Green-Eyed Envy

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Sixth year fanfic involving Harry and the gang plus a mysterious visitor....

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Harry smiled and looked around Platform 9 and 3/4 taking in a deep breath as he watched the activity around him. He was relieved to be going back to school for his 6th year and getting away from the Dursleys and back with his friends. It had been a difficult summer, as always, but even more so now that a potential war was breaking out in the wizarding world. Still, he felt safer surrounded by wizards who knew what was going on. The way that muggles acting so normally, as if nothing was wrong, was unnerving. Of course, they didn't know any better, but still Harry found it to be quite odd.

Ron mumbled something under his breath as he glared at his sister Ginny chatting animatedly with a group of students, hanging off the arm of her current boyfriend. "She goes through guys like water..." Hermione laughed. "She's a teenage girl, what do you expect??? She may aswell laugh it up now, when she's young and it's safe---" She was interrupted by a group of loud Slytherins passing, one of them elbowing Ron as they passed.

"Hey watch it!' Ron growled. The group turned to face the trio. Leading them was none other than Draco Malfoy himself. He was about to respond with some rude remark when he glanced at the girl attached to his arm and apparently changed his mind.

"I'm sorry Ronald," he said sweetly. "I just wanted to introduce you to my igirlfriend/i Kathlyn..." The girl smiled brightly. She had redish hair that went just past her shoulders and bright green eyes, which she rolled in Draco's direction.

"It's Katie, actually. Nobody calls me Kathlyn." the girl spoke in a very friendly voice. Harry noticed her accent was much softer than anyone else's on the platform.

Hermione must have noticed to because she said, "Oh, are you one of the new international students Hogwarts is hosting this year? Your accents sounds American to me, but I could be wrong..."

"Canadian, actually. And yes, I'm just here for the year. I was born in England though. My parents lived here, but they were killed when I was very young, and I was sent overseas to live with a weathly wizarding family who offered to take care of me."

"Uh huh." growled Ron, still upset by the elbow into his stomach. "And how do you know Malfoy?" he glared.

"As Katie just said, her family was VERY wealthy. Our parents have seen each other frequently every summer since Katie went to live with them," Malfoy snarled.

A whistle blew signally that the express would be departing in two minutes. Malfoy glanced up at a clock. "Well, we'd better be going. See you later, Potty, Weasley," glaring at Hermione he turned and headed to a compartment further down the train, while Harry, Ron and Hermione went into the one nearest them.

"She seemed very nice. And it'll be fascinating with all of the international students coming over, to learn about wizarding in other places in the world," Hermione bubbled.

"Uhhh... Hermione, she's Malfoy's girlfriend. What makes you think she isn't a scumbag like him?" Ron snapped.

"Yeah, and what's the deal with this international program anyway? I've never heard about it..." Harry said.

"Well, Dumbledore thought that the best way to make alliances with other people is to get to know them... You know, like he did at the tri-Wizard tournement... So, he invited about 20 students from other countries to study here for a year." Hermione reeled off. "And also, some of these places have been directly affected with wizarding war. I believe in Canada there have been several rebellions with people from different wizarding groups. Dumbledore wants to teach us that things aren't only happening here, but all over, and the best way to do that is to create human connections with between each other."

Heads spinning from all this information coming at them so quickly, Ron and Harry slowly began to eat the various snacks packed my Mrs. Weasley. "So, these students will obviously need to be sorted... and that's when we'll find out who of these visitors is worth getting to know..." Ron grumbled into his sandwhich.

"I think they're all worth getting to know! It'll be very educational..." Hermione started off into another speal as the Hogwarts Express continued down the tracks.

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What do you think so far??? R&R please!