Kristen Gregory
"Come on girls I want to find a good compartment," Massie said leading Dylan and Kristen down the train's hallways. Kristen adjusted her forest green knitted cap on top of her dirty blonde waves. Even though it was the end of August, the weather in England was cooler and windier than back home. Once the hat was just the way Kristen wanted it she began to push her luggage cart, following Massie and Dylan.
"I can't believe that Alicia would rather sit with her cousins than her lifelong best friends," Kristen said thinking of Alicia's nasty cousins: Nina, Celia and Isobel. Kristen has only met them a few times, but Kristen knew that they could not be trusted. Massie didn't much care for them either because a few years ago when they were visiting Aliquam Velit when Isobel was about to attend her first year at Hogwarts Massie overheard Isobel talking bad about Massie's dad saying that he has ruined the American Wizarding World with all of his initiatives to end discrimination against squibs and muggleborns.
"They aren't that bad guys. They have always been nice to me," Dylan shrugged. Massie stopped and turned to glare at Dylan.
"Seriously Dylan? Those girls are nothing, but wannabees. Hopefully Alicia will come to her senses once we get to Hogwarts," Massie shot back.
Kristen nodded. The comments that Isobel made about Massie's dad made Kristen upset too, but for different reasons. Reasons that nobody knows about. Kristen's parents are both in fact muggleborns and there was a chance that Kristen was going to end up a squib. If it wasn't for Massie's dad's work for equality to everyone in the American magical community, then Kristen's family wouldn't have been able to move to Aliquam Velit. Kristen's parents were some of the first muggleborns to live in Aliquam Velit and Kristen has done her best to keep it quiet because even though the majority of their community is accepting, Kristen knows that there are many others that are not.
Dylan looked down at her feet.
"I guess you're right," she sighed. Massie gave a satisfied smirk and kept walking. After looking in many full compartments Kristen was wondering if they would ever find a seat. She hoped so because her white cat MiMi was starting to get restless in her carrier bag.
"I don't think that there are anymore empty compartments Massie," Kristen said. Kristen knew that they should have tried to get on the train earlier, but Massie being Massie wanted to be able to make more of an entrance.
"I can see that Kristen. Whatever lets just go into this one. There are only two boys in there," Massie said. They all walked into a compartment where there was a small boy with messy brown hair and glasses sitting with a young ginger boy.
"Hi my name is Massie Block and this is Kristen Gregory and Dylan Marvil. All of the compartments are full so we thought we could join you guys," Massie said sitting down next to the ginger boy. Kristen took a seat across from Massie, but Dylan didn't sit down. She was just looking at the boy with glasses with a curious look.
"Um hello there. I'm Harry," said the boy with glasses giving Dylan an equally curious look.
"I'm Ron Weasley," said the ginger boy. Kristen then noticed Dylan quickly shake her head and look at Ron like he had something on his face.
"Dylan what are you doing standing there?" Massie asked. Dylan quickly snapped out of her trance and began to back out of the compartment.
"I totally forgot that I told my sisters that I would sit with them. I must go find them before the train takes off," she said.
"You're sitting with your sisters?" Kristen asked in disbelief, but Dylan ignored her and walked out. It was no secret that Dylan did not get along well with her sisters. Why would they want Dylan to sit with them?
"Why is Dylan acting weird?" Massie asked. Kristen shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm sure her mother probably said something to her this morning so she might just be on edge," Kristen guessed.
"Well she needs to stop. It is kind of embarrassing. I'm sorry you two boys had to experience that. She isn't normally this awkward," Massie said.
"Oh I didn't mind. I'm quite nervous about this as well," said Harry.
"What do you have to be nervous for? You're a legend," said Ron.
"A legend?" Massie asked with her amber eyes glittering. Kristen looked over at the small bashful looking boy.
"Wait a minute, you said your name was Harry, right?" Kristen asked.
"Yes," he nodded.
Kristen looked over at Massie with wide eyes.
"Ehmagawd of course you would be going to Hogwarts this year. You were our age," Kristen said figuring out who this boy is.
"What are you talking about Kristen?" Massie asked.
"Mass, this boy is Harry Potter, the boy who lived," Kristen said. The boy began to blush. Massie's eyes grew wide, but she quickly masked the surprised look on her face with a confident one.
