Disclaimer: Once again (:sighs in exasperation:), I do not own anything. That is all J. K. Rowling (who is, in fact, a hero in my eyes…). I do own, however, the character introduced in this chapter and another one that's only mentioned…read on to find out. ;)

Chapter Three

Sai

Harry's time at the Burrow flew by in almost an instant, much to his disappointment. The days rolled swiftly by and before he knew it, it was 10:45 in the morning on a fine September first. He, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were all saying goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, the twins, and Lupin at King's Cross Station in London.

"Oy! We'll be waiting for you!" the twins chorused with mischievous grins.

"We'll see you at Christmas!" Mrs. Weasley shouted as Ginny waved goodbye while running through the barrier after the others. Once on the other side, Ginny left the group in search of her friends.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione boarded the Hogwarts Express, loaded their trunks, and immediately set off looking for an empty compartment.

"I'm really glad the new Head Boy and Girl aren't as strict this year," said Hermione. "These two sound a whole lot more lenient, not to mention likeable."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Now we can sit with you, Harry."

Harry couldn't help but give a genuine smile.

The three continued to look for a compartment to have all to themselves. They were unsuccessful, however, and so they had no choice but to take one that was already occupied by a single girl sitting at the window. She didn't budge when they entered the compartment, she merely continued to gaze out the window at the waving, smiling family members outside, and had a subtle look of indifference plastered on her face. When Harry sat down next to her and Ron across from her (with Hermione next to Ron), she seemed to not have noticed their arrival, for she remained still as stone.

None of them had ever seen this girl before, and although Hogwarts was comprised of many students, they were certain this girl hadn't attended the previous years. They sat in silence and wonder before Ron finally leaned over and spoke in Hermione's ear in a low voice, "D'you reckon she's a first year?"

"No," Hermione answered back in a quiet whisper, "she looks far too old to be a first year. She must be at least our age."

"I've never seen her before," Harry whispered to them.

"Nor I."

"Me neither," Ron chimed in.

Obviously the girl had heard their whispering for she broke her gaze from the window and turned to look at them suspiciously.

"Was there something you would like to ask me?" she said with a hint of cynicism in her voice. "Because if there is, just say it."

The three gave each other surprised looks.

"Yeah, I can speak. Pretty impressive, huh?"

An awkward silence followed.

"Well, doesn't look like you can, even though you seemed to be talking up a storm just a second ago. Pity."

Hermione didn't like the sarcastic tone of this girl's voice at all, and gave her a blunt response: "It was only that your accent is quite amusing, actually. American, is it?" she said dryly.

The girl's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, what's it to you?"

The two girls glared daggers. Harry saw where this was going and decided to break the ice.

"Er, hi," he interrupted. Hermione gave him a threatening look, but he ignored it. "I'm Harry, what's your name?" He held out a hand toward the girl.

The girl hesitated, looking at his hand. Then it seemed to have hit her.

"Harry? You're not—are you?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"He is." This time it was Ron who interrupted, rolling his eyes.

The girl eyed Harry for a bit, looking him up and down until her eyes finally lingered on the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. Then her face became expressionless. She turned away and resumed staring out the window at the crowd.

Ron gave a look of confusion to Harry, who only shrugged.

Hermione gave the girl a disgusted look.

"Excuse me," she said coldly, leaning over in her seat to make sure she could hear her.

The girl turned irritably to face Hermione.

"Harry asked you a question and you are being very rude not to answer it."

"It's okay, Hermione," Harry said. "It's not a big deal—"

"It's Sai," the girl cut Harry off. "Sai Ildred." She said her name without the slightest bit of interest in her voice.

"Ah, well, nice to meet you, Sai," Ron said, holding out a hand, which Sai tentatively shook. "M'name's Ron Weasley, and this is Hermione Granger." Ron motioned to Hermione.

"Charmed," Hermione said through a sneer. She kept her hand pressed firmly to her lap, though Sai hardly seemed to mind.

"Likewise."

Hermione just scoffed.

Ron snorted and said half jokingly, "Oh, come on, Hermione. Lighten up."

Hermione gawked at him.

"Are you serious? I don't believe this!" she said with a look of awe on her face. "Honestly, Ron, she's being so unbelievably rude!"

"Doesn't give you the right to be rude either."

"Funny, hearing that from you, Ronald."

"At least I don't make prejudice remarks!"

The two bickered, forgetting about their surroundings.

Harry looked over at Sai, who just watched the two practically at each other's necks.

"Don't worry," he said, "they're always at it." And he gave a friendly smile.

