Different

heightened emotions

The students were practically silent as they got onto the train, many giving Hogwarts one last look as if they would never see it again. Claire noticed that the Slytherins seemed the most anxious, and she knew that many would be going home to Death Eater families. Surprisingly, Claire was able to convince her friends to sit with the Gryffindors. The Gryffindors all sat on one side while the Slytherins sat on the other, Theo deciding to sit on the floor in the middle so he could spread out.

"Where's Ginny?" Ron asked worriedly once they had all sat down. The girl had been behind them with Neville and Luna, but she was nowhere to be seen. Harry looked down at his shoes and refused to make eye contact. 

"She's with Neville and Luna," Hermione answered. "She said that Dean and Seamus had saved them a spot."

Harry's jaw tensed a little at the mention of Dean, who happened to be Ginny's ex-boyfriend. Claire knew that Harry was already regretting ending things with the younger girl, but he was too stubborn to admit anything. 

"Do you mind if I let Luna out of her carrier?" Claire spoke up, hoping to change the subject before anything else was said.

"Crookshanks is ready to be free too," Hermione noted, which was confirmed when the cat let out an angry hiss. 

"Go ahead," Blaise replied. Claire grinned and let Luna the cat out of her cage, the cat immediately stretching and then curling up on Draco's lap. Crookshanks, surprisingly, went over to Ron's lap.

"Blimey, what's it doing?" Ron asked, a small grimace on his face. Hermione grinned at the sight.

"Just be nice to him for once," Hermione ordered. Ron sputtered a response before huffing and crossing his arms, looking a little scared of the cat on his lap. 

The teens were actually able to get along for once. It took Harry a while before he felt like conversing with the others, and Claire could tell that he wasn't happy, which she understood. The compartment got quieter and quieter as they got closer to King's Cross station, all of the teens feeling unsure about the summer ahead of them. Draco's hand was shaking in Claire's, but she wasn't much better. Despite her best efforts, she hadn't seen anything about the summer, but there was a constant pit in her stomach.

"What if we just stayed on the train?" Theo asked, breaking the silence. He had finally sat down on the bench next to Blaise, both of them sitting where their thighs touched. 

"The trolley lady must have enough to keep us fed over the summer," Ron replied.

"It'll be okay," Hermione tried to say reassuringly, but the train fell to a complete stop and no one moved. 

"Remus and Sirius won't let anything happen," Harry said firmly, standing up and pulling their trunks down with help from a paler than usual Ron. "We'll all see each other soon. All of us."

Claire rushed to wrap her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. Her whole body was shaking and she could hear how fast Harry's heart was beating. No one felt safe sending him to the Dursley house, but there was nothing they could do. Harry wrapped his arms around her too, pulling her tight. 

"Be safe," Claire whispered. Harry nodded and sent her a shaky smile. The teens all started their goodbyes until it was only Claire and Draco in the compartment.

"I love you," Draco said softly, wrapping her in his arms. Claire clung to him, tears threatening to fall. 

"I'll see you soon," Claire responded. "I love you."

Draco connected their lips in a short embrace and then sighed, grabbing her trunk for her. The train was almost empty and King's Cross was much emptier than normal. Most parents immediately took their child home once they got to the school, none of them wanting to stay in public for long. Claire immediately spotted Remus, an anxious look on his face.  The second they stepped off the train there was a loud thud, making Claire jump. She turned to see her trunk on the ground, Draco nowhere to be seen.