A/N: Hey guys, I know, it has been forever since I last wrote anything for this website so I decided to write some ideas that have been bouncing around in my head that just wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote them down. It's slightly AU, but I am sure you'll all enjoy it!
Summary: There's a new girl here at Hogwarts. Who is she? Why is she here? Could there be something brewing between her and Ron? Sorry to all of you Ron/Hermione fans, not this time. But there is some Harry/Ginny more than friendship. Read and Review!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that has to do with the Harry Potter series, but Madie is mine!
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"Umm… Excuse me. I'm… umm… looking for Hermione Granger. I… umm… I'm not sure where to find her." The girl asked Ron, extremely close to being completely hopeless of ever finding this Hermione Granger girl.
As Ron looked at her, be began to be reminded of someone but couldn't quite put a finger on it. This girl had to have been at least a year younger than he and stood at the most no higher than 5'2. She had dark auburn hair that fell into curls just below her shoulders. She had an olive skin tone and beautiful, bright hazel eyes. But as he looked closer, under her bright eyes were barely noticeable dark rings; resembling that of someone who had not gotten enough sleep or maybe of someone who had just previously been rather upset about something. In her small hands she was holding a piece of paper with loads of writing on it and a picture of a girl on it. Surprisingly, she handed it to him.
"Here's a picture of her if you don't know what she looks like. The headmaster, what was his name again? Oh right! Dumbledore, wasn't it? Anyways, he told me that I'd find her in the Gryffindor common room, be he seemed to forget that I have no idea where to find that either."
It had just hit him that she had an American accent. But only seconds after his realization, did he remember that he had not said a word to the small flustered girl.
"Oh, that's okay. I don't really need a picture of her. See, Hermione happens to be one of my best friends, so today's your lucky day, ummm…"
"Oh! I'm sorry. I'm Madie."
"Well, nice to meet you Madie. I'm Ron."
As they were walking up the staircase to the Gryffindor tower, Ron asked Madie, "So, Madie, what brings you all the way here? I mean you are obviously looking for Hermione, but you're American aren't you? How come you're so eager to meet her?
"It's a very long and tiring story but I'll try to make it basic. First, I'm not American. I'm Canadian. Not to worry though, you're not the first to ask me that since I've come here." Sensing another question she added, "I've only been here in England for about a month and a half. Now just a little over two months ago I got an urgent letter sent to me at Salem; it's a school just like this one except it's only about four hundred years old; informing me that my mother died from a car accident and I was to leave school immediately to attend her funeral."
Pityingly, Ron put a hand on her shoulder. "Oh, I'm sorry Madie."
"Don't be. She was cruel to me ever since she found out that I was a witch. After the funeral, I was told that on my mother's death bed she told the doctor to make sure that I was sent to live with my aunt and uncle in Surrey, England. So, I was flown over to Surrey to live with them and after a few days they told me that I had a cousin just a year older than me who was also a witch. So, long story short, they spent over a month sorting things out so I could go here and continue my education. So," she sighed. Obviously this was not the first time she had told this story, "Here I am looking for my cousin, Hermione."
"Wow. You're… you're Hermione's cousin? So you must be a fifth year then right?"
"Yep. You're a sixth year?"
"Yeah. Well, here we are." Said Ron as they reached the top step. In front of them now was giant portrait of a rather large woman.
"Hey there Weasley, who's the girl? She can't be a Gryffindor; I would've seen her before."
"The girl," piped-up Madie. "Was just sorted in Dumbledore's office forty-five minutes ago. I am indeed a Gryffindor."
"Well then, I guess you are. Weasley, password?"
"Lime snappers."
"You can go in now." And the portrait swung open, revealing an entrance to what Madie assumed was the Gryffindor common room. As the portrait closed behind them, Ron began showing her around. He pointed out where the girls' chambers where and then he introduced her to the few Gryffindors that were in the common room. They all greeted her warmly and then went back to their normal business like before they had entered the room. Ron went over to Lee Jordan and asked if he had seen Harry and Hermione and he told him that Hermione was last seen in the library studying for the next Ancient Runes test and Harry was in the Owlery visiting Hedwig.
"Hey, Ron." Said Ginny. "Hey, umm… wait a minute; I don't think I've met you before. Who are you?"
