Black Roses
It was the beginning of the sixth year at Hogwarts. Harry and Ron were waiting at platform nine and three quarters for Hermione to meet them. After his godfather had died, Harry wasn't in the mood to go back to the Dursley's house, so he had stayed with the Weazley's all summer.
"I wonder where she is, it's not like her to be late." Ron pondered aloud.
"I don't know, but I'm sure there's a good reason." Harry replied, trying to sound as if he wasn't worried. He had a tough enough time adjusting to Sirius's death, he didn't want one of his friends to die as well. Just then, they noticed a girl they had never seen before. She was tall, with long brown hair and she was beautiful. She strode towards them, her black knee high boots accentuating the long legs beneath the short red plaid skirt she was wearing.
"Hi, I'm Hermione's cousin Thalia Smith. My parent's are staying with Hermione's for a while so I'm going to be attending Hogwarts this year." She introduced herself.
Just then Hermione came up behind her, pulling their trunks on a cart.
"Thalia, I see you've found Harry and Ron." She panted from the effort. She glanced over at them and noticed both of them gaping at Thalia. "Hmph, it would do you both some good to put your eyes back in your heads and introduce yourself."
Ron and Harry turned red, and introduced themselves to Thalia. She explained to them how her parents were witch and wizard, and would be watching over Hermione's until the danger around the wizarding world had passed.
"That's nice of them to come all the way over from America." Harry said.
"Well, mother loves her sister so there wasn't really any question of whether to come or not. As soon as we heard about what happened last year..." she cut herself off after realizing were she was going.
"It's okay, I'm still trying to get over the death of my god father. But at least his name is clear now, and people know he didn't have anything to do with what happened to my parents." Harry replied.
"Yeah, he wasn't wizard enough to be in league with the Death Eaters." A voice drawled from behind him. Harry turned around to see Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Shut up Malfoy, you wouldn't know a good wizard if he hexed you." Ron snapped.
"Well, I know a beautiful woman when she's standing in front of me. Tell me, what is a person like you doing with losers like these?" he said, looking at Thalia.
"Hermione happens to be my cousin, and these are her friends. Were I you, I'd learn some manners." Thalia replied, she could tell that Draco wasn't someone she would normally associate with.
"Well, if I were you I'd find someone of better status to hang out with. I'm in Slytherin house, so if you ever want to hang out with a real wizard, you know where to find me." With that, he turned and headed towards the train.
"What's his malfunction?" Thalia asked, pointing at Draco over her shoulder.
"Oh just your average run of the mill my family is an old wizarding family so therefore I'm better than you attitude." Harry answered. "It would be best if you just ignored him."
"Well I have him know that my family was one of the first wizarding family's to move to America. My mother's sister may not have had magic in her veins, but that wasn't for lack of heritage." Thalia sniffed. "Why do you think Hermione's such a good witch?"
"Yes, well we'd better go and see if Ginny's found you guys a car to sit in." Hermione brushed off what her cousin had said, and began to push her cart towards the train.
'I wonder why Hermione never told me her family had magical blood in them.' Harry wondered to himself as he followed Hermione to the train. 'Or, for that matter, that she had such an attractive cousin.'
They found Ginny a couple of minutes later, and began to put their trunks in the storage compartments.
"Well, Ron and I'd better be getting to the prefect car. I'm sure that they'll have instructions for us." Hermione said. She grabbed her robes and walked out of the car. Ron shrugged and followed her.
"I wonder what's wrong with Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Oh it's probably because I slipped and said our family comes from a long line of wizards and witches. Her mother has always been embarrassed to be the only one without magical powers and she never told Hermione about us until a year or so ago. Hermione just gets a little mad because she thought she came by her powers on her own. Funny, you would've thought she'd like knowing she wasn't the only one." Thalia mused.
They were beginning to chat and get to know each other better when the door to their car opened. Malfoy walked in.
"So, here you are." He drawled, addressing Thalia. "I was wondering if you would like to come to my car so we could get to know each other. I'm sure you're going to want someone to show you around. Maybe escort you to Hogsmeade for the first trip?"
"No, I'm sure that I'll do just fine on my own. I'd prefer not to have to deal with the arrogant company of one such as yourself." Thalia replied coldly. "I have better things to do than that."
Malfoy, not used to being turned down, merely smirked.
"As you wish, but I'd think about whose side I was on if I were you. I'd hate to wind up the loser." With that he turned and strode out of the car.
"Just who does that guy think he is?" Ginny yelled. "I'm sorry he seems to like you Thal."
"That's okay, I'm sure I've dealt with worse than him." She laughed it off.
"I don't know. His father is pretty high up on Voldemort's chain." Harry replied, looking concerned. Ginny gasped.
"Harry, you really shouldn't say his name. Especially now."
"But if you don't say the name of something that you fear, it just holds that much more power over you." Thalia reasoned. "I'm sure saying Voldemort's name isn't going to hurt anyone."
"I don't know, I think I'd prefer to stick with he who must not be named." Ginny stated, reluctant to let go of the habit. "It's just the safest way to deal with it."
"Well, whatever floats your boat." Thalia shrugged. "I'm just glad that you guys are so nice, I don't know what I'd do if I had to sit around and be bored all the time. Hermione's always studying, so I know she wouldn't be much fun."
"Well, it can be a great help sometimes." Harry replied. "She's always a big help with problems."
They chatted about Hermione for a little while then got on the subject of Hogsmeade. They were having such a good time that they didn't notice until the last minute that they were almost at Hogwarts and had to rush to put on their robes.
