Chapter 10

Samira woke up in Tonk's house. It had been two weeks since her and Neville went to the small cavern, but she still thought about it. She grew nervous about the day ahead for she was to be on the train to Hogwarts that afternoon. Her bags were packed and she silently counted down the hours.

"Hello Samira." Tonks greeted as she set the table. She was back to being glum and quiet after Lupin came by a week ago. Samira didn't stay long. As she left she grabbed her new broom that Lupin had giving her and headed out the door.

It was still dark with the sun peaking over the horizon. She rode for around fifteen minutes top speed to the small town near Diagoon Alley. It was quiet and only a few stores were open. She went into a bakery where she bought a few pastries for her and the twins.

Afterwards she went down the street to the Weasley's store. The door was still locked, so she had to use the back door. The door, Samira could tell, wasn't used a lot because it would stick a thousand ties before it opened.

The backroom was almost empty as she made her way through. The main store was dark. The only light in the room came from a small street light from outside.

She pulled out her wand and lit the room with one wave. She then stocked the shelves, and then went up to wake Fred and George.

"Fred! George!" Samira called as she opened the door.

Fred came out of the bathroom. His hair was wet and hung on his face.

"I set up the shop for you guys." Samira said.

"Thanks." Fred grabbed a shirt and put it on.

"Where's George?"

"He left last night for Hogsmead. He took half the back room with him too."

"Oh, well I bought you both some donuts. But if George isn't here--."

Fred snatched the bag from her hand so quick she couldn't react.

"Wow, this stuff is my fave." Fred opened the bag.

As Fred indulged himself, Samira relaxed on the couch. "Is there anything I can do for a few hours?" She asked.

"Sure."

Samira spent the next few hours doing errands for Fred, and hated every minute of it. She mentally hit herself in the head for asking such a dumb question to a person like Fred.

Once she returned to the store, it was busy as usual. As she entered she was intercepted by George.

"George!" Samira said. "I thought you were gone."

"I forgot to give you something, so I had to come back."

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"Well just think about of it as a gift from me and Fred for welcoming you to the business.

Samira looked at him skeptically then followed him up to their flat.

Once there he immediately gave her a box. Samira noticed that there were holes in the box.

"Oh, Merlin. It's an animal isn't it?" She asked.

"Just open it and see." George said. He sat in the chair

Samira moved herself to the couch and opened the box. Inside was a cute light brown ermine. The fur around its eyes was darkened into a mask-like style, and the tip of its tail was snow white. It was curled up into a small ball steeping silently.

"Oh, George, it's adorable. Did you name it?"

George nodded. "He's name is Audrey."

Samira looked back at the ermine. "Thanks George, I promise I'll keep him safe for you."

The clock chimed into the room. They both heard someone come up the steps. The door opened to reveal Tonks.

"Samira, it's time to go. The train will be leaving soon."

"right." she turned to George. "Thanks for everything. And I guess I'll see you at Hogsmead."

"Yes you will."

Samira placed the top back on the box that contained her new precious Audrey and passed George through the door.

The store became empty as the time of departure drew closer. Samira saw her trunk and her owl Alice waiting for her behind the counter along with Fred.

"Well." Fred hugged her farewell. "I guess I'll be seeing you around Christmas."

"Christmas?" Samira asked.

"Sure mum will love you to come to our house Christmas day." George said as he came down the stairs.

"I guess I'll keep that day open."

"You better!" Fred laughed.

"He'll be looking forward to it." said George jokingly.

George helped Tonks grab her things and head outside.

"Well." Samira put her hand on Alice's cage. "Like I said to your brother. Thanks for everything." she gave him a last small hug and kissed him on the cheek.

Fred's mouth opened as his hand touched his cheek.

"Don't read too much into it Fred, it was just a friendly kiss."

"Whatever you have to say to sleep at night darling." he smiled.

"Oh Merlin. I'm never going to hear the end of this." she turned and headed out the door.

"I'll be counting the days till I'm graced with your beauty." called Fred.

"I'm sure you will." she called back over her shoulder.

Once outside George turned to her. "So, when do I get my kiss?"

She looked at him in a 'keep dreaming' way.

