Prudence sat alone in her train compartment patiently. She wasn't exactly sure what she should be feeling at the moment.
In a moment of panic, it seemed her grandfather had decided that Hogwarts School was the safest place that she could be...
That meant no more fantastic studying abroad, no more traveling to the world's most exotic locations, and certainly no more learning from the world's most gifted wizards and witches...she was being locked up...
On the upside, she had always wondered about normal schooling. What would it be like to sit in an actual classroom? With classmates her age?
A noisy clatter had informed Prudence that the rest of Wizarding England was now boarding the train, she could hear the loud students lumbering down the hall. Not long now and one would be opening her compartment door looking for space.
"Hullo?"
Prudence smiled at the two small, tentative girls looking at her with wide eyes. "Come on in," she told them, "there's plenty of room." It was adorable the way their eyes lit up with excitement as they scrambled inside.
First years; Kya and Lula.
The train had lurched forward and the billowing smoke chimney had begun flying past their window. Pru smiled again as she watched the small girls yell from the window to their frantically waving parents. It didn't bother her at all that there wasn't anyone out there waving her goodbye, she was accustomed to it.
"I guess we can all be first years together," Pru told the girls once they were chugging well on their way. She wasn't surprised, but amused, by their wide eyes of confusion. "It's true, I've never been to Hogwarts either."
"Really?" Kya asked, still not believing her.
"Really." Pru smiled as she nodded her head 'yes.'
The rumors spread quickly on a train filled with children and teenagers that the Minister of Magic's granddaughter, Prudence Scrimgeour was attending Hogwarts.
Draco's eyes narrowed at the stuttering third year currently telling Blaise that she was a veela, or something, the boy couldn't speak to her, he froze.
Pansy cackled loudly in disbelief, "Get, this little liar away from me Blaise."
Before Blaise could shoo the boy away Theo's voice reverberated deeply, "She is quite beautiful, unbelievably so."
The small group of seventh year Slytherins looked at their quiet friend perched in the corner.
"You met her?" Pansy snided, already offended at the thought of there being another girl in the school she has to compete with.
Theo's thin lips curved into knowing smirk, assuring her the new girl was very real.
Pansy's eyes narrowed as she scoffed, how pretty could she be?
Prudence did her very best to ignore the open stares and glances she was getting as she wandered through Hogsmeade Station. The colors of the school uniforms were everywhere screaming red, yellow, blue, and green...and there she stood in black and white. She wasn't scared, or nervous (those weak emotions were quite beneath her), but she was annoyed.
"PRUDENCE SCRIMGEOUR?" a booming voice hollered over the students.
Sweeet Merlin, how embarrassing. Prudence stood still just a moment to keep the eyes that were searching for her clueless. After a second she made her way to the hairy half giant that grinned down on her jovially.
"Prudence?!" he exclaimed.
"Yes!" she hollered in a whisper, asking with her eyes for him to keep in down a bit.
Hagrid understood and nodded his head a bit dramatically with a wink, "Prudence?" he whispered this time.
"Yes, I am Prudence."
He smiled a satisfied grin and then told her, "Seein' as to how yer new an' all, you get a choice. Ride the carriages o' the boat?"
"Does it matter?"
He seemed put off by her surely response, "Well o' course it does! If you-"
"The boat! The boats fine!" She just wanted the stares of all the surrounding students to stop!
Of course, she was not informed that only the first year's rode in the boats...but she was happy to watch the eye's of her two new little friends light up in awe as the glowing castle loomed in the near distance. She was also quite impressed...
Professor McGonagall addressed all the children outside the doors of the Great Hall and ended by smiling at the out of place teenager politely. She ushered all the children inside and then held up one hand to halt Prudence.
"I do apologize dear, about being with all the young children, but you must be sorted."
"I understand Professor," Pru told her with a smile.
"Then fall in line dear."
