We never give much tough to what we have until we lose it; never appreciate what we have until it's gone. No, this isn't a sap story about how I miss my friend dearly, and will do anything to get him back. If that's what you want, I suggest you discontinue your reading of this story; you'll be terribly disappointed. This is a story about how I lost my sanity trying not to throttle Draco Lucious Malfoy. If you have also had unspeakable desires to stop your husband's heart-or at the very least rip it out-by all means, continue.
Yours truly,
B. V. G. M.
XXX
PART 1: How We Used To Be
Chapter 1: Stupid Gryffindor
XXX
Dear Miss Gryffindor,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Your sincerely,
Minerva McGonagal,
Deputy Headmistress
XXX
Call me crazy, but I was friends with Draco Malfoy. That's right, you heard correctly, MALFOY. The slick git that just turned his back to me. Sure we were always fighting, but we always made up. Sort of. I waited another minute until I decided he wasn't going to take it back. I wiped at my eyes fiercely, making sure not a single salty drop escaped. I grabbed my wrapped robes and stormed out of Madam Malkin's, nearly trampling a boy in glasses who was about to make his way in. I hissed a strangled apology, and left him on the ground, hurrying to meet up with my brothers.
Flashback***
I stood on a platform in Madam Malkin's, getting fitted for my school robes.
"Isn't this exiting!" I exclaimed, grinning over my shoulder at my best friend.
"Mhhmm." Draco answered. He didn't look at me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, hopping off the little platform as Madam Malkin finished measuring me.
"Come here, Bella." He sighed, patting the cream couch he was sitting on. I sat down and waited for him to speak. When he didn't, I poked him hard on the ribs.
"Ouch!" He hissed at me, rubbing the spot my finger had made contact with.
"Well…?" I urged, trying to get him to talk.
"We…" He motioned to the two of us. "We can't be friends anymore." I scoffed, and leaned back on the couch, crossing my arms.
"And here I thought it was something important!" I said, rolling my eyes.
"No. I mean it. I'm going to be a Slytherin. Your going to be a Gryffindor. Its against the rules-"
"What rules?" I interrupted.
"The rules of…life!" He said, throwing his hands in the air. "How am I supposed to be a Slytherin with a Gryffindor as a friend?" He demanded.
"Draco, were eleven." I reminded him slowly.
"I know that!" He snapped.
"And what do eleven-year-old's have to do with adult conflicts?" I asked. "Your being absurd!"
"I'm telling you, I don't want to be your friend anymore!" He snapped, as Madam Malkin came back with my robes, raising her eyebrows at Draco's outburst, but remaining silent on the subject. I took the neatly wrapped parcels and placed them on my lap.
"Sure, sure." I said lightly, waving him towards were Madam Malkin stood, ready to take his measurements.
"Stop!" He said, shoving me as far as he could. I stumbled to the side, grabbing the arm of the couch for support. The brown packages that held my robes fell to the ground, right beside my left foot. "No. I will NOT be a stupid Gryffindor's friend!" He got up, and turned his back to me, standing on the platform. I waited, with a disbelieving face and arms crossed, ready for him to stop being dramatic and look at me.
He didn't.
End of Flashback***
"Bella, if you don't stop shoving that meatball around your plate, I'm going to go crazy." My older brother, Rob, snapped.
I glanced up from my dinner to glare across the table and around the candle holder. My green eyes bore into his equally emerald one's.
"If you don't stop nagging, I'll show you were I'll shove it." I snapped. Beside me, my little brother Sam squeaked.
"Manners, Belladonna." My father scolder from the head of the table.
"Sorry, Robert." I grumbled. "OUCH! You git!"
"Bella!" My mother gasped.
"He kicked me!"
"Did not!"
"Oh, I'm sure. I just imagined the toe of your shoe digging into my shin at high speed. My bad."
"Rob-"
"I didn't do it! Do you see how wide this table is?"
"Apparently not wide enough to keep you from hurting your poor sister." I said, rolling my meatball again just to drive him over the edge.
"Stop that!"
"Stop that! I'm Rob, and I'm a prefect, so you better listen to me, blah blah blah."
"Don't copy me."
"Alright, you two-"
"Don't copy me, I'm a prefect."
"I'm serious."
"I'm warning you two-""I'm serious, because I'm a prefe-"
"Silencio!" My father said, producing his wand from inside his robes and waving it at my brother and I. "Prefect" was caught in my throat as the spell silenced us. Sam shook his head, rolling his eyes at us. Rob continued eating his dinner, the occasional glare sent my way.
