Chapter 6: Finally, Hogwarts!
Disclaimer: I only own Pyxis, and the plot.
Third Person
The three appeared in the flat with a faint 'pop'. The black haired girl almost lost her footing, but regained it at the last second.
The Malfoy matriarch looked worriedly at the girl.
"I'm fine." Pyxis assured them.
"Ok. We're on the same flat above Flourish and Blotts. I had it renovated and had a bedroom placed." Narcissa happily informed, opening the door that wasn't there last time.
"Wow! You had a flat renovated overnight? Amazing!" Pyxis excitedly entered the bedroom. It's just like her room at the manor, only smaller.
"Alright, mother. We can take it from here." Draco said sitting on one of the couches.
"Alright, then. Draco and I will drop by here on the 1st of September, so we could all go to King's Cross Station together. Don't wander off to much, okay? And Draco, be back home for dinner." She gave the two a hug and apparated away.
The rest of the week went fast for the Pyxis. She either spent it inside studying or outside when the Zabinis and Draco drops by to give her a tour.
On the morning of September 1st, Narcissa Malfoy woke up not feeling well. Not wanting Draco and Pyxis to go on their own, she contacted someone to go with them. Draco and their chaperone arrived at The Leaky Cauldron at exactly 10 in the morning. Pyxis arrived, her satchel slung on her left shoulder and owl cage held on her right hand. She's wearing a white ruffled silk blouse, tucked in a black flared skirt, black leggings underneath it, and black ballet flats. Seeing the young Malfoy, but not his mother anywhere made her sigh.
"Mother is not feeling well this morning so he asked my cousin to accompany us; she's just out to buy something." Draco smirked at Pyxis' expression.
"For real?" The disappointed girl placed her owl next to Draco's on the table and sat on a chair ungracefully. "Can I go and change?" Draco almost looked happy when he answered no because it's almost time to leave.
"Draco?" The two students turned to the door, just in time to see a young woman, with vibrant pink hair, trip and fall on the floor. Pyxis is by her side in a flash, helping her to stand up.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Common occurrence in my everyday life, believe me." The pink haired girl dusted herself off and looked at the girl who helped her. She took in the girl's appearance and smiled.
"Wow, you look pretty. Especially your eyes, they remind me of someone." Pyxis blushed. The young woman looked past her shoulder and saw Draco approaching them. Her eyes widened in realization.
"Oh, you're my cousin's friend?"
"Yes, Tonks. Pyxis, that's Tonks, my cousin. Tonks, meet Pyxis. She's new at school."
"Ello, Pyxis!" She shook the girl's hand. "You know what? You and my cousin look good together." The younger girl's blush increased.
"Tonks, stop that. It's almost time to leave." Tonks just rolled her eyes. The two gathered their things and followed Tonks. The pink haired woman put a hand over Pyxis' shoulder and guided her to where they can apparate.
"Tonks?"
"Yeah?"
"Your hair, is it natural?" She asked. Tonks laughed and ruffled the girl's hair.
"I'm a metamorphagus. I can morph to anything I like. Look." Tonks' pink hair turned purple, then blue, brown, and yellow, before going back to pink. She showed her skills more by changing the forms of her nose and her hands. "See? I just like standing out, so I choose this colour often." She said, grinning.
"That's brilliant! It comes in handy if you're to go undercover." Pyxis touched Tonks' hair.
"Yeah, that's why I'm studying to become an Auror. Oh, here's fine. Draco? Come on, we're apparating."
"Are you sure you can do it, Tonks? I don't want to arrive at King's Cross Station missing an arm or my owl losing a wing." Tonks punched her cousin lightly on the arm before firmly holding it, along with Pyxis'. Without another word from the two, she apparated the three of them to an empty room in King's Cross Station.
"Missing any limbs, you two?" Tonks smirked. "Told you, I can apparate just fine." She looked at her watch. "I'm going to leave you two now, bit busy I'm afraid. Where are your things?"
The two pulled their trunks and suitcases from their satchels, shrunk by Narcissa for convenience. Tonks returned it to its original size.
