For the past few weeks, the dingy dated 12 Grimauld place had been almost a prison to Krista. The only thing that had kept her sane during the experience was the company of Fred and George and their untraceable magic. Since the twins had turned seventeen they had used magic to keep the house alive whether it was with laughter or screams. It was now coming to an end. Bags were gathered in clusters down the hallway and the students of Hogwarts were eager to return, even under the circumstances, there was no where safer than Hogwarts.
The clan of Redhead's hustled through the busy platform of King's Cross, surrounded by members of the order. Krista tagged along side Hermione. If you took a glance at the Weasley's you wouldn't think they were all the same. Look closer and you could see that Krista's hair was one shade darker than everyone else. Her Metamorphmagus gene had never managed to get the right tone of red, however it was better than the thick black kinked hair that she natural. Being adopted she didn't want to stand out more than her adoption certificate stated.
The young Weasley watched as a shaggy black dog trotted past and she smiled to herself thinking back to the time that Sirius was known as the Grim and nearly tore Ron's leg off. It was strange how things changed, she thought to herself. The group reached the platform 9 and 10, where busy workers dashed on and off trains. Then there right between each platform where a small trickle of witches ran into the wall. They were unnoticed by the muggles like a perception filter averting their eyes.
"Right then." Molly announced smiling at all the children. "Ginny, you first. Then Fred and George." Ginny nodded, gripped tightly onto her trolley and ran between the platforms taking her straight to platform 9 ¾. The twins went next and then it was Hermione and Ron. Krista moved in front of the wall next while her mother also took grip of her trolley and ran with her.
At first Krista's vision was fogged by the smoke sprouting from the Hogwarts Express. When it faded she saw sitting against a pillar a dirty blonde girl with two buns on her head, blowing bubbles with a packed trolley beside her. Krista smiled to herself as the Egypt born Siamese cat started scratching at its box.
"Go on, I'll go put this onboard." Molly cupped the cheeks of her daughter with a smile on her face. There was a lot of other things that made Krista stand out, another one being the fact that when at school she slept under the Great Lake and wore green and silver around her neck. Yet that didn't cloud Molly Weasley's judgment on her adopted daughter. She may have been different, but she wasn't treated any differently to her brothers and sister. The red head wrapped her arms around her mother hugging her tightly.
"I'll find you in a minute." Krista promised. Molly rubbed her daughter's back and then she pulled away.
The Slytherin Weasley un hooked the cat box and carefully took out Sphinx and held her. The attitude prone cat sat in its human's arms purring away as they walked towards Daphne Greengrass. They stood in front of her and the blonde lit up, standing to attention and greeting her best friend.
"No parents?" Krista smirked at her.
"Of course, Astoria, started Beauxbutons today. I'm a free spirit." She hugged her best friend with one arm, careful not to squish the cat, that even she had learned to love over the past two years.
"How was your summer?" Krista asked as they walked together, Daphne pushing her belongings.
"Tiring, dad was worried that You-Know-Who was going to turn up on our doorstep." She sighed and her face dropped. Krista's face did too. She knew that fear, the fear that had bought them to stay in the Black family home the final weeks of the summer. "But he didn't. And we are going to back to school and it's the safest place to be." That's what every single witch or wizards thought at that very moment, stepping onto the steam train.
They put Daphne's things on board and saw Molly there too. When they were done they knew it was time to say goodbye. Trying to hold back tears, Molly hugged her daughter tightly before scuttering off to find her other children. Krista watched as her mother did so smiling to herself and thinking how much she was going to miss her. Daphne tugged on Krista's arm.
"Come on, before there's no space." Krista took her best friend's hand as she was dragged onto the train, steadying her self by holding onto the frame.
The two Slytherin students, found a carriage at the end of the train, right where the Trolley was being loaded with sweets and treats for the journey. Krista threw herself onto the comfy seats as a giant puff of smoke was released blocking their view.
Daphne began talking about how her parents had drove her insane all summer and how proud she was of Astoria for learning to fly before school had even started. Krista told her best friend what she could of her summer, changing details slightly to keep the Order a secret.
The train left the platform and Krista and Daphne waved Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were calling goodbye as their carriage pasted them. So the six hour journey began. Only ten minutes into the journey there was a knock on the glass. On the other side were a group of Slytherin's and their great leader. With pale skin, grey eyes and neatly brushed ice blonde hair. Draco Malfoy stood their with his goons. Krista got up and unlocked the door then slid it across.
"Malfoy."
"Weasley." The pair had an understanding. They respected each other due to their popularity and house. It was the only Weasley that Malfoy could stand to be around.
"There's no other space. Mind if we sit with you and Greengrass?" He asked. It hurt his pride to even ask but it was better than cramming in with first years.
"If you must." Krista sat back down. Draco, Pansy, Blaise and Theo sat down in the booth with them and it was an awkward silence until Blaise's gentleman nature kicked in and started to talk to Daphne about their parents dinner parties. The atmosphere relaxed and so did the red head.
To the sound of the wheels against the track Krista fell asleep, more peaceful than she had in weeks. However, the strange dreams returned. These dreams had followed her all her life. Like memories from before she was taken to the Weasley's.
Krista was an onlooker at the scene before her, in a rundown drawing room. The furniture was covered by dust sheets and the only light was the soft glow from the raging fire. Two women stood before her overlooking a crib, she couldn't see their faces but could hear there voices.
"Samora, she's a beauty." The white haired woman spoke. "Did she- Has she got-" The woman couldn't seem to get her words out.
"Metamorphmagus. She has." Before Krista could blink the woman, who held the baby, changed her hair colour and length to a burnt orange.
