Chapter 1
Draco had been waiting for this moment since he was old enough to know how to want anything. Of course his father couldn’t make it, things were tense at work, but then again, when weren’t they? He stood at the muggle platform in London, wearing a white button up and nice dress pants. He always hated muggle clothing, but he knew it was senseless to complain. His mother would just explain to him the importance of blending into muggle society.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Draco asked nervously, “it’s… bigger than I imagined.”
“This is just the muggle platform, don’t worry, 9 ¾ isn’t far.” His mother strutted through the platform with a look of wistfulness on her face he didn’t think he had ever seen, as though it reminded her of better times. He followed behind his mother nervously, struggling to keep up.
They passed by each platform with Draco’s excitement rising as they passed by each platform. They stopped in between platforms 9 and 10, when Draco saw him. A stunning boy with messy brown hair and round spectacles. He wore an oversized tee shirt and large pants held up by a tied together shoelace. He had a streak of white in his bangs, and dark skin. Draco knew this was the kind of kid who his father would want him to stay clear of, and he might have been able to make himself look away, if not for his trunk that was filled to the brim, accompanied by a snowy owl in a cage. There was no doubt about it, this kid was a wizard.
“Are you alright dear,” Draco was startled by his mother addressing this kid, he was certain if his father was around she would have never even paid this kid a second glance, “Where are your parents?”
The kid looked up nervously, as though this is a question he never knew how to answer, but got asked quite frequently. “Um… they’re… not around,” He glanced at Draco, scanning him with a mix of fear and curiosity. “Do you know if you could help me get on my platform…? I think my ticket was misprinted or something.” He held up his ticket which, unsurprisingly, had the platform 9 ¾ clearly printed.
“Oh dear… did no one tell you?” She seemed to feel genuinely bad for him, “okay, Draco, dear, could you show him by going first, I’ll meet you on the platform once I help… What's your name dear?”
The kid looked like he had been dreading this question, but he couldn’t find any way out of it. “Um… Harry. Harry Potter.” He winced at this, and both Draco and his mother’s mouths dropped.
“Are you actually?” Draco blurted out, “do you have it- the scar I mean?” He immediately regretted asking as he saw his mother’s glare.
“Draco, that’s highly inappropriate, don’t worry, Harry, dear. Draco, go ahead, I’ll meet you on the platform after I help Harry here.” She looked at him curtly, and he nodded. He turned and stepped through the wall and onto platform 9 ¾.
As Draco entered the platform, he gasped. He had read all about Hogwarts, and the train, and, of course platform 9 ¾, but he had never actually seen it. It was bustling with activity and parents helping their kids onto the train. He waited by the platform entrance for his mother, and when she finally emerged, she was accompanied by a very nervous Harry Potter.
“Draco,” she knelt down to him and pulled him into a hug, “take care of yourself, okay? Write to me every day, and Draco?” She pulled away from him and looked at him with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
“Yeah?”
“Je vous aime, Draco.”
“You too, mum.” He hugged her tightly, and he saw Harry standing uncomfortably, and Draco wondered if he even remembered his mother.
He stood up, waved to his mom as she exited the platform tearfully, and started walking towards the train, when he turned and saw Harry, standing awkwardly in his oversized tee shirt and worn out converse. He thought about how much his father would despise him and everything he stands for, but he also thought about how scared he looked at the station,
and the weird feeling in his gut he feels every time he looks at Harry. He paused and walked toward Harry, and held out his hand.
“I’m Draco, by the way. Draco Malfoy. Do you need any help getting on the train?”
Harry hesitated for a few excruciating seconds, as Draco wondered if this was all a huge mistake, whether he had gone against his fathers wishes for nothing, and that the boy who lived might not even want his friendship.
Finally, Harry took his hand and smiled, “yeah, that’d be great.”
Draco looked up with a mix of surprise and joy, making one of the first genuine smiles he had made in a long time.