Sai returned an uncertain one.

The train gave a sudden jerk, letting them know it had started to move. Sai's eyes went back to the window as the throngs of witches and wizards gradually faded off into the distance, soon to be replaced by open fields and meadows.

Ron and Hermione were still squabbling, even after an hour. Eventually the food trolley came by, and the plump little witch pushing it gave the arguing couple, who were now raising their voices quite a bit, a look of Perhaps-this-isn't-a-good-time and moved on.

Harry couldn't help but frequently glance over at the girl next to him. She seemed oddly familiar, but he couldn't quite place his finger on where he had seen her before. She had very dark hair that reached a few inches below her shoulders: it twisted in small rippling waves, tumbling around her neck. Its rich color was almost like ebony. She had matching eyes, for they were a dark brown that could only be distinguished to be so under the bright sunlight. Otherwise, they appeared black as night. Even her name sounded familiar. Ildred…Ildred... Where had Harry heard that name before? But he shook off his thoughts immediately, as they were all of a sudden interrupted.

There was a noise that told everyone the compartment door had slid open, and Harry, Ron and Hermione (the two latter had ceased their quarreling at once) looked over to the unexpected, not to mention unwanted, company. The only one who hadn't bothered to look was Sai, who continued to gaze out the window. A pale boy with a pointed face, wearing a very haughty smirk, stood at the doorway, flanked by two very large, muscular boys that towered over him. He eyed Harry reproachfully.

"Potter," he spat, as if the name was poison. "I see you've returned. I meant it when I told you I wasn't finished with you. Though, I'm a bit shocked to find that you even bothered to show your face at Hogwarts this year. Thought you'd learn your lesson and keep away from those who are actually worthy of staying there," he hissed.

Harry felt his face grow hot with anger.

"Oh, go back to drooling at yourself in the mirror," said Hermione before Harry could say anything he'd regret.

The boy glared at her in disgust.

"You filthy Mudblood, shut your mouth before I have to gag that foul thing," he snarled.

Hermione scowled.

"Shut up, you," Ron said nervously but angrily.

The boy gave a sardonic laugh.

"And honestly Weasel," he turned to Ron, "you should learn to hold your tongue when in the presence of your superiors. Oh, and I'd make sure to claim my share of food in your house before it all runs out," he snickered. Crabbe and Goyle snorted their laughter from behind him.

Ron's ears went pink. Hermione looked as if she wanted to punch Malfoy in the face as she had done in her third year at Hogwarts. Harry was trying hard to prevent his fist as well from colliding with the unpleasant boy's nose.

"Go away, Malfoy," said an angry voice.

All heads turned to Sai, who was looking Malfoy straight on. She wore a look of absolute loathing and downright antipathy as she eyed him.

Malfoy looked at the girl. Instead of being threatened, his eyes widened with sudden interest, despite her disgusted gaze on him.

"And you are?" he asked, inching forward, obviously eager to see who this new girl was.

"Someone you best be careful not to cross," said Sai, slowly standing up.

But Malfoy seemed to be enjoying this. He moved even closer to her.

"I don't believe we've had a proper introduction," he said, ignoring her last comment and reaching to take her hand in his. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly, yet hungrily. His eyes were kept fixed on the girl before him.

Ron made a gagging noise.

Sai glared at Malfoy, she hadn't taken her eyes off him for a second.

"Get out."

"You haven't told me your name."

"But I know yours. Now get—out." She hastily removed her hand from his and used it to point to the doorway. "And take your stupid cronies with you." At this, Crabbe and Goyle gave her a pair of dirty looks.

Malfoy surprisingly obeyed Sai, looking at her one last time. At the door he stopped and said, "Let me just warn you: don't go about making friends with the wrong sort. Potter already made that mistake, and look where he ended up." Again he spat out Harry's last name. "Well, we'll meet again." And with a wink and a smirk he left the cart snickering with his two goons.

Ron stared after them, looking as if he was about to vomit.

"What the bloody hell just happened?" he said to no one in particular.

"Yes, that's what I would like to know as well," said Hermione smugly.

Harry was at a loss for words.

All heads turned to Sai, who kept a heated stare at the doorway where Malfoy had stood only moments ago.

Harry looked at Sai with great surprise and wonder, numerous thoughts swimming through his head. What happened just now? Was that a genuine smile placed on Malfoy's lips just now as he left? And was that kindness and courteousy he just showed? Was Harry imagining things, or did Malfoy actually act…nice?

Sai finally broke her irate gaze and sat back in her seat; she folded her arms and assumed her role in looking out the window without another word.

