I saw through him, straight away. I don't know why I trusted him, even though I knew he was fake from the start of it all. From the moment I met his metallic grey gaze, I knew he was bad news. But yet, I gave him the benefit of the doubt. My instinct of fight or flee would have chosen fight, but I would have gladly fled as well, rather than feign friendship. I was in an argument between mind and soul.
He knew what he wanted, and was used to getting it. He would stop at nothing to get it, and if anything tried to get in his way, he would destroy it without a second thought or the slightest hint of remorse. All of this was real. But the fake part of him, the part I distrusted most, was his smile. His calm, cool, collected smile. Friendly, welcoming, jovial even. It was the plastic smirk and dancing eyes that bothered me the most. The eyes were horrendous. They were steely and were irritating, as they always seemed amused at a secret little joke that you could not know, a secret little joke that had something to do with you. It was similar, somewhat, to the poem by Edgar Allen Poe where the man's eyes irk the narrator so much that he kills him. But, alas, I had neither the courage nor straightforward reason to kill him.
The next thing that I loathed about him was the way he spoke. His voice was smooth, as if he knew that if he spoke to you, the sound of it would soothe and change your mind about something.
I had hated these things right away, yet at the same time…loved him.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
It was at the Maxwell's dinner party. My parents had urged me to go, as the other "young ladies and men" would be going, and it would be a good opportunity to make friends. My classmate, Virginia Maxwell, had invited me and told me that hopefully we could find handsome beaus. I smiled slightly, fantasies of a young man dancing with me in my head. I was known as the "hopeless romantic" at times.
I had found a dark green gown to wear, complimenting to the dark black ringlets that hung past my shoulders.
"Rochelle, you're going to be late! Hurry!" mother called.
I sighed. "I'm ready, mother!" I came down, and let mother and her friends admire me, before reminding them that I was late.
"You've made it!" Virginia said, her own straight blonde hair in an elegant bun. She was wearing a white gown.
"Apologies for my bad time," I said. "But of course I made it. I wouldn't miss one of your parties for the world. They are the best, you know!"
"My, oh my. You must introduce me, Virginia." The silvery grey eyes flashed.
"This is Rochelle Arbore. Rochelle, this is Draco, Draco Malfoy. He'll be attending Hogwarts this year, as well, only he's in his second year."
"Really?" I asked, looking away from the silent laughter in his gaze.
"Yes! Now, let's go, Ro, I want you to meet the others!" Virginia grabbed my wrist and tore me away from his eyes.
After dinner, I sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, and Draco approached me. "Rochelle…you're quite a beauty, did you know that?"
I gasped, but kept silent. "Dance with me."
I nodded, not daring to refuse a Malfoy's wishes. I leant my head on his shoulder, and we moved together.
At the end, he smirked at me, and whispered, "I'll see you at Hogwarts." I had avoided him since, scared to meet his gaze. His was a territory much too mysterious and dangerous for me, and truthfully, he scared me a little.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
It was finally time to go to Hogwarts. I had worn a black skirt and a dark green sweater. Looking around, I closed my eyes, squeezed the handle of my trunk tightly, and ran into the brick wall. Platform 9 ¾ .
I saw a slightly plump red-haired lady frantically saying goodbyes to her sons. "Ronald, have a good second year! If you need anything, send mum a letter!"
The red haired boy groaned and his ears matched the color of his hair. "Mum, I'll be fine."
The mother ignored this. "Harry, dear, have a good time, and be careful!"
The young black-haired boy whom she was speaking to looked very overwhelmed and smiled weakly as she suffocated him into a hug. "Thank…you…Mrs. Weasly," he said with the last of his air. She ended the tight embrace and said goodbyes to other red-haired boys, and I said my own goodbyes before running up to them.
(A/N: I know Harry and Ron rode the car, but I'm twisting the story, so just forget all that, ok?)
"Hello," I said, with a little smile. "I'm Rochelle, but they call me Ro."
This straightforward attempt to make friends caught them by surprise. "Ron Weasly," the red-haired boy said, sticking out his hand with an eyebrow raised. The hands were kind of sweaty, I noticed, but he looked nice. Also a bit clumsy, I observed as he stumbled while we were boarding the train.
"Harry Potter," the black-haired boy said, emerald eyes sparkling.
"Cool…should we find a compartment?" I asked.
"Sure," said Harry, and we filed into a compartment empty except for a bushy-haired girl with her nose in a book, and a young red-head girl whom I took to be Ron's sister.