XXX
"All aboard! All aboard the Hogwarts Express!" I buried my face deeper into my mothers brown hair as she said her goodbyes.
"Come on, darling, it's my turn now." Father chuckled, rustling my hair and bending over from his six foot two glory and joining me a foot below to envelop me in a bear hug. When he let me go, it was my turn to bend over and hug my scowling little brother gently.
"Just think, Sam, in two years time your coming on that train with me." I said, patting his little brown locks softly.
"That's too long!" He whined, scowling.
"Too bad." I chuckled. It may be longer than you think, kiddo. If your condition gets worse-
"Bella, hurry!" My mother laughed, interrupting my depressing thoughts. She pointed to Rob, who was waving like a lunatic for me to get on the red train. I gave them each a parting kiss and pulled my trunk towards him. Rob hauled it on to the train for me, and my cat Cheshire¾who was sitting on top of the trunk¾hissed at him angrily.
"Oh, shut it." Rob chuckled. "Go find a compartment, Bella, I have to help the other first years on." I nodded, and dragged my trunk down the corridor, looking for an empty compartment. Through the glass of a compartment door, I locked eyes with Draco. He gave his friends a look and they all got up, probably coming over to make a snide comment. I looked away dramatically, and resumed walking down the hall. I heard their compartment door slide open. I grabbed the first door I could reach, and quickly went inside. I locked it, and set my trunk down, not really paying attention to the people who were already occupying the space. Draco knocked on the glass, scowling and motioning for me to unlock the door. I put my hands on my hips and smirked, mouthing some choice profanities at him. His eyes widened, and I pulled down the curtain on his still surprised face. I turned to see who compartment I had infiltrated. The was a bushy haired girl, a red-headed boy with freckles¾holding a ridiculously large rat¾and a boy with glasses, who I recognized as the one I had pushed aside in front of Madam Malkin's.
"Oh. Hi." I said, smiling at them. The one with the red hair stared, his mouth hanging open.
"Hello." Said the girl, also looking at me in awe. The boy with the glasses must have recognized me as well, because he looked down at his feet.
"I'm Hermione Granger." The girl said, putting out a hand.
"Nice to meet you, Hermione." I said, taking hold of her hand. "I'm Belladonna-"
"Gry-GRYYYY-" The red headed boy stuttered. I arched an eyebrow.
"Yes, Gryffindor." I laughed. "You must be… Ronald? Or is it-? No, he one of the twins… it's Ron Weasley, right?" I smiled, holding out a hand.
"She know my name!" He squeaked, placing a clammy hand in my own.
"It's your hair." I laughed. "Your father attended one of our balls, I can see a resemblance." I added, discretely¾ or at least I hope it was discreet¾wiping his perspiration off my hand and on to my pants.
"An you…" I said, pointing to the black haired boy.
"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are, but I need to apologize correctly for running you over! It was terribly rude of me." I said, sitting down next to him. He looked up, and for the first time, I got a good look at his face.
"Oh." I said, my eyes drawn up to his scar immediately. "May I?" I asked, extending a hand. He nodded curtly, watching me warily. I traced the lighting bolt with my fingers.
"Nice to finally meet you, Harry." I smiled, tracing the scar again.
"Making new friends are we, Gryffindor?" My hand froze at the voice.
"Piss off, Malfoy." I said, removing my hand from Harry's forehead. My three new acquaintances looked at me in shock, surprise by my complete change of personality.
"On last name terms again, are we?" Draco said, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning against the open door. Stupid Alohomora. Stupid Malfoy.
"If I remember correctly, you were the first to use my last name." I said dismissively.
"At least I won't be going into a house with a Weasley." He smirked. "Are those your mum's clothes?" Draco sneered, casting a distasteful eye over Ron's robes. I stood up angrily.
"Shut up, Malfoy, you horrid little pest. Get out!" He didn't even flinch.
"Make me." He smirked again. I pulled up a foot, and kicked him hard in the chest, pushing him out of the compartment, and to the floor.
"Happy now?" I grinned. He glowered at me.
"Bella? I have an annoying feeling in the pit of my stomach that's it you causing all this noise." Rob's voice said. I cringed as he emerged from a compartment, disappointment as clear as his shinny Prefect badge.
"Get up, Draco." Rob said, pulling him up by the elbow. As soon as he was upright, Draco yanked his arm free and stalked off to his compartment. His friends had obviously lost interest, since they were nowhere in sight.
