Chapter Two
Hermione
'My name is Delilah Malfoy.' The girl said. Ron and Hermione gasped. Harry looked at Delilah in disbelieve.
'Malfoy as in…family? Family of Draco Malfoy?' Harry asked. Delilah nodded.
'Yes, a distant relative. Don't ask me what kind of a distant relative. I never quite understood that.' Delilah looked smilingly at Ron, but her smile changed into a concerned look. Ron looked a bit sick.
'Are you ok, Ron? You don't look very well…' Delilah touched Ron's forehead with the back of her hand. Ron flinched at the touch of her hand. 'I'm ok, just a bit hungry.' Ron said.
Hermione looked at Harry. Harry shrugged. Delilah saw this and asked: 'What is it? Did I miss something?'
She looked Harry straight in the eyes; Harry couldn't look Delilah in the eyes and looked down.
'Uhm, it's just that…' Hermione began. 'Yes?' Delilah asked impatiently. 'It's just that the Malfoy family have a certain reputation around here. For example they're not very fond of Harry or muggle-borns.' Hermione felt her blood rush to her cheeks and looked down.
'Oh…' Delilah let out. 'Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that.' She looked around, trying to convince Harry, Ron and Hermione. 'But I'm not like that. I'm absolutely nothing like that! My best friend is amuggle-born. She's the nicest, sweetest and most awesome person I have ever met!' Delilah smiled. Probably at the thought of her friend.
Suddenly the look on her face changed and she looked down. 'Come to think of it. My parents didn't particular like her. I miss her so much already.' She looked up again and Hermione saw that there were tears in her eyes.
Ron who hadn't said a thing the last couple of minutes took Delilah's hand. 'It's ok. You've got us now; and we'll help you through the year.' Ron winked at Delilah.
At the same moment the carriage stopped. Hermione got out as fast as she could followed closely by Harry. She couldn't believe what just happened. Ron can't do this; he can't be nice to a girl. He never did that. Hermione had often asked herself if he even noticed girls, noticed her. Hermione blinked her eyes a few times, trying to push back her tears.
'Hermione?' Harry walked up to her and turned her around. 'Hermione, are you ok?' Hermione turned back again.
'Yes, I'm fine. You just… startled me, that's all.' Harry looked at Hermione in concern. 'You can't fool me Hermione, I've been your best friend for years now. I'm not blind, you know. I might wear glasses, but I can see.' Harry smiled at Hermione now. Hermione smiled a bit back.
'I bet you know the feeling. With Cho and Cedric last year.' Harry's smile disappeared. 'Oh, I'm sorry Harry, I didn't mean it like that! You know I don't!' Hermione said. 'I know, I know that. It's just, the wound is too fresh. But you're right. I know the feeling.' Harry hugged her.
'It will be ok… eventually. But for now…' Harry got something out of his pocket. 'I heard that chocolate helps.' Harry opened his hand, where a piece of chocolate lay, left over from the train trolley. Hermione laughed and took the piece of chocolate.
'Thanks Harry. I honestly wouldn't know what to do without you.' Ron and Delilah joined them. 'Everything ok here?' Ron asked them. 'As ok as it can be.' Hermione said as she looked at Harry. 'Let's go then!' Ron and Delilah walked on front. Hermione followed and bit a piece of the chocolate. Hmm, chocolate does help a little bit.
Delilah
Delilah sat down at the Griffindor table. As she hadn't been sorted into a house, she would just sit at the table where she had friends. Delilah looked around, not seeing a thing. It was very crowded, people everywhere trying to find a place next to their friends, at the right table. She looked at the Slytherin table. Draco was already there. Delilah didn't recognize the two people he sat next to, but they didn't look very clever. The boy looked a bit like a troll, and the girl kept looking at Draco with big eyes, like he was something she could eat. Delilah rolled her eyes and turned back again. She sat next to Ron. He regained his normal colour, she honestly wondered if he really looked ill in the carriage because of his hunger. She thought it was because she was a Malfoy. Hermione's comment got her thinking about her family. She couldn't help but remembed back to another time when she was a lot younger.
'Delilah! Are you coming? Dinner is ready!' her mother called.
'Yes mother! Coming!' Delilah ran down the stairs. Her parents were in France for a few days and Delilah couldn't be happier. Though she hadn't seen her father that much since they arrived.
'What's for dinner, mother?' Delilah asked.
'I don't know, ask Dobby. He'll probably know.' Delilah turned, but she couldn't find him. 'Mother? I've wanted to ask you something.'
Her mother sat down at the table. 'Go ahead, honey.' Delilah hesitated. 'Is it ok if Isabella could come here to stay? I really miss her.'
Her mother's face gave nothing away. 'I'm sorry dear, but there is just no time and besides, you shouldn't be friends with that sort or people. They'll ruin you. Now eat you dinner or else it will get cold.'
With that the conversation was over. There have been a lot of conversations similar to this one. Always about Isabella not coming to stay at Delilah's vacation house, and her parents always refused.
'I think I could eat a whole horse!' Ron said.
He smiled at Delilah, she smiled back. 'As long as you don't touch the pudding at dessert, it's all mine!' Delilah joked. She looked at Hermione who was talking to Ron's sister, Ginny.
Ginny looked like a sweet girl, very happy. Delilah noticed that Harry couldn't keep her eyes off of her. She wondered if anything was happening between those two.
Delilah looked at the doors. No sign of the first years. Delilah looked back at Hermione. She noticed that her eyes were a little bit red, like she's been crying, but not too much. Delilah did see what happened after Hermione left the carriage; she had noticed Hermione's attention for Ron too. Delilah felt sorry for Hermione; she didn't want to come burst into her life, claiming her crush.
The doors of the Great Hall opened and a whole bunch of fresh students entered. Delilah looked at the three first years that had changed at her compartment. Delilah smiled waving at them, and they smiled back. Professor McGonagall said that Delilah would be sorted at the Headmaster's office, tomorrow morning. But first it was these first years turn.