"Hey, Hermione!" Ron said, ears red again as he looked excitedly at the bushy-haired girl. She put down the book and a smile spread across her face at seeing the redhead. They were very obvious, I noticed, and Ginny and Harry rolled their eyes.
We talked a bit and waited for everyone else to board the train. "What house do you think you'll be in, Rochelle?" Ginny asked me.
"I'm not sure…I barely even know what the houses are!" I answered.
Overhearing us, the three second years found opportunity to look experienced and be "mentors".
"Talking about the houses?" Hermione asked, eagerly.
Before we could answer, Harry cut in. "Well, there are four. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are alright. Then there's Gryffindor"
"That's the best house. We're in it," Ron interrupted, matter-of-factly.
"And that's the house I want to be in," said Ginny.
"And," Harry said impatiently. "There's Slytherin." He almost spat the house name.
"Ravenclaw is a very studious house, they like to use logic for everything…but they are a bit stuffy and stuck-up at times. Hufflepuff is known for its loyalty, but they can be a bit too trusting. Gryffindors are very brave, and good, but they get a little hard-headed. And Slytherins, well, they are cunning, clever, and determined, but they can be selfish or arrogant, or just mean. Not all that go into a house have all of the traits, so you could be a good, brave Gryffindor and not be hardheaded or vice-versa," Hermione explained.
"Harry," I said. "You don't seem to like Slytherins too much, but if they can have just the positive traits, why don't you give them a chance? It seems as though everyone's a bit prejudice against the Slytherins."
Harry's gaze softened. "It's just that, we've had some bad experiences with some Slytherins, and most of them are really mean, obnoxious, selfish." Hermione gave him a stern look.
"We don't trust Slytherins, that's all. They can turn on you at almost any moment, Rochelle…here's Exhibit A now."
I looked out of the compartment as the train started to move. A figure was approaching our compartment. A smirk played on his face, and I stifled a gasp.
I withdrew my head as Draco came closer and then leaned in our doorway, coolly looking at the contents of the compartment.
I leaned back in my seat, making myself unnoticeable. "Potter, Weasly, Mudblood, and…is it the Weaselette?"
Ginny looked angry and fumed silently. Ron stood up, ready to take a swing at Draco, but Hermione held him back. "Bugger off, Malfoy," Harry said sharply.
"No need to use foul language, Potter. I just stopped in to see what heroic event you plan on doing this year. After all," he said, and used a high pitched voice. "The Famous Harry Potter saves us every time. Don't worry, Potter. It's kind of sad, actually, to know that you need the glory to survive the year."
"I said, bugger off!" Harry looked downwards angrily, green eyes sparking madly.
He laughed. "I'll be looking forward to this year."
He started to leave and I took a breath of relief. He hadn't seen me. But at the sound of my breath, the steps stopped. He turned around with that little amused smile, and ventured back in. "Rochelle?" he asked, eyebrows raised.
"Hi, Draco," I said, meekly, with a shrug at the others. My voice sounded high and nervous, and everyone could tell.
"This is a surprise, Rochelle," Draco said, laughing a little.
"Yes," Harry said through clenched teeth. "It is."
Ginny and Hermione looked horrified to see I associated with Draco, and Ron looked a cross between angry and confused beyond all belief. Harry just looked angry.
"Maybe," Harry growled. "You should leave this compartment."
Draco smiled. "Yes, Rochelle, come with me." Speechless, I felt betrayed.
"Fine. I'll leave. But let me say one thing," I said. "You liked me before you knew I knew Draco. It's wrong you judge me now."
I turned to Hermione. "You were right. You Gryffindors are hardheaded. And too blind to see past house differences."
"Roch..." Ginny started.
Draco took my hand, but I shook it away. "I'm not going to your compartment, either. Not with your oafs around, or Parkinson."
He took my hand again, and said, "We'll go to our own compartment."
"I am not going into a closed compartment alone with you."
Draco looked taken aback. "Fine," Harry interjected. "I'll go with you…but not because I like either of you, only because Rochelle's right about how we judged you, and because I'd feel like a failed Gryffindor if I let Draco…try anything on a first year."
Now Draco looked disgusted. "That's repulsive, Potter. Fine…As long as I get to be with Rochelle," he muttered, but looked very resentful.
People whispered as they saw Hogwarts' greatest enemies and a first year girl go into a compartment. We pretty much sat in silence, but after a bit, Imust have looked very upset. Harry glanced my way, but then lowered his stare to the ground. Draco, however, took my hand and held it lovingly. I didn't even protest.
