Anything from the Harry Potter books belong to JK Rowling.
Hermione and Ginny sat down.
Hard.
"Then that means you're."
"Harry Potter's cousin, yes."
"But he-"
"Doesn't know?" Gabby finished, paused to applaud as a first year joined the Gryffindor table, and then continued, "Mum had a big falling out with her family, like Petunia and Aunt Lily really, I guess at one point it got physical." Ginny and Hermione could think of nothing to say to that, and Gabby didn't say anything either. So profound was the silence between them they jumped when the headmaster began he's annual speech.
"And so another year at Hogwarts begins. I'm afraid you must listen again to an old man's wheezing waffles for just a few minutes before you may allow your minds to wander to other more important things. Firstly to our new students. Welcome! To our older students, welcome back! Let's also welcome two new older faces. Professor Stanfield, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and her daughter Gabrielle Stanfield, our American transfer, who will be a sixth year Gryffindor." Gabby was going to just slide under the table as applause broke out, but Ginny grabbed her and made her stand, tomato red. Their new DADA teacher, perfectly calm and subdued, rose, and nodded to the students.
Finally, Ginny allowed Gabby to sit down, though Gabby was glaring the whole time.
"What the heck was that for?"
"For not telling me about being a Potter!"
"What does it matter! And keep your voice down." Ginny glared but did lower her voice so that it was only audible to the other two.
"How does it not? The Profit would have a field day!"
"Why?" Gabby bit her lip, not at all liking the sound of that. Hermione and Ginny stared at her.
"What, another war that the states just never even noticed?" Hermione shook her head. 'Don't you know what Harry did?"
"Yeah," Gabby shrugged, "Killing big, bad and ugly, but what's that got to do with me?" Hermione threw up her arms in exasperation.
"You're his cousin!" Ginny took up for her. Gabby was blushing and fidgeting in discomfort.
"So? Lots of people have the same name. There were a bazillion Johnson's at my old school. And heck, if you go back a few more generations, I'm probably related to the president."
"Okay, Americans just don't keep track of relatives at all, do they?" Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"Depends," Gabby shrugged, "like I said, Mum had a falling out with the family. So, no, not really. We don't send around Christmas cards or anything."
"Christmas cards? Oh for… You don't even know who you are!"
"I'm Gabby. That's me. That's all I need."
"The American dream isn't it, completely leave your background behind." Ginny looked a little pitying.
"No, the 'American Dream' is to start out with nothing and get all rich and powerful. Like Opera. Opera's my hero." Gabby giggled.
"Is there a problem?" Came a male voice, causing the three girls (who had unconsciously formed a little circle) to jumps and whirl around only to face…
"Harry!" They all said, Gabby felt her stomach give a flip-flop at the sight of her cousin.
"Yeah. Looked like you three were arguing, so Ron sent me over here." Ginny and Hermione sent a dark look in the direction of the aforementioned teen, and then assured Harry that everything was fine.
"Looked like pretty heavy stuff."
"Well, you know us girls. We like to argue-"
"Well well, Potty has a new girlfriend! Or is it just another fan to lay down at your feet and die for you?" At this Harry whirled to face the most unwelcome person outside of Voldemort himself.
Draco Malfoy.
Harry and Hermione were about to say something incredibly crushing about him being transfigured against his will twice in the last two years, but Gabby did it for them, though without the use of words
She just grabbed the area of the male body the Creator meant only meant to be treated nicely and very calmly began escorting him back to his seat. Everyone whirled around, shocked at this display, and some, Harry and Ron in particular, laughed until finally he landed in his seat.
"May that be a lesson to you, NEVER attack an unknown opponent. Especially an American one." With this, she leaned down and hissed in his ear, "Because craziness is a way of life across the pond." With that, she turned and walked back across the table to Ginny and Hermione.
There was a moments pause, before Draco finally snarled, "Alright, shows over!" He turned his glare over to the source of his humiliation but she was currently too busy being declared a hero over at the Gryffindor table to notice him.
Harry and Ron slapped Gabby on the back almost knocking the slender girl off her seat, while Seamus and Dean insisted on shaking her hand. Gabby was blushing and trying to just shake it off. Hermione, tears of laughter in her eyes, had the best compliment for her.
"You're so American!"
A Note from The Chica: Yes, I did have fun writing this chapter. Next chapter is kind of heavy, but needs to be done. Till then, keep the reviews coming!