"Oh yeah. My father told me that he was probably going to be at Hogwarts this year. My father is the American Minister of Magic so he knows these things," Massie said. Kristen knew that Massie had no idea about Harry attending, but she was trying to make it seem like it wasn't that big of a deal. Plus she had the opportunity to name drop.
"Your father is William Block?" Ron asked.
"He sure is," Massie beamed.
"My father loves him. He always says that he wishes that the British Ministry of Magic had a Minister who was as respectable and honest as your father," Ron said.
"Oh I've met Minister Fudge and he does mean well," Massie said beaming at the compliment towards her father.
"I guess I shouldn't have said that since my dad does work for the Ministry and all," Ron said with eyes that looked as if they were afraid that he could get in trouble with his comment.
"Your secret is safe with me," Massie smirked, that same smirk she had when she knew that she had dirt on someone.
The train began to move and Kristen looked out the window. Her heart was beating fast. This was it. She was going to Hogwarts and she couldn't be happier. She was a first generation student since both of her parents went to Salem so she was shocked when her parents were so eager to allow her to attend Hogwarts. They thought it would be a great opportunity to expand her knowledge if she left the country. She looked over at Harry who seemed more eager than anyone. Kristen knew all about Harry Potter and found his story fascinating.
"So Harry I know you must get asked this a lot, but I've just heard so much about your story and I was wondering if I could maybe see your scar," Kristen asked. Kristen didn't dare look at Massie who she knew must be glaring at Kristen's social faux pas. Harry looked down nervously.
"Um I guess," he said.
Harry pulled up his bangs and showed the infamous scar that was left on his forehead when you-know-who tried to kill him. It looked like a lightning bolt and it looked similar to another scar that Kristen has seen before.
"Wicked," Ron gasped.
"You know our friend Dylan, the redhead that was here earlier, has a scar that looks kind of like that, but it is on her left foot," Kristen said.
"Oh Kristen that ugly thing is from when she was a toddler and accidentally dropped one of her mother's potions on her foot. Back when we were young Dylan was famous for her accidental magic and was always breaking things by having them float towards her, but then dropping them when her mother walked in the room," Massie explained.
"I know Massie, but they still look kind of alike," Kristen said. Harry put his hair down.
"So has Dylan lived in America her whole life?" Harry asked.
"No she was born in the UK. It really is a crazy story. You see her mother had Dylan and her sisters during the war, but would never tell anyone that she was pregnant because she wanted to fight. When she was pregnant with Dylan she was taken in as a prisoner for the Dark Lord. She actually had Dylan while she was locked away. When the war was finally over and she was able to get free she found out that her husband was killed by some of the Dark Lord's followers. She was so heartbroken that she took Dylan and her sisters to Aliquam Velit to start fresh," Kristen said
"Woah," Ron gasped.
"That is horrible," Harry agreed.
"Yeah it like really messed Mrs. Marvil up. Her older sisters Ryan and Jaime were old enough when it happened to remember it and they've kind of blamed muggles and muggleborns on their father's death because you-know-who was so against them and he died protecting them," Massie said rolling her eyes. She thought blood purists were LBRs.
"Why do you ask Harry?" Kristen asked.
"Well when I saw her. I felt like I've met her before. It was weird because I know that I have never seen her before, but something was very familiar," Harry explained.
"Well her mother is a really successful journalist in the American Magic Community, but I doubt that you have much access to her work in England," Kristen shrugged.
"I've never had much access to any magical journalism. My aunt and uncle didn't even tell me about my magical blood. I just found out this world existed on my birthday," he said.
"Ehmagawd are you serious?" Massie asked
"Yeah," he shrugged.
"It is quite odd that someone of your status wouldn't even know how legendary you are," Kristen pointed out.
"The Dursleys, my uncle and aunt, have never been very into the whole magic thing," he explained.
"What is it like living with muggles?" Ron asked.
"Horrible. Not all muggles are bad, but the Dursleys are. I would much rather live with a magic family like the three of you. You all must know a lot about magic by now," Harry explained.
"Not exactly. We aren't allowed to take courses in magic until we are 11 so we are all starting on the same page," Kristen explained.
