Lydia couldn't help herself. Her jaw dropped when she caught her first sight of Hogwarts. The place was massive, intricately designed, mysterious, beautiful, and intimidating. But, she reminded herself, nothing intimidated her. She stepped off the train, starting to follow Harry and Ron. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Do you have any siblings who go here?"

"No." Lydia lied. I don't want to be known as Draco's sister! she gagged. She didn't know how that coward was related to her. Harry was more patient than Ron, his tone gentler.

"First years go with Hagrid."

"Oh." Lydia was about to thank him but decided against it. She was Lydia Malfoy, how many times did she need to remind herself? She didn't thank anyone but herself! Lydia ran off to catch up with Ginny. An enormous man with a rugged black beard and wild, untamed hair stood a ways away from her.

"First 'ears over 'ere!" He hollowed. Lydia ran up to him, unafraid. He looked like a giant.

"Hello there," he bellowed cheerfully to her. Lydia shook her head to clear it of visions. This man seemed familiar too! Darn it all! She didn't know these people! Lydia wanted her mind to take a nice rest and stop disturbing her. Stop that! she thought to herself.

"Hi." she said cooly, and turned away, looking for Ginny. She appeared quickly, with another boy holding a camera.

"Hello, I'm Colin Creevy!" he said energetically, shaking her hand up and down until it lost feeling.

"Lydia." The boy seemed annoying. Not someone she'd like to hang out with. His blond curls bounced around as he jittered excitedly.

"This is so marvelous! Hogwarts at last! Oh, so good to be here! Yes, I'm thrilled! I'm going to take pictures of EVERYTHING!" I'm sure you will, thought Lydia exasperatedly.

"That's great for you." Colin didn't seem to notice her icy tone. He continued jabbering, making Ginny laugh. How does she find this funny?

Lydia blocked him out. She'd done this many times to Draco and had gotten pretty talented. Instead, she tried to evesdrop on any students or professors coming her way. It was quite fun. The giant distracted her.

"Umm... time ter get on the boats now."

The boats had to be enchanted, because Lydia couldn't think of any other way they'd move by themselves. She was in a boat with Ginny and that Creevy boy. She still wished he'd shut it. The black, swishing water below made her happy somehow...it held mysteries and power, just like her.

Colin kept leaning over until his hair brushed the water. Ginny kept trying to warn him, but her words were quiet. Lydia rolled her eyes; she didn't want the git to tip the boat.

"Oi, stop that! You're going to make us all fall in!" He snapped back up, making the boat rock violently. Ginny grabbed for something to steady herself, but found nothing.

"Sorry," he grinned ridiculously, "But I'm SOOO excited!" he leaned over again, and Lydia turned away. If he made her fall in, she'd take him down too. There was a splash to her right and she looked quickly to where Colin had been a few seconds ago. Ginny looked horrified.

"HELP!" she screamed.

Lydia's hand was dangling in the water. All the boats had come to a halt. There was no sign of him. Suddenly, something tugged her arm...hard, and Lydia...caught off guard, plunged into the freezing water.

"CREEVY!" she screamed, furious, bubbles escaping her lips. She swam upwards, gasping, but he pulled her back down. The bloke can't swim, she thought, Great. huge hands picked them both up, however. The giant had saved them.

"Trying to drown me?!" she screamed at Colin, shivering violently.

"N-n-no," he said feebly, "I-I was t-trying to grab your arm so you could pull me up!"

"Should've considered the fact that catching someone smaller than you off guard in hopes that they'll 'rescue' you won't ever work, IT'LL ONLY MAKE THEM WANT TO KILL YOU!" Colin turned away. The giant shook his head and wrapped his coat around both of them. Lydia shrugged it off.

"I'm FINE." she insisted. Colin snuggled into the fur cloak, the color returning to his face. Oh no, she thought desperately, he's going to start talking again! "Can I go back to my boat?" she asked, and the giant placed her next to Ginny on the boat to his left as if she weighed no more than a small parcel. Ginny looked at her, concerned.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine." said Lydia, gritting her teeth, wishing she was under the cloak Collin had as a cold breeze blew over the water, making her shiver more. The boats began to move again. Soon they would be stepping through Hogwarts' magical doors and starting on their adventures.