"There. Anything you two need help with? They shook their heads. "Alrighty, I'll be going now. Do well in school, okay? And Draco? Take care of her." She winked at the end, before apparating.
"Let's get carts." The two went out of the room.
The station is filled with muggles making it difficult to reach their destination. After a lot of bumping and being squished in the crowd, they were able to get carts.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked the girl beside her who is fiddling with the end of her sleeves.
"I'm nervous." The black haired girl admitted.
"Well, don't be. You're going to do fine." He said while fixing their things on separate carts.
"Sure." The girl said, looking around. Draco finished loading their trunks and put their owls on top of their things.
"Come on. It's 10:45." Pyxis laughed.
"Yeah, don't want to go to Hogwarts in a flying car now, do we?"
"You know about Potter and Weasel's adventures too?" She just shrugged.
The two went to the wall between platforms 9 and Slytherin noticed his companion staring at it like it would eat her any second.
"You go first. I'll be right behind you." Draco reassured the girl, who could only nod.
She walked at a slightly faster pace to the wall with her eyes closed and before she knew it, she was staring at the train she never thought she would see in person. Draco just casually walked in beside her.
"Butterfly! Draco!" A voice called to the two. The former turned to the voice with a glare. The nickname was developed by Blaise during one of his visits to Pyxis in Diagon Alley. He saw her birthmark up close for the first time, ("Blimey! It does look like a butterfly!") and he's been calling Pyxis by that nickname ever since.
"Stop calling me that, Blaise." The taller boy just laughed and ruffled her hair to annoy her more. Pyxis fixed her hair and adjusted her glasses.
"Come on, I saved us a compartment." He said pushing Pyxis' cart. The two followed him.
"I can sit with you guys?"
"Of course, Butterfly. What makes you think you can't sit with us?" He laughed, but a glare from the girl shut him up.
"Well, don't you have friends to catch up with? You don't have to drag me everywhere with you." She said.
"That's nonsense. And besides, we don't have anyone with us."
"What about Crabbe and Goyle? And Pansy?" She asked as Blaise was handing her trunk to be loaded in the train.
"Those two don't hang out with us now. And Pansy just annoys Draco. Come on inside, your trunk is already loaded."
The three sat in the compartment with Blaise beside Pyxis while Draco's in the opposite seat. Blaise and Pyxis chatted and he taught her how to play exploding snaps, Draco was silent the whole time. After a few minutes in the train ride, Draco stood up.
"Where are you going?" The two asked in unison.
"To do my welcoming tradition." He said smirking. Pyxis recognized the scene immediately.
"Can we come?" Blaise asked Draco who was now at the door of the compartment.
"Sure. But don't do or say anything. Just watch."
The three then went out and when Draco found the specific compartment he was looking for, he opened it while Blaise and Pyxis just stayed in the shadows. The three occupants turned to the door.
"Well look who it is." He leaned on the door frame. "Potty and Weasel."
"I heard your father finally got his hands on some gold this summer. Did your mother die of shock?"
The said Weasley stood up in anger to what he said about his family. The figure at the end of the compartment snorted.
"Who's that?"
"New teacher." Harry is also on his feet in case he needed to hold back Ron from lunging at Malfoy.
"What were you saying, Malfoy?" Draco narrowed his eyes at them. He was not stupid enough to pick a fight when there's a teacher.
"Come on." The golden trio stared curiously at Malfoy. He went out and the three peeked outside their compartment. The Slytherin is accompanied by two students that is not Crabbe nor Goyle; a boy taller than Malfoy and a girl. The train suddenly rattled causing the girl, who's in front of Draco to loose balance. They saw Draco act quickly and caught her just in time.
"Are you alright?" The other boy who they recognised as Blaise Zabini, ask the girl.
They saw the girl nod, but they failed to see her face.
The trio saw the genuine concern on the Slytherins' faces and was surprised.
The train sped off to the north and the rain thickened as they went further. Pyxis sat beside the window but can barely see anything. It was not even half an hour later when the lights flickered and the train slowed down.
"Why are we stopping?" Blaise stared as ice crept on the windows.
"Someone's out there." Pyxis whispered, terrified.
Draco saw her frightened look at the door and took hold of her right arm with his left.
