The only subject that was talked about in the corridors in the next few weeks was the attack on Colin Creevey. Ginny was spending even more time than before up in the dormitory leaving Darla to talk to Sheila, Patty and Julie who could talk nothing else about Colin Creevey. She didn't talk much these days either and Harry kept asking her if she was ok.
Going to and from classes she stayed with the Gryffindor First years. Not one of them went on their own. The boys use to stick to their own group but they walked with the girls. Fred and George Weasley seemed to be worried about Ginny's behavior and kept finding ways to cheer her up. They didn't seem to realize that when they covered themselves in fur or boils, than jumping out at her in corridors was making it worse. Percy Weasley was busy during the evenings telling the Gryffindor's how important it was for them to always stick together, unless you're a prefect.
Darla believed he didn't think that Slytherin's heir would ever attack a prefect. She didn't think the heir really cared if they were prefect or not, they just wanted to get rid of the muggleborns. In the summer she had counted down the days until it was time to go to school but she was now counting down the days until Christmas. She didn't care how horrible Dudley would be toward her, anything was better than being at risk to be petrified.
Darla bought a green protector crystal from a fifth year in the meantime that she could wear around her neck.
"If Slytherin's heir is anywhere near you, it will tell you. It will also stop you from being petrified." The boy had told her when she asked what it was.
She now wore it around her neck everywhere she went, Ginny seemed to be frightened of the crystal and wouldn't look at it.
"Why are you wearing that thing?" Harry asked Darla one afternoon.
"It's to protect me from Slytherin's heir." Darla answered while Hermione examined.
"This won't." She said. "It's not even real crystal, it's just plastic charmed to look real."
"Are you sure?" Darla asked clutching the crystal in her hand, not knowing what crystal looked like.
"Yes, you can tell. It was a very poor spell." Hermione said. "The only protection this will give you is if you throw it at Slytherin's heir and it hits his eye."
"I bet all the protection devices are fake then." Darla said feeling scared again. She had felt safe with the crystal around her neck.
"Likely. A lot of people are making money off of people who are scared." Hermione said in a dark voice. "But hopefully soon it will be over."
Darla wore the crystal anyway. She couldn't explain it, but she felt drawn to it and didn't want to take it off. Hermione had revealed what the crystal actually was to Darla with a spell and they both saw it was a plastic purple cat ball. Hermione had put the spell back on it for Darla and she continued wearing it.
"After all Slytherin's heir doesn't know it's just a cat ball." Darla told Harry who asked why she would want it back.
"You're going home for Christmas aren't you?" He asked her.
"Yes, and I really think you should too." Darla answered.
"No. Your parents don't want me there and anyway, I'll be able to do my homework. At your house I won't be able too." Harry stated quickly.
"They don't want me home either, but at least it's safer there than here. And it's your house to Harry." Darla said.
Harry refused though and Darla let it be. She knew that once he had his mind made up it was hard to change it. He seemed to believe that Slytherin's heir would be gone after the Holidays and she hoped he was right. Instead of arguing with him she went to the library to work on her Transfiguration essay.
She saw the Slytherin first year boys sitting nearby talking. She really didn't know them that well. She liked to avoid them as much as she could knowing that they didn't take to kindly to muggleborns. They hadn't really bothered her yet, but she wasn't sure how much longer that would last. The girls enjoyed making fun of Ginny's hand me down robes more than bothering the muggleborns.
She started working on her Transfiguration essay trying to remember the advice Hermione had given her on that particular one. She had to write about how to turn a muggle pencil into a quill. She had no idea and had asked Hermione who had easily done it with a wave of her wand and saying the incantation lazily. Darla now put her head into her hands and tried to remember what it was that she had said.
"Give it up mudblood. This is the reason why they shouldn't let your kind here. It's too hard." Someone said interrupting her thoughts.
She looked up to see that two of the boys had come over from the Slytherin's, the three others were watching. She felt nervous; none of them had ever approached her before. They had said a comment to her once or twice but not had ever walked over to talk to her. She knew this couldn't be a pleasant conversation either. She knew the two boys who had come over to her were Calvin and Mack.
"It is true that you're Harry Potter's cousin?" Mack asked. "We've heard you were."
"Yes." She answered and continued proudly, "We're cousins."
"Is it true that he almost got expelled in the summer for using magic?" Calvin asked.
