Disclaimer: The usual, I don't own Harry Potter, blah blah blah. Except for
Kailey, Alysha, and Ciara.
Note: Sorry it took so long to get out. I've been really sick, and my muse for the story was all *poof* gone. I'm still really sick, but I'll try my best to keep writing.This chappie starts with the same scene that the last chapter ended with, this time in Draco's POV, kinda. Also, to those of you with virgin ears. er. eyes. er. whatever.Sorta bad words lie ahead, so be warned! Now, onto the story.
~*~*~
Draco Malfoy looked around at his surroundings boredly. It was not his idea of fun to follow his father around like a lost puppy, while Malfoy senior took his time looking through the different Dark Arts materials in the shops in Knockturn Alley. But Draco had been forced to come along; he couldn't very well go around disobeying his father. So that's where he was now, following his father as he went from store to store, and glaring at anybody who he saw looking at him.
"Come along, Draco," Lucius Malfoy called from the doorway of what felt like the billionth store that they had been through.
"Coming, Father," Draco replied in a monotone, following his father out the door.
The two Malfoys rounded a corner, and walked through a small passageway between two buildings, until they reached the sunny road that was Diagon Alley. Draco scowled. Why couldn't they just go home? But it seemed nothing of the sort would be happening any time in the near future. Or even the far future.
"Why don't you go and find someway to amuse yourself, Draco?" Lucius asked his son in his usual drawl. "I have some. Business to attend to." Lucius turned on his heel, his cloak billowing out behind him, and walked away briskly.
Draco glanced around. How the hell was he supposed to amuse himself here? Sure, the place was interesting enough the first or second time it was visited, but the novelty soon wore off. Besides, everyone here was so. Cheery. Then something caught his eye. A girl, maybe about his age, talking to another girl, both wearing muggle clothing. He stared. She was quite lovely. She had wavy auburn hair that came to just below her shoulders, pretty, hazel eyes, and a smile that out shone the sun. Yes, she was VERY lovely.
Draco, you wanker! His mind screamed at him. Get a bloody hold of yourself! She's just a girl! And probably a bloody Gryffindor, the way she's smiling like that!
Draco scowled.
Then the girl looked up, looking him directly in the eye. His scowl faded into a sly smile, while his mind continued to yell at him.
Just turn around, and walk away, you stupid arse! Do it!
Despite his mental protest, Draco started walking down the road, towards the pretty girl.
What the hell do you think you're bloody doing?!?
I don't know what I'm bloody doing, Draco thought in response, coming to stand in front of the girl. But it's a bit late to back out now, isn't it?
"Hello," he said, ignoring the war raging in his mind. He noticed the girl in front of him was blushing furiously, before she reached out her hand.
"Hi. My name is Kailey Barber."
Draco took her hand lightly in his own, pulling it up and pressing a feather light kiss to her knuckles. Standing up again, he replied.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kailey. My name is Draco Malfoy."
Both his and Kailey's eyes turned to the girl standing beside them when she spoke up.
"You know, that name rings a bell. Do you have any relat-"
Draco scowled when he heard a familiar voice interrupt.
"Malfoy! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? Get your sodding hands away from my cousin!"
Draco dropped Kailey's hand in surprise. She was a Weasley? Dammit! He thought. Just my bloody luck!
He looked back at Kailey, and the thought that she was a Weasley fled his mind. He flashed a smile at her, and turned to face the fuming Ron.
"Well, if it isn't the Weasel. Oh, and look! The Little Weasel too!" He sneered. "And to top it off, how could I forget? Scarhead!"
Ginny's eyes darkened as she stepped in front of Ron. "Oh, you're one to talk, Ferretboy! Or does my memory deceive me?"
"Oh! So it turns out the Little Weasel DOES have a spine."
Ron stepped in front of his sister. "Shut your bloody hole, Malfoy!"
"Ouch, that hurts." He slapped a hand over his heart. "Got me right here, Weasel! Oh, by the way, where's your mudblood girlfriend Granger?"
Ron's eyes narrowed, a look of deepest loathing on his face, as he reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. He took a step forward, and seemed on the verge of cursing Draco into oblivion, but Harry pulled him back, although The Boy Who Lived also looked like he would have liked to perform one of the un-forgivable curses on the blonde-haired Slytherin.