"Do you know what's happening?"
Draco
Pyxis looked at me, fear visible on her green eyes. She knows this, then?
The compartment door slid open, revealing a cloaked creature I haven't seen before in my entire life. The tall creature's face was hidden beneath its hood. I lowered my gaze and saw its grey decaying hand protruding from the cloak. I felt pain on my forearm and saw Pyxis clutching it like a lifeline.
"Draco." She whispered in a broken voice, tears flowing on her cheeks. Blaise must have heard too because he moved in front of her, as if to block the creature from getting near her.
Only a feet away from us, the creature drew a long, slow breath and the temperature dropped a more degrees, if that's even possible. Raine let out an ear-piercing scream.
Then, a silvery light came from the door and the creature glided out. I saw the professor at Potter's compartment standing outside our door.
"It's alright, the dementor won't come back here." None of us moved, still shaken at what just happened. He reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a bar of chocolate.
"Eat it. You'll feel better." Blaise took the chocolate and the professor went on his way.
Blaise turned to us just in time to see Raine let go of my arm and slump on the floor. I can tell he's immediately on his healer mode.
"Pyxis." He cupped her face with both hands, trying to get a response from her.
I've seen Blaise do this loads of times, but I can't help but still be amazed by Blaise's natural healer skills. His calm demeanour and alertness at handling a patient was like that of a professional healer. But Raine, his current patient, is still not responding.
I was surprised when Blaise slapped her cheek, but was relieved when the slap brought her back to reality. She looked around frantically, searching for the creature. Blaise still hasn't let go of her face and kept trying to get her attention.
"Pyxis. Pyxis, look at me." This time, she did. "The creature's gone. You're in shock. You need to calm down or you'll have a panic attack." Raine nodded shakily and closed her eyes. Blaise slowly let her go and turned to me.
"Get your arse down here." He mouthed.
"Why?" I mouthed back.
"Just come here!"
I knelt down beside the two, not sure what to say or do. I looked at Blaise and he gave me a 'say-something-comforting-or-I'll-hex-you' look. I put a hesitant hand on Raine's shoulder but pulled back when she flinched. Blaise mouthed 'go on' when I began backing away. I went back beside them. Not risking Raine to panic again, I called her name first.
"I'm sorry. Don't mind me, I'm just being silly." She hastily wiped her tears. I placed my hand back on her shoulder.
"No, you're not. Being upset and crying is not being silly."
"He's right, Pyxis," Blaise chimed in. "Even I was shaking when that creature entered. And I bet Draco would have fainted if that came closer." I almost protested at that, but stopped when Raine laughed. Instead, I got the chocolate bar Blaise placed on his seat and divided it into 3 equal parts. After the chocolate was consumed, we all felt a whole lot better.
The train rattled, making us jump, then began moving to continue its course to the castle.
"You should take a nap, Raine." Blaise sat beside me to make way for Raine. "I think it's still 30 minutes before we arrive at Hogsmeade Station."
"It usually takes me an hour to sleep, Blaise."
"You're an insomniac? We have to do something about that. Oh, just lay down there, you need rest. Go on." Raine reluctantly laid down straight on her back and stared at the ceiling.
"Is it working?"
"No, Blaise, it's not."
"Okay, just talk to us then. Just don't stand or sit." She removed her glasses so she could lie on her side and face us.
"The creature earlier, that's a dementor. It relives your worst memories." Worst memories. Hers must be really bad, judging by her reaction.
"But I didn't see anything." I told her.
"Me too. Just felt dark and gloomy. I didn't have flashbacks or anything." Blaise added.
Raine didn't look at us, just stayed silent. We didn't say anything either. I opted to stare at the window, looking at the sights we pass through. The next time I looked at Raine, her eyes are closed.
"Is she asleep?" Blaise nodded. I stood up and retrieved her satchel from the luggage rack. Only her powder blue cloak is there, so I pulled that out and draped the cloak on her as a blanket.
I went back to my seat, avoiding Blaise's gaze the whole time.
The train ride passed faster than I thought. We're at Hogsmeade station in less than 20 minutes.
"Go wake Butterfly up, Draco."
