A/N- Hey! New story. The summary is subject to change, just to let you know.
There will be a pairing in this story, but I have not yet decided what pairing it will be.
As I am still working on this story, things are subject to change. I will likely go back and change/edit chapters as I go. If there are any significant changes or changes to the story line, I will make an author's note at the beginning of the chapter and let you know what the change was, so that there isn't any confusion.
Anyways, I hope you like the story!
After a trip to Gringotts, Quinn's pockets were lined with Knuts, Sickles, and Galleons. She had gained access to the vault with her inheritance after Alec told her that she would be attending Hogwarts, as well as the fact that he was no longer her guardian, and she had found a small pile of gold that likely wouldn't last the rest of her schooling, despite what he had assured her. She was informed, however, that Alec would contributing a small sum that he had been saving for her after she turned seventeen, and she was more than slightly surprised. We got along, occasionally— at least when there was alcohol involved in the rare suppers we had together— but he had never truly been like a father to me.
The energy was high in Diagon Alley as students buzzed about, chattering to one another excitedly. Their excitement almost palpable in the air. Their happiness and excitement would have been contagious if she was not alone, and if her mind wasn't buzzing with fear over what would happen in the new school year. Fear was something she was used to, but not in Diagon Alley. No one knew her. They were just passerby's she would never encounter again. Now, however, she knew she would be going to the same school as them, taking the same classes as them, staying in the same dorms as them.
Shaking her head free of these thoughts, she continued down the cobblestone road as she made her way to Flourish and Blotts. This was always one of her favourite shops- she loved reading, and not once had she left with the same number of books as on her list. Alec hadn't cared to check the books she purchased, nor did he count the change when she returned, so she always bought books in excess. The familiar green storefront came into view just as someone's shoulder crashed into hers. Her feet caught on a slightly loose cobblestone on the path, and she went crashing down to the stone ground. With a light moan, a sharp pain spread through her ankle as she repositioned herself on the ground, reaching out to lightly brush over the wound.
"You should watch where you're going next time." A voice spit from above her. The pain in her ankle only grew as she looked up to find a boy around her age looking down at her. His white-blond hair was parted to the side, and his skin was only a few shades darker than his hair. He had an angular face, with high cheekbones, and had he not been looking at her like she was varmint, she would have been attracted to him. He stared down at her in disdain, and she grimaced at his spiteful look. She hurriedly collected her bag, avoiding his gaze.
"Sorry." Was all she could muster as she attempted to stand, but embaressment flooded her as she fell back to ground when a sharp pain radiated out from her ankles. She hissed in pain, scrunching her face up as she tried to gather her things. The rough stone beneath her were digging into her knees, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her ankle. She knew that she more than likely twisted it, perhaps even a fracture, but it didn't hurt enough to be a break.
There were two other boys behind him, and their laughter reached her ears as the larger one on the right slapped the white-haired boy's back, looking at him in near adoration. Their heads were turning back and forth from each other to the boy so much that she was surprised they didn't have whiplash.
"Do you need some help down there?" He asked, obviously feigning concern, before he continued "Although, I quite like seeing you on your knees for me." The two behind him continued to laugh, and the larger one said something she didn't hear as embarrassment flooded through her. The boy's features were twisted in amusement, as though he were a king looking at a lowly peasant.
Another burst of anger filled her as she forced herself onto her feet. Sharp ripples of pain spread from her ankle, snaking up her leg as she put weight on it. The heat in her face had spread throughout her body, and she felt her hands begin to shake slightly as she narrowed her eyes at him. She had never been very good at controlling her anger. A few others had stopped around them to watch the encounter, but the large majority simply walked on past, their heads lowered as though to pretend they didn't see them. The boy looked at her with heightened amusement, his gaze falling back down to her ankle. Episky!she whispered in her head, hearing a small crack and a burst of pain as her ankle righted itself. The boy obviously heard the crack, as a look of surprise crossed his features. She wasn't excellent at wandless, wordless magic, but healing spells had always been the easiest for her to master and she was able to most without her wand. Stepping forward, she looked at him once again.
"The only reason I'll be on her knees for you is if I'm trying to pull your head out of your ass." She snapped, wanting to say more to the arrogant little cock but holding herself back. Not the best comeback, that's for sure, but she was so angry, and she didn't have time to think of something wittier to say to the boy. She always had a problem keeping her mouth shut, something that had earned her plenty of supper-less nights at home. The boy's mouth turned downwards as he surveyed her, a scoff escaping his mouth. The two behind him followed suite.
"Shut it, do you even know who you're talking to?" The skinnier one behind him stepped forward slightly as he said this. He had dark eyes and a short haircut, his forehead drawing most of her attention. The white-haired boy held his arm outwards, and forehead boy backed down, disappointed.
