LET GO
CHAPTER 2:
THE INITIAL MEETING
Albus Dumbledore scooted a thick, yellow envelope across the table. The young boy picked it up, opened it, and pulled out a picture of a girl.
"This?" The boy held up the picture. "This is my new client?"
"Yes, it is."
"She looks exactly like her mother..."
"Her name is-"
The boy sighed. "Look, I don't really care what her name is. I am an Auror and all I need to know is how am I supposed to protect her."
Dumbledore smirked. "Very well." He proceeded to tell the boy the details of the case and the special circumstances to which he would be working under. The more and more he spoke, the wider the boy's eyes got.
"So, basically I just have to make sure she doesn't go and get herself killed, right?" The boy asked as soon as Dumbledore was finished.
"She is very capable of keeping herself alive, but extra protection is always a must in situations like these."
The boy nodded. "Does Harry know about the-?"
"Yes, young Mr. Potter is fully aware of what is to take place in order for the defeat of Voldemort to happen. He will do his part in keeping with the Prophecy."
"So, how will I protect her? I can't bloody well become her friend, that would be a little suspicious."
"Ah, you may not be her friend, but associating with her is not entirely out of the question. She is, after all, family. As for the protecting, just remember that you must accompany her where ever she goes without being noticed."
The boy groaned. "You mean-?"
"That's exactly what I mean."
"Great... From Auror to house pet..."
"The suffering will pay off in due time. Now, I do have other business to attend to so if you'll excuse me..."
The boy shook his hand and took his leave.
"I just hope they don't end up like Lily and James..." Albus shrugged, popping a lemon drop into his mouth.
~*~*~
"Sebastian, let go!" Sheila pulled (with much effort) her black tie away from the grips of her frisky cat's mouth and looked at the scarlet train looming ahead. She sighed and looked down at the cat standing beside her.
"So this is it, 'ay Sebastian?" The cat, who was staring hungrily at her tie, blinked and cocked its head to one side.
"Meow."
She nodded. "I agree. 'Twas a bitter end for a new beginning."
"Meow."
She sighed again and, grabbing the handle for balance, stepped onto the platform leading into one of the train's many cars. "Some comfort you are." She said, walking towards an empty compartment. Sebastian, the creature with a one-word vocabulary, following close behind.
The Hogwart's Express let out a shrill whistle as the huge station clock struck 11:00. Sheila looked, absentmindedly, out the window, her chin resting on her palm. The train whistled again, signaling the beginning of the journey, before lurching forward. She whispered a silent prayer, mentally preparing herself for what was to come. As the train began to pick up speed, she saw a flash of black and red hair streak passed her window as two boys, exhausted and breathless, ran by, school robes flowing behind them. She smiled, laughing at their inability to be punctual. Taking in a deep, yet relaxing, breath, she tore her eyes away from the window and peered around the empty compartment.
She saw Sebastian curled up in the corner of her seat, sleeping and occasionally letting out a content purr. "Your no fun." She said, patting the blonde tabby cat lightly on its sleeping head, before letting her hand fall beneath her seat. She pulled her carry-on out and set it on her lap. Unhooking the clasps, she peered in and pulled out a silver photo frame.
It was a picture of her and her father standing outside the gates of the Audubon Zoo. *'My 9th birthday.'* She smiled, although her eyes were full of grief and anger. Blinking back her oncoming tears, she carefully tucked the frame back under her neatly folded clothes.
Deciding that there was nothing better to do on this school bound train, she shuffled through some more clothes and pulled out her favorite book of the moment, Hogwart's, A History. After a few tedious, mind you, silent, moments later, she grew weary of the said book and her gaze wandered over to the vast landscapes swiftly passing by outside her window. She sighed, turning back to her book.
Sheila could hear brief scuffling in the hallway and a boy calling out "Hermione!", but before she could even begin to contemplate on who this "Hermione" was, her compartment door swung open.
"I'm terribly sorry. I thought this compartment was empty." Said a voice which clearly belonged to a boy.
