Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 156: Train
INSIDE TRAIN
SLYTHERIN COACH
When Draco stepped into the train compartment, he immediately felt the weight in the air upon seeing his classmate, just one look from them was enough.
Every familiar face he saw mirrored his own state of mind, lost motivation, shattered purpose, confusion about what the future held. They were no longer arrogant pure-blood heirs or loud, boastful students. They were teenagers burdened by consequences far greater than themselves, even Crabbe and Goyle looked different.
That alone make something churned inside Draco, he took step forward and come closer to his friends.
They sat stiffly by the window, shoulders slumped, their usual dull expressions replaced by something and draco could feel their anxiety and sadness. Their parents had always been strict, but now disappointment weighed heavily on them.
Crabbe and Goyle were never bright, always become his sidekick and the thing that most interest them are food and everyone in his Slytherin year knew that. They had barely scraped acceptable results in their O.W.L. exams that already pushed them to their limits. Yet it wasn't result of the exam that haunted them.
It was fear for many thing, fear of being useless, fear of being abandoned, fear that without their parents shadow, they were nothing.
Draco understood that feeling all too well because he was one of the victim.
The Binding Vow had changed everything. It had forced distance between families, cutting ties in the name of survival. Even Draco himself had been warned by his father last time when he secretly called him.
His father coldly and firmly ordered not to seek him out again. Lucius Malfoy had said it with sadness, "Draco you are my son and I love you but please for the sake of the Malfoy family, do not contact us and do not acknowledge us. Pretend we do not exist."
It had hurt more than Draco would ever admit, it was first time his father had said that he loves him as his son. His father wasn't the type who would say the word loves to his son, he would usually use the word like 'I am proud of you'.
So after that conversation Draco had cried silently and knows his father are now wanted fugitive and his father wanted the best for him and continue the malfoy family line.
Across the compartment, Theodore Nott sat alone, staring blankly at the outside window. His situation was worse than most. His parents had died during the failed raid on Amelia Bones manor.
Draco looked at him and sighed with relief, If his father had joined them during the raid, Draco can't imagine how his father died in that raid.
Now they are lucky, although their parents is confirmed death eater, they are no longer being monitored by the auror.
The vow prevented him, Crabbe, Goyle, Theodore and others confirmed death eater children from joining the Death Eaters or aiding Voldemort in any way. To ensure his safety, Narcissa and Lucius had arranged it so they won't ever crossed paths again. Distance was the best to continue malfoy family line.
Draco leaned back against the seat, sitting here reminds him about his words to Harry Potter. At the end of his fourth year, he had once mocked Harry Potter about choosing the wrong side. He had planned to mock him, sneer, taunt, assert superiority like he always did. But then Dudley had stepped closer, his presence alone enough to silence Draco.
Now, those words echoed bitterly in his mind.
'Choosing the wrong side? How ironic.'
The Malfoy name had been branded with a word like 'Death Eaters, sympathizers to a dark wizards, traitors to a wizards.' The only reason they weren't under constant surveillance was because of the Binding Vow, a magical leash that ensured obedience through separation.
Draco clenched his fist. They had survived, yes but at the cost of family, pride and certainty.
As the train began to move, Draco stared out the window, watching the platform fade away. He didn't know what awaited him at Hogwarts anymore. He didn't know who he was supposed to be.
For the first time in his life, Draco Malfoy wasn't looking forward to the future but he is afraid of it.
.....
STEVE ROGERS POV
The first-year compartments were different from those of the upper years. Instead of choosing freely, first-year students were encouraged to sit together so they could familiarize themselves with their peers. It was meant to help them feel less isolated and more comfortable during their first journey to Hogwarts.
After all, it would be terrifying for an eleven-year-old to end up sitting with seventh-year Slytherins. They would probably be questioned about their blood status, their families, and things they didn't even understand yet.
Steve Rogers sat quietly by the window, watching the tree outside pass by. He understood the intention behind this arrangement, though his mind wandered elsewhere.
'This really feels familiar,' he thought. Maybe because he was one of the people who read the novel for 100th time that he feels familiar.
Knock knock!
The compartment door slid open.
"Hi, hello," a boy said hesitantly, peeking inside. "Is this compartment empty? All the others are full."
Steve glanced around and nodded. "You can sit here. There are still empty seats."
"Oh, thanks!" the boy replied gratefully as he stepped inside. He tried to lift his large suitcase onto the overhead rack, but it was clearly heavier than he expected. His arms trembled as he struggled.
Without thinking too much about it, Steve raised his wand and murmured, "Wingardium Leviosa."
The suitcase floated smoothly into place.
"Wow!" the boy exclaimed, eyes wide. "You can do magic already!"
Steve smiled faintly. "Yeah. But don't worry, you can too. We're all wizards here."
The boy blushed and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I… my family is a non magical, so I don't really know how to use magic yet."
Steve felt a sense of familiarity in those words. "I'm Steve Rogers," he said gently. "I'm from a Non magical family too."
"What? Really?" the boy replied in surprise. "Wait.... I didn't even introduce myself yet. I'm Bucky Barnes."
Steve froze.
The name echoed in his mind.
Bucky… Barnes?
For a split second, Steve was thankful he wasn't drinking anything. Otherwise, he might have spat it out in shock.
Of all the people he expected to meet on the Hogwarts Express, this name was the last one he imagined. Why was the marvel character in Harry Potter universe?