I'm really really very sorry for the long wait, but i've been heck busy. i'm movin back to melbourne...so yea, fiasco. anyway, i've written heaps of drafts...they aren't perfect but...just enjoy this next chapter ok?

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

CHAPTER THREE: Call Me Longbottom

Zoe reached into her bag and took out what seemed an ancient wine bottle – moss green and smothered with dust. Ron's jaws dropped.

Harry felt his brows furrow with confusion. "It's…just a bottle…"

Ginny let out a hollow laugh. "That's not just any bottle Harry-"

"That's…that's a scar-catcher!" Ron was staring unbelievingly at the bottle, eyes fixed on the reflective surface which was only barely visible. His voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. "Can..can I hold it?"

She nodded silently and passed the bottle to Ron, who was nervously eyeing Zoe's graceful fingers as she pressed the bottle against his own palm. He clumsily held it up against Harry's bedside lamp, letting the light seep through the green of the glass. This time, it was Harry's turn to gasp.

A white mist swirled within the bottle and formed the shape of a woman…no an angel, who looked oh so strangely familiar. She was dancing with such sadness that Harry found it unbelievable. Harry was speechless.

"One day I'll take you with me to see her, Harry."

He turned around to see Zoe, a single teardrop lining her left cheek. She suddenly looked so frail.

"I'll..we'll see her someday. Just not today."

Harry didn't understand. But he didn't question. He knew that some things aren't meant for now. It was all a matter of…someday. For now, he smiled and put a hand on Zoe's shoulder and pulled her into a hug.


Draco Malfoy stood at the corner of Flourish and Botts, waiting for his next victim to… smirk at. Beside him, Crabbe and Goyle were sniggering to themselves about something or other – Draco didn't want to even think what that was about. He twirled his wand in his right hand and thought of…well life in general…mother, father, Crabbe, Goyle, irritating Pansy…damn that girl can squeal…and she should really cut those nails…

His thoughts were interrupted when the bell in the shop rang. A flash of scruffy black and fiery red escaped through the shelves. Draco grinned to himself. Perfect…

He slapped Crabbe and Goyle out of their sniggering and sneered in their direction. Even assholes as big as those two knew that the sneer meant Potter alert. Well, or Weasley alert. Or Mudblood Granger… Goyle sniggered to himself at this thought. It sounded clever… but he was again slapped out of his thoughts by pretty boy himself.

Goyle lumbered after Draco, who was alreading heading in Potter's direction. Suddenly, Malfoy froze in his tracks. Who…no way…She was there. She was with them. That girl who claimed to be Potter's sister…I don't even know her name… what are you thinking Malfoy, why would you care? She's part of them…

Zoe must have felt his eyes on her because with one flick of her hair, she spun around and …

"Oh, you! Hi there Mr Longbottom!"

Malfoy put his face in his hands. What was he thinking, telling her that name. He looked around for somewhere to hide, but too late, she was already coming over and she was…smirking. How dare she smirk at him!

Harry and Ron looked at each other before raising their eyebrows simultaneously.

"Longbottom?" Harry snorted.

Draco quickly snapped back to his senses.

"Who are you calling Longbottom?"

Zoe gave him a puzzled look.

"You? That's what you said your name was - "

Harry and Ron burst out laughing. Beside him, Crabbe sniggered. Draco gave him the death glare before clearing his throat.

"Shut it, you...shrew. I have never seen you in my life!"

At this, Zoe's eyes flashed. She crossed her arms and gave him an incredulous look.

"Yeah, right. Then what do you call yourself then your majesty? Scary Ice-boy? Big Dragon?"

At this, Harry and Ron had a fit. Draco felt his face burning up and cursed himself as he fumbled for something to say.

"NO –"

"-but you're close."

Hermoine and Ginny had arrived to see what all the commotion was about. Ginny was already in a fit of giggles, and Hermione was biting her lip so hard it was a wonder it didn't bleed. She smiled and gave Draco her famous knowing look that Draco knew and hated so well.

At that moment, Draco really wanted to give that girl a slap on the face. He looked menacingly at Hermione as he impatiently waited for the laughter to die down.

"My name, is not Big Dragon-"

"Damn right it's not! His is a little dragon!"

Ginny was giggling uncontrollably now. Even Hermione was chuckling. And Harry swore he saw Crabbe and Goyle sniggering. Zoe's smirk widened and her eyes glazed over Draco, looking him up and down.

"That, I can tell, Ron, but there's no need to be so mean about it" She mockingly put a finger to her lips. "He likes being told he's a cutie."

Draco rolled his eyes.

"If you would let me finish…"

Zoe put her hands up in surrender. Draco let out a breath of relief and stepped forward.

"Draco Malfoy, Slytherin." He put his hand out. Zoe simply raised an eyebrow.

"You're not serious, right?"

Draco frowned and quickly took his hand back.

She burst out laughing. "Malfoy? You're name's Malfoy? This has got to be some joke..that's like… some lawnmower brand name! Heck, that's worse than Longbottom!"

Draco looked at her as if she was crazy.

"And Draco? Who in their right mind would name their kid Draco?"

She was laughing so hard she was bent over with her hands on her stomach. Draco felt his temper rise with humiliation.

"Don't you dare insult my parents!"

Zoe held one hand up to his face and placed the other on her knees as she drew her breath. She let out one last chuckle before getting back on her feet and facing him with a pleasant smile plastered on her face.

"I am so so sorry…Draco. I'm…Zoe Potter."

She grabbed his hand, shook it, and ran out the shop in hysterics. Draco's eyes followed her out in shock before turning back to the rest of the party.

Harry and Ron stepped forward, and in an act of mock politeness bowed and saluted. They then each took one of Draco's hands, kissed it, and marched out of the shop with tears in their eyes. Draco shook his head in disbelief. Did that just happen?

Now only Ginny and Hermione were left. Ginny gave Draco a pat on the shoulder and skipped out the door. Hermione just stood there smiling with her arms crossed.

"What do you want, mudblood?"

Hermione shook her head with that all-knowing smile of hers and went after the rest.

"Good try, Draco!"

She laughed as a look of pure horror etched across Malfoy's face and pushed the door open to join the large group of laughing teenagers standing outside the shop.

Draco blinked. Did Mudblood just call me Draco? Mudblood. Called. Me. Draco. Huh?

He turned around to find his two cronies giving him a weird, wondering look. He barked.

"What!"

They bit their lips.


"Trust me, you'll love Hogwarts."

"It's like my second home"

"Hell, it is my home"

"It's a bloody brilliant place, Zoe."

Zoe nodded and grinned. From what she's heard, Hogwarts really seemed to be the perfect school...I mean, there aren't many schools that kids love more than home, are there? Zoe looked out the window and watched the houses fade into the sunset. She smiled serenely to herself, excited at the prospect of going to Hogwarts - sounded like an adventure. Can't wait...

Beside her, Harry and Ron were playing a game of exploding snap, and Ginny, surprisingly, was the one reading instead of Hermione, who was, like Zoe, staring out the window, lost in her own thoughts. Zoe smiled and playfully kicked Hermione in the shins. Hermione returned it with a glare, before sending a spell at Zoe, making her nostrils grow to about the size of a ping-pong ball.

Zoe liked Hermione. She had met her and most of the Order at Grimmauld's Place, where she had spent most of the summer, after smuggling Harry out of the Dursleys, of course. She found Hermione funny, in a quiet, subtle way. Quite unlike Ron, who was just funny out loud and in your face.

Just as Zoe was about to shoot a spell back at Hermione, the door burst open, and a blinding light filled the room.


Alright, how's that? Please do review...I promise this story is worth it.

-nina