Sheila peered over the top of her book, her chocolate brown eyes surveying the intruders. There were 2 boys and a girl, all looked about her age. The front boy, which she assumed was the one who had spoken, had messy jet black hair, green shining eyes, and fairly tanned skin. The other boy, who was standing next to the girl, had flaming red hair and a sprinkle of freckles across his face. He was a good six inches taller than the other two. The said girl looked about Sheila's height, her bushy, curly hair framing her round face, her hazel eyes staring intently at Sheila.
The boy with the black hair cleared his throat. "Er, we'll just find another compartment."
Sheila sighed. "Don't even bother. All of them are full, I'm sure." She closed the book, setting it beside the sleeping Sebastian, and gave them a tiny smile. "You three are welcome to sit in here, if you'd like."
The trio looked at her, then each other. The front boy shrugged. "Alright. Thanks."
Sheila shrugged back. "No problem."
"Are you sure?"
Sheila chuckled. "What's with the interrogation? Yes, I'm sure."
The teenagers made their way into the tiny room, setting their carry-ons in the overhead compartments. The two boys took the seat across from her, the girl sat next to Sheila. Sebastian let out a howl of pain as the girl accidentally sat on him, then giving her what looked like a disapproving look, ran out of the compartment, tail in the air.
"I'm sorry! I didn't meant to!" The girl looked frantic.
"It's okay. I always thought Sebastian was a bit of a drama queen, er, cat."
The girl picked up the book Sheila was reading earlier and grinned. "Hogwart's, A History." She handed the book to Sheila. "My favorite."
Sheila smiled. "Mine too." She set the book on top of her luggage. "My name's Sheila, by the way." She held out her hand.
The girl took her hand and shook it. "I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger."
A silent interval passed between the two. Sheila resorted back to looking out the window. She could see the sun slowly setting in the distance, the pale, dying sunlight temporarily blinding her. The compartment door slid open again and she heard someone distinctly mumble "Oh shit."
Sheila turned towards the door and saw a tall boy with shining blonde hair standing there. He was casually leaning against the doorframe, a sneer on his face.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Potty, Weasel and Know-It-All." He said.
"Fuck off, Malfoy." The red-headed boy said. He slowly stood, wand already in hand, his other hand clenching and unclenching in a fist.
"Tsk, tsk, Weasley. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"At least he has a mother." The boy with the black hair was now standing, leering at the blonde.
"Look who's talking, Potter. Besides, I don't believe I was speaking to you. Meddlesome fool." He now had his wand out and ready. "Just like your mudblood bitch of a mother. Isn't that what got her killed in the first place?"
Before the first punch and/or curse could be thrown, Sheila stood and walked casually to the where the blonde was standing.
"Hello Draco." She crossed her arms over her chest.
The boy gave her a once over, then lowered his eyes to the ground. "Hey Sheila..."
"Unless you want You-Know-Who to hear about this little episode, I suggest you return to your OWN compartment IMMEDIATELY."
Draco sneered at her. "Who are you to tell me what to do?!"
Sheila raised her hand, Draco flinched, thinking she would hit him. Sheila smirked, her fingers set in a ready to snap position. "Don't make me do it..."
Draco hesitated, but thought against whatever curse he was thinking of using against her. "Whatever..." Without even a backward glance at the others, he stalked away, disappearing into a nearby compartment.
"You-Know-Who? What's that all about?" The redhead looked down at her, suspicion flashing in his eyes.
Sheila sighed and resided back to her seat. "Nothing that concerns you, dear boy."
"What do you mean? Of course, it does." He was standing in front of her again and quite frankly, was starting to get on Sheila's nerves. "Did you mean You-Know-Who as in V-Vol- well, You-Know-Who?!"
"Who?" She asked innocently, although she knew exactly who he was talking about.
"Lord Voldemort." The boy with black hair spoke up. "Your not working for him are you?" He pointed his wand in her direction.
"Put that thing away." He made no move to do so. "Potter, is it? As in the famous Harry Potter?" He nodded. "Of course it is." She sighed. "No, not You-Know-Who as in Lord Voldemort. You-Know-Who as in someone more powerful than that prick and also You-Know-Who as in none of your business. That clarification enough for you?"
