Chapter 1 The Hogwarts Express
Sapphire Grimshaw stepped through the stone wall at King's Cross Railway Station and onto platform 9 ¾ alone, unlike most of the other students. Her mother was a Death Eater (followers of the most powerful dark wizard of them all, Lord Voldemort) and they were most unwelcomed by wizards and witches, for good reason too. They murdered anyone who stood in their way of restoring the wizarding world to how it should be; run by pure-bloods. The believed muggles and mudbloods were below them, not worthy of being a witch or wizard. Sapphire was a true pure-blood, one of very few. It didn't matter to her but to her mother it meant the world. Her father was murdered when she was seven, by Alastor 'Mad Eye' Moody, an Auror. Although she had never been close to her father, him being completely heartless, she sought to destroy the man who killed her father.
Sapphire continued to walk down the freezing cold platform until she reached a door, leading to a carriage on The Hogwarts Express. She hauled her trunk up onto the first step and dropped it, unable to move it anymore. She was short and weak, her hands red and sore. She looked around the platform, no porters were in sight to help. A family of five boys and a woman were stood not too far away, all red haired, but one who had mousy hair. They must be the Weasleys; they were quite famous for their group of red headed children. The woman, who Sapphire guessed to be the mother, Mrs Weasley, was shouting at the two tallest boys, they were identical, in matching home-made jumpers and bowl-cut hair. Sapphire couldn't clearly make out what Mrs Weasley was saying, all she could hear was "explosions...donkey...burning." Sapphire had heard about the Weasley's, their father, Arthur Weasley, worked for the Ministry of Magic.
The mousy haired boy spotted Sapphire's distress and jogged up to her, "Here, I'll take that."
"Oh no, really, it's far too heavy," Sapphire replied.
"It's fine really. Ron, come over and help," the boy called over to the smallest red haired boy, who came trudging over, looking far from impressed. Together they heaved the trunk up the steps and onto the train. Ron seemed to struggle, making strange moaning noises. Sapphire walked passed carriage after carriage , seeing the odd familiar face and being pushed into the walls as students ran to hug their friends they hadn't seen since last term. She eventually found a free carriage and called down the train to the boys, who were restlessly dragging the trunk across the carpet.
"I'm Jamie Weasley by the way," the mousy haired boy reported. "This is my cousin Ron."
"Alright," said Ron, looking awkwardly at his feet, his face slightly flustered.
"Thank you," she replied, pushing her trunk under her seat, "I'm Sapphire Grimshaw." She saw the look of fright in Ron's eyes instantly. The name Grimshaw haunted her; no one wanted to know her when they heard the name.
Jamie seemed to dismiss it quickly. It's only a name, he thought as he followed Sapphire into the carriage. Ron grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Did you not hear her?" Ron questioned in a hushed tone. "She's a Grimshaw."
"Oh come on Ronald, she's eleven," Jamie whispered back, raising an eyebrow. "She's hardly going to kill you."
Sapphire sat down next to the window, looking down at the crying families waving through the windows and hugging their children goodbye. Jamie sat down opposite her and Ron squirmed in the furthest corner away from her, keeping his eyes glued to the floor. They sat in silence for a minute or so until Jamie broke it, "So, did you do much in the holidays?" he asked cheerfully.
"No, not really. My mother was away on business, so I was left in the care of our butler."
"Business," Ron scoffed.
"Sorry, did you say something?"
"No, nothing," he looked back down at the floor terrified.
Sapphire dismissed Ron's bizarre behaviour. Perhaps he had mental problems, best not to mention anything, she thought. "How about yourself?"
"Me, oh not much. I was staying at Aunt Molly's for the most part, stuck in Ron's room I was. My parents have enough at home, nine siblings," Jamie replied.
The Weasley's had a reputation for their big families, but Sapphire thought Arthur and Molly Weasley's were the biggest, she had never even heard of Jamie and his clan.
They were shortly joined by a bewildered looking girl. She had a short black bob with bright blue tips and heavy eyeliner; she looked a lot older than she was.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" She asked, pointing towards the empty space next to Sapphire.
"Not at all, please do," Sapphire replied. She proceeded to introduce herself, purposely leaving out her surname, "I'm Sapphire."
"I'm Erin Wood," she smiled.
"Wood?" Ron asked his face lighting up, "As in Oliver Wood?"
"Yes. Do you know him?" Erin look puzzled, gazing at Ron with a suspicious look on her face.
"Of course!" Ron almost screamed at her, "Wood is the best captain Gryffindor has seen in years."
