Back to School
To nervous to eat, Olivia walked out the door with hardly anything in her stomach except a piece of toast and some juice, although when she side apperated with her father she gave thanks for her small meal, the squeezing feeling always made her queasy. Platform nine and three quarters was full of rushing students and their families. Draco helped load her trunk and Mozart's cage onto the train. She dreaded this part, saying goodbye to her father was always hard.
"I'm going to miss you daddy," Olivia said with a tear in her eye, she couldn't help but cry.
"Me too." Draco took her face in her hands and kissed her on the forehead, He looked her straight in the eyes, "send Mozart with any news, no matter how unimportant it may seem. You hear me?"
"Yes okay," she found his request a bit odd but didn't worry about it. They hugged one final time as the great red engine let out it's final whistle. She walked onboard the train with a heavy heart
Once on the train it was clear to Olivia that all the students had well established groups, even the scared looking first years were sticking together, probably more out of fright than anything else. She walked up the corridor rather slowly hoping to run into Poppy when a voice called from the campartment behind her. "Hey Olivia, in here."
Relieved Olivia turned and waved to Poppy as she headed into the campartment with Mozart and her trunk in hand.
"Hoped I would run into you," said Poppy as she sat back down, "you don't want to be stuck in a bad campartment on your first day. Sit down."
She was standing by the door listening to Poppy but looking around the campartment at the same time. There were three other girls already sitting down, they were all sizing Olivia up just as Poppy had done back in Flourish and Botts.
"This is Olivia," she spoke to the rest of the group and patted the empty space beside her.
Grateful to be out of the glare Olivia sat down and nodded to the other girls. They had the same air of conciet as Poppy did, but somehow thiers seemed worse.
"Olivia, here, is a Malfoy."
The reaction from the girls was unusual. They imediately perked up and seemed less cold, one even raised an eyebrow and smiled.
Poppy continued, "That's Vera Snippet," she pointed to the skinny girl with bad acne sitting next to the window, "Luvana Krane", the girl in the middle with very broad shoulders, " and Bertha Giddy." the african-american sitting by the door. "We are all sixth years and we are all in Slytherin house."
Feeling quite foolish Olivia asked, "Slytherin House?"
"Transfer student," Poppy answered the other's puzzled looks. "Hogwart's has four houses and all first year students are sorted into one of them. The houses represent the group of students that you will be forced to live and work with for the whole year. I suppose since you're new you will be sorted as well, but it's obvious you'll be a Slytherin since your father was."
Caught by surprise Olivia felt her heart flutter. Steadying her gaze she asked Poppy how she knew.
"You are the daughter of Draco Malfoy right?" Olivia nodded. "My mother was in your father's year, she was very close to your grandmother you know, and it just so happens that most of the time families tend to get sorted into the same houses."
Olivia was in awe, she had managed to meet the one girl who knew something about her father's past, but she did not want to get her hopes up, Poppy's mother had known grandmother Malfoy well, not her father. And who knows in school they might not have been close. Setting the thought aside and interested to learn more about the sorting process she asked, "Did you say most of the time? Does that mean that there is a possibility that I won't be in Slytherin?"
"Just pray that you don't get sorted into Hufflepuff, that's the the biggest bunch losers if I ever saw one," said Vera and the other's joined her in a laugh.
"Or worse," Poppy added, "She could be put into Gryffindor with all those goody-goody's. No you'll want to be sorted into the best house, and Slytherin is the best house."
Olivia was about to ask why when there came a loud bang from outside the campartment. They hurried to the compartment door to see what it was about. In the corridor there were a group of older boys laughing as a large puff of smoke rose into the air in front of them. When the smoke cleared they noticed a freckled faced boy lying on his back clutching his arm which had sprouted a fair number of large boils. He was about to reach for his wand when a deep voice called from behind of them.
"Okay guys what going on?" It was the good looking boy from the joke shop, wearing his school robes and a gold badge pinned to his chest. He looked down at the boy on the floor and helped him up.
"Why don't you leave them alone Potter." Poppy called from behind Olivia.
"Because I'm a prefect," he answered looking up in the direction of Poppy's voice, he did a slight double take when he noticed Olivia but he continued talking smoothly, "and if you don't want detention Parkinson, I suggest you mind your own business."
"What's it to you Potter? We're just having a little fun." The tallest and biggest boy from the group was looking at James with pure hatred. Olivia felt a wave of panic, it was clear that he was bad news.
"Okay Nott's let's see if you still think it's fun when I take ten points from Slytherin," he was staring back at him the same look of rage across his face.
Apperantely, realizing the show was over, Olivia felt her group move back into the compartment. She was about to slide the door shut when when she caught one last look at the Potter boy. He was staring at her but talking to the boys at the same time. She clearly heard him say something about detention whem she reluctantly followed the group back in.
