Chapter 2
Winnie was sitting in a large overstuffed chair by the fire when three students approached her; she looked up at the girl and two boys and smiled brightly.
"Hi, my name is Hermione Granger," said the girl, she had bushy brown hair and thick eyebrows. Winnie got a bookish vibe from her and when she looked down she noticed the girl had a thick charms book in her hands.
"Light reading huh?" Winnie said, Hermione nodded and smiled. One of the boys coughed and Winnie glanced at him.
"So who are these fine male specimens?" She asked.
"I'm H-Harry P-Potter," one replied nervously, he wore wire framed glasses that seemed to do nothing to detract from his brilliant green eyes, his black hair stuck up at odd angles. All in all he had a sweet face, shame about the clothes, Winnie thought. The other two looked at her like she was supposed to say something.
"Is that name supposed to mean something to me, 'cos I'm sorry to burst your bubble but it don't," Winnie told them.
"But you should, I mean he's the-boy-who-lived!" the boy she didn't know the name of yet exclaimed. He had bright ginger hair and the most gorgeous blue eyes she'd ever seen. She also found his freckles cute. He too needed clothes help, maybe I'm just the witch to do it, she thought to herself.
"Ron, don't be rude. She's obviously Muggle born like me," Hermione said.
"A Muggle?" Winnie asked.
"Oh it's someone who's non magical," she replied.
"Oh well that's not me then, all my family are witches," Hermione Ron and Harry looked at each other but said nothing.
"So, what year are you guys in?" Winnie asked to break the silence.
"We're in fifth, what about you?" Ron asked her.
"Oh cool, that's so great. I'm in fifth year too! I know I'm 18 and I should be in a higher year or something but you know how it is," she replied. She glanced at Ron and looked at him from underneath her lashes. He blushed right to the roots of his hair, she gave him her most winsome smile and Hermione seemed to bristle.
"I'm sorry are you two an item?" Winnie asked looking from Ron to Hermione, Ron snorted.
"No not at all, nothing like that we're all just friends," Ron informed her
"So," Harry began noticing the situation "where are you from?"
"America," Winnie said.
"Yeah I know but um... whereabouts?" he pressed.
"Well I was born in Texas, but my friends and I travel a lot," she replied.
"Oh, tell me about the Witchcraft and Wizardry school you went to over there," Hermione said pinning Winnie with a look.
"I can't, I didn't go to one. I don't know how it is in Muggle born families but as soon as we show magical aptitude in my family we're taught. Sometimes the Maiden or the Crone visits you in your home or you're sent to them in the holidays to be taught and what with travelling around so much its kinda hard to attend a school." Winnie explained.
"Right, so how come you and your friends haven't had to start in first year?" Hermione went on.
"'Cos we caught up over the summer, Goddess what is this twenty questions? Ask Dumbledore?" Winnie shouted her eyes flashing with anger.
"Okay, so moving on. Why'd you think your friends weren't allowed to leave the dining hall with everyone else?" Harry asked.
"I dunno, why don't you ask that greasy haired teacher who's with them," Winnie suggested.
"They're with Professor Snape?" Ron asked.
"If that's his name, I was the last out of the hall and he was the only teacher with them. Why what does it matter?" She asked.
"It matters 'cos he's a greasy git!" Harry exclaimed.
"O-kay, issues much? Anyway I'm glad you guys came over to talk to me. I'm usually too shy to approach people," Winnie told them.
"That's alright, Hermione could probably talk enough for the both of you," Ron said chuckling, Winnie saw the hurt flash in the younger girls eyes for a second before she walked off and sat down at a table. She made a point to ignore them by reading her book.
"Way to go Ron," Harry muttered.
"What did I do?" Ron asked.
"Nothing, I'm sure you only said what everyone is thinking," Winnie said quietly. Smiling brightly she looked at Harry and Ron and said,
"So what do you guys do for fun around here?"
"Well in two weeks Quidditch starts but in the meantime all there is in here is wizarding chess or exploding snap," Harry said.
"Well I'm all for anything that sounds dangerous, so lets play wizarding snap and you can tell me all about Quid-" Winnie trailed off as the portrait door swung open and Galen stepped in. She squealed and ran over to him and gave him a hug, she caught sight of the others through the open door and gave a little wave. Rayne's attention seemed to be fixed on Professor Snape, so she didn't hear Winnie saying hello to her.
"Earth to Rayne," she said waving a hand in front of her face. Rayne looked up at her friend and blinked.
"Hurry up please this is no time for idle chitchat," Snape said scowling.
"Are you okay hon?" Winnie asked Rayne who was once again looking at Snape but this time with her eyes narrowed.
"Peachy keen baby Jean," Rayne replied turning to her friend and smiling.
