TriGemini: Thank you! This chapter should clear some things up for you.
Sark's Heart: I always liked Percy... just me, I guess. Here is the update!
SlythsRule: I love your screen name. Here is the update!
Yaukira: Read on to find out!
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: A lot is changing... read the chapter to find out!
This chapter is a lot longer than usual. I wish I could do all my chapters like this, but do not expect it again too soon.
Arabella looked around the crowded Platform 9 ¾ nervously. She was starting Hogwarts today and she was more than a little bit scared. Harry smiled reassuringly at her and led her into a compartment which Ron and Ginny had saved for them.
"Mione's scoping out the new first years," Ron said, looking up.
"Whatever. I wanted to go find..." Arabella trailed off as she left the compartment. She found him on the platform, greeting new students and telling them what to do, like a good head Boy. A curly-haired girl stood next to him, and he was chatting with her like they were old friends.
"Hey Perce!" Arabella greeted him. He turned around and smiled when he saw her.
"Hello Arabella!" he said, hugging her. "Are you excited about finally using those spells I taught you?"
"I plan to practice on the train. I do want to do well!"
"Who is your little friend, Percy?" the girl asked.
"Oh sorry!" Percy laughed. "Penelope, this is my little brother's best friend's little cousin, Arabella Dursley. I have been teaching her some spells and thing for two years now. She is very bright and eager to learn. Arabella, this is my girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater."
"Nice to meet you," said Penelope.
"You too," Arabella said.
"I assume you want to chat with Ginny or find some other first years," Percy said kindly. "Have fun!" Arabella nodded. She went back into the train but did not go back to her compartment. She found an empty compartment at the back, locked the door, curled up on a seat cushion.
'I will not cry,' Arabella thought. But tears came anyway. Percy had a girlfriend. She was just the little brother's best friend's little cousin. However, Arabella refused to let herself feel sorry for herself. She did a charm to erase all traces of tears and headed back to her own compartment. Three people, however, blocked her way.
"Hello," the middle boy said. "My name is Draco Malfoy. These are my friends, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Who are you?" Harry had told Arabella about Draco. However, Arabella had long ago decided that she would judge Draco for herself.
"I am Arabella Dursley," she said.
"What house do you think you will be in?" Draco asked.
"I am hoping it will be Ravenclaw," Arabella said.
"Well, if you get into Slytherin, look me up," Draco said. He smiled at her and he and his friends walked away. Arabella entered her compartment.
"I saved you a window seat so you could watch the train leave. It is really interesting and good to do your first year," Ginny said.
"Thanks," Arabella said, sitting down. "Harry, why do you think Draco is so evil? I just talked to him and he was very pleasant."
"He does that," Harry said darkly. "He talks nice and gets you on his side, and before you know it, you are the prey. Arabella, do not become friends with Draco, or any Slytherin. If you do, I will have to pretend I do not know you." He looked deadly serious.
"Harry, we really should try a little bit of inter-house unity," Hermione said while Ron and Harry vigorously shook their heads. "Do not worry, Arabella," Hermione added, more kindly. "In Gryffindor, you will not need to interact with many Slytherins anyway."
"But I do not want to be in Gryffindor!" Arabella said.
"Where do you want to be?" Ginny asked.
"Ravenclaw," Arabella responded.
"That is a good house," Hermione said.
"One of the only two in the school," Ron muttered. Hermione glared at him. "What!?" he protested. "Hufflepuffs are losers and Slytherins are evil. Ravenclaws are smart and Gryffindors are perfect."
"Gryffindors are not perfect," Arabella said. For a while the girls sat on one side of the compartment while the boys sat on the other and they glared at each other. When the food came though, that put an end to any disagreements.
They chatted about general normal things and practiced spells until the train suddenly stopped and all the lights went out. A few minutes later, a... thing came into the compartment. Arabella stared at it, terrified. Suddenly, horrible cold swept over Arabella. She was freezing, but it was inside. She also felt very depressed, and wondered how she ever could have been happy.
