Chapter Three

Cori's description of Benjamin was fairly accurate. For being eleven already, therefore older then me, I still stood a good three inches over him. His mass of uncontrollable brown hair stuck out in vague curls, he was fat and the signs of acne were beginning to show, and worse of all... he was stupid. Mrs. Crabbe, formally known as Pansy Parkinson, adored her son.

Justine Goyle. She was tall and thin with long dishwater blonde hair and lifeless brown eyes. She, I could say, actually held some intelligence, but only some. She didn't like me, nor I her. The system worked fine.

Then there was me, Katarina Malfoy or as Cori called me, and only Cori called me, Kit. My father's silver blonde hair braided long to my waist as my mother "preferred" it. According to Cori I had the trademark Malfoy gray eyes and the forever bored expression.

Zachariah Zanbini was always with us as well, he was as handsome as his father, with black hair he kept short and styled and hazel eyes that constantly searched for things of interest, but his arrogance surpassed my own. He was to be a second year, making him the oldest in our group.

These were supposed to be my friends, all came form pure wizarding families, all rich, therefore all spoiled and remarkably shallow. They would have to do for the next six to seven years. I couldn't stand any of them.

At the platform I saw David, the Weasley I had met, surrounded by what I guessed to be his siblings and cousins. I considered what Cori had told me and as I was contemplating David looked over at me, our eyes locked. He frowned, but nodded in recognition before turning to the dark haired girl that came beside him.

"Katarina, come on," Zachariah pushed me forward and onto the train. And so the year started.

***

As a first year, I wasn't allowed on the quidditch team, but I did enjoy watching practices, no matter which team it was. That was how I first met Miranda Potter.

I was unfortunate enough to feel the urge to watch quidditch on a day for Gryffindor's training. I had recently learned David was on the team, as usual he frowned and nodded at me.

For a Weasley, he amused me far more then the friends I was supposed to have. Not that I would ever admit that, especially to Cori. That's when she saw me, she had followed his gaze to find me.

"Slytherin on field," she yelled from where she hovered. The Gryffindor team turned to look at me. I could see David talking, but couldn't hear what. Then, "No, David, she has to go."

Miranda has dark, wavy hair she kept in a ponytail, tan skin, and a superiority complex to match my own, I hated her instantly. David flew to my place on the stands.

"You gotta go."

I stared at him, how dare he, "I have every right to the pitch as anyone else."

"Kit, please."

I stood, "It's Katarina, or in your case, Malfoy."

He gave me a smile for once, I almost smiled back, instead grabbed my discarded bag and walked off.

Weeks passed, the season had started and almost every time the Gryffindors practiced, I was there. Mostly to annoy Miranda and David.

One day he found me in the library seemingly to annoy me as I did to him.

"What are you studying, Kit?"

"Malfoy, Weasley," I looked at him, "Defense against the Dark Arts, Cori doesn't make it easy."

David nodded, "Are we friends?"

I would have snorted if Malfoys did such things, "Hardly." What had ever given him that I idea, I to this day don't know.

"Good, cause I don't want to talk to a friend about this."

I closed my book to look at him, "What?"

"I think Miranda likes me."

Instantly I was repulsed by the conversation and opened my book again to indicate he should leave.

"I don't know what to do?"

"Do you like her?"

"No."

"Then there's no problem."

"She's my best friend."

"What's your point, Weasley, if you don't like the girl, tell her."

"What about Zanbini?"

"What about him?"

"He likes you, but you don't like him, why the charade?"

I again closed my book to glare at him, "Never compare you pathetic relationship problems with mine. We are not friends nor will we ever be."

He brushed hair out of his eyes only to glare at me, "Lets keep it that way." Then left. Finally.