Chapter three

"Come on, Rayne!! You and I are going back to Hogwarts tomorrow, and it's not like our books and supplies are going to buy themselves and apparate over here!" Yelled Andy from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'm coming!! God Andy, it's not like Diagon Ally has a closing time!" Rayna sprinted down the stairs, after closing her door on Shimsa, as she was dressed and ready to go. Andy led Rayna outside to where David and Claire were waiting in their car. The two were to accompany Andy and herself to Diagon Ally. It had been a quick summer, and they soon had found themselves waving goodbye to Celeste from the airport as she was to fly back to France, to return to Beauxbatons. In that time, Andy had become like a brother to Rayna, and even protective of her.

An hour later, David parked on the side of a narrow street. As Rayna got out of the car, Andy took her hand to ensure she wouldn't get lost as they walked down the street a bit.

"Um, Andy, this's still London, right?"

"Yeah."

"Where's Diagon Ally then?"

"Right in through here. The Leaky Cauldron." They had stopped at what looked like an inn. Andy followed Claire in, leading Rayna, then David. They made their way through the tables and chairs, and other witches and wizards.

"What exactly is this place? I mean, it's still in London, but I see mostly witches and wizards here."

"The Leaky Cauldron Inn is the cross point between the muggle world and the magical world. This way..." The four stopped at a wall, where Claire took out her wand and tapped various bricks before them. Much to Rayna's astonishment, the wall began to move, sliding aside to make a doorway to another crowded street. There were people of all sorts, dressed in all types of clothes. Their first stop was Gringotts.

"You never told me your family was that well off." Andy mused.

"Yeah." Then they split up. Andy knew what he needed to get and so went with David, while Claire led Rayna around to get her things.

"What's next?" Claire asked Rayna, who was holding the supply list.

"Let's see...I have a wand, so...Flourish and Blotts." There they bought her schoolbooks. After that, they went to get her Potions supplies at the Apothecary, then they were off to Madam Malkins. There, Rayna had her eyes on green and silver robes.

"Wait, Rayne, you're looking at the wrong ones, they should be—oh...never mind then..." She had taken the letter from Rayna, and realized her friend was right. "You are in Slytherin...okay..." So they purchased the robes, and met back up with David and Andy to go home.

"Claire, I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Andy what House I'm in until he notices; and then I'll tell him."

"Okay..." Claire was curious, but didn't want to question her friend's motives.

The next day

BEEP!! BEEP!! BEEP!! BEE--!! SLAP!! Success... Rayna's hand had made contact with the snooze button, as she rolled back over sleepily. Wha--?? Earthquake!!

"Rayna!! Rayna, wake up!!" Rayna rolled over to decipher the catalyst of the earthquake, who had been shaking her.

"Claire? What—what time is it??"

"Nearly 7:00, and you need to get up." Rayna slowly sat up and looked around. Claire was sitting on the edge of her bed, all dressed and ready.

"Okay, okay, I'm up..." Rayna forced her limp legs to move over the edge of the bed, causing her feet to fall to the ground. With a second or two to get her senses about her, Rayna finally got up as Claire left the room.

As Rayna went down to eat breakfast, it became apparent to her that it was only Claire that visited, probably because David had work. She sat herself at the table, where Andy, Claire, and their mother were already eating. Mark had left for work earlier that morning.

"So, Rayna, it's your first day of school at Hogwarts...excited?"

"Yeah, sounds great..." Rayna stated unenthusiastically, as she poked her food around. First day of school at Hogwarts. This is not how I imagined it. Truth be told, she was enjoying herself, and she was sure that the year would go well. But that wasn't the problem. When she first found out where she was to continue her education, her parents had caught her on a bad day. A very bad day. Now her guilt had caught up with her, when it was too late. She regretted having said those words to her parents, and how they had to part on bad terms. Oh well, I screwed up. The past should stay in the past, so I'm just going to enjoy this year, and when I get the chance, I'll write them to apologize. Yeah...that sounds good...

"Rayna? Rayna!" Rayna jumped a bit in her chair. Jane was trying to get her attention.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Silverdrop, what were you saying?"

"Are you finished, dear?"

"Oh yes, thank you." Rayna replied as Jane took her plate away. Half an hour later, the four were in the car, on their way to King's Cross Station. Rayna had made sure to grab Shimsa right before they left, seeing as her trunk was already loaded. Jane and Claire waved goodbye as Andy led Rayna through to a pillar between platforms nine and ten.

"Andy? Where's platform 9 ¾?"

"It's right in front of you."

"A pillar is right front of me." Rayna stated flatly, as if Andy didn't know what he was saying.

"Exactly!" Andy grinned as Rayna rolled her eyes and slapped his arm.

"Quit talking in riddles, we're going to be late for the train!!" Andy sighed.

"You're no fun. Fine, it's on the inside of the pillar." Rayna gave him a look as if he was insane. "No seriously. Watch." Andy moved so that he was in front of the pillar, began to walk toward it, and completely into it. Rayna's eyes were the size of basketballs, as Andy popped his head back out. "Come on. You might want to make a running start since it's your first time." Rayna gulped nervously, but followed. The next thing she knew, she was on a completely different platform, crowded with people. Before her on the tracks stood a beautiful red train with the title, 'Hogwarts Express.'

