Chapter One:
The trio of imposing older students made their way down the corridor of the train. The girl was wearing long brown boots, a green dress that just reached her knees and a faux fur-rimmed brown hooded jacket that emphasised her long, straight dark brown hair, green eyes and pale, flawless alabaster skin. The two boys that were accompanying her were as different as could be, and yet similar in every way.
One had flawless pale skin, sharp features, a sculptured figure, ice blue eyes and platinum hair. He wore black pants and a deep green jumper. The other was just as tall with olive skin, black hair and brown eyes. He too wore black pants but a red shirt that only acted to emphasise his colouring.
Pansy Parkinson let out a soft sigh that caused Draco and Blaise to look her way. That sigh was so delicate that most would think it suggested that the girl was simply thinking of some parted lover, they knew from long experience however that it only meant one thing: Pansy Parkinson was pissed off. And unless they did something to let her vent, they'd be spending the next seven hours in pain.
"Oi! Pipsqueak. Move it unless you want to be spending your first week in detention with Snape." The ticked off girl sneered at the younger girl who had abruptly stepped out of a compartment and into Pansy's way.
"Sorry!" The girl squeaked as she jumped out of the way and back into her compartment where her two friends were watching with interest.
"You know, I think that we should do them a favour. Don't you Blaise?" Draco enquired with a drawl that sent shivers down the girls' spines. A favour from a Slytherin, let alone Malfoy, was certainly no favour.
Blaise Zabini moved to lean against the cabin door, causing the three girls inside to back against the windows. "I agree. They don't seem to be understanding of the proper respect and deference which is due to their superiors. Unless we help them, they may end up in serious trouble later on. What do you think Pansy?"
An evil smile had spread across Pansy's face as the boy's parring with words had occurred. Nothing would help her feel better than terrorising younger students right now. "I think you two are onto something there." Turning so that she had all three in her sights, Pansy continued. "If you happen to be so disrespectful in the future to Prefects, Heads, older students or teachers, you can expect deduction of points, detentions, the annulment of Hogsmeade trips, and numerous curses, hexes and spells that will lead to lengthy stays in the Hospital wing. We ourselves have the most extensive knowledge of hexes, spells, and curses that you are ever likely to come across. I recommend that you leave this compartment immediately."
"What! But there probably aren't any left now!" Cried one of the friends.
"Well that's not our problem. Is it?" Blaise menaced.
"Of course, you're welcome to share our compartment with us." Draco commented. "We'd be more than willing to give you one-on-one lessons in some of the most unheard of and hard to counter hexes that we know."
One look at the three pairs of eyes that shone with anticipated amusement had the three girls shoot out of the compartment just as soon as they had grabbed their bags.
Pansy let out another sigh. A contented, happy sigh that had Blaise and Draco exchange smirks of satisfaction. As they settled onto the seats of the compartments, their conversation turned to one of their holidays. The majority had been spent together as usual. All three had grown up together; they had holidayed together in various locations across the UK and Europe, and had shared lessons in prior instruction to magic before starting school.
"Argh! I can't believe that I have to spend three whole months just with you two. Sera has no idea how much of a hassle you two are without her around." Pansy commented, lying back to rest her head on Blaise's lap. Referring to the missing member of their group, Seraphina Malfoy, Draco's twin sister.
"Oh! As if you're one to talk! Little miss 'Dracooo, pass me the miiilk. Blaaaise, let me see your Herbology report." Blaise said as he casually kicked his feet up on the opposite seat next to Draco. "Besides, you're not on your own. You have Millicent to keep you company."
The glare that Pansy sent at him and Draco had them stifling their snorts of amusement. "Millicent is as brainless as those thugs Crabbe and Goyle that you had follow you around for years Draco."
"Ahh relax! That was just acting out on my childhood whims. And anyway, I'm sure it won't be as bad as you think it will."
"Since when are you so calm at the beginning of a school year?" Blaise enquired of his oldest friend. When the only reply he got was a secretive smirk, Blaise nudged his friend with his feet.
