Philip was quick to bid farewell to his sister and good luck to his younger brother to attend to his Head's duties. Catherine was therefore handed the task of making sure he found a compartment with some other first years.

Catherine could easily observe how tense her brother was becoming and she quickened her pace to find a compartment for Stephen. Eventually, Catherine and Stephen ran into Christian Nott, whom Stephen was already familiar with. Catherine bid her younger brother good-bye before heading off to find her own friends.

As Catherine was looking for her friends, she unfortunately ran into Zacharias Smith. Catherine let out an internal groan before sending a polite smile to Zacharias.

"How was your summer, Catherine?" Zacharias questioned with a sly smile.

"Wonderful. I hope yours was as well. If you don't mind, I am quite anxious to see my friends," she said briskly as she tried to walk around the boy.

Zacharias, of course, countered her move by moving slightly in front of, and closer, to her. "Well, Catherine, my summer was actually quite uneventful, well, except for all of this You-Know-Who business and what not. Potter is something else, slinging that rumor around," he sneered. "I did enjoy some personal time, thinking about us. Have you ever considered it—us? I'm sure you must have."

Catherine was disgusted, and was sure she did a poor job of hiding it. "Actually, I don't think Harry would lie about something as important as You-Know-Who. And I would rather you keep your fantastical thoughts of an 'us' to yourself, as there is not and will not be an 'us'," Catherine snapped before brushing past Zacharias and quickly ducking into a compartment. Catherine immediately felt bad for her tone towards the boy, but had learned that she had to be forceful with the boy or he would not go away.

Catherine also felt guilty for implying that she supported Harry Potter's claims that Voldemort had returned. Honestly, she did not know what to believe, she just knew it would make him angry to think she believed Harry. For the time being, she was so overwhelmed with taking care of Stephen and preparing for her O.W.L's and dealing with Zacharias' pushy behavior that she had little energy left to ponder on whether or not the Boy-Who-Lived was telling the truth.

"What are you doing in my compartment?"

Catherine turned towards the source of the cold voice and came face to face with Draco Malfoy. Catherine sucked in a breath. She had managed to avoid the Slytherin for five years, thankfully, as she was quite intimidated by the boy. He was ruthless to most students and she did not want to be caught in his line of fire.

"O-oh! I-I'm sorry, I-I was just trying to get away and this was the first compartment I saw, I didn't know it was yours, I-I'll just be leaving know," Catherine rattled out to an amused Draco.

"No," he commanded, "not yet, anyway."

Catherine did not appreciate his sly smirk. "What?"

"What is your name? I don't think I have seen you before," he questioned, taking his time to appreciate her appearance.

"Catherine Ordell," she replied simply.

"Pureblood?" He prodded.

"I don't see why that should matter," she responded, crossing her arms over her chest.

Because Malfoys don't fuck Mudbloods he internally snapped. "Ordell, I suggest you answer the question, or find another compartment. It's too early in the year to waste my time on filthy mudbloods."

Catherine was appalled at the blond and in her moment of anger she found the strength to lie to Draco Malfoy. "Well, I would hate for you to have to interact with a lowly mudblood for another second. Have a horrible term, Malfoy," she snapped.

Malfoy looked appalled at the petite witch before responding, "Oh Catherine, it was a pleasure to meet you," he said with a sinister smile and fake sweetness lacing his words, "now get out of my compartment before your filthy hands touch anything."

Catherine gaped at the boy. Just who did he think he was?

"Are you deaf, mudblood? Get. out."

Catherine sent the blond the most hateful glare she could muster and left the compartment slamming the door upon her exit and finally going to find her friends.

Draco was curious about Catherine Ordell. Why hadn't he noticed her before? She was fit, that was for sure, and she seemed to be his age. How had she managed to stay hidden from his sights for so long? Was she new? No, that was impossible, he reasoned with himself. More importantly, he wasn't so sure the girl was a mudblood. He didn't see any kind of pain or indifference in her eyes when he called her one, not like when he called Granger a mudblood. Granger's muddy brown eyes would fill up with hurt; Ordell's deep blue ones were blank. No, Catherine Ordell wasn't a mudblood. At least, he sincerely hoped not, or his desires would have to be reined in.

As Draco Malfoy racked his brain for any kind of knowledge of the name Ordell, his fellow fifth year Slytherin companions entered his compartment and sat down, already in discussion.