"Why me? You, Healer Blaise, are the one who prescribed her to take a nap. So it's your responsibility to do that." I reasoned.
"Well… I just assigned that task to you. Bye!" I tried to grab hold of his robes, but he's already out of the compartment. I sighed and gently shook the girl awake. She groaned and slapped my hand away.
"Raine, wake up. We're here." She sat up, frightening me for a second.
"Really?" She finger-combed her hair; wore her glasses, and ran outside. I was left there staring at where she was. I grabbed her forgotten satchel and fallen robe before rushing after her.
"Raine! Hey, Raine!"
"Sorry, I was so excited!" He looked behind me and noticed the absence of Blaise.
"He's probably securing us a carriage." We walked to where the carriages are and my assumption was confirmed. Only 8 carriages were left and Blaise already occupied one. He waved at us and Raine waved back.
"How's your sleep, Butterfly." He asked once the carriage began moving.
Raine didn't reply; too busy staring in front of the carriage, as if looking at what makes it move.
"Nothing's pulling the carriages, Raine."
"Yes, there is. It's a sort of a winged horse." She mumbled.
"A what?" Blaise and I asked in unison.
"Can't you see it?" We both shook our heads.
"Weird. Maybe I'll look up on it." We all just shrugged it off and chatted as the carriages made its way to the castle.
Before we can enter the Great Hall, Dumbledore himself came to us and said that he has to borrow Raine for the sorting. We bid her farewell and told her that we'll see her around.
The sorting of the first years was fast, just like any other sorting. Eight came in Slytherin, ten came in Hufflepuff, seven in Ravenclaw, and twelve in Gryffindor.
I looked around, searching for Raine. But instead, saw the Golden Trio enter. Granger looked disappointed and Potter looked sick. I ignored them and continued my search. Where is she?
"Welcome, for another year here at Hogwarts. Before we start our feast, I would like to make some announcements. As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He drawled on, telling about the dementors and that no one leave the school premises, etcetera. I heard him introduce our new professors in Defence Against the Dark Arts, the one who made the dementor go away in the train, and on Care of the Magical Creatures, Hagrid. I tuned out most of his speech, like the past years. But I was all ears when it came to the last part.
"Lastly, I am pleased to announce that we'll be having a third year transfer student from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Please Welcome, Ms. Pyxis Steller."
Everyone turned to the doors where walked in gracefully. She is wearing the powder blue robe and her hair is now on a side ponytail. I can hear murmurs, not only from my fellow housemates, but also from other houses, whispering at how beautiful and kind-looking she is. The boys looked at her with admiration, while some of the girls dismissed her. I felt something tightened in my chest that I can't describe, but that disappeared when she casted a small smile at me and Blaise when she passed us. She sat on the stool and Mcgonagall put the sorting hat on her head. This will be interesting.
"I hope she's in Slytherin." Blaise whispered to me and I could only nod.
"Well, this one is complicated." The sorting hat muttered. I can see the sorting hat's having difficulties, but Raine's face is devoid of emotions.
There is silence for a couple of minutes and the sorting hat yelled his decision.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Damn. We lost her to the Gryffindors." I heard Blaise whisper harshly. I just sighed and shook my head.
There goes my happy school year.
.-.-.-..-…/.-..-..-../-.-..-..-…-/-…-…-.-.-.-
Pyxis
"Well, this one is the complicated."
'Please, keep your voice down.' I thought to the hat.
'A bit demanding, eh, Ms. Pyxis Raine Steller.'
'Sorry, just nervous.'
'Let's see… You possess a lot of knowledge, a little too much, don't you think?' Before I can answer, the sorting hat continued.
'But you have a very clouded mind, I know just where to put you.'
'Wait, clouded?'
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I barely heard Professor Dumbledore concluding his speech over the cheers that erupted from the Gryffindor table. Professor Mcgonagall removed the hat from my head, cutting our conversation. Dumbledore waved his hand and dinner was served on all the tables. I proceeded to the Gryffindor table and ended up sitting between the Weasley Twins, who cleared the space between them. Seated across us is the Golden Trio. Oh, I'm going to have fun with this.
