Thanks J.K.
The next morning Hermione and I, along with Neville who we found in the common room, headed down to breakfast together. There were a few looks my way, which was expected since I was the new girl. On the way to the Great Hall Hermione told me talked about the professors, her favorite classes and what classes she hoped I would enjoy most.
"I think I'll like charms and transfiguration the most," I told her when we reached the Gryffindor table.
"What are you favorite classes?" I asked turning to Neville.
"Just Herbology," he mumbled putting food on his plate. They ate in silence until two boys sat on both sides of Hermione.
"Hullo Mione, Neville…uh who are you?" asked the redhead.
"Ronald!" scolded Hermione with a frown.
"It's fine Hermione, I'm Kia Gibson," I said to Ronald and the black haired boy.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Harry Potter," he said. "And that's Ron Weasley." I looked back to see Ron stuffing his face with food.
"It's nice to meet you both," I said trying not to grimace at the way Ron was eating. We talked a bit about our summer break and I discovered that Hermione, Ron and Harry were best friends who often spend part of their vacations together. I also learned that the redhead I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting is either Fred or George, one of Ron's older twin brothers. Turns out they were both quite brilliant, but "not at the things that matters" Hermione said with her nose slightly in the air. She also mentioned something about ending a hunger strike that would help promote Elf rights.
"Elves lack rights?" I questioned turning towards Hermione.
"Oh now you've gotten her started," sighed Ron through a mouthful of food. Hermione ignored him before lecturing me on the rights of house elves or lack thereof.
"You do realize that elves love working and they find it to be the greatest shame being denied that?" I asked with my eyebrows raised.
"So you believe what they did to Winky was alright?" she asked with a fierce look on her face. I laughed before telling her of course what happened to Winky was wrong and that she did make some valid points. Satisfied at my answer she let the conversation be changed. Ron then started telling me about the Houses even though I already knew about them. What I didn't know was that Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor's disagreement on Hogwarts's students was still 100% relevant. Turns out Gryffindor's and Slytherin's, up to this day, don't get along. Ron told me that I should watch my back around the Slytherin's because they were all 'slimy gits'; Harry avidly backed him up on that. Before I could reply, Hermione told them off for trying to put me against Slytherin's on my first day.
"Oh come on Mione," said Harry rolling his eyes. "All of us here have all been constantly bullied by the Slytherin's before." When I looked to Neville and Hermione they both avoided eye contact. It was quiet for a while until Professor McGonagall made her way to us and handed out our schedules.
"Neville I think you're going to be the only person ever to love Mondays," I said seeing that our first class was to be Herbology.
"We should head down now," said Hermione already half way out of her seat.
"But Mione," whined Ron. The glare she sent him was quick to shut him up. Because he was sitting across from me, I looked at Harry who was trying to hide his smile and I couldn't help but laugh a little. Harry had seemed worried all morning so it was reassuring to see that he isn't always like that.
The four of us walked to the greenhouse in relative silence save for the occasional angry mumbling that came from Ron. Herbology was okay. Professor Sprout had us paired up to work on plants she grew over the summer. Overall it was pretty dull and left us a little dirty. Neville was in high spirits until he found out we had Care of Magical Creatures next with the Slytherin's. That didn't bum me out like it did Harry, Mione, Ron and Neville because what I hadn't told them was that I was friends with a few Slytherin's. I was in my own little world on the way to class as I was trying to figure out how tell them.
"It'll be alright," Neville said appearing next to me. "Slytherin's are nasty but they won't do anything in front of a teacher and besides we'll be there with you," he said with a reassuring smile.
"Great to see you three and Neville taking in Kia here," said Hagrid when we got near him. We were one of the firsts to arrive.
"How do you know Hagrid?" questioned Harry turning towards me.
"We've met," I said casually. Before he could question me more, Hagrid began class and he led us to where our first project was waiting. Blast-Ended Skrewts he said. They're amazing, he said. So exciting, he said. They were disgusting, they looked like lobsters without their shell and they stunk. Hagrid's great but his class, not so much. He told us to get in pairs and I was going to ask Hermione to be my partner but a hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me back. Before I could even react wands were drawn all around me. I looked towards Hagrid to see he wasn't paying attention to what was happening.
"Get your hands off her Malfoy," Harry said through gritted teeth. Draco glanced between the trio and myself before releasing me and smirking.
