The Buddy System. *Updating In Process*

1. Return to Hogwarts

"I'm Raelyn," I said, trying to be polite, trying not to seem as awkward as I felt.

"Pansy," she replied with a small nod, then gestured to the boy beside her. "This is Blaise."

Blaise gave a nod that might have been charming once, but now looked tired.

"And this," Pansy continued, "is Draco."

Draco looked up briefly. Just a flicker. Enough to acknowledge my existence, but not enough to read the expression in his pale grey eyes. I gave a polite smile anyway.

"Nice to meet you all."

Blaise let out a soft huff of laughter. "Is it? Haven't heard anyone say that in a while."

"Oh... um..." I faltered, unsure how to respond.

"Blaise," Pansy sighed, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. "She was being nice. Don't be mean."

Blaise's expression softened as he turned toward me. "Sorry. Truly. I wasn't trying to snap at you, Raelyn. It's just been... a while since someone even smiled at us, let alone spoke to us. Most people just throw insults or glare like we're about to hex them." He shrugged, attempting humour. "Not that I blame them. The green uniform does have a certain reputation, doesn't it? Gives people the impression we're plotting curses in our spare time."

He lifted his head and met my eyes directly. "I'm not, though. Promise."

He offered a genuine smile—small, but real.

I found myself smiling back without hesitation. He seemed honest. Tired, but honest. And there was something else—remorse, perhaps, or simply the weight of the past years pressing hard on his shoulders.

I liked him immediately.

He wasn't pretending everything was fine. He wasn't pretending he was fine. And after everything we'd all lived through, that honesty felt more comforting than any polished lie.

Across from us, Draco remained quiet, staring out the window as though afraid to intrude. Or afraid someone might ask him to speak.

And for the first time since stepping on this train, I didn't feel completely alone.

"Well, I mean... we do deserve it," Draco muttered, barely loud enough to hear. His tone wasn't defensive—just tired. As if he'd already accepted condemnation as part of his daily routine.

"Speak for yourself," Blaise countered immediately. "I didn't do anything."

"Guilty by association," Pansy said with a small, resigned shrug. Her voice was light, but her eyes weren't.

"That's unfair," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Three heads snapped toward me at once.

Crap. Why did I say anything?

"What?" Draco scoffed, brow raised sharply. "Go on, then. Enlighten us."

Heat rushed up my neck, but I held my ground. "It's just... it's unfair that everyone treats you all so horribly. No one was innocent during the war. People made mistakes. People were scared. People did things they regret—on both sides. It shouldn't haunt you forever. No one is perfect."

There was a moment of stunned silence.

Then Draco leaned back, arms crossing. "Brilliant. We're stuck in a compartment with a Hufflepuff."

"I'm a Ravenclaw, actually," I corrected, lifting my chin. "Not that it should matter. But my brother was a Hufflepuff."

Blaise's expression shifted. "Was?"