"And honestly my life would be so much easier if I was a muggle born. I am the sixth sibling to attend Hogwarts. My two oldest brothers Bill and Charlie already left. Bill was a head boy and Charlie was the Gryffindor Quidditch captain and seeker. My brother Percy is now a prefect and even though the twins, Fred and George, like to joke around a lot they are still well liked by mostly everyone and get good enough grades. So that means that everyone expects me to do as well at Hogwarts as the others. Plus I never get anything new. I have Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat," he said taking out a rat out of his pocket.
Kristen was happy that she hadn't taken out MiMi yet because Mimi started hissing as soon as the rat was exposed.
"Calm down MiMi or I'll never be able to let you out," Kristen sighed.
"His name is Scabbers and he is quite useless and all he does is sleep. Percy got a new owl because he was made prefect and I got him because they couldn't afford-," Ron said stopping before he could finish his sentence. He started to blush. Massie gave him a sympathetic look, but did slyly scoot away from Ron. She may not be a blood purist, but she did judge those who were on the poorer side of the spectrum. Kristen thought it was silly, but Massie was quite sheltered and didn't understand why everyone didn't have what seemed to be unlimited galleons.
"I understand what that is like. Up until a month ago I didn't have any money and always had to wear my cousin Dudley's old clothes. It didn't help that he was quite bigger than me," Harry said. Kristen gave Ron a nice smile. Kristen already liked Harry and Ron. They seemed nice.
"It isn't a big deal," Kristen smiled.
"And honestly even though you didn't take magic classes you seem to know way more about how it works than me. Until I met Hagrid from Hogwarts I knew nothing about my parents or Voldemort," Harry said. Everyone, including Massie, gasped. Harry looked somewhat confused.
"You said his name," Massie said. Kristen could tell she was impressed. Kristen wasn't so much impressed as she was shocked.
"I would've thought that you of all people would not dare speak his name," Ron nodded.
"Well Its not that I'm trying to be brave, but I wasn't raised to be afraid of it. I know I am not supposed to say it, but I don't really know why. I still have a lot to learn. I'll probably be at the bottom of the class," Harry sighed.
"Not true. Hogwarts allows many muggle born wizards who know just as much as you do. You have nothing to worry about," Massie explained confidently.
"And I don't think they offer a History of Harry Potter class," Kristen said trying to lighten the mood, even though she was still shocked to hear you-know-who's name. She had only seen it written once, but even in America, the magical community feared his name.
It seemed to work because Harry gave her a small smile. They continued to talk about what they were looking forward to when they arrived at Hogwarts. Kristen really liked Harry and Ron and she could tell that Massie was all about being best friends with Harry. Massie was all about being "alpha" and surrounding herself with other alphas. Nothing was more alpha than surviving the wrath of you-know-who.
After a while of talking the door to their compartment opened and an older woman pushing a candy cart peeked her head in.
"Anything off the carts dears?" she asked.
"No thank you," Massie said sticking up her nose. Massie didn't eat sweets. It was one of her rules. Ron looked down embarrassed.
"I brought sandwiches," he mumbled.
"None for me thanks," Kristen said. Kristen didn't have a problem with candy like Massie did, but she knew that Massie would never let her live it down if she ordered some of those sweets. Harry jumped up and walked out to see what the woman had. He, then came back in with his arms full of sweets.
"Wow you must be hungry," Kristen smirked.
"I haven't had anything to eat today," Harry said. Ron had pulled out his sandwiches and groaned.
"My mum always forgets that I don't like corned beef," he sighed. Kristen and Massie both made faces when they saw the sandwiches. They did not look very good.
"Here I'll swap you one of these pumpkin pasties for a sandwich," Harry said. Kristen could tell that Harry was just trying to be polite.
"Oh you don't want this. It isn't very good," Ron admitted.
"Well why don't you just have one. I got enough for all of us to share," he said.
Kristen noticed that Ron was beaming when he took a pasty. Kristen had to admit that they looked delicious.
Harry and Ron continued to eat the sweets while Kristen looked with envy. She wishes Dylan was here. Dylan loves sweets and if they both ate some Massie might not be as judgmental.
"Chocolate Frogs aren't really frogs, are they?" Harry asked picking up a Chocolate Frog box.