"Blaise is right Draco." Pansy said, becoming curious at this change in him and sitting up to face him. "You're usually consumed with self-righteous rage at being separated from your Dearest Seraphina and angry at the sun and moon for their control over the months not being enough to bring the holidays around sooner. What is it that you are not telling us?"
"Sera will kill me if I tell you. She wants it to be a secret. Something about 'the surprise is the biggest fun in it' or something."
Blaise leapt out of his seat and, in a second, was next to Draco, pinning his arms by his sides. In the same time, Pansy had cast a locking charm and Muffilato on their cabin so that they wouldn't be disturbed or heard. Once that was done, she grabbed one of Draco's feet and pulled off the shoe and sock. "Spill it now or face the torture of a tickle charm."
"NEVER!"
"Tiklmarto!"
"Ghaa! Zabini…let go…of me or… I'll…kill you! Parkinson…stop…it! God damn it…stop! No!" Was all that he could gasp out between the laughter.
"You know we won't stop till we get what we want. Just like that time in Venice two years ago." Blaise pointed out to his writhing friend.
"Fine! Fine! I'll tell you just for the love of all things beautiful stop!"
"Dissephae. Now Drakie dearest. You were saying?"
Panting from the exertion that laughing brought about, Draco straightened from his contorted position on the seat. "Sera is on the train. She's coming to Hogwarts with us."
Draco's two closest friends sat back, their faces limp with shock. "Wha-?" "Whe-?"
"Since my 'principled' father is no longer with us. There is no more a 'need' for Seraphina to attend Beauxbatons, ridiculous excuse of a school that it is. She's coming here but has insisted that she wants a journey on the train by herself. Try and judge the other students or something I suppose." Draco said in an airy voice as if he hadn't just told them the best news since they discovered spliced fruit fritters.
As comprehension sunk slowly into Blaise and Pansy, they couldn't contain themselves: they jumped up, grabbed Draco and started jumping up and down chanting: "Sera's coming to Hog-warts! Sera's coming to Hog-warts!"
"Shut up!" Draco cried. But still. He couldn't keep the grin off his face either. Finally, he was going to be going to school with his twin again. The four of them would be able to spend all year together and not feel the loss of one of them. And with Sera, there was no way Gryffindor was going to win either the House Cup or the Quidditch Cup. Sera was going to take Potter for a ride he'd never forget.
_ 786_
The train is just as red as Draco had described it to be, the same colour as the apples that grow in our orchards. The noise is also just as loud as he had made it out to be, everyone was shouting to be heard. There were also the sounds of animals: hisses, croaks and hoots came from all directions and there was also the other occasional bangs that came every time a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes product was used.
Moving to the nearest door I stepped aboard the train, having my bags follow whilst Mercury followed closely by my feet. Unlike all the other first years who were heaving at their bags trunks, straining to get them up onto the train, mine were floating along behind me. After all, I'm no first year in the strictest sense. I'm a transfer student.
Turning to discretely wave again at my mother who was standing by herself further down the tracks, I can see that she is paying more attention to me than to my brother. And really you can't find fault in that. After all, Draco has been coming here for the past six years and is now the Head Boy. You'd think that any mother would be more worried about her child who is starting at a new school where all the others her own age already know each other. But I'm still much more happy to be coming here with Draco than to be going back to Beauxbatons, the intense snobbery that goes on there is sickening. And there is a certain excitement that comes with a co-ed school.
Ahh how free my life has been now that my monster of a father is dead! Mother has always wanted me to go to Hogwarts with Draco. It was only father who wanted me to go to Beauxbatons and that was to try and make connections with some of the rich French influentials. The six years I've spent at Beauxbatons have been as eventful as a turtle going for a swim. Ie: completely boring. Well, apart from the normal things that go on in a school of magic; exploding books, cursed make-up, doors that lead to other ends of the school and all kinds of odd magical creatures that were used as bragging rights. Oh, and Quidditch, no one could say that Quidditch is boring.