"We'll meet you both here before going down to breakfast," Keller said and before they could say 'bye', Snape had already taken off down the corridor. The Slytherin three had no choice but to follow, the portrait door swung closed and Winnie looked at Galen who was shaking his head.
"What's up?" she asked.
"How surreal is this place? I mean the paintings talk and move and the stairways move as well!" He replied sounding excited.
"I know it's a wonder they ever reach their destination," Winnie muttered "Anyway there's some people I want you to meet," Galen followed Winnie over to the fireplace.
"This is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, guys this is Galen Drache," Winnie said introducing them, they shook hands briefly before she pulled him over to a table when a certain Gryffindor had her face in a book trying to seem uninterested. Winnie snatched the book away.
"Do you mi-" Hermione trailed off.
"Galen meet Hermione, Hermione meet Galen," Winnie said. Now it was Hermione's turn to feel nervous, as Galen's eyes locked with hers she felt like the only person in the room.
"Hi, if you ever need help with your lessons just come to me," Hermione said and then audibly groaned "sorry that was totally lame wasn't it?"
"No it was sweet of you to offer, I'm always having trouble with lessons, we can be study buddies if you like," Galen offered flashing her his famous sweet boy grin. Hermione's face flushed red and she mumbled something. Her heard her but she wasn't to know that.
"Sorry? I didn't catch that,"
"Oh um... I said I'd like that very much," Hermione replied.
"So what are you reading?" Galen asked her.
"It's a charms book, I though I'd read it so I can be-" Hermione stopped mid sentence and blushed.
"So you can be what?" he asked.
"I can't tell you you'll think I'm a geek," she replied still blushing.
"There's nothing wrong with being a geek," Galen leaned down closer conspiringly "I collect comic books," Hermione giggled.
"You don't seem the kind of person who collects comics," Hermione said.
"Ah but that just proves you can't judge a book by its cover," Galen replied smiling.
"Do you have a familiar?" she asked.
"What you mean other than Keller?" Galen asked and both he and Winnie burst into laughter. Hermione looked at the two with a confused expression.
"Sorry it's kind of a running joke with us," Winnie explained.
"Right. Winnie Ron's trying to get your attention," she told her. Winnie turned around and sure enough Ron was waving at her.
"See you guys in a bit then," Winnie said walking away.
"My familiar is a Ginger tabby called Crookshanks," Hermione said.
"Cool, I love cats, can I see it?" Galen asked, Hermione nodded and went off to get him. A few minutes later she returned carrying a ball of ginger fur.
"Hey little fella. Can I hold him?" He asked her.
"Okay but he's kind of funny around new people," she replied.
"Oh don't worry about it all animals love me," Galen said taking Crookshanks from her, as he stroke him Galen spoke to the cat telepathically.
'Hello Crookshanks, I'm Galen'
'...Galen...'
'Yes, I'm prince of the shapeshifters; I can be a cat too. Only bigger. What's Hermione like?'
'...Hermione... anal retentive... treats me well... what more could I want?' Galen became aware that Hermione was talking to him so he left the cats mind.
"Sorry did you say something?"
"Yes just that I'm going to bed now, I mean everyone is. Lessons start at nine," Hermione told him.
"Oh, well goodnight," Galen said.
"Aren't you going to bed now too?" she asked him.
"No not yet, I want to talk to Winnie first," he replied. Hermione took Crookshanks back from him and followed the other girls to the female dorms. He watched Winnie give Ron a hug and frowned slightly, Harry and Ron went up to the male dorm laughing and joking with the other boys.
"Dangerous game your playing witch," Galen said.
"You know I love dangerous shapeshifter, besides playing with humans is fun," Winnie replied.
"I just spoke with Hermione's cat," Galen told her.
"Really? What did it have to say?" she asked.
"That she's anal retentive," he replied, they both collapsed into the armchairs laughing.
"I can totally believe that," Winnie said after calming down "So what was the deal with Rayne and that teacher Snape?"
"He gave her a detention for feeding on Jessica," he told her.
"Oh well that's not fair, I mean it's her personal servant," Winnie said.
"I know, Jessica brought the twins blood so cold it was coagulating," Galen explained.
"Gross!" Winnie said wrinkling her pixie nose.
"Tell me about it, but River drank his. You know how he doesn't like to make a scene," he said.
"He is supposed to be the ying to her yang, guess it doesn't always work," Winnie said shrugging and yawning "Anyway I'm going to bed now cat boy, see you in the morning,"
"Night Winfrith," he called going up to the dorm.
"It's Winnie!" She yelled back.
* * *
Rayne was awake with her eyes closed; the two girls standing over her weren't to know that though. Her breathing and facial expression hadn't changed. She could hear their thoughts and from what she could gather Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson were planning on giving her a haircut. Keller was out of the room and Jessica was still asleep.
