Single Sweet Soul
Chapter One: Start of Troubles
By Angelee
Hello! I got this idea at about 3 a.m. after watching movie channels on TV. This is, in my opinion, the best story I've ever come up with. It has more than one storyline, and it's more deep.. I guess you could say that.
Hope you enjoy!
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"Platform nine and three-fourths... nine and three-fourths? That's weird. What other things should I know about London?!" A fourteen-year-old girl stepped into the train station in London, pushing a cart full of luggage. She made her way through the people there, getting strange looks from many.
"What are you staring at?!" she half-shouted. They looked quickly away, mumbling amongst themselves.
She had long, platinum blonde hair, and piercing green eyes. She was wearing a green tank top to match her eyes, black jeans, and her hair in loose pigtails, a green ribbon tying one, and a silver one tying the other. She approached platforms nine and ten, looking up and around. She sighed. "So this is what it comes to. Alllll that reading and studying.. and I can't find the platform! Who the heck has ever heard of a platform NINE AND THREE- FOURTHS anyways??"
"We have," said a voice behind her. She whirled around, deciding that help would be, well.. helpful.
"I'm Pansy Parkinson," the speaker introduced herself. Then she pointed to her friend, who was more than a bit larger than herself. "This is Millicent Bulstrode. I assume you are going to Hogwarts?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but I don't happen to see a platform nine and-"
Pansy cut her off. "Watch me, I'll show you how," she said snottily. "This is our fifth year, is it yours, too?"
She nodded again. "What a snob," she muttered to herself. "Well, I suppose there's nothing bad about having SOME friendliness.. if you consider that friendly.." she rolled her eyes then turned her attention back to Pansy.
Pansy backed up a bit then started with a run. It seemed as if she were purposely trying to ram into the column between platforms nine and ten!
Her eyes widened. Then, if possible, they widened some more as Pansy disappeared into the wall. "Huh.. wha... how..?" she stuttered.
Millicent smirked. "Just follow me.."
The girl nodded yet again, and watched as Millicent, too, vanished into the wall. Shrugging, she braced herself and broke into a jog.
There was a strange, unearthly, yet accomplished feeling and when she opened her eyes, she realized she was no longer in the London Train Station. She looked up and saw a sign proclaiming: Hogwarts Express; Platform 9¾. Then she saw Pansy and Millicent hurrying away, snickering at the sight of her confusion.
She considered flicking them off, but decided against it. If anyone were to see, they would not have a very nice impression of her. Sighing, she made her way to the train and entered. All the compartments appeared to be full so she randomly chose one, hoping for the best.
"Um, would it be okay if I sat in here? All the others are full," she explained to a girl and two guys in a compartment.
"Sure," spoke up the brown haired boy.
"Ron! Stop staring!" the girl elbowed the red haired boy hard.
"Ow! Geez, Hermoine.." he said, gazing, awed, at the newcomer.
"Sorry about him," Hermoine said, with a bemused smile, "but I'm Hermoine Granger. I haven't seen you here before. New, by any chance?"
"Yeah," she said, gratefully sitting down and laughing.
"Well, I'm Harry, Harry Potter," said the brown haired boy. He gave her a warm smile.
"Oh, my gosh, I've heard and read so much about you!" she said, turning to him. "Did you really kill Voldemort?"
"Well, I wouldn't say killed is really the right word…" he answered modestly.
She nodded with a smile with a hint of surprise; the famous Harry Potter was nothing like she had expected. She turned to the red haired boy. "And who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Ron Weasley.. pleased to meet you.." he said as Hermoine elbowed him.
She giggled. 'Why are they all staring at me?' she wondered. "I'm California Drache."
"Cali.. fornia? Say, that's a place in the States, isn't it? THAT'S why you have an American accent!" Hermoine said automatically.
"Oh, is that why you've all been staring at me this whole time?" Cali asked, blushing and feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.
"Um, yeah, sorry 'bout it.. it's just.. we're so used to.. you know, you just sound so different and it's.. it's rather neat."
Cali smiled. "Thanks, and it's ok, but I wish I had an accent like yours.. I love British accents."
Hermoine smiled. "I've read about the States before. There's not many witches and wizards, there, are there?"
"Um, no, but yeah, California's the sunny state on the west coast," she said. "And supposedly, Drache means 'dragon' in German.. my grandparents on my dad's side are German."
"Cool.." Ron said dazedly. "A nice state and a dragon.. wicked.."
