Two

A month later, Anona was boarding the Hogwarts Express. She had been eagerly waiting to see Harry again, even though Draco would probably yell at her.

She liked him. He was nicer than Draco or his two henchmen Crabbe and Goyle, who she was following around the train because she knew no one else here and thought it her best chance of finding Harry, since Draco had made it his mission to go and torment the boy.

They finally found the compartment he was in, and Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle all went in like they owned the place, with Anona lagging behind.

"Is it true?" Draco said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes," said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Both of them were thick as tree trunks and looked extremely mean.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," Draco said carelessly. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. I see you already know my sister."

Anona gave an uncomfortable wave.

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco looked at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."

"Draco…" Anona made a feeble protest to her brother's bullying.

He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.

"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly. Anona smiled with pride.

Draco didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riff-raff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."

Both Harry and Ron stood up, ready to fight, but Anona beat them to it. She could take all his rude comments about Muggle-borns, or about who he thought was less than him, but no one — especially not her brother — could talk that way about Lily and James Potter.

"Draco Malfoy, you take that back!" She hit him on the back of his head. "You can not talk that way. Did our mother raise you to be so rude? I don't think so. Get out of here!"

Draco bowed his head and walked back down the corridor, his laggies following behind.

"Sorry about him," she said, turning back to Harry and Ron. "He can be a right git. Mind if I stay in your compartment?"

"Not at all," Ron said, seeming quite entranced.

Anona sat down next to Harry. "So, which House do you think you'll be in, Ron?"

"Gryffindor, my whole family's been Gryffindor."

"Shame. I'll probably be a Slytherin, you know, cause I'm a Malfoy."

"Nah," said Ron, "after that show, you're a Gryffindor through and through."

Anona chuckled. "Let's hope so."

A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Anona's heart dropped to her stomach with nerves, and she followed Harry and Ron in the corridor.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Anona shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Anona heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! Alright there, Harry?"

Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.

"Mr. Hagrid!" Anona exclaimed happily. "How are you?"

"Just peachy, Miss Malfoy," Hagrid winked. "C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Anona thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

edited again July 2, 2016