"I wouldn't," Rayne said opening her eyes slowly and glaring at the two girls with amber eyes. Pansy smirked and said,
"Wouldn't what?" Rayne's hand shot out and gripped Pansy's throat lightly, just as Keller came back from the shower. She took in the scene with one glance and her lip curled in a snarl.
"Trouble Rayne?" she asked.
"Well I think Pansy and Millicent were planning to give me an impromptu hair cut, but I think they've changed their minds... am I right?" Rayne said. Millicent audibly gulped and Pansy nodded still glaring back at Rayne. Keller grinned and started to get dressed.
"Just what I thought, excuse me girls, I'm going for a shower," Rayne said getting out of bed and putting on her bathrobe as she walked past Jessica's bed she shook the young servant awake.
"Yes my lady?" She asked groggily rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
"Set out my uniform and make sure no-one gets near it okay?"
"As you wish my lady," Jessica walked over to Rayne's trunk and began getting her things ready, looking at the enchanted clock Rayne could see it was 7am. She picked up her wash things and left the room saying to herself,
"Who needs magic when you can have servants?" As she walked to the girls shower room she saw Draco fresh out of the shower, his wet white blond hair was still wet and a lock fell over his right eye. Like her brother he had the confident swagger of a boy who knew he looked good. In Rayne's opinion he looked great.
"Malfoy," she said greeting him.
"Redfern, how come you had to stay behind last night?" He asked.
"Beat around the bush why don't you? You know we were late? Well Snape had a go at us," Rayne explained.
"Ah he'll do that, but he favours Slytherin so you should be fine as long as you don't push his nose out of joint," he told her.
"What more than it already is?" Rayne asked referring to Snape's already crooked nose, they both laughed and Rayne was still chuckling when she had her shower. On her way back to the dorm she saw Keller and River all fully dressed and looking smart in their uniforms and black robes. Wait till they see me, she thought.
"We're going to go meet Winnie and Galen, we'll see you in the dining hall for breakfast," River told her.
"Alright, see you guys in a bit," Rayne went into the dorm to get dressed. Jessica was dutifully standing next to her bed that had her uniform laid out on it. Rayne dried off and put on her crisp white blouse, jumper, tie and grey mini-kilt skirt that was barely lower than her butt. She pulled on her grey over-the-knee socks and laced up her black platform shoes. Rayne brushed her long hair into two pigtails that framed her face, outlined her eyes in black kohl and layered her lips with strawberry lip-gloss. When she was finished she regarded herself critically in the mirror and then it spoke,
"That skirts a bit short isn't it dearie?"
"Isn't that the point?" Rayne replied. Narrowing her chocolate brown eyes she blew herself a kiss, she clicked her fingers and Jessica handed her, her black robe; she put it on, forgive me father for I have sinned, she thought and left Slytherin tower for the dining hall.
* * *
River and Keller were sitting at the Slytherin table eating breakfast when Keller threw her fork down onto her plate in exasperation.
"What's up?" River asked her.
"Look at her, throwing herself at Galen," she said her eyes on Gryffindor table.
"Who?" He asked turning in his seat.
"That vermin, Hermione Granger!" She spat out.
"I think Galen can handle himself with a fawning human Keller," River told her.
"That's what I'm afraid of River, of him handling her," Keller replied.
"Give him a break Keller, your so possessive let him play, you're soulmates stop worrying," he said, he then became aware of the hall going quiet and he looked up to see his sister walking in.
"Oh. My. Goddess!" he heard Winnie squeal as she got up and ran to give Rayne a hug, Rayne smiled and returned the hug aware of all the eyes on her.
"A walking heart attack indeed," Keller said smiling into her goblet of orange juice.
"Is that your sister Redfern?" Draco asked him smirking.
"I wouldn't get ideas Malfoy, she'll eat you alive," River told him returning the smirk. Everything was silent, boys and girls alike had their mouths gaping open. Rayne walked over to the Slytherin table and sat down, just like that the spell was broken and people began whispering.
"I've got your timetable Rayne," he said handing his sister a piece of parchment; she took it and gave it the once over.
"Dramatic entrance Miss Redfern," Keller said to her.
"Wasn't it though?" Rayne replied grabbing a slice of toast and pouring herself some orange juice. Rayne heard Pansy whispering and the words 'slut' and 'skank' cropped up. Rayne stood up, walked over to her and glared down with her hands on her hips.
"You're just jealous Pansy, 'cos even on your best day you couldn't look as good as me. Hell even on my worst day I couldn't look as bad as you!" Rayne shouted, everyone in the hall had his or her eyes on her and the whole of Slytherin laughed. Rayne felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled round.
"Miss Redfern, kindly sit down and finish your breakfast," Snape said to her. She looked him in the face and thought, his lips look soft, and she felt the same shiver from the night before. Horror gripped her heart and she went back to her seat to sit down. Three more bites of toast and she was ready for her first lesson… Divination.