"Blond hair, looking down her nose at you? Has to be a Malfoy."
-Ron
Harry Potter and Ron Weasely stepped off the Hogwarts Express onto the platform where their trusty giant friend Hagrid was waiting for them to lead them up the steps to Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Their best friend Hermione Granger wasn't far behind them, lugging a crate full of newly purchased schoolbooks, no doubt due to the extra five subjects she was taking in addition t everyone else.
"Think that's it," said Ron to Harry as they collected their things off the train. "Hermione, are you planning to sleep at all this year?"
Hermione scowled. "I have to work really hard this year, Ron. In case you and Harry have failed to notice, this is our last year at Hogwarts! And I don't know about you, but I attempt to learn all I can, while I can!"
Ron gave Harry an exasperated look and Harry shrugged. They all followed Hagrid's familiar voice across to the carriages.
"Right you lot! This way!"
Walking as a three, Harry, Ron and Hermione set off to the carriages. Harry shortly stumbled sideways into Hermione as his least favourite person purposely bashed into his shoulder on the way past.
"Evening, Potter," Malfoy spat alongside Crabbe and Goyle.
Harry straightened up off Hermione as Ron pulled his wand out.
"Don't, Ron! You don't want to start the year with a fortnight's worth of detention for that slime ball."
Ron reluctantly pushed his wand back into his robes. Harry looked around and spotted a group of Slytherin girls behind him as they neared the carriages.
The seats were very comfortable in the carriages. They were magically enlarged inside so six people easily fitted inside them. Harry sat alongside Ron and Hermione. Opposite him sat three Hufflepuffs and a girl Harry had never seen before. She had blond hair and cold blue eyes. She was sitting passively, trying not to catch anyone's eye. Harry was sure she was new; he would have noticed her before. Suddenly, she looked up sharply and was eyeing Harry in a way that he could not describe. It wasn't dislike, but something similar. More like suspicion. Harry knew he had seen that look before; from Draco Malfoy. But Malfoy, although not ugly, wasn't handsome. This girl, although not pretty, was something else. She was.eye catching.
The carriage stopped abruptly and Harry held Ron back for a second and allowed the others to go on ahead.
"Who was that?" he asked Ron.
"Who?"
"That girl in the carriage," Harry said.
"Well, let's think. Blond hair, looking down her nose at you? Has to be a Malfoy."
"Malfoy has a sister? I thought he was an only child!"
"Well, maybe his mother had a wild affair with a Scandinavian waiter in Prague and as a result he has a younger sister who is a secret child of Darkness?" Ron said, smirking.
"That's a little far-fetched, Ron," said Hermione.
"Besides, she looked older," Harry pointed out.
"Does it really matter?" said Ron. "It's only a Malfoy after all."
Harry and Hermione silently agreed and continued walking, Ron slightly in front.
The Great Feast was as magnificent as ever. The house elves had pulled out all the stops as a welcome back present to all the students and it was greatly appreciated. There was ham and bacon and eggs and sausages, every kind of potato on the face of the earth and a few foreign dishes. Just as they were about to eat, the oak doors flew open and the first years trundled in, Hagrid in the lead. Harry looked around curiously and saw to his surprise the girl in the carriage amongst them.
"Welcome, new arrivals to Hogwarts," beamed Dumbledore over his chicken soup. "I have an announcement to make regarding the arrival of our new students. Amongst them is a seventh year, who is joining us now prior to leaving a different school. I hope you will all welcome her so late into her education."
Harry looked curiously at the girl who glanced at him as she walked past.
Harry had seen the first years get sorted more than once, as he had been sorted himself. The novelty would never wear off, as it was always interesting to watch students become sorted into the houses they would spend seven years of their life in. Many names were called, until. "Cadence Malfoy!"
"Told you," said Ron quietly.
Hermione snorted into her pumpkin juice. "Cadence? Ha! What kind of name is that? A rhythmical person is she?"
"Hermione, keep your voice down!" hissed Harry as a group of large Slytherin girls were looking menacingly at the Gryffindor table.
The Hat was placed on the girls' head. She looked neither nervous, nor relaxed. Harry couldn't decide what her expression showed; it was indecipherable. The Sorting Hat was on Cadence's head for a long time, saying things only she could hear just as the hat had done to Harry when he first arrived at Hogwarts and had been told he 'would have done well in Slytherin.' Harry however had asked not to be in Slytherin, making his very different from Lord Voldemort.
After what seemed like a whole five minutes, the Sorting Hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"No surprises there," Ron whispered in Harry's ear, heeding him about the gang of Slytherins only a few feet away.
There was a small spatter of applause, and Harry looked over to see Draco Malfoy clapping loudly and, obviously on his command, so were Crabbe and Goyle. Dumbledore's new announcements were not groundbreaking after dinner and so Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall with no worries except the hope that they would sleep well.
