A/N : Well did a manual spell check on this chapter. Still don't have the money to get my laptop from the pawnshop. Sorry to anyone who reads my stories :D I used an Australian singer and model as inspiration for Andy. Her name is Natalie Imbruglia (: she's the foxy lady in the cover pic.
"Andy, PLEASE. Just help me brush my hair. We're going to be late! I've never been late to King's Cross and I don't plan on it today. Besides, shouldn't you be excited? After all the stories I've told you, I mean." my sister bragged, for this umpteenth time since coming home for summer causing me to roll my eyes. All she did during her summer break was go on and on about everything she had accomplished at Hogwarts. I really didn't care, and to answer her question, no. As fascinated as I was with magic and being able to learn it, I wasn't excited. There wasn't an atom in my body that would be excited to spend a year locked up in a school with my uptight, know-it-all sister. What if I was put in her house? Or in the same dorm!?
"Do it yourself. You're a big girl, I think you can handle it. And the train won't be leaving for another four hours! Its a thirty minute drive!" I said, avoiding her question about me being excited. If only I had been allowed to go to another wizarding school. Far away from my annoying big sister... Well, at least I could drop out after one year if I couldn't stand her. Dad said so himself after I threw a fit because I was 'scared of magic', which I totally wasn't. But I couldn't admit to anyone how I felt, it was just plain wrong to feel this way about my own sister. We argued often but everyone just thought it was sibling rivalry. I alone knew it wasn't. I had friends with older siblings none of them felt the same way as I did. Big sis didn't seem to know either how much I loathed her and she was supposed to be the 'smart one'. Every little thing she did pissed me off.
"Mother! Andy won't help me brush my hair! I'm going to be late!" my sister yelled.
Tattle-tale.
"Andromie!" my mother shouted, making me since at the retched name she had given me, "Help your big sister!". I breathed deeply to control my anger then snatched the brush out of her waiting hand. I tried to ignore the accomplished smile on her face but for some reason my eyes kept glancing back at her in the bathroom mirror. It rekindled the fire in me and I began to brush her curly hair forcefully, tugging as hard as I could on the knots.
"Ow! Are you trying to pull my head off Andy?" she whined.
If I was, would it be cruel? I lied and shook my had then begin to brush gently. I was able to but my knuckles turned white because of my grip on the brush. When I was finished, she squealed and turned around to hug me. Apparently, my forceful tugs had done good to the bush of hair on her hair. That and the straightening serum she'd applied beforehand, tamed the wild jungle on her head which now framed in her face in loose curls. I scowled behind her back as she hugged me and dance ehile thanking me. Yes, everything she does pisses me off.
"Hermione! Andromie!" my mother called in a much more pleasant tone than earlier, "Come down for breakfast!". With that, my sister released me from my torture and ran down stairs, not stopping to wait for me. Of course she wouldn't, Hermione always like to beat me to the table because she had to beat in every little thing we did. And also, so she could get the food onto her plate faster than me so she would get the best of everything served.
When I reached the dining room, she was waiting, food on her plate, with a pleasant look on her face. She was next to my father, rambling on about a book she read. I ignored the head-to-toe look she gave me when I entered and sat down opposites my father. I picked a few pieces of egg and toast from the table and put them on my plate. My mother then sat down next to me, bringing the fresh squeezed orange juice she had just made. Once she had gotten her food, we all began to eat.
"Is that all your going to eat dear?" my mother asked as she eyed the small amount of food on my plate.
"Your not going to be able to focus today if you don't have a proper breakfast, Andy." Hermione added before I could even open my mouth and respond to our mother. It was another on of her habits, to speak before I could even when she wasnt the one being spoken to. How was I going to put up with that all year. Instead of snapping at her, I just nodded my head and took some bacon and a pancake. Hermione had managed to leave the most burnt pieces for me, as usual.
After breakfast, I finished the last touches of packing. As soon as I was finished, I watched my older sister frantically look for things she might have forgotten. I watched amused as she ran back and forth in our room, my head following her from left to right side. When she was sure nothing was forgotten, she grabbed her trunk and still frantic, told me to hurry up and get my things in the car. I didn't want to waste my energy to tell her that my trunk was in the car already and she was the one who needed to hurry. With a quiet sigh, I walked out of the room and downstairs to the car.
The ride to the train station was uneventful. I stared out the window the whole time trying to drown out the sound of Hermione's voice and luckily, succeeded.
"Andy. Andy! ANDY! We're here!" Hermione squealed as she shook my arm. I sighed again quietly and followed her out. We lugged our trunks to platforms 9 and 10 and after saying a long tearful goodbye to our parents, we ran through to platform 9 and 3/4. I was already aware of how to get through because I had seen Hermione do it for the past two years. Last year I'd even gone through with Hermione because no one had noticed I rode on her cart next to her trunk until Hermione was charging full speed onto Platform 9 3/4. When Hermione saw me , she grabbed me by the wrist and led me back out lecturing me all the way about how she knew I was envious but I'd have to wait because 10 year olds weren't allowed, my magic powers still weren't developed, and something about me being lucky because it was uncommon for two muggle-borns in a family. My parents were relived to know I hadn't been kidnapped and we bid Hermione another goodbye. I remember smiling mischievously as she left because she was angry about being 'late'.