"Bonjour!" All the eyes staring at me widened. I felt the twins give me a suspicious look. I squeezed both their arms and they understood what I'm playing at.
"Oh! Vous ne parlez Franҫais?" Good thing Hermione knows French or this prank won't work.
"Oui." I replied with a big smile.
"And there goes the only French word I know." Ron swallowed his food and frowned making me laugh inwardly.
"Vous pouvez comprendre l'anglais?" I was very tempted to say yes, but that's just boring.
"Je suis désolé, mais non."
"What did she say, Hermione?" Harry is getting a bit anxious too.
"No, she doesn't understand English."
"That just made everything difficult." Fred, I think it's Fred to my left, said.
"You are very right there, brother." The one to my right added.
"Don't panic," Hermione attempted to calm them down. "it can't be that hard. Let's begin with introductions." She turned to me with a smile.
"Salut! Je suis Hermione Granger. Il s'agit de Ron Weasley et Harry Potter." She pointed to the respective person. "Les deux à côté de vous sont Fred et George Weasley."
"Je suis Pyxis Raine Steller. Il est très agréable de vous rencontrer tous."
"Hermione… I only understood her name." Ron seemed to lose his appetite.
"Vous pouvez m'appeler Isis. C'est mon surnom." Hermione relayed what I said to everyone listening.
"For the whole time, only you can understand her? Bloody hell." Ron looks like he's going to snap and I can't hold my laughter any longer. They all looked at me in confusion.
"I'm so sorry." The Golden Trio's jaws dropped. "Please don't be angry." I raised both my hands in surrender.
"Blimey! You can speak English!" Ron exclaimed. His shock was probably because he realised that I understood everything he just said.
"Really, I apologise. It's just I can't pass that once in a lifetime experience. Oh, and you're excellent in French. Where did you learn?" Hermione blushed while saying that she studied it on her own.
"Okay, let's start introductions again. I'm Pyxis Raine Steller, from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic." Everyone introduced themselves and I can't help but laugh when it got to Fred and George.
"That was very nice, Pyxis."
"Yeah, very brilliant."
"Why didn't you tell us-"
"-you were going to Hogwarts?"
"Wait, you know each other?" Ron's eyes widened.
"Yeah, little brother."
"We met her at Diagon Alley."
The twins are really proud about that.
"Beauxbatons is at France. How did you learn English?"
"I live in London. But they teach other languages at Beauxbatons."
"I read that it's very different there. No sorting like here or anything. Is that true?" Hermione, always the brilliant and curious one, asked.
"Yes. Beauxbatons is a very glittery palace divided into four houses. It's true that it's not like Hogwarts, where everyone is sorted by the Sorting Hat. We're sorted at random."
Everything I know about Beauxbatons is courtesy of the crash course Professor Dumbledore gave me before the sorting. It was just very lucky that of all the languages I know, French is my favourite.
"Why did you transfer then?" Harry asked. Everyone resumed their dinner, but the attention was still on me.
"I live in London, where Hogwarts is closer. It's highly illogical, isn't it?"
The rest of dinner was uneventful, and we're back at our dormitories right after. I got the bed next to Hermione, my things already set up. My clothes are neatly arranged; the dresses are hung according to colour; my robes and uniform in a separate place; and the rest of my clothes categorized perfectly. My books, parchment, and other things are stacked immaculately on my desk.
When I was looking for clothes to change to, I found a heavy looking pouch in one of the drawers. I opened it and found a lot of money and a note.
Pyxis,
Here's 500 galleons for you. Don't be afraid to send me a letter if you need help or advice. Also, don't worry about paying back. It's really no bother. Good luck and do well at school!
Narcissa
I looked inside the bag again, returned the note inside, and made a mental note not to spend it unless I really need it.
I changed to clothes more suitable for sleeping, and bid good night to the girls.
About an hour later, the room was silent, save from the breathing of my roommates. I didn't get to sleep right away, but that's not new for me. My thoughts flew to my two Slytherin friends. Will we still be friends even if I'm in Gryffindor?
I'm glad I'm in Gryffindor. But somewhere at the back of my mind wishes to have been put in Slytherin. Where Draco is.