"You didn't tell them about us? Go on then this should be interesting," he said stepping to where Blaise and Theo were with their wands drawn. I could feel everyone's eyes on me and I couldn't believe Hagrid hadn't seen this little spectacle.
"Put your wands away," I sighed. Glaring at Draco, I told the others that they didn't need to be so defensive because I know Draco.
"Draco! You call Malfoy Draco?" Ron practically yelled.
"You call your friends by their first name don't you Weasley," Draco sneered with a triumphant look on his face.
"You're friends with that git?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting him during the summer," I said.
"Well you should go be with your friends," Ron sneered before walking away. I looked at Hermione and Neville who had been silent during the ordeal, and when they didn't say anything, I walked away. I glared at Draco before walking over to Theo and asking him to be my partner. Of course Hagrid focused on us a little too late and set us to work. When Theo collected our Skrewt I pulled him a little ways from everyone whom I could feel looking at me.
"Wasn't that a brilliant memory to add to my first day?" I said to Theo as we were working.
"Your Gryffindor's will get over this. They just needed to get out how they feel," he said. "If it makes you feel any better that's just who they are. They're rash, but they always come to when they have time to cool off."
"Draco is an ass," I muttered.
"Yes he is," said Theo smiling. We spent the rest of class talking about nothing in particular, and then we walked to Ancient Runes together, which was interesting. Professor Babbling's course was interesting. I could tell that I would have my work cut out for me. Runes were literally another language, and I've never been particularly good at learning others.
"Thanks for today," I told Theo before heading back to my common room to rest for a while before heading to dinner. When I got to the room Hermione was there.
"I'm sorry about earlier," she said. "Harry and Ron have a strong dislike for the Slytherin's as they demonstrated today but they shouldn't have acted the way they did when they saw you with Malfoy."
"I was going to tell you guys that I was friends with a few of them but I was trying to figure out a way to say it and not get you all riled up," I told her sitting on my bed.
"You don't have to explain yourself. You met Malfoy first and it seems he's not awful to you so if you want to be friends with him you should. Don't let anyone stop you."
"Thanks Hermione, funnily enough he was quite mean when we first met but he's not so terrible. Although I will be ignoring him because of the stunt he pulled today." I said with a smile.
"That was awful wasn't it?" Hermione said responding in the same way. Laughing we headed to dinner. We sat alone together and talked about our upbringings. In the midst of our swapping of stories a small redhead sat next to Hermione.
"Hello Mione. You must be Kia; it's nice to meet you. I'm Ginny Weasley," she said.
"Pleasure to meet you as well," I said smiling.
"Are you really friends with the snakes?" she asked curiously.
"Well I see the rumor mill will always keep me informed," I laughed before telling her that I did have snakes as friends. She nodded and the three of us talked for a while about school and our families. When we were done with dinner Hermione went off with Harry and Ron, I decided to go to the library and Ginny went off with her friends.
When I got to the library I found Theo sitting at the table I had occupied during the summer.
"Hey, mind if I join?" I asked.
"Not at all." We sat in silence, both working on the Care of Magical Creatures assignment we were given. I finished the assignment first and decided to read something for fun. As I was searching for a book I saw Hermione sitting at a table alone.
"Hey, come sit with me," I told her picking up her bag. She huffed at not being given a choice before collecting her books and following me to where Theo sat. She stopped walking when she saw him and gave me a questioning look.
"Despite being a Slytherin he doesn't bite," I said dryly setting her bag next to mine.
"This isn't a problem is it?" I asked Theo.
"Granger," he said nodding. Hermione put her books down before replying with "Nott." Ridiculous if you ask me. We then sat in silence and focused our attentions elsewhere. When Theo finished Divination he headed back to his common room. I figured we should probably leave as well but Hermione was intent on finishing some assignment. An hour before curfew I managed to drag her out of the library, she wanted to stay longer but I wasn't having it. On the walk to the Tower she told me what happened with Draco, Harry, Ron and Professor Moody. I told her there was no way Moody did that. I know he's a little mad but that didn't seem like something he would do. She asked if I knew him personally and I told her how I came to Hogwarts and how I spent my summer. She seemed amazed that I learned everything I needed to know for Fourth Year in one summer. When we got to the Tower we walked through the partially deserted common room and headed to bed.
