A New Friend or Foe

Chapter Six

Erica's heart raced as Hogwarts drew nearer. What if she messed up and let the whole thing slip? She'd surely be in big trouble then, considering how her father had told her how protected and loved Harry Potter was in this school.

"I can't mess up," she told herself. "I can do this."

Soon the train came to a stop and the students filed out. They then boarded carriages that were pulled by horrible looking creatures. They looked like horse skeletons and smelled of blood. Erica leaned over to Hermione, who was seated beside her, and said, "Aren't those horses just horrid?"

"Actually," said Hermione, "I can't see them."

"Neither can I," Ron put in from her other side.

"I can," said Harry quietly from beside Hermione. Erica looked up in surprise.

"Can you?" she said, trying to keep the anger out of her voice. If she was to do this right, she couldn't let on that she knew anything about Harry's part in his mother's death. Then, out of curiosity, she asked, "Why can you guys not see them when we can?"

Hermione hesitated, then said, "They are only visible to people who have seen someone die."

Erica went silent, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She missed her mother so much. Her life was perfect until her mother's death. Nothing was confusing then. She blinked back her tears, however, and turned to Harry. "Who did you see die?"

"A...schoolmate," Harry said. "Cedric Digory. He was in Hufflepuff...I didn't know him too well..." He cleared his throat, sounding uncomfortable. Erica shook herself angrily when she felt herself feeling a bit sorry for the boy. He, on his part, hadn't felt sorry when he caused her mother's death. "And...my godfather." His voice cracked slightly, barely noticeable, but Erica caught it, although nobody else seemed to.

"I'm sorry."

Harry managed a smile. "And you?"

Me what?

"Who did you lose?"

Erica was startled. Why was he acting as if he didn't know? "Of course, he doesn't want to be caught," she chided herself. Holding in her feelings, she said, "My mother."

"I'm sorry." Erica looked at him carefully as he continued. "I know how you feel...I lost my parents when I was very young." The girl studied him intently. He really seemed sincere. Although...her father had warned her that he was a very good actor...

That night, the sorting took place, and, just like she wanted, Erica got put into Gryffindor. She smiled. Things were working out perfectly.

The next night, she took the invisibility cloak her father had loaned her and snuck out of the common room. It was time to meet her father...

~Emachinescat ^..^