"Come on now, you don't want to get lost in a crowd like this..." But before Rayna could reach for Andy's outstretched hand, a dark haired girl shoved her way between them. This caused Rayna to stumble back, separating her from Andy by a long shot.

"Watch where you're going, loser!!!" Rayna was shocked at the girl's attitude. We don't even know each other, and she's already calling me names! When she looked back, the girl was gone, having gotten on the train.She had to push through a few people to finally board the Express. Whoa. Talk about crowded. The train's worse than the platform! And this is a much smaller space than out there!

The train was packed as students tried to find compartments that were empty or at least had friendly faces. Might as well give up on looking for Andy in a place like this, and find a compartment. She spotted the closest one to her with an open door. She stepped in with a sigh of relief. Little did she realize that the compartment was not empty.

"Hello. Who might you be?" Rayna turned around at the voice, coming face to face with three others. The one who had spoken was the only other girl present, with brown eyes and brown wavy hair.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize this compartment was taken..." She made to exit the compartment.

"Yes, this compartment is taken, but it's not like there isn't room for one more. Do you really want to go back out there?" A brown-haired boy inquired.

"Uh, well--"

"Join us!" Piped up a redhead boy.

"Oh, um, all right..." Rayna levitated her luggage up onto the racks, then took a seat next to the redhead.

"What's your name?" The girl asked again.

"Rayna. Rayna Lauren. Call me Rayne. And you two?" She asked, looking at the girl and the redhead.

"Hermione Granger. Pleasure, Rayne."

"Ron Weasley. Nice to meet you, Rayne."

"But what about me--?" The other boy started.

"Harry Potter, of course! I know The-Boy-Who-Lived when I see him."

"Oh, right..."

"Oh, look! Seems to me that the Golden Trio have recruited another into their club. I suppose you're the Golden Quartet now, huh?" A tall, blonde, blue-eyed boy had paused in the doorway of their compartment. Two other boys were standing behind him. One was tall and lean with light brown hair and dark, distinct eyes. The other was completely opposite in stature, being short and chubby, with small eyes about the same shade as the former. Clutching the blonde's arm was that same dark-haired girl that Rayna had encountered earlier.

"Come on, Drakie, I want to go sit down!! Just ignore these losers!!" The girl whined. Apparently, 'loser' was her word of the day.

"Shove off, Pansy!! And for the love of all things magical, quit calling me that!! I'm not finished with them." He growled through his teeth. Rayna, fed up with this egotistical boy, stood and walked up to him, stopping inches from his much taller figure. Though he had the privilege of looking down on her, the other three in the compartment could tell the boy was somewhat intimidated by the strange girl's boldness.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but you are done." She placed her hands firmly on his shoulders...to which he exclaimed, "Get your filthy hands off me, bitch!" and shoved him out the doorway, closing the compartment door in his face. She sat down in a huff, unaware of six huge eyes and three gaping mouths sent in her direction. When she finally noticed,

"What?"

"What you did to Malfoy...that was..." Harry started.

"Bloody brilliant!" Ron finished brightly.

"You mean, you don't do that?"

"Unless we want to have a face-off with his father, Lucius Malfoy, then no, we don't do that."

"Oh...oops!" Rayna stated with an 'oh well' shrug.

One hour later

"Well, we should change into our robes now. We'll be arriving soon." The four went their separate ways, and when they came back, again, all eyes were on Rayna.

"Oh, so you're in Slytherin..." Harry stuttered.

"Yeah! I—oh..." Rayna noticed that they were all Gryffindors. "Well, we can still talk between classes, right?"

"Maybe..." Ron stated flatly.

"Ron!! Just because she is in Slytherin, doesn't mean we can't be friends. The House does not make the student." Hermione exclaimed, shocked at her friend's sudden change of attitude towards Rayna. "Sorry about that Rayne. It's just that, until this year, we've seemed to be enemies with all of Slytherin, and have obviously gotten used to demeaning them."

"Well, that's all right."

In the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts

"Guys?" The three turned to face Rayna. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Andy, your House Prefect what house I'm in if he asks. Just say you don't know. By now he must know that I wasn't sorted into Gryffindor, so just be cautious."

"All right, but one question: How did you know who our Male Prefect was?" Harry asked.

"I know him. In fact, I spent the summer with him."

"Oh."

"Well, I have to go sit at my table, so talk to you later, hopefully." The three nodded as Rayna sat at the Slytherin table. Little did she know that she was being watched from the second she entered the Great Hall.

A few people down, Draco Malfoy sat seething at the very thought of her and what she had the nerve to do.

How dare she!! That girl had the nerve to humiliate me in front of my friends!! I'll teach her, you watch...oh shit, I am not talking to myself!!

Yes, unfortunately, you are.

No I'm not now shut up!!

His argument with himself was interrupted when Pansy tried to shove a piece of chicken down his throat. "Lay off it, Parkinson!!" He yelled angrily, pushing her away as he stood up from the table. He glared at everyone his eyes could reach, before storming out of the Great Hall.

Rayna watched Malfoy leave, snickering, "I'm not surprised he's like that after what happened. He's evidently used to girls fawning after him, not pushing him away. Ha! Who'd go for a prick like him anyway??" She whispered to herself.

This's going to be an interesting year...