"Hoping for Gryffindor then are you?" Erin asked Ron.
"I'm a Weasley," he replied. Ron didn't have to say anything more; the Weasley's were all in Gryffindor.
Another boy pushed through the door, interrupting Erin before she could reply.
"Can I sit here?" He gasped, slightly out of breath. "Everywhere else is full."
"Of course," Jamie answered, making room for him between himself and Ron. They all stared at the pale boy, waiting for him to speak.
"I'm Marc. Marc Bocaurd," he said.
"Bloody hell. I know who you are!" Ron announced his eyes larger than the moon.
"Yes, everyone seems to," Marc replied, looking almost bored. Everyone introduced themselves yet again, Sapphire still dropping her surname, and taking Ron's route in looking at the floor.
Marc Boucard was born into the famous Boucard family. Each member of the Boucard family had played for the British Quidditch team.
As time went by they all seemed to relax more, Ron's eyes had progressed from the floor to the pile of food Marc had just bought him. Jamie was cracking jokes and Sapphire and Erin were discussing Erin's eyeliner which framed her grey eyes perfectly. Sapphire was the complete opposite; she had curly light blonde hair, which made her big bright blue eyes stand out like saucers, Erin was unable to take her eyes off them.
"Ronnie, see you've made friends", the two tall, identical red haired boys were standing at the carriage door. "Alright Jamie?" the other one said.
"Fine thanks, Fred, George," Jamie nodded at them.
"I'm Fred."
"I'm George."
"That's Fred."
"That's George."
"Some good looking friends as well I see," Fred said, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Erin, "Who might you be?"
"Erin" Erin replied blushing.
"Come on Fred, She's a..." George started.
"First year, I know," he replied.
"And we are ..."
"Third years. I am aware George, I wasn't born yesterday."
"Yes, I think I'd know more than anyone."
George turned to Ron, "We only stopped by to tell you to put your robes on Ronnie, we are nearly there."
Sapphire looked out of the window as the train galloped past the lush green fields, the occasional waving scarecrow and over magnificent lakes. The sun was setting, causing a gold halo to form around the hilltops.
Fred looked down at the pile of empty wrappers surrounding Ron, "Ron, remember what mum said, you don't want teeth like Scabbers."
"And who would you two be?" George asked, looking at Sapphire and Marc curiously.
"Sapphire," she answered politely.
Harry looked less pleased to introduce himself, "Marc Boucard," he said, looking at his scuffed shoes.
"Bloody," Fred started.
"Hell," George finished.
"Leave him alone, haven't you got your own friends to annoy," Ron asked.
"Yes actually, we'll be off then," George said, unable to take his eyes off Marc.
"Goodbye Jamie, Sapphire... Erin" Fred smiled, before looking over his shoulder and winking at her.
With that, they were gone, telling everyone they met on the way about meeting the famous Marc Boucard.
They group changed into their robes, just in time too as the train was coming into the station. They jumped off the train to be greeted by an enormous hairy man, Hagrid.
"First years follow me to the boats please," he bellowed.
The group climbed out of their boats. Sapphire, Erin and a girl named Zara Beckworth were in one boat, while the boys were split up into other boats. They all stood closely together, intimidated by what was awaiting them.
"Follow me!" Hagrid shouted over the top of "Wow, its huge", "I feel sick" and Ron's ever so favourite, "Bloody hell."
The first years followed Hagrid along a long winding path, leading to the castle.
"Any idea what house you want to be in?" Sapphire asked Erin, trying to break the long awkward silence.
"Not really. I don't mind, as long as it's not Slytherin," Erin laughed. Sapphire joined in nervously, knowing well that the odds of her getting into Slytherin were extremely high. Every Grimshaw had been in Slytherin meaning Sapphire was expected to be also. However, she could end up in any house, although she has been warned not to be put in Gryffindor.
"How about you?" Erin asked.
"Oh, I don't really mind either," she replied before Jamie interrupted.
"Well I mind!" he declared, "I want Ravenclaw. Perfect for my wit and intelligence," he smirked, causing the girls to laugh. "What about you Marc?" Jamie asked.
"I don't really know," he said softly, hiding the fact that he knew nothing about the houses.
"I mind too. It's Hufflepuff for me or I will refuse to stay here," Zara snapped, appearing as if by magic next to Erin.
Hagrid stopped in front, turning to face the first years. "All right," he said. "Here we are, Professor McGonagall will take you from here."
