"Where's Blaise?" I asked when I arrived where my parents were waiting in the foyer when I noticed that neither my brother or his school trunks were there.
"He left early to meet Draco" my father replied shortly, all his comments had been so short recently, he was distancing himself from me and I could feel it.
"We need to leave now to make it to the train on time." my mother's voice was rushed intending for me to hurry up.
"I'm ready to go." I said, I felt the need to take a long look around what I could see of my home, some part of me felt like it was the last time I would be seeing it, I shook off the feeling, knowing that it was ridiculous.
"Now there will be dinner and I think you will end up being sorted with the first years, then off with the Slytherins to the common room and to prepare for your first day of class." my father said quickly ushering us out the door yelling for Snitch and Lulu to take care of my trunks. When we arrived at the station, it was a weird experience to run through the platform, it was my first time. My father had only accompanied us part of the way before leaving for the ministry, so my mother accompanied me as I pushed my trolley along the train.
"Blaise!" My mother called out when she saw my brother a little further down the train, he and Draco both turned, I watched my mother point at my trunks and Blaise nodded knowingly. Both Draco and Blaise grabbed my trunks and hauled them onto the train for me.
"Thank you boys!" my mother called after them receiving no response. "Blair honey, stay around your brother he'll keep you safe. Just promise me you'll be careful!" she said worry thick in her voice, it was as if she was holding back tears, it was odd it wasn't as if this was the first time I was leaving for school.
"Mother I'll be fine." I said smiling, "Don't worry."
"Don't forget to write us about your sorting, I can't wait to see what you think of Slytherin!" she finished trying to be upbeat again as she wiped a small tear from the corner of her eye.
"I will write you as soon as I'm settled in tonight." I said giving her a tight hug, which she held onto for a longer time than I expected.
"Alright, go on, have fun! I love you! she said letting go.
"I love you too!" I called back climbing onto the train after Blaise and Draco, I turned back one last time to see my mother standing there seeming so vulnerable. She gave a small wave which I returned before trying to find my brother. When I found them, they were with Pansy and Astoria, and a few others that I recognized from various parties and get togethers over the years. There was a full tension in the small car, but no one would say anything, I could tell it was my presence that hindered the conversation but I tried to ignore it, and instead focussed on the starting of the train and the scenery outside. The conversation was halted and surface level and I had had enough and finally excused my self to go out and explore the train. I walked down the train looking for any empty compartment and when I finally found one I moved inside and pulled out a text book I had put in my bag and started to read through it half heartedly. The ride on the train passed in a blur, Blaise gave me questioning looks when I finally came back as we approached the arrival at Hogsmead station. We climbed up aboard these carriages pulled by thestrals which I had only ever read about in my care of magical creatures books. I was pulled aside by a professor McGonagall in the entrance hall it seemed she had been on the look out for me.
"Miss Zabini, please follow me, this is an odd situation but you will be sorted before the first years, so just come along with me." she said quickly and walking away quickly and I rushed to follow. The first years looked so anxious and excited, many gave me curious looks, only one had the guts to say something.
"What are you doing here?" a young boy with brown hair asked finally after he'd been staring for a good several minutes.
"I used to go to Beauxbatons, but now my parents want me to go here." I said simply, I didn't care to go into any more detail.
"You don't sound French." he said curiously.
"That's because I'm not French." I said, and he looked more confused, but I was spared answering any more of the childs questions as Professor McGonagall began to speak again.
"Miss Zabini come to the front please, then the rest of you follow me." she picked me out in the crowd, I was taller than most of the young new students. I pushed forward through them until I was at the front, I did not like to be the center of attention and so I did not look forward to what was about to happen. We all filed in slowly as Headmaster Dumbledore began to speak, and I realized he was talking about me first.
"We do have a transfer student who will be sorted first before the new first years. As with all new additions to your house please be welcoming." he said finishing and turning the time over to Professor McGonagall.
"Blair Zabini." she said motioning me forward, without another word she placed the hat on my head, it didn't shrink to fit and fell past my eyes so that I was looking at the dark interior of the hat, a sliver of light peaking out from where it rested on the bridge of my nose. The hall was filled with an array of whispers that was drowned out almost immediately by a disembodied voice filling my head.
