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Chapter 4
Awkward Silences
When I decided not to tell Harry of my Hogwarts letter, I had no idea what I was getting myself into…
On the Hogwarts Express
The train began to slowly chug away from Platform 9¾ . "Right I really need to find Blaise, I just hope he's not with any of his friends…" With those thoughts in mind, Alice made her way down the narrow corridor, peeking into the various compartments to see if she recognised her old childhood friend.
They had spent many summers playing together, as his mother was often away on other 'business'. Her own mother had taken pity on the nearly forgotten boy, and had let him stay at Dorchester Manor. Blaise and Alice's favourite occupation back then had been playing hide-and-seek between the neatly clipped topiaries. They could spend hours just giggling away, totally forgetting the point of the game, which was to stay silent and hidden. But they didn't care. They were having too much fun.
Alice smiled as these happy memories filled her mind. With a new found urgency to find her friend she continued her search.
Right at the back of the train, when she had almost given up hope of finding him, she spotted Blaise. He seemed to be sitting alone on a bench, talking to someone opposite him. "Great, just what I need - some other guy staring at me. Oh well, I suppose I'll survive." With a deep breath Alice walked up to the sliding door and smartly rapped her knuckles against the glass. Blaise looked up, recognising her, he grinned and slid open the door for her.
"Hey Alice!" Blaise greeted her cheerfully.
"Hi Blaise. Ermmm… I was wondering if I could sit with you?" She asked quietly. "Only if you don't mind of course!" She hastened to add.
Blaise glanced quickly at the person he had been talking to, before turning back to her with a welcoming smile on his face. "Of course Alice, come on in!"
Alice stepped into the compartment, and keeping her head down she sat in the seat next to the window, right beside Blaise. Only then did she dare look up to see not one extra person but three additional boys. The one sitting opposite of Blaise, the one she supposed he'd been talking to before she'd interrupted, was someone she could recognize anywhere: It was Draco Malfoy. He wasn't hard to distinguish after all, with his slicked back, platinum blonde hair that shone like a beacon, alerting everyone of his presence, his steel grey eyes that seemed to bore into the very core of your soul and his ghostly complexion. He wasn't that bad just not particularly open and trustworthy. Narcissa Malfoy, his mother was friends with Alice's mum. They had set the two up on play dates together, the last time was when they were seven. Since then, they hadn't spoken a single word to each other.
~Flashback~ Three years previously...
"I don't want to play with you." A seven year old Alice stated with a curt nod of her head as she crossed her arms.
"Well I don't want to share my toys with you! Go away." Little Draco responded, snatching all his toys out of her reach and protectively clutching them to his chest.
"I'll tell your mum that you're being mean to me and then you'll get into trouble." Alice pouted, glaring at him with her big blue eyes.
"You wouldn't dare." Draco narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. He was a Malfoy. And Malfoy's weren't blackmailed and certainly not intimidated by icky girls!
"Try me, Malfoy."
Draco stared at her in disbelief as Alice drew in a deep breath, and with a last smirk directed at him, screamed. Narcissa and Ariel came running into the room only to see Draco sitting on the floor with all of his toys securely clasped to his chest and Alice screaming and 'crying her eyes out'.
"H-He's b...b...being mean to m...me!" Alice gasped during sobs. You'd have to leave it to her, the girl could act.
"Oh honey, come here." Mrs. Dorchester said as she lifted Alice up off the ground and held her tight, slowly rocking from side to side. While this was going on, Mrs. Malfoy was attempting to get Draco to tell her what had happened.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy." She addressed him in a stern tone. "I want an honest answer and I want one now. Did you or did you not make Alice cry?"
"Maybe." Draco mumbled. He figured it wouldn't really be relevant since nobody'd believe him no matter what he said.
"You are a very naughty boy! Go stand in the corner young man! I'm very disappointed in you!"
Draco's face first paled, even more if that was possible, then turned vaguely pink, from there it went to bright red finally turning a dark shade of purple. "This is so not fair!" Were the last coherent thoughts that ran through little Draco's mind before moulding together into an ear-splitting scream. Draco had, had enough!
He flung himself to the ground, his arms and legs thrashing wildly about him while he continued to bellow. "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"
"I'm terribly sorry about this Ariel." Narcissa apologized. "I really don't know what's the matter with him at the moment, really I don't."
"Don't mention it Cissy, they're children, what do you expect? Thing like this happen all the time, it's fine."
Alice left and hadn't seen Draco since. "It serves him right. He shouldn't be mean."
~End Flashback~
"Well, well Dorchester, fancy seeing you here." He sneered at her.
"Malfoy." She coldly replied. Alice was never exactly on 'first name terms' with him, and that wasn't about to change.
She shifted her gaze to the two other boys sitting next to Malfoy and opposite her. They were both large and bulky, playing exploding snap. Apparently they hadn't noticed her arrival yet. "They don't exactly seem like the sharpest tools in the shed." Alice thought as she observed their behaviour for a moment before turning a questioning gaze towards Blaise. But before he had time to answer, Malfoy butted in.