Draco cleared his throat and gained the attention of the group. "Catherine Ordell," he blunty said, "ring any bells?"

Theodore Nott was quick to make it known that he knew the Ordell girl. "What would you like to know?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at Theo, trying to assess his angle. Why wouldn't Theo come out with everything he knew about the young witch? "What do you know about her?" Draco countered.

Theo let out a sly grin at Draco's interest. "Known her since we were kids. Our parents know each other. She's a Hufflepuff, her brother's Head Boy, Philip Ordell. Gryffindor."

Draco grimaced. "And?"

"And?" Theo replied.

"Is that all you know about her?"

Theodore chuckled, "My, my, Draco. She left quite the impression on you, got you interested did she? What did she do? Take her top off?"

Draco rolled his eyes at his friend's remark. "No you moron. The stuttering bint just waltzed in here like she owned the damn thing then spent a solid five minutes gaping at me like some sort of idiot. I just wanted to know who the stupid girl was."

Theodore chuckled, "Okay, mate. Anyways, I was thinking of asking her to Hogsmede this year. I got a look at her on the platform and she is quite a looker now."

Draco was careful to not let any sign of indifference appear on his face. For whatever reason, the small girl piqued his curiosity, and once it was satisfied, he would move on to another conquest. His friends' confession that their parents were friends confirmed his suspicion that Ordell was not a mudblood; the Notts wouldn't sully themselves with muggles. Shame she was a Hufflepuff though, a worthless house, Draco believed. However, it wouldn't matter; Ordell was hot enough that Draco couldn't give two fucks what house she was in; she wasn't a mudblood, and that was all that mattered to the blond. Theodore, he decided, would have to wait his turn because he wanted Catherine Ordell. And what a Malfoy wants, a Malfoy gets.

What a conceited ferret!

Catherine was fuming when she entered her compartment and found her friends.

"What's gotten you in such a fuss?"

Catherine turned towards he best friend, Elaine Bennett. Like Catherine, Elaine was a loyal friend. Elaine was one of Catherine's most favored friends because she would listen to Catherine without interrupting or asking a lot of questions. Elaine would calmly listen to Catherine when she needed to vent without judging and criticizing. Elaine never pestered Catherine to tell her if she wasn't ready.

Unlike Catherine, however, Elaine did not wear her heart on her sleeve. Elaine was much more guarded and was hesitant to show most people how kind and loyal she truly was. To most, Elaine was a snob, but to Catherine, she was the sister she never had.

"Draco. Malfoy," Catherine responded through gritted teeth.

Duke Elwood's attention was captured by Catherine's mention of the Slytherin. Duke was able to understand Catherine in certain ways that Elaine and their other companion, Amelia Harper, did not. While Elaine was a half-blood, and Amelia was muggle-born, both Catherine and Duke came from pure-blood homes. Catherine and Duke were often targeted by vindictive students, especially Slytherins, for being blood-traitors. However, Catherine noticed that Duke had grown considerably over the summer holiday and could easily protect Catherine from unwanted taunts from that crowd; Duke Elwood looked quite intimidating upon hearing of the blond and Catherine was not sure if she should disclose the story. Duke hated when Catherine was teased because her heart was too big to say anything to her tormentors, she would just take it. Duke, she worried, would act without thinking.

"What did he do?" Amelia Harper questioned. Amelia was a muggle-born whose stories of the muggle world entertained Catherine to no end. Amelia Harper was always fun to be around. She had a wicked sense of humor and always entertained the group with her wit. Catherine looked into Amelia's eyes and could already sense a hint of a plan forming in her mind on how to get Malfoy back for whatever he did. Amelia was also good friends with the Weasley twins and would have no problem asking them for help in avenging her friend.

Catherine sighed and decided she would have to tell her companions about her brief meeting with the snake. She proceeded to explain to Elaine, Duke, and Amelia about her strange encounter with Draco Malfoy. Her three comrades were not impressed at how rude he was to their kind friend.

Catherine, the most naïve out of the group of fifth year Hufflepuffs, was baffled at how cruel the blond was towards her. Had she done something? What, she pondered, could make someone act so cruel to a fellow student? She had heard stories of how harsh Draco Malfoy was, but now that she had been a victim of his temperament, Catherine was quite sure that she never wanted to encounter Draco Malfoy again.

Unfortunately for Catherine Ordell, her encounters with Draco Malfoy had only just begun.