"No, but the real reason to eat them are for the cards. I collect them, but I am missing Agrippa and Ptolemy," Ron explained.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Agrippa was a German author in the early 1500s who wrote about wizards and magic. However this was during a time when muggles would persecute people they felt were magic so that is what happened. This is one of the reasons why we have to hide our gift from the muggle world. Ptolemy was famous for predicting the future by star gazing. Almost all of his predictions became true. His love for astronomy and astrology is one of the big reasons why we have to take astronomy," Kristen explained. Kristen was very up to date on the History of Magic. Even though it wasn't necessary she always would go to the library and research it so that nobody would ever suspect that she wasn't a pure blood.
"You seem to know a lot Kristen," Harry said.
"Oh Kristen's parents always forced her to go to the library after school so that she could know about her magical past. Though my parents always made sure I was up to date on the important historical figures," Massie said.
"Go on Harry, open up your chocolate frog and see who you got," Ron said eager to see the card. He picked up the card and looked at the picture and the blurb written about him.
"Albus Dumbledore. Oh I've heard of him," Harry said.
"Well of course you have. He is the headmaster at Hogwarts and might be one of the most powerful wizards of our time," Kristen said.
Harry read the card as Ron grabbed a chocolate frog for himself.
"You should collect them Harry. It is quite fun," Ron said.
Harry turned over the card to look at the picture again and gasped.
"He's gone!" he gasped.
"Well of course he is. Do you want him to stand there all day?" Massie chuckled.
"Ugh I've got Morgana again. You can have her if you want Harry," Ron said handing over the Morgana card.
"Thanks. You know in the muggle world pictures don't move," Harry said.
Kristen did know this from his parents, but pretended to be interested.
"Not at all? That is bizarre," Ron said.
Ron and Harry went threw all of the frogs. Ron ate them while Harry just took the card to start his collection.
The boys had moved onto the Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans when there was a knock at the door. A boy with a round face with a nervous look on his face peaked in.
"Excuse me, but have any of you seen a toad? I've lost mine...again," he sighed. Massie bit her lip and looked out the window. This boy was obviously not up to Massie's standards of coolness.
"Um no I'm sorry," Harry shrugged.
"Oh dear he just keeps getting away from me," the boy groaned walking away.
"Why would he want a toad anyways? I mean I guess I can't talk since I have Scabbers," he said looking down at the sleeping rat in his lap.
Massie scrunched her nose up at the rat. Kristen felt bad, but had to admit that the rat was not the most attractive pet.
"He isn't so bad," Harry said trying to be polite.
"George told me of a spell to turn him yellow, but I don't think it works," Ron said taking out a wand that Kristen could tell was used. There were white unicorn hairs poking out of the end.
Before Ron could try the spell their compartment door slid open. There was a girl with frizzy brown hair and large front teeth standing there with the chubby boy from earlier. She was already wearing her Hogwarts robes.
"Have any of you seen a toad? Neville has lost his," the girl said.
"We already told him that we don't have his toad," Massie said rolling her eyes. The girl ignored Massie though and looked over at Ron's wand. Massie glared at this girl. She hates being ignored. Most people would shrink back to that glare, but this girl doesn't even seem to notice.
"Oh are you doing magic? Let's see it then," she said taking a seat next to Kristen.
Ron seemed taken aback.
"Oh um well alright," he said lifting his wand.
He looked around nervously and said a little rhyme that Kristen could tell was not a spell. She may not be an expert at charms, but Kristen thought it was weird that someone from a wizarding family would actually think that was a spell.
Obviously nothing happened to the rat who was sleeping in Ron's lap.
"Is that supposed to be a spell? Because it isn't very good. I tried a few simple spells at home and they all worked for me. Nobody in my family is magic so you can imagine the surprise when we found out that I was accepted to Hogwarts, but I feel quite lucky. I've done my research and Hogwarts is supposed to be one of the best wizarding academies in the world. I've already memorized all of our course books. I'm Hermione Granger by the way. Who are all of you?" she asked.
"You actually memorized all of the course books?" Massie asked with a smirk.
"Of course," she said.
Massie glanced at Kristen with a look that said that she has decided that Hermione was a LBR. Kristen smirked back even though she secretly has memorized all of the course books as well. As her mother always says, it is never a bad thing to be ahead.