"It's just like Potter to go and ruin other people's fun," Poppy spoke.
"Yeah just because he's a prefect. He's always trying to get Demitri into detention," Bertha chimed in.
"He hates Demitri, he always has. Potter is just on a power high. Honestly I don't know what girls see in him. I wouldn't date him no matter how good looking he was, no way!" Poppy looked disgusted.
Olivia did not understand why. He certainly was the best looking boy she had ever seen, and she had dated the most good looking boy in her class back in Ireland. As far as Poppy went, she doubted whether a boy like Potter would even be interested in dating her, she was rather plain looking and seemed to have a bad personality. Olivia felt guilty for thinking such a thing about someone who had been so nice to her but felt better when she thought that Poppy's interest in her probably had more to do with her mother's connection than anything else. And that Demitri character had deserved detention, the way he had ganged up on that poor boy.
A few seconds later the compartment door slid open and Notts appeared followed by the same boys that had just beem outside. He was tall and husky with extremely short hair and dark blue eyes. Poppy positively lit up when she saw him enter, Olivia thought she was going to throw her arms around him, but instead she said hello. The group imediately broke into a discussion about what just happened outside, and it seemed as if they were all justifying what they had done and angry at what the boy named Potter had done. It took them a while to realize that Olivia was there.
"Hey Poppy? Who's your new friend?" Demitri asked, while his eyes looked her over.
She did not know why but the boy was making her extremely uncomfortable. It wasn't just his size, he had to be at least six foot and was built like a gorilla, but it was the way he was staring at her. His smile was sneaky and she could only just imagine what he was thinking.
"That's Olivia Malfoy she's new here. Olivia this is Demitri Notts, he's a seventh year." Olivia could sense something in Poppy's voice almost as if she had feelings for the brute sitting next to her.
"If you ever need anyone to show you the ropes," Demitri was leaning in closely Olivia could smell his after shave, "Don't hesitate to ask."
Pulling away quickly Olivia mumbled a thanks. The group of boys soon left the compartment and Olivia was left to comfort her own bad feelings, something about that boy was not right.
For the rest of the trip Olivia listened as the girls discussed several topics, most of which included bad mouthing everyone they could think of. Poppy finally suggested, rather annoyed, that they should put on their robes since they would be arriving soon. As soon as they were all dressed and packed up, the train started to slow. When it stoped they gathered there things and stepped out onto the platform. It was a clear night but the first signs of fall were already starting to show. Their was a mild wind causing steady ripples in the dark water of the lake up ahead. Looking around Olivia caught sight of an enormous man with a lantern crying out "Firs' years, follo' me." A little a head of him were a number of horseless carraiges and she and the Slytherin girls climbed into an empty one. The ride was bumpy and Olivia couldn't help but remember how smooth the carriage was back at her father's house. She was already missing him immensly but the thought of going back to school made her think that their distance would be bearable somehow, besides she had already met a few people.
The girls had grown tired of bad-mouthing other houses so they started in on each other. Vera asked Bertha whether or not she would be dieting this year, while Bertha insisted she wasn't fat just big boned but did not seem hurt by the obviously rude comment. It seemed as though the group was used to the back and forth bantering, as no one seemed fazed by it. In fact, it seemed as though this bashing was a part of the groups dynamics. Olivia grew tired of all the negative talk and turned to the window, a little ahead she could see the lights of an enormous castle that she figured was Hogwart's. It was so much different than the tiny lot of the Acedemy back home. She was about to ask Poppy how many students attended when the carraige came to a hault, they had arrived.
The group moved up the steps and into a hall which contained even more staircases that seemed to lead to the main part of the castle. The students were headed towards a dining hall to the left but unsure of who Madame Nocturna was, Olivia fell back and called out to Poppy and her group, "I'll see you guys inside." She waited as the students filed passed her and finally spotted a tall woman wearing black robes and a feathered hat, holding a scroll of parchment. Olivia straightened herself up and walked towards her.
"Excuse me, are you Madame Nocturna?" Olivia asked trying her best to keep her voice calm.
Looking up from her parchment she answered, "Yes I am, and you must be Miss Malfoy. Welcome to Hogwarts." Madame Nocturna had a soft voice and Olivia imediately took a liking to her. The deputy headmistress explained that Olivia would be sorted after all of the first years had been. The sorting process would not take to long, she added and imediately after they would enjoy a large feast. Olivia listened intently and then suddenly the doors to the outside opened once more and the group of frightened first years, followed by the huge man, made their way up to Madame Nocturna.