"He got a warning." Darla said trying to look braver than she felt. "Look, if you have a point get to it because I am busy."
"Did he use the magic on your family?" Calvin asked.
"No. It wasn't even him who did it." Darla said. "And it wasn't used on anyone. Why-"
"All right, never mind then. We just thought- but was it you that did it then?" Mack said in an impatient voice.
"No. Why, do you also think Harry is Slytherin's heir?"
The boys didn't answer; they just turned and walked away back to their table. The three other boys leaned closer to hear what they had to say. Darla slammed her book shut and stuffed everything back in her bag. She wasn't sure, but the boys had probably been hoping that Harry was actually Slytherin's heir.
--
"No, I doubt they were hoping Harry is Slytherin's heir. I think it's just a bunch of nosy kids. Just ignore those boys; they just want to start trouble. The thought of Slytherin's monster probably scares them even if they won't admit it." Hagrid said.
"Thanks for listening Hagrid." Darla said. "I was hoping you would. I didn't want to go to Harry about those boys and Ginny doesn't like to hear anything that has to do with Slytherin's heir at all anymore."
"I've heard it's really been bothering her." Hagrid said pouring Darla some tea. "But you can always come to me if you have a problem. Come by whenever you want. I was wondering if you were going to come down again."
"I've just been very busy." Darla answered. "You know with homework and The Chamber of Secrets."
Hagrid just nodded. Darla took a sip of tea and took a look around the Cabin. She thought that Hagrid was lucky to have a place of his own on the school yard. She missed having her own room; she really couldn't hide anything in the dormitory. She shared her dorm with three very nosy girls. Julie was the worst of the three and didn't seem to like to leave things alone. Hagrid however had his own space that he could lock up if he wanted.
"Do you think they'll close the school?" Darla asked Hagrid putting her tea cup down.
"They might." Hagrid said. "But let's not talk about it right now. Are you enjoying Hogwarts so far?"
Darla noticed a lot of people didn't seem to want to talk about The Chamber of Secrets but she wanted to know as much as she could about it. It could be because she was a muggleborn and was in danger of being petrified. Colin Creevey had already been, probably a lot of the students knew she was Harry Potters muggleborn cousin. Slytherin's heir likely knew it too.
"Yes, the classes are great. My marks could be better but classes are a lot harder than I thought they would. Herbology is my favourite class." Darla answered. "I've enjoyed working on gardens and the plants Professor Sprout has are fascinating."
"I heard you had a green thumb. Do you know Neville Longbottom?" Hagrid asked.
"I've seen him talking to Harry, but I've never talked to him." Darla answered.
"He is the best in second year Herbology right now. He would have had top marks last year but I believe Hermione beat him." Hagrid said.
"Are there many careers in the wizarding world for Herbology?" Darla asked. "I've always wanted to work with plants no matter what."
"In your fifth year you'll be able to discuss that with Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said.
Darla nodded and wondered if she should talk to Neville. Harry himself had told her that Neville was the best in the year for Herbology. Harry, Ron and Hermione were the only older students she really knew excluding Ginny's older brothers. The other older students made her nervous since they were more experiences than she was. She didn't even know the names of the rest of the older students in Harry's year and they shared a house.
--
"Hey Darla!" Sheila called across the Common Room. "Come here."
Darla hurried over to Sheila where Patty and Julie were as well. They looked excited about something and Darla wondered instantly if the culprit behind the attacks had been caught. She sat down in an armchair across from Julie.
"What's up?" She asked.
"They are starting a dueling club tonight!" Sheila said excitedly.
"Really?" Darla asked feeling nervous. "I'm not sure if I'll join. I mean, so far I've been rubbish at spells. I've finally learned how to do the levitating spell in charms and remember how long it took me to turn a match into a pin?"
"You've gotten better." Julie said. "Anyway, I'm having trouble in Charms too."
"But I don't even know any hexes." Darla said. "So you suppose they'll teach us them?"
"Hopefully." Patty said. "Ginny said she was going, and your cousin and his friends are going."
"I guess it's worth it to check out." Darla answered.
At eight that evening Darla went with the girls to the Great Hall where it was supposed to be held. When they entered the Great Hall Darla was surprised to see all the tables were gone. A golden stage was against one wall with thousands of candles floating above. To Darla's dismay she realized that the whole school had liked the idea of the Dueling club. It seemed everyone was packed in the Great Hall.
