Thanks too: Readingfreak1, Lady-Isowen, and Betsy (your number one fan!) Thanks for reviewing
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nuthin, except Danica and the plot.
A/N: Hey, I was thinking of changing the name of da story and I was wondering what you guys think, should I, or no, R&R!
Chapter 5
The classes for the day hadn't gotten out yet, and Danica was walking around the grounds until dinner. She remembered that Dumbledore had said for Danica to talk to Hagrid about Jack, so she headed to the small hut by the forbidden forest. When she got there she knocked on the giant door and was almost knocked flat by the force with which the door was opened.
"Who're ya?" Asked Hagrid.
"Um, I'm new to this school, I just got here today to be exact, my name's Danica Correy, and-," Danica was cut off by Hagrid.
"Dumbledore mentioned ya, said ya had a dog tha' needed t' be dealt with," He said. He stepped back so Danica could walk in, followed by Jack. The hut looked cozy, with a bed on one side, a table and a burning fire in the grate. Hagrid motioned for her to sit down, and she practically had to hop onto the seat to get up, and when she did, her feet dangled over the edge of the chair.
"So, tha' him?" Asked Hagrid, gesturing to Jack, who was sitting with his head on his paws with Fang by the door.
"Yep, that's him. His name's Jack," replied Danica. At the sound of his name, Jack's ears perked up and he lifted his head off his paws. Danica laughed and Jack lay his head back down. "The thing is, I don't know what to do with him during the day," said Danica. She was totally clueless as to what to do with him; she couldn't just walk around with him trailing her all day. Hagrid looked thoughtful.
"You could always keep him here," said Hagrid.
"Seriously?" Asked Hermione, then she sighed saying, "but I don't know what my classes are yet."
"Oh yeah, Dumbledore told me ter give ya this," said Hagrid, holding out a piece of parchment. Danica took it; it was her schedule. The first thing she had was Care of magical creatures, and the last class was herbology, so it was pretty convenient to keep Jack at Hagrid's. Danica finally agreed, and Hagrid asked if Jack could stay for the night so he could get used to his surroundings. Danica agreed and left Hagrid with a cheery wave. Danica walked down to sit by the lake, waiting for classes to be over. In a few minutes, classes were out, and Danica started strolling back to the castle, deep in thought and string at her feet, when someone called her name.
"Danica!" Yelled a voice. Danica looked up to see Ginny waving frantically at her. She waved back smiling. At least I know one person, if you can call it that, thought Danica. She barely knew Ginny and already she was calling her over and talking to her like they had been friends for a while. As she reached her, Ginny said, "So, I thought that, umm.. that you didn't go here." she blushed and Danica laughed.
"I didn't," she replied.
"But you do now?" Asked a confused Ginny. Danica nodded her head. "I'm also in Gryffindor," Danica stated. Ginny smiled and said, "That is so cool, you and I will be in the same dorm and have the same classes and- you are in fifth year right?" She asked abruptly. Danica nodded and Ginny smiled.
"Wanna sit with me for dinner?" Asked Ginny.
"Sure," replied Danica enthusiastically. She had already made one new friend at Hogwarts. They sat down at the Gryffindor table, across from what Danica guessed, was Ron and Hermione and next to Harry. Okay, maybe it wasn't a guess. The scar, the freckles, and the bushy brown hair kind of gave it away.
"Who's she?" Asked Ron, already stuffing his face with food. Hermione shot him a look. "What?" He asked innocently, not knowing what he did wrong. Danica stifled a laugh.
"You guys, this is Danica," Ginny said gesturing to Danica. They all said Hi, and Ginny started to introduce them. She gestured to Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
"And this is-," she started, but they all looked incredulously at Danica as she said, "Ron, Harry, and Hermione."
"Er.. yeah. How did you know that?" Ginny asked perplexed. Danica was about to answer, when Dumbledore stood up and started speaking. He talked about some things that some first years did, and then said, "…and we also have a new student, in fifth year, in Gryffindor house. Danica Shardan." Danica didn't stand up for a minute, not realizing it was her. She quickly remembered that her real last name was Shardan and stood up. There were cheers from the Gryffindor table, some shocked looks from Slytherin, and some awed looks from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. As she sat down, Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione were just staring at her.
"Is there something going on that I should know about?" Asked Danica, awkwardly.
"You're the Danica Shardan," whispered Ron.
"Yeah, so?" Asked Danica slowly. When no one answered, she muttered to herself, "oookaay then." The dinner ended, and Danica got up. Ginny and the others did too. Ginny and Danica started talking, and as they exited the great hall, Danica bumped into somebody.
"Watch it, idiot," hissed a voice and Danica looked up. It was none other than Draco Malfoy, Danica decided to use a name she learned from the books.
"Ferret," she retorted. He looked surprised, but quickly regained his sneer.
"Did Potty, Weasel, and Granger tell that to you? Or was it Weasleyette?" He smirked.
"How about, I read about it in a book that is being read all over the world?" Replied Danica, getting up. Malfoy looked shocked, then angry. He stormed off, and Danica guessed it was the fact that he had just found out that his embarrassing situation was being read about all over the world. Danica laughed to herself, but quickly stopped when she saw the shocked looks on the four's faces.
"How did you know about that?" Harry breathed.
"Oh, umm… C'mon I'll show you," Danica replied. She quickly walked to Gryffindor tower. She had memorized the way by walking there and to other places, during the day.
"Umm… what was the password? Oh yeah, sugar quills" Danica said, part of it to herself, but the password directed to the fat lady. The five of them walked into the common room, and Hermione, Harry, Ron, and Ginny all plopped down onto couches.
"Wait here," Danica said. She ran up the staircase and went into the fifth year girl's dorm room. She walked to her suitcase and grabbed six books out of it, then returned downstairs and dropped them onto a table.
"The entire Harry Potter series, books one through six, though the series isn't done yet. Here's book one, Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone, book two, Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets, book three, Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban, book four, Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire, book five, Harry Potter and the Order of the phoenix, and finally, book six, Harry Potter and the half-blood prince. These are all books about you guys Hogwarts, Voldemort," Ron, Hermione, and Ginny winced at the name, "and everybody else that go here and Harry's family, and Ron and Ginny's family and lots of other stuff." Danica finished, out of breath. The four of them just sat there stock-still.
"Whoa," Ginny finally said. She seemed to just remember something. "Is this how you knew about Malfoy's nickname?" Asked Ginny. Danica nodded. Ginny picked up one of the books and started looking at them. Ginny and Danica saw that Harry was trying to catch Hermione and Ron's eyes, so they made a lame excuse that they had to go to the library. They left and started walking aimlessly and eventually came to the kitchens. Danica, however, had no idea where they were.
"Umm… Where are we?" Asked Danica.
Ginny smiled, "Why, the kitchens of course," she said as if it was obvious.
"I definitely need to find my way around here," sated Danica.
"And that's why your sticking with me," replied Ginny. She smiled and Danica smiled back. From that day on, they were practically inseparable.