I moved down the corridor of the train, having a few more of my new fellow students cast me curious glances. Is it my clothes? No can't be, I'm just wearing black tights, soft brown leather ankle boots, a light pink summer dress and brown jacket. Nothing strange about them. Hmm, it's probably due to the fact that as I walk, the corridor is expanding, giving me room to move unhindered whilst others squeezed past one another. I don't care if it looks like snobbery to some, I just don't like being crowded. And anyway, these looks are nothing to those I'll get once they realise who I am and who my brother is.
I can't say that I'm impressed with how Draco, Pansy and Blaise have been acting in the past years. Yes most of the things I approve of, especially when we all had control freaks for fathers. Of course it's natural to need to vent out occasionally, heck, I've done so on more than one occasion. But to go to the extent to not show anyone else the bright lovely sides of them? That I don't agree with.
Finding an empty carriage close to the end of the train, I stepped in and had my trunks move up to the racks above the seats. Mercury circled my feet. Mercury was a present from Draco for my 11th birthday. She is a cat. A big cat. She comes up to my knees, is jet black with a white tail tip and yellow eyes. She is a pantharas, a miniature panther, they have the characteristics of being fiercely protective and loyal, private, smart, fast and strong. I think Draco got her for me to have someone else be my 'protector' whilst we were separated by school.
Lately I haven't heard much about Draco's favourite rival. In the past it was all: "Stupid boy wonder accused me of setting a monster on the loose!" "Bloody Potter cheated in the quidditch match! I practically had that snitch when he rammed me!" "Stupid show-off. Just because he can perform a halfway decent Wronski Feint." Maybe Draco is maturing a bit.
Hmm. Interesting thought that.
I sat by the window on the seat that was facing the front of the train. Mercury jumped up onto the seat and curled up next to me, squashed between myself and the wall. Just as I was considering having a short snooze, the compartment door was flung open to reveal a boy about my age but with cherub features accompanied by curling golden blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He was wearing a striped grey and black hooded jumper and black jeans. The dull colours of his clothes only acted to highlight his bright features. I swiftly stilled Mercury, who had raised from her spot, reassuring her all was well.
"Colin!" A girls voice came from behind him "Get in! I'm getting squashed out here and if you don't move soon you'll have to peel me off the window!"
The boy, Colin, was pushed from behind and stumbled into the compartment. I leapt forward and managed to grab his arm, stopping him from taking a full face dive into the floor.
"Whoopes! Sorry I didn't realise there were people in here!" the now visible girl spoke. The first things I noticed were her curly auburn red hair and freckled skin that was turning a delicate pink in her cheeks. This must be the youngest Weasley, Guinevere or something. Draco was capable of shouting complete obscenities about the Weasley family, especially her brother in our year, Ronald, but seemed to only manage a half-hearted "she's one of them" when it came to this one.
She was wearing a pair of white jeans that had rips in them that were obviously not made intentionally for a fashion statement and were so old that the white was now more of a grey. This was matched with a white blouse under a fitted yellow jumper and a red scarf that clashed horribly with her hair. "Usually you can tell which compartments are taken by the amount of noise that comes from them." She muttered before standing awkwardly in the doorway.
Colin was still righting himself when the train began to move and he was pushed over again, this time into the seat. "Bloody hell. Why can't the train do a warning or something before it starts to move?"
"You can stay here if you like. It's only myself in this compartment and we're near the back of the train, you may not find another with enough room." I offered. Colin and Guinevere exchanged a glance that I could easily tell was full of scepticism. "Oh. I'm terribly sorry. I have no intention of imposing on you. You are of course free to choose another compartment. My apologies."
This in turn earned more sceptical looks from them before they both snorted with laughter. "Thanks for the offer. We were just worried that we had disturbed you. You know, since we burst in on you and all?" Guinevere said. "Hey Luna, Jasper, come on."
Another boy and girl who appeared to be the same age as Guinevere and Colin entered. The girl had long blonde hair and blue eyes that seemed to be looking at things on a deeper level. She was wearing black tights with cherry red shoes which came past her ankles, converse, according to the brand, and a purple, gypsy style tunic that was covered in coins, bells and ribbons. A totally original and odd look that seemed to be completed with her earrings that seemed to be of some type of vegetable. The other boy had straight brown hair and brown eyes. Simple blue jeans paired with a light brown jumper that was obviously from a chain store.
