Stranger
Lucy Skylark and I began chatting at the Gryffindor table. A new student was starting late in the term and was just about to get sorted.
"isn't this exciting?" Lucy bubbled " I know. They haven't told us if its a boy or a girl yet. It better be a boy!" I grinned "Clo! Is that all you think about?" she laughed, mocking exasperism "Chloe Dealiy, would it hurt to act a little more maturely?" Hermione Granger butted in. "Oh get the pole out of your backside and enjoy yourself. Your just bitter because your CRAP at Quidditch. And Lucy and I are on the team" I smarmed. Lucy bust out laughing as Hermione turned away in disgust. Fred Weasley winked at me and I blushed scarlet.
Soon the hubbub steeled down as Prof. McGonagall brought out the sorting hat. The new girl stepped out form behind one of the plush velvet curtains. She had blonde hair that reached her shoulders, big brown eyes and braces. She was quite small and almost delicate looking.
"Shawnie Riddle" she called. People burst into chatter. Riddle? That was you-know-who's surname! What if that girl had powers? Dark arts powers? I turned round to face Lucy, who simply raised her eyebrows, and my friend Hallie mouthed "Slytherin" at me. Shawnie Riddle stepped up to the seat rather timidly and placed the fraying hat on her head. The students watched with bated breath. Everything was silent. After what seemed like a year we heard the cry of "GRYFFINDOR!". GRYFFINDOR? But she was, well, you know...
Our table clapped, obviously suprised, while the Slytherins looked disappointed. "Hi! The names Chloe Dealiy. But you can call me Clo. Everyone else does!" I smiled. "Hi. Umm, can I sit with you and your friends?" she enquired, more confidently than I had expected. "sure" Lucy said, and moved up so she could sit between us. At the very end of the table, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger glared at Shawnie suspiciously.
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We ate dinner hardly speaking, except to ask Shawnie about herself. Turns out that she used to be in an orphanage, she has a cat names Faery, and has only seen her father once since she was put into care.
Me, Lucy, Hallie, Shawnie and my other friend Emily all walked upstairs together to our dorms. Emily muttered "looks like our group of four is going to be a five"in my ear, blatantly displeased at the fact that w were opening up our clique to another member. Especially to someone with such a suspicious name.
Shawnie magically unpacked her bags, quickly waving her wand and muttering. This girl is no beginner at magic. All five of us climbed into our beds, bidding a quick goodnight. Hallie and Lucy were very quick to start sleeping, I could tell this from their quiet snoring, while I lay awake for some time. Emily whispered something about being uncomfortable about "this new girl" to me. I didn't answer. Soon I heard muffled sniffs coming form Shawnies bed. She had heard everything. It wasn't right what Emily had been saying. I padded over to Shawnie and put my arm around her.
"This is really hard for me" she sobbed "and you've all guessed by now that I'm Voldemorts' child. Please dont judge me on that. I'm nothing like him." "How are we supposed to trust you" Emily started. I glared at her. "oh, well, we'll give it a go" she agreed reluctantly, gave Shawnie a hug before going back to her bed.
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"Must you arrive so late girls? 35 points form Gryffindor. Now sit down" Snape sneered. And of course, Hermione was smirking. NO wonder she had so few friends. "Right children. Today we are going to attempt to make the Cavendish potion. Turn to page 35. NO, who can tell me what this potion is used for?" to out suprise, Shawnies hand was first to shoot up. "Please, sir, The Cavendish potion is used for feeding dragons. If mixed wrong, can cause the growth of scales on human skin. In 1742 Globinda Gotsworth discovered this by accident." Both Hermione and Snape's jaw dropped.