Madie quickly recognized that the ginger girl standing in front of her had to have been undoubtedly Ron's sister. And younger by the looks of it. But instead of waiting for Madie's reply, she spoke once more.
"You know, I don't know why, but you remind me of someone but I can't quiet put a finger on it. Ron, doesn't she look like someone we know?"
But before Ron could speak, Madie decided to speak for him.
"Like Hermione, perhaps?"
"Yeah! Now that I think of it, you do! Wait, how do you know Hermione?"
"Well, I don't know her, know her, but I just sort of figured that if I'm related to her, I should probably look just a bit like her. Her parents said that I do resemble her a bit."
"Related? How?"
"I'm her cousin."
Just then, the Fat Lady's portrait swung open and Harry walked in just in time to hear Madie's last statement.
"Who's cousin?" Harry asked when he saw Madie.
"Hermione's." Madie and Ron said at once.
"Really? Well, I guess that would explain the umm…" he said as he trailed off.
"Resemblance." This time it was Ginny and Madie's turn to speak at once.
Madie decided now would be a good idea to let the two arrivals know about how she came to be here and once she came to the end Ron could tell Madie was beginning to tire of her story but knew she had at least one more person to tell it to.
"Well," said Ron. "Now that they know who you are, it's time you got to know these two. This," he said as he motioned to Ginny. "Is my little sister, Ginny. And this," he was now motioning to Harry. "Is Harry Potter. He's my best friend as well as Hermione's."
Madie replied with a small 'hi' but was feeling a bit uncomfortable seeing as it seemed like she had met everyone important in her cousin's life, but had yet to meet her. Ginny, apparently was also uncomfortable in the awkward silence, decided to ask Madie a few questions.
"You know, Madie, you're probably the first one I've ever seen that hasn't batted an eye when introduced to Harry. Why is that?"
"Well, for one thing, where I'm from Harry isn't known so much. Being as we are on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, we don't hear a whole lot of your typical wizarding news. Not to worry though," Madie said, looking straight at Harry. "I have heard of you. I just figured you probably get enough attention here and probably don't need anymore coming from me. I wouldn't like it if I was in your place."
Harry gave Madie a grateful look.
"If you're mother died, how come you aren't living with your father?" Harry asked.
"That ungrateful git left my mother at the first sign of trouble. Trouble meaning my mother found out she was pregnant and he left." After a slight pause she added, "Somehow he got the idea that since they weren't married, he could leave if he couldn't handle the responsibility."
All this time, Ron couldn't keep his eyes off of Madie. He was transfixed by the way the sun was able to show the bits of red strands in her auburn curls and loved how her eyes seemed to pierce him deeply whenever she looked into his eyes. That was something he loved about her from the moment he saw those eyes; no matter who she was talking to, she always looked them right in the eye. It sort of reminded him of a bolder Hermione. Hermione was one to rather burry her face in books than constantly look people in the eye. She was witty and bold when she needed to be, but if she had it her way she'd be in her favorite corner with one of her favorite books of monumental size. Madie on the other hand seemed to be one of those that are only timid when they are around nobody they know and she was beginning to fade out of that as she seemed to be getting used to him. He could see that her timid side wore off after thirty minutes of him being there.
But it wasn't long before Ron noticed that she was getting a bit fidgety and figured he should maybe take her down to the library himself so she could meet Hermione. Ron knew Hermione well enough at this point to know that it could be hours before she returned to the common room I she was studying in the library.
"Well, Madie, now that you've met the gang I think it's time you went down to the library to meet that lovely cousin of yours. Knowing 'Mione it could be hours before you meet her if we wait here. Harry, Ginny, I guess I'll see you both at dinner."
"Wait, where are you going?" asked Harry.
"Madie is new to this school and wouldn't even know where to begin to look for the library." Madie was about to protest when Ron stopped her. "Now, now. Don't you look so disappointed, Madie, you're going to have to get used to the idea of me showing you around the school."
Giving him a playful pout, Madie followed him out of the portrait hole.
"What's gotten into him?" Ginny asked.
"I have an idea that he's using a bit of Weasley charm." Harry said giving Ginny a knowing look.