"With all the trouble you always cause, I wouldn't be surprised if you got sorted into Slytherin!" My brother scolded.
"Jeez, Rob. Low blow." I said, clutching my stomach and contorting my face in fake pain.
"Honestly, Bella. How do you think father would react if he knew this was how you started your fist day at Hogwarts?"
"Malfoy started it!" I protested. "He insulted the Weasley's!" Rob glanced behind me, spotting Ron.
"Always the martyr." He sighed.
"But if you happen to find Draco stabbed to death, don't be surprised to find blood on my hands." I grumbled. Rob shot me a look but didn't comment.
"Ron, correct?" He asked, and Ron Weasley nodded. "Have you seen Percy? He was supposed to be doing rounds with me, and I have to go find a lost toad. You," He said, pointing to Hermione. "Any luck yet?" She shook her head.
"We haven't seen Percy either." Ron piped up.
"Oh, well. Not that he'd be much help anyways. Come on Bella, you have to change now. And I advise the rest of you do the same." I grabbed my trunk and followed him out the door.
"See you guy's at dinner!" I waved, Cheshire at my heels.
XXX
As soon as we had gotten off the boats that ferried us across the lake, we were herded down a dark hallway and into a small crowded chamber. Before us was a large door. Pushing and shoving, I made my way to the front, were Draco stood before Harry, hand extended. I moved faster, eager to stop this before something bad happened.
"I think I can sort the wrong sort for myself, thanks." Harry said, right as I placed a hand on his shoulder. Draco and I both froze. But soon our expressions of shock altered, changing to complete opposites. While Draco looked outraged, I was on the verge of dying of laughter. A scroll tapped Draco on the shoulder, and he stalked back towards his friends. Before us stood one of the Professors. I took a deep breath, calming my laughter.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." She began. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, yours house will be something like a family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor," Several eyes shot in my direction. "Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Draco smirked at his friends while I snorted and rolled my eyes. Ron nodded in agreement while Harry didn't seem to understand. "Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards." The Professor continued.
"Some of which are the very essence of evil." I mumbled. Ron bit his lip to keep from laughing.
"While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while your are waiting." And with that lengthy monologue, she turned on her heels and walked through the door, closing it behind her. A frog croaked from beneath me. I glanced down in shock as it jumped out from between my feet and up the stairs.
"Trevor!" A boy exclaimed, picking it up. His cheeks tinted when he saw everyone giving him strange looks, and scurried back into the crowd. Harry tried in vain to flatten his hair while Ron bent to tie his shoe.
"Come here." I told Harry, helping him tame his hair. We made a little progress, and I moved on to Ron, rubbing my finger over a smudge on his nose.
When the Professor returned-Professor McGonagall, I think the large man had called her-she waved us into the room. We all walked in, surprised to find ourselves before a hat. We all jumped when it twitched and began singing:
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you an find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
XXX
"Gryffindor, Belladonna." The professor called. A wave of whispers can around the room as I made my way from the back of the crowd up to the Sorting Hat.
"I will NOT be a stupid Gryffindor's friend!"
I paused for a second, why was I remembering this now? It had been three day's ago. I continued to move up to the hat.
"We can't be friends anymore."
I shook my head, trying to clear it.
"I mean it. I'm going to be a Slytherin. Your going to be a
Gryffindor. Its against the rules."
My hands balled up into fists at my sides.
"How am I supposed to be a good Slytherin with a Gryffindor friend?"
What if I wasn't a Gryffindor? Would I get to keep my best friend then? I sat down in the bench, smiling at my brother. Would he be disappointed?
"With all the trouble you always cause, I wouldn't be surprised if you got sorted into Slytherin!"
What about Mum and Dad? The professor lowered the hat onto my head.
Hmmm… Another Gryffindor. Lets see… Too academically laid back for Ravenclaw, too much attitude for Hufflepuff, Too nice for Slytherin, Too sarcastic for Gryffindor… Would you really give everything up…for a boy? I would have thought a Gryffindor would be brave enough to let someone go. Hmmm… So where to place you. Slytherin? Or Gryffindor?
My eyes opened in shock. Could I really get sorted into Slytherin? I thought of my family, their disappointment… I couldn't do that to them.
"Gryffindor!" The hat shouted. I smiled hugely as they clapped, and I ran down to the Gryffindor table, my hands wet with sweat. In the brief second that I scanned the crowd, I could have sworn I saw disappointment in Draco's eyes. I dismissed the thought quickly. Like he said. We were against the rules. I would have to make do with only the memories of how we used to be.