Disclaimer: I own nothing except Echo and Snowdrop. JK Rowling does. I'm just a teenager, don't sue me.

Chapter three: No, I'm standing up for my friends.

Not long after I had joined Ron and Harry, the door slid open again, revealing a girl with bushy brown hair. She bore a very serious expression.

"Have any of you seen a toad? Neville lost it." The boys shook their heads. She looked of to me.

"Can't say I have," I replied. She sighed, and her eyes fell to Snowdrop. She looked a bit taken aback.

"Is that… a fox?" she asked.

"Uhm. Yea. Her name is Snowdrop.

"The rules clearly said we could have an owl, toad, rat, or cat. Not a fox." I shrugged, partially annoyed.

"So? I don't really care." She sighed and shook her head. After a moment of silence, she spoke up again.

"Would you mind if I joined you three?" Harry and Ron glanced at me. I shrugged nonchalantly. The two boys turned back to the girl and nodded. She smiled and sat down next to Ron.

"By the way, I'm Hermione Granger."

"Ron Weasley."

"Echo."

"Harry Potter." Hermione gasped and looked at Harry.

"You're Harry Potter?!" she asked eagerly. He merely nodded as Hermione beamed. What was so great about Harry? I was confused, but didn't bother asking.

Snowdrop hopped out of my lap and into Harry's. She put her front paws on his chest and licked his face. He chuckled slightly and reached down to pet Snowdrop. She emitted a sound of content and snuggled into his lap. I couldn't help but smile.

The four of us talked for a while about a lot of different things, and I learned a lot about each of them. Hermione was really smart, studious, but kind of boring. Ron was a bit more relaxed. He had a big family and liked Quidditch. Harry was laid back, and just talked about anything. It turned out that he didn't even know he was a wizard. We kind of caught him up on things that mattered.


After about half an hour, the door was violently slammed open, startling me and making me fall to the floor with a high pitched yelp. I sat up and pushed my hat back up to where I could effectively glare at whomever was standing in the doorway.

My eyes were met with two tall identical boys. They had the same violent red hair, splatter of freckles, and lanky bodies. They both wore impish grins at the moment. I locked eyes with the one on the left and glared intensely. He grinned widely.

"Why George," he began.

"Yes Fred?" the other replied.

"I do believe this lovely vixen has fallen for us before we even said anything to her."

"I reckon that you are correct George. It must be our radiating charm. But do you think we should we be flattered or scared?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps a bit of both."

Ron and I rolled our eyes simultaneously. I looked over at Ron and immediately noticed the resemblance between him and the twins. Must be two of his brothers, I decided.

"What do you two want?" Ron hissed. The twins smiled.

"Now ickle Ronniekins, don't be so rude," Fred once again began.

"Yea, we simply popped in to see how you were."

"And this is how you treat us?"

"Maybe you should-"

"-make it up to us and-"

"-introduce us to your-"

"-lovely new friends." They made me wonder why Draco and I couldn't do that…

Ron sighed and looked at each of us.

"Guys, these are my brothers: Fred and George. They're third years." I immediately noticed that George's freckles were a smidgen lighter than Fred's. Harry and Hermione nodded.

"Harry Potter." The twins looked a bit shocked, but recovered quickly.

"Hermione Granger." The twins nodded and turned to me, still on the floor. I glared again at them, which caused them to grin. Why can't I be intimidating?!

They walked over to me and kneeled on either side of me: George on the right and Fred on the left.

"Come now Love," George began.

"We were merely joking."

"Didn't mean to frighten you." They both then put on puppy dog faces and leaned in closer.

"Forgive us?"

"Please?" I rolled my eyes, but was holding back a smile.

"Fine. My name's Echora. I go by Echo."

"Echo," George called softly. Fred smiled and glanced around the compartment.

"George, is there an Echo in here?"

"I do believe there is Fred." I smiled. I liked them both already.


The twins decided to join us. Fred took my spot next to Harry as George settled onto the floor with me to play with Snowdrop. The fox too a liking to the twins more quickly and intensely than Harry. When the twins said that we'd be there soon, I went and changed into my robes. I simple tossed them on over my clothes since I wouldn't need them for long.

I personally found the twins quite interesting. They were funny and witty. They told me about all of the pranks they've done and plan on doing. I added my thoughts on how to make them a bit more funny at certain points.

"We plan on slipping some things into first years' drinks that will turn their hair bright colours," Fred explained.

"Well, why don't you make it where it'll turn their hair the colours of a rival house, and have it change colours to a different house each hour?" They both blinked at me. "What?"

"That's brilliant!! Ron! This girl is a genius!" Fred boomed. "I like her already! How about you George?"

"Definitely. That idea is gold!" I chuckled.

"As long as you don't get me with it, I'm good," I warned. They smiled at me.

