Dear readers,
I want to thank you for reading my little experiment. This story is a major work in progress and I am posting chunks of the story for helpful feedback. Please leave me a little review on what you think about it, and encourage others to check it out as well. I would greatly appreciate it. =]
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Iris and the plot.
Iris slowly made her way through the narrow aisle, peering through the glass doors into the occupied compartments. Finally, she found a vacant one and squeezed into it with her heavy suitcase rolling behind her. She lifted Silverstreak's cage to the shelf above the seat, then breathed deeply and used all of her strength to lift her suitcase up and push it next to the sleepy owl's cage. With a sigh, she plopped down onto the seat and stared out the window. She began to lose her mind to thought when she heard a rustling of pants and heavy footsteps. She glanced over just in time to see a set of piercing, gray eyes meet with hers. She blinked her eyes, and they were gone. Iris shook her head, wondering if what she had just seen was merely an illusion, when three figures appeared at the door.
They were two boys and a girl: the girl, over-shadowed by the other two, had chestnut brown hair and eyes to match, holding a hissing, spitting carrier. The taller of the two boys stood out with his bright red hair and freckly cheeks, but the other boy had nothing on him. His eyes were a deep emerald green, his hair onyx black and unnaturally untidy. Hidden behind his hair was a lightning-shaped scar etched into his forehead.
'I think I've heard of this boy!' Iris thought to herself. 'I've only seen him on the front cover of every issue of the Daily Prophet.'
"I'm sorry." The girl spoke up, interrupting Iris's thoughts. "Do you mind if we sit here with you?"
She watched Iris nervously. Then Iris grinned politely.
"No, of course not! Not at all!"
The girl grinned as the boys nodded in thanks. "Thank you!"
She sat next to Iris while the other two sat across from them. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the girl studying her curiously. Iris turned her attention over to her, and she blushed.
"My apologies!" She blurted. "But you look our age, and yet I don't recognize you."
Iris nodded. "It's alright. I'm from America."
The girl looked both shocked and delighted while the boys just listened curiously.
"There's not much in wizarding education in America, so I was taught privately until Professor Dumbledore found me and told me about Hogwarts." She finished with her little story and the girl grinned.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Well, welcome to England!"
Iris nodded. "Thank you very much."
"So, how old are you?" the dark-haired boy asked. "Are you a fifth year?"
"Well, I'm fifteen, so…I guess that makes me a fifth year."
"Are you getting sorted today with the first-years?" the girl piped in.
"No, Professor Dumbledore sorted me when he visited my parents and me after we moved up here. I think the hat said I was in Gryffindor…"
"Oh, great!" The redhead grinned. "That's our house! The best one, too!"
"Wonderful! I can't wait, then!"
"Oh!" The dark-haired boy exclaimed. "We haven't properly introduced ourselves!"
"Of course, nor have I! I'm so sorry!" She started. "I'm Iris."
"I'm Hermione," the girl spoke.
"My name's Ron," said the redhead.
"And I am Harry. Harry Potter." The dark-haired boy seemed a little embarrassed to introduce himself.
Iris nodded. "Yes, I have heard of you, Harry. Some pretty crazy stuff going around about you."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I'm pretty used to it now."
Hermione watched him sadly, then turned to Iris.
"Whatever you have heard about Harry's sanity, don't believe one bit of it. The Ministry of Magic is in denial that the Dark Lord is back, so they're trying to make people believe Harry is delusional." She sighed as Harry stared out the window.
"A bunch of bloody cowards." Ron shook his head in disgust.
Iris gave a half-smile and turned to Harry, who was trying to hide his smile.
"Don't worry, Harry." He brought his attention to her. "You've got someone else on your side."
He smiled in relief. "Thank you. Very much."
She nodded in assurance as a woman with a cart appeared in front of the door.
The three friends had gotten their helpings of sweets and Harry, against her pleas, bought some for Iris as well.
"Thank you so much, Harry!" She gleamed as she inspected the every-flavored beans.
"It's no problem at all. You'll need your money for Hogsmeade." Harry nibbled on a Cauldron Cake.
She nodded. "Oh, that'll be fun. I can't wait."
"You watch. Someday, my brothers will have their own shop in Hogsmeade!" Ron said excitedly.
She looked at him curiously, and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George, are great tricksters and experiment with fake wands and sweets."
Iris grinned. "Oh, that's cool! I bet they're a lot of fun to have around!"
Ron snorted. "Yeah, when you're not the one they're pulling pranks on."
Hermione grinned. "But they're the best of friends. You'll never see one without the other."
Iris laughed. "That sounds like a few friends I know."
The three looked at her, looked at each other, and chuckled.
"Only took you a few seconds to figure that out." She chuckled with them.
"A step-up from their usual stupidity, I'd say."
Iris's eyes darted up to the direction of the cold, drawling voice to again meet with the very same silver eyes.
"Oh, sod off, Malfoy," Ron answered coldly. "You know Hermione makes better scores than you."
The blonde boy snorted. "Only because she's a kiss-up to the professors."
The two goons behind the boy named Malfoy shook violently with laughter.
"Hey there, Potter." Malfoy taunted. "Shouldn't you be in the mad house? Not very safe for us if you're here screaming about your darling Cedric."
Ron leapt up with his wand at Malfoy's throat. Malfoy smirked.
"Like you could hurt me, Weasel," he jeered.
"That's enough, Malfoy." Harry was up standing beside Ron.
"Aw, did I touch a nerve, Potter?" the blonde smirked.
"Get out, Malfoy. Before you earn yourself detention. Don't forget: Ron and Hermione are prefects now."
Malfoy leered darkly. "As am I, Potter. And I could give you detention for insubordination against a prefect."
"Good luck with that," Ron snorted, his wand still at Malfoy's throat.
The mysterious silver eyes shot over to Ron's and narrowed. Ron stared unblinkingly, never faltering in his stance, until Malfoy scoffed.
"Like I don't have better things to do than waste my time with traitors and Mudbloods," Malfoy spoke as he retreated back into the corridor. "You'll be seeing me, Potter." His eyes flashed back to Iris's for a brief second, and with that, he took his stride down the corridor, his giants loggering behind him.
Harry and Ron sighed and plopped back down onto the seat. Hermione glared out the glass door in the direction that Malfoy left.
"He's a cowardly git," Ron grumbled, slouching in the seat.
"Who is he?" Iris asked vaguely, imagining those cold, gray eyes in her mind.
"Draco Malfoy," Hermione said sourly. "He's a Slytherin, and for good reason. His family has strong ties with the Dark Lord, since his father is a Death Eater."
Iris made a face at her last statement. "Death Eaters? Followers of the Dark Lord?"
Hermione nodded. "Precisely."
"He's been a bloody git to us since first year." Ron rolled his eyes.
"What a jerk," Iris said, and then remembered something he said.
'Like I don't have better things to do than waste my time with traitors and Mudbloods,' the words echoed in her head.
Who was he referring to?
"Why did he call you guys traitors and Mudbloods?"
Ron and Hermione looked away.
"He called Ron a traitor and Hermione a Mudblood," Harry piped in. "Ron is pureblood–all wizarding relatives–and associates with Muggle borns and half-bloods. Hermi–"
"I am Muggle born," Hermione interrupted. "and Mudblood is a derogatory term for Muggle born people…a terrible thing to say…"
"Well, what do you expect from Malfoy?" Ron mumbled.
Hermione shrugged and looked at Iris.
"I'm Muggle born, too, Hermione," She spoke quietly.
All three pairs of eye were on her.
"Really?" Hermione whispered.
She nodded.
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