Hermoine rolled her eyes. "Sorry, California, I don't think he's accustomed to having a pretty girl sitting a meter away from him."
California laughed. "Well call me Cali." The others nodded. Then she burst out with one of the many questions on her mind, desperate to hear about Hogwarts from its pupils. "Is it true that there are four houses?"
"Yup. We're all in Gryffindor," Harry explained.
"And what were the other three? I remember one that was like.. a snake or something."
"That's Slytherin," Harry said. "Our main rival."
"Oh.." she said. "I was actually kind of interested in that one.."
"Well, you don't want to get into that one," Hermoine said. "For starters, Draco Malfoy's in Slytherin." She put on a sour face.
"Ooh, I've heard of his family. They're really rich, aren't they?"
"Yes, the filthy rich little snobs," Hermoine said, with an air of disgust.
"Hmm.." Cali drifted off, twirling a pigtail, for a while till Harry broke the silence.
"So, the other two Houses are Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. They're both okay."
"Okay.." Cali said. "Man, I just can't believe I'm going to Hogwarts! Never in a million years.."
Hermoine smiled. There was something she could relate to. "Same with me. Of course, I live here in London, but my parents are both Muggles, so I was completely surprised when I got my letter. And now it's really nothing short of a second home."
Cali smiled. "My parents aren't Muggles, but they may as well have been.."
Hermoine, Harry, and Ron all listened eagerly as she recalled what had all happened to her in the last few months.
:: Flashback ::
A nine-year-old Cali was throwing a tantrum in her mother's car, though she knew she was too old to be whining. "Mom, I wanted that shirt!!" she whined. They had just left the mall, and though they came out with three bagfuls, Cali wasn't satisfied.
"Cali, you cannot just have every piece of clothing you like," her mother had told her.
She was pouting and her mother sighed. They got into the car and drove home, Cali sulking the whole way home. They had been sitting at a red light for what seemed like forever when Cali just blew up. "Arrgh!! Turn freakin GREEN! STUPID LIGHT!" she screeched. Strangely, the light turned green, started smoking, and finally exploded.
Though the light had been green, everyone was too shocked to drive.
:: end flashback ::
There were many incidents similar to that. Cali would be mad and glare at a car, causing a flat tire, or point at a sign, causing it to blow up. No one could find anything wrong with her, and her parents were told that she had strange and unknown telepathic powers, but Cali felt there was much more to be explained.
She had begun to study magic during every spare moment. She managed to find a couple of spells, but she had no wand so she figured if she was "psychic", she could find a replacement. She had looked over to her desk, pointed at a pen, and watched as it turned into a wand. She sat, shocked, for several moments, then regained her senses and shakily tried out the spells, finding that she could do them all within a few tries.
Cali had slowly learned magic, with her pen-wand, keeping it all from her parents. She had managed to keep it all secret, with her ability to make up the best lies, until about a year later, when she received a letter from Hogwarts.
"To Ms. C. Drache,
You have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry..."
She had been stunned, so stunned, she dropped the letter as her father was walking past. He looked at her funny, and before she could stop him or even make something up, he grabbed the letter, read it, and yelled for her mother.
Obviously, they had demanded explanations. Cali had to tell them everything, from when she had first started researching about magic to, basically, now that she had been asked to go to a wizarding school. Her parents believed it all; they had no reason to doubt it, after all, especially after Cali cleaned the entire kitchen by means of her "wand."
Mr. and Mrs. Drache let their daughter go to Hogwarts. They surprised her by telling her that they were both wizards, and had moved away from England to escape capture by the evil Lord Voldemort. They had never told her of her wizarding blood to keep her from finding out about all the horrendous events that had taken place during the Dark Days of Voldemort.
Naturally, Cali was beyond stunned by this news, this revelation that had thrown her world and life into a whirlwind, so shocked that she forgot to be mad at her parents…
She was let into Hogwarts as a fifth year, the year a fourteen-year-old should be in, because of her knowledge of magic. She was grateful that she would not have to attend as a first year, for that would most embarrassing and most likely, boring, since she already knew all the material.
"So, here I am," Cali finished, to the surprised faces of Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. "I've read so much in the last year, after knowing I'd be going here, even though I don't enjoy reading much at all… I just can't wait till we get there!"
They all smiled at her. "Well, being a fifth year already, you should know some about how it all works," Hermoine said. She went on to tell Cali all about classes, dorms, everything she could think of, and from Hermoine, it was a LOT. Yet, it was all from a Gryffindor's point of view.