Ah..Blair Zabini, I wondered under what circumstances I would be seeing you.
The voice was inside my head, I was shocked, taken aback I hadn't expected the hat to speak to me, Blaise had not been very informative when telling me the process.
Slytherin is all you've ever known, but is it you. That I can't decide. You're torn between what your parents want, what you think you want and where your heart truly belongs.
At that point I attempted to reply to the silly voice of the hat that made absolutely no sense, It didn't work.
You are a powerful witch and so very intelligent, a kindness that is uncommon for your blood, I can sense a great good in you, a way for you and many other's to be saved, you have a courage that can not be denied.
The sorting hats comments left me curious and confused I didn't like the one sided edge of the conversation, why couldn't I be involved? Crossing my arms I set about to wait for the hat to call out its decision.
Slytherin is too obvious, you have the brains and wit of a Ravenclaw, the hard working dedication of a Hufflepuff, but your bravery and courage Ah and here I make my decision. The internal conversation ended there as one ringing word filled the silence of the room.
"GRYFFINDOR!" I could hear the gasps that came from the Slytherin table and I could only image what Blaise was thinking. The protection of the hat vanished and the Great Hall was visible again and after a pause of silence the Gryffindor table erupted into applause. Gryffindor wasn't bad, loyalty, chivalry, it had a promising ring to it and though I knew my parents would be disappointed but I was excited. I looked back at Professor McGonagall and saw her smile before I slipped off toward a table of strangers.
"The first Gryffindor in the entire line of Zabinis." I mumbled to myself scanning the table for an empty spot. I sat alone and was congratulated by a few people sitting at the table before listening to the rest of the sorting, and making room myself for the first year Gryffindors. The end of dinner happened so quickly and I didn't get another chance to see Blaise or Draco before I was being led off, again with the first years to the common room. The fat lady was intriguing and the common room was so warm and inviting.
"Hi, I'm Parvarti, I'm a sixth year as well, let me show you to the dorm where we are." a brown haired sweet looking Indian girl said approaching me in the common room. I was sure I appeared just as confused as I felt, I hadn't a clue where to go. When we came into the dorm room I saw my trunks at the end of a bed and felt relieved and thankful, attempting to maintain a low profile I quickly changed into pajamas and pulled the curtains around the four poster bed, I didn't know how I would make friends when these girls had made their friends in the past five years where I had been somewhere else.
The halls weren't very crowded when I left for breakfast, I had slipped out of the dorm early, I had no idea where to go, no class schedule and I still hadn't seen my brother. I was startled when a house elf appeared in front of me.
"Excuse me Miss, but I've been asked to show you to Dumbledore's office. Please follow me." the small house elf said sweetly.
"Alright." I said following the little elf who set off and let me down corridors and up stairs and until I was thoroughly confused about where I was. The little elf arrived at a statue where she paused and looked at me for a moment.
"Gumdrops." I was surprised by the house elf until the statue started to turn revealing a set of stairs which she led me up. I arrived in the office and saw the headmaster sitting quietly at his desk, he looked up with a smile when he saw me.
"Hello Miss Zabini." he said, I caught sight of his hand, which appeared to be blackened and withering, it was a shocking sight, but I pulled my eyes away to look at his kind face instead.
"Hello." I said with a smile unsure of why I would be called into his office.
"The first Zabini to be a Gryffindor, I think some changes are about to happen around here." he said slowly, I wasn't really sure what he meant by that.
"I guess so." I said unsure. "Sir, if Voldemort is back what does that mean for all of us here at the school?" I asked hoping he would be able to answer my question, a question my parents had avoided all summer.
"It means you should be ready, you should know what side of the fight you want to be on." he said solemnly, it made sense, my parents had been death eaters, though I thought they had changed their ways. Surely they had, and nearly all of their friends had been death eaters, I knew it was something I would never, could never be.
"I know where I stand and that's against Voldemort no matter who goes with him or what happens, that's my side."