She saw Harry, Ron and Hermione in the crowd and pushed her way over to them with the girls' right behind her.
"Hi Harry." Patty, Sheila and Julie said instantly with large grins.
"Hello." Ginny added with a blush.
"I was wondering if you were going to come." Harry said to Darla.
"You look pale." Ron said to Ginny pushing his way past the three girls to look at her.
"I'm fine Ron. Don't start acting like Percy." Ginny muttered glancing at Harry with an embarrassed look on her face.
A few moments later Professor Lockhart appeared on stage. Darla held in a giggle because Harry had just began saying he was hoping it wouldn't be Lockhart. Darla stared up at him and felt annoyed that she seemed to be the only girl who didn't think he was a fraud. Even Hermione, who never acted ditzy, was blushing as he walked on the stage. Only Ginny didn't seem to be very taken with him, but it could have been because Harry was near.
"Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me?" He called out. Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions - for full details, see my published works. Let me introduce my assistant Professor Snape,"
Darla watched as Professor Snape who had followed Lockhart on the stage was glaring at Lockhart in a loathsome way.
"He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry - you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
"I'd be more worried about Snape finishing off Lockhart." Darla whispered in Ginny's ear who giggled.
"Don't be mean." She whispered back.
Lockhart than decided to show them how to disarm people. Darla decided to pay very close attention; she hoped they would get to learn other hexes as well. She wondered if she should ask Harry to teach her, she had never thought of learning dueling spells since she never wanted to be in a duel. She knew her cousin had to know a lot of good ones if he had saved the Philosophers Stone in his first year.
Professor Lockhart bowed to Snape who didn't really bow before aiming their wands at each other. Professor Lockhart mentioned how their wands were positioned so Darla focused her attention on both wands, before taking her own out and holding it the way they were. Ginny glanced at and began snickering.
"Hey, I need to learn in case I'm in a duel don't I?" Darla whispered.
"Yes, but you're taking this so seriously." Ginny whispered back. "Ask your cousin for help if you need it."
Darla was about to reply but as she opened her mouth Snape shouted:
"Expelliarmus!"
Professor Lockhart was thrown backwards and his wand flew out of his hand. Darla watched as a couple second year girls leapt up to try and catch it. She choked back a laugh quickly as Lockhart acted as if he knew Professor Snape was going to do that. She caught Harry's eye who grinned back. She saw Ron rolling his eyes while Hermione looked upset that Lockhart had been thrown almost off stage. Darla thought it was strange to see Hermione get gushy over a teacher, Hermione didn't seem the type.
Lockhart decided to put them in pairs to try the disarming spell. Darla felt nervous as Professor Snape made his way toward them, but luckily Lockhart had come over too.
"You two can work together." He said to Ginny and Darla. "Just find a space away from other duelers."
"What was the incantation again?" Darla asked Ginny.
"Expelliarmus." Ginny answered. "You can try first and then I'll try."
They bowed at each other before back up about five feet. Darla pointed her wand at Ginny and yelled the incantation not expecting it to work. Her mouth dropped open as Ginny's wand flew out of her hand. She didn't fly backwards the way Lockhart had, she didn't even move.
"I did it! And how come you weren't thrown backwards?" Darla exclaimed happily.
"You aren't powerful enough." Ginny answered. "And I think Snape really wanted to do that to Lockhart so he put as much power as he could into it."
Ginny retrieved her wand and hurried back to try the spell on Darla. They both stopped as they saw that people most people weren't disarming each other. She saw Harry staring at the Malfoy boy who Snape had paired with Harry was laughing. Other people were wincing and yelling out in pain.
"I said disarm only!" Lockhart shouted.
Darla wished she knew other spells but she didn't want to hex Ginny either. Snape stepping in moments later and yelled something that Darla hadn't caught. It seemed to work because everyone stopped what they were doing and were looking around the Great Hall at the others.
Many people had injuries. Darla saw that Patty had been paired with a Slytherin girl in their year named Felicia who was very large. Patty was crying and holding her nose while Felicia laughed at her and said something Darla couldn't hear. Whatever it was made Patty mad because she raised her wand quickly. She opened her mouth to say something but Professor Lockhart interrupted.