"Go away, Malfoy."
Draco laughed. "I seem to have stuck a nerve. Well, I'm afraid this little charade is getting awfully boring; I must be on my way." He turned back to Kailey, smiling. "We'll meet again soon, I hope," and without waiting for a reply, he spun around and strode off down the street. Ron, Harry, and Ginny glared after him, while the other two of their group looked back and forth between their friends, and the retreating form of Draco, curious looks on their faces.
~*~*~
"But he seemed so nice at first," Kailey protested, sitting with Alysha, Ginny. They had just arrived back from Diagon Alley, Ginny, Ron, and Harry still fuming.
"Yeah, well, he's not," replied Ginny, scowling at the floor. "He's just a Grade A bastard. Picks on people for fun."
Alysha sighed, looking at her best friend. "Yeah, we kinda figured that. But like Kails said, he seemed so nice when he walked up to her." She turned to Ginny. "And he also kept on smiling at her, even though he was being Mr. Asshole to you guys."
"Sure, whatever. Could we just not talk about him anymore?" Ginny stood up. "I'm going downstairs." She walked though the door, storming down the stairs.
"Poor Gin. Draco really got to her. Which I still don't get, he was so nice to us!"
"Um, Kails, he was nice to YOU. He didn't even notice I was there." Alysha smirked, noting her friend's blush. "Kailey's got a crush!" she added in a sing-song voice.
"Oh, shut up! You're one to talk, Miss I'm-in-love-with-the-Boy-Who-Lived."
Alysha mock-glared at her best friend. "This isn't about me."
Kailey ignored her comment, smiling slyly. "What's going on with you two, anyway? Have you kissed?"
Alysha blushed. "No. Wait! Stop it! Stop trying to change the subject!"
Kailey laughed.
Alysha stood up, sticking out her tongue at her best friend. "Fine, I'm gonna go check on Gin. She looked pretty upset. You wanna come?"
Kailey stood. "Yeah."
Upon exiting the room, the two girls heard laughter coming from the living room. They went down the stairs, and saw Fred and George sitting on the couch on either side of a giggling Ginny. She looked up and saw Kailey and Alysha standing in the doorway. She smiled.
"Hey guys, sorry about earlier. Malfoy just makes me so mad, you know? All better now, though. Either of you up for a game of Wizard's Chess?"
Kailey and Alysha smiled, and walked into the room, sitting on the floor in front of the couch, as Ginny pulled out the Chess Board.
~*~*~
Before anyone knew it, it was September 1st, and the whole group was at Kings Cross station, on the joint platforms of Nine and Ten, standing in front of one of the many pillars. Kailey and Alysha were bouncing on the balls of their feet, chatting and giggling away happily, as they waited for first Fred and George, then Ron and Harry, and then Hermione and Ginny to pass through the barrier that lead to Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
"Kailey, Alysha, dears. You two are up!" Molly said from behind them.
Alysha gulped nervously. As happy as she was about going to Hogwarts - and she was very happy about that - she was having a small nervous break down. Especially about that very solid looking wall standing about fifteen feet in front of Kailey and herself, that she was supposed to go through. She panicked. Just, exactly HOW was she supposed to go through? She was a muggle! She knew Mrs. Weasley had said Professor Dumbledore had it all set up, but still! That wall was looking pretty impassable. They expected her to walk right through it?
A loud whistle sounded. Alysha blinked and stared straight ahead. Right in front of her was a long, red train, with dark grey smoke starting to roll slowly out of the top of the engine, and the words Hogwarts Express printed on the front. She looked up. There was sign sticking out from the wall slightly above her that said Platform Nine and Three Quarters. She looked behind her, and saw Arthur and Molly Weasley emerging through a solid wall. She looked to her side, at Kailey, and saw her best friend had a firm grip on her upper arm.
Kailey smirked. "Somehow, I knew you would get nervous. You wouldn't budge. I literally had to drag you through. We had better hurry up, the train's about to leave."
Mrs. Weasley gave each of the teens an almost strangling hug, saying goodbye to each.