Pru felt a bit ridiculous as she entered the Great Hall doors completely alone. Literally every set of eyes were upon her as her heels clacked loudly along the floor until she was in line behind the children. She did her best to keep her face normal and not seemed annoyed...which she was. She felt very singled out. She could feel them all staring at her, scrutinizing her...she had never been in a school before.
A blush warmed Pru's cheeks once she noticed Professor Dumbledore waiting patiently for her to be behind the others.
Draco was entirely too amused by all the scrunched faces of the females around him. A few smiled and some even out right glared, but every one of them had a reaction to the stunning creature that just entered the hall. Theo was right, she was beautiful. She had long, thick, dark hair that cascaded down her back and bright caramel eyes with pouty pink lips.
His eyebrow quirked when he noticed her lips were pouting slightly, she was embarassed. From her face alone he was very aware he wanted to see more.
Pansy glared at the new girl and then over at Draco. He was staring at the girl. Although his face seemed stoic she could see the way his eyes danced.
This was it. This was Pansy's final chance to convince Draco that they were meant to be together. Her entire life she has worked toward becoming his pure blood wife and joining the Malfoy's and Parkinson's into a powerful Wizarding force. She had to make him her's...and this new bitch would not be fucking up her plans.
The line of small children had dwindled considerably. Any moment now and Prudence would be called upon to place the hat on her head. She hoped that she would be sorted into Ravenclaw, that is where her two small friends now sat. Although Hufflepuff and Gryffindor would be satisfactory as well... But Slytherin is a house she wanted nothing to do with. She had never heard one good thing about the infamous house.
Prudence took a deep breath as she walked forward to the stool where she was meant to sit and order to be sorted. Looking over the crowd of students that watched her carefully and whispered about her fervently was hardly her main focus as she felt the heavy, but soft hat be plopped upon her head.
"Well, well...a Scrimgeour...ahh..."
Pru fought to roll her eyes again, as the legendary hat mumbled in her ear. She was started and almost fell from the stool when the hat hollered louldy in excitment.
"What!" Pru asked, worried something might be wrong.
But the hat did not answer, in fact it took what seemed like eons for it to finally whipser with full confidence, "Slytherin."
"Slytherin?" She hollered in offence, but the hat was now gone and she was being ushered toward the sinister sea of green on the far right of the hall.
How? Why? Why Slytherin Pru screamed in her head! They were devious, full of the offspring of Death Eaters and above all, most likely all Purist.
Pansy felt sick.
Prudence was cautious to say the least as she took a seat at the end of her house table. The faces that greeted her were mixed, some scowled, while others (the young children), smiled cheekily.
Why Slytherin?!
The children did not seem shy to study her openly through out Professor Dumbledore's speech. One young man who sat directly across from her shamelessly staring at her until she finally lost her nerve and clipped, "What? What do you want?"
"You are very pretty."
She immediately felt bad and softened her features, "oh, well, thank you. James is it?"
"Yes," he replied not looking away.
"Of course, James, thank you." She nodded at him polity and did her best to just eat. Apparently James simple break through to her was enough for the rest of the children to try and do the same...
"Is your daddy the Minister?"
"Where did you go to school before?"
"Do you like butterbeer? I love butterbeer!"
Pru felt the sour mood she acquired from feeling ostracized and sorted into her least favorite house begin to ebb, she couldn't be mean, they were just children.
Draco noticed from down the table how all the little buggers had taken an immediate liking to her. He hated to even think of something so preposterous, but her felt there may be something very special about her.
"Now, now, let's give some room to breathe" A blonde girl had taken a seat beside Pru, who she was very happy to see was her own age. "Hi, I'm Daphne."
Pru felt elated, "Finally, someone my own age! Hi, I'm Pru."
Pansy felt even queasier. Daphne Greengrass, Pansy's ex best friend, has extended her hand to the new girl. It was now very apparent in Pansy's mind that this girl would indeed be a thorn in her side.
"Jealous?" Blaise drawled, amused with Pansy's pinched face.
"No!" Pansy snapped.
