I held onto my grandfather tightly. I was almost sure I was cutting off his blood flow but he didn't complain. We were both staring at the Hogwarts Express. The initial excitement that I felt when we were loading the trunks into the train was gone, replaced by worry that my grandfather was gonna be alone in the Manor for a very long time.
It didn't even bother me that several people were ogling at us whispering our name and how brilliant Kal Emrys is. Apparently he even has 6 of my grandfather's chocolate frog cards.
However, I couldn't help but glare at another student that commented on my grandfather's age.
"He looks like he's almost at Death's door." An older boy whispered loudly to his mother.
My eyes zeroed in on him. "Say that again. We'll see who gets to see Death first."
The boy instantly pales at my words. He didn't think I would notice him. I might be a snob to most but I wasn't deaf.
"Kallista Zenia Emrys, there is no need to acknowledge poverty now." My grandfather chides not even sparing them a glance.
I give one more steely look to the scared boy despite the angry man beside me and when I was sure the boy wasn't going to challenge me- I forced an apologetic expression to show. "I'm sorry?"
My grandfather merely looks down at me with a shake of his head. "Do you have everything you need?"
I nod eyeing the train again. I haven't seen Draco but we promised to sit together. I just didn't feel like leaving my grandfather yet. "I have everything."
"Write if you've forgotten anything. I'll have it transported immediately. I've talked with Dumbledore. He's allowed to have one of our house elves to work in the Castle just to watch over you." I resist the urge to groan. It wasn't that I was ungrateful but no one else was having any of their house elves stay inside the Castle. "If you run into any trouble, send an owl or call the house elf. They will inform me. Severus will also watch over you."
"Oh, I've missed my Godfather."
"I'm certain he's missed you as well. He- will most likely not admit it."
We both share a laugh at the thought of my very emotionless Godfather admitting that he misses me. Don't get me wrong, we're very close- meaning I would talk incessantly about everything and anything and he wouldn't hit me with anything as I do it.
He would complain and threaten to hex me to oblivion if I don't stop but hasn't thrown anything at me yet or poisoned me in my sleep. Which is in my opinion a very good sign that he likes me.
The warning horn sounds just then and the grip my grandfather had on my shoulder tightens. "Do not forget to write to me." He says in a mildly threatening voice.
-
After a quick kiss on the cheek to my grandfather, Narcissa and Lucius who I saw before getting on the train, I rush to find a window and wave to my grandfather who waves back.
He looked absolutely dejected. I almost wanted to go down the train but Draco finds me before I could and drags me to an empty compartment.
"He's gonna be fine, Kally." Draco assures me.
-
Soon, the food trolley passed by our compartment. Draco and I excitedly started picking our favorites. Once we were sure we'd lose all our teeth by the amount of sweets we got, I reached for my heavy coin pouch to pay but Draco grunts pushing my pouch away.
He takes out his own heavy coin pouch and pays for the two of us. "Father made me promise to buy you something sweet. He'll never forgive me if by some chance he found out you paid for yourself."
"If your father didn't make you promise you wouldn't have bought me any?" I tease pretending to be sad and settling all our candy in the compartment.
Draco rolls his eyes while opening a chocolate frog. "You already know I'd buy you the entire trolley if you asked."
Before I could reply, our compartment door opened. "I knew I smelled the scent of overused hair gel!"
"Blaise!" I scream jumping on him.
Draco grumpily throws a hard sweet on Blaise's face once I'm back to my seat beside Draco.
Not too long after, Daphne and Theo found our compartment. They were both holding hands and Daphne was wearing a very distinct pendant that had a letter N engraved into it. The jewelry with Theo's engravings signifies an understanding. A pre engagement. Nothing nasty or impure. It's an innocent understanding that when they come of age, they could get married.
Eleven might be a very young age to have an understanding but in the pure blood community it is best if you lock in your future as soon as possible. There weren't that many choices.
I hugged Daphne for a very long time. We both gush about missing each other and how excited we were to be seeing each other every day.
Theo sits with Blaise and Draco who immediately talks about the new broom we got recently.
I didn't have an understanding with anyone yet. I've heard my grandfather complain about having many people approach him about it but so far, nothing official on his end at least. Even Draco has been getting requests from many families.
Thankfully, the Malfoy's haven't given any understanding to anyone yet. I don't know why I'm thankful about that but the thought of Draco having an understanding with someone?
No.
It can't happen.
He's told me the same thing this summer too. He was thankful that I didn't have an understanding with anyone yet. Draco thought it was with Blaise but Blaise is like my brother.
The door slides open again revealing a boy I've never seen before. Daphne screws up her face in disgust. "Longbottom."
Longbottom cringes away from the look Daphne was giving him. I didn't doubt the boys had similar looks. I didn't really know Longbottom. "W-would you happen to-to see a frog?"
"I can't understand you over all your blubbering." Draco snaps irritably.
Longbottom looks like he's about to cry and looks toward me. Probably the only person that wasn't looking at him like he was dung. His eyes widen when he recognizes me. "You're Merlin's bloodline. You're just like me! I was raised by a grandparent too."
The compartment rebuffs like his comment was of the highest insult.
"Just like her?" Daphne all but screeched. "Do not make me laugh."
Draco was on his feet. "You filthy blood traitor!"
Blaise was laughing but his eyes were mad. "You think very highly of yourself, Longbottom."
"I do hope this is a joke." Theo snaps looking even more disgusted than Daphne.
I latch onto Draco's hand when I notice him pulling out his wand. "Let's ignore him."
Grandfather was all about never acknowledging people of the lower class. Bad as that sounded, he doesn't appreciate it when we fight back to people that aren't worth the effort.
Thankfully, Greg Goyle and Vince Crabbe- the hulking figures that they are- appear roughly pushing Longbottom away from the compartment entrance.
"It's about time you two." Draco grumbles sitting back on his seat.
Greg scratches the back of his head looking embarrassed. "We got distracted by the food trolley."
"Of course. We should have known." Daphne says with a flip of her hair and a roll of her eyes that only Daphne Greengrass could pull off so perfectly. "Now, back to our discussion. Mom wants to take us shopping in Paris this Christmas."