"She's a Malfoy and Cedric Diggory's girlfriend! You can't be in love with her!" Ron protested.

"I know," Harry agreed. "But I don't care."

ϟ

I SAT NEXT TO DRACO on the train and laid my head on his shoulder. It was the first year my mother and father allowed me to join Draco at Hogwarts. Before this, I was homeschooled. After a lot of convincing from Draco, my parents finally allowed me to go. I wasn't sure if my parents refused to allow me to go to school because they loved me so much, or because they loved Draco more.

I sat across from my brother's two idiot yes-men Crabbe and Goyle, and my brother sat in front of his yes-woman, Pansy Parkins. It was practically impossible for me to explain how much these people irritated me. But Draco always kept them in line in case they were to annoy me or be too mean and obnoxious. My brother always looked out for me.

I wasn't technically related to Draco, not by blood, that is. It was easy to tell because of my brunette hair, while the Malfoys were known for their perfect, platinum blonde hair. I was adopted when I was a baby by my mother and father. The Malfoy's are the only family I know. But, they never felt like my adopted family. I always thought of them as blood, because that's how good they treat me.

"So, Adelaide!"

I looked up from playing with my fingers at Pansy and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?" I, unfortunately, acknowledged her.

"So, since you're only adopted into the family—does that not make you a pureblood?" She asked.

"Shut it, Pansy!" Draco snapped.

"I was just wondering," she addressed Draco and immediately turned back to me. "So... what are you?"

I inhaled sharply and stood up from the compartment we were in. Without another word to escalate the situation, I walked out and closed the door behind me. I was thankful to be able to find a nice, quiet, empty, pansy-free compartment a few feet away from theirs.

It was bothersome when people made fun of me for being adopted. Because I'm not sure who my real parents are, people tend to make assumptions about my blood and rumor has it I'm a "mudblood," which was a disgusting and offensive term to call any wizard.

Suddenly, the door to my compartment slid open. There stood a curly-haired girl, a redhead boy, and a... very handsome raven-haired boy. It was admittedly hard for me to keep my eyes off of him. I noticed him staring back at me and I felt heat rush to my cheeks. I swear I've never seen anything as green as his eyes—they were perfect. I loved everything about him—his green eyes, dark hair, rounded glasses, and pink lips. Being homeschooled, I've never been able to have much interaction with those my age. Especially not... boys.

"Excuse me, do you mind?" the girl asked but I barely looked at her; I was still mesmerized by her friend's emerald green eyes. I forced myself to slowly turn my attention on the boy and smiled at the girl. "Everywhere else is full."

I nodded my head, without a single thought of it. "Of course, of course," I waved them all inside.

The girl sat across from me and her red-haired friend sat next to her. I was secretly thankful when the dark-haired boy sat next to me.

"Are you new?" The girl asked. "I've never noticed you at Hogwarts."

I smiled at her and shrugged. "Well, no. Probably not," I answered. "Mother and father never wanted me to go here, but this year they changed their minds. And here I am."

"Your parents sound a bit strict. I can relate," the red-haired boy looked down and sighed out of self-pity.

The dark-haired boy spoke up from beside me. "What year are you, if you don't mind me asking?" He asked.

I smiled at him and replied, "I'm a third year, along with my brother.

The boy smiled at me and turned his body towards mine. "Wow, so are we. So, I assume we'll be seeing more of you?" he asked out of curiosity.

I giggled and shrugged. "Well, I sure hope so," I replied and then turned to look at all of them. "I could sure use some friends... the ones my brother has picked out for me aren't exactly the kind of people I would prefer to associate with."

"Who is your brother, if you don't mind me asking, uhm..." she trailed off, wanting me to speak my name.

I smiled and answered, "Adelaide."

"Adelaide," she smiled back. "We might know him."

I was about to answer her when the compartment door slid open. We all turned our heads and I inhaled sharply as Draco stood there, his arms crossed and a frown on his face.

"Adelaide!" He snapped. I simply stared at him. "What are you doing with... them?" He asked out of disgust and I looked at him confused.

