Foreign Affairs:

~Before I begin, I just want to let you know that this story has some original chars in it. The first one is Michael Spinnet of Hufflepuff. He's Alicia Spinnet's older, twin brother. The second one's Chad DaFunk, in Slytherin. He's not related to anyone from the books, he's just someone that I made up off the top of my head. The third and last original os Jason Turnner, a Ravenclaw boy. He's Cho Chang's cousin. Cedric Didgery is somewhat like the Cedric from the book, but not. You'll have to read the story to find out what I mean. ((Yes, I did mean to spell Didgery like that. I didn't want to use the last name Diggory.))~

Platfrom nine and three quarters was alive with students, new and old; teachers; parents; and lovers, all bustling around the gleaming scarlet Hogwarts Express. Rain splattered down on the roof of the station, the simple sound dying into the noise of speach and laughter.

Picked out against the hustle of bodies, Michael Spinnet stood by the train, his arm drapped casually around Katie Bell's waist. The couple were conversing in light cheery tones with another couple of school chums. Chad DaFunk and Hermione Granger. All four were going into their third years at Hogwarts, and had been inseperatable since day one of their first years. They, and a few other people, were all connected by the valuable bonds of friendship.

Casually Michael caught a glance at the gold watch on his wrist, and surpressed a frusterated sigh. The clock was ticking, and still no sign of the newest member. If the boy didn't show up soon he would miss the train, and would have to find a new way to a school he had never been to before.

"Still keeping an eye out for the pen-pal Mike?"

Chuckling, Michael nodded to the curious Chad. "He should have been here by now. This train leaves soon, and I want to be sure he's on it."

"Oh Michael," giggled Katie, "you worry too much. I'm sure he'll be here soon. The express doesn't leave for another ten minutes, but most likely it'll be late due to this nasty weather we're having. Give him some time."

"Yeah." Agreed Hermione. "And in that time you can tell us a little about him. I don't know about anyone else around here but I'm rather curious to know about him. You hardly spoke of him at all last year."

Michael opened his mouth to protest, but seeing the three others nod their heads in agreement, forced the thought from his mind. True he had spoken small to his friends in regards to his long-distance pen-pal, but that was due to the fact he knew not what to say about the other. Even now, Michael couldn't find the right words to say. After a moment of awkward silence, he puffed some air out through his cheeks, and brushed some of his sandy-blonde hair from his hazel eyes.

"He's a transfer student from a magic school in Central America, across the Atlantic Ocean. Very flamboyent person, with his own style. He's never lacking in words and not afraid to speak his mind. He's a musician but I can't remember what he plays."

"Bass guitar Mike." Commented a voice to the left of Katie.

All eyes turned to the speaker, and widened in amazement. The speaker was a young boy, no older then thirteen. His neatly styled hair was as black as the nightly heavens on a country road, his tonned skin olive in colour and darkly tanned. He was dressed in the most unusual fashion of a midnight blue silk ruffled dress shirt, unbuttoned half-way down to his waist, with an open black velvet vest over it. The shirt was tucked into a pair of black slacks, a leather belt resting on his lean hips. A heavy-looking gold chain hung around his neck, a matching skull and crossbone pendent hanging from it. In one hand he carried a guitar case. A pair of black shades hid his eyes from view.

"Well," recovered Michael from the shock, "about time you showed. I was beginning to wonder. Meet the first half of the gang, and you can meet the rest when they arrive. Chad DaFunk, his girlfriend Hermione Granger; and my own beloved Katie Bell."

The newcommer nodded to each as they were respectivly introduced, then much to everyone's surprise dropped into an exstravagent sweeping bow.

"Pleasure to meet you. Cedric N. C. Didgery at your service."

There was a quick moment of silence, broken by Chad.

"That was unexpected and well placed. Drilled routine or force of habit?"

A playful smirk crossed Cedric's face as he straightened himself. "Neither. More a sign of owning respect."

The puzzled looks on his friend's faces brought a light chuckle from Michael.

"The clock hasn't slowed, and now we have been joined by our last member, I suggest we take our places on the train before it departs without us. Is your luggage already on board Cedric?"

"You bettcha."

Together the four old friends and thier new-found one made their way to a claimed compartment, and settled in for the long train ride.

The rolling countryside and other scenery amazed Cedrc, and kept him occupied when then conversation got dull. Many times he was introduced to others of the school, but the introductions were always brief and never formal. For the most part, the boy was quiet, lost in the world of what he used to know. Thankfully everyone around him noticed his inner concentration, and for the most part, let him be.

For everyone else, the journey was passed in the most enjoyable of ways. Laughter and giggles followed every conversation, each consisting of widely spread topics. Hermione followed them, politly, but like Cedric her thoughts were elsewhere. There was something about the newbie that irritated her, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it. He was smooth, polished, and classy. Perhaps he was too smooth, too polished, too classy? Ice blue eyes narrowing in mis-trust, she glanced over to the silent object of her darkened thoughts. Was there something hidden deep down that he kept away? Did this seemingly perfect stone have a flaw that could shatter is? If it did, the flaw was certinally not on the outside.

"No." She thought silently. "He's easy on the eyes. Whatever it is, it's under the skin."

Perhaps it was time for her to do some digging around...