So why don't you just leave me and go find him?! I'm sure you'll make a great couple!- Yelled Ron, unable to control himself.
-Well, maybe I will...- Ron looked at her with a shocked but angry expression before she continued.
-...leave you..., but believe me Ronald, it has nothing to do with him... at all-
Hermione had had enough, she was tired of Ron's exaggerated jealousy and the constant discussions that they held because of it; she thought about all those times he had made her feel bad about her opinions and realized these types of situations made up about 50% of their time together, they could never have real conversations due to their differences; while she wanted to discuss about magical creatures, spells and politics, all he wanted to talk about was Quidditch, and then it would turn into a discussion because they couldn't find a topic in which they both had similar opinions and Ron wasn't one to have healthy debates with; she had made a decision, and she felt this was it, she was letting him go.
The young Weasley looked at her with tears in his eyes, he had messed up and he knew it, he tried to move closer but she stepped away.
-Mione...-
-Don't, please, just go- Said Hermione, with her eyes closed and tears streaming down her pink cheeks. She took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes to see Ron walking away... Two hearts shattered, two friends drifting away, two pairs of eyes melting into tears and they hadn't even reached Hogwarts, this was not going to be a great year...