The castle washuge.Then again it was a castle. It defiantly was not like my school in America. The uniforms were different. If my uniform was a different color it would have looked cute on me. I stepped off the train and headed inside. I had no idea where to go. My seventh year was almost over and I was forced to move to a new school and start all over again. A strange girl came up to me. "Hello." She smiled.
"Hi" I said a little freaked out. Who wouldn't want some random girl came up to you with a very hyper smile?
"I'm Hermione Granger and I have a question for you." While I waited for her to continue I noticed the colors she wore. Red and gold. The colors of Gryffindor. The same colors as mine. My two brothers who walked with me stared at her with curiosity. "Are you from America?" She asked. I nodded.
"Why?" I asked.
"I just wanted to welcome the three of you to Hogwarts." I smiled and when I looked at my brothers they were still freaked out.
"Thank you. I'm Alex Dotson. These are my brothers Frank and David." David, my thirteen year old brother, looked around for other Ravenclaws. He was smart and very social with other students in his house. My other brother Frank, 15, seemed to me in his own world. He looked around but didn't really seem interested in the Hufflepuff girls that stared at him. To a lot of girls, Frank is very attractive but he's shy and quiet. For him it's sometimes hard to express himself. Hermione showed us to the Great Hall and showed us to our tables. At the Gryffindor table I met Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and the rest of the gang. Everyone seemed nice and friendly. Well, almost everyone. Across the room, light blue eyes starred at me. The other guys were laughing around him. Some even tried to get his attention but he was smirking at me.
"What are you looking at?" Hermione asked. I just shrugged. I had never seen the guy in my life. The others tried to look at what I was looking at but I couldn't say anything. Something about him made my stomach churn. To me that was a bad sign. He smirk was even worse. "Ugh, that's Draco Malfoy." I didn't say anything. Hermione pointed and told me all of names of the teachers. Of course, in about five minutes I was sure to forget each and everyone of them. After breakfast, I followed Hermione and the others to our first class. Charms with the Slytherins. The professor walked up a few books to get to his podium. I handed him my transfer note and took a seat next to Harry and Ron.
"It seems we have a new student. Miss Alex Dotson." The professor pointed to me and I gave a little wave. Again, I saw those eyes. His smirk made me want to slap him. "Let's all give her a welcome at some time today." One of Draco's friends whispered something in his hear and his smirk seemed to grow. That never turned out well. The professor rambled on with his lesson. I had already learned this lesson so I had just tuned things it out. The bell rang and I walked to my next class. As I was walking, people were pointing and laughing at me. I looked at Ron, and Harry but they just shrugged. Hermione ran up behind me and dragged me into the bathroom.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" I asked. She pointed to my back. I looked in the mirror and glared. At the end of my bottom was a giant tail that swayed back and forth. Hermione waved her wand and the tail disappeared. "Thanks." I mumbled and stormed out of the bathroom. Harry and Ron where waiting for us but they weren't the ones I was looking for.
"Did you see her face?" A boy said laughing. I turned my head and sure enough he was laughing. Draco Malfoy was going to get it. I smirked, getting an idea randomly in my head.
"Hey, Malfoy." I said to get his attention. When he turned around, I waved my wand. He looked down and gasped. The hallway erupted with laughter. "The twins look good on you." I said pointing to his big chest. Harry and Ron nearly died laughing. Hermione didn't seem as pleased.
"Come on, we have to go before a teacher comes out in the hallway." She said dragging me by the arm to our next class. Malfoy glared at me.
"I will get you back for this." He warned.
"Bring it on." I smirked. I wasn't afraid of him. He was just a boy. What's the worst he could do? Unfortunately, I found out later. As the three of us were heading to dinner, people were crowding around the Gryffindor table. Well almost everyone. The Slytherins were still sitting at their table and they were pointing and laughing. Frank ran up to me and grabbed my hand. "Frankie what is going on?" I asked as he dragged me to the table. He was practically shoving people out of the way. Before he could say anything to me, I saw her. Duchess, my owl, lied on the table. Her wings were spread out and she wasn't moving. The letter was still clutched in her beak. From the handwriting on the front I could tell that it was from my mother. I picked up my bird. Duchess was my owl. She was the only thing I didn't have to share.
