Author's note: Thanks for the follows and favorites! I'm really excited about this story and I'm really motivated to keep writing. I apologize if it seems slow at the beginning. I promise it'll pick up soon! Please remember to review! Thanks!
He looked at me for the first time and laughed.
"The one and only," he said. "I don't think I've seen you around before. What's your name?"
I couldn't help blushing. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks and quickly looked away. I had sounded like and idiot when I said that. I guess I had just been so surprised that it was actually him.
"Rosalie Edwards," I said. "I'm a transfer student from Beauxbatons."
Harry smiled at me and it made me feel even worse. He was polite and friendly. I didn't understand what he had done that made the Dark Lord hate him so much. I couldn't even begin to comprehend what Voldemort had put him through, or what I was about to probably put him through.
"That explains your accent," he said.
"What year are you in?" the girl with the bushy hair asked.
"Sixth," I said.
They explained to me how they were all in their sixth years too. They didn't need to explain that to me though. I already knew who they were. The girl must have been Hermione Granger and the boy with the red hair had to be Ron Weasley. They all introduced themselves and I smiled politely.
"Why did you transfer to Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
I told them the story my parents had told Dumbledore. I told them how my parents had decided to move from France to England and how Dumbledore had agreed to let me be a transfer student. I had never liked lying very much and even the slightest lie always made me feel guilty. I felt sick to my stomach when I realized that anything I told Voldemort could put his life in even more danger. It felt strange to have that kind of power in my hands.
"What house do you hope you're in?" Harry asked.
"I'm not exactly sure what they're all like," I admitted truthfully.
"Gryffindor, the house we're in, is for the brave and bold students. Ravenclaw is for the intelligent and creative, Hufflepuff is for the loyal, kind and patient, and Slytherin is for the cunning and ambitious. I personally think they're all a bunch of Death Eaters though."
I held my breath when he said the name Death Eaters. What would happen if I got into the Slytherin house? Would he be suspicious? Would I be able to become his friend?
"I think I'd like to be Gryffindor," I said. "Maybe Ravenclaw."
I glanced out the window as an uncomfortable silence settled over the compartment. I began to worry whether or not I was annoying the Gryffindors. Maybe the wanted to be alone until they got to Hogwarts. They probably didn't like some strange new girl invading their compartment. I stood up from my seat and grabbed my things.
"Maybe I should go to another compartment," I said. "You seem to want to be left alone."
Before anyone could protest I made my way out of the compartment. I quickly looked into compartments, hoping to find an empty one. As I was making my way down the corridor, I gasped as a cold hand wrapped around my wrist pulling me into a compartment. I quickly yanked my arm away and whirled around to see who had grabbed me. I narrowed my eyes when I saw Draco Malfoy standing in the empty compartment.
"What do you want?" I sneered.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" he hissed. "You're supposed to be seducing Potter, or whatever it is you're supposed to be doing."
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks and I was positive I had turned bright red.
"I'm not supposed to seduce him," I said defiantly. "I'm just supposed to become his friend. Why does it even matter to you."
" Because," he said quietly. "He assigned me a task too. We should be looking out for each other."
"I don't want your help. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"You don't understand how important this is. Do you have any idea what could happen if one of us fails?"
I felt a shiver run up my spine. I had tried to ignore what might happen if I failed.
Before I could say another word, the train slowed to a stop. I looked over at Draco and raised my eyebrow.
"We've reached Hogwarts." he said as he took his bags and left.
I reached down and picked up my trunk and drug it out of the compartment behind me. After getting off of the train. I glanced around. Hogwarts was huge. It wasn't as marvelous as Beauxbatons, but something about it was more welcoming. It made me feel more at home. I glanced around the carriages and boarded the one nearest to me. I looked to see who else was occupying the compartment and didn't recognize anyone.
I sat in silence for the duration of the trip to Hogwarts and followed the rest of the students up to the Great Hall. I glanced into the hall and saw four large tables. I assumed there was one for each house. I looked around the Hall nervously. I wasn't quite sure where to sit. I didn't want to sit anywhere near Draco and it would probably look strange if I randomly sat next Potter and his friends.
To my relief and older looking woman holding a strange hat started speaking.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts everyone," she said with a stern voice. "The Sorting shall now begin, but first I'd like to introduce our new exchange student from Beauxbatons, Miss Rosalie Edwards."
She motioned for me to come forward and I made my way to stand next to her.
"If you would please sit down, Miss Edwards, I will place the Sorting Hat on your head. It will decide which house you will spend your time at Hogwarts in."
I took a seat on the small stool beside her and held my hands in my lap. I took a deep, shaky breath as she placed the hat on my head. I had no idea which house the hat would place me in. Once she placed the hat on my head I must have jumped a foot in the air when the hat spoke into my ear. I heard the rest of the students murmur and chuckle.
Hmm… You most certainly have a most interesting mind Rosalie. I can find traits of all four houses in you. You're loyal, but also extremely impatient so that excludes Hufflepuff. You may be intelligent, but you aren't clever or creative enough for Ravenclaw. You're brave and would do anything for the ones you love, so that could place you in Gryffindor. But you're also very ambitious and would do great things in Slytherin. Hmm… I believe I know the perfect house for you.