Never Again!

Chapter 7

September 1st arrived.

"Lizz! Did you put all of your books in your trunk?" I yelled while trying to knock up a quick breakfast for us.

"Yes, but I can't find my Standard Book of Spells!" Lizz replied in a panicked voice.

"Try checking under the couch!"

A few seconds later, Lizz yelled, "Got it!"

I placed eggs, bacon and toast on a plate and called Lizz to the table.

"Aw, mum! No pancakes?" she wined. I smiled as she put on her best pouty face.

"You know that takes a lot of time to make and we have to get going!"

Grudgingly, she began eating. We finished quickly and headed towards our fireplace. The plan was to floo to King's Cross Station. A secret fireplace had been placed within the station so that people could get there easily. After shrinking our trunks and making them feather light so that we could carry them in our pockets, we were on our way.

"King's Cross Station!" Lizz yelled and I followed suit. When I stepped out of the fireplace, I found we were in some type of shack. It was full of wizards and witches trying to get out. I grabbed Lizz's hand and tried to work my way through the masses of people. People were bumping into each other and it seemed that everyone was yelling. A wizard on my right shoved into me, nearly knocking me to the floor. I stumbled backwards and lost my grip on Lizz's hand.

"Lizz!" I called out to her. Faintly, I could hear someone yell, "Mum!"

I pushed my way toward the exit and couldn't have been more relieved to be outside. I looked around, trying to find a little girl with strawberry blonde hair. Everyone was rushing in the direction of the train and I couldn't find Lizz anywhere! I started to panic.

"Lizz! LIZZ! Where are you?" I yelled above the crowd. A few heads turned in my direction, their eyes growing wide. I looked down; it seemed that this wasn't the best way to find Lizz because people were already beginning to recognize me. The few people that had looked at me started speaking in hushed voices to their companions. I sighed. People would find out in no time that I wasn't dead. That realization brought back another question...Voldemort would also know that I wasn't dead...what would he do then? I had no time to ponder that question because I suddenly saw Lizz. She looked scared, frantically searching the crowd for me. I called out to her, just loud enough for her to hear me. She turned, looking immensely relieved when she caught sight of me.

"Mum!" she cried out and began running towards me. I held out my arms and she rushed into them. "I thought I'd lost you!" she sobbed. I hugged her, and was trying to calm her down when suddenly, I heard a cold, drawling voice from behind me.

"Well, well, well...a little Weasley looking for her mother? Who would've imagined..."

It was Draco Malfoy, believed by most people to be a Death Eater. Some said he was part of the inner-most circle of the Death Eaters but others said that he betrayed the Dark Lord by not choosing either side and staying neutral. However, a month after he finished his seventh year at Hogwarts, he was arrested by Ministry aurors and put on trial. He was suspected of killing thirteen children during the Massacre of Grenouille, a wizarding village in France. He was never imprisoned for the crime; the judge in his case said there was a lack of evidence against him, despite an eight year old who had witnessed the entire attack and testified against Draco. As stunned as I was to see him standing before me, I couldn't say a thing. Lizz clutched my hand, gripping it as if I would disappear in front of her very eyes.

"I read in the Prophet that your family died three months ago...and yet, you're still alive. How did you manage that? Did you run away? How very...weasel-ish of you," he drawled as if making pleasant small talk.

I was incensed! How dare he insult me like that! HE was the one accused of murdering thirteen children!

"Well...if it isn't Malfoy! Killed any children lately?" I spat back at him.

Not the greatest comeback of all times, but it did it's job. Draco's silver eyes flashed dangerously.

"Not enough evidence against me, Weasel! But watch your tongue, because otherwise you'll have to watch your back..." he hissed. He then pointed to Lizz. "As well as hers..."

Lizz shrunk back and I stepped in front of her.

"If you do anything to her, I will do something to you in such a way that you will no longer be able to produce some 'thing' to carry on your stupid name and not only that, but I'll curse you so that there won't be anything left but the pieces...got it?!" I said with venom in my voice.

We glared at each other for a moment then looked away at the same time, heading off in different directions.

"Don't worry Lizz, he won't do anything to you," I said soothingly. Lizz looked up at me but said nothing, disbelief etched all over her face.

"What a great way to start the year..." I thought exasperatedly.

As we boarded the Hogwarts Express together, I said goodbye to Lizz. She looked at me with fear in her eyes.

"I have to go to a different compartment, Lizz...why don't you try and find some other first years? They're new too and probably just as nervous as you. You can make some new friends!" I said cheerfully. Lizz looked dubious but nodded and went on her way.

I turned and walked to the teacher's compartment. I wondered to myself...why was Malfoy at Kings Cross? Could he already have a child and was at the station, sending them off to school? That didn't seem possible...he was only a year older then me so he was only nineteen. If Draco had a child old enough to go to Hogwarts, he would have been eight years old when it was born. That, of course, was ridiculous.

But then the question remained. So why was he here then?

Reaching the teacher's compartment, I slid open the door and stepped in. A few familiar faces were already there; Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and some others that I recognized. There were also a few that I didn't. I sat down on the bench and looked around. "Why aren't we beginning with our instructions?" I thought. Dumbledore, as though reading my mind, spoke up.

"There is still one person that we are waiting for yet," he explained.

As if on cue, the door slid open to reveal...Draco Malfoy.

Professor Snape stood up. "Ah...my other Potion Master apprentice," he said.