The two boys looked at each other, but still didn't put away their wands. "No. You looked kind of buddy-buddy with Malfoy a few minutes ago and everybody knows he's a shoo-in for the next Death Eater."
"Buddy-buddy? Please... Look, if I was working for Voldemort, then I would've hexed your precious Hermione into oblivion already." She nodded in Hermione's direction, who was looking at her curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked.
~*~*~
"YOU BOYS BETTER GET A MOVE ON OR YOUR GOING TO MISS THE TRAIN!"
Ronald Weasley gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek before running through Platform 9 and 3/4. Harry Potter stayed behind and gave Mrs. Weasley a brief hug.
"Take care of yourself, dearie. And remember, have fun!"
Harry smiled, running towards the platform, and called out behind him. "I will! Don't worry!"
~*~*~
They had looked in every compartment, all of which were full, but still saw no sign of their friend, Hermione Granger.
"You boys wouldn't be looking for me, would you?"
The two boys turned and saw a bushy-haired girl standing behind them, a smile on her face.
"Hermione!" They ran and gave her hug, almost knocking her over.
"How was your summer, Ron? Harry, from what I understand, you got to spend some of it at The Burrow?" She asked, straightening her dilapidated robes.
"Let's find a compartment first, okay? Then, I'll tell you all about it and even throw in the number of times Ron fell off his broom trying to practice his Quidditch moves."
"Hey!" Ron yelled. "Those were intentional falls. It's all part of my new maneuvers and such."
Harry laughed as he slid open a nearby compartment door. It was empty except for one person, who's face was currently hiding behind a copy of Hogwart's, A History. A blonde cat, which he assumed was hers, was napping nearby. He quickly apologized, ready to slide the door shut, when she called out to them. He could see brown eyes peering over the book.
Eyes that looked very familiar... His mind flashed back to the picture. *'That must be her...'*
He told her that they'd just find another compartment, but she lowered the book, telling them all the other ones were probably full. She offered them hers and they all accepted with a shrug.
Harry slid into a seat across from her, Ron next to him. She finished chatting with Hermione and was currently looking out the window. He could tell that she was deep in thought so he took this opportunity to look her over.
Her raven-colored hair was long, midway down her back he'd say, and the last few inches of them curled naturally. He could see the sunlight reflecting off her blood red highlights. Her eyes were like chocolate. She was, indeed, very pretty. The thing that he liked the most, however, were her lips. Small, yet pouty, and an interesting shade of pink. They stood out against her lightly tanned skin, like a red rose in the snow.
Harry heard the compartment door open then, and upon seeing who it was let out an "Oh shit."
It was Draco Malfoy, the little git. Well, a few words were thrown around, but before anyone could really do anything, the girl stepped in front of them. She said something about You-Know-Who and Malfoy took his leave.
Naturally, Ron and Harry were quickly on her, asking questions about the incident. She went about it nonchalantly, answering with the air of a snobby person. Then, she said something quite unexpected.
"Buddy-buddy? Please... Look, if I was working for Voldemort, then I would've hexed your precious Hermione into oblivion already." She nodded in Hermione's direction, who was looking at her curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked.
"Your a muggleborn, are you not?"
Hermione started, surprised. "How'd you know?"
Sheila smiled. "Don't worry. It's not like I can sniff them out or anything." She shrugged. "You just give off this kind of aura."
Hermione smiled wearily. "Oh. Okay."
Sheila turned to Harry and Ron. "I'm Sheila, by the way. Sheila Williams."
"Ronald Weasley." Said the red head.
"And you already know who I am." Said Harry.
"Is this your first year at Hogwart's, Sheila?" Hermione asked.
Sheila nodded. "I had to transfer after my school back in America was shut down."
"Oh. Your American?"
"Yeah."
"That's odd."
"What is?"
"Nothing. It's just," She paused. "you have a British accent."