"My parent's arranged it with Dumbledore so that I can be in Gryffindor with you guys. It's kind of like my house at home, so it should be easy to adjust." Thalia said, helping to get her trunk down from the compartment.
"That's cool. I could introduce you to some of my friends." Ginny replied.
"I would like that."
They found an empty coach and piled their things into it. It wasn't long before Ron and Hermione caught up to them.
"Thanks for saving us a spot guys, they were giving us a lecture on how important it is that prefects learn to set a good example." Ron puffed as he hefted his trunk into the carriage with the others.
"Well I think it was a good lesson. It is our job to make sure that everyone behaves." Hermione replied. "After all, if we ran about acting like fools, what would that make the others think?"
"Halo Harry, who's yer new friend?" a big voice came from behind them.
"Oh, hello Hagrid. This is Hermione's cousin Thalia." Harry replied to the Hogwarts gamekeeper. Hagrid was a good friend to them.
"Well thas nice. I dinna know you had a cousin Hermione."
"Well, she doesn't come over much. We should be getting in the carriage Hagrid. Shouldn't you be taking the first years to the castle?" Hermione replied, quickly picking up her trunk and following it into the carriage.
"Well I guess she's right then, I ought ter be goin." With that, Hagrid turned and started to head towards the lake.
"See you later Hagrid, it was nice to meet you!" Thalia called after him.
Thalia climbed up into the carriage after Hermione, followed by Harry, Ron and Ginny.
"This is exciting, I've never really been to very many places. I hadn't even been to England before last year." Thalia exclaimed. "I bet the castle's pretty."
"Oh honestly, you're acting as though you've never seen it before. I showed you the picture in Hogwarts A History." Hermione complained.
"Yes, but a picture isn't anything like actually seeing something." Thalia remarked, sticking her tongue out at her cousin. When she did, you could see that it'd been pierced.
"Did that hurt?" Ginny asked, pointing at it.
"Nah, not really. The worst part was learning how to eat again." Thalia laughed. "I got tattoos too, wanna see?
Thalia showed them her tattoos (she had a dragon across her lower back, and a half sleeve with a unicorn and butterflys on her left arm). Harry couldn't help but think of how different she was from her cousin. Hermione was a bookworm, and Thalia seemed so outgoing. Before long, they were at the castle.
"Oh my gosh, it's huge!" Thalia exclaimed.
"Yeah, just wait until you have to remember how to get around in it." Muttered Ron. "Stupid stairways changing place and all."
"But that's okay, we'll help you around." Ginny replied.
"Yeah, since you're going to be in Gryffindor you'll have all your classes with Hermione, Ron and I." Harry replied. "So you probably wont get lost unless you go around by yourself."
"Which I wouldn't recommend doing right now." Hermione cut in. "Hogwarts may be protected, but I don't trust those Slytherins. Most of their families are in the Death Eaters. Maybe you should just stick with us."
"Hm, I'm sure I'll be fine. But, I would prefer to walk with you guys anyway. I'm afraid of becoming lost."
By this time, they were making their way into the castle. In the entrance, torches were lit and it was warm and cozy. Thalia followed her new friends into the Great Hall and over to Gryffindor table.
"So, how do you guys do your sorting?" Ginny asked, curious about how the Americans did it.
"We have to stand in front of a mirror. It tells us what house we're in." Thalia replied.
At this point, professor Macgonagal was bringing out the stool and the sorting hat.
"Well you're in for a treat then, because our hat sings." Ginny said.
The sorting hat sung it's song, and began to sort the first years into their houses. When it was through, there were three new Gryffindors and Thalia was jealous.
"That is a lot more entertaining than my school, maybe I'll stay here for my last year." She said.
They ate from the platters that had just filled with food, there were even some hamburgers and different American foods on the Gryffindor table.
"It seems Dumbledore wanted to make you comfortable." Hermione said.
"Yes, he does seem to be a nice man." Thalia observed, looking at the headmaster who was drinking from his goblet and laughing at something professor Mcgonagal just said.
"He is, and as long as he's here he who must not be named can never come here." Ron replied.
"Yeah, because he's scared of Dumbledore." Ginny added.
They finished their dinner, and the prefects began to lead the full and sleepy houses to their rooms. They followed Ron and Hermione to the portrait of the fat lady and Hermione told it the password (toads breath). Thalia plopped herself down on one of the chairs by the fire.
"Man am I ever tired." She yawned.
"Well you better get to bed then, we have breakfast early here." Hermione told her.
"Yeah, and then we have potions with Slytherin." Ron groaned.
"Ew, not the house that boy is in." Thalia sighed. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to be bothered by him for a while."
"Well, get used to it. Malfoy's used to getting what he wants, so I'm sure he won't be giving up that easy. He's also Snape's favorite student." Harry replied.
"Snape?"
"Don't you ever pay attention?" Hermione asked. "He's Slytherin's house master, and the potions teacher."
"Oh I see." Thalia replied. "Well, I think I'm going to go to bed after all. Do you mind showing me where my room is Hermione?"
Hermione and Thalia walked off up the stairs and left Ron and Harry sitting in the lounge.
"Well she seems nice." Said Ron.
"Yeah she does." Harry replied.
With that, the boys decided that they were tired as well. As he lay in his bed, Harry couldn't help but think about his godfather. He couldn't believe that Sirius was gone. It wasn't fair, just when he had been thinking that everything was going to get better. Tonks and the order had threatened the Dursley's last year, but Harry didn't know what was worse the way they treated him before or the way that they had walked on eggshells around him before he decided to go to the Weasley's. He had felt more alien than he ever had. Sighing, he rolled over snuggling into his blankets. An hour later he finally managed to fall into a fitful sleep.