"Hey.. I just had a thought. You're telling me all this because you're in Gryffindor. What if.. I don't get Sorted into Gryffindor?" Cali asked.
Everyone sat, wide-eyed with the sudden realization.
"Well.. that's a good point. But some things are the same.. I guess. Like.. you probably won't like Potions much, 'cause Professor Snape favours his House, the Slytherins, and bullies all the rest. So you should avoid making trouble in that class.. unless you get into Slytherin."
The air was now tense, with the thought that there might be a potential Slytherin sitting with them.
"But what's so bad about Slytherin?" Cali asked, confused. She had been interested in being in the House of cunning, sneakiness.. it fitted her well.
"Yeah, Granger, what IS so bad about Slytherin? After all.. I'm in it," drawled a familiar voice from the door of their compartment. Familiar, that is, to all but California.
"On the contrary, you're quite a large part of the unpleasantness," Hermoine muttered.
"Hm," he said dismissively. "Well, well, looks like I've found Potty, Weasel, and Mudblood. Who are you?" he said, looking at Cali with an eyebrow slightly raised.
"I'm California Drache, but call me Cali."
"Drache, eh? That's German for dragon."
Cali grinned. "Yup." 'Oh, my gosh, he's cute!' she thought. "Um, so what's your name?"
"I'm surprised you don't know," he said, smirking. "I'm Draco Malfoy. My name's dragon in Latin."
"Latin.." she grinned. "They've told me about you," Cali said, her green eyes widening. 'So this is Draco Malfoy… wow, I mean I've always liked British accents, but is it possible that his is even sexier than most? These three make him sound so evil, but I think he's rather cute. Besides.. the bad boy vibe isn't a horrible thing...' She grinned. "So.. you're in Slytherin?"
"Of course. I wouldn't stand being in any other House," he replied, glancing disgustedly at Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. "Especially Gryffindor."
Cali nodded. "Um, why don't you sit down?" She scooted over and blushed when he sat down next to her. But the moment was ruined as two other guys, clad in robes like Draco's busted in and said, "We're nearing Hogwarts."
Draco stood up, not taking his eyes off Cali. "You'd better get into your robes," he told her. "And I almost forgot. These are my friends.. Crabbe and Goyle."
Cali waved to them as they stumbled into the compartment, wanting a better look at her. Hermoine just rolled her eyes again.
"Go on, get out, we need to get ready.. you guys should go back to your compartment," Hermoine said, annoyed, pushing the Slytherins out the door.
"I'll stay if I want to, Mudblood," Draco said rudely. Cali suppressed a snort at the look of obvious frustration on Hermoine's face.
"Yeah, let him stay," Cali said, looking up innocently at Draco. He half- smiled at her and sat down again.
Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and Cali put on their school robes and got ready.
"Don't you need to get your stuff ready?" Cali asked Draco.
"Nah, Crabbe or Goyle will."
Cali giggled. "That's nice of them."
Draco rolled his eyes. "They're just idiots."
Cali laughed. Then a voice informed them that they had arrived at Hogwarts. They all filed off the train and Draco said to Cali, "I'd better make sure Crabbe and Goyle don't get lost." He rolled his eyes again as she laughed.
"Okay.. see you later," she called after him. He turned around and gave her another one of his half-smiles.
Cali stood still in the crowd of students for awhile, and Hermoine pushed her on. "Oh, do keep walking," she said.
"Sorry," Cali said, and walked on till a large man approached her. She pretended not to see him and walked on, but he caught her. She would've screamed, but Harry, Ron, and Hermoine all greeted him.
"'ello, 'arry, Ron, 'ermoine. California Drache, I presume?"
"Er, yes," she said. "Sorry, you um.. scared mea bit..." she said, embarrassed.
"It's quite alright, miss," he said kindly. "I'm 'ere to tell you that though you're c'sidered a fifth year, you 'aven't been sorted so you need ta join the firs' 'ears in the Sorting Cer'mony."
She nodded her understanding, and followed him to where the first years were waiting. She was easily a head taller than most of them. She began thinking, quite dazedly, of all that had gone on.
--Cali's POV--
Wow.. I'm at Hogwarts already. And I've already met several people. Hermoine seems like she means well, but something about her she annoys me.. like she's a know-it-all.. and if anything.. I swear she's jealous..