Sheila smiled. "Oh, that's only because I was born here in England, Surrey actually, but with my school shutting down back in the U.S. and my dad dying only a couple of months ago, I had nowhere else to go."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
Sheila shook her head. "Don't be. It could always be a lot worse."
"Don't I know it." Harry said and Sheila gave him a small smile.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" An old witch stood in the hallway, trolley cart loaded with food in front of her. Sebastian finally returned, squeezing passed her, followed closely by the ginger-colored Crookshanks.
The four teenagers each bought Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Pastries, with the exception of Sheila who also bought a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"What are these?" Sheila asked, pulling out a jelly bean and looking at it, puzzled. She held it out to Sebastian, who licked his lips enthusiastically.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at each and grinned.
"Try it. They're really good. I eat them all the time." Ron said, still grinning.
"Well here then. You eat one first and if you don't die, then I'll try it." Sheila handed the bean to Ron, who's grin was slowly fading. Harry and Hermione tried hard to stifle their giggles as Ron glared at them, then at the bean in his hand.
"Okay. Here goes nothing." He popped the candy in his mouth and immediately spit it out. "Ew, sardines!"
Sheila, Harry, and Hermione burst out laughing and soon after, Ron joined in.
~*~*~
The rest of the train ride was spent in relaxation. Sheila and her three newly found friends sat, surrounded by candy wrappers and empty Bertie Bott's boxes, chatting and laughing about school, life, or whatever came up.
"So, you mean to tell me Moody turned him into a ferret and started bouncing him up and down the hallway?!" Sheila asked.
The trio, who were on the floor clutching their stomachs, nodded, their face screwed up in laughter. Sheila soon joined them on the floor, their giggles echoing in the hollow compartment. "I would've given anything to see that!" Sheila exclaimed. Hermione wiped away a tear and chuckled, halfheartedly.
"You must really dislike Malfoy? Do you guys have a history or something?" Ron asked, brushing his hair from his forehead.
Sheila shrugged, biting off a Chocolate Frog's head. "You could say that." She swallowed before opening her mouth again. "Hey guys, I'm really sorry if I came off as being a little bitchy earlier. It's just that with what's going on and everything, you kind of have to be on your toes."
"Why's that?" Harry asked.
Sheila smirked. "One word: Slytherins." She looked at the others, and they all burst into a fit of laughter again.
A couple of minutes later, they heard the brakes squeal beneath them as the train started to slow down. Hermione got up from her spot on the cluttered floor and looked out the window. "We're here."
They gathered their things quickly, so they wouldn't get caught up in the mad rush of people, and exited the compartment.
Sheila stepped off the train, the wind whipping back her long, raven colored hair, and breathed in, her eyes twinkling with anticipation as she took in the sight before her. It was of a huge stone castle surrounded by a clear lake. The stars from above made the picture perfect image shimmer and glisten.
"It's beautiful." Sheila whispered.
"It is, isn't it?" Harry whispered in her ear. She jumped, unaware of his presence. "I can think of a few things that are even more beautiful... " His voice trailed off and she saw him disappear down the hill as he walked towards the horseless carriages.
*'Was he just flirting with me?'* Her face reddened, whether from the wind or from blushing, she didn't care. She was finally here.
Hermione stepped down beside her, puffing as she dragged her carry-on down the train's stairs. She held onto to Sheila's shoulder for support as she caught her breath.
"Whew! Those steps are a pain in the ass!" She looked at Sheila, who was still intrigued by the castle. "Well, I guess as a 6th year Prefect, I should be the first to welcome you." She let go of Sheila's shoulder and took a few steps in front of her. She held out her arms, opening them in a dramatic sort of sweep and looked at Sheila.
"Welcome to Hogwart's, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Sheila smiled, bowing. "Thank you." She held out her arm. "Shall we?" They both giggled, Hermione linking her arm through Sheila's, and made their way down the hill to the horseless carriages, Sebastian and Crookshanks walking idly behind them.
A/N: Sorry if were a bit long. Did you like it? I hope so! Why does Harry seem so flirtatious after he suspected her of being one of Lord Voldemort's associates? Is it the hormones raging or something a bit more? Stay tuned and find out! Review please!
