"Where the fuck has Harry got to?!" Ron bellowed as the train started to pull into Hogsmeade station.

"He said he'll see me back at the compartment," I said anxiously, for some reason feeling responsible, "But I guess maybe he got held up somewhere?"

"Whatever, I'm starving," Ron said, marching out of the compartment and making his way presumably towards the exit.

Sighing, I grabbed my things and started to make my way off the train, figuring Harry would be fine. After all, I'm sure if he could survive facing Voldemort a countless number of times, then finding his own way off a train should hardly be a challenge.

The platform emptied quickly as students rushed to grab a 'horseless' carriage to take them up to the castle.

I went to follow the crowd, when Trevor decided that now would be a great time to try and get away from me again.

"Trevor!" I cried frustratedly as he hopped at a surprisingly fast speed up the platform alongside the stationary train. I was tired and I was hungry and I just wanted to eat and go to bed.

I hurried after him, dragging my trunk behind me.

A door of the train flew open up ahead, just as Trevor approached and, despite the dark, I could just make out a black suited leg emerge from beyond the doorway and its foot about to step down onto my precious toad.

"STOP!" I bellowed as loud as I could. "DON'T SQUASH MY TOAD!"

The shiny black shoe froze in midair.

"Shit- Trevor?"

My heart stilled at the familiar voice. Halting in my tracks, I watched as the white-blond haired Slytherin jumped down from the train, careful to miss Trevor, before he bent down to scoop him up.

He immediately looked up and silver eyes pierced mine, causing my breathing to become uncomfortably erratic.

I had missed him so much, it literally made my heart ache.

"Neve," he said softly, his voice containing a touch of hoarseness as his eyes bored into mine, his hard facial features softening slightly.

He straightened up, and started to walk towards me, Trevor tucked under his arm.

As he moved closer, I could see how much he'd changed over the summer; his eyes seemed slightly sunken in his gaunt pale face, giving him a slightly greyed and tired look. He looked... older.

I swallowed, struggling to find my voice. He was causing a mixture of emotions to surge through me and I was horribly aware I was trembling.

He paused in front of me, silently handing Trevor over. His hand lingered ever so briefly and I heard the distinct sound of his breath hitching as my fingers accidentally brushed his upon retrieving my toad.

"Thank you," I whispered, not being able to meet his eyes.

"Neve, I-"

"You two!" Professor Grubbly-Plank hollered, interrupting whatever Draco was about to say. "The last carriage is about to leave! Hurry along now!"

She stood with her hands on her hips, waiting impatiently.

"After you," Draco said, holding his hand out for me to go on.

It was just him and me in the last carriage; it felt oddly intimate, and I wasn't sure what to say to him.

So, we rode in silence, sitting opposite one another, which made it harder for me not to look at him.

And when I did dare a glance, his silver eyes were staring fixedly at me, looking almost sad.

I couldn't help but blush, memories of us making love on the classroom floor instantly flashing up in my mind.

I closed my eyes, trying to wash away the pain and humiliation this memory caused.

"I've missed you," he murmured quietly.

My eyes flew open in shock at this unexpected admission.

"You told me to stay away, remember?" I snapped, glaring at him.

"And I still stand by that," he sighed regretfully, hurting my heart all over again. "It doesn't stop me missing you, though."

"Don't," I said, looking down at my hands, my vision starting to blur. "That's not fair."

"Neve-"

"You wouldn't even look at me!" I suddenly cried, frustration mounting in my stomach. "Do you know how that made me feel? After I- after we..." I trailed off, closing my eyes briefly as I bit back the tears. "I trusted you..."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away.

"Neve, I'm so sorry," he murmured sadly, "what I said... I shouldn't have said it like I did."

He leaned forward to take my hand, but I snatched it back. "I don't want your pity!" I hissed. "I never wanted it in the first place! Especially not from you!"

It was at this point that the carriage came to a halt, and before he could say anything else, I quickly jumped down.

Except I ended up miscalculating the height of the drop, lost my footing, and landed flat on my face with a painful thud.

"Damn it!" Draco exclaimed, jumping down immediately after me. "Merlin, Neve, are you okay?"

"Why is it always you?" I cried, just letting the tears roll down my cheeks, not even caring anymore. "Why is it that whenever you're around I always end up being left hurt and humiliated?!"

"Neve," he said, his voice strangled as his hands grappled at my arms, trying to help me up. "Don't say that."

I shrugged him off, feeling angry; angry at him and angry at my pathetic clumsy self.

"You said you loved me!" I cried, jumping fiercely to my feet, "I gave you my body, and surrendered myself to you! And you took it knowing that you were going to turn around and break my heart!"

"Ahem,"

Both Draco and I simultaneously span round to see Professor Snape stood right next to us, his beady black eyes flashing disdainfully down his hooked nose at me.

My cheeks instantly flamed horrifically as I closed my eyes in utter shame.

I literally didn't see how life could possibly get any more humiliating than this.

"Once you've finished talking about your... teenage dramas, Miss Longbottom," Snape said in cold, painfully long drawn out derisive tones, "then perhaps you might remember that you are in fact at Hogwarts and not Sweet Valley High. Now hand over your luggage for inspection."

I stood wishing for the ground to swallow me up as Snape carried out his search through my luggage, tutting loudly as he held up a box of extra-super absorbent tampons.

The second I was dismissed, I stormed up to the castle's entrance, not once looking back. And, just as I disappeared through the large oaken doors, I heard Draco snarl, "Nice face, Potter!"

There was only one good thing about this coming school year, I thought morosely as I joined the other Gryffindors in the Great Hall - I was dropping Potions which meant I would no longer have Snape ruining my life and making it a general hell.

Oh, how Merlin must have been laughing down upon me.

*****