The thing looked around and suddenly Harry went rigid. He fell out of his seat and started twitching violently.
"Harry!" Arabella cried, running over and hugging him. "What did you do?" she screamed at the thing. It did not respond but merely turned around and left. After that, Harry awakened."
"Ara?" he asked groggily. "Did you scream?"
"No one screamed," said Arabella shakily. "Do you know what that... thing... was?"
"A dementor," Ron said. He too was shaking as he explained what a dementor was. Ginny gave everyone chocolate frogs and they continued their journey to Hogwarts.
"Leave your luggage here and find Hagrid," said Harry when the train stopped.
"I know," Arabella said, rolling her eyes. It was pouring outside and Arabella was drenching in seconds. She did not want to travel across a giant lake. She got in a boat with two girls who were complaining loudly that their make-up was running and a rather quiet and pale boy who did not say a word. Unlike most years, the trio across the lake was miserable. When the doors opened, it was to a man she recognized from Percy's letters a Professor Flitwick.
"Welcome, first years!" he said. "This way please." He led them to a small room off the entrance hall and told them to wait. The two girls immediately got out mirrors and started fixing their make-up while the boy stood a little ways away from everyone else. Arabella stood in the middle of the crowd, feeling out of place.
Soon they were led in front of the school and people began to be Sorted. The hat sang a song and then Professor Flitwick began calling names. Arabella was one of the first people to be called to the Sorting Hat. Professor Flitwick stood on his tippy-toes and barely managed to put the hat on her head. It fell over her eyes.
"So you want to be in Ravenclaw?" the hat asked. Arabella was expecting this, and thought affirmative thoughts at it. "That is a good choice for you, probably the second best." Arabella thought thoughts that told the hat it could put her wherever it wanted. "The best choice for you is SLYTHERIN!"
Arabella grinned as she took off the hat to the applause of the Slytherin table. She did not see Harry in the crowd, but Percy and Ginny gave her the thumbs up sign as she went to sit down. She sat at an end, not really knowing who she could sit with. A little bit later, a tall, black-haired girl sat down in the seat across from her.
"My name is Gwyneth Goyle," she said without preamble. "My brother would not let me sit with him and his friends, so do you mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all. I am Arabella Dursley. Is your brother Gregory Goyle?"
"Yeah, but friends call us Greg and Gwen. I do not recognize the name Dursley...?"
"I am a Muggle-born," Arabella whispered, "but Harry Potter is my cousin."
"Really? Well, I do not care, but do not go around advertising that." The two girls chatted until another person joined them, the boy from Arabella's boat.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" the boy asked Arabella.
"No," Arabella said, smiling at the clearly shy boy. "I am Arabella Dursley. Who are you?"
"My name is Chance Thorne," the boy said. Arabella got to know her two new friends a bit better. Chance was a Seer, and had been all his life. That explained his quietness and refusal to meet anyone's eyes. Arabella of course told them about her heritage and demonstrated her telekinetic abilities. Halfway through the meal, Arabella decided to go tell Harry what house she was in, since he had not been there.
"Harry, guess what?" she asked.
"What?" he said, turning around with a smile. "I assume you got Ravenclaw?"
"That was the hat's second choice. I am in Slytherin, actually," Arabella said. Ron choked on his roast beef and Harry went very still.
"Arabella, perhaps you had better rejoin your friends there," Harry said at last.
"But aren't you happy for me?" Arabella asked, dismayed. Harry looked at her with an unreadable expression.
"No," he said at last, and turned back around. Hurt and confused by Harry and Ron's cold shoulders, she went back to the Slytherin table.
"Gryffindors cannot get past Slytherin stereotypes," Gwen said, shaking her head sadly. "Do not expect to remain on good terms with them."
"Also remember that not all Slytherins are evil, like you have been taught," Chance said, hugging her.
"Thanks," Arabella said, smiling. She was happy to have two people who she could count on.
When Arabella and Gwen got to the Slytherin common room, they found it to be a stone room with a roaring fire. It was, naturally, decorated in green and silver.