CHAPTER 2:
THE INITIAL MEETING
Albus Dumbledore scooted a thick, yellow envelope across the table. The young boy picked it up, opened it, and pulled out a picture of a girl.
"This?" The boy held up the picture. "This is my new client?"
"Yes, it is."
"She looks exactly like her mother..."
"Her name is-"
The boy sighed. "Look, I don't really care what her name is. I am an Auror and all I need to know is how am I supposed to protect her."
Dumbledore smirked. "Very well." He proceeded to tell the boy the details of the case and the special circumstances to which he would be working under. The more and more he spoke, the wider the boy's eyes got.
"So, basically I just have to make sure she doesn't go and get herself killed, right?" The boy asked as soon as Dumbledore was finished.
"She is very capable of keeping herself alive, but extra protection is always a must in situations like these."
The boy nodded. "Does Harry know about the-?"
"Yes, young Mr. Potter is fully aware of what is to take place in order for the defeat of Voldemort to happen. He will do his part in keeping with the Prophecy."
"So, how will I protect her? I can't bloody well become her friend, that would be a little suspicious."
"Ah, you may not be her friend, but associating with her is not entirely out of the question. She is, after all, family. As for the protecting, just remember that you must accompany her where ever she goes without being noticed."
The boy groaned. "You mean-?"
"That's exactly what I mean."
"Great... From Auror to house pet..."
"The suffering will pay off in due time. Now, I do have other business to attend to so if you'll excuse me..."
The boy shook his hand and took his leave.
"I just hope they don't end up like Lily and James..." Albus shrugged, popping a lemon drop into his mouth.
~*~*~
"Sebastian, let go!" Sheila pulled (with much effort) her black tie away from the grips of her frisky cat's mouth and looked at the scarlet train looming ahead. She sighed and looked down at the cat standing beside her.
"So this is it, 'ay Sebastian?" The cat, who was staring hungrily at her tie, blinked and cocked its head to one side.
"Meow."
She nodded. "I agree. 'Twas a bitter end for a new beginning."
"Meow."
She sighed again and, grabbing the handle for balance, stepped onto the platform leading into one of the train's many cars. "Some comfort you are." She said, walking towards an empty compartment. Sebastian, the creature with a one-word vocabulary, following close behind.
The Hogwart's Express let out a shrill whistle as the huge station clock struck 11:00. Sheila looked, absentmindedly, out the window, her chin resting on her palm. The train whistled again, signaling the beginning of the journey, before lurching forward. She whispered a silent prayer, mentally preparing herself for what was to come. As the train began to pick up speed, she saw a flash of black and red hair streak passed her window as two boys, exhausted and breathless, ran by, school robes flowing behind them. She smiled, laughing at their inability to be punctual. Taking in a deep, yet relaxing, breath, she tore her eyes away from the window and peered around the empty compartment.
She saw Sebastian curled up in the corner of her seat, sleeping and occasionally letting out a content purr. "Your no fun." She said, patting the blonde tabby cat lightly on its sleeping head, before letting her hand fall beneath her seat. She pulled her carry-on out and set it on her lap. Unhooking the clasps, she peered in and pulled out a silver photo frame.
It was a picture of her and her father standing outside the gates of the Audubon Zoo. *'My 9th birthday.'* She smiled, although her eyes were full of grief and anger. Blinking back her oncoming tears, she carefully tucked the frame back under her neatly folded clothes.
Deciding that there was nothing better to do on this school bound train, she shuffled through some more clothes and pulled out her favorite book of the moment, Hogwart's, A History. After a few tedious, mind you, silent, moments later, she grew weary of the said book and her gaze wandered over to the vast landscapes swiftly passing by outside her window. She sighed, turning back to her book.
Sheila could hear brief scuffling in the hallway and a boy calling out "Hermione!", but before she could even begin to contemplate on who this "Hermione" was, her compartment door swung open.
"I'm terribly sorry. I thought this compartment was empty." Said a voice which clearly belonged to a boy.