The women locked eyes with Krista.
"Krista, wake up."
"Wake up god damn it. Get off me." They spoke to her.
"Get off me blood traitor." Krista jolted as she woke up. She looked to the right of her to see Malfoy dust himself off. Krista's skin turned red literally to which made Daphne laugh. She glared at her best friend as it faded, and she returned to normal. Malfoy got up and grabbed his paper before leaving he turned around again.
"The black hair suits you better." He stated and walked off down the carriage. Krista frowned taking hold of her hair bringing it into view. It was long, and wavy, and black. It almost touched the floor and Krista realised that this was her natural hair. Due to her talents she had never cut her hair, it never needed it and it was rare that her red headed illusion was broken. Closing her eyes, she let out a breath and took control back of her illusion.
Krista got up, rubbing her eyes and Daphne passed her lemon drops. She took it from her and smiled.
"Here, the trolley came while you were asleep." Krista shoved the sweets into her pocket and picked up the sleeping cat from the seat of the carriage. Sphinx was still asleep in Krista's arms.
"Thank you." Krista told her as they left the carriage. In the thin corridor they saw the Golden Trio leaving their own. Krista called out for her brother.
"Ron! Wait up!" The two girls caught up with Harry, Ron and Hermione. She gave Ron a squished side hug and then greet Harry and Hermione as if it hadn't been seven hours since they had last seen each other last. Except Krista was much happier to be returning to the castle, sleep in her dorm room and not listen to Ginny constantly moving throughout the night and be herself around her fellow snakes. Daphne and Krista stepped off the train along side the golden trio. Everyone was quiet, with their sight upon the glowing castle. Their silence was short lived as the typical sneer that drawled from Draco Malfoy appeared.
"Im surprised the Ministry's letting you walk around free. Better Enjoy it while you can." Malfoy shoved past us and I was about to say something before he added more. "I expect there's a cell in Azkaban with your name on it." Harry launched for him and Ron had to grabbed him by the shoulders. The reaction shocked all of them, because Harry wasn't a violent person. "What'd I tell you? Complete Nutter." He mumbled to Blaise, Theo, Goyle and Crabbe.
"Just stay away from me!" Harry shouted. Malfoy just couldn't help himself to say more, to wind Harry up more but Krista stepped in.
"Go Malfoy." She draw her wand. Draco smirked at her.
"Maybe one day you'll actually deserve your Slytherin title." He told her. Krista narrowed her eyes. "And like I mentioned black suits you better." He planted his last comment knowing her brother would have something to say about it and she wanted to kick him right between his legs. Malfoy smirked wider and raised an eyebrow at her before turning around and walking off.
"What did he mean by that?" Ron asked. Krista sighed and turned to her brother, who had let go of Harry.
"He sat with us. My hair went black." She left out the small detail of how she woke up leaning on Draco's shoulder, thinking Ron would want to disinfect her. Krista walked in front of her brother and his friends. Daphne quickly caught up with her.
"Well, that's twice Malfoy has complimented your hair tonight." Daphne teased.
"He's being a wind up." Krista dismissed her, twirling her wand between her fingers.
"Hmm, sure that's why he let you lean on his shoulder for three hours." Krista turned to her in shock.
"Three hours?" She asked to double check her hearing hadn't gone. Daphne nodded smiling. Oh fuck Krista thought to herself. Draco was sure to hold that against her for the rest of the year.
The pair got to a carriage just before it left sitting with a couple of third years. As the carriage set off she saw the Golden Trio getting into the last one. The slow ride up to the castle allowed her to take in the scenery of the forest around her.
While first years took the boats it meant there was a large amount of free time for returning students to settle into their dorms then change into their robes. The Slytherin common room was located under the Great Lake, windows showing the shadows lake creatures contrasting to the vintage décor. The room glowed green and the fire never ceased to crackle. It was warm and it was home.
Krista let out a large sigh when she walked in feeling at peace with a big smile on her face. The common room was crowded with at least a hundred Slytherin's greeting each other. Daphne wrapped her arm around Krista.
"Can you smell it, Kiki?"
"Smell what?"
"Our rise to power. The higher up on the food chain we get every year. Soon we'll rule the school." Krista looked at her like she'd grown another head.
"Keep dreaming, Greengrass. The only royalty in this house is me and Ill decide that." Draco spoke from lounging on the sofa, lying on Pansy Parkinson's lap and his hair being stroked. Daphne rolled her eyes.
"Oh please. Krista is just as important as you." The older Greengrass sister leaned forward on the sofa opposite with her hands. "She has just as much power."
"Krista has power for as long I let her." Draco stared right at her. "And that's only because I pity her." Malfoy sneered and Krista stepped forward. She put Sphinx on the floor and she plotted off.
"Malfoy you're delusional, learn to share you spoilt brat." While it was true that Draco and Krista both had increasing power over the Slytherin house, it wasn't because Draco allowed it. He just liked her to think so. Truth was the student body of the Snake house loved Krista. She was clever, caring and beautiful, not to mention she was gifted with the power to change her hair, eyes and skin. Draco sat up and looked at Krista.
"We'll see." Draco then stood up and returned to his Prefect dorm room. Pansy glared at Krista, blaming her for her Drakie disappearing. Krista ignored her childish attitude and went to find her dorm room. The dorms were also under the Great Lake. It was also the only thing she hated about being a Slytherin. It was one thing the giant squid looking in on the common room but in the dorm rooms watching you sleep was too much Krista. It had woken her up in the past.
In her dorm room, her belongings were already there at the end of the bed. Sphinx had already found her bed and was sleeping soundly on Krista's pillow. Krista sat down. Let the year begin she thought.