When she got to Kailey and Alysha, she smiled warmly. She hugged her niece first. "It was wonderful to see you again, and we'll see you next june. The two of you will be coming back to stay with us for a week or so before you head back home. Have wonderful time, and don't get into any trouble." She turned to Alysha, enveloping her in a tight hug aswell. "It was wonderful to meet you, and I'll also see you again next june. I hope you have a good time!"
Kailey and Alysha smiled at her and Mr. Weasley, before turning and following their friends onto the train.
Once inside, Fred and George headed off to find their best friend Lee, after saying a quick goodbye. The rest of the group quickly found an empty compartment and they all settled into their seats. Harry and Ron promptly stared talking about quidditch, to which Hemrione rolled her eyes, before turning to the other girls.
Ginny and Hermione were telling Kailey and Alysha about all the professors and the castle, when three people appeared in the doorway. Everyone in the compartment looked up.
The three boys looked about the same age as everyone else. The first had sandy coloured hair, and blue eyes. The second had short, black, curly hair, dark eyes, and dark skin. The third was slightly chubby, with brown eyes and a mop of wavy brown hair. Kailey smiled and stood up, pulling Alysha with her. She stopped in front of the three boys.
"Hi! My name's Kailey Barber, I'm Ron and Ginny's cousin. This is my best friend Alysha Mallind. We're from Canada. Who're you?"
Alysha nearly laughed at the look of surprise on the three guys faces at Kailey's forward-ness. She heard Ginny and Hemione giggle slightly behind them. Then the boy with the sandy hair spoke.
"I'm Seamus Finnigan," he pointed to the boy next to him, "this is Dean Thomas," he pointed to the last boy, "and this is Neville Longbottom. Nice to meet you."
Kailey and Alysha eyed the three boys up and down. Identical sly smiles spread across their faces. They held out their hands.
"It's nice to meet you too."
After shaking each person's hand, the two girls beckoned the boys into their cabin.
"So," Kailey started, "are you guys in Gryffindor with these lunatics?" She gestured at Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione.
Ginny playfully slapped her cousin on the arm, while Ron said indignantly, "Hey!"
"What? It's true!" Kailey laughed.
The boy named Dean answered her. "Yeah, we're in Gryffindor, fifth year."
Alysha smiled. "Cool. We would be in fifth year, but we're not actually going to school here. We're not really witches. We're going to do our lessons by post."
Dean's eyebrow's raised. "You two are muggles?"
"Yeah," snapped Kailey, "got a problem?"
"Not at all."
Kailey smiled. "Good."
~*~*~
Kailey and Alysha stepped down the steps along with Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Neville. Dean and Seamus had gone off earlier to look for someone else, but neither Kailey nor Alysha had caught the name. They looked around. The train had just pulled into Hogsmeade Station, and all the Hogwarts students were were all milling about on the platform, laughing and chatting happily. Ginny looked at her cousin.
"Do you know whether you're supposed to come in the carriages with us or take the boats across the lake?" she asked.
"Can't remember," Kailey looked at Alysha, "you?"
Alysha looked at Ginny. "I think I remember your mom saying something about boats with Hagrid."
Ginny glanced around. She quickly spotted Hagrid's head and shoulders above the crowd, and heard his booming voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere!"
Ginny pointed in Hagrid's direction. "Kails, Aly, he's over there. We'll see you up at the castle, alright?"
The two girls nodded at their friends, and made their way over to the half- giant. Once they reached him, they each latched onto one of his arms. They both looked up at him, smiling.
"Hey, Hagrid!" they said in unison.
"Evening, girls! What are yeh doin' over here? Are yeh ridin' in the boats?"
"Yep! Can we go over and get in one?" asked Alysha.
Hagrid nodded. "We'll be leavin' as soon as the rest of the students arrive."
Kailey and Alysha squealed happily and ran down towards where all the boats were docked at shore. They scrambled into the first one, and sat waiting not-so-patiently for the first years to arrive.
Alysha giggled. "We're almost there! Finally! Yaye!"
Kailey laughed at her best friend. "You're so adorable, Aly."
"Damn straight!"
