Chapter 5
New friends and enemies

The next day Soraya woke very early and couldn't get back to sleep. She was still disturbed by that letter and its contents. The feeling eventually left her when Amily appeared with a smile on her face. They went downstairs to train for a while and then went inside to have breakfast. The girls then decided to have a fly around the animal sanctuary. But no sooner had they taken off when Sarah ran out and called them down.

"Why?"

"Because they are arriving by flying horse and coaches apparently and they will be invisible! You might crash headlong in to them so you have to understand that I have to keep the skies clear until they arrive". The girls reluctantly complied and landed by the house.

No sooner had they done so when four coaches appeared. They were being pulled by strange horses out of thin air and landed a few feet away. The first carriage opened and out stepped Dumbledore, McGonagall, a woman in a nurse's uniform, a man that was twice the size of a normal man and Snape 'Ack! Him again...I thought I was well shot of him until I went to Hogwarts.' Then the other three carriages opened and out came eleven nervous but excited looking students. Dean was one of them and smiled broadly at Soraya and Amily. Soraya waved and Dean waved back.

Then Dumbledore began to speak and everyone fell silent.

"Hello again. I would like to introduce you to the other two teachers whom you have never met before I take it?" Soraya and Amily both nodded and looked curiously at all the new faces.

"This is Hagrid and he teaches the care of magical creature's class." Soraya wasn't surprised with this piece of information. Anyone who would want to teach a class like that would either have to be very brave, very stupid or very big and strong like Hagrid.

"Nice to meet ya." He took hold of Sarah's hand and engulfed it with his own and her whole body shook a little as he shook her hand. 'Guess he doesn't know his own strength sometimes.'

"This is Madam Pomfrey the school nurse... just a precaution nothing to worry about." He added to the now worried looking students. Then Dumbledore lowered his voice to a whisper to the girls so the nurse wouldn't hear him.

"Actually she insisted on coming because she said they were her responsibility." The girls smiled and looked at each other and grinned.

"This is Hagrid's class and they are Dean, Harry, Ronald, Hermione, Draco, Vincent, Gregory, Neville, Lavender, Parvati..." Each time he said a name Dumbledore pointed at the person with his wand. Fiery names appeared a foot or two above their heads. Then vanished after a couple of minutes later.

"Hello my names Sarah and I will show you the cabin you shall be staying in."

"Sarah?"

"Yes Soraya?"

"Can we please fly now; Amily and I said we'd meet Stan by the fire wall."

"Ok...but just remember, don't get too close so stay a few feet away from the waters edge."

"We know, and we will put saint rings around our heads if you want us too."

Sarah smiled and sent them on their way.

As Soraya and Amily rose up in to the air they could hear a few people muttering and gasping at them. So the girls stopped in mid air and turned round to the gawping crowd with mystified looks on their faces. Then Ronald spoke up and the mystery was solved.

"Hey Harry they...they've got Firebolts just like you!" Soraya looked at who Ronald was talking to. She looked at this Harry for a second and then looked forwards again rolling her eyes.

They eventually reached the lake to see the fire catching. They turned round to see the students carrying their things up to the giant cabin. The fire catching was harder than it looked and at one point Stan burnt himself, one of the fireflies stung him on his ear. His hands were covered in gloves made from dragons' skin, and his face protected by a fire proof cloth so his ears seemed the only thing the flies could burn.

Then Soraya and Amily heard the whoosh of four broomsticks behind them and turned round. Ron, Harry, Hermione and...

"DEAN! YOU KNEW DIDN'T YOU?" They came towards the girls and landed a few feet away from Soraya and Amily. Dean and Soraya ran towards each other and were together for a few seconds in a friendly embrace. The rest slowly walked towards one another.

Dean had a cheeky grin on his face when they broke apart.

"Of course I knew. It wouldn't have been any fun if I told you and besides, you told me you liked surprises." Soraya laughed and smiled broadly as Dean turned towards his classmates. He introduced Soraya and Amily to them.

"This is Soraya...and the girl with the white hair is her sister Amily. Don't worry she isn't related to the Malfoy's."

"Malfoy's?"

"Yeah, a very nasty wizard family who have never been in any house besides Slytherin. They pride themselves on being what's known as being pure blood because they're an all magic family."

"They sound very nasty. So how long have you guys known each other Dean?"

"Oh...since the first year I think. You kind of loose track when you know people for so long."

Then a boy with black hair, green eyes, glasses and a lightening scar on his forehead came up to them. Soraya and Amily didn't see anything special about Harry and treated him like any other wizard.