"Then how come I can practically feel the anger radiating from your body?" Draco asked her with just as much amusement.
Pansy fumed, unable to keep her eyes from the two laughing girls that looked as if they've been friends forever, "Just shut up!"
Daphne seemed like a really nice girl, easy to talk to and honest. She escorted Pru out of the hall arm in arm filling her in on as much as possible with in the short distance between the hall and their dungeon dorms. Pru was happy to admit that Daphne actually felt comfortable, they had a mutual ease between them that made their instant friendship feel natural.
Daphne had gladly answered all Pru's question with blunt honesty and then followed up with her own personal commentary, giving Pru a few laughs. They shared a mutual sense of humor...maybe this wasn't going to be so bad.
"So what you're telling me is that you're just too cool for school?" Pru asked playfully.
Daphne didn't even skip a beat before she replied back dryly, "Yep."
They were close to the common room, tailing the youngest students, when the Slytherin House Professor, Professor Snape, appeared before them.
He gave Daphne a curt nod before he focused his attention of Pru, "Miss Scrimgeour."
"Professor Snape," Pru nodded politely.
For a very brief moment it seemed the Professor's eyes bulged in surprise that she knew and recognized him already. "I just want to welcome you to our Slytherin House. I will be your House Professor and I am here to provide any guidance if need be."
"Of course Professor, thank you."
He nodded as a sign of welcome and continued, "Your belongings are in your bunk, Miss Greengrass will show you the way."
Daphne gave a nod as the Professor billowed away then elbowed Pru, "Ooo, I think he liked you."
"Oh shut up!"
Draco also took notice of the immediate bond that she formed with Daphne. He had always liked Daphne, she were a level headed girl, so if that was any indication as to how the new girl is than it was a good one. It also added to his amusement how spitting mad it made the Pug. He could tell by the puce color that Pansy's face had taken since they left the Great Hall that she was already plotting in her head to destroy the poor new girl.
He sat down in his rightful wing backed chair in front of the hearth to watch all the faces transform whenever the new girl entered the room. He could see all the males gears turning in their heads, wondering what the beautiful creature hid beneath that cloak. His people watching didn't last long because Daphne had taken Prudence directly to their dorm.
The two girls sat on Pru's bed unpacking when Pru finally decided to ask, "So honestly, they're not all that bad are they?" She meant the Slytherin House.
Daphne scrunched up her face as if disgusted for admitting it, "Well...no, some of them are alright."
"Which ones...?"
Daphne rolled her eyes, "Well Draco is a decent enough guy and Blaise is..." she growled then, frustrated with how to finish,"Blaise can be a charming guy...if you like that crap..."
Pru had a feeling that maybe Blaise was a touchy subject.
"Theo's a nice guy, Crabbe and Goyle may as well be statues..."
"What about the girls?"
Daphne outright snickered then, "Nope, all of them are crazy, at least all the seventh years..."
Pru didn't doubt her new friends assessments.
"...They all follow around pug faced Pansy like she's some sort of leader, it's ridiculous..."
"Has it always been like that?" Pru queried.
Pru couldn't help noticing the bit of forlorn that passed Daphne's features, "No, not always, we use to be friends, but I don't need terrible friends like her..."
Pru didn't like the turn in conversation that bummed Daphne out so she asked, "So which one is Draco?"
Daphne's eyes bulged with excitement, "A...the ridiculously hot blonde, next to the equally hot dark Italian..."
Pru felt her laughter bubble in her chest, "Ridiculously hot huh? I need to pay more attention." Daphne was about to elaborate when a mousy girl with glasses entered the room and came toward them.
"Yes Penny?" Daphne asked a bit annoyed.
The girl pursed her lips, like she would rather be anywhere else than there and handed over a parchment, "From Blaise." Then she were gone.