Just then Hagrid walked up, followed by a mob of nervous looking ten and eleven-year-olds. A few of the children were looking at Kailey and Alysha curiously, while whispering amongst themselves quietly.
"Who're they?"
"Do you know them?"
"They look too old to be first years."
Hagrid's voice broke through all the mutterings. "Alrigh'. Now, each of yeh get in a boat. No more'n four in each."
All of the first years loaded into the boats, until they were all full. One was left standing on the shore. She had long, straight, dark brown hair, and huge brown eyes. She looked at the boat Kailey and Alysha were in apprehensively. It was the only boat with a seat left.
Kailey grinned at the young girl. "Hi! C'mon in. We won't bite. Promise."
Alysha swatted her friend before turning to face the first year, smiling warmly. "Hiho! What's your name?"
"Ciara," the girl replied quietly.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Ciara. I'm Alysha, and this is Kailey. Why don't you come have a seat?"
Ciara smiled. She walked forward, and stepped onto the boat, settling herself on the seat in front of the two older girls. Their boat rocked a bit, and then glided smoothly out and along the lake.
Ciara turned slightly in the seat to look back at Kailey and Alysha. She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again. A moment later she opened it again.
"I was wondering. You two certainly look older than eleven, so you can't be first years. What are you doing riding across in the boats?"
"Well," said Kailey, "We're staying here for this year, to visit with my cousins, but we're not actually going to school here. Anyway, since it was our first time here, my aunt thought we should take the boats across with Hagrid, to see the castle." she trailed of, looking upwards. "Wow."
Alysha and Ciara followed Kailey's line of sight, staight up to the castle. Alysha gasped. It was huge! It was also just what she had imagined, like it was pulled straight out of a fairy tale. It had many tall towers, built all out of large blocks of gray stone.
All the boats stopped moving, docked at the shore, and all the children stepped out onto dry land, talking excitedly. Ciara looked back at the two older girls.
"Are you coming?"
Kailey and Alysha looked at each other, and identical smiles spread on their faces.
~*~*~
Note: Again really sorry about the late-ness. I'll try and get the next chapter out soon!
Note: Sorry it took so long to get out. I've been really sick, and my muse for the story was all *poof* gone. I'm still really sick, but I'll try my best to keep writing.This chappie starts with the same scene that the last chapter ended with, this time in Draco's POV, kinda. Also, to those of you with virgin ears. er. eyes. er. whatever.Sorta bad words lie ahead, so be warned! Now, onto the story.
~*~*~
Draco Malfoy looked around at his surroundings boredly. It was not his idea of fun to follow his father around like a lost puppy, while Malfoy senior took his time looking through the different Dark Arts materials in the shops in Knockturn Alley. But Draco had been forced to come along; he couldn't very well go around disobeying his father. So that's where he was now, following his father as he went from store to store, and glaring at anybody who he saw looking at him.
"Come along, Draco," Lucius Malfoy called from the doorway of what felt like the billionth store that they had been through.
"Coming, Father," Draco replied in a monotone, following his father out the door.
The two Malfoys rounded a corner, and walked through a small passageway between two buildings, until they reached the sunny road that was Diagon Alley. Draco scowled. Why couldn't they just go home? But it seemed nothing of the sort would be happening any time in the near future. Or even the far future.
"Why don't you go and find someway to amuse yourself, Draco?" Lucius asked his son in his usual drawl. "I have some. Business to attend to." Lucius turned on his heel, his cloak billowing out behind him, and walked away briskly.
Draco glanced around. How the hell was he supposed to amuse himself here? Sure, the place was interesting enough the first or second time it was visited, but the novelty soon wore off. Besides, everyone here was so. Cheery. Then something caught his eye. A girl, maybe about his age, talking to another girl, both wearing muggle clothing. He stared. She was quite lovely. She had wavy auburn hair that came to just below her shoulders, pretty, hazel eyes, and a smile that out shone the sun. Yes, she was VERY lovely.
Draco, you wanker! His mind screamed at him. Get a bloody hold of yourself! She's just a girl! And probably a bloody Gryffindor, the way she's smiling like that!
Draco scowled.
Then the girl looked up, looking him directly in the eye. His scowl faded into a sly smile, while his mind continued to yell at him.
