A/N: I'm not really sure how this is gonna go. I haven't exactly thought about it. Hopefully this is good. I know it's a little... excuse me ALOT OOC but it's good. I swear. It's not necessarily the most important chapter in the world. But it's not filler. So please please please review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If you can't tell that I'm not JK Rowling then you need to get your eyes fixed cause I can't write to save my life.
Chapter Two
Sorted
Ginny stared at the two of them. Another Malfoy? Since when? No one had said anything about the Malfoy's having two kids, she had heard only of the little ferret. But the girl had seemed somewhat nice. How could she possibly be related to Malfoy? It took Ginny a few moments to figure out how to go about things. Two Malfoys? Really? She still couldn't believe what they had told her.
"What?" Victoria screeched this out. She had had a crush on Malfoy all of last year and she had never known that he had a sister.
"Yes, she is my younger sister. Now stop staring at us like we're some kind of monster." Draco said, moving up to shut the compartment doors. "Now that the door is closed, we can actually talk. I must say that I am sorry for all the things I have said in the past to you and Granger. You were just innocent bystanders in my dislike for your brother. And Potter just needs someone to not like him. It makes him stronger and keeps him on his toes. Now there are somethings you two must know about this next year. The Triwizard Tournament is coming back. And I have a feeling somehow someone's gonna try to mess with Harry. I don't know how, but it's a feeling that it will happen." Draco said nonchalantly looking at Ginny and Victoria.
"Ok, hold up. What are you talking about Malfoy? You're sorry?" Ginny really couldn't comprehend anything that was going on. Cassie knew that there was no way this girl was going to understand what Draco was saying.
"Our parents' views are not shared by Draco or I. He told me this past summer all the things he had said to you and this other girl, and I convinced him to say sorry to you and her. I told him that he needs to stop acting like my parents want him to and to start acting like he wants to." She said calmly, searching for something among her bags. Ginny tried to comprehend all that they were saying. She understood where Malfoy was coming from, but she wasn't sure whether to seriously trust him or not. He seemed like he would do anything for his sister, and she knew that feeling. She grew up with six brothers who would kill anyone who hurt their baby sister. She saw Malfoy watching his sister, and found that she had respect for him. He had a weakness just like everyone else, and he had feelings and looked like he truly meant he was sorry.
Cassie saw Ginny's expression and knew that she was going to forgive her brother. If this Granger girl was smart she would forgive him too. He was intelligent person and in the end it would be better for them to have him on their side. She wanted him to pick a side before something happened. She had heard her father saying something about the rise of the Dark Lord and she didn't want her brother being branded with that disgusting Dark Mark like their father. She may be his little sister but she knew that in the long run, he would thank her eventually from choosing the wrong side. She glanced around and saw Victoria looking dreamily at Draco. While Victoria would be an interesting girlfriend for Draco, Cassie didn't get the right vibes between her and Draco, same with Ginny. She knew neither of those girls would really stick with her brother through all the drama in the family, but there had to be someone at this school who Draco had good chemistry with.
"I can forgive you easily enough. However, 'Mione won't be as easy as me. Though I doubt she'll be as hard as Ron or Harry. She doesn't hate you as much as you think she does. She hates what you call her." Ginny said glancing at her fingernails. Then, right on cue, the compartment door opened for what felt like the umpteenth time. There stood Hermione, who looked exasperated and slightly worried. She glanced around the compartment smiling at Cassie, grinning at Ginny and Victoria, and frowning at Malfoy. She saw that no one had their wand out and everything looked peaceful. She glanced up and down the train hallways then quickly slid into the compartment, closing the door behind her and drawing the shades.
"Your brother and Harry are looking for you." She said quietly before putting some protective charms around the compartment. Mainly a quieting spell so they wouldn't hear if they passed by. Hermione seemed glad to escape from the two of them for a few moments. Ginny recalled a letter where Hermione explained that they were getting on her nerves lately. And they only got worse after the little show at the Quidditch World Cup. Hermione sat down next to Ginny and looked at Cassie, ignoring Malfoy for the time being.
"I'm Hermione Granger. You must be a first year." She said holding out her hand. Cassie took it, exchanging her own name as well. Hermione's eyes widened and looked at Malfoy. Glancing between the two of them, she only barely saw the resemblance. It was the eyes and the pale skin that definitely gave her away. Hermione looked warily at the two Malfoys, slowly sliding away from them. Cassie however noticed this and glared at her brother.
"Are you seriously such a terrible person to people that they are scared when they meet me? This is the fifth person today who's looked at me with fear because of my last name. If you are the reason I don't have any friends there will be hell to pay, Draco." Cassie cried to her brother. He smirked as he watched Granger furrow her brow. Apparently she was expecting this to happen.
"The reason you won't have any friends Cass is cause you're too smart for your own good. You'd probably get along with her, Granger. I swear to Merlin, she's scary smart." He said looking at Hermione with a smile on his face. Hermione was slightly unsure of this very odd show of character. Malfoy had a little sister, and was being nice to Hermione? She was very confused and looked to Ginny for help.