"I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," He called causing Patty to put away her wand and move over to Julie and Sheila. "Let's have a volunteer pair - Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you?"
Professor Snape quickly stopped that and picked Malfoy and Harry instead. Darla could tell that Harry wasn't happy about this, but he didn't complain as everyone moved away to give them room. She knew that Harry could take Malfoy though. If she were Malfoy, she would be scared to have to face Harry. She watched Lockhart try to show Harry something but he dropped his wand instead.
"I'm more worried for Malfoy." Darla told Ginny who was watching Harry anxiously. "Harry can finish him off quickly, I bet."
Ginny nodded but didn't say anything. She started chewing on the nail of her index finger while she watched Harry. Darla saw Snape whispering something in Malfoy's ear before moving away. Harry and Draco bowed to each other.
"THREE-TWO-ONE GO!" Lockhart shouted.
"Serpensortia!" Draco shouted.
Darla let out a scream as a snake appeared out of Draco's wand. What disturbed Darla the most happened a few moments later. She watched as Harry walked toward the large snake and hissed at it, it looked as though he was trying to get it to go after the boy in front of the snake. The boy seemed to think so as well because he shouted at Harry before running off. Everyone started murmuring around them.
"What was Harry doing?" Darla asked Ginny who was staring at Harry.
Ron and Hermione had rushed over to him and were pulling him away. Ginny just shook her head and motioned for Darla to follow. They hurried through the crowd and stopped just outside the Great Hall.
"Did you know Harry was a Parselmouth?" Ginny asked anxiously.
"A what?" Darla asked confused. "I don't even understand what just happened in there."
"Harry can talk to snakes. He was speaking to that snake, but I'm not sure what he said. I don't think he said what it looked like though." Ginny answered starting to walk again as the rest of the group in the Great Hall began leaving.
"And what did you think it looked like he was doing?" Darla asked.
"It looked like he was telling the snake to go at that boy. I don't think he did though, Harry wouldn't."
"Does this mean I am a Parselmouth too? I don't understand." Darla said.
"No, you likely aren't. It's very rare that someone has that gift. Salazar Slytherin could speak to snakes. That is why Slytherin's house symbol is a Snake." Ginny answered as they turned to climb up steps.
"But then," Darla said slowly feeling her stomach drop. "That means that everyone is going to think Harry is Slytherin's heir."
"Exactly." Ginny said, voice shaking.
--
"No. Harry is not Slytherin's heir. He could be a Parselmouth for some other reason. His best friend is muggleborn and I am too." Darla said.
"It just seems weird." Julie said. "There are all these attacks in school and Harry turns out to be a Parselmouth."
"And he was found under that cat." Patty continued. "And then there was that boy. That Justin Flinch-Fletchy boy and Nearly Headless Nick. He petrified a ghost!"
"Harry found them like that." Darla said. "He was looking for Justin to let him know that he was telling the snake to leave him alone. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
They were on the train to go home for Christmas. Darla was glad that the term had finally ended. The only ones who were in good spirits at the school seemed to be Fred and George Weasley. They liked to joke about Harry being Slytherin's heir. They had stopped when it upset Ginny, and Percy had yelled at them.
Now Darla sat on the train with Sheila, Patty and Julie who didn't like to discuss anything else except the attacks. A second year boy had been attacked, a long with a ghost. It had scared everyone the most that a ghost had been petrified more than the boy. Darla just wished people would stop putting the blame on Harry who had been found near them. He had been looking for Justin (the boy who had been attacked) to explain that he wasn't trying to set the snake on him.
People had been trying to avoid Harry ever since the night of the Dueling Club. Harry had told Darla the next day that he had been telling the snake to leave Justin alone. It wasn't the first time Darla had seen Harry talking to a snake; she had seen him talking to one at the Zoo.
"I doubt it's Harry." Sheila said. "His parents were murdered by the very person who would want muggleborns out of the school. His mother was a muggleborn, and so is Darla. Harry just has the unlucky habit of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And we don't know if the Potter's before him were Parselmouths. They could have been and most people know that the Potter's were good people."
"Well, who could it be then?" Julie asked not sounding convinced.
"How about that one boy?" Patty asked. "That one who was excited about seeing the cat attacked."
"Draco Malfoy? Yeah, Harry and his friends think so too." Darla answered.