The entire trip to Hogwarts was a rather silent one; Harry, Ron, and Hermione rarely conversed, feeling as if Sai would disapprove if they spoke to each other. They only spoke once when she left the compartment to change into her school robes, discussing how she could have possibly known Malfoy's name without anyone telling her and also wondering why and how in the wizarding world Malfoy acted so nice toward her.

When they arrived at the station, Sai bolted out of the train before anyone could say anything. She quickly joined the crowd of first years in meeting up with Hagrid, who was waiting patiently by the boats. The others headed toward the Thestral-drawn carriages. Harry, Ron, and Hermione immediately began discussing the new girl as they bustled through the crowds of students.

"I, for one, don't like her," said Hermione, raising her chin proudly.

"Oh, Hermione, stop being such a tight a—"

But Hermione stopped Ron before he could swear, and they began arguing again.

Harry let out a sigh. There was no use when it came to Ron and Hermione going at it. They were like two ravenous lions fighting for a last meal.

"I'll…um…see you two later," he said, glad to be avoiding playing mediator again and for the first time, glad that Hermione and Ron were both prefects. As the bickering duo looked for the prefect carriages, Harry went in search of a carriage of his own and found himself successful. He climbed into one to discover it empty. Harry simply used this opportunity to think about Sai and her seeming to know Draco Malfoy. What was strange was that Malfoy hadn't even met her before…or at least it seemed that way. He didn't even know her name. And yet, she knew his, and obviously knew how unpleasant of a person he was.

Harry pondered this for some time until Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Neville Longbottom clambered into the carriage.

"Heya, Potter!"

"How's it going, my fellow Gryffindor?"

"All right there, Harry?" they all greeted him, beaming.

Harry felt himself swell with happiness. It was great to see those three again. On their way to Hogwarts, all four went into deep conversation about their summers. Harry learned from Dean that he and Ginny broke it off over the summer because Ron refused to speak to either of them unless otherwise. It wasn't much of a loss though, since the two preferred being friends anyway. Ginny apparently had her sight set on another boy in her year. The boys also talked of Fred and George Weasley and their jokeshop, Weasley Wizards' Wheezes, of Quidditch, ideas of what the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher might be like, and the oh-so-popular topic of Malfoy. The four were discussing ways of jinxing "the git" when they noticed outside the carriage window that they were passing through the wrought iron gates to Hogwarts.

They had reached the school.

Harry could see the magnificent castle resting on a cliff over a glassy lake, its turrets and towers gleaming majestically in the moonlight while its windows glinted gold from the flickering candlelight within them. Even after five years at Hogwarts, Harry was still amazed by the beautiful sight of it. A warm sensation flooded his insides. He couldn't have felt happier right then and there.

"Welcome home, Harry." The three smiled at him.

Harry grinned widely back.

"Before we begin the sorting of the first years," proclaimed Professor Albus Dumbledore to the entire Great Hall, "I would like to announce that we have a new student here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

There was a great deal of murmuring at Dumbledore's last words. Dumbledore held up a hand and the Hall silenced.

"She is a sixth year student who has voyaged here all the way from America."

Another buzz chorused among the students.

"Did he say America?"

"All the way from the States?"

"How odd…America…."

"D'you think she has the accent?"

Dumbledore raised his hand a second time, and, like before, the Hall quieted.

"She will be sorted momentarily," he said, "but first, I ask you to make her feel as welcome as possible at Hogwarts, for this is quite a difficult transition for her. I imagine any of you would expect the same treatment if in her position, especially those of you who are first years. Ah, but I'm sure you will make her feel quite at home. And now, before I bore all of you, please welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Sai Ildred!"

Dumbledore began clapping his hands loudly together and soon the entire hall joined him as Sai Ildred walked up to the front of the hall and sat on the spindly three-legged stool. She was feeling slightly nervous, but more annoyed than anything. She wasn't much of a fan of audiences. Everyone watched as Professor McGonagall strode over to her and placed the famous Sorting Hat on her head.

"Ah…I haven't had one this difficult since Harry Potter," said a small voice, which seemed to be speaking inside Sai's head. "Hmm…where to put you…Aha! I sense a lot of courage in you…but I also sense fear—much fear. A strong girl, and yet so weak. But a great mind, and sheer talent—oh yes, definite talent. You'd be most perfect for—"

Sai shut her eyes tight. Don't say Slytherin…

"Not Slytherin, you say? Interesting…. You think just like young Potter. Then I know exactly where to put you. I say GRYFFINDOR!"