"Before we dine," she explained to the group, "each of you must be sorted into one of the four houses. The houses are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryfindor, and Slytherin. When your name is called and you are sorted you will imediately sit down with your own house. I must tell you that anything you do this year, whether it be good or bad, will have consequences for your entire house. You can earn your house points or you can loose them and at the end of the year the house with the most points recieves the House Cup, and bragging rights. Now follow me." Turning to Olivia she said, "I know how uncomfortable it must feel to walk in with the first years, why don't you walk in with me instead?"
Greatfully Olivia said agreed. She was much taller than the first years and if she had to walk in with them, she suspected that some of the other students would say she'd had an accident with a growing solution. Madame Nocturna led the way through the double doors to the Great hall where there four tables that ran the length of the room. All of the students had already been seated and there were gleaming golden plates set up on the tables in front of them. She followed Nocturna to the front of the hall where there was another row of tables where the teachers sat. One of them, Olivia noticed, was the man who had brought in the first years, she wondered what he taught. In the center was a dark man with bushy eyebrows and a long pointed hat that she knew had to be the headmaster. Madame Nocturna called out the names from her roll of parchment, and Olivia watched as one by one the first years sat on a stool, put on an old hat and waited for it to call out the name of a house. Sometimes the hat called out the name rather quickly as in Tora Bliss, "Slytherin!", and other times it took a long while. When finally all the names of the first years were called Nocturna cleared her throat.
"This year we have a transfer student," at this every head in the hall turned towards Olivia who stood a distance away. "Olivia Malfoy joins us from Ireland's Acedemy for the Magical Arts and will now be sorted." At the sound of her name Olivia thought she heard a mummur of whispers and she even noticed a few teacher's look at one another.
Aware of all the eyes upon her Olivia walked over to the stool and sat down. Madame Pince placed the hat on her head and for a moment Olivia heard nothing and then a whisper, "Well, well, well if it isn't a Malfoy. It has been so long since I last placed a Malfoy. Oh and this one has talent, yes but there's something more, something different. I say this will come as a surprise, let it be Gryffindor!"
The hat was removed imediately but not fast enough so that Olivia heard the gasp that a few students had let out. Guided by enthusiastic cheers she sat down at the nearest table and let out a sigh of relief, at least that part was over. She looked around at the other tables and found the one Poppy was sitting in, to Olivia's surprise she smiled at her, she had expected some ill feelings since she was now a Gryffindor but she seemed okay. Several of the Gryffindors smiled at Olivia as well and then the headmaster was standing up, she turned to hear him speak.
"Welcome once again to another year. As some of you may know it is customary that I make a few announcements before we eat. First the Forbidden Forest is still forbidden, second there is a new revised list of banned items on the door of our caretaker Mr. Donsler's office, and lastly...well no that's all. Enjoy!" With that the golden plates before them filled with food.
Having regianed her appetite somewhat Olivia grabbed a piece of roasted chicken and started eating. A couple of the girls sitting next to her introduced themselves while they ate. There was Leticia Bradley who was a sixth year muggle born from the U.S. and Sylvia Summs also a sixth year. As they talked about various things Olivia noticed that these girls seemed alot nicer than Poppy's group. Leticia was already asking her to join them on their first trip to Hogsmead. Olivia was about to ask what Hogsmead was when she saw the boy named Potter a few places down. He was laughing with a couple of other boys and then caught her glance, emberassed Olivia imediately busied herslf with the pudding that was in front of her when she realized that she didn't want him to see her eat. Not knowing whether he was watching her or not Olivia listened intently as Leticia talked about their visits to the wizarding village of Hogsmead.
"It does get boring after a while, it eventually loses it novelty, but at least it lets us leave the school grounds for a while. Its better with a big group to, so you should definately come kay?"
Nodding Olivia saw the headmaster stand up. "Now that our dishes are clear and our stomachs full let us rest up for our first day of classes, dissmissed."
There was a thunderous sound as hundreds of benches were scraped away from the tables. A few of the older students began calling for first years and they proceeded out of the hall, not sure of where she was going Olivia waited for Leticia. They started walking towards the door when she saw Nocturna heading towards them.
"Miss Malfoy may I have a word?"
"Sure," Olivia said. "Leticia will you wait for me?"
"Actually I'd like a word with you to Miss Bradley."
Turning to Leticia she asked, "Miss Bradley you and Miss Summs share a room in the dormitories, is that correct?"
"Yes Professor." She asked her face slightly puzzled.
"Very Well then, Miss Malfoy will be rooming with you." With a slight nod she left the girls and headed out of the fall.
Leticia and Olivia could hardly surpress their smiles. It was pure luck that Olivia was to be rooming with such an agreeable person. Leticia seemed as though she would be great company, and as it turned out she was.