"Hello my name is Harry Potter."

"Ron Weasley."

"Oh...so it's not Ronald then?"

"Yes but I prefer Ron."

"Ok I'll remember that in future."

"I'm Hermione Granger."

"Nice name."

Everyone shook Soraya's hand in turn, and then it was her turn to introduce herself and Amily properly.

"I'm Soraya Griffis and my sister here is Amily Hung." Amily was looking at her feet and smiling gingerly. Hermione approached Amily and asked kindly.

"So been here long then?" Amily looked sadly towards Soraya and said with her hands.

"You tell them, I have no paper to write on."

"Ummm...she hasn't talked since her parents died. They were the closest thing I had to parents for the fourteen years I had lived with them."

"Oh...I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it Hermione not a lot of people know." Hermione looked slightly guilty at her lack of discretion until Amily looked up at her and smiled. It was as if to say to Hermione 'It's O.K.' Hermione looked a little cheerful after that and so they all sat on the grass to watch Stan catching fireflies. He gave a little yelp of pain as one of the fireflies stung him again.

"Dumbledore said we have no work today and that means no school uniforms until tomorrow. Wearing those robes here is going to be a nightmare as it's so hot."

"I always liked Dumbledore."

"So do I...I've only known him for a few days but it's like he commands a certain respect, you know? But doesn't ask for it and you can just seem to trust him." Everyone agreed that Dumbledore is the best headmaster they've ever known and the next few hours were brilliant.

They just chilled in front of the lake and talked until lunchtime. Everyone met up outside the giant cabin for lunch. Soraya wasn't surprised to see the chequered blanket had been set up on the floor again. There was enough food to feed a small army and with quite a selection as well. Dean told Soraya all about who was from which house, she could see which ones were more revered instantly. The Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs and especially the Griffindors sat as far away from the Slytherins and Snape as they possibly could. There were more students from Griffindor and Slytherin than Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Soraya could also see the Griffindor and the Slytherin student's were looking daggers at each other as they ate their lunch.

Dean pointed out Malfoy and his goons when he then leant over and whispered in her ear.

"They haven't got a big problem with the other two houses but if you and Amily get in to Griffindor, then watch out for them. They are just like Snape in a way. They're Snape's pets when it comes to taking points off Griffindor so just be careful what you do."

"Thanks for the heads up Dean I'll remember that. It's a good thing that the heads from their houses are here; they look ready to kill each other."

"Yes ...I think that's why Dumbledore got them to come along. Probably to keep my house and Slytherin's in check so as not to cause any disturbances and disgrace the school I expect." After an awkward lunch the students were excused. So Soraya and her new friends went back to relax by the lake and digest their meal.

They were just in the middle of a conversation when Harry noticed Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were heading in their direction. They had very evil sneers on their faces.

"What do they want?" Said Ron looking right at them. They were carrying their broomsticks and looked very smug for some reason.

"Ok Potter lets trade."

"Trade what Malfoy?" Everyone was standing up now and looking with pure hatred at Malfoy. Soraya and Amily just stared blankly at this child who they have never met before, but they felt a certain revulsion towards him as he swaggered over with his bodyguards. But then hatred quickly passed over them after what came out of Malfoy's mouth next.

"Our brooms of course; and your new girlfriends will do the same."

"Over my dead body!"

"You will if you know what's good for you! I hear you two don't know magic yet. So as I was saying our nimbus two thousand and ones for you're..."

"Only a coward would say that and I stand by what I said. No means no means no! You spoiled little git!" Crabbe and Goyle were rubbing their knuckles menacingly and started to flex their muscles as well to increase their size. Her new friends had surprised looks on their faces as Soraya quickly transformed from looking friendly to downright dangerous. Malfoy was a bit unnerved by her voice but that quickly passed.

Soraya and Amily weren't intimidated at all and a thought passed through both their minds at the same time. They looked at each other and smiled slyly at Malfoy.

"Tell you what Malfoy. If me and Amily beat Crabbe and Goyle in a wand free fight! Then you can just go away and leave us alone."

"Ok, and if you loose then I get your broomsticks."

"Ok then Malfoy it's a deal!"

Malfoy compared the sizes of the fighters and laughed at how foolish he thought the girls were. Then stood back to watch the show. Ron, Harry and Hermione looked puzzled and even shocked. But then Dean whispered something to them and they looked less worried, almost pleased even. Crabbe and Goyle handed their wands to Malfoy who had a huge smirk on his pale face. The others backed away as the four opponents started to circle each other.

