An Encounter with Malfoy

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to Rowling, I claim to own nothing. How I wish it was the other way round.

Kitty woke up on September 1st, and nudged Ginny asleep next to her," WAKE UP! Ginny, Hermione, we have to get ready, we are going to Hogwarts today!" "Mmhmm," mumbled Hermione, as Kitty quickly washed and dressed and rushed downstairs.

"Ohh!" she cried as she bumped into someone and fell back onto the floor. "Careful, there," Said Fred or George (she never really knew which was which), as he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her to her feet. "Thanks," said Kitty breathlessly.

After breakfast, the Weasley family, along with Harry, Kitty and Hermione, arrived at King's Cross station. They met Remus there who gave Kitty a diary and said," This is a two way diary, you can write in it to me, and I can write back. This way we can keep in touch and you don't have to wait for days to talk through owl post."

Kitty smiled and hugged Remus, who kissed her on the forehead and hurried her to the platform barrier. She waved at him, clutched Harry, closed her eyes and both harry and she ran through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾.

Once on the platform, they hurried to get up on the train, for the guard had blown his whistle. Harry found an empty compartment and the four of them trudged inside and heaved themselves on the cushioned seats of Hogwarts Express.

Kitty sat by the window and pressed her face to the glass, looking at the countryside that flashed past. They were soon joined by a round faced boy, clutching a toad in one hand. Harry introduced him as Neville Longbottom to Kitty, who held out her hand.

After about half an hour, Kitty yawned and cuddled Xim( the white kitten Remus had given her)to her chest. "Are you feeling sleepy, Kat?" asked Harry. She nodded. He put an arm around her and she dozed off against his shoulder.

A little while later, she was woken up to the sound of Ron noisily munching some Pickleberry Popcorn, that popped while they were in your mouth. Harry handed her some Chocolate Frogs that he had saved for her, and she opened the first one and bit off the frog's head. Sweets were the only part of the wizarding world she was used to since her brother brought back loads of Honeydukes sweets for her every time he returned from school.

They enjoyed themselves for some time munching on the sweets they had bought. Meanwhile another thought had been hankering in Kitty's mind since a long time. When Ron, Neville and Hermione got up and went to change into robes, Kitty got the chance to speak to Harry alone.

"Harry, if I'm not in Gryffindor, will you be mad at me?"asked Kitty, looking apprehensively at her brother, as she pulled on her robes.

"Kat, how many times have I told you the Sorting Hat seriously considered putting me in Slytherin. I won't be mad at you at all, even if you end up in Slytherin. In fact, now that I think of it, I don't think that you will be placed in Gryffindor," said Harry reasonably, brushing his messy hair, without success.

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean Kat is that think about it, do you honestly think you are brave enough to be in Gryffindor, you have loads of qualities I'm sure, but you always used to say that it is better to be a live coward than a dead fool, didn't you?" said Harry.

Before Kitty could reply, the compartment door flew open and Kitty saw a pale, blond boy with a pointed chin standing in the doorway, with a couple of big, beefy boys that looked even huger and stupider than Dudley, if that was even possible.

"Potter," the blond boy drawled.

"Malfoy," said Harry, with gritted teeth, his expression one of utmost contempt.

"Making out in the train, are we?" drawled Malfoy," I see you got yourself a girlfriend. You two are poorly matched, she's way too pretty for you. How much did you have to pay her?" he continued.

"This guy thinks that I- I'm Harry's girlfriend," Kitty thought. "Gross," she said out loud.

Malfoy who thought Kitty said this in reply, immediately said," Glad to see that we see eye to eye, I'm Draco Malfoy."

With a snarl, Harry plunged onto Malfoy and punched his face muttering in between, "You—stay—away—from her, you get it?"

Malfoy hurriedly ran back to his compartment, shouting over his shoulder, "I'll get you back for this, and your sister! You wait and see!" His two goons followed him after giving us threatening looks.

"Do you really think he might get us into trouble?" Kitty asked wide-eyed, "I mean it's my first day at Hogwarts and I don't want someone behind me already, to make my life hell," she added as Harry gave her a scornful look.

"Just steer clear from him, and you'll be fine," said Harry, dismissively.

The train screeched to a halt, and the students began filing out. Harry heard a familiar voice, as he helped Kitty off the train.

"Firs' years! Firs' years follow me! Over here, firs' years!"