Sheila peered over the top of her book, her chocolate brown eyes surveying the intruders. There were 2 boys and a girl, all looked about her age. The front boy, which she assumed was the one who had spoken, had messy jet black hair, green shining eyes, and fairly tanned skin. The other boy, who was standing next to the girl, had flaming red hair and a sprinkle of freckles across his face. He was a good six inches taller than the other two. The said girl looked about Sheila's height, her bushy, curly hair framing her round face, her hazel eyes staring intently at Sheila.
The boy with the black hair cleared his throat. "Er, we'll just find another compartment."
Sheila sighed. "Don't even bother. All of them are full, I'm sure." She closed the book, setting it beside the sleeping Sebastian, and gave them a tiny smile. "You three are welcome to sit in here, if you'd like."
The trio looked at her, then each other. The front boy shrugged. "Alright. Thanks."
Sheila shrugged back. "No problem."
"Are you sure?"
Sheila chuckled. "What's with the interrogation? Yes, I'm sure."
The teenagers made their way into the tiny room, setting their carry-ons in the overhead compartments. The two boys took the seat across from her, the girl sat next to Sheila. Sebastian let out a howl of pain as the girl accidentally sat on him, then giving her what looked like a disapproving look, ran out of the compartment, tail in the air.
"I'm sorry! I didn't meant to!" The girl looked frantic.
"It's okay. I always thought Sebastian was a bit of a drama queen, er, cat."
The girl picked up the book Sheila was reading earlier and grinned. "Hogwart's, A History." She handed the book to Sheila. "My favorite."
Sheila smiled. "Mine too." She set the book on top of her luggage. "My name's Sheila, by the way." She held out her hand.
The girl took her hand and shook it. "I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger."
A silent interval passed between the two. Sheila resorted back to looking out the window. She could see the sun slowly setting in the distance, the pale, dying sunlight temporarily blinding her. The compartment door slid open again and she heard someone distinctly mumble "Oh shit."
Sheila turned towards the door and saw a tall boy with shining blonde hair standing there. He was casually leaning against the doorframe, a sneer on his face.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Potty, Weasel and Know-It-All." He said.
"Fuck off, Malfoy." The red-headed boy said. He slowly stood, wand already in hand, his other hand clenching and unclenching in a fist.
"Tsk, tsk, Weasley. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"At least he has a mother." The boy with the black hair was now standing, leering at the blonde.
"Look who's talking, Potter. Besides, I don't believe I was speaking to you. Meddlesome fool." He now had his wand out and ready. "Just like your mudblood bitch of a mother. Isn't that what got her killed in the first place?"
Before the first punch and/or curse could be thrown, Sheila stood and walked casually to the where the blonde was standing.
"Hello Draco." She crossed her arms over her chest.
The boy gave her a once over, then lowered his eyes to the ground. "Hey Sheila..."
"Unless you want You-Know-Who to hear about this little episode, I suggest you return to your OWN compartment IMMEDIATELY."
Draco sneered at her. "Who are you to tell me what to do?!"
Sheila raised her hand, Draco flinched, thinking she would hit him. Sheila smirked, her fingers set in a ready to snap position. "Don't make me do it..."
Draco hesitated, but thought against whatever curse he was thinking of using against her. "Whatever..." Without even a backward glance at the others, he stalked away, disappearing into a nearby compartment.
"You-Know-Who? What's that all about?" The redhead looked down at her, suspicion flashing in his eyes.
Sheila sighed and resided back to her seat. "Nothing that concerns you, dear boy."
"What do you mean? Of course, it does." He was standing in front of her again and quite frankly, was starting to get on Sheila's nerves. "Did you mean You-Know-Who as in V-Vol- well, You-Know-Who?!"
"Who?" She asked innocently, although she knew exactly who he was talking about.
"Lord Voldemort." The boy with black hair spoke up. "Your not working for him are you?" He pointed his wand in her direction.
"Put that thing away." He made no move to do so. "Potter, is it? As in the famous Harry Potter?" He nodded. "Of course it is." She sighed. "No, not You-Know-Who as in Lord Voldemort. You-Know-Who as in someone more powerful than that prick and also You-Know-Who as in none of your business. That clarification enough for you?"