All Harry wanted that night was to get a decent night sleep but he had no such luck. No sooner had they turned the corner to the portrait of the Fat Lady, Malfoy stood in front of all three of them, blocking their way. For the first time ever in his life, Harry felt unnerved by Malfoy. He had grown at least two feet over the summer and his eyes were glinting dangerously. Harry was aware that he, Ron and Hermione weren't going to get past without a confrontation of some sort and so inconspicuously checked his pocket for his wand. Yes, it was there, but he was unwilling to use it to curse someone on his first day back.
"So, back again this year, Potter?" he said scathingly.
"Yeah, that's right. Is there a problem, Malfoy?" Harry said coolly.
Malfoy chuckled. "Not really, just wanted to say hello."
If these words had just been printed, somebody would have thought that Malfoy was being generally polite. Had they heard how it had been said, they would have understood that Malfoy meant everything but 'hello'.
"Well, you've said it now, why don't you go on to bed?" snarled Ron. It was all he could do to stop himself from hurling himself on Malfoy.
"Hmm," Malfoy whispered. "I smell fear."
"Or it could just be your socks," said Hermione. Harry and Ron chuckled.
"Shut up, you Mudblood. Go and get your face sorted out."
"Why don't you."
At that exact moment, Cadence Malfoy came around the corner. Everyone looked up, even Malfoy and Hermione, who were looking daggers at each other.
"What's going on?" she asked. This was the first time Harry had heard her speak.
"You're brother's started making his daily doses of trouble early this year. Come to join in, have you?" said Ron sharply. Harry elbowed him. She hadn't done anything yet, he thought.
"Ah, Cade. May I introduce you to the famous Harry Potter? Potter, have the pleasure of meeting my sister."
Her eyes raked Harry's hairline and then met his own green eyes. She held out her hand. "You are legend, Mr Potter. Yourself and Voldemort of course."
"Don't take it, Harry," hissed Ron, indicating Cadence's outstretched hand.
Harry ignored him and took it. "The only people I've ever heard say that name is myself and Dumbledore. You surprise me."
She withdrew her hand sharply, as if not expecting a reply. "Come on, Draco. It's getting late and you still haven't shown me the Common Room."
Malfoy shot the three a look of pure hatred and swept out behind his sister.
"Was that just me, or did she just help us avoid a nasty fight?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
Ron shook his head. "It's just you. They're all the same."
And with that, they stepped through the portrait into the Gryffindor Common Room.
Harry Potter and Ron Weasely stepped off the Hogwarts Express onto the platform where their trusty giant friend Hagrid was waiting for them to lead them up the steps to Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Their best friend Hermione Granger wasn't far behind them, lugging a crate full of newly purchased schoolbooks, no doubt due to the extra five subjects she was taking in addition t everyone else.
"Think that's it," said Ron to Harry as they collected their things off the train. "Hermione, are you planning to sleep at all this year?"
Hermione scowled. "I have to work really hard this year, Ron. In case you and Harry have failed to notice, this is our last year at Hogwarts! And I don't know about you, but I attempt to learn all I can, while I can!"
Ron gave Harry an exasperated look and Harry shrugged. They all followed Hagrid's familiar voice across to the carriages.
"Right you lot! This way!"
Walking as a three, Harry, Ron and Hermione set off to the carriages. Harry shortly stumbled sideways into Hermione as his least favourite person purposely bashed into his shoulder on the way past.
"Evening, Potter," Malfoy spat alongside Crabbe and Goyle.
Harry straightened up off Hermione as Ron pulled his wand out.
"Don't, Ron! You don't want to start the year with a fortnight's worth of detention for that slime ball."
Ron reluctantly pushed his wand back into his robes. Harry looked around and spotted a group of Slytherin girls behind him as they neared the carriages.
The seats were very comfortable in the carriages. They were magically enlarged inside so six people easily fitted inside them. Harry sat alongside Ron and Hermione. Opposite him sat three Hufflepuffs and a girl Harry had never seen before. She had blond hair and cold blue eyes. She was sitting passively, trying not to catch anyone's eye. Harry was sure she was new; he would have noticed her before. Suddenly, she looked up sharply and was eyeing Harry in a way that he could not describe. It wasn't dislike, but something similar. More like suspicion. Harry knew he had seen that look before; from Draco Malfoy. But Malfoy, although not ugly, wasn't handsome. This girl, although not pretty, was something else. She was.eye catching.
The carriage stopped abruptly and Harry held Ron back for a second and allowed the others to go on ahead.
"Who was that?" he asked Ron.
"Who?"
"That girl in the carriage," Harry said.
"Well, let's think. Blond hair, looking down her nose at you? Has to be a Malfoy."
"Malfoy has a sister? I thought he was an only child!"
"Well, maybe his mother had a wild affair with a Scandinavian waiter in Prague and as a result he has a younger sister who is a secret child of Darkness?" Ron said, smirking.
