Author's Note – A chappie written very hastily, so don't mind if it's bad. I grabbed this opportunity when my folks went out to the movies, but I needed to finish my project as well, (help, school's in 5 days!) and so, the haste. This chapter has introductions to two pivotal characters in Mia's life, so hope you enjoy! And please, please, please take the time to review! (Six chapters and two reviews is not exactly encouraging, and this being my first fan fiction, goes to show just how inexperienced I am, so I'll probably give up on thestory for lack of feedback. A little encouragement goes a long way to help, see.)

Disclaimers- If I were JK, I probably wouldn't be writing fanfiction.

Chapter 6 – Brunettes on the boat

'Excuse me?'

The voice seemed to come from directly from Mia's right. It was spoken in a fluttery, high-pitched, girlish voice in a horribly, honeyed tone sounded falsely and poisonously sweet. Mia was so taken aback by the tone that for the first time that evening, she pulled her eyes off the huge, looming castle in front of her and turned to survey the other occupants of the small boat which they shared, as it floated serenely on the rippling, black waters of the lake.

Mia spun around; the first thing she discerned was that Alexannah seemed to be fighting the impulse to laugh. Mia wondered why; a split second later, she found that she couldn't really blame her companion.

The girl who had addressed her unmistakably resembled nothing but a large, pale toad. She was squat, with a broad, flabby face and a neck that disappeared almost instantly into her equally broad shoulders. Her eyes were large, round and slightly protuberant. A little black velvet bow was perched on top of her short, curly, mousy brown hair as she smiled smugly at Mia, completely ignoring Alexannah, who now resembled a person with a stuffed tomato in their mouth. Mia was so bowled over by her flaccid appearance that she failed to notice the girl standing right beside her.

'Erm…' Mia broke the silence, thinking it would be inappropriate to stare at someone for so long. She could not say anymore; 'erm' was all she could manage while fighting down the desirous inclination to burst out laughing.

'I was just wondering, seeing as we are about to attend the same institution, and we are travelling in the same boat, if we could get to know each other properly. Not that it's really necessary, of course.' she simpered sweetly, directly addressing Mia. 'Dolores Jane Umbridge. Pure-blood.' she said holding out a small stubby hand for Mia to shake.

'Er, yes.' she replied taking Dolores' hand. Her urge to laugh had vanished instantaneously, the conversation had gone back to her origin; something that she had forgotten, being so pre-occupied with the beauty of the scene. She felt all the memories of her conversation on the train with Alexannah, come flooding back with a sickening thud.

'Mia Bridger.' she provided as she felt Dolores' stumpy hand clasp around her own. 'I think I'm a … half blood.' she said finally.

Dolores pulled her hand back quickly as though she had just been stung by a bee.

'Yes, I see.' she simpered, her voice falsely sweet. Turning to Alexannah, she did the same.

'And you will be?'

'Alexannah Truman.' Alexannah supplied her mother's maiden name, not wishing to tell Dolores her life-story. 'Pure blood.'

'Ah, yes.' Dolores cooed admiringly while Alexannah surveyed her squalidly. Finally, she turned to the other girl in the ferry; the only one Mia had failed to notice yet.

She was fairly tall with pretty, brown eyes, honey coloured skin and long, wavy brown hair pulled back neatly into a ponytail. Mia, at once took a liking to this shy, unknown stranger.

Dolores, in contrast, did not hold her hand, but instead looked at the girl distastefully. 'You'll be the Mudblood on the train, huh?' she said, rather nastily.

'DON'T YOU DARE CALL HER A MUDBLOOD!'

Alexannah had yelled so loudly, that both Mia and Dolores turned to stare in her direction; while the other girl simply looked politely puzzled.

'Oh really? And what are you going to do if I do? You should be proud of yourself. After all you are a pureblood.' she told Alexannah, who had turned a brilliant shade of scarlet. 'Never shy away for filth.'

'My genealogy is none of your business.' Alexannah snapped reprovingly at her. She pulled the other girl towards her and said sharply, 'Neither is hers.'

Dolores shot a sweeping, icy glare and turned her back on them to face the huge, lumbering castle. Mia had turned to the shy girl.

'What's your name?' she asked her kindly.

'Cornelia Hale.' she supplied, smiling shyly.

'Right.' interjected Alexannah, who only just stopped glaring at Dolores' turned back. 'Ignore her.'

Mia nodded at her enraged comrade, grinning faintly. Looks like they had just made a new friend and an enemy.

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Cornelia, it transpired, hadn't the faintest idea what a Mudblood was. Neither did Mia, for that matter, though she did not admit it, but she was glad when Cornelia quaveringly asked a fuming Alexannah what it meant.

'You don't know?' she had hissed under her breath when Cornelia had finally popped the question. 'I suppose not. It's a really offensive term for Muggle-born. It means…filthy blood.' she finished, looking slightly apologetic.

'Oh!' Cornelia and Mia responded in unison, the former looking slightly hurt.

'Don't worry.' Alexannah said bracingly. 'It's only fatheads-' she glowered in Dolores' direction; '-who use such words.'

Mia put her arm around Cornelia's shoulder comfortingly, but Cornelia only smiled.

'Chris did warn me that something like that might happen. But he said only the Slytherins did that.' she said, shooting a grateful smile at Mia. Mia was a bit stunned by the fact that a Muggle-born knew so much.

'Mmm.' Alexannah hummed thoughtfully. 'I'll bet you anything, she's a future Slytherin.' she told them, finally. 'Who's Chris?'

'He's my older brother. Christopher Hale. Fourth year in Gryffindor.' she replied. 'He told me a lot about Hogwarts.' she continued, answering Mia's unasked question. 'He wouldn't, however tell me, how we're Sorted.'

'Neither would my mom.' Alexannah responded glumly. 'Said it spoils the surprises.'

'We'll find out soon enough.' Mia called to both of them, who, being so pre-occupied with their prattle, had failed to notice that they had almost arrived at their destination. 'We're almost there.'

The trio turned to face the looming sight of Hogwarts castle, a huge smile plastered on each of their eager faces.

A/N: Next chapter comes with the arrival, Mia's first glimpse of Hogwarts from the inside, the Sorting, Nearly-Headless Nick and Albus Dumbledore. The chappie is titled – Hats, Heads and Headmasters. Can't wait to put it up. Thanks for reading. Oh yeah, and please take the time to review.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!