When the train stopped, I remembered that I had to get back to Draco. I hastily got us and scooped up Snowdrop.

"Sorry guys, but I have to get back to my brother. I'm sure he's worried."

"What year is your brother in? Maybe we know him," Fred said. I smiled.

"No, he's a first year. We're twins." Fred and George smiled as I headed out. On my way down the hall, I heard one of them yell how he hoped I was sorted into Gryffindor. I cringed, knowing that I wouldn't be.

I hopped off of the train and quickly found Draco and his… friends.

"Where have you been?!" he hissed.

"You know, just hanging around," I replied, not looking him in the eyes. He narrowed his eyes at my vague answer. I smiled at him. He shrugged it off.

The four of us got into a boat that automatically started making it's way across the lake. My jeans and converse peeked out from my robes and I hadn't taken my hat off. Draco noticed this and looked at me.

"Why didn't you change completely?" he asked.

I smiled at him. "Didn't feel the need." He rolled his eyes, and decided to change the subject.

"You know, there were rumours, on the train. They say that Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." I shrugged.

"So?"

"So?! He's the one that lived through the killing curse cast by you-know-who." It suddenly dawned on me. I remembered my father telling me that once, but I must have tuned him out.

"Oh yea. Haha. I forgot about that. Father pretty much only talks to you anymore anyways." He rolled his eyes.

"You're hopeless Echo. Just remember, father said no mudbloods or blood traitors." I nodded. I didn't particularly care, but I decided to humour Draco for a bit.

"Why don't you give me a list of names then," I said with an edge of laughter in my voice. Either Draco didn't notice it or decided to ignore it because he took my answer to heart.

"Okay. Well, no Gryffindors." Oops. "No Potter. Granger. Weasleys." Oops. Oops. Oops. I smiled to myself and tuned Draco out. I'd be friends with whomever I wanted.

Once we entered the castle, I veered away from Draco. I loved my brother, but I knew how he could get around other people. It was probably because we were anti-social little children.


After McGonagall gave her speech and disappeared, I hoisted myself up to sit on the stair railing. Chatter quickly filled up the area. From the corner of my eye, I saw Draco step up to Harry and Ron.

"So it's true. The rumours on the train. The famous Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," he boomed loudly. I couldn't hear whatever he said next, but both boys looked displeased. I hopped off the railing and strolled over to him just as I heard Ron snicker when Draco said his name.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe. You must be a Weasley," he sneered. I was taken aback a little bit. I had never hear my brother speak with such venom. He sounded so much like… "My father told me about your type. Pathetic." I had had enough by then. I stepped up to Draco.

"Oh stuff it Draco," I hissed. He turned around and looked at me, obviously confused. After a moment, he put two and two together and glared at me.

"Sticking up for the blood-traitors, are you Echo?" He hissed. I glanced from Harry and Ron back to Draco. I lifted my chin defiantly.

"No Draco. I'm standing up for my friends. How about you go back to yours?" I said confidently. He glared once again and strode away. Harry and Ron looked at me a bit confusedly. I mouthed I'm sorry right as the doors to the Great Hall opened. I guess I didn't have time to explain.

The group of kids entered and stood up front nervously. I tuned out the sorting hat's song and most of the sorting. I heard that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sorted into Gryffindor though.

What if they're mad at me when they find out that Draco is my brother? What if they decide to not be my friend? What if they hate me?

I was pulled from my thoughts as McGonagall called out Draco's name. He sauntered up, and sat down. The hat put him in Slytherin before it even touched his head. Not surprising really. I gulped, knowing that I was next.

"Echora Malfoy!" I winced as I heard a few gasps from the Gryffindor table. I sullenly made my way forward and sat down. McGonagall cleared her throat and I looked up at her slightly confused. She motioned to my hat. I snatched it off, embarrassed. I had forgotten that I had been wearing it.

She placed the hat on my head, and it spoke softly to me.

"Ah. Another Malfoy. Not quite like the rest though, are you? Cunning and ambitious, yes. But also quite brave and loyal. Creative, intelligent, and witty. Could do wonders in Ravenclaw. Perhaps Slytherin isn't for you?" My stomach lurched. Mother and father would kill me if I was placed anywhere but Slytherin.

"N-No. Please! J-Just put me in Slytherin," I whispered urgently.

"You're sure?" I nodded slightly. "Okay then. SLYTHERIN!" It boomed. The table erupted into cheers, but I saw Draco's face. Still angry from our banter, but also a look on his face that screamed What were they saying, and why did it take so long? I sighed.

I then let my eyes travel over to the Gryffindor table. My eyes were met with Hermione's angry glare; Harry's and Ron's confused stares, and Fred's and George's sad and hurt looks. I quickly looked away, not being able to handle it.