I stood up and shrugged my shoulders. "Draco, I was just—"

He cut me off by grabbing me by the forearm and pulling me towards him. "Come back to my compartment. Now," he ordered as he pushed me behind him as if to shield me from something awful. Draco was about to lead me back to his compartment when someone spoke up.

"Woah, woah, woah! Draco's your brother?!"

We both turned and looked at the redhead boy.

"Yes, Weasley!" My brother snapped. "Is that so hard to believe?!"

All three of them looked between my brother and me and raised an eyebrow.

"Well... kind of," the raven-haired boy said with a raised eyebrow. That's when I noticed his scar—his lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. This immediately seemed familiar to me.

Draco snapped his head towards him. "Watch it, Potter," he said. "Like I would ever allow my sweet, innocent sister to be around the likes of you all."

I sighed and looked down, not wanting to be a part of this anymore. "Draco, let's just go," I tugged on my brother's shirt and he looked down at me. "I'm humiliated enough already. So, thank you for that," I sighed and shook my head I turned my heel and walked away back to Draco's compartment. My brother could be such a jerk at times.

I heard my brother call my name, but I ignored him. I opened Draco's compartment door and was immediately greeted by rude looks from his entourage.

"Couldn't stay away?" Pansy mocked me with an annoying giggle.

I sighed and shook my head choosing to ignore the antics. I sat back down in my seat and stared out of the window. Eventually, Draco came back, but this time I was ignoring him as well. The train continued on its way and I tried to cheer myself by thinking of how much better I'll feel once I'd made it to Hogwarts. That's the whole reason why I was here anyway.

Suddenly, after only being on the train for not too long, we stopped.

I looked up and around, confused. "Why have we stopped? We're not even there yet," I pointed out.

Draco nodded his head and stood up. "One moment," he said and then slid open the compartment door to peek outside. He shrugged his shoulders and sat back down. "I'm not sure what's happened. But something is definitely wrong—"

Draco was interrupted by the lights of the train suddenly turning off. Gasping throughout the train from the other students was heard and I immediately scooted closer to Draco. He wrapped an arm around me and looked out the window of the door, confused. What was going on? Eventually, the lights blinked on once more, but the feeling of fear never left, and the lights were out again. The train began to shake and the windows began to get frostbite. It was taking everything inside me to keep calm. I held Draco's hand tightly and snuggled my face into his chest.

"Don't look," Draco whispered n my ear.

"Why not—"

Draco interrupted me, "Listen to your brother," he commanded. "Don't look."

I nodded my head and obliged. I waited until Draco said it was okay. Eventually, I heard a flicker of the lights turning on and Draco tapped me on the shoulder.

"Okay, I believe it's over now," he assured me.

I sighed and sat back up and looked around. The train was moving once more, the lights were on, and everything seemed normal.

"What happened?" I asked anyone.

Pansy snarled. "Probably that stupid Potter again," she suggested.

Draco rolled his eyes. "I say, trouble just follows him and everyone he's around, doesn't it?"

Potter? I thought to myself.

That name sounded awfully familiar. Maybe it was because Draco had said it earlier... or because I have definitely heard it before. But where? When? Who was he? And what's wrong with him?

"Potter?" I asked anyone once more.

Crabbe snorted from across from me. "She doesn't even know who Harry Potter is?! This one is naff, that one!" he laughed.

Goyle snorted as well, "really!"

I turned to Draco, who was glaring at his friends, who I ignored. "Wait," I gasped, realization coming to me. "Isn't he that boy who—"

"Lived?" Draco finished. "Yes, he is, but whatever." He scoffed, but I was completely impressed and in awe.

"That explains the—"

"Scar, Yes," Draco nodded. "I swear this school is better off without him. He puts himself and anyone who is in within 100 feet of him in danger. Trust me, sister, he is not a good guy. Believe me. Do. Not. Befriend. Him. Understood?" He asked.

As Draco said this, he looked me in the eyes and I looked back at his. I knew this look. He only gave me this look when he was absolutely serious about a command he was giving me. I wasn't sure because I've never done so, but I knew it would wrong to go against my brother's command.