"I take that as a no. Well hope you have a good time."

"You too."

Tonks and her walked down the street and apparated to the train station.

"I'll be at the school don't be afraid to talk to me sometime." Tonks tried to give a small smile but failed horribly.

The train whistle sounded filling the air with more smoke as the last of the passengers said goodbye and loaded.

She hugged Tonks. "Thank for putting up with me."

"Glad to do it again."

The whistle sounded again. She turned and waved one last time to Tonks before she entered the train.

The train car was filled with people trying to find a carriage

She tried to squeeze by a few of them with little to no success. She tapped a red-haired girl on the shoulder to find out why there was such a big crowd.

"Ay, Harry potter just got on the train." she explained with a thick Irish accent. She pointed to the open windowed carriage. "He's in there with Looney Lovegood and Neville Longbottom."

"Thank you." Samira said as she battled her way through the starry-eyes girls to Neville's carriage.

She lightly tapped nonetheless. Neville turned his head and smiled. He opened the door and closed it shortly after to ensure that Samira and only Samira could come into the small room.

"Who's that Neville?" Luna asked looking up from her magazine.

"Luna, Harry, this is Samira." Neville introduced her.

She gave a small wave. "Um hi." she stared at Harry wide eyed. "I've heard so many stories about you."

"All good hope?" Harry laughed.

"Is it true what The Daily Prophet says about you? How you're the chosen one?"

Harry shook his head. "The prophet likes to exaggerate on a few things."

"I suppose they do at times." Samira sat down next to Luna who was now punching out a pair of glasses from her magazine. She started reading along with her paying almost to little attention to the world around her.

She saw a girl come in and out. She knew it was no one important by the way the other three acted. She saw that Neville looking for something under his seat.

"What are you looking for Nev?" she asked.

"His toad Trevor." said Harry

"Do you think he might need a little help?"

"That would be great." Neville called from under the seat. "It's pretty dark down here and another pair of hands would be very helpful."

Samira dropped down on her knees and started looking underneath the seat with Neville.

The carpet felt soft against her palm as she felt around looking for anything that resembled a bumpy skinned toad.

"Neville I don't think Trevor's under here."

"I think I got a hold of him."

As Samira was crawling back someone placed a hand on her back.

"Um Samira?" Luna said. "I don't want to alarm you, but there's something moving around in your bag, I think it's naracals."

"Oh Merlin! Audrey!" Samira yelled as she jolted hardheaded, hitting her head on the edge of the seat.

The pain was bearable as she rubbed her head with one hand and opened her bag with the other. The top softhead was scratched so much that the light blue silk that lined it was shredded. Inside curled up in a ball like always, was Audrey. He laid on a pair of Samira's new robes. He looked at her as if to say, 'what took you so long?'

"I'm sorry." she told him as she held him in her hands. "I meant to take you out sooner, I swear it."

Audrey ran up her arm and rested behind her neck.

"What a cute little ermine." Luna scratched Audrey behind his ear.

It wasn't long till another girl came in with two pieces of paper for Harry and Neville.

"Who's Slughorn?" Neville asked.

"New teacher."

Samira really didn't pay much attention after that and began playing with Audrey and Luna. To her surprise Harry and Neville left soon after, leaving her alone with Ron, Hermione and Luna. Ron and Hermione talked among themselves and Luna began staring out the window.

"Is this what you do? Sit and wait?" Samira whispered to Luna.

"Oh no." Luna began. "But today is rather different."

"Oh-Kay?" Samira reached into her bag and grabbed her sketch book. She drew Luna looking out the window.

"Wow." Luna said looking over her shoulder. "That's really cool."

She smiled. "Do you want it?"

"Sure."

Samira took the picture from the book and handed it to Luna.

"I can't believe it. Does this mean we're friends now? I never had a friend before, but I think this is whetted when they socialize." Luna folded up the piece of paper and put it inside the magazine she was reading before.

"Sure, I'll be your friend." Samira said. "You're a pretty unique chick. I never met anyone quiet like you before."

Between the next hour they both talked about fairies, nymphs and naracals.

"Oh Merlin, there's two of them now." Ron laughed.