"Come on! I want to meet our three roommates!" Gwen urged. She half pulled Arabella up to the first year girls' dormitory. Arabella looked apologetically back at Chance, as she wanted to stay in the common room and talk. But when they got to the first year room, all thoughts of going back flew out of her head.
It was magnificent. The beds had dark green hangings with silver embroidery and there was a very large window seat. There was a plush green rug with the symbol of Slytherin in silver on it. Arabella's burnt orange trunk was sitting at the foot of a bed. Three other girls were clustered around HRH Vladimir.
"He is so big!" one girl said in awe.
"Who do you think he belongs to?" another asked.
"He's mine," Arabella said. They all turned around.
"Hi! I am Natalia Oiccir, or Alia, if you prefer," a girl with shoulder blade length wavy brown hair said.
"I am Eleanor, of the ancient and most noble house of Gardelle," a smug looking, red-haired girl said.
"Is that how all purebloods introduce themselves?" Arabella asked Gwen in a whisper.
"Yeah, but..." she raised her voice, "I do not recognize the name Gardelle."
"Well," Eleanor said, lowering her voice in turn, "we are an obscure branch of the... of the... Weasley family. Well, you see why we had to change our name, looking at those wannabe purebloods." Arabella could see that she did indeed look a bit like a female version of Ron. Everyone was nodding sympathetically.
"I am Delectabla Reid," a girl with very pale skin and black hair said. She smiled, revealing small fangs.
"So you are the vampire Daddy told me was coming this year?" Eleanor asked. Delectabla nodded. Gwen quickly introduced herself and Arabella. Eleanor looked suspiciously at Arabella for a moment, but apparently Arabella pulled off a good enough impression of a pureblood that she let it go.
"You going to have a hard time around people like Eleanor, and Draco Malfoy, and my brother, but I am sure you can convince them that you are worthy," Gwen whispered. At last, the five girls fell into bed, waiting for tomorrow when the fun would really start.
Sark's Heart: I always liked Percy... just me, I guess. Here is the update!
SlythsRule: I love your screen name. Here is the update!
Yaukira: Read on to find out!
PrincessSkywalkerOrgana: A lot is changing... read the chapter to find out!
This chapter is a lot longer than usual. I wish I could do all my chapters like this, but do not expect it again too soon.
Arabella looked around the crowded Platform 9 ¾ nervously. She was starting Hogwarts today and she was more than a little bit scared. Harry smiled reassuringly at her and led her into a compartment which Ron and Ginny had saved for them.
"Mione's scoping out the new first years," Ron said, looking up.
"Whatever. I wanted to go find..." Arabella trailed off as she left the compartment. She found him on the platform, greeting new students and telling them what to do, like a good head Boy. A curly-haired girl stood next to him, and he was chatting with her like they were old friends.
"Hey Perce!" Arabella greeted him. He turned around and smiled when he saw her.
"Hello Arabella!" he said, hugging her. "Are you excited about finally using those spells I taught you?"
"I plan to practice on the train. I do want to do well!"
"Who is your little friend, Percy?" the girl asked.
"Oh sorry!" Percy laughed. "Penelope, this is my little brother's best friend's little cousin, Arabella Dursley. I have been teaching her some spells and thing for two years now. She is very bright and eager to learn. Arabella, this is my girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater."
"Nice to meet you," said Penelope.
"You too," Arabella said.
"I assume you want to chat with Ginny or find some other first years," Percy said kindly. "Have fun!" Arabella nodded. She went back into the train but did not go back to her compartment. She found an empty compartment at the back, locked the door, curled up on a seat cushion.
'I will not cry,' Arabella thought. But tears came anyway. Percy had a girlfriend. She was just the little brother's best friend's little cousin. However, Arabella refused to let herself feel sorry for herself. She did a charm to erase all traces of tears and headed back to her own compartment. Three people, however, blocked her way.