I nodded my head and looked down. "Yes, brother," I replied.

ϟ

All the students were ordered to change into their robes and I had to hug my brother goodbye at the docks. I was told to ride with the first years this time around to get sorted into my house. My brother talked about this all the time. I was so excited to get sorted into Slytherin with him; I mean, if I wasn't, mother and father would think sending me to Hogwarts was absolutely not. As I was getting into the boat, I felt a pair of eyes staring intently at me from a distance. Out of instinct, I turned around and met the eyes of Harry Potter, "The Boy Who Lived." I wanted to smile and wave back, as he did to me, but I couldn't. Draco forbids me. I simply looked at him and then turned my heel. I felt awful ignoring someone who was kind to me, but what Draco says go. Mother and Father made that rule very clear: listen to your brother.

I was sat in awe in the sight of the huge castle as we made our way across the body of water and towards the school. All of us were escorted inside and we could not help but be amazed at what we were witnessing. The castle was absolutely beautiful. We were soon escorted to dinner, and it was time to get sorted!

McGonagall then announced to us, "we're ready for you now."

She leads all of us through two large doors and into the Great Hall, where there are four long tables with many kids, as well as floating candles. The roof appeared to be the sky and we all stared up in awe. As I walked down the aisle I locked eyes with my brother on the right of me and bit my lip, smiled and waved at him. He smiled at me as well and nodded at the empty seat beside him, already knowing we were going to be together. I then felt a pair of eyes on the left of me as I walked with my group and turned to look. Of course, it was Potter. He smiled at me and waved. I had to literally hold my hand with the other and turn forward, forcing myself to ignore him. It felt even worse the second time.

McGonagall then addressed all of us at the front and stopped us from walking. "All right, will you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words," she informed us.

Dumbledore rose from the main table and began to speak in his mighty voice, "I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. I will have more announcements after the sorting ceremony is completed. Thank you." He then took a seat after speaking.

McGonagall came back up and spoke, "When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses."

There was a stool in the middle of the stage and a hat on top of it. I was so excited to take a seat next to my brother.

I was going to be a real Malfoy.

"Adelaide Malfoy!" She called out.

I ignored all of the whispers and mummers and happily made my way towards the sorting hat. As I took a seat I felt the hat be gently placed on top of my head.

"Hmmm," I heard it speak and I giggled. "Oh! A cheerful one, here, I see." I smiled and nodded my head excitedly. He began to literally speak my mind, "and it seems you are adopted into the Malfoy family and are... excited to be placed into... Slytherin?" he said as if it were a question. I bit my lip, holding back a huge smile, and nodded my head again. I looked over at my brother down near the crowd and he smiled back at me. "Hmmm... well, this is difficult. I am seeing a lot more aspects of you for every other house other than Slytherin... are you sure?" he asked me.

I told him, "absolutely."

"Hmmm," he moaned again. "Well... I believe the best suit for you would be... Gryffindor!"

My eyes widened in surprise as the Gryffindor table began to clap and cheer for me, but only a few. The rest simply looked around out of confusion. Mcgogenal took the hat off of my head and they both smiled at me. I didn't smile back and shook my head rapidly.

"No, no, no, please," I pleaded with the brown hat. "I believe there was a mistake. I'm—"

"More different from your family than even the physicalities depict, darling. Believe me," the hat replied.

I stared at him for a moment, wondering what he meant by that.

I soon inhaled sharply and nodded my head, accepting the hat's decision. As I walked down to the Gryffindor table, I stared at my brother. The look he gave me was not out of disappointment, as I feared, but out of sadness. I bit my lip and looked away from his gaze. I couldn't bare face him or the rest of my family after this mistake.

"Adelaide! Over here!"

I turned around and saw the three friendly faces who I met on the train. I looked over at Draco, who still had the look of sadness on his face, and then turned towards the kind trio. I knew I was making a mistake, but then again, I had already made one tonight. I decided it couldn't get much worse.

And, besides, I needed friends.