Chapter 1: She sits alone
I was the girl in the background that no one knew I was there; I was the one that stood aside to let people past because I thought that everyone else was more important than me. I was in my third year at Hogwarts, I'm a year below the golden trio, everyone knows the whispers about the famous Harry Potter he defeated the dark lord before he could walk there are also whispers that the dark lord is back, the ministry doesn't believe it but I think Dumbledore does. When I was in my first year there were attacks around the school done by the Basilisk a giant of a snake that did the heir of Slytherin's bidding, I'm a Gryffindor so the Slytherin's are our school rivals it's just the way it has always been, I don't think I belong in Brave Gryffindor I'm more suited for Loyal Hufflepuff. I don't have any friends really just a trusted diary that I write in whenever I feel lonely which is always, you see I'm a mudblood so I don't know much about the wizarding world I'm learning but slowly. I've never had a family well I suppose I must have had a family at one point; I've lived at an orphanage since I was 2, that's when a child's magic starts to show only little things like making our toys shrink or grow, I guess that's why they gave me up they thought I was some sort of freak. The summer I was due to start high school Dumbledore turned up on the orphanage door step saying I have a place at Hogwarts and he explained to me about the wizarding world, he told me that during the holidays I may stay at Hogwarts with some other of the children who have nowhere to go besides summer when I have to return to the orphanage, he handed me a bag of gold and said at the begging of each year I will be given a bag of gold to buy school supplies and anything else I may need, he said someone will come along a day before I am due to leave to take me to get my school supplies and give me further information.
This is where the new school year starts on a train in a compartment of my own on the way to a new year at Hogwarts. As I made my way to the compartment I heard people talk about what happened at the Quidditch World Cup, about the dark mark that hovered above the camp ground after the attack, I'm in deep thought when I realise I've been sitting still for too long and I need to stretch my legs, I walked along the corridor until I came to a sudden halt, I'd walked straight into Draco Malfoy who had been talking about some other wizarding school.
'Watch it Mudblood' he sneered at me
'I'm sorry I didn't see you there'
'Why don't you run back to your friendless compartment and cry over how you don't have a family'
Draco's two friends snickered behind him and all I could feel my face becoming very hot, this is why I always stood in the background I hated having people's attention on me and Draco Malfoy was staring straight at me, I turned around and walked straight into the lunch trolley, today was not my day
'Are you ok dear?'
'I'm fine thank you'
'Would you like something from the trolley?'
'No I'm ok'
I retreated back into the compartment; this day has just gotten worse. How did Draco know about me? No one knows anything about me like I said I don't have any friends, I started out the window and watched the rolling countryside role past and thought about what it would be like to have a family missing me at home, having an owl bring me a letter every morning with a sweet parcel, a sadness washed over me I hated the train ride to Hogwarts, seeing all those families waving and kissing their children goodbye until Christmas.
The sun started to set so I closed the blinds in the compartment and dressed into my uniform, I was just fastening the clasp of my cloak when the train came to a shuddering stop, I walked onto the platform and got into the carts the drove themselves more third years climbed in and the cart began to move, we travelled up the long path to the front doors of Hogwarts and we all climbed out, we made our way to the great hall the four great tables were waiting for us as I made my way to the Gryffindor table, I took my usual seat at the end of the table closest to the door and waited for the sorting to be over so I could eat. Dumbledore stood and with two words the feast began. I grabbed all the food I could eat and then some more, I felt like I couldn't move.
Once everyone had finished eating Dumbledore stood up and began his start of the year speech.
'Now that we are all fed and watered I must once again asked for your attention, while I give out some notices. Mr Filch the caretaker has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include scream yo-yo's, fanged Frisbees an ever-bashing boomerangs. The fall list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, and can be viewed in Mr Filch's office. As ever I would like to remind you all, that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students as is the village of Hogsmeade to all bellow the third year.'
It was the first year I'm allowed the visit Hogsmeade.
'It is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house Quidditch cup will not take place this year' this coursed an outcry from most of the students
'This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts…'
All of a sudden then was a commotion and a man with a big thick stick and a limp, limped into the great hall, he limped his way over to Dumbledore and whispered in his ear, Dumbledore nodded and turned back to use with a smile.
'May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody' Professor Moody turned to the students and I was shocked to discover that he only had one normal eye the other was swirling around and it was twice the size of hit other eye, it was tied around his head with a leather strap.
'As I was saying we have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event that has not been held in over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year'
One of the Weasley twins shouted out that he had to be joking, I didn't understand everyone's shock and excitement. Dumbledore carried on talking about the tournament and told us that Hogwarts will play host to two more schools Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, Dumbledore also said that you had to be at least 17 years old to enter into the Tournament this was met with protest from all four tables, he calmed the protests and sent us all off to bed. I shared my room with three other girls in my year they were ok but we never spent time outside of the dorm together, they were talking about the tournament and I just drowned them out as I got ready for bed. I felt tired beyond belief I never travelled anywhere so when I did I was tired.
I woke when I heard shuffling around the room, the other girls were getting ready for their first day of school, there was excitement in the air because we got to choose our subjects this year, I made my way down to breakfast and waited for my time table to be handed to me, when it was I looked and saw that I have a free period so I made my way to the library I was sitting at a table when Professor Snape walked over to me, Professor Snape had to be my least favourite teacher he hated Gryffindor's and tried to find any way to make their life hell.
'Miss Wood, follow me'
'I sighed and grabbed my school bag and followed Snape down to his office'
I walked in a found Draco standing by Snape's desk
'Sit the both of you' Snape walked over to his desk as we both took a seat
'Miss Wood you are advance in your potions making and you Mr Malfoy are behind, Miss Wood you are to give Mr Malfoy extra help throughout the year'
'Sir you want this mudblood to give me extra potions lessons?'
Snape sneered and let out a simple yes
'Sir I don't think I can'
'You will Miss Wood or your house will lose house points for you being selfish, I believe you both have a free period this morning go and start now'
We both nodded and made our way to an empty potions class room, Draco puffed as he sat down at a desk, I looked down at the list of potions Snape had given me before we left his office these were the ones that he wanted Draco to learn. The first one on the list was an Aging Potion, it looked easy enough I sat down next to Draco he opened his mouth and began to speak
'If we are being forced to do this then there has to be some rules mudblood, first we do not speak to each other if you need to speak to me about potions and nothing else send an owl, secondly you do not tell anyone else about this, do you understand?'
'Who would I tell, all of my friends? And I have a rule for you, stop calling me mudblood'
'Fine'
'Good shall we begin'
Draco nodded and listened to what I had to say and give him pointers on how to get the best results from the potion and after an hour Draco had managed to brew a decent Aging potion, we agreed to meet again in two days' time and we went our separate ways.