"I don't know." Sheila said shaking her head. "It could be, but he had seemed shocked at first too before realizing what had happened. Besides, I saw him at the feast with those two boys he's always with."
Darla was glad when the girls started to guess who else it could be. She leaned back in her seat and stared out the window. She hoped her parents had gotten her message that she would be coming home for Christmas. They hadn't responded back to her letter. She wasn't sure what she would do if they hadn't shown up. She didn't have any money on her at all.
The girls got bored with discussing Slytherin's heir after awhile and began talking about their Christmas holidays instead. Darla wondered how the families of the petrified victims were reacting. She wondered if her parents would get upset if she got petrified. She could see Dudley finding it a big joke, while her mother and father told each other that she had got what she deserved. It would never have happened if she would have stayed at home.
--
Darla found her parents on the platform outside of platform nine and three quarters right away. She walked up to them smiling, glad to see them. She gave them both hugs hoping they would return them and was relieved when they did.
"I can take your trunk." Her father grunted.
"Where is Dudley?" Darla asked noticing he wasn't around.
"Aunt Marge is staying with us for a week." Her mother answered. "He stayed home with her."
She followed her parents to the car, her heart sinking. She liked her Aunt Marge, who was her fathers sister but she always insisted in dressing Darla up. Darla wouldn't have minded but her Aunt Marge had terrible taste. She had bought Darla an orange dress that was very frilly one year for her birthday. She had wanted Darla to wear the dress on her first day of school; the kids at school had teased her all day. Dudley and Harry had gotten a laugh out of it as well, more Dudley than Harry.
She was glad Harry wasn't coming home after all; her Aunt Marge literally hated Harry. She liked to tell him exactly what was wrong with him every time she saw him. She had once let her dog chase him up a tree and didn't call him off until after midnight. She wasn't sure why her Aunt didn't like him because she certainly didn't know that Harry was a wizard.
"Your Aunt Marge doesn't know about you or the boy." Her father said once they were in the car. "She believes that you are going to Frances School for Girls."
"Yes, so Darla please do try and be polite. At Frances, they teach girls manners."
"I can be polite. I can put it on when I want to." Darla answered.
"Yes, I know." Her mother answered in a dry voice. "I still have the pamphlets from the school. I would like you to read over them again, just so you have an idea on what to tell your Aunt. You know she'll want to know."
"She believes Harry is at St. Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys." Her father continued. "So don't her otherwise."
Darla bit her tongue so she couldn't tell her father what she thought of that. Harry was better behaved than she was or Dudley was and he wanted her Aunt to think he was a criminal. She just nodded her head and glanced out the window wondering what horrible outfit her Aunt would have for her that year. The year before she had sent her a pink sweater that had large purple buttons on it. The buttons didn't do the shirt up, they were there for decoration. Darla had chucked the sweater the first chance she could get.
When they arrived at home Darla followed her parents slowly into the house. Her father told her to go to the living room. She watched as he put her trunk in the cupboard under the stairs. She knew she would have to get her homework out later; the teachers had assigned a lot of holiday work.
"There she is!" Darla heard as she entered the living room.
"Pleased to see you Aunt Marge." Darla said with a polite smile. "I hope you are well."
"Petunia! That school is working wonders on her already. Not that she wasn't polite before. Darla, you have grown to be a beautiful young lady." Aunt Marge said getting up.
She walked over to Darla and gave her a bone crushing hug. Darla returned it before stepping back. She moved over to her own pink chair that her father had bought for her years ago and sat down. Dudley was sitting on the couch eating chips and laughing at a television show.
"Hello Dudley." Darla said.
"Uh huh." Dudley said. "Want some chips?"
"No thank you." Darla answered.
"Now, this is the way it should be." Aunt Marge said settling back beside Dudley on the couch. "This is family. I am glad to see that the boy isn't here to ruin it. Did you request to keep him at school Vernon?"
Darla looked at her father who was nodding seriously. "Yes, some students misbehave there to a point where the school believes that they should spend their holidays their. He has misbehaved a lot this year."
"We gave our permission as soon as the letter came." Her mother added on. "He'll have to learn the hard way."
Aunt Marge nodded seriously. "There is still hope for him then."
Later the adults went into the kitchen for tea. Dudley got up to turn his video game on. He turned to Darla as he set it up.
"Want to play then?" He asked stiffly.