"What's the matter, Rochelle?" Draco asked.
"I can't bear it! That we can't have the freedom to actually even speak to others in different houses. It's unfair. I want to go home," I said.
"No," Draco whispered soothingly. "You don't want to go home. You'll love Hogwarts. They need more like you, though I'm reluctant to form bonds with other houses. Can't say I like the idea of being friends with a Gryffindor, but I'd do it for you."
"Really?" I asked, looking up at the sliver orbs.
"Yes."
"Then make up with Harry," I said, as if it were that simple.
Draco looked at me as if I was crazy for a moment, and Harry's eyes had bulged, and he started to laugh maniacally. Between bursts of laughter, he said, "Make…up…with…Harry!" repeating my request as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
"Shut up, Po-I mean, Harry, collect yourself…" Draco said.
"She…can't be…serious!" Harry said, still laughing. After a moment, he wiped tears from his eyes, and looked at us incredulously.
Draco held out his hand. "I'm only doing this for you, Rochelle."
"Malfoy, being sensitive? Wait until I tell Ron!" Harry laughed.
"Potter, how can you be so arrogant? This first year has opened up her heart to us, and all you can do is laugh. At least she's smart enough to see past house difference," Draco said, revolted at Harry.
Harry thought this over, but then said, "I'll be reasonably civil, but you can't say anything about myself or my friends, Mal-Draco."
"Fine." They shook hands.
I smiled. "See? That wasn't so bad!" I said, as they wiped their hands on their shirts in loathing.
The sweets trolley came by and we took giant amounts of candy, enough to last us the train ride and the first month of term.
"Harry, can you come back to our compartment?" Hermione's voice carried through the closed compartment door.
"Yes, Hermione, it's time to get changed anyway." Harry opened the door and Hermione gave us a strange look.
"Goodbye Harry. Goodbye, Hermione," Draco struggled as I looked at him expectantly.
Harry laughed slightly, and Hermione's face paled as her eyes widened. Draco offered to hold the compartment while I went to change into robes, and I did vice-versa.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"Firs' years this way! 'Ey, this way! Firs' years!" a large, towering man bellowed. We got off of the carriages and followed him into the castle. A lean, tall, elderly woman greeted us. She looked strict, but I had a feeling she had many good tales about her life that she would not share, though I wondered about them.
"I am Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house. When I call your name, you will go to the sorting hat and then proceed to whichever house table it sorts you into." The hat sang its song, which was followed by much applause.
"Allenton, Christopher." A young chestnut-haired boy sat on the stool, and almost immediately, the hat roared, "RAVENCLAW!" The blue-crested house members clapped enthusiastically.
"Aggerfore, Gabrielle." The meek-looking girl scurried to the hat, which soon called out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" More applause.
"Arbore, Rochelle." I gulped, but strode calmly to the hat.
The hat laughed. "I see that you're very complicated…ah, but with extraordinary talents. You've had the courage to interfere with Potter and Malfoy's extensive loathing for one another. A Gryffindor thing to do, though also Hufflepuff-like. But a strong, distrusting mind like yours would not go in Hufflepuff. You are more open and think things through, unlike a Gryffindor. You'd make a good Ravenclaw, but I can see you would be much too bored, and too strong-minded. You would question books and authority. You are very strong, mentally, emotionally. And maybe even physically, yes, you can put up a fight. Cunning, very Slytherin. And determined. In fact…..SLYTHERIN!"
I took off the hat and walked to the Slytherin table. Draco kissed me on the cheek softly, and said, "I'm so proud, Rochelle!" The other houses clapped politely, though I could see their look of disapproval. When Draco kissed me, on the other hand, whispers broke out, and I could see definite looks of distaste.
It went on. Finally, the headmaster made his speech and a feast appeared before us. I ate daintily, as I had learnt to, and looked at my housemates. They seemed like good enough people, if not misunderstood, then just not given a chance. I knew Draco had a soft, sad soul, that he was scarred from his earlier years in life. But I still half-loathed him. I was confused. I hated him, I loved him. I wasn't sure anymore.
"First years up front!" a Slytherin prefect called. We followed him to a hallway that was very secretive looking, and came to a portrait. Two warriors, a woman and man, greeted us.
"Password?" the man demanded.
"Chimera," the prefect said, and the portrait hole opened.
As soon as we were all in the common room, the prefect pointed out the girl's dorms and the boy's dorms.
It was going to be an interesting year.
(A/N: Well, that was chappie one! Please please please review and then read my other fics…no one goes to them, the dream killers!)