Then Soraya said something to Amily that made Dean and her friends look happy. Whilst Malfoy's smirk left his face.

"Remember Amily strength isn't everything. Use your opponent's brute force and weight against them." It was a few seconds after that little word of advice that Crabbe went for Amily.

She dodged and he went crashing to the ground. She had tripped him up with low sweeping kick to the shines. He was on the ground clutching at his shines and howling with pain. Then in the next moment Goyle went for Soraya. She did nothing until the last second and then grabbed on to Goyle's back. With all her strength she pulled him backwards and flipped him a few feet in to the air. He landed on his stomach next to Crabbe. Goyle was doubled up and trying to catch his breath as he had been winded badly. It took a few minutes for him to get his breath back and was now on all fours.

The fight was over...Malfoy looked livid and raised his own wand. But before he could do anything Hermione had raised her wand and shouted.

"EXPELLIARMUS!"

Malfoy flew in to the air and landed with a splash in to the lake. Everyone was doubled up with laughter whilst Malfoy and his body guards strode away sulkily with their nimbus two thousand and ones.

"Snape really shouldn't have taught us that one." Mused Hermione when she looked at Malfoy walking striding away.

"Now that's something I will remember for a long time." Ron said through tears of laughter. At first Hermione looked on but then started laughing at what she had done.

No one stopped laughing for a full hour and then talked about it well into the night. At ten o'clock they were outside the cabin and bid each other goodnight. Soraya and Amily went home and straight to bed. They were so tired after the laughter, fun and excitement of the day that as soon as they got in to bed they fell asleep straight away.

Soraya woke the next day feeling bright and refreshed. She and Amily decided to go to the cabin and meet Dean on the outside. So off the girls went to meet Dean with their hearts happy and free. They just started to talk when someone spoke to them who Soraya really wished wouldn't.

"So I see you have met the students."

"Yes sir."

"What are you doing here Thomas? The other students are having breakfast."

"Already eaten sir...and we have no lessons until twelve O'clock. That is what Dumbledore said...or did I make a mistake sir?" Snape's mouth curled. He didn't like being corrected by students even though they were not in school now. When he spoke it was slow and sounded dangerous.

"Very well, but I expect to see you at twelve O'clock here in uniform."

"Yes sir." Snape turned on his heel and walked back in to the cabin. Soraya looked at him until he was gone before she spoke again.

"Man I hate that greasy bat! Why did Dumbledore have to bring him back here?"

"What...you've seen him before?"

"Unfortunately yes... they were here on business." Soraya proceeded to explain all about the visit.

"Then Snape gave me a very odd look like you did in Miss.Baldwick's office."

"That doesn't sound like Snape at all Soraya...normally he never gives a student a second look. Except for Harry and Malfoy that is."

"Why them two Dean?"

"He hates Harry more than any other student. Snape's friends with Malfoy's father and Draco's Snape's little pet."

"Oh god and we have just beaten up his guards...and thrown him in the lake. He hasn't told Snape yet has he?"

"What are you kidding? His henchmen get beaten up by girls that are half their size and Hermione shot him in the lake. Malfoy would be a laughing stock. I'd be surprised if Snape could keep a straight face and he hasn't even got a sense of humour."

"I know, but that was bloody brilliant wasn't it?"

"I've never seen anything so funny; they will be talking about that one at Hogwarts a while!"

They stood outside the cabin and talked until lunch time.

"We have to go now Dean its lunch time. Amily and I are going to do some shopping."

"Are you going to Diagon alley?"

"No that will be in a few days yet. We are going to the village a couple of miles down the road. I've got to get a camping bag and maybe shop for some sweets or something."

"Ok then, I'll see you later."

"Yeah bye Dean, see you later."

Soraya and Amily arrived back at the house for lunch and then it was off to the village. The girls had never been to the village before and were very eager to do so. The village looked like any normal country village and the people were friendly enough. But first it was off to the supermarket for some shopping. Then they went to the camping store for Soraya's bag. It had everything and anything for camping so it didn't take long to find the bag Soraya needed. Soraya and Amily were left alone for an hour to explore the village on their own. The first place you would expect any new kid to go to was the sweet shop. Soraya missed the strange and exciting sweets Lei used to bring them.

Then they went back to the car with their purses considerably lighter. Next stop was home and to the animal sanctuary. They took their stuff back to their rooms and unloaded their new things on to their beds and went back downstairs.

*** Oooo stars. Hmmm ain't got nothing much to say here...nope.