Just turn around, and walk away, you stupid arse! Do it!
Despite his mental protest, Draco started walking down the road, towards the pretty girl.
What the hell do you think you're bloody doing?!?
I don't know what I'm bloody doing, Draco thought in response, coming to stand in front of the girl. But it's a bit late to back out now, isn't it?
"Hello," he said, ignoring the war raging in his mind. He noticed the girl in front of him was blushing furiously, before she reached out her hand.
"Hi. My name is Kailey Barber."
Draco took her hand lightly in his own, pulling it up and pressing a feather light kiss to her knuckles. Standing up again, he replied.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kailey. My name is Draco Malfoy."
Both his and Kailey's eyes turned to the girl standing beside them when she spoke up.
"You know, that name rings a bell. Do you have any relat-"
Draco scowled when he heard a familiar voice interrupt.
"Malfoy! What the bloody hell do you think you're doing? Get your sodding hands away from my cousin!"
Draco dropped Kailey's hand in surprise. She was a Weasley? Dammit! He thought. Just my bloody luck!
He looked back at Kailey, and the thought that she was a Weasley fled his mind. He flashed a smile at her, and turned to face the fuming Ron.
"Well, if it isn't the Weasel. Oh, and look! The Little Weasel too!" He sneered. "And to top it off, how could I forget? Scarhead!"
Ginny's eyes darkened as she stepped in front of Ron. "Oh, you're one to talk, Ferretboy! Or does my memory deceive me?"
"Oh! So it turns out the Little Weasel DOES have a spine."
Ron stepped in front of his sister. "Shut your bloody hole, Malfoy!"
"Ouch, that hurts." He slapped a hand over his heart. "Got me right here, Weasel! Oh, by the way, where's your mudblood girlfriend Granger?"
Ron's eyes narrowed, a look of deepest loathing on his face, as he reached into his robes and pulled out his wand. He took a step forward, and seemed on the verge of cursing Draco into oblivion, but Harry pulled him back, although The Boy Who Lived also looked like he would have liked to perform one of the un-forgivable curses on the blonde-haired Slytherin.
"Go away, Malfoy."
Draco laughed. "I seem to have stuck a nerve. Well, I'm afraid this little charade is getting awfully boring; I must be on my way." He turned back to Kailey, smiling. "We'll meet again soon, I hope," and without waiting for a reply, he spun around and strode off down the street. Ron, Harry, and Ginny glared after him, while the other two of their group looked back and forth between their friends, and the retreating form of Draco, curious looks on their faces.
~*~*~
"But he seemed so nice at first," Kailey protested, sitting with Alysha, Ginny. They had just arrived back from Diagon Alley, Ginny, Ron, and Harry still fuming.
"Yeah, well, he's not," replied Ginny, scowling at the floor. "He's just a Grade A bastard. Picks on people for fun."
Alysha sighed, looking at her best friend. "Yeah, we kinda figured that. But like Kails said, he seemed so nice when he walked up to her." She turned to Ginny. "And he also kept on smiling at her, even though he was being Mr. Asshole to you guys."
"Sure, whatever. Could we just not talk about him anymore?" Ginny stood up. "I'm going downstairs." She walked though the door, storming down the stairs.
"Poor Gin. Draco really got to her. Which I still don't get, he was so nice to us!"
"Um, Kails, he was nice to YOU. He didn't even notice I was there." Alysha smirked, noting her friend's blush. "Kailey's got a crush!" she added in a sing-song voice.
"Oh, shut up! You're one to talk, Miss I'm-in-love-with-the-Boy-Who-Lived."
Alysha mock-glared at her best friend. "This isn't about me."
Kailey ignored her comment, smiling slyly. "What's going on with you two, anyway? Have you kissed?"
Alysha blushed. "No. Wait! Stop it! Stop trying to change the subject!"
Kailey laughed.
Alysha stood up, sticking out her tongue at her best friend. "Fine, I'm gonna go check on Gin. She looked pretty upset. You wanna come?"
Kailey stood. "Yeah."
