The four of them sat together in an empty compartment at the very end of the train. Leona sat beside the window looking out with Harry beside her while Ron and Hermione sat across from them.
"Leona, how do you and Draco know each other?" asked Harry.
"Did you really need to ask that Harry? Her father is a death eater for god's sake, of course she is going to know him," Hermione huffed and sat back into the seat.
"Any body that is friends with that jerk is obviously not very bright," said Ron to no one in particular.
Leona shot Ron a venomous look.
"Leona, I... didn't mean... anything by that," Ron said looking slightly scared.
"I know you didn't," Leona whispered and turned back to starring out the window.
The rest of the ride to Hogwarts was surprisingly a quiet one. The few conversations that started up Leona didn't say a word; she just continued to be in her own little world.
The train finally made it to the station. As they stepped off the train and into the slightly crisp air, Ron asked "Leona haven't you been sorted yet?"
"No, I'm going to end up being sorted last only because I'm being put into the sixth year." She replied.
"Oh I see," said Ron and he followed Harry and Hermione into a horseless carriage. Actually the carriages weren't exactly horseless. Beast called Thestrals were pulling them, only those who have seen death could see them like Harry and Leona could.
Before Leona could climb into the carriage after Ron, Draco walked up beside her and whispered, "I hope you get Slytherin, you wouldn't want to go and disappoint daddy know would you?" Before Leona could retaliate, Draco walked off smirking to himself.
"What is his problem?" Leona yelled through gritted teeth and climbed into the carriage.
As people filed into the Great Hall, Leona stood off to the side of the door. She could see her friends sitting together at the Gryffindor table. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Draco starring at her from his Slytherin table.
From beside her, Leona saw the little first years being to be brought into the grand room. Some looked nervous and a few looked really excited. Leona started to think of what her life would be like if she had gotten to go to Hogwarts from the very beginning. She hadn't mind being home schooled but she was only kept home out of her mothers fear for her.
Mother. Leona thought and she wrapped her arms around herself. She could still here her laugh, her arms wrapped around her in a hug, and the smell of her perfume. Her perfume, that's what Leona remembered the most. Her mother always smelled of fresh strawberries, which was the best scent in the world to Leona. Leona started to bring forth memories of her mom like how she would be so proud of her when she made a successful potion or how encouraging she would be when she got it wrong. But then, another memory came forward.
This one was a far cry from a happy memory. Her mom and dad arguing, then a blinding green light. Leona had wanted to cry out but she knew better. Then she saw a body on the ground... Leona shook her head. Dumbledore's voice slowly started to make its way into her mind and she opened her eyes, Leona hadn't realized that she closed them. She had completely missed the sorting. She caught Dumbledore saying her name and gesturing for her to come up to the front of the room.
Leona pushed off the wall and headed up to be sorted. She sat down on the wooden stool and as McGonagal placed the Sorting Hat on her head she saw Draco smirk.
Ah, Leona we meet again. The sentence brushed across her mind. Leona knew the sorting hat was talking to only her.
"Sly..." the hat began to call out. Leona saw the grin on Draco's face grow to a look of triumph.
Wait stop. Leona quickly thought.
To her surprise and to many others, the hat stopped in the middle of the word Slytherin.
Yes? It asked.
Please, I don't want to be in Slytherin. If I get put in there its only another step closer to becoming what my dad wants me to be. I can't have that happen.
No Slytherin then? You know you could become very strong in that house.
I can become strong in any of the others as well.
Well then in that case I have no choose but to put you in...
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted.
Leona sighed in relief. She quickly got up, took the hat off, and joined her classmates.
When everyone calmed down, Dumbledore said a few more words, but Leona wasn't listening. Yet again, she was staring into the cold blue eyes of Draco Malfoy. She couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling, and maybe, she didn't want to know. She tore her gaze away. This was going to be a long year.