Man, do I sound conceited but really.. it's the only reason she'd act like that. sigh I'm about to be Sorted. Argh.. good luck to me. I thought Slytherin sounded cool till Hermoine started ranting about it, but hey.. Draco's in Slytherin.. and he's right, him being in it makes it all the better.. haha, I guess I'm not REALLY having second thoughts...
--Draco's POV--
Hmm.. a new girl. California Drache.. Not a bad name at all. Wonder if Drache is a respectable family in the States, or Germany I suppose… California.. Father's taken me there once. Yes, I liked that place. And Drache.. dragon.. so her name is like mine..
She seems cool.. a lot cooler than Potter, Weasley, and Granger. Why in Merlin's name was she sitting with them? She could've sat with me.. I would've let her.. pause Yeah, I would've.
She looks like she belongs in Slytherin. Green tank.. which she looked totally hot in.. grin and green and silver ribbons.. She even has green eyes. You know.. she probably didn't even know those are the Slytherin colours.. she definitely looks like she should be in Slytherin. She acts it a bit, too. Not a bad girl indeed…
But then again, I don't think I should be too nice to her yet.. what if she gets Sorted into another House? sigh We'll just have to see…
--Hermoine's POV--
Fifth year, here I come. Who knows what'll happen now? Every year something strange happens..
So there's a newcomer, and she's not even starting in first year. She might be a competitor for the best student! Considering that she learnt spells on her own and all. I have to admit.. she's got to be rather smart. I suppose I like her alright. But she seems to have something for Malfoy. That's never good. And she had interests in being Sorted into Slytherin? An even worse sign. I can't tell if I convinced her to not want to be in Slytherin. But if she does like Malfoy.. she'll want to. I think I'll keep being nice to her.. unless she gets into Slytherin.
--3rd person--
Cali felt extremely nervous walking in the Great Hall with all the first years. She trailed behind them, trying to ignore the looks she was getting from the male parts of the students, even if she was wearing the school robes. Her silver-blonde hair was of nice contrast to the black colour of her robes. She was perfectly aware that well, she was attractive, and at times, such as today in the train with Draco, she enjoyed it.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermoine were walking with the other students to the Great Hall.
"So, what do you think of California?"
"I think she's nice, but do you think there's… more to her that she's not showing yet?" Harry whispered, for it was Professor Severus Snape leading them to the Great Hall. He would take points form Gryffindor for any valid reason he could find.
"EXACTLY!" Hermoine answered. Harry shushed her and they looked innocently about when Snape whirled around.
"I meant, exactly, there's something about her that I don't trust."
"Oh, lay off'a her. She's a cutie, right, Harry?" Ron said.
Harry sighed, but nodded. "Sorry, Hermoine, but I have to agree with Ron on that one."
Hermoine rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day. "So she's got good looks. ("No joke," Ron commented) So what? Someone could've made her like that to.. deceive everyone!" Hermoine said, babbling on and on.
"ANYWAYS," Harry said, stopping Hermoine before she started yelling. "We'll just see what happens when she gets Sorted. If she gets Sorted to Gryffindor, there's nothing wrong with her."
"You'll see," Ron finished.
The first years plus Cali reached the front of the Great Hall and Professor Dumbledore spoke. "Welcome to Hogwarts. We are now going to perform the Sorting Ceremony. Professor McGonagall?"
McGonagall stood up and walked to the stool with the Sorting Hat. "First years, when I call your name, come forward and I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head and you will be Sorted into one of our four Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin."
Cali sighed. She had a feeling that the people she'd met so far would treat her according to what House she was put in. 'This is it,' she told herself.
After awhile, she realized that she would be called last, for she was a fifth year. That let her relax a bit, till the last of the first years was sorted.
"Now, we have a fifth year joining us from the States. California Drache, please come forward."
Cali walked up to the stool and sat down, fully aware of all the eyes staring at her. Everyone, even the teachers, took note of the looks of her, that she looked like she was already in Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall placed the Hat on her head and Cali immediately heard a voice in her head.
"Hm.." the Hat said. "Sweet, yet with an edge. You have a knack at spells already.. a good student. You were very determined to master the spells… You're independent and mischievous. It should be.. Gryffindor or Slytherin?"
Cali sighed. 'I suppose I'll have friends on both sides. I don't care then..' she thought, but there was some deeper feeling not even the Sorting Hat could see.
"Then you'll be in GRYFFINDOR!" It shouted, and the Gryffindors, mainly the males cheered loudly.