Upon exiting the room, the two girls heard laughter coming from the living room. They went down the stairs, and saw Fred and George sitting on the couch on either side of a giggling Ginny. She looked up and saw Kailey and Alysha standing in the doorway. She smiled.
"Hey guys, sorry about earlier. Malfoy just makes me so mad, you know? All better now, though. Either of you up for a game of Wizard's Chess?"
Kailey and Alysha smiled, and walked into the room, sitting on the floor in front of the couch, as Ginny pulled out the Chess Board.
~*~*~
Before anyone knew it, it was September 1st, and the whole group was at Kings Cross station, on the joint platforms of Nine and Ten, standing in front of one of the many pillars. Kailey and Alysha were bouncing on the balls of their feet, chatting and giggling away happily, as they waited for first Fred and George, then Ron and Harry, and then Hermione and Ginny to pass through the barrier that lead to Platform Nine and Three Quarters.
"Kailey, Alysha, dears. You two are up!" Molly said from behind them.
Alysha gulped nervously. As happy as she was about going to Hogwarts - and she was very happy about that - she was having a small nervous break down. Especially about that very solid looking wall standing about fifteen feet in front of Kailey and herself, that she was supposed to go through. She panicked. Just, exactly HOW was she supposed to go through? She was a muggle! She knew Mrs. Weasley had said Professor Dumbledore had it all set up, but still! That wall was looking pretty impassable. They expected her to walk right through it?
A loud whistle sounded. Alysha blinked and stared straight ahead. Right in front of her was a long, red train, with dark grey smoke starting to roll slowly out of the top of the engine, and the words Hogwarts Express printed on the front. She looked up. There was sign sticking out from the wall slightly above her that said Platform Nine and Three Quarters. She looked behind her, and saw Arthur and Molly Weasley emerging through a solid wall. She looked to her side, at Kailey, and saw her best friend had a firm grip on her upper arm.
Kailey smirked. "Somehow, I knew you would get nervous. You wouldn't budge. I literally had to drag you through. We had better hurry up, the train's about to leave."
Mrs. Weasley gave each of the teens an almost strangling hug, saying goodbye to each.
When she got to Kailey and Alysha, she smiled warmly. She hugged her niece first. "It was wonderful to see you again, and we'll see you next june. The two of you will be coming back to stay with us for a week or so before you head back home. Have wonderful time, and don't get into any trouble." She turned to Alysha, enveloping her in a tight hug aswell. "It was wonderful to meet you, and I'll also see you again next june. I hope you have a good time!"
Kailey and Alysha smiled at her and Mr. Weasley, before turning and following their friends onto the train.
Once inside, Fred and George headed off to find their best friend Lee, after saying a quick goodbye. The rest of the group quickly found an empty compartment and they all settled into their seats. Harry and Ron promptly stared talking about quidditch, to which Hemrione rolled her eyes, before turning to the other girls.
Ginny and Hermione were telling Kailey and Alysha about all the professors and the castle, when three people appeared in the doorway. Everyone in the compartment looked up.
The three boys looked about the same age as everyone else. The first had sandy coloured hair, and blue eyes. The second had short, black, curly hair, dark eyes, and dark skin. The third was slightly chubby, with brown eyes and a mop of wavy brown hair. Kailey smiled and stood up, pulling Alysha with her. She stopped in front of the three boys.
"Hi! My name's Kailey Barber, I'm Ron and Ginny's cousin. This is my best friend Alysha Mallind. We're from Canada. Who're you?"
Alysha nearly laughed at the look of surprise on the three guys faces at Kailey's forward-ness. She heard Ginny and Hemione giggle slightly behind them. Then the boy with the sandy hair spoke.
"I'm Seamus Finnigan," he pointed to the boy next to him, "this is Dean Thomas," he pointed to the last boy, "and this is Neville Longbottom. Nice to meet you."
Kailey and Alysha eyed the three boys up and down. Identical sly smiles spread across their faces. They held out their hands.
"It's nice to meet you too."
After shaking each person's hand, the two girls beckoned the boys into their cabin.
"So," Kailey started, "are you guys in Gryffindor with these lunatics?" She gestured at Ron, Harry, Ginny and Hermione.
