Chapter 2
Nikky was able to pull her arm away from Draco. "What makes you think I'm going to hurt you?" He asked still caught by surprise. Nikky just wanted to go back home. She was not use to the attention and being around kids her age. She was use to spending her life practically alone in isolation away from the world. "Can you please just leave me alone?" She said and pulled her arm out of his grasp and ran away back to her compartment.
It was just Ron in the compartment when she returned. "Harry and Hermione went to help my sister." He said. Nikky didn't really care. She was fine that Hermione wasn't there. She asked too many questions. "Bet this is much different than being home schooled." Ron said. "You have no idea." Nikky said under her breath. "You'll like it. Harry didn't even know he was a wizard when he came here. At least you've got some knowledge about magic."
"How did he manage all of this?" She asked.
"He had me and Hermione. We've been through a lot the last 6 years and there's no one else I would choose to have by my side then them. You're welcome to hang with us. Hopefully you get sorted into Gryffindor." He smiled. She didn't know what Gryffindor was so the rest of the train ride he went into explaining the houses and the sorting. Harry and Hermione returned when they were almost at Hogwarts. "Alright boys get out so we can change." Hermione ordered. She was a bossy person. The boys stepped out and they changed into their robes then vice versa.
"She's pretty that one." Ron told Harry when they were alone in the compartment.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Nikky."
"Ron you are smitten over every girl that goes to Hogwarts." They laughed.
The Hogwarts Express came to a slow halt at the Hogwarts station. There was a giant man standing there waiting with a lantern. He had s scruffy, long black beard and the head of hair to match it. He had to be 12 ft. tall. "FIRST YEARS AND NEWCOMERS PLEASE FOLLOW ME!" He shouted. "I guess that's me." She told the trio. After her and the other first years gathered around this large man, they walked over to a lake. They got in 6 per boat and it took off at a slow pace. "YOU WILL SEE HOGWARTS IN JUST A MINUTE. IT'S RIGHT AROUND THIS CLIFF." The large man, who had a whole boat to himself, shouted. The boat past the cliff and a big "Ohhh." was heard among the students. Perched atop a high hill, a castle with windows sparkling in the starry sky. The vast castle had many turrets and towers. Nikky was actually kind of excited to be living there now instead of the run down home she'd been staying in.
They approached an archway covered with an ivory curtain hidden in a wide opening on the side of the cliff. The boats automatically pulled up along the side of a long dock. They climbed numerous stairs which made Nikky thankful she ran a few times a week because some of the students had to stop and rest. Once inside they were brought to an empty room by an elder lady by the name of Professor McGonagall. She wore emerald green robes and hat. As she was explaining what the ceremony was going to consist of, a ghost flew in scaring everyone. "PEEVES! You better leave at once before I tell the Bloody Baron." She yelled at the ghost. He merely just laughed and left.
"We're ready." Professor McGonagall said. The Great Hall was huge! The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was so high up that you couldn't see the ceiling at all. Nikky was amazed to see that it was enchanted to look like the night sky. It was beautiful. There were 4 long tables, one for each house she assumed, and then a long table in the front for the teachers.
The first years and Nikky gathered up to the front where a bar stool sat in front of the teacher's table with a very old, beat up hat sitting on top of it.
"Welcome everyone to Hogwarts and welcome back to all returning students as well." An old man with long white hair and beard spoke. He must be Albus Dumbledore. Her father told her about him. (Sorry guys I couldn't have him dead) "Before we begin the sorting ceremony I would like to make a few start of term announcements. First I would like to welcome back Professor Lupin as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. After being away for a few years he has decided to return. Secondly I would like to remind all students that the forbidden forest is to stay forbidden. Finally, Mr. Filtch has asked me to remind you all that Mrs. Norris is not to be used to practice your transfiguration spells or any other spells for that matter. Points will be deducted and detention will be given to those caught doing so." He took a pause and looked at the new group of students. "This year we have a special newcomer joining us. She will not be a first year like the rest of this group but will be joining in with the 7th years. She is a transfer from another school on the further side of the globe. Once the sorting hat has introduced itself I will ask her to be sorted first and then we will follow with our regular first year sorting." He smiled and sat down while everyone clapped.
Just then the hat twitched. And it formed a face with a mouth and started to sing. It was truly amazing how this hat could come alive and have a fun, rhyming song. Once it finished the students roared with applause once more. Professor McGonagall unrolled scroll of parchment and said. "When I call your names, you will come up and have the hat placed on your head to be sorted. Riddle, Nikky" She called out. All of a sudden she felt nervous. As she slowly made her way to the front she could feel her palms getting sweaty and her stomach turn into knots. She didn't know what would happen. Her father wanted her in a specific house and she was scared she would get put in the wrong one.
Nikky sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, it spoke. "Ah! A 7th years. Not too often I get a transfer student to sort. Welcome to Hogwarts my dear a place you will enjoy but where shall I put you. You would be great in Slytherin, Gryffindor and even Ravenclaw. You've got the wits for it. You're also a strong candidate for Slytherin but something in your head is making go with... GRYFFINDOR!" It shouted and the second table to the left erupted into applause. She ran up to them and sat next to Hermione. "Glad to see you made it with us." She said. Ron was smiling at her and his ears were turning red. "Are you ok?" Nikky asked him. "Fine... fine..." And she turned away.