Daphne had to smirk as she unwrapped the paper, "This should be good...Dearest Daph, oh please...Dearest Daph," she continued reading dramatically, "The rest of us seventh years were just wondering if you were going to keep Prudence all to yourself or be a dear and bring her down to share. I know you're filling her head with all those ludicrous opinions of yours, so just come down and say hello...Stupid Blaise! He thinks he's so charming..."
"Is he...?"
Daphne grumbled, annoyed with herself, "...sorta..."
Prudence followed Daphne down the stairs to where she could see a group of the oldest Slytherins lounging around the fire hearth. Of course they were all once again watching her carefully, scrutinizing her. She could pick out the two guys Daph told her about, the hot blonde, the charming Italian, the surely pug face...all just staring at her.
"Everyone," Daph drawled in a bored tone, "this is Prudence."
Draco watched her smile politely and nod "hello," she was not at all intimidated by them and he found that incredibly intriguing. It seemed almost harsh to look at her up close, he bright eyes and smooth skin were practically glowing and her pouty pink lips were quirked into amusement...at them! He was delighted to see she had left her cloak and now all she wore was an untucked white shirt over a small pleated skirt with slippers. He could definitely tell that she wore her skirt slightly shorter that other girls, which suited him just fine because she had long, lean, and beautifully tan legs. Sweet Merlin, yes she were gorgeous.
Pru raised a brow as the two that Daph had mentioned stood to their feet to greet her as the others watched skeptically.
First Blaise took her hand and placed a kiss upon it, "Prudence, it is a pleasure, I am Blaise Zabini." She could hear Daphne scoff beside her. She watched the handsome olive toned man raise his eyes to Daphne and smile a dazzling white smile, "Would you like a kiss as well?"
Pansy felt her insides begin to boil as she watched Draco do the same as Blaise and place a kiss on her hand.
"Calm down," Millie whispered to Pansy as discreet as she could. Pansy didn't realize she was almost squealing.
"And this," Blaise waved his arm to the remaining seated students, "...are Crabbe, Goyle, Theo, that's Pansy, Millie and Penny."
"Nice to meet you all," Pru smiled at them politly, even though they seemed not to agree there was anything nice about it.
Draco had to smirk at her obvious amusement with her not-so-friendly welcome. Then she turned back to him, a spark in her eye.
Now that Prudence was able to get a good look at Draco's face up close she was almost certain that she had met him before. He arched an eyebrow as if asking, 'yes?'
"It's just...you remind me of a boy that I once knew, a very long time ago...is your mother Cissy?"
Draco looked back at her a bit strange, it was incredibly rare he came across anyone who would call his mother that outside his family, "...yes..." He watcher her sly smile spread as she told him excitedly, "My mother was Lenore! Her and Cissy were best friends as children! I knew you looked familiar...DD."
A genuine smile graced Draco's lips as he looked at the gorgeous girl that he once took baths with, "Well isn't that brilliant..."
Pansy felt the scream bubbling in her throat. They knew each other!? She watched with vile loathing as the dumb twat batted her eyelashes at him and Millie began squeezing her arm.
"You've grown up well Draco."
"As have you."
Pru knew she wore a goofy grin, but she couldn't help it, she hadn't met a cute boy in a long time.
Daphne's groan echoed through the room, "Alright, OK, you've all met her now, so can all the fake theatrics stop?"
"That wasn't so bad," Pru told Daphne once they had made it back to their room.
"Yeah, looks like Draco has a thing for you, he never smiles like that."
"No," Pru shot back, "He was just being po-"
"No! He was just being flirty."
Pru rolled her eyes. She didn't want to waste her time on things like boys already, "Shut up...so what's the deal with Pansy's red face?"
"Oh Merlin," Daph rolled onto her back lazily, "She's madly in love with Draco, always has been..."
They continued talking late into the night, Daphne filling her in as much as she could.
A/N- I use the word Purist, it just makes sense to me to call muggleborn haters that...
Also, I have this story finished, it's just a matter of getting it typed and edited, but I'm always open to feedback :)
Please don't take this too seriously, it's written out of fun and gets a little crazy and some what AU.