"What is it?" Hermione asked behind me. I turned around with my pet in my arms. She gasped and examined my bird. "She's going to be alright." She smiled. "Your owl is only petrified." I turned towards the Slytherin table. Draco raised his glass with a smirk before taking a sip. That only meant one thing to me. This. Was. War. He was going to get it and he was going to get it bad. "Come on." Hermione said as she ushered me out. I followed her to the infirmary. As we walked we walked in silence, I was already planning what my next move would be. The next day in charms class, I was one of the first people in. I sat in my chair and waited. When the bell rang, people slowly started to enter. Finally, he walked in with his friends and sat in his usual seat. The professor hadn't come in yet so now was my chance to strike. I positioned my wand very carefully so as for him not to see it. I mumbled the spell under my breath and his chair started to move. It shook left and right and he clutched his chair for dear life. The look on his face was priceless. Everyone was laughing. Even his friends were laughing. Then the professor walked in. I put my wand way and Draco's chair stopped moving. He hadn't seen the professor yet because he took out his wand and pointed it at me.
"Rictersemperia!" He shouted. I flew in the air and did a summersault before hitting the wall.
"Expeleramus!" The professor shouted at Draco. "Both of you. Detention. Saturday. In here. Now all of you get back to your seats." Draco and I slowly sat in our seats while glaring at each other.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked.
"No, I think one of my ribs is broken." But I didn't dare clutch my side to show that I was in pain. Every time I took a breathe I wanted to cry but I held it in. After class, Hermione and I went straight to the infirmary where I was given a potion and then back off to class. The rest of the week went like that. Everyday either Draco or I would walk into the infirmary. Sometimes it was twice a day with both of us. I hated him with a fiery passion that burned deep within my soul. On Saturday I walked in Professor Binns classroom and sat at a desk while I waited. It wasn't long before the professor and Draco both walked in.
"Now," The professor squeaked. "Both of you will scrub the floors." He handed the two of us tiny toothbrushes. "I will take your wands now." The two of us handed him our wands and he walked out. On the floor, were buckets already filled with water and soap. I started scrubbing. Suddenly, something hard hit my head. I looked down at the other toothbrush and glared at Draco. He had that stupid smirk planted on his face. I threw his back at him and started scrubbing again. Soon after I was hit again with the same toothbrush. This was childish. He was throwing a toothbrush at me like he was seven. Again, I threw it back and again he threw it back at me. "Throw it at me one more time Malfoy and see what happens." Draco smirked and threw it at me a just for his fun. That's when I snapped. I jumped on him and started punching him. I didn't care what would have happened if I got caught. I didn't even care if I was to get expelled. At this point, I would have done anything just to get away from him. He didn't even know me and yet he was playing tricks on me.
"Enough!" A voice boomed. I looked up at Professor Dumbledore and punched Draco in the face one more time before getting off of him. I stepped back and admired my 'artwork.' His face was bloody, scared, bruised and his bottom lip was cut. Just the look on his face made me feel better. "Now." The professor continued. "Normally, I would send you to my office but I think the infirmary would do better." The two of us followed him and he lectured us all the way there. I didn't look at him. I just stared straight ahead and tuned everything out. "Do I make myself clear?" He asked. I nodded even though I didn't even know what he was talking about. Basically, that's how the year went. Draco and I would fight, we would get detention together and eventually wind up in professor Dumbledore's office. The year was finally over and we were graduating. When everything was done, I packed my things up and headed to the train.
"Alex!" David shouted above the crowd. I found him and the two of us found Frank. We sat on the train together and waited until we got home. There our parents were waiting for us.
