Here's chapter two. I'm planning to update every Friday so the updates should be regular. And I'm glad to see some people favourite and follow my story, but come on guys. Could you please take the extra 2.2 seconds to comment? It means a lot to me. But anyway, please enjoy.
Chapter 2
Apologies
Harry awoke early the next morning as the sun shone through the window in the boys' dormitory and into his eyes. Classes were scheduled to start today and he sighed, running a hand through his ever messy hair. Getting up, he padded to the washrooms, turning on the shower and cleaning himself off. When he had finished, Ron, Seamus and Neville were all awake as well. Waiting until the last of them were showered and ready, they headed down to breakfast.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione sat deep in conversation with the newest Gryffindor Eighth Year. Ron sat beside his girlfriend, eyebrows furrowing as he picked up bits of their conversation on Ancient Runes.
"Blimey," Ron sighed. "Secretly Ravenclaws, the both of you."
Harry chuckled good-naturedly and sat beside the flummoxed ginger. He poured himself a glass of pumpkin juice and piled bacon and toast onto his plate. An airy laugh sounded from behind him and he spun in time to see Ginny leaning down and kissing his cheek sweetly.
"Someone's hungry," she teased, grabbing a seat beside Harry.
"I'm not as bad as your brother," he said, pointing to where they all assumed Ron's plate had once been, though now it was but a heaping pile of food.
"It's all men, Ginny," Hermione sighed, stealing a piece of Ron's toast much to his chagrin. "I wouldn't worry too much."
"I don't think we've met," Ginny said to Rhea once her laughter had subsided. "I'm Ginny Weasley."
Harry had to wonder if thoroughly examining a hand before shaking it was a nervous tick of Rhea's as she scrutinized Ginny's outstretched hand for a moment before taking it.
"Rhea Devonshire," the ebony-haired girl muttered. "Pleased to meet you."
"So you're in Harry's class then?" Ginny wondered, giving the other girl a quick onceover. Harry knew that Ginny was sizing up the competition so to speak, though Ginny didn't need to worry about Harry running off with another woman. Ginny was the only girl he'd ever love.
"Yeah," Rhea said, seeing that she was being studied and shifting uncomfortably in her seat.
Luckily, Seamus chose that moment to arrive at their side looking totally crushed. "Oi, you realize what we have first class?"
They all shook their heads and Seamus almost shuddered.
"Muggle Studies with the Slytherins," he exclaimed, flopping down on the bench next to Rhea.
"That's a bad thing, I gather," Rhea said slowly, examining her new friends' expressions closely.
"Bloody Slytherin gits are all Death Eater spawn," Ron spat. "They'd never be taking Muggle Studies if McGonagall wasn't forcing them."
"Ronald Weasley," Hermione snapped, clipping Ron on the back of the head. "What did I tell you about lumping all Slytherins together like that?" She turned to Rhea and tried to reverse the damage her boyfriend had made. "They're not all bad. Most of them come from Death Eater families, yes, but then you can understand why they might be slightly prejudiced."
"I can't believe you're sticking up for the same gits who spent years calling you a Mudblood," Ron spat, putting down the piece of bacon he'd been eating, totally disgusted.
"Would you rather I stay bitter, Ron?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Where's Neville?" Harry asked, changing the subject before Ron and Hermione's squabbling turned into honest fighting.
"Eating with Hannah," Seamus said, a grin plastered on his face.
"Hannah Abbott?" Hermione asked curiously, momentarily distracted from her anger.
"They seem to be getting on quite well," Seamus confirmed.
"That's great," Harry said, glad to see his friend finally come into his own. Besides, someone ought to benefit from the War Glory.
"Hold on a minute," Seamus said, really looking at Rhea for the first time. "I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Seamus Finnigan."
Seamus extended a hand and Harry expected Rhea to take her good ole time examining it but to his surprise, she took it immediately without a moment of hesitation.
"Rhea Devonshire," she said. "Pleased to meet you."
"Pleasure's all mine, Love," he smirked, winking at Rhea who in turn giggled lightly.
"We should be getting to class," Hermione said regretfully as she watched almost all the remaining students trickle out of the Great Hall. They all agreed and soon the group, minus Ginny, made their way to Muggle Studies first floor classroom. They seemed to be early as the classroom door was still locked. Or maybe they were some questionable form of late because, surprisingly enough, the Eighth Year Slytherins were already waiting at the door, every last one of them.
When their footfalls alerted the Slytherins to their presence, all four of them looked up. A particular blonde blanched and stepped forward, almost tripping over his own feet. Harry would have laughed if he weren't so concerned with both forming some sort of truce with the young Malfoy and worried about what could have possibly made the normally poised boy trip over himself.
"Miss Devonshire, please I'd like to apologize," Malfoy began and with those words alone, four Gryffindor jaws almost literally hit the floor. Still, Malfoy continued. "I know that nothing I can say can justify my family's actions and believe me, I don't want to justify them. Know that I don't share their opinions in the slightest and I'm deeply hurt the events that transpired."
"Can I ask you something?" Rhea wondered, her expression not betraying her thoughts in the slightest.
"Anything at all," Malfoy replied quickly.
"Did you have them under the Imperious Curse or something?"
"No, definitely not," Malfoy said, shaking his head.
"Did you ask them to do it?"
"No," Malfoy said again.
To everyone's great surprise, Rhea began laughing. "Then what the bloody hell are you apologizing for?"
"My family wronged you greatly," Malfoy insisted. "That responsibility rests on my shoulders as well."
"Pure-bloods," Rhea scoffed. "You're all stupid."
Again, no one knew quite what to say to that. Harry felt as though he'd just walked into the middle of some soap opera. What Rhea and Malfoy were going on about was anyone's guess, although he was apologizing for something so clearly Harry hadn't made the wrong choice in vouching for him... it seemed.
"Stop your blubbering," she sighed. "You are not responsible for people's actions because you share the same name. I don't forgive you. Why would I? You didn't do anything wrong. Well, not to me at least."
"So, you're not cross with me?" Malfoy asked hesitantly.
Rhea sighed. "Merlin, honestly! Pure-bloods equal stupid!"
Before another word could be uttered, the door to the Muggle Studies classroom opened and Professor Staples stood in doorframe, smiling brightly.
"Good morning class," he beamed. "Brand new year. Come on in."
The students entered Professor Staples's classroom hesitantly and took their seats cautiously. Neville slipped in at the last moment before the door magically swung shut. The seats were arranged in twos and so Neville at in the empty place next to Harry. Ron and Hermione were seated together, naturally, and Seamus had snagged the seat next to Rhea. Zabini and Parkinson sat nervously at one table while Malfoy and Nott sat at the other.
"Now then, on to our first lesson," Professor Staples said, clearing his throat. "I want you to copy down what's written on the board."
With a flourish of his wand, words appeared on the green chalkboard and he proudly read them aloud. "Blood status is stupid."
"Are you serious?" Parkinson asked timidly, not wanting to be expelled but obviously having trouble countering the ideals she'd been fed since childhood, even in writing.
"Quite," Professor Staples replied, nodding in satisfaction. Parkinson too nodded slowly before placing the tip of her quill to the parchment in front of her and copying.
"What did Malfoy's family do, if you don't mind me asking?" Harry heard Seamus ask Rhea from where the Irishman sat behind him. "I've never seen the Slytherin Prince so ruffled."
"His father and his aunt killed my parents," she said calmly. "No big deal, really."
Harry nearly choked on... he wasn't sure what – air maybe? Well, if this wasn't going to be an interesting year.