"You are an ally of Harry Potter then." he said a smile bringing a twinkle to his eye.
"Yes I suppose that's true, though I've never met him."
"You will no doubt meet him very soon, he is in your year and in your house."
"That's true, why did you ask me to come here?" I asked quickly.
"Just to give you some words of advice and then to introduce you to someone who I think you should meet."
"alright." I said finally sitting in the seat across the desk from him.
"First the words of advice, you are a brilliant young witch, very talented, you and Hermione Granger would do well to become acquainted, with your minds together I believe great good can be achieved for the benefit of the magical world." he said, I simply nodded, I wasn't sure who that was but I guessed that maybe he would introduce me to her. "Also you have influence with the Slytherins who are now in danger of falling into the world of death eaters use that wisely."
"I will try." I said my mind racing to think what he meant, how could I have influence over anyone, I hardly knew most of Slytherins myself, we were acquaintances but not much more. "Secondly come with me, classes have started, my apologies for keeping you from them. I want to introduce you to someone." he said standing, I followed his lead.
"Is it Hermione Granger?" I asked, as he had mentioned her just moments before, he paused for a moment and chuckled a little to himself.
"Actually it is not, though you will meet her here soon enough. Here is your class schedule." he said handing me a slip of paper that neatly bore the classes I would be taking this year. Dumbledore's voice was warm and kind it was comforting and confidence boosting. With a smile, I moved ahead through a doorway that lead back down the moving set of stone stairs. We walked in silence and I chose to just observe my surroundings so I could decide how I felt about the school.
"Ah here we are." he finally announced as we came to a halt in front of a rather plain door in the middle of a long corridor. "Just one moment." He strode forward, knocked once and then proceeded to enter the room. I peaked into the classroom from afar to see the class trying to make sure that I wasn't seen.
"Professor Bins." Dumbledore addressed the professor who I was surprised to see was a ghost. I was going to have to figure out what was going on with that one, most of the students as they heard the voice, pulled their heads off their desks most leaving trails of saliva between their mouth and the desk. Sleeping in class, except for a few who though not asleep looked to as close as possible with out actually committing the deed.
"Yes, Headmaster?" the ghost teacher paused to look from his lengthy notes at Dumbledore who was now approaching his desk.
"I need to see Miss Weasley, I do not believe she will be back." he told the teacher, as he said this I noticed a red head at the front of the class perk up a bit.
"Go right on ahead Dumbledore, Miss Weasley you may go, just remember you have an essay due on Wednesday." the teacher finished that and began to lecture once more, I had only looked in on the class a moment and I was feeling already feeling a little bored.
"Ginny, Please follow me." the red head promptly grabbed her bag and followed behind Dumbledore, the look on her face was that of worry and relief it was an odd combination.
"Miss Weasley no need to be worried nothing has happened." that statement was a clear indicator of the times that we were in, of things that I didn't fully comprehend.
"Blair I would like you to meet Ginny Weasley." it was then that I came face to face with the red head with dark brown eyes, the bridge of her nose was heavily dusted with freckles. She seemed quite friendly and greeted me with a smile it was nice. I wondered if perhaps she could be a friend.
"Hello!" she exclaimed rather cheerily throwing her bag over her left shoulder then stuck out her hand for me to shake.
"Hello" I replied back smiling and shaking her hand.
"Miss Weasley will you please so Miss Zabini around the castle. Now she is a sixth year however I have a particular feeling about the two of you." the girl stiffened and stared curiously at the mention of my last name, almost ignoring the second part of Dumbledore's comment. I wondered why my last name would draw that sort of reaction from her, and then I realized it must have something to do with Blaise. It made me wonder what kind of reputation he had here, I hoped it was better than what I was now assuming.
"Yes sir." Ginny finally said, but I saw the questioning look almost as if pleading with the professor to let her out of it. Dumbledore just smiled and walked back off in the direction he had come.
"Well..." I started giving her a smile, she looked at me strangely and then began to walk before making a move to speak again.
"So you're Zabini's sister." she said the words came out most spiteful and it surprised me. Blaise must have been rude to this girl, he had to have been otherwise she wouldn't sound the way she did.