The rest if the first year students got sorted into their houses. It took a long time. Nikky felt her tummy rumbling. She hadn't eaten since the Leaky Cauldron that morning. Once the last student was sorted into Hufflepuff, Professor McGonagall put the hat and bar stool away. Dumbledore stood up at the podium again and said. "Before we begin our feast I have just a few last words to say. Sickle, gillyweed, and toadstool" He sat back down as everyone exploded into applause once more. Nikky was confused. She had no idea what that meant. All of a sudden food appeared in front of everyone. There was all kinds of things. Turkey, pork, steaks, mash potatoes, vegetables, fresh fruit, rice, corn on the cob, and some things Nikky had never seen before. She was so hungry she put a little bit of everything on her plate.
Once everyone was done with dinner all the food disappeared and desserts appeared. Apple pies, ice cream, brownies, cookies, cupcakes, chocolate cake, red velvet cake, you name it, it was there. Nikky didn't have much room for dessert so only had a cookie. Ron and Harry were stuffing their faces with cake and ice cream. Their faces were a mess. "You would think they were toddlers by the way they eat." Hermione whispered to Nikky. Once everyone was done the dessert disappeared and they all had to go to the Gryffindor common room. It's no wonder they fill you up with so much food before bed, with the amount of stairs they had to climb they were burning it off. There were many pictures on the walls talking to each other and welcoming them back for another year. They people in the paintings would go visit each other. Finally they arrived to a painting with a large women in it. "Welcome back Gryffindors. It's so good to see you all again." She said. "Lemon drops" Someone said and the painting opened up revealing a hidden passageway.
Everyone entered. "Nikky you will follow me to our room. The boys are on one side and girls on the other. But I'm sure you will be bunking with the rest of the 7th year girls." Hermione said. They said their good nights to Ron and Harry and went off to their room. Upon entering Nikky saw several 4 poster beds with red curtains and bedding. Nikky's belongings were at the foot of one of the beds next to Hermione. She ran her hand across the soft sheets. She never had a bed before. She slept on a mattress on the floor her whole life. Her room was never clean no matter how much she tried. She changed into an old pair of pajamas. "Why are your clothes so worn out and have holes in them?" One of the girls asked. "My family can't afford much." Nikky said embarrassed. She still had some money left over from school supply shopping but doesn't know of any wizard store that sold clothes. Everyone went to bed and fell asleep right away. Once she knew everyone was asleep, she took a piece of parchment and her quill and sat by the window with the light of the moon.
I made it in Gryffindor and we have met.
Was all she wrote. She folded the note and hid it in her bra. Tomorrow she would send it off to her father. That night she had a dreamless night.
The next morning Nikky got up earlier than the other girls and found her way to the owlry to send off her letter then she met up with Harry and Ron for breakfast before the first potions class. Potions class was in the dungeons where it was cold and gloomy. Reminded Nikky of her home. They had potions class with Slytherin. As they waited for the professor, Nikky noticed Draco was in the class as well. She hadn't seen him since the event on the train yesterday. He was looking at her.
"He's awfully quiet over there. He's usually got a whole summer's worth of stuff to pick on you about." Nikky heard Ron whisper to Harry. She noticed that he was looking in Draco's direction. Just then a man with black hair and long black robes came walking in. He had his back to the class when he began writing ingredients on the board and talking. Then he turned around and Nikky realized she had seen this man before and he looked at her like he had seen her before as well but then he snapped out of it and continued on his teaching. She can remember him talking to her father a few years ago but couldn't remember what it was about. She was often kicked out of the room whenever her father had guests over. She was never allowed to socialize.
After double potions class with lunch in between, the trio and Nikky were done with classes for the day. Hermione wanted to hit the library to do her homework and get a head start on tomorrows reading. Ron wanted to eat, which he seemed to always want to do. Nikky just wanted to run. She went back up to her dormitory, changed into her running gear, pulled her hair back into a ponytail and outside she went. The Hogwarts ground was a beautiful place to run. She decided to run along the lake. She went about a mile and a half around before turning around towards the castle. She stopped when she reached the bridge back to the castle. Draco was standing by the entrance by himself. He usually had the two fat boys by his side.
"Why did you think I was going to hurt you?" He asked bluntly. Nikky was a little out of breath from her run. She had sweat running down her face. "What?" She said wiping her brow.
"Yesterday on the train when I grabbed your arm. You said 'Don't hurt me' Why did you think that's what I was going to do?" He asked. "I didn't say that." She said still catching her breath. He gave her a look that said he didn't believe it.
"I don't know why I said that. It was the first thing that came to my mind and I would like you to leave me alone." She said walking away. He ran in front of her to block her way. "Look I don't usually care especially about Gryffindors and I shouldn't be seen talking to one but I didn't want you thinking I was going to hurt you or spreading around that I hit girls."
"Well you don't have to worry about it because I won't. Now can you please leave me alone?" She said trying to get by him. "I will." Just then some Slytherins passed by and he added. "You better shower Gryffindor because you smell bad. Running is a muggle's thing."