It's my favorite time of the year again! The day when I leave for Hogwarts. After the events of last year, all I want is a normal year of school, but being me- I have a feeling that that's not possible. I've made up with the Dursleys- all except Uncle Vernon but I think he might be warming up to me. I've been writing to Ron and Hermionie every once in a while to make sure they're okay. I keep having these nightmares about what happened and I don't want anything happening to them. I would write more often but they started dating and they do need their privacy. “Hey Harry? Can I see you walk through the wall when we get there?” Dudley snaps me out of my thoughts, “Of course- I think I could even get you through to see the train!” Sure it's against the rules but I like being friends with Dudley. 

  We could have been even closer friends if he hadn't grown up hating me- kinda like Malfoy… Aghh! I said I would stop thinking about him but I just can’t, I've liked him since 4th year. What was so special about 4th year right? Nothing in particular; it's just that you have to admit he had a nice face and other… stuff. He still has nice features- it's not like many things really changed about him. He did send me a letter over the summer to apologize for his behavior. I wrote back but I never got a response…

   “We’re here Harry!” Dudley’s face breaks into a mischievous grin. I grin back at him as we get out of the car. Uncle Vernon decided to stay back home because he ‘doesn't like to see his family mingling with the likes of me’. I have a feeling he's going to miss me when I move out because none of them can cook. Aunt Petunia can make eggs and oatmeal but that's all she makes. I'm glad they made me do all the chores because I have experience now! I stop in front of the secret wizard entrance and instinctively look at where Headwig should be. I forgot she… nope! I am not ready to fully unpack last year yet. 

  “I think if you hold my hand, I can get you in Big D” I say the last bit with a teasing tone. “Oh whatever- Little H” He grins sheepishly and grabs my hand as we start to run into the pillar. I close my eyes and expect to hear a crash, but we made it! I look at Dudley, making sure he got in, when I see Malfoy staring at me from the corner of my eye. I turn my head in search of Dudley before Malfoy sees me looking at him but it's too late. 

  He walks over to me and opens his mouth with his soft pale pink lips. “Look Po- erm- I mean Harry- I want to start over, I don't want to be the ‘Bad Guy’ again this year. Can we make a truce to not fight?” I try not to let my shock show, but I'm a terrible actor. “I mean it's cool if you don't want that but I won't try to start anyth-” “I think that's a great idea- can I call you Draco?-” he nods his head, grinning- “We can start with you sitting in the same compartment as me…?” I try not to sound desperate but I know Ron and Hermione will just be making out or doing something that makes me feel left out the whole time. “That sounds cool.” He says after a few seconds of thinking. “Did you get my letter?” I ask him. “I did. I forgot to send my reply and by the time I remembered, it was way too late to send it.

   I feel a familiar hand grab my shoulder - “Dude this place is epic! But uh can you let me ou- are you his boyfriend?” Mal-Draco freezes and Dudley sees his mistake. “Oh sorry dude- My name is Dudley Dursly, I'm Harry's cousin and I definitely should not have said that- sorry” “Wait aren’t you a muggle? How did you get in here?” “Oh about that… I am a ‘muggle’ but Harry let me in. I was the one who made him let me in so don't get mad at him” I roll my eyes “Dud, I think I should get you back to Aunt Petunia before she panics. I'll try to send you a letter as soon as possible.” “You better find a quiet owl because my dad will kill me, the owl and you for sending it if he hears it. Oh and I'll try to get him to send a really good present this year” I push him into the crowd, hoping he made it back through the entrance without my help.

  “Is it me or does your cousin seem a lot nicer than you said he was?” M-Draco has a bit of an accusing tone but that's fair- I have mentioned how horrible he used to be quite a bit. I really have to get used to calling him Draco. “Lets just say, he and my aunt had a change of heart after what happened last year.” I pause for a few seconds- “Shall we get on the train?” He gives me another grin, melting my heart. “Let's go.” We get on the train, him walking right in front of me. I'm close enough to smell him- he smells like mahogany apple- a scent I recognize from smelling that amortentia potion in 7th year. Oh no!

   I zoned out and missed what he said. If only he wasn't so handsome and distracting. “Are you paying attention Harry?” “Nope. I kinda zoned out.” He squints his eyes at me. “I just asked you what you thought of… the weather this morning.” He says, his face a little bit pink. Now it's my turn to eye him suspiciously. “Are you sure? I feel like you had a different question in mind.” 

  We have somehow made it to an empty compartment. He opens the door for me, “Ladies first” he smirks. “Then I think you should go in first.” I reply. His smirk turns into a scowl very quickly as he walks into the compartment. There's something familiar about this compartment, as if the two of us have been in this one before. “Isn't this the compartment I knocked you unconscious in?” He asks, his smirk returning. “You didn't ‘kNocK mE uNcOnscIoUs’, I just decided to take a nap.. on the floor.. After you hit me..” I mimic him. “Oh is that what I sound like to you?” He feigns anger. We look into each other's eyes for a split second and burst out laughing. 

  “Harry? ‘Mione and I have been looking all over the train for you.” Of course Ron had to enter just when we were having fun. “Oh hey Ron! I just wanted to sit with my new… um…” I glance at Draco and he mouths ‘friend’ “My new friend.” Ron looks at the person sitting across from me for the first time and his jaw nearly falls off.

  “Why the bloody hell are you sitting with Malfoy?” I see Draco shift, clearly uncomfortable but also expecting Ron’s surprise.“His name is Draco and he’s my friend. I'm not asking you to be his best mate but if you could treat him with a lot more respect?” I look at Draco and he smiles. “I deserve your hate- can I call you Ron?-” Ron rolls his eyes but nods- ”I know i've been absolutely awful to you, your girlfriend, and your family but I’m a changed guy- Like I told Harry earlier, I don't want to be the ‘Bad Guy’ this year.” I look at Ron, trying to get a hint at what he's thinking as he digests this new information. Finally, after a few seconds, he opens his mouth “Hey ‘Mione? Come in here- I found Harry and a new friend.” 

  Call me a bad friend, but I totally forgot about Hermione. I wonder how she's going to react when she sees the boy who tormented her for 7 years is now our friend. “How did I know it was going to be you?” Draco nods towards her “I know you might not forgive me for everything I've done to you and I won't force you to forgive me but could you give me a chance?” “If you got both Harry and Ron to give you a second chance, I think I can try as well. Now move so I can sit next to Ron.” 

  She winks at me as he quickly moves next to me. Does she know about my crush on him? How could she have ever figured it ou- oh yeah! She’s Hermione- I bet she probably knew before I did. After a few hours of talking and eating sweets off the trolly, I can feel myself slowly drifting off to sleep…