"No, but to be frank she really couldn't give less of a shit."
"I would highly encourage you to try, if you know what's good for you. You don't want to be getting on her bad side." He said, taking several steps forward with his grey eyes locked on hers. He was looking down on her with menace, and had she not been so angry, she would have been scared by the dangerous glint on his sharp face. She had come across her fair share of people like him, and they never failed to piss her off. She hated people looking down on her, thinking and acting like they were better when the majority of the time their high horse was made out of their parent's gold and they wouldn't even be able to get near a real one before being trampled.
"Oh I highly doubt that. You're just a pretty boy who acts like he's better than everyone else because mommy and daddy always told him so. Well newsflash, you're not that important. I don't even know who you are." She spat, hoisting her bag on her shoulder and turning away from the three boys. Before she could take a step, there was a rough hand on her shoulder, forcing her to turn around. The closeness startled her, as his chest was almost pressed against hers. She had to adjust her footing so she didn't fall into him. Slowly, she raised her eyes from the black of his jacket to meet his, his grey eyes burning into mine as his lips curled.
"You know nothing, you little bitch." He said, his voice low and angry. He was so close that his breath tickled her face, the hot air fanning across her skin. The sudden flash of anger that seemed to fill him surprised her, the menace he was directing towards her so thick that she could almost taste it. Trying to fight him was obviously not a good idea- she didn't need to make enemies at Hogwarts before she even attended. Judging by the look on his face, however, it was too late for that.
"Draco, leave her alone." A voice came from beside them. The boy, presumably Draco, held her gaze for a second longer before scoffing and taking a step back. A small, shaky breath escaped her as her head began to clear. Looking towards the source of the voice, she saw another boy about her age glaring at Draco. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. His dark hair fell around the nape of his neck, a few strands covering his forehead. On his nose rested a pair of circular glasses, and a red and yellow scarf was wrapped loosely around his neck. A few feet behind him was another boy around the same age, his ginger hair drawing her attention.
"Oh yeah? Or what, Potter?" Draco spat, stepping closer to the dark-haired boy. His two goonies watched from behind him, shooting the occasional sneer her way.
"Piss of, Malfoy."
"Or what, Potter?" He spat.
"Just leave her alone, I'm sure you have other people to torment." He said. Malfoy scoffed before turning back to the girl, shoving a finger a finger in her chest and looking at her menacingly.
"This isn't over." He said before walking off, the two behind him following him like lost puppies. She was shaken; Alec had tried to intimidate her before, but she had grown to realize that he would never truly hurt her, and when she did, she no longer feared nor listened to him when he tried. But judging by the look in that boy's eyes, she had no doubt he would have hurt her, and it was shocking. But after her feelings of reservation and fear drifted away, they were replaced by anger. He looked around the same age as her, maybe a bit older, but he spoke to her like he was far above her, and it made her face flush in anger.
"Hey, are you alright?" The dark-haired boy asked her, and she nodded.
"Don't mind him, he's a bloody git." The ginger haired boy said. Even though their encounter had been short, she laughed and agreed, trying to push down the anger that still simmered below her skin.
"I haven't seen you around here before. Are you new?" The dark-haired boy asked, and she nodded.
"Yeah, I'm starting at Hogwarts this year. Fourth year."
"We're also fourth years. I'm Harry, by the way, and this is Ron." With a small wave from the Ron, she nodded at them, suddenly feeling very awkward.
"I'm Carmen, Carmen Hanlon. It's nice to meet you. And thank you, by the way. For saving me from… Malfoy." She said Malfoy like it was a question, still not entirely sure if that was his name.
"You don't need to thank us. Like Ron said, he's a complete git. But we did overhear a bit, and you seemed to be doing quite well handling it yourself." Harry said with a laugh. She didn't agree, as she had been filled with panic and fear and anger, but she had to admit that she was glad those emotions hadn't come across in the interaction. She didn't want Malfoy to get any satisfaction from her.
"Still, thank you." She said, absentmindedly rubbing the back of her neck. The eyes of those walking past them seemed to linger on them for a second longer than normal, and she could only hope that it wouldn't be that was in school. She didn't know how frequently Hogwarts got new students in the older years, but she was sure it wasn't that often, and people were bound to be curious, but she knew she would feel awkward with the extra attention. They eventually moved off to the side of the walking path after a couple of scathing looks from those that had to walk around them, and they continued to talk to one another for quite some time. She found that she quite enjoyed talking to them, and she hoped that they could be friends— she would much rather go into school having already made some, especially as now it seemed she would already go into school having made an enemy.