The last word was shouted out for everyone to hear and the tables exploded into roaring applause, all but the Slytherin table.

Professor McGonagall removed the Sorting Hat from the girl's head. Sai abandoned the stool and swept over to the Gryffindor table, which applauded the loudest. As she approached it she turned her head to see Malfoy scowling at her. She scowled back and in response, he looked away. While she searched for a seat, Gryffindor students attempted to pat her on the back and arm as she passed, cheering her on and congratulating her, but she jerked her arm away with an angry grimace as if to say "Don't touch me." She finally sat down next to Neville, who couldn't help but stare at her nervously. It might have been because he was slightly afraid of her, or because he thought she was attractive. Or both. Whatever the reason, Sai hardly noticed. Instead she kept her head down, staring off into space, all the while wearing a look of apathy.

Hermione, who was sitting across from Neville, grunted under her breath. Harry and Ron, sitting side-by-side on Neville's right, looked at Hermione with raised eyebrows. Then the sorting of the first years began, followed by a marvelous start-of-term feast, which everyone, including Sai, thoroughly enjoyed. During his meal, Harry couldn't take his eyes off of Sai. Between each bite he paused to think about where he had seen her before and what seemed to be so unusual about her presence. She was indeed a strange one.

Once everyone had eaten until their stomachs objected, Dumbledore gave his annual speech of rules and safety. Then the students retreated to their common rooms, full and drowsy. Two hours later, most everyone was in their appropriate dormitories, in bed—all except for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sai. Sai sat in an isolated corner reading a book while the others conversed about their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Lester Londrang.

Lester Londrang was a nice-looking, clean-cut man in his late thirties with a tall, lean figure. Previously teaching in Rome, Italy, he came to Hogwarts to assist Dumbledore. To nobody's surprise, Potions master Severus Snape didn't take much of a liking toward him, as he had wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts profession since before anyone could remember. But many of the other teachers greatly respected Londrang, and rather admired his work, cordiality, and charm.

"I think he's a great professor," said Hermione sweetly, raising her chin proudly while failing to hide a smile.

"And how would you know? He hasn't taught us yet," said Ron. "You just think he's good-looking, like you did with Lockhart…that oaf…."

Hermione simply ignored Ron's comment and reached in her bag to pull out a thick book.

"Blimey, Hermione. You never cease, do you? It's only our first day back!"

Hermione continued to ignore him and opened the book, which she stuck her nose in immediately.

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Harry, when will she ever stop?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Beats me, that's Hermione for you."

"Honestly, you two," they heard Hermione say, who kept her eyes glued to the pages. But she didn't finish, she just read on.

"What is that, anyway?" Ron asked.

"It's called a book, Ronald."

"I know what it is, Hermione, but which book?"

"Mine."

"I'm serious, Hermione."

"The Line between Light and Dark by Lel Skell."

"There! Was that so hard to tell me?"

Hermione made a "humph" sound into her book.

"Do you see how she treats me?" Ron asked Harry.

Harry shrugged.

"Oh well…Anyway, I'm off to bed. It's getting late and I'm dead beat," Ron said through a yawn.

Indeed, it was late—almost midnight according to the clock in the common room. Ron left for bed after bidding goodnight to everyone, including Sai, who didn't respond. After ten minutes of Harry thinking thoughtfully to himself, Hermione closed her book and took after Ron to her own dormitory, minus saying goodnight to Sai.

"I'll see you in the morning, Harry. I wouldn't stay up too long, I expect Hagrid will want us to visit him as soon as possible," she said before leaving for the prefect girls' dormitories.

Harry sat in his big, squashy armchair, gazing into the fireplace. His brain was swarming with thoughts—thoughts of what he was to expect at Hogwarts this year; thoughts of Voldemort's whereabouts; memories with his godfather, Sirius Black (these caused some sadness within him, which he brushed off with other thoughts). It was only after a few minutes staring off into space did he remember that Sai was in the common room, too. He craned his neck around the wing of the chair to see her still sitting in her corner on the floor with her back against the wall, her nose buried in a book.

Harry stood up and walked over to where she was sitting. She didn't seem to notice.

"Hey, Sai," Harry said, trying to start up a conversation.

She didn't look up when she said, "Hey, Potter."

Harry was taken aback and stood speechless. He didn't expect her to use his last name. Even though many other students—such as Dean, Seamus, and Lee—often called him by that, Sai doing so caused him to feel uncomfortable, because he had called her by her first name, which he immediately regretted, and he suddenly became embarrassed.

"Er…hi. Um, how do you like Hogwarts so far?"