A tall, black haired witch stood forward, "Welcome to Hogwarts. Please follow me." She walked across a marbled corridor, leading to a flight of stairs. When she reached the top she stopped, behind her stood a large grand door. "The start-of-term banquet will begin soon; first you will be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." A mumble of voices ascended, discussing which house they wanted. "Your house will be your family, so treat them well," she continued, "I will return when we are ready for you, take this time to smarten yourselves up," she said, narrowing her eyes at Jamie, whose tie was still undone.
Erin and Sapphire turned to each other and fixed each other's hair while Zara helped Jamie with his tie.
"So it's true, Harry Potter is here at Hogwarts," a pale blonde boy stepped forward towards a spectacled boy stood next to Sapphire.
"Yes," Harry replied sheepishly.
"I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. This is Crabbe and Goyle," he said pointing to the two huge, angry looking boys on either side of him. "You don't want to waste your time with people like this," he continued, looking at Ron, who was stood on the other side of Harry, "I can help you Potter, some wizard families are better than others."
"I'm fine, thanks," Harry replied confidently.
"Leave him alone, Malfoy," Jamie stood tall, "We know your sort."
"Like I would choose to spend time with the likes of him anyway," Malfoy snapped back. "Sapphire, I would watch who you befriend, don't want your mother to find out, do you?" Sapphire looked down at the floor timidly; it seemed to be becoming a habit of hers.
As soon as Malfoy walked away the group turned to look at Sapphire, "You know him?" Harry asked.
"Not really, family connections," she replied, still looking down. The conversation ended there, luckily for Sapphire, as Professor McGonagall appeared.
"We are ready for you now," she told them. The grand doors behind her opened into a huge lit hall, filled with the other students and teachers. She started walking down the centre of the room, the first years following her footsteps, looking around in amazement. The ceiling was never ending, almost invisible, revealing a dark starry sky and candles floated above lighting the room. Sapphire and Erin walked hand-in-hand down the hall, nervously grinning at each other, Marc was too distracted by people pointing at him and whispering. Ron looked sick to the stomach, which wasn't helped by Fred sticking his foot out as Ron walked past, making him fall into a frizzy haired girl, who hadn't stopped talking about books since they had arrived.
They stopped just short of the teachers table at the head of the hall, staring at a scruffy looking wizard's hat which was placed on a stool.
"When I call your, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," Professor McGonagall stated. "Abbott, Hannah." A blond girl walked up and sat on the stool, Professor McGonagall placed the hat on top of her head. "Hufflepuff!" the hat suddenly shouted, making the first years jump. The table of students dressed in black and yellow robes cheered and welcomed the girl merrily.
"Bones, Susan."
"Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted again, to which the Hufflepuff table cheered loudly again as she ran off and sat down next to Hannah, looking relieved.
"Boot, Terry."
"Ravenclaw!" the table second from the left cheered, dressed in black and blue robes, as Terry shook their hands.
Another Ravenclaw was called, and then finally a Gryffindor was called which the far left table cheered wildly for.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" was next and became a Slytherin, causing the table of students dressed in black and green to applause hysterically.
"Granger, Hermione."
The frizzy haired girl ran up to the stool eagerly and pulled the hat onto her head.
"Gryffindor!" Ron looked less that pleased that he was more than likely going to be in the same house as her.
"Grimshaw, Sapphire." Sapphire walked up to the hat slowly, already knowing the outcome, she sat down on the stool, the hat placed onto her head.
"Ahh," the hat sighed. "A Grimshaw. Well, there's only one place for you, Slytherin, of course."
Sapphire looked over at Erin, half smiling, knowing there was no way Erin would end up in Slytherin. She sat down next to Millicent who turned her back to Sapphire, leaving Sapphire awkwardly sitting by herself until Draco Malfoy was called up.
"Malfoy, Draco."
Draco walked up to the hat confidently, grinning widely, the hat barely touched him, when the hat blurted out:
"Slytherin!" He walked over coolly, sitting down next to Sapphire.
"Nice to see you again Sapphire," he said, half smirking. "Looks like you won't be hanging around with those idiots then. You were always going to come back to us anyway," he added, pointing to Crabbe and Goyle, fellow Slytherins.
"They aren't idiots Draco. You'd know this if you even bothered to get to know them instead of Crabbe and Goyle, who have an IQ of one between them."
"Get to know them!" He laughed, "as if I'd spend time with a Weasley, never mind two. I expected better of you, Grimshaw. Your standards have lowered."
Draco's parents were also Death Eaters and they had known each other since birth. Their parents had been friends in their time at Hogwarts, before joining the dark side. When they were younger they were inseparable, they grew up as neighbours and best friends, until dark power got to him. Draco became obsessed with becoming more like his father, Lucius Malfoy, one of the darkest Death Eaters.
