Harry sat staring out of the compartment window, feeling bored and miserable. He kept his eyes to the window because, every ten minutes, Ginny took to walking by with a different boy on her arm, like she was simply changing purses. And each time she walked past, she would laugh, a small laugh that, if heard by others, sounded joyous, but, when heard by Harry, was clearly saying 'Look what you got rid of.'
Feeling slightly nauses from watching the senery past by, Harry got up and walked out of his compartment, hoping to maybe find food cart early.
"Hello, Harry Potter."
Harry turned to find the girl from the platform. She was sitting against a wall reading a book that looked a lot like Hogwarts, A History. She smiled up to him as he approached.
"Hey," Harry said. "You know, you don't have to call me Harry Potter. It's just Harry."
"Alright, 'Just Harry'."
Harry grinned as he sat down next to the girl. "What are you doing out here?"
"I, uh, couldn't find an empty compartment."
"Well, do you want to come sit in mine?"
"Are there, er, any other people?"
"Um . . . no, not in my compartment."
The girl hesitated for a moment before she nodded. Harry got to his feet and reached down to help her up but she was already standing. He led her into the compartment and shut the door behind her, realizing something in the process. "I never asked you your name."
"Oh, it's --"
At that exact moment, the compartment door opened and in strolled Draco Malfoy. Harry's mouth dropped open. They had let him come back too? But why? HOw?
"Don't let the flies get in, Potter," Malfoy drawled but not with a much entusiasm as usual. His gaze turned to the girl and his eyes widened appreciatively. "Who's the bird?"
Harry's eyes turned back his new friend's, to see that she looked incredibly frightened. She held the book closer to her, protectively, and got to her feet. "I've got to go."
As she moved closer to Malfoy, he shot out and grabbed her arm. "Running off so --"
Malfoy stopped and Harry could understand why. The girl had just turned to look at Malfoy and her eyes seemed to be glowing white. Harry stood up as her eyes narrowed at Malfoy.
"Let go of me," the girl whispered dangerously. Malfoy let go as if he had been burned and the girl ran off. Harry stuck his head out of the compartment and watched in shock as she ran.
"You always manage to find the freaks for friends, Potter," Malfoy said, but he sounded as scared as Harry felt.
Harry glared at him and ran after the girl, not knowing how to call for her since he didn't know her name. But she seemed to have disappeared out of sight completely.
"Harry!"
Harry turned around to see Ron and HErmione coming towards him. "We were just coming to meet you, mate," Ron said.
"Harry, are you all right?" Hermione said. "You look pale."
Harry felt pale. What had happened to that girl? Why had her eyes gone white like that? Where had she disappeared too?
"Harry?"
Harry looked up at his two best friends who were looking at him with concern. He forced a smile back on his face. "I'm fine. Let's go play Exploding Snap."
He moved past them, trying to push the mystery girl out of his mind. But her glowing white eyes kept popping into his head.
Who was she?
What was she?