"That's a little far-fetched, Ron," said Hermione.
"Besides, she looked older," Harry pointed out.
"Does it really matter?" said Ron. "It's only a Malfoy after all."
Harry and Hermione silently agreed and continued walking, Ron slightly in front.
The Great Feast was as magnificent as ever. The house elves had pulled out all the stops as a welcome back present to all the students and it was greatly appreciated. There was ham and bacon and eggs and sausages, every kind of potato on the face of the earth and a few foreign dishes. Just as they were about to eat, the oak doors flew open and the first years trundled in, Hagrid in the lead. Harry looked around curiously and saw to his surprise the girl in the carriage amongst them.
"Welcome, new arrivals to Hogwarts," beamed Dumbledore over his chicken soup. "I have an announcement to make regarding the arrival of our new students. Amongst them is a seventh year, who is joining us now prior to leaving a different school. I hope you will all welcome her so late into her education."
Harry looked curiously at the girl who glanced at him as she walked past.
Harry had seen the first years get sorted more than once, as he had been sorted himself. The novelty would never wear off, as it was always interesting to watch students become sorted into the houses they would spend seven years of their life in. Many names were called, until. "Cadence Malfoy!"
"Told you," said Ron quietly.
Hermione snorted into her pumpkin juice. "Cadence? Ha! What kind of name is that? A rhythmical person is she?"
"Hermione, keep your voice down!" hissed Harry as a group of large Slytherin girls were looking menacingly at the Gryffindor table.
The Hat was placed on the girls' head. She looked neither nervous, nor relaxed. Harry couldn't decide what her expression showed; it was indecipherable. The Sorting Hat was on Cadence's head for a long time, saying things only she could hear just as the hat had done to Harry when he first arrived at Hogwarts and had been told he 'would have done well in Slytherin.' Harry however had asked not to be in Slytherin, making his very different from Lord Voldemort.
After what seemed like a whole five minutes, the Sorting Hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
"No surprises there," Ron whispered in Harry's ear, heeding him about the gang of Slytherins only a few feet away.
There was a small spatter of applause, and Harry looked over to see Draco Malfoy clapping loudly and, obviously on his command, so were Crabbe and Goyle. Dumbledore's new announcements were not groundbreaking after dinner and so Harry, Ron and Hermione left the Great Hall with no worries except the hope that they would sleep well.
All Harry wanted that night was to get a decent night sleep but he had no such luck. No sooner had they turned the corner to the portrait of the Fat Lady, Malfoy stood in front of all three of them, blocking their way. For the first time ever in his life, Harry felt unnerved by Malfoy. He had grown at least two feet over the summer and his eyes were glinting dangerously. Harry was aware that he, Ron and Hermione weren't going to get past without a confrontation of some sort and so inconspicuously checked his pocket for his wand. Yes, it was there, but he was unwilling to use it to curse someone on his first day back.
"So, back again this year, Potter?" he said scathingly.
"Yeah, that's right. Is there a problem, Malfoy?" Harry said coolly.
Malfoy chuckled. "Not really, just wanted to say hello."
If these words had just been printed, somebody would have thought that Malfoy was being generally polite. Had they heard how it had been said, they would have understood that Malfoy meant everything but 'hello'.
"Well, you've said it now, why don't you go on to bed?" snarled Ron. It was all he could do to stop himself from hurling himself on Malfoy.
"Hmm," Malfoy whispered. "I smell fear."
"Or it could just be your socks," said Hermione. Harry and Ron chuckled.
"Shut up, you Mudblood. Go and get your face sorted out."
"Why don't you."
At that exact moment, Cadence Malfoy came around the corner. Everyone looked up, even Malfoy and Hermione, who were looking daggers at each other.
"What's going on?" she asked. This was the first time Harry had heard her speak.
"You're brother's started making his daily doses of trouble early this year. Come to join in, have you?" said Ron sharply. Harry elbowed him. She hadn't done anything yet, he thought.
"Ah, Cade. May I introduce you to the famous Harry Potter? Potter, have the pleasure of meeting my sister."
Her eyes raked Harry's hairline and then met his own green eyes. She held out her hand. "You are legend, Mr Potter. Yourself and Voldemort of course."
"Don't take it, Harry," hissed Ron, indicating Cadence's outstretched hand.
Harry ignored him and took it. "The only people I've ever heard say that name is myself and Dumbledore. You surprise me."
She withdrew her hand sharply, as if not expecting a reply. "Come on, Draco. It's getting late and you still haven't shown me the Common Room."
Malfoy shot the three a look of pure hatred and swept out behind his sister.
"Was that just me, or did she just help us avoid a nasty fight?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
Ron shook his head. "It's just you. They're all the same."
And with that, they stepped through the portrait into the Gryffindor Common Room.