Disclaimer: I don't own anyone except those I made up.
This is a work of fiction; I have my original character, and while I'll try to follow the book as best I can, there will be differences, of course. This story takes place fifth year, and as with any fanfic, there will be some OOC. Read, review, and if anyone wants to be a beta for me, let me know!
A tall, pale skinned girl of about fifteen, with chocolate-colored wavy hair took a quick look around to see if any Muggles were watching. After making sure the coast was clear, Adrielle Mackenzie took a deep breath as she stepped through the barrier into Platform Nine and Three Quarters. She smiled as familiar sights and sounds greeted her senses, flooding her with memories of past years at Hogwarts. She saw people bustling around, getting their luggage on the train. She saw mothers tearfully saying goodbye to their children, and sniffling, nervous first years looking worried, not knowing what to expect. Adrielle herself was looking for a particular someone, and immediately brightened when she laid her eyes on that someone. Mindry Astanella was Adrielle's best friend, also in her fifth year. She was shorter, and had skin the color of ebony wood, and short black hair. Like Adrielle, she was half Irish. They had met in first year, and remained close ever since, visiting each other at every chance they got.
"Mindry!" she yelled, and waved.
"Ah! Ella!" Mindry screamed, using her nickname for the girl, and ran over to her best friend. "How's the last few weeks of summer been? Pining for me, missing my charming smile?"
Adrielle simply grinned and hugged Mindry, glad to see her.
"Maybe you've been pining for someone else, just a little bit?" She raised her eyebrows as a well-known boy walked by.
"Hey, Harry!" she said; she had become pretty good friends with Harry Potter over the past couple years.
Harry Potter looked over and grinned at the sight of his long-time friend, Adrielle.
"Ella!" he said happily, coming over to give her a hug. He was allowed to call her Ella as well. "How've you been? I'm afraid we didn't get to exchange many letters this summer, now did we? I was literally devoid of news all summer." He said darkly, remembering The Order. He was sure he could tell Adrielle, as she had proved to be a loyal and good friend; but her friend he barely knew, and was less than comfortable mentioning such delicate issues where anyone could hear.
She grinned, "No we didn't, but I'm sure we'll be able to catch up on the train." She cleared her throat and motioned to Mindry.
"I'm sure you remember Mindry? She was there last year at the party we had after your first task. We were all talking I believe."
Harry eyed Mindry, raising an eyebrow. "How could I forget?" He had to admit, Mindry had a little something about her.
He gave them a smile, "We'll talk on the train okay?"
"Alright, looking forward to it." Ella said as she waved goodbye.
Harry gave one last look as he hurried over to Ron, who was calling him, a bit agitated.
"Bye." Mindry almost whispered, after Harry was out of earshot.
Adrielle rolled her eyes and burst into laughter.
"Oh come on, Mindry! You've liked him ever since the beginning of fourth year! Here he comes, talking to us, and you do nothing! What is wrong with you?" she asked, exasperated.
"I don't know! Every time I see him I get tongue-tied! I can't help it." She hung her head in mock shame.
Adrielle simply laughed and they walked onto the train.
As they found an empty compartment, they were joined by two other students, Ravenclaws, both in their year. Mindry and Adrielle looked up simultaneously at the curvy girl and the dreamy-eyed boy whose hair constantly fell in his face, recognizing their friends.
"Lara, Zach! How are you?" Adrielle and Mindry exchanged glances, they often said the same thing, they were very close.
"We're fine, just a bit tired, I guess." Zach always answered vaguely, they had all learned to just understand what he said.
Lara hit Zach playfully, "I'm good. I was just talking to Ron and his brothers actually. Harry and Hermione are looking for you, Elle." Lara Ann Sanders, who was a good friend, was at a loss for an explanation as to how she got sorted into Ravenclaw. Supposedly for the brilliant and quick-witted, Lara was a slacker, yet somehow always managed top marks in almost everything. She was quite pretty, with deep brown eyes that kind of pulled you in, and she wasn't tall, but her height suited her.
Zach on the other hand, though he looked like a dreamer, was extremely studious, practically the male counterpart of Hermione. It was no surprise that he got into Ravenclaw. That must be why they got along so well. Zach didn't say much, but almost immediately fell asleep.
Lara, Adrielle, and Mindry exchanged knowing glances. Zach was quick to fall asleep in almost all situations,
"Well, I've got to get to the loo, I'll be right back." Adrielle said, leaving Mindry to fill Lara in on her continuing crush on Harry Potter. Adrielle had heard it all before, as she and Mindry talked constantly. Through owls, and phone as well, when they were home from school. She slowly made her way to the back of the train, where it was less occupied. Unfortunately, it took her past where many of the Slytherins hung out. She was looking at the floor, not in front of her, and was rewarded by bumping into an unpleasant character.