Sai tore from her book and looked at Harry.

"Well, it's difficult to say, Potter," she said, pretending to think. Once again she spoke with a hint of sarcasm. "I've only been here for six hours or so."

Harry attacked himself mentally. He felt stupid for asking such a stupid question. His cheeks grew warmer as he became even more embarrassed.

"But," Sai continued, "I guess it's all right…." She turned back to her book and said, "Though some people aren't so much."

Harry knew very well she meant Hermione.

"Oh. Well, I'm sorr—"

"Don't be," Sai cut in, still focused on her book.

"All right…so…uh…."

"Well, Potter," Sai interrupted Harry's thoughts. She closed her book and rose to her feet. "It was nice talking to you again," she said, grabbing Harry's hand and shaking it briskly. "It's late so I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight." And with that, she spun around and headed off up the stairs that led to the girls' dormitories.

That was awkward, Harry thought. But he shrugged it off. Realizing just how tired he was, he followed suit. He went straight up into the boys' dormitories and into the one with SIXTH YEARS written on its door. He could hear the rhythm of deep breathing coming from his fellow Gryffindors: Dean, Seamus, Lee, and Neville, all of whom were fast asleep. (Ron was in the prefect boys' dormitory.)

"'Night," he said to no one. And he fell on his four-poster bed, directly drifting off into a deep, dreamless sleep, still in his robes.

Over the next couple of weeks, Harry realized he was quite wrong about Sai. When Sai had said certain people weren't "all right," she hadn't meant Hermione—she had meant him. In fact, it seemed she hated Harry with a fiery passion. She wasn't exactly mean to him—more like she pretended he didn't exist. She hardly talked to him; she always suddenly had something important to do whenever Harry came by, and rarely made any sort of physical contact with him—let alone eye contact.

Things, however, were different for Sai. She did purposely ignore Harry, but she had her own reasons, one of them being that she wanted nothing to do with him, though the way she acted around him made that perfectly clear.

Another was that since she had been sorted into the Gryffindor House, Malfoy now had reason to suddenly pester her. But as much as he tried to, he didn't anger her; she only thought of him as an annoying fly that she so desperately wanted to swat. One time—the first time they had met since the awkward ride to Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express—Malfoy had dragged her around a corner when she was on her way to lunch and started bombarding her with questions about how she knew his name. It had dawned on him late that she knew his name without him mentioning it to her. She merely told him that she knew a Malfoy when she saw one ("They're nothing but a bunch of arrogant, pompous, conniving, loathsome—oh, the list could go on forever—fools"), and Malfoy scowled in reaction while she pushed him off of her. Since then he often made fun of her, but not as much as he did with Harry, Ron, and Hermione—especially Harry. And that was why she ignored Harry so. She refused to have Malfoy bother her more than he already did.

The other reasons she kept darkly hidden in the back of her mind, desperately trying to forget them and shut them out. But it was obvious she hated being around Harry, and so she was distant and quite unfriendly.

What Harry also noticed was unusual about Sai was that even on very warm days, days when everyone couldn't bear being outside without baring their arms, she wore long sleeves. He once asked her about it, but she only acted as if he wasn't there. From then on he shrugged it off, coming to the conclusion that she must have come from a particular part of America that was usually much warmer and so this temperature was hardly warm to her. He never mentioned it again.

Harry tried being nice to Sai despite her apparent frostiness toward him. He had no reason to hate her, though Hermione had recited a list of reasons for him. But he didn't want to be mean to her; he wanted her to be his friend. Just as he had been treated when he first arrived at Hogwarts, he wanted to make Sai feel as welcome as possible, and not as though friends weren't available to her. So he attempted to make conversation with her several times, only to end up in failure, and he even invited her to sit with him, Ron, and Hermione (who rolled her eyes) one day at lunch in the Great Hall. Ron also encouraged it. He, as well, had no reason to hold a grudge against her. Unfortunately, Sai merely pretended not to hear them and walked off to eat alone at the very end of the table. After a while Harry became quite frustrated. He had always been nice to her, he didn't do anything wrong at all. After a third failed attempt to have Sai sit with him and his group of friends at lunch, he grabbed his bag and stormed off to the library to sulk. What reason was there for Sai to ignore him like that? It seemed so unfair…it seemed….

If Harry only knew….

Ah yes, this was a lengthy chapter as opposed to the previous ones. Though is that a bad thing? Anyway, please no flaming. And I would really like to continue this story, so if you want me to also, then you'll have to R/R or I won't… :sighs sadly: No one likes my story… :'(

Sora