"Typical." Alice mentally rolled her eyes in irritation.
"This is Crabbe" -here he nodded to the shorter of the two boys- "and that's Goyle."
"Right." Was all she could think of saying. An unnerving silence overtook the cabin. This was turning out more awkward than she had thought.
"So…." Blaise tried to break the awkward silence. "What house do you think you'll be in Alice?"
"Well, I'm really not sure. I'm hoping for Ravenclaw. But wouldn't it just be terrible to be in Hufflepuff? I think I'd die! " That sounded horrible in her own ears, but she felt like all the left-overs got stuck in that House.
"And you, Blaise?"
Blaise smirked. "Slytherin I should hope!" He stated proudly. She thought about it for a moment and came to the conclusion that he would indeed make a good Slytherin. He was beyond competitive and would hardly stop at anything to win, he was cunning and sly. All traits of Slytherin House.
"Malfoy?" Alice asked.
He once again just raised a pale blonde eyebrow. "Do I really have to say? Or isn't it obvious?" It was. Blatantly. Malfoy would be Slytherin's Crown Jewell. He would be Slytherin Prince. And he would bask is in.
Alice didn't bother asking Crabbe or Goyle. She supposed all she'd get for an answer would be a grunt or a shrug. Alice stared out the window, watching the rural countryside flash by in a blur. She jumped as Crabbe gave some sort of grunt or snort from him-she couldn't tell which. Apparently their game of exploding snap had indeed exploded as the name suggests. Green goo was dripping from his face as Goyle snorted with pleasure at seeing his friend in this 'sticky situation'.
Blaise and Malfoy, who had in the meantime resumed their hushed conversation, stared at Crabbe and then simultaneously cracked a wide grin. Alice rolled her eyes in irritation. "Merlin! Boys can be so immature! Finding profound amusement in a mere blob of goop. Pathetic, really."
-S-
Alice was bored. They had been travelling for the better part of three hours with nothing to do, but sit there in strained silence waiting for the tension to be relieved. It never happened. She sighed, leaning her head back. "There must be something I can do." Then she remembered that Tinki had meant to pack some of her personal belongings. "Maybe-" She contemplated, "Tinki thought of packing a book or two." With this in mind, she stood, and reached up to grab her bag...but Malfoy was faster. He was on his feet before one could say Fizzing Whizzbees, and had swiftly snatched it from the rack overhead. Silently he handed it to her. "Well...this is...awkward to say the least." Draco thought as they stood -quite closely- together.
"Thanks Malfoy." Came her muffled reply, as Alice sat down, blushing.
Blaise looked at Draco as he sat down rather stiffly, and then burst into a fit of coughs...Alice wasn't stupid, he was laughing his head off. She shoved him, which just caused him to erupt again. Malfoy sent him a death glare and Blaise could distinctly, although he was trying hard to cover it, be heard spluttering "Awkward!"
Alice turned away completely embarrassed! Just then there was a knock on their compartment door and Blaise, still grinning like some maniac, slid it open to reveal a stout, kind looking witch with a food trolley. Crabbe and Goyle, as if instinct was forcing them to, abandoned their game of exploding snap and practically lunged at the poor woman and her trolley.
"Errrmm..Yes, children would you like to buy something? Ice Mice, Cockroach Clusters or Pepper Imps perhaps? Or would you rather take a risk with a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, or hop to the spot with Chocolate Frogs?"
"Yes, yes, we are aware of what you are selling!" Draco snapped at her in a rather snooty tone of voice. "Now give me some Sugar Quills, Fizzing Whizzbees, Chocolate Frogs, a pack of Bertie Bott's and some Pumpkin Pasties, snap snap."
The stout woman looked quite indignant but gave him what he wanted. Draco paid her 7 galleons, 5 sickles and 2 knuts while trying to shake off Crabbe and Goyle who were staring with hungry eyes at all the lovely items he was holding in his arms.
"You've got your own stuff!" Draco glared at the two lumpy boys.
Sitting back down, he dumped the goods on his lap, offering Blaise some. He of course took two Chocolate Frogs and three Pumpkin Pasties.
Draco, then turning to Alice said, "You want some too?"
"No thanks, brought my own." All this was said, half looking at the floor and only briefly glancing at his face.
"Suit yourself then, Dorchester." Malfoy shrugged, turning his attention back to Blaise who, in the meanwhile was nibbling at a -still wriggling- Frog leg.
Alice, searched her backpack that was lying on her lap. She produced a packet of Ice Mice, a box of Bertie Bott's, some Liquorice Wands, Sugar Quills and a roll of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. She also discovered that Tinki had indeed thought of packing a book, her favourite one too: Pride and Prejudice...what a clever little House Elf.
She popped a Drooble's Best into her mouth and started chewing while turning to the first page of her book. Enthralled by the story she didn't realise the blonde boy who was watching her out of the corner of her eye.