"Why, if it isn't Miss Mackenzie?"
She looked up. "Draco Malfoy. I wasn't aware you knew who I was." She said coolly.
"Of course I know who you are. You are a good friend of Potter's, are you not?" He said with a hint of maliciousness in his voice.
"And what if I am? What are you gonna do?" She stepped forward, unafraid of him. Malfoy had never scared her. "Let me pass." She ordered.
"Ooh, getting a little full or ourselves now, aren't we? I'd be careful if I were you."
"I think you're the one with the ego here. If you don't let me pass, I will be forced to take harsher methods." She glared at him and gracefully whipped out her wand, pointing the tip of the sleek yew wand at his nose. Malfoy backed up slightly, then laughed. It was a cruel laugh, and held no real emotion. They locked eyes for a moment, her deep hazel eyes, green flecks flashing dangerously, and his steely gray eyes, sliver glinting. He gently pushed her wand aside and stepped past her.
"You weren't really gonna do anything, were you? You don't have the balls." He laughed that cruel laugh again, and before he knew it, he was on the ground, gasping for air.
Adrielle smirked; she stepped over him, making sure her foot landed on his delicate fingers. "Oops, " she smiled, satisfied with herself. "My bad." She stalked off, leaving a very pissed off Malfoy lying on the ground in her wake.
As soon as she got back to her compartment, she found herself staring at Harry, Lara, an uncomfortable Mindry, a sleeping Zach, and Hermione; Ron, however, was with his brothers, talking about some new bewitched candy the twins had invented. God, she thought, annoyed, where am I going to sit?
"So where have you been?" Harry asked, curious.
"Yes, where have you been?" Mindry asked; Adrielle knew she was uncomfortable with Harry, and angry because Adrielle had taken so long.
"I don't want to talk about it." She pouted.
"Come one Ella, what about for a… Reese's?" Harry asked, whipping out Ella's favorite Muggle candy, that he just happened to have lying in his pocket for occasions such as this.
Ella stared at the candy, her face plain with indecision. Finally she grabbed for the candy, simply saying, "I had a run-in with Malfoy." Then she sat down and turned toward the window, refusing to say anymore.
Harry, Lara, and Hermione pressed her with more questions, but Ella was silent for the rest of the train ride.
When the train finally rolled to a stop, everyone got off, and Ella just said she'd meet them all at the castle. She hated to admit it, but her encounter with Draco made her confused. She also wouldn't admit that she had always found Draco quite attractive. With his platinum blonde hair and his tall, deceptively slender build, it was no wonder he was dubbed the Prince of Slytherin. She stayed in the back of the crowd, just waiting as the many students boarded the carriages and were driven to the castle. Finally there were only two carriages left, and she planned to board the one that was leaving next. She didn't know who was left there with her, and as she tried to board the carriage, a hand pulled her back.
"Let's board the last one, shall we?"
She rolled her eyes at Malfoy's voice. "Why, pray tell, should I do that?" she asked with a sigh as she looked at him.
"Oh, I don't know, you owe it to me, after you did what you did."
"You provoked me!" she argued hotly, but felt a smidge of guilt, and Malfoy saw it on her face.
He laughed. "Now you have to board the last one with me."
She looked at him questioningly, then cursed as she heard the carriage pull away. She and Malfoy were the only two students left.
She pushed past him and sat in the carriage; he sat across from her.
She couldn't help but notice that on one hand, his fingers were red and slightly swollen. Ella cringed and couldn't help apologizing.
"Oh, now you're sorry?" Malfoy asked, cynical. His silver-gray eyes glinted with amusement. "Don't worry, no need to apologize, Madame Pomfrey with fix it up as soon as we get to the castle." He gave a smile, but it was a cruel one that made Adrielle worry.
They spent the rest of the ride to the castle in silence, each sneaking glances. Hers were full of suspicion, and his had the expression of a cat, a cat that knew he had the mouse trapped and worried.
When the carriage finally pulled up to the castle, Malfoy got off first, and he offered a hand to Adrielle, who cautiously took it. He helped her down, then jabbed her in the stomach with his wand.
"Ow! What was that for?" She asked, clutching her stomach. It felt, weird, tingling from where the wand made contact.
"You'll see," he said mysteriously, then stalked up to the castle.
Ella quickly lifted the hem of her shirt, but it was too dark to see anything. She shook off her worries and walked into the great hall, sitting at the Gryffindor table, in between Mindry and Harry, across from Fred, George, and Hermione, while Ron was on the other side of Harry.
What a weird first day… she thought, and grabbed a platter of rice, filling her plate with food. Man, was she hungry.