Chapter One

Hogwarts Express

The muggy air of London, the reason for extra hairspray, Merlin's beard why must I be sentenced to this torture. France is right around the corner, just a broomstick away. Yet here I am, forced into a mission I'm not excited about, and I have to spend my time being shuffled about by a Malfoy. As if Hogwarts wasn't bad enough. I stood at the entrance of Kings Crossing alone, with three pink trunks by my side on a cart. Lilith meowed from my shoulder and I gave her a nice pat of the head. "I know kitty, I know. The air is bugging me too."

Lucious was supposed to arrive 4 and a half minutes ago with his son, I had been instructed not to board the train until the retrieved me. I felt more at risk standing on the streets of London alone.

Just as I was about to move to enter the train station on my own, a pair of men apperated before me. One was Lucious I'm sure of; I'd met him briefly several times before. The other, a shorter more attractive version of Lucious, I'm assuming that this is the young Draco Malfoy.

Lucious bowed to me. "Lady Umbridge." He greeted, when Draco didn't bow I raised an eyebrow to Lucious, who then stomped his cane against his foot. Draco bowed as well muttering a greeting. "I apologize for the wait; I wanted to have your bags attended to."

Curiously, I craned my neck behind me, sure enough the trunks were missing, leaving an empty golden cart there. "Glorious." I whispered slightly shocked I hadn't noticed them missing. "But in the future, attend to me first, not my belongings."

"Yes of course Your Grace."

I grinned at the name. Oh how I loved being the princess of the ministry, now perhaps I can be the princess of Hogwarts.

Lucious showed me the way through the station, took me through the portal and even saw me to the door of the train. "You are in the care of my son now Malady, I assure you he is very capable of anything you ask of him."

"Thank you Lucious that will be all." I whispered broadly glancing around the compartments of the train.

He then gave his son a stern look before apparating away.

The young Malfoy gestured before us. "This way Lady Umbridge." I followed him down the halls of the train to a car filled with green and black. He led me into an empty compartment, allowing me to enter first, then entering behind me and shutting the door.

I took a heavy breath, removing my overcoat and straightening out my dress before seating myself.

"My Lady, if I may ask. Why pink? Like all the time?" The young Malfoy questioned me.

I shrugged. "Pink is a very ladylike color, I respect my traditions and upbringing. So I wear pink and use my manners properly."

He seemed satisfied enough with my answer, then I continued. "Also young Malfoy, there's no need to address me so formally. You may call me Anwen or Annie."

Malfoy grinned almost excitedly. "You can call me Draco if you prefer, only my enemies call me Malfoy."

"I assure you I meant no disrespect by addressing you as such." I quickly apologized.

"No need. It's fine, not many people know me. They just know my father; I'm not much like him."

I chuckled lightly. "That's for sure, I wasn't positive Malfoy's were capable of grinning much like you did. Your father's reputation precedes him, but I promise I'm not very expectant of those my mother commands to me. You needn't assume to be at my beck and call."

He laughed lightly, a bright and cheery sound. "Thank god, I'm not sure how I'd preform as a servant."

"Make no mistake Draco, you aren't my servant but my partner. I rely on you, you can rely on me. I am here simply for a mission and you will aid me in said mission. Clear?"

"Crystal Anwen." He smiled thankfully at me and I returned the gesture.

I clapped my hands together. "Now," I snapped my fingers and a posh tea set appeared before us. "Care to join me in some tea?"

"How'd you do that? You didn't even use your wand!" His eyes had widened exponentially in surprise.

I simply poured my tea with a small smile as I explained myself. "It's a family secret, Umbridge's use short wands, usually with phoenix feather cores, mine just happens to be dragon scale instead. Anyways, our family magic is more inside us and projected through the wands, rather than in the wand and the skill of the wizard pushing it through the wand. Do you see?"

He shook his head no. "Seems confusing but I'll just pretend I understand. How can you use magic out of school though? You can't be old enough if you're just a 5th year."

My eyes rolled in annoyance. "I'm not a 5th year; I'm supposed to be a 7th year. But for this mission my mother gave me I have to pretend to be a 5th year."

"That makes a lot more sense; you look older than most 5th years as well. How old are you?"

"It's hardly polite to ask a lady of her age, but since we are partners. I'm 16 and I will be 17 on Christmas Eve." I explained.

He gapped at me. "You're almost 2 years older than me."

"Yes." I said simply. "Is that a problem?"

Draco blushed and turned away from me. "Of course not."

How strange and slightly childish... yet absolutely adorable.

The train continued to chug on forwards towards Hogwarts, I'd become slightly restless sitting in the stuffy compartment for so long with Mr. Have to talk about everything I've ever done. I finally rose from my seat and informed Draco I was going for a stroll around the train.

I ended up finding myself amongst a crowd of ruffians, from what I could tell, a Gryffindor named Dean Thomas was arguing with a first year boy about stealing his chocolate frogs. All I wanted to do was get through this crowd so I could reach the back of the train. With an exasperated huff I stomped my heel clad foot against the floor and shouted "Shut it!" The room of students turned to me in surprise. "Now then, what seems to be the issue lads?"

Dean rolled his eyes and flipped me off. "Keep on moving Miss prissy, this has got nothing to do with you."

Miss prissy? Did he? I swear he didn't just call me that name... "What did you call me?"

"I called you Miss Prissy, now kindly leave us alone."

My fingers twitched unwillingly at my sides and anger swelled in my chest. "You shouldn't speak to a lady like that!"

Dean, looking rather annoyed pushed off my comment. "Buzz off whore."

That was it.

I roared at the top of my lungs, snapping my fingers making the hallway rain chocolate frogs. "You sorry arse sick bastard! You will regret this day you've chosen to address me so fowl!"

Dean, along with the students that had gathered ran off back to their compartments, my conjured frogs chasing after them. I shook my head and dusted my gloved hands on my skirt, noticing I had a chocolate stain on the lower ruffle. "Damn it." I cursed lowly. "These stupid Gryffindor brats."

"We aren't all that bad, I promise. Dean is just a piece of work." A bushy haired girl rounded my ride and stuck her hand out in greetings. "Take it from me, I'm Hermione Granger."

Her skin and clothes reeked of muggle... it was repulsive. But, i remembered my manners and shook her hand. "I see... And what exactly makes you proof enough that they aren't all brats?" The smell made it hard for me to speak.

She giggled cutely and retracted her hand. "I don't think I'm enough proof, but I'm a Gryffindor and I'm not bratty." She paused and took in my appearance. "I haven't met you before what house are you in?"

"I'm not in a house yet, but I imagine that I'll be in Slytherin, much like my mother and father." I could stand the smell a bit more now that she'd backed away a few inches.

"Interesting, what year are you? Oh and what's your name, that should have been my first question!"

"I'm a 5th year." I lied easily. "I just transferred from beauxbatons, and my name is Anwen Umbridge."

A crash sounded from down the hall startling us both, Hermione gazed down the hall slightly awkwardly. "It was a pleasure to meet you Anwen but, I should probably go check that out. Bye!" She called as she trotted away from me.

By the time I'd returned to the compartment Malfoy was still awaiting me in, the train had pulled into the station and we were to disembark and wait for the carriages to take us to the boats. It would be much simpler just to apparate or take a flying carriage, why Hogwarts did things in such complicated way was beyond me.