Ginny playfully slapped her cousin on the arm, while Ron said indignantly, "Hey!"
"What? It's true!" Kailey laughed.
The boy named Dean answered her. "Yeah, we're in Gryffindor, fifth year."
Alysha smiled. "Cool. We would be in fifth year, but we're not actually going to school here. We're not really witches. We're going to do our lessons by post."
Dean's eyebrow's raised. "You two are muggles?"
"Yeah," snapped Kailey, "got a problem?"
"Not at all."
Kailey smiled. "Good."
~*~*~
Kailey and Alysha stepped down the steps along with Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione and Neville. Dean and Seamus had gone off earlier to look for someone else, but neither Kailey nor Alysha had caught the name. They looked around. The train had just pulled into Hogsmeade Station, and all the Hogwarts students were were all milling about on the platform, laughing and chatting happily. Ginny looked at her cousin.
"Do you know whether you're supposed to come in the carriages with us or take the boats across the lake?" she asked.
"Can't remember," Kailey looked at Alysha, "you?"
Alysha looked at Ginny. "I think I remember your mom saying something about boats with Hagrid."
Ginny glanced around. She quickly spotted Hagrid's head and shoulders above the crowd, and heard his booming voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere!"
Ginny pointed in Hagrid's direction. "Kails, Aly, he's over there. We'll see you up at the castle, alright?"
The two girls nodded at their friends, and made their way over to the half- giant. Once they reached him, they each latched onto one of his arms. They both looked up at him, smiling.
"Hey, Hagrid!" they said in unison.
"Evening, girls! What are yeh doin' over here? Are yeh ridin' in the boats?"
"Yep! Can we go over and get in one?" asked Alysha.
Hagrid nodded. "We'll be leavin' as soon as the rest of the students arrive."
Kailey and Alysha squealed happily and ran down towards where all the boats were docked at shore. They scrambled into the first one, and sat waiting not-so-patiently for the first years to arrive.
Alysha giggled. "We're almost there! Finally! Yaye!"
Kailey laughed at her best friend. "You're so adorable, Aly."
"Damn straight!"
Just then Hagrid walked up, followed by a mob of nervous looking ten and eleven-year-olds. A few of the children were looking at Kailey and Alysha curiously, while whispering amongst themselves quietly.
"Who're they?"
"Do you know them?"
"They look too old to be first years."
Hagrid's voice broke through all the mutterings. "Alrigh'. Now, each of yeh get in a boat. No more'n four in each."
All of the first years loaded into the boats, until they were all full. One was left standing on the shore. She had long, straight, dark brown hair, and huge brown eyes. She looked at the boat Kailey and Alysha were in apprehensively. It was the only boat with a seat left.
Kailey grinned at the young girl. "Hi! C'mon in. We won't bite. Promise."
Alysha swatted her friend before turning to face the first year, smiling warmly. "Hiho! What's your name?"
"Ciara," the girl replied quietly.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Ciara. I'm Alysha, and this is Kailey. Why don't you come have a seat?"
Ciara smiled. She walked forward, and stepped onto the boat, settling herself on the seat in front of the two older girls. Their boat rocked a bit, and then glided smoothly out and along the lake.
Ciara turned slightly in the seat to look back at Kailey and Alysha. She opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it again. A moment later she opened it again.
"I was wondering. You two certainly look older than eleven, so you can't be first years. What are you doing riding across in the boats?"
"Well," said Kailey, "We're staying here for this year, to visit with my cousins, but we're not actually going to school here. Anyway, since it was our first time here, my aunt thought we should take the boats across with Hagrid, to see the castle." she trailed of, looking upwards. "Wow."
Alysha and Ciara followed Kailey's line of sight, staight up to the castle. Alysha gasped. It was huge! It was also just what she had imagined, like it was pulled straight out of a fairy tale. It had many tall towers, built all out of large blocks of gray stone.
All the boats stopped moving, docked at the shore, and all the children stepped out onto dry land, talking excitedly. Ciara looked back at the two older girls.
"Are you coming?"
Kailey and Alysha looked at each other, and identical smiles spread on their faces.
~*~*~
Note: Again really sorry about the late-ness. I'll try and get the next chapter out soon!