She remembered in the summer when he had told her she was dead to him and was glad to see this wasn't true. He was not ignoring her anymore. She had a feeling her parents had decided to act civilly around her and had told Dudley to do the same. It was easier for them to ignore Harry than it was her, she was their daughter. Darla nodded and sat forward in her chair.
"So, do you have any friends at your freak school?" Dudley asked handing her a remote control.
"Yes. I have four new friends." Darla answered. "Plus I have Harry and his friends too. It really isn't a freaky school Dudley."
"You learn magic tricks there." Dudley answered sitting down on the couch.
"It's more than that. It's actually quite complicated Dudley. It's not just wand waving." Darla answered sighing.
"You aren't supposed to say that word in the house." Dudley said. "I didn't think you'd make friends but I suppose freaks like freaks."
"Shut up!" Darla said angrily. "Just because you don't understand it, doesn't mean we are freaks. If you weren't so close minded- "
"Dad hates you now you know." Dudley interrupted. "Guess who is no longer daddies little girl!"
Darla got angry and slammed the remote control on the ground before running out of the living room and up to her room. She should have known that her brother would still be the same. She didn't know how to get him to accept her, but she was determined. She wanted them to be the way they use to be.
--
Darla waited for her parents to yell at her about losing her temper but they didn't say a word about it. She wondered if Dudley had told on her, he normally would. He was back to ignoring her except to mutter freak under his breath. Although she was happy to be home away from where the attacks were, she was also wishing to be back at Hogwarts. No one made fun of her at Hogwarts. She had felt accepted at Hogwarts, even if she had been terrified that she would be petrified any moment.
On Christmas Eve Aunt Marge handed both her and Dudley a gift.
"I have more gifts for tomorrow, but I really wanted you two to open these gifts. Darla, this gift in particular I wanted you to have for tomorrow." Aunt Marge said.
They sat in the Living Room together. Dudley was already ripping into his gift excitedly. He pulled out a new game for his game system.
"Brilliant!" He shouted. "Can I play now mum?"
"Sure, what do you say Dudley?" Her mother answered.
"Thank you Aunt Marge." Dudley said. "You're the best Aunt ever."
Darla felt her package, it felt soft. She knew it was clothes. She ripped open her gift slowly, trying to act as if she were a lady. She was really opening it slowly because she was scared of what she would find inside. She nearly shouted out when she pulled it out of the gift wrapping but bit her tongue and forced herself to smile at the hideous thing.
"You love it! I know you would." Aunt Marge gasped. "Try it on dear."
Darla glanced at Dudley who had started to cough hard; she knew he was trying to hide his laughter. She glanced at her mother next who wore a fake smile on her face, and then she looked at the dress. It was the most ghastly dress she had ever seen in her life, she couldn't believe someone had actually made it. It was a lime green colour and it was covered it red and white bows.
"Thank you Aunt Marge." Darla said having trouble speaking. "I'm-I'm going to go try it on."
"You see that? She is speechless." Aunt Marge said.
Darla got up slowly from her chair and headed out of the room. She stood in the hall for a few minutes staring at the dress with disbelief. Her mother stepped out a few moments later and whispered:
"Go on Darla, try it on. It means a lot to your Aunt."
"Mum." Darla whispered back. "It's horrible. And this green isn't even the right green for Christmas."
"I know, but you don't want to hurt your Aunts feelings. You are going to wear it and you are going to like it."
Darla wished she could do magic at the moment so she could set the dress on fire. She moved away from her mother and walked up the steps to try on the dress. Her Aunt had given her a lot of horrible clothes, but she believed this dress was the worst she had ever received.
A/N: Hope you had fun reading.
It took me a while because I have more ideas for Darla when she is in her fourth and fifth year than I do now. I have written a lot of chapters already. Some of them will likely have to change by the time I get there but I have a feeling that first and second year are going to be the hardest to write. So please bear with me. And yes, I realize I haven't put many school lessons in. You will see a lot more of those after the Christmas Holidays. You'll also see a lot more people in Darla's year.
And in case you are wondering whether or not Darla will have an enemy (like Harry does with Draco) the answer is yes.
Oh and Hagrid is really hard to write I was working on him for days before deciding to put his words normally, and just imagining how he would say it. That's another reason why this chapter took a long time to write.
Anyway please review.