It was the first day of school.
Draco, Louise and Alex left Malfoy Manor early and they arrived at Kings Cross Station with plenty of time to spare. As they stepped onto Platform 9 3/4 they spotted Theodore and Blaise, who were talking to two Slytherin girls.
The five students waved and headed over to them. "Lou, this is Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass" Draco introduced his cousin to the three girls, who grinned at her.
Alex had disappeared to find some Slytherins of his own age.
As the six of them climbed onto the train, they headed to a specific compartment, only to find several first years sitting there already.
Draco, Theodore and Blaise marched in. "Out" Draco spat.
The first years looked terrified and scurried out of the compartment.
"Did you really need to kick them out?" Louise mused as they all sat down.
Draco raised his eyebrows at his cousin. "Are you questioning me, Lou?" he asked, sounding amused.
She shook her head. "Not at all cousin" she smirked back.
For the majority of the journey to Hogwarts, Louise was kept entertained by stories of what the Slytherins got up to in school.
However, as they neared Hogwarts, Pansy and Daphne kicked the three boys out of the compartment and drew the shutters, so that the three girls could change into their Hogwarts robes.
Louise had noticed Bellatrix buying her blouses which were a little too tight across the bust and skirts which were dangerously short, however when she had questioned this, Bellatrix's reply had been "you'll fit in with the other Slytherin girls" and now Louise understood. Pansy and Daphne's blouses were a little too tight, their skirts dangerously short.
Seeing how uncomfortable Louise looked with the length of her skirt, Daphne gave her a warm smile. "Don't worry! You look great!" she encouraged.
Pansy smiled too. "Honestly, if I had legs like yours, I'd have my skirt even shorter!" she exclaimed.
Louise looked thoughtful.
"Seriously, your legs are amazing! II'm jealous!" Pansy complimented her.
"Thanks" Louise looked surprised by the compliment. Pansy was nicer once you took the time to get to know her...
There was a tap on the compartment door but before anyone could answer it, the three boys bounded in, still dressed in their ordinary clothes.
"Ugh, you're all changed already" Blaise looked disappointed.
Pansy and Daphne sstarted to laugh, and so did Louise beginning to feel a sense of belonging with the Slytherins.
Evidently, the boys felt this way too, as they changed into their robes front of the girls, without so much as a blush. Not that they had a reason to blush, their obsessive Quidditch practise had left them with desirable figures. Pansy, Daphne and Louise let their eyes wander over the toned physiques of the boys.
When they were changed, they sat back down.
"Bet you're glad you turned down Flint now, eh Daph?" Pansy teased in a low voice so that the boys couldn't hear. Louise giggled, remembering how, even as a Gryffindor, she had thought that Marcus Flint had had a thing for Daphne, turns out she had been right!
"Just you wait Parkinson" Daphne's empty threat only made Pansy and Louise laugh harder.
Eventually, they managed to stop laughing and began to talk about a new robes shop which was opening in Hogsmeade.
The three girls were chattering excitedly, flipping through robes catalogues, when Daphne suddenly spoke in a soft voice. "Lou, Theodore hasn't taken his eyes off you once in the last ten minutes! " she told her new friend.
Daphne and Louise sneaked glances at Theodore, whilst they kept up an act of browsing the catalogues.
Sure enough, not realizing that he had been detected, Theodore was staring, transfixed, at Louise.
The girls sniggered together, causing the other two to look over at them too.
"What's going on?" Draco asked suspiciously.
"Why nothing Draco darling, I think you're being a bit paranoid" Daphne put on a child-like expression .
"We were just discussing fashion choices..." Louise paused, looking the three boys over with a critical expression. "My my, we have got some work to do" she shook her head, looking despairing.
Pansy however, ddidn't say a thing, but her eyes barely left Draco's face.
As the boys resumed their conversation, Louise turned to Pansy. "Do you have a thing for my cousin?" she asked, sounding interested.
Pansy blushed. "No!" she whisper-exclaimed.
Daphne and Louise looked disbelieving. "Okay, fine, I'll admit it, yes I do" Pansy went even pinker.
Louise high-fived Daphne. "Knew it!" she giggled.
"And you're okay with that?" Pansy asked Louise hopefully.
Louise grinned. "Course I am! You two would make a really cute couple!"
As they giggled and talked like they'd been friends forever, Louise felt a happiness which she hadn't felt in a while, genuine happiness. She felt like the Slytherins understood her and she found hherself hoping that she would be put into Slytherin; no other house would be as understanding...