"Well I'm Massie Block. Don't forget it. This is Ron Weasley, Kristen Gregory, and Harry Potter," Massie said. Hermione's eyes got wide as she looked over to Harry
"You're Harry Potter? I've read all about you in my background reading. You're in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century," Hermione gasped.
"I am?" Harry asked taken aback by Hermione's vast knowledge.
"Of course you are. You are a legend. How do you not know? If I were you I would have done so much research," Hermione said.
"Are you done fan-girling?" Massie asked. Once again Hermione ignored her.
"What house do you all think you are going to be in? I've asked a few people and I hope I'm in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Dumbledore was a Gryffindor and I hear Ravenclaws are known for being the smartest house. Anyways I suppose I should go and help Neville. You all need to get ready. We'll be at Hogwarts soon," Hermione said getting up and leaving with the chubby boy who Kristen assumed was Neville. She actually forgot that he was there.
"I hope that I'm not in the same house as her. She has already made my "Out" list," Massie said. The boys gave each other confused looks, probably not knowing what it meant to be on Massie's out list. They would figure it out once they got to know her.
"Well all of my brothers have been in Gryffindor. My parents were Gryffindors too and I'm sure everyone assumes that I will be in Gryffindor too. I can't imagine how they will react if I am put somewhere else. I guess as long as I'm not in Slytherin I'll be fine," Ron said.
"Not all Slytherins are bad, but I know what you are saying," Kristen nodded.
"Was that the house that Vol-I mean you-know-who was in?" Harry asked.
They all nodded.
"Why don't Massie and I go into the hallway so you boys can change and then we'll switch?" Kristen suggested. The boys nodded as the girls walked out.
"So Harry is totally alpha. I've got dibs," Massie said.
"I thought you said that Derrick Harrington was going to be your alpha boyfriend," Kristen questioned.
"I mean Derrick was cute by Aliquam Velit standards, but it is obvious that Harry is the most alpha," Massie said.
Kristen nodded, but she had to wonder if Massie is only acting like this because of Harry's history. Massie told them over the summer that if they were going to be the alpha group at Hogwarts, then they would need to get alpha boyfriends. Kristen wasn't really that interested in dating yet though. The boys back home didn't interest her in that way. Plus Kristen didn't think she was ready for a boyfriend. She was only 11 and she felt that she should be getting used to Hogwarts before thinking about dating.
"Now Ron is up for debate. Harry seems to like him, but the hand-me-downs are a bit LBRish," Massie said.
"I think he seems nice. Besides if he is Harry's friend you will have to learn to like him," Kristen said. Massie sighed.
"I suppose you're right. Maybe I can ask father to buy him some new robes at least," Massie said.
"Excuse me, but is this Harry Potter's compartment?" asked a smug voice. Kristen looked up and saw a pale boy with gelled back blonde hair and two bigger boys standing behind him.
Massie looked him up and down, then sneered.
"Who wants to know? Some pathetic fan wanting his autograph?" she asked putting a hand up for Kristen to high five.
"Hey do you know who you are talking to?" asked one of the bigger boys.
"Do you know who you are talking to? Let me inform you. My name is Massie Block, don't forget it," Massie said.
"Oh so you're Massie Block. My father told me that the American Minister of Magic's daughter would be attending this year. I'm Draco Malfoy and I am sure that someone of our statuses will be great friends. This is Crabbe and Goyle," he said putting out his hand. Massie looked at it as if it was dog poo.
"Funny I've never heard of you," she said.
"My father is a very important member of the British Ministry of Magic. The Malfoy families is one of the oldest pureblood families in the world," he said.
"Hmm doesn't ring a bell," Massie said. Kristen watched the pale boy get paler, but he kept the smug look on his face. Kristen could already tell that she didn't like this boy. Something just wasn't right about him.
The compartment door opened and Harry walked out with Ron.
"Its all ready for you two," Harry said.
"Thank you Harry and Ron. Nice meeting you Darren," Massie smirked purposely getting his name wrong and closing the compartment door before he could respond.
"Now I think that we can both agree that that boy is a wannabee LBR," Massie said.
"Totally," Kristen agreed.
So here is a nice long chapter! Massie and Kristen seem to be getting along with Harry and Ron, but will it last? The next chapter will show the kids arriving to Hogwarts and getting sorted so stay tuned!