The two boys looked at each other, but still didn't put away their wands. "No. You looked kind of buddy-buddy with Malfoy a few minutes ago and everybody knows he's a shoo-in for the next Death Eater."
"Buddy-buddy? Please... Look, if I was working for Voldemort, then I would've hexed your precious Hermione into oblivion already." She nodded in Hermione's direction, who was looking at her curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked.
~*~*~
"YOU BOYS BETTER GET A MOVE ON OR YOUR GOING TO MISS THE TRAIN!"
Ronald Weasley gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek before running through Platform 9 and 3/4. Harry Potter stayed behind and gave Mrs. Weasley a brief hug.
"Take care of yourself, dearie. And remember, have fun!"
Harry smiled, running towards the platform, and called out behind him. "I will! Don't worry!"
~*~*~
They had looked in every compartment, all of which were full, but still saw no sign of their friend, Hermione Granger.
"You boys wouldn't be looking for me, would you?"
The two boys turned and saw a bushy-haired girl standing behind them, a smile on her face.
"Hermione!" They ran and gave her hug, almost knocking her over.
"How was your summer, Ron? Harry, from what I understand, you got to spend some of it at The Burrow?" She asked, straightening her dilapidated robes.
"Let's find a compartment first, okay? Then, I'll tell you all about it and even throw in the number of times Ron fell off his broom trying to practice his Quidditch moves."
"Hey!" Ron yelled. "Those were intentional falls. It's all part of my new maneuvers and such."
Harry laughed as he slid open a nearby compartment door. It was empty except for one person, who's face was currently hiding behind a copy of Hogwart's, A History. A blonde cat, which he assumed was hers, was napping nearby. He quickly apologized, ready to slide the door shut, when she called out to them. He could see brown eyes peering over the book.
Eyes that looked very familiar... His mind flashed back to the picture. *'That must be her...'*
He told her that they'd just find another compartment, but she lowered the book, telling them all the other ones were probably full. She offered them hers and they all accepted with a shrug.
Harry slid into a seat across from her, Ron next to him. She finished chatting with Hermione and was currently looking out the window. He could tell that she was deep in thought so he took this opportunity to look her over.
Her raven-colored hair was long, midway down her back he'd say, and the last few inches of them curled naturally. He could see the sunlight reflecting off her blood red highlights. Her eyes were like chocolate. She was, indeed, very pretty. The thing that he liked the most, however, were her lips. Small, yet pouty, and an interesting shade of pink. They stood out against her lightly tanned skin, like a red rose in the snow.
Harry heard the compartment door open then, and upon seeing who it was let out an "Oh shit."
It was Draco Malfoy, the little git. Well, a few words were thrown around, but before anyone could really do anything, the girl stepped in front of them. She said something about You-Know-Who and Malfoy took his leave.
Naturally, Ron and Harry were quickly on her, asking questions about the incident. She went about it nonchalantly, answering with the air of a snobby person. Then, she said something quite unexpected.
"Buddy-buddy? Please... Look, if I was working for Voldemort, then I would've hexed your precious Hermione into oblivion already." She nodded in Hermione's direction, who was looking at her curiously.
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked.
"Your a muggleborn, are you not?"
Hermione started, surprised. "How'd you know?"
Sheila smiled. "Don't worry. It's not like I can sniff them out or anything." She shrugged. "You just give off this kind of aura."
Hermione smiled wearily. "Oh. Okay."
Sheila turned to Harry and Ron. "I'm Sheila, by the way. Sheila Williams."
"Ronald Weasley." Said the red head.
"And you already know who I am." Said Harry.
"Is this your first year at Hogwart's, Sheila?" Hermione asked.
Sheila nodded. "I had to transfer after my school back in America was shut down."
"Oh. Your American?"
"Yeah."
"That's odd."
"What is?"
"Nothing. It's just," She paused. "you have a British accent."
Sheila smiled. "Oh, that's only because I was born here in England, Surrey actually, but with my school shutting down back in the U.S. and my dad dying only a couple of months ago, I had nowhere else to go."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
Sheila shook her head. "Don't be. It could always be a lot worse."