Cali grinned at Harry, Ron (who looked as if he had just won the Quidditch Cup single-handedly), and Hermoine. Ron then gave Hermoine a 'I-told-you- so' look. Surprisingly, Hermoine just smiled. "I guess you're right," she said, joining in on the clapping.
Cali was all smiles sitting down next to Hermoine at the Gryffindor table until she looked around and rested her eyes on Draco Malfoy.
Her heart dropped.
"Can we talk?" she mouthed to him.
He scowled, but instantly regaining his composure, nodded slightly.
She flashed a grateful smile at him, which lifted his spirits significantly.
Cali had never had such a meal than the one she took part in at Hogwarts. She plates kept filling themselves up, so they were never empty, the pitchers did the same. There was such an assortment of food one never quite knew where to start.
The Gryffindor table was in high spirits, from the thrill of being back in Hogwarts, all the food, and getting the hot new girl in their House. Everyone chatted excitedly, everyone but Cali, who could not get her mind off Draco.
'Arrgh, why didn't I think of this before? Now he probably won't like me because I'm in Gryffindor. Gosh, why does it matter so much?' she wondered. 'Just 'cause I'm in another House, the House of the largest rivalry, doesn't mean we're forbidden to like each other.. and why do Gryffindor and Slytherin have such a rivalry in the first place?' she thought angrily. This was something she'd HAVE to find out. 'It's just not fair...' she said to herself.
"Oh, did you say something?" Ron asked her and the whole table quieted to hear what she had to say.
"Well, um, actually, I do have a question," she said, looking around. This was another time being attractive came in handy.
"Well, then ask away!" said Fred Weasley.
"Okay, um.. why is that Gryffindor and Slytherin have such a big rivalry?" she asked, hoping it wouldn't be one of those questions with a horribly inappropriate answer. "Well?"
All the Gryffindors looked at each other.
"Uh-oh, I shouldn't have asked.."
"No, it's not that," George Weasley said.
"We.. don't really know," Fred finished and the Gryffindors nodded.
"Oh.. well, is that stupid or what?!" Cali bursted out, making them jump a little.
"Err.. Cali?" Hermoine said. "Anything wrong?"
"YES! I mean, yes, I was just curious.. you know.." she went to her last resort, flashing a huge smile.
Everyone nodded as if they knew what was going on.
"It's all about acceptance," she muttered, sighing.
Soon, talk resumed at the Gryffindor table, while Cali just looked positively perplexed. She kept furtively shooting glances over the Slytherin table and rolled her eyes when the guys whistled at her.
She realized that most every guy but Draco would look back at her. He did once, but his face was set in a mask of apathy. What she didn't take the time to see was that beneath the mask was a perplexed look identical to hers, perhaps with a hint of regret.
Dinner seemed to last an eternity to Cali, despite the Gryffindors' infectious enthusiasm. She continued casting wistful glances at Draco, none of which were returned. The other Slytherin guys, however, continued grinning at her. A couple of times she smiled back, even a small smile, and the guys went wild. She then turn back around, rolling her eyes.
After a couple more minutes, which felt endless to California, dinner began coming to an end.
"Students, you will now proceed back to your dorms. Prefects will lead everyone up to their Houses. No one is to be outside of their dorms after hours," McGonagall instructed.
Everyone got up, and there was automatically mass confusion but there was only one thing on Cali's mind: finding Draco.
She stood up and craned her neck to see around her. She considered standing up on a chair, but decided against it. Then all of a sudden, she saw a flash of silver-blonde hair that did not belong to her.
"Draco!" she called out but her voice didn't quite carry over the noise. That, and she realized how dumb she must've looked yelling like such.
She groaned. He was leaving the Great Hall fast and she was.. well, she was stuck. Suddenly, an idea came to her.
"Mind telepathy!" she said happily. "I knew I was psychic for some reason!"
Then she concentrated hard, since connecting minds with him was completely new. "Draco, it's me, Cali. I'm talking to you through mind telepathy."
She giggled as he turned around, gazed at her, then stopped. "Wait for me outside the door.. please?"
That was more than enough, and she knew it. She slowly moved forward in the crowd of already confused first years and yelling prefects till finally she exited the Great Hall.
She exited so quickly, she nearly ran right into who she was looking for.. Draco Malfoy.
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PLEASE tell me what you think, especially if I've e-mailed this to you before posting it, I really appreciate the feedback.
Angelee