"Ready for our summer trip?" My father asked. The three of us nodded and headed out to our car. The ride to our house seemed to take forever. "Alex." My father said shaking me. "We're here." I sat up and looked at our new house. Well, it was still new to me. Everything was different and I was still getting used to it. Thankfully, we were already getting ready for our traditional summer trip. I ran inside and my Greyhound Jezebel ran to me. She jumped up and down for joy.
"Remember." My mother said as she walked in the door. "Don't get too comfortable." I nodded and headed up to my room to sort out my dirty laundry. I seemed lighter than air as I walked. No more school, no more tests to study for and defiantly no more Malfoy. Jezebel lied down on my bed and watched me as I took everything out of my suitcase. When I finished, I went to the music room and started to write my song. Jezebel followed me to keep me company. For years I have been trying to write a song but never found the right notes. I sat on the chair and my loyal companion sat on the floor watching me. Hours later my mother walked in with a plate of food. "Thought you might be hungry." She smiled.
"Thanks." I told her. I continued with my playing but my mom stayed there. Usually, when she would stay to listen to me she would sit next to me. But this time she was still standing. I stopped playing and looked up at her. "Something wrong?" I asked.
"No," She said. "Just wanted to let you know that we're having a guest come with us on our trip. Now I want no arguing or fussing." I didn't know what she was talking about but I just nodded in agreement. David ran in but wasn't looking very happy.
"Mom, he's here." My mother thanked him and told us to come down to meet him. I looked at my brother curiously. "You're not going to like it." He mumbled. I walked down the stairs and into the living room. At first I didn't see anyone but my father in the living room. Then our revolving chair that was facing my father turned around. I nearly dropped dead right then and there. My heart stopped beating and I was so shocked I had forgotten how to breathe. Draco Malfoy didn't seem to happy at all. Finally, I regained my composure.
"What is he doing here?" I glared.
"Now, Alex I know you two haven't been getting along but we made a promise to his father. His father who just so happens to be my boss at work. Draco's parent's will be away on business for the summer. So I agreed to let him come with us." I tried to head back to my room so that I could scream into my pillow. "Stop." My father said. I stopped but didn't turn around. "Will you please show Draco to his room?" My fists clenched tightly and I sighed. There was no way I could argue my way out of this one. I would never win when it came to my father. I heard footsteps which meant Draco had gotten up from his seat. I walked up the stairs not saying anything to him. Why should I, after how he treated me? When we reached the top step, I was smashed against the wall. Those icy blue eyes were starring at me. That smirk was planted on his face. What was he going to do? I glared at him and kicked him in the shins. Draco keeled over in pain.
"You're room's right here." I said opening a door before going back to the music room. I played some fast music to get all the adrenaline out of my system. The door slowly opened and Jezebel walked in to resume her spot next to me. Right behind her was my mother.
"You alright?" She asked. I nodded not looking at her. "Liar." Which was true but if I told her what happened she would overreact. So would my father. My mother sat down next to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I just kept playing for a few minutes. Eventually, I slowed down the pace of the music and closed my eyes. "Now are you going to tell me what's wrong?" Again, I didn't stop playing.
"I'm not going." I said. "I'll just stay here. Tell Ashanti, I'll see her soon. I'll visit her once he goes back home." My mom shook her head.
"No ma'am. You are going. Ashanti needs to see you at her wedding." I stopped playing and looked at her. "Plus, what's wedding without the maid of honor?"
"And I will be there. I know when it is. But I am not going with Draco there. After the wedding ceremony, I will come back here. End of story."
"No, not end of story. You are going and that is final." I was about to say something but she interrupted me. "Final!" She said. I closed my mouth. My mother kissed my head and left. For awhile, I just sat there and stared at the keys. I didn't know what to play. I didn't know what to do. If I went on our trip, I would end up killing Draco. We would drive each other nuts. Life is never fair.