"I assume you're talking about Blaise." I said, moving quickly to keep up with her fast pace she slowed a bit and looked at me nodding.
"Well yes." she said quickly and I could tell she was holding back a bit.
"Has he done something to you?" I asked looking for her reply, she gave me a curious look but chose not to reply.
"You could say that. I'll show you the Potion's class room first starting at the bottom and moving up." she said but she moved her voice into a kinder tone now.
"Where is that?"
"The dungeon." she said quickly, I looked at her strangely that didn't sound like a place I wanted to go. "Don't worry it isn't too bad." she said when she noticed my expression.
"So are you a Gryffindor?" I asked trying to make some conversation, she had slowed down considerably as I made the effort to talk to her.
"Yes I am, and you are a Gryffindor as well, how do you feel about that?" she asked, and I assumed she thought I would be upset about the sorting, and I didn't blame her, most people were surely shocked.
"I think it's great, I love it!" I said happily, she gave me a curious look. "I've spent the last five years at Beauxbatons, you could say I don't fall into the same patterns as the Slytherins you probably associate me with." I said with a smile.
"I never would have guessed that from hearing your last name." she said.
"Yeah, I can see that, but what's in a name?" I said with a laugh.
"Nothing really, it's what you make of yourself that counts." she said, and it was exactly what I was thinking. "I wish more people thought like you."
"Me too. So do you have any brothers?" I asked, since she knew who my brother way I felt like it didn't hurt to ask.
"Yeah six! Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Bill, and Charlie." the exasperation in her voice was evident and it made me laugh again. She no doubt knew, even more than I did, how annoying it could be to have a brother to constantly be there to pick on you.
"Wow! That's a lot! Any sisters?" I asked
"Nope, I'm the only girl!" she said with a slight sigh, "So Professor Slughorn teaches this class and it's just this way." she told me, motioning for me to follow until we got to the door of another class room. She pushed the door open slowly and posed her head inside the room.
"Is professor Slughorn in?" she asked while I stood behind the door, still invisible to the people in the class room.
"No he isn't Weasleby what do you want." I recognized the voice, and was instantly disappointed in my brother.
"BLAISE!" I moved out from behind the door to chastise my brother who sat at a desk next to Draco, he looked surprised to see me there. I shot a glance back at Ginny who looked defiant and yet still embarrassed at the same time.
"Blair?" he questioned looking surprised to see me there. "What are you doing?" he asked looking at me questioningly.
"Quiet Mr. Zabini! Miss Weasley what can I do for you?" professor Slughorn moved up the aisle between desks.
"I just wanted to show Blair where your classroom was and introduce her, since she's a sixth year new to Hogwarts.
"Blair Zabini, I've heard about you! I have connections at Beauxbatons, my friends there have spoken of your great magical talent, a force to be reckoned with they say." he said, I blushed a little embarrassed at the compliments and just shrugged with a smile.
"It's good to meet you Professor." I said unsure of what else to say.
"And you my dear girl, I look forward to seeing you in class." he said jovially.
"Thanks Professor, sorry for interrupting." Ginny said before she could back out fully I saw the look of disdain both Draco and my brother shot at her, it made me rather angry. Mumbling the spell under my breath I hit them both with a giggling spell and they both burst into uncontrollable laughter. As Ginny and I walked away quickly I could hear Professor Slughorn chastising them for their uproarious laughter.
"Did you?" she asked giving me a curious look almost laughing herself.
"Maybe." I said with a laugh, " I don't understand why they treat you that way, but I'll find out."
"Don't worry about it, they've always been like that." she said, and that thought made me sad, I wished that she could know the side of my brother that I knew.
"Where to next?" I asked her, she smiled to herself for a reason I had no way of knowing.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts with Snape." she muttered looking at my class schedule seeming a little disappointed, Snape had always been a rather cold stand offish man when I'd met him, so it didn't surprise me. We maintained an easy flow of conversation the entire time she was showing me about the school. Dumbledore had been right to introduce us, I hadn't gotten along that well with anyone in a long time, I was pretty much positive that I had found my first friend at Hogwarts.