After they had all stored their baggage on the overhead racks, they sat down with me. Colin next to me, Luna next to him, Guinevere opposite me and Jasper next to her.
"I'm Ginny by the way. Ginny Weasley." Guinevere, Ginny, said. "And you must have guessed by now that this is Colin, Jasper and Luna. We're sixth years. Colin and I are in Gryffindor, Luna and Jasper in Ravenclaw."
Hmm what to tell them? They are obviously fishing for who I am etc. But I have this tinsey weensy intuitive feeling that they won't be so friendly when they realise I'm a Malfoy.
"I'm Seraphina. I'm transferring to Hogwarts this year and will be a seventh year."
"Wow." Jasper said. "I don't think we've had someone transfer in like-"
"52 years according to Headmistress McGonagall." I provided. "I went to Beauxbatons before, because of my father. Personally, I think the school's just an excuse to show off who has the latest fashions and such. But my younger brother goes here. And this year mother has allowed me to come here on the condition that I don't let my grades slip."
"I've heard that Beauxbatons gets quite a few attacks from Mumplefringed Ghops. Did you notice any cases when students developed unstable emotions, flushed faces and blood shot eyes?" Luna asked peering at me with her eyes that seemed as if she was reading my mind. Not that that would be possible with the Occlumency lessons I've taken.
"Don't worry about Luna." Colin said awkwardly patting her shoulder. "Not many seem to see things the way that she does."
"Well, yes. I can say that I have seen that." I cut in, to the astonishment of all bar myself and Luna. "I recall that students tended to develop those symptoms around mid-year and end of year...around the same time that exams were coming. Do you think it could possibly have been attacks from the Mumplefringed Ghops?"
"Yes. They tend to be more active around Winter and Spring." And with that she pulled out a flimsy looking magazine and buried herself in it. I smiled slightly to myself. I think I quite like Luna.
"Soo." Ginny said into the silence that followed. "Anyone do something fun on the holidays?"
And it was in that manner that I found the ride to Hogwarts passing. Friendly chatter between myself, Ginny, Colin and Jasper with a few odd little inputs from Luna that, to the amazement of the others, I would always reply with sincerity. After all, mother has always said that politeness is a quality of those of noble minds, a quality which Draco obviously lacks. And as I said, I like her.
When the trolley came around I purchased a chocolate frog and box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Father had always insisted that I should never eat such 'mundane' food but I had developed a taste for it when Draco would send me some during school. The boys courteously stepped outside when it came time to change into our school robes and returned dressed in their own.
As the train came to a halt at the station, I levitated my belongings down and helped the others with theirs. They moved ahead of me out of the compartment and into the corridor which was just as packed as before.
"Ow! Get off my foot you pipsqueak unless you want to have a wand shoved up your nose!" Jasper cried out.
"Bloody hell! Colin! Stop shoving!" Said Ginny, leaning to shove back at the boy.
"Stop! There's a Kimpilly Woxle above your head! No! Don't touch it!"
"Distenda martus" and there was suddenly enough room for all to easily pass through the doors.
"Thanks." Ginny said as she sighed with relief. "Hey Sera, come over here. We'll get our carriage from just over there."
"Thanks Ginny, but I'm to be considered a first year until I'm sorted apparently. So I need to go...over there...where that...man is."
"Ah that's Hagrid, don't worry, he's the biggest softy in school. HAGRID! Hey Hagrid! This is Seraphina. She'll be coming with you 'kay? Well any way, we gotta go and get a carriage. See you up at the feast! Hope you get Gryffindor! Oh, and you have to teach me that spell sometime, I could use it a lot at home!"
And with that my new redheaded friend sprinted off to join my other new friends who all turned and waved at me from a distance.
"I was told that there'd be an older new studen' this year. So yer it eh? Well come along. This way." And the great hulk of a man wandered back through the crowd.