"Hello," the middle boy said. "My name is Draco Malfoy. These are my friends, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Who are you?" Harry had told Arabella about Draco. However, Arabella had long ago decided that she would judge Draco for herself.
"I am Arabella Dursley," she said.
"What house do you think you will be in?" Draco asked.
"I am hoping it will be Ravenclaw," Arabella said.
"Well, if you get into Slytherin, look me up," Draco said. He smiled at her and he and his friends walked away. Arabella entered her compartment.
"I saved you a window seat so you could watch the train leave. It is really interesting and good to do your first year," Ginny said.
"Thanks," Arabella said, sitting down. "Harry, why do you think Draco is so evil? I just talked to him and he was very pleasant."
"He does that," Harry said darkly. "He talks nice and gets you on his side, and before you know it, you are the prey. Arabella, do not become friends with Draco, or any Slytherin. If you do, I will have to pretend I do not know you." He looked deadly serious.
"Harry, we really should try a little bit of inter-house unity," Hermione said while Ron and Harry vigorously shook their heads. "Do not worry, Arabella," Hermione added, more kindly. "In Gryffindor, you will not need to interact with many Slytherins anyway."
"But I do not want to be in Gryffindor!" Arabella said.
"Where do you want to be?" Ginny asked.
"Ravenclaw," Arabella responded.
"That is a good house," Hermione said.
"One of the only two in the school," Ron muttered. Hermione glared at him. "What!?" he protested. "Hufflepuffs are losers and Slytherins are evil. Ravenclaws are smart and Gryffindors are perfect."
"Gryffindors are not perfect," Arabella said. For a while the girls sat on one side of the compartment while the boys sat on the other and they glared at each other. When the food came though, that put an end to any disagreements.
They chatted about general normal things and practiced spells until the train suddenly stopped and all the lights went out. A few minutes later, a... thing came into the compartment. Arabella stared at it, terrified. Suddenly, horrible cold swept over Arabella. She was freezing, but it was inside. She also felt very depressed, and wondered how she ever could have been happy.
The thing looked around and suddenly Harry went rigid. He fell out of his seat and started twitching violently.
"Harry!" Arabella cried, running over and hugging him. "What did you do?" she screamed at the thing. It did not respond but merely turned around and left. After that, Harry awakened."
"Ara?" he asked groggily. "Did you scream?"
"No one screamed," said Arabella shakily. "Do you know what that... thing... was?"
"A dementor," Ron said. He too was shaking as he explained what a dementor was. Ginny gave everyone chocolate frogs and they continued their journey to Hogwarts.
"Leave your luggage here and find Hagrid," said Harry when the train stopped.
"I know," Arabella said, rolling her eyes. It was pouring outside and Arabella was drenching in seconds. She did not want to travel across a giant lake. She got in a boat with two girls who were complaining loudly that their make-up was running and a rather quiet and pale boy who did not say a word. Unlike most years, the trio across the lake was miserable. When the doors opened, it was to a man she recognized from Percy's letters a Professor Flitwick.
"Welcome, first years!" he said. "This way please." He led them to a small room off the entrance hall and told them to wait. The two girls immediately got out mirrors and started fixing their make-up while the boy stood a little ways away from everyone else. Arabella stood in the middle of the crowd, feeling out of place.
Soon they were led in front of the school and people began to be Sorted. The hat sang a song and then Professor Flitwick began calling names. Arabella was one of the first people to be called to the Sorting Hat. Professor Flitwick stood on his tippy-toes and barely managed to put the hat on her head. It fell over her eyes.
"So you want to be in Ravenclaw?" the hat asked. Arabella was expecting this, and thought affirmative thoughts at it. "That is a good choice for you, probably the second best." Arabella thought thoughts that told the hat it could put her wherever it wanted. "The best choice for you is SLYTHERIN!"
Arabella grinned as she took off the hat to the applause of the Slytherin table. She did not see Harry in the crowd, but Percy and Ginny gave her the thumbs up sign as she went to sit down. She sat at an end, not really knowing who she could sit with. A little bit later, a tall, black-haired girl sat down in the seat across from her.