"Ron?" Samira faced him. "Do you know when Quidditch tri-outs are?"

"They should be in a few week, but thought you didn't play."

"You're right, I don't, but I could at least try right?"

"Like I said before, it shouldering a few weeks, ask Harry later."

Down the aisle came an old lady wheeling a cart of various things. She poked her head into their compartment. "Anything from the trolley?"

"Yeah think I'll have a licorice wand." Ron said.

"Anything for you miss?" she asked Hermione.

"No thanks, I'm not quiet hungry yet."

"I wood like a chocolate frog and a box of magical beans." Luna said.

"Magical beans?" Samira questioned.

"Yes." Luna began. "Haven't you tried them before?"

"No, I never had the pleasure."

"You've never had Berrt's and Bott's magical beans?" Ron asked.

Samira shook her head.

"I think I'll buy you a box." Ron said as he received the other item.

"You don't have to do that." she said.

"Nonsense, you haven't lived till you tried them." Ron said.

He opened the box and split the beans between the four of them. Samira was handed a handful of beans.

"Ok, if you want twice the flavor, put two in your mouth." said Ron. As he said that he put two into his mouth.

"So Ron, how does it taste?" asked Hermione.

Ron looked like he was going to be sick. "Think I got earwax and earthworm." he said sickly.

Samira had second thought on putting these strange beans into her mouth.

Luna ate one. "Yum, I love lemon drops." she said with a smile.

"That's just our luck." Ron started. "Luna gets all the normal tasting ones."

Samira placed two inside her mouth and bit down.

"Well?" Ron asked

"I got a soapy pickle." she said. "And strangely, I like the taste."

"Ha ha, that's hilarious." Ron put two more into his mouth and turned green.

"Vomit?" asked Hermione.

Ron nodded hid head. "And chocolate pudding."

All of them couldn't help but laugh at Ron. After a few hours of this the train whistle sounded.

"It sounds like we're almost there." said Hermione. "We better get out robes on."

As Samira started placing her new robes on the train seat, her eyes fell on Ron.

Hermione took the hint. "Come on space cadet, you have to change too." and her and Ron disappeared round the door.

As Samira was changing her eyes fell on Luna's Ravenclaw badge.

"That's cool." she said pointing to it.

"Well thank you, this is my house badge, you'll get one soon too."

Hermione came back in. "Samira you'll go with the first years and prefects." she said. "You'll have to come with me now."

"Have fun." said Luna as she left the train through the opposite aisle.

Samira followed Hermione down a small road lined with floating lanterns to a lake with hundreds of boats.

"You'll go on a boat with me." said Hermione.

"Well if it isn't the mudblood Granger." said a boy a few boats away.

"Malloy." Hermione said between grinding teeth.

"Wait, did he just call you a--" Samira started.

"Mudblood!" Draco said again. "Are you teaching another mudblood to become a know-it-all piece of scum like you?"

Draco was now walking towards them. Samira could see tears swell up in Hermione's eyes.

"Take that back!" Samira met him half way.

"Samira don't bother." Hermione wiped tears from her eyes. "Don't waste time on him. Just get back on the boat."

Samira didn't pay attention. "Take it back."

"And what I don't?" Draco asked smugly.

Samira pulled out her wand and aimed it between his eyes.

"Samira! Don't! You'll get expelled!" Hermione yelled.

The large group of first years and the other prefects started to come down the road towards them. Samira saw and lowered her wand.

"That's just what I would expect from a mud-"Draco was hit in the eye with Samira's fist.

"If you ever even utter that word again, I promise you won't be able to utter anything else."

"Those are bit words for a, mudblood!"

Samira was about to hit him again, until she saw Claire start walking up towards them.

"Hello Draco." Claire said, kissing him on the cheek.

Samira was about to leave, but decided to say one more thing. "Oh, Draco, you should know that I'm not what you thin I am. Indeed I'm quiet the opposite." Samira walked back to the boat leaving Draco stunned and Claire puzzled.

"Are you really a pure-blood?" Hermione asked.

"Heck no, I'm half blooded, but I just wanted to see the look on Draco's face."

They both laughed as the boat pulled away and carried them, along with some first years, closer and closer to the Hogwarts School.