After about half an hour, Draco thought that he ought to say something to her. "Reading muggle stories I see, Dorchester. Purebloods really shouldn't associate with their kind, you know, bad blood." Draco sneered at her. She ignored him, her nose deep within the pages of the book. Alice had heard him alright, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting to his remark. He would have to try harder than that.
"One might think you're a bloodtraitor, just like those filthy Weasleys. Always putting our superiority in danger by getting too...hmmm...how shall I say it...attached. You might just slip and they'll know our little secret, and then what will happen...?" he trailed off. Draco could see her cheeks flush and he knew he'd struck home. In all the time he knew her he'd learned one thing: Alice was proud, proud of being a witch and, even if she wouldn't openly admit it, proud of her pure heritage. Calling her a bloodtraitor was sure to upset her calm front. He wasn't disappointed.
"Shut your gob Malfoy! You have no idea!" She spat at him.
"Ooooh, touchy aren't we...bloodtraitor?" Draco smirked.
"Don't you ever dare to call me a bloodtraitor again! You're just a spoiled brat and a Death Eater's spawn at that! If one of us is a bloodtraitor it's you!"
Draco was livid to say the least. His normally colourless cheeks had a pink flush to them and his lip was twitching dangerously. He looked like he was about to use an Unforgivable on her, and not regret it.
Alice was enraged but satisfied with the fact that Malfoy was too, and she turned back to the sentence she'd been reading.
-S-
To Blaise, one hour, felt like an eternity. Two of his best friends weren't prepared to talk and he was just sitting there...in dead silence. Crabbe and Goyle had fallen asleep so he couldn't even find enjoyment at their utter stupidity. He cleared his throat, trying desperately to make some sort of noise. Nothing, silence. He tried again...zero. He coughed.
"What's wrong with you Zabini? Choking?" Malfoy asked with a raised eyebrow. Blaise jut shook his head.
-S-
"When are we getting there?" Draco whined after yet another hour of silence. Alice ignored him and kept her eyes focused on the page. Which left Blaise to answer his question.
"It must be about 6 o'clock in the evening, judging by the daylight." I guess you couldn't really call it daylight as it was more dark than light.
-S-
An eternity passed when Alice finally looked up. "We're slowing down..."
Alice was standing on Hogsmeade Platform, students flowing like water around her. All merging together in the rush. She felt dizzy. She was finally here, at HOGWARTS! Well, not actually at Hogwarts yet...but pretty close!
"Firs' years over 'ere! Firs' years gather 'round!" A giant of a man shouted.
"That must be Hagrid. James told me about him." She thought.
"Ugh! That great oaf! Father told me all about him! You know, he's such a...!" Draco was lost for words and was doing wild hand-gestures, trying to get his point across.
Alice was walking on Blaise's right and Draco on his left, while being closely followed by Crabbe and Goyle, still yawning.
They got ushered into small boats with a lantern each hanging on them. Draco got in one with Crabbe and Goyle, obviously avoiding any contact with Alice since their 'little tiff'.
Blaise got in with Alice when Pansy Parkinson confidently stepped into the boat and sat down. "Hey, guys! You don't mind do you?" She asked upon seeing their slightly stunned expressions.
"No, not at all Pansy." Blaise said, side-glancing at Alice. Them and Pansy had been friends to some extent. Blaise was of the opinion that she tended to be too loud at times, as he was rather quiet. Alice thought that Pansy tended to be just a bit too chatty, she was one all for the gossip.
"So. Have you heard the news? You'll never guess-"At this point she cut off. Somebody had fallen out of their boat. Poor kid. Pansy started to cackle in amusement. She was overcome by mirth.
A long tentacle reached out and grasped the struggling body from the water and placed it back into the boat. Turning to Blaise Alice said, "Remind me never to go swimming in this Lake." Blaise just nodded, his eyes wide with what he'd just witnessed. Pansy had shut up the moment the tentacle had emerged from the depths.
"Heads dow' children! Keep yer heads dow'!" Hagrid called out. Every one's heads shot down at once, not wanting to fall into harms hands again.
The boats magically sailed into a little cavern, where they stopped abruptly. Hagrid stood on the shore, helping the struggling first years stumble clumsily out of their boats. Alice, Blaise and Pansy were soon joined by Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass, also friends of them. Together the little group followed Hagrid up to the mighty castle. It was all Alice had ever dreamt of: Mighty Towers, Stone walls and lit up windows. The 100 take or leave first year students streamed into the Entrance Hall, shivering from the cold. One boy in particular, one with a funny Irish accent was sopping wet.
"That must be the sorry sop who wasn't capable of even staying in a boat!" Draco loudly whispered to Blaise so everyone could hear it. The boy just blushed as the whole gang laughed...all except Alice.
She was standing between Blaise and Pansy, who was chatting away to Daphne, what else? Just then her eyes caught sight of a familiar shock of black hair. "Harry?" she quietly said to herself.
"HARRY!" Alice suddenly screamed as she recognized the green eyes behind round glasses.
Dun, dun, DUN! Go to chapter 5 to see what Harry has to say...but not before reviewing!