"My name is Gwyneth Goyle," she said without preamble. "My brother would not let me sit with him and his friends, so do you mind if I sit here?"
"Not at all. I am Arabella Dursley. Is your brother Gregory Goyle?"
"Yeah, but friends call us Greg and Gwen. I do not recognize the name Dursley...?"
"I am a Muggle-born," Arabella whispered, "but Harry Potter is my cousin."
"Really? Well, I do not care, but do not go around advertising that." The two girls chatted until another person joined them, the boy from Arabella's boat.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" the boy asked Arabella.
"No," Arabella said, smiling at the clearly shy boy. "I am Arabella Dursley. Who are you?"
"My name is Chance Thorne," the boy said. Arabella got to know her two new friends a bit better. Chance was a Seer, and had been all his life. That explained his quietness and refusal to meet anyone's eyes. Arabella of course told them about her heritage and demonstrated her telekinetic abilities. Halfway through the meal, Arabella decided to go tell Harry what house she was in, since he had not been there.
"Harry, guess what?" she asked.
"What?" he said, turning around with a smile. "I assume you got Ravenclaw?"
"That was the hat's second choice. I am in Slytherin, actually," Arabella said. Ron choked on his roast beef and Harry went very still.
"Arabella, perhaps you had better rejoin your friends there," Harry said at last.
"But aren't you happy for me?" Arabella asked, dismayed. Harry looked at her with an unreadable expression.
"No," he said at last, and turned back around. Hurt and confused by Harry and Ron's cold shoulders, she went back to the Slytherin table.
"Gryffindors cannot get past Slytherin stereotypes," Gwen said, shaking her head sadly. "Do not expect to remain on good terms with them."
"Also remember that not all Slytherins are evil, like you have been taught," Chance said, hugging her.
"Thanks," Arabella said, smiling. She was happy to have two people who she could count on.
When Arabella and Gwen got to the Slytherin common room, they found it to be a stone room with a roaring fire. It was, naturally, decorated in green and silver.
"Come on! I want to meet our three roommates!" Gwen urged. She half pulled Arabella up to the first year girls' dormitory. Arabella looked apologetically back at Chance, as she wanted to stay in the common room and talk. But when they got to the first year room, all thoughts of going back flew out of her head.
It was magnificent. The beds had dark green hangings with silver embroidery and there was a very large window seat. There was a plush green rug with the symbol of Slytherin in silver on it. Arabella's burnt orange trunk was sitting at the foot of a bed. Three other girls were clustered around HRH Vladimir.
"He is so big!" one girl said in awe.
"Who do you think he belongs to?" another asked.
"He's mine," Arabella said. They all turned around.
"Hi! I am Natalia Oiccir, or Alia, if you prefer," a girl with shoulder blade length wavy brown hair said.
"I am Eleanor, of the ancient and most noble house of Gardelle," a smug looking, red-haired girl said.
"Is that how all purebloods introduce themselves?" Arabella asked Gwen in a whisper.
"Yeah, but..." she raised her voice, "I do not recognize the name Gardelle."
"Well," Eleanor said, lowering her voice in turn, "we are an obscure branch of the... of the... Weasley family. Well, you see why we had to change our name, looking at those wannabe purebloods." Arabella could see that she did indeed look a bit like a female version of Ron. Everyone was nodding sympathetically.
"I am Delectabla Reid," a girl with very pale skin and black hair said. She smiled, revealing small fangs.
"So you are the vampire Daddy told me was coming this year?" Eleanor asked. Delectabla nodded. Gwen quickly introduced herself and Arabella. Eleanor looked suspiciously at Arabella for a moment, but apparently Arabella pulled off a good enough impression of a pureblood that she let it go.
"You going to have a hard time around people like Eleanor, and Draco Malfoy, and my brother, but I am sure you can convince them that you are worthy," Gwen whispered. At last, the five girls fell into bed, waiting for tomorrow when the fun would really start.