"Don't I know it." Harry said and Sheila gave him a small smile.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" An old witch stood in the hallway, trolley cart loaded with food in front of her. Sebastian finally returned, squeezing passed her, followed closely by the ginger-colored Crookshanks.
The four teenagers each bought Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Pastries, with the exception of Sheila who also bought a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"What are these?" Sheila asked, pulling out a jelly bean and looking at it, puzzled. She held it out to Sebastian, who licked his lips enthusiastically.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry looked at each and grinned.
"Try it. They're really good. I eat them all the time." Ron said, still grinning.
"Well here then. You eat one first and if you don't die, then I'll try it." Sheila handed the bean to Ron, who's grin was slowly fading. Harry and Hermione tried hard to stifle their giggles as Ron glared at them, then at the bean in his hand.
"Okay. Here goes nothing." He popped the candy in his mouth and immediately spit it out. "Ew, sardines!"
Sheila, Harry, and Hermione burst out laughing and soon after, Ron joined in.
~*~*~
The rest of the train ride was spent in relaxation. Sheila and her three newly found friends sat, surrounded by candy wrappers and empty Bertie Bott's boxes, chatting and laughing about school, life, or whatever came up.
"So, you mean to tell me Moody turned him into a ferret and started bouncing him up and down the hallway?!" Sheila asked.
The trio, who were on the floor clutching their stomachs, nodded, their face screwed up in laughter. Sheila soon joined them on the floor, their giggles echoing in the hollow compartment. "I would've given anything to see that!" Sheila exclaimed. Hermione wiped away a tear and chuckled, halfheartedly.
"You must really dislike Malfoy? Do you guys have a history or something?" Ron asked, brushing his hair from his forehead.
Sheila shrugged, biting off a Chocolate Frog's head. "You could say that." She swallowed before opening her mouth again. "Hey guys, I'm really sorry if I came off as being a little bitchy earlier. It's just that with what's going on and everything, you kind of have to be on your toes."
"Why's that?" Harry asked.
Sheila smirked. "One word: Slytherins." She looked at the others, and they all burst into a fit of laughter again.
A couple of minutes later, they heard the brakes squeal beneath them as the train started to slow down. Hermione got up from her spot on the cluttered floor and looked out the window. "We're here."
They gathered their things quickly, so they wouldn't get caught up in the mad rush of people, and exited the compartment.
Sheila stepped off the train, the wind whipping back her long, raven colored hair, and breathed in, her eyes twinkling with anticipation as she took in the sight before her. It was of a huge stone castle surrounded by a clear lake. The stars from above made the picture perfect image shimmer and glisten.
"It's beautiful." Sheila whispered.
"It is, isn't it?" Harry whispered in her ear. She jumped, unaware of his presence. "I can think of a few things that are even more beautiful... " His voice trailed off and she saw him disappear down the hill as he walked towards the horseless carriages.
*'Was he just flirting with me?'* Her face reddened, whether from the wind or from blushing, she didn't care. She was finally here.
Hermione stepped down beside her, puffing as she dragged her carry-on down the train's stairs. She held onto to Sheila's shoulder for support as she caught her breath.
"Whew! Those steps are a pain in the ass!" She looked at Sheila, who was still intrigued by the castle. "Well, I guess as a 6th year Prefect, I should be the first to welcome you." She let go of Sheila's shoulder and took a few steps in front of her. She held out her arms, opening them in a dramatic sort of sweep and looked at Sheila.
"Welcome to Hogwart's, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Sheila smiled, bowing. "Thank you." She held out her arm. "Shall we?" They both giggled, Hermione linking her arm through Sheila's, and made their way down the hill to the horseless carriages, Sebastian and Crookshanks walking idly behind them.
A/N: Sorry if were a bit long. Did you like it? I hope so! Why does Harry seem so flirtatious after he suspected her of being one of Lord Voldemort's associates? Is it the hormones raging or something a bit more? Stay tuned and find out! Review please!