This year we were three hours early and the platform and train were pretty much empty. I fell asleep as soon as we were situated in a compartment so that I could avoiding speaking to my 'darling' sister. I was awoken when two boys came in since one spoke rather loud. The loud one was a red-head who seemed to be stuffing his face with candy. His eyes widened and he blushed as he took in Hermione's new appearance. With my help (I was forced), she now wore clothing that fit her better, showing off her lean body and the color complimented her complexion. Her hair was no longer bushy thanks to treatments and serums and proper brushing which I hoped I wouldn't have to do all year. The bushy hair had been a mix of my mother's curly hair and my father's dull dry hair. I seemed to stick out like a sore thumb in the family with my straight, shiny almost black hair but I still thank the hair Gods for it. Unlike them I could wake up in the morning with only a few strands out of place and these strands were easily put back into place with a few stroke of a brush and voila, flawless hair. I don't mean to be conceited, its one of the few attributes I have.
The rest of my looks were rather boring. I was short standing at 5 feet, making me stand out even more against my tall, slim family members. I guess other than having to stand while everyone sat in family portraits was embarrassing but other than that I accepted my height. I didn't have plans to run for Miss Universe or even model for that matter so it wasn't much of a problem to me. I admit I look stumpy and even chubby if I don't wear the right clothes but luckily I'm the Granger sister with a fashion sense and willingness to spend my allowance on cute clothes. I also knew how to make my odd complexion work which was light especially against my dark hair. Certain colors even brought out my dark grey heavy-lidded eyes. When I don't have anything better to do, I stare at myself in the mirror, comparing myself to my family members. My parents ,sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives all had blonde or light brown curly hair but no dark hair that came even close to mine. Most had brown eyes and a few were green but no blue or grey like mine. Even my cheeks bones were different, prominent and wider than everyone elses.
"Well, it's a good thing you made it. I thought you might not make it on train again." Hermione smiled at the two boys. Her voice broke my train of thought and brought me back to the present situation. I studied the second boy, who had messy black hair and glasses. He had bright green eyes that stood out against the rest of his features. I blushed when I realized he noticed me staring at him. After taking a good long look at me, he interrupted Hermione's chatter to ask who I was.
"Oh, that's Andy. My sister. It's her first year." she shrugged seeming annoyed that he had interrupted her story about what she had read over the summer.
"You never mentioned you had a sister, 'Mione." the red-head stated, somehow managing to speak through his stuffed mouth. I wasn't surprised that she wouldn't mention me but it did remind me of why I loathed her. It was enough to make me stand up quietly and walk out of the compartment in search of the restroom.
I continued down the hall with my eyes glued to the floor until I bumped into someone. I fell back a bit and would've fell to the floor if the person I'd bumped into hadn't grabbed my hand. I looked up to my savior and saw the most handsome boy I had ever laid my eyes upon. He had blonde hair that was almost white and striking icy blue eyes that studied me from head to toe.
"Do watch where you're going next time. I don't know where you were staring but I thought you'd seen me coming. Draco Malfoy's the name." he shook my hand which he had yet to let go of. I could feel my cheeks burning red and couldn't get my mouth to form the words I wanted to say.
"Mute, are you?" he said while raising an eyebrow at me. I managed to shake my head no. "Well, I honestly don't have to time to attempt to communicate with you so I'll just be on my way. I assume you're a first year, good luck in being sorted. If you're lucky you'll be sorted into Slytherin.". With that, he walked past me not looking back while i continued to stare with my mouth slightly open. I was normally a quiet person but when it came to arrogant boys I usually had some smart remark to throw at them. But this boy was different, much more handsome and the way he confidently carried himself like he was better than me made me believe that he was.
I don't know how long I stood looking like an idiot but I did until the compartment next to me opened and a tall red-head stood in the doorway. He looked at me then left and right down the hallways of the train.
"Excuse me cutie, but are you alright? As adorable as it is, you've been standing there with your mouth open for quite some time and it might get stuck like that. I'm curious to know if you'd be just as pretty in other facial expressions." he smirked.
"Well, curiosity killed the cat. I'm Andy by the way." I returned his smirk and stuck out my hand for him to shake.
"Well, it seems I was correct. You're much more beautiful when you smile. Fred Weasly." he said while taking my hand in his and planting a kiss on it.
"Flattery won't get you far, Mr. Weasly." I took my hand from his and placed it on my hip.
"Not far, but at least it'd get me somewhere. However, your doubt that it'd get me far challenges me to prove you wrong. Do come inside, fair maiden." Fred stuck out his chest and smiled while gesturing for me to enter his compartment. When I did, I was surprised to find another red-head who was identical to him. I looked from on to another making sure I wasn't seeing things. They both grinned at me.
"Well, Fred, do introduce us to your new friend." the red-head identical to him said.