"Potter, Harry."
The room fell silent.
"Better not be with us," Draco whispered to Sapphire.
The hat seemed to take several minutes to make up its' mind, until "Gryffindor!"
Gryffindor cheered wildly; after all, they had 'The chosen one'. He ran over and sat down next to Fred, who seemed to be already telling jokes as Harry laughed.
Jamie's turn was next.
"Tennant, Jamie." He waltzed up, determined to be Ravenclaw, which paid off as the hat shouted "Ravenclaw!" almost instantly. He grinned and walked up to the applauding Ravenclaws, sitting down next to a pretty Chinese girl, Cho Chang.
A few more students went by, three in Hufflepuff, three in Gryffindor, two Slytherins and a Ravenclaw.
"Weasley, Ronald."
Ron walked up, still looking sick as all eyes were on him.
"Another Weasley, well it will have to be Gryffindor then!"
Ron looked relieved, as he walked over to sit next to Harry, being greeted by Fred, George, Percy, the eldest Weasley still left at Hogwarts, and Hermione.
There were only two people left, Erin being one of them. She fully expected to be in Gryffindor, as that was Oliver's house, not that she'd mind as nearly all of her friends were there.
"Wood, Erin." Erin walked up to the stool, surveying the room, seeing Sapphire grinning at her, catching Fred's eye and smirking and watching Jamie attempting to flirt with Cho.
"Ravenclaw!"
She was shocked, she wasn't with Oliver. It was a rare occasion that siblings were split up. However she walked over to the Ravenclaw table, greeting everyone there. At least she had Jamie, she thought to herself. She couldn't help but feel for Sapphire though; she looked over to her, catching a pathetic smile.
The last boy had gotten into Slytherin, Blaise Zabini, who was talking to Draco. Sapphire turned to the girl opposite her, Pansy Parkinson, "I'm Sapphire," she said as she held her hand out, expecting Pansy to shake it. Pansy looked disgustingly at her.
"Leave me alone!" she demanded before also turning away from her and speaking to Millicent. Sapphire looked around the table, not one face seemed friendly. She was grateful when Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, made a speech.
No one really understood what the speech was about, but it didn't matter when suddenly the tables were filled to the edge with hot food. The room gave off a happy aroma all of a sudden. Ron was especially happy, piling as much on to his plate as possible, Harry giggling as food fell out of Ron's mouth and Hermione was teaching him about manners. Erin was laughing as Jamie was getting rejected by Cho. Fred and George were whispering before slipping something onto the plate of food Neville Longbottom was eating, a boy who lost his toad on the train, causing quite a fuss and made it into Gryffindor. Suddenly Neville's face turned bright blue; the twin's were crying with laughter, the rest of the table soon joined in. Sapphire joined in, unable to take her eyes off the Gryffindor table, wishing she was over there. Millicent and Pansy looked at her as though she had grown another head; Sapphire grew silent again, placing far too many grapes in her mouth to fill the awkwardness.
Dumbledore gave a final speech when the feast had finished, reminding students to stay away from the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side.
"Now bedtime, off you go" Dumbledore said finally, signalling for the house prefects to take their first years to the common rooms.
Slytherin were last to leave the hall, more specifically Sapphire was last to leave the room, she stood at the back of the queue, tagging along at the end of Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. They walked down a flight of stairs and crept through a dimly lit corridor, reaching the dungeons.
"Now everyone listen carefully. To get into the common room, a password must be spoken, if you guess the password wrong you must wait until another wizard or witch comes along and opens it. The password is 'Pure-Blood'," the prefect called. Suddenly a passage revealed itself into the common room. The prefects walked in, followed by the first years. "Wow" was the general response.
The room was dungeon-like; lit with a slightly green tinge. The floors were a cold marble, the walls bare-brick. Sapphire got a shiver down her spine, it was freezing. The room was full of black and dark green leather couches and dark wood tables. There were skulls lined up on shelves, making her slightly uncomfortable.
"Girls dormitories on the left, boys on the right," the prefect continued. Sapphire found her dormitory; there were five four-poster beds, with dark green sheets and black draped curtains. It didn't look particularly 'snug and homely' Sapphire thought. Her trunk was already at the end of her bed, with her new uniform laid out on top in the colours of black, grey and silver. Sapphire wasn't looking forward to sleeping in the room; her roommates were Millicent, Pansy, Pamela Berry and Kyla Anderson, all of who disliked her, all of who she wasn't particularly fond of herself.