"OH! Draco wants to say something to you Hermione! Then after that we can talk and you can help me prepare for the classes. I don't want to get bad marks my first week of school." Cassie said nudging her brother. Draco sighed and looked away from Hermione.
"Hermione, I'm sorry for the things I've said to you and the way I've treated you since First year. I want you to know that I am truly sorry. I only say the things I do to Potter because he needs to keep on his toes and be on his guard at all times. If the Dark Lord comes back, like my father believes, I don't want to have that terrible mark on my arm. And I truly dislike Weasel. He's annoying and too stupid for his own good. No offense Ginny." Draco said looking up at Ginny. She smiled back at him indicating she agreed with him. Hermione stared at Draco for a bit, contemplating whether she should forgive him or not.
She hadn't actually had that much time to get to know him. When she thought about it, the only time he was ever mean to her was when he was around other people. She had never had alone time with him before. She reasoned that he probably was a pretty ok guy, as long as he wasn't around his Slytherin friends. And that's what worried her.
"Before I do anything like forgiving you or something, I want to know how this will change at school? Will you treat me differently?" She asked, her eyes cautious. Cassie smiled this was better than nothing. And Draco seemed happy that she was at least thinking about it. Ginny smiled, knowing her friend was going about this the smart way. Everyone in the compartment knew that Hermione was really making sure that he would be nice to her, so that she might be able to get him on their side. Hermione wasn't the smartest witch of her age for nothing. She had noticed over the last three years the talent and intelligence within Malfoy. And now that she had a chance to have that power and intelligence on her side, she was going to make sure he would be on her side.
"Yes. I will stop calling you names and I will be nicer to you, I swear. No matter who's around. It's time we stop this blood status shit before it gets out of hand." Draco said roughly, his eyes never leaving Hermione's. For a moment they just stared at each other. Having a silent conversation through their eyes. The air nearly crackled with power and the other girls could feel that a connection deeper than mutual friendship was being made.
"Alright I forgive you. On one condition, however." She said smiling ever so slightly. Draco looked at her, his eyes curious. She seemed like she had a specific plan for this new... friendship? He wasn't sure what they were at this point.
"If Harry and Ron ever get on my nerves, promise me you'll help me get them back. And don't treat them nice. Ever." Hermione said her eyes glinting. She had had enough of their protectiveness and wanted something that they didn't have. Other than good grades. She wanted a friend that wasn't their friend as well. Draco smirked his famous smirk and nodded, hoping she had something in mind. Hermione opened her mouth to start planning a beautiful prank she had in mind, when Ginny interrupted her.
"We're here! Oh! Cassie I really hope you're in Gryffindor!" She exclaimed excitedly as they started gathering her things. Just as Ginny suspected, Draco glowered at her.
"I hope she's in Slytherin. That means I won't have to pay so much attention to her." Draco said glaring Ginny down. For a few moments they glared at each other, battling for their respective houses. Hermione whispered something quietly in Cassie's ear. Whatever it was made Cassie laugh so hard she fell on the floor.
"What nonsense are you putting in her mind, Granger?" Draco said helping Cassie up.
"I told her to be in Hufflepuff." Hermione said simply before walking out of the compartment. Draco and Ginny both stopped in their tracks, while Hermione, Victoria, and Cassie laughed their way out of the compartment. The five of them continued laughing at making jokes all the way out of the train. If anyone noticed the fact that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger were having a pleasant conversation, they didn't stop and stare. As Malfoy said goodbye to Cassie, he joined Hermione, Ginny and Victoria in a horseless buggy that took them to the school. He shut the door behind him hoping Potter and Weasley wouldn't accidentally find their way inside the buggy.
The carriage ride was just as interesting as the train ride. Draco decided he might as well get to know Granger for who she really was, rather than her blood status. Apparently she was scared of flying, and not too fond of Weasley's on and off affection towards her. And apparently, the bushy hair, wasn't her real hair. She did it like that so that she could focus on her school work instead of boys and other things.
Draco was very surprised and had learned alot about his new friends. Ginny disliked Ron because he was definitely not the smartest Weasley. Nor was he the strongest. He seemed to be pretty average all the way around and had a terrible temper. Draco admitted to everyone that his favorite Weasleys were the twins. Everyone agreed. Victoria was apparently a surprised as well. She was not the girly girl Draco had first taken her to be. She was going out of the Ravenclaw quidditch team as Beater and seemed to enjoy something called Horror movies. Hermione explained that it was some Muggle thing that she would explain when we had more time. By the time we got to Hogwarts we didn't know everything about each other, but we definitely knew more.
As they entered the Great Hall, they looked around, glad to be back where they belonged. Hermione took in a deep sigh and breathed the fresh air that entered Hogwarts through the large front doors. She looked at Draco who seemed to be doing the same thing. She half smiled at him, wondering how things had come to be like this. How she had come to be his friend. She thought back on the events of the day, and overall was glad with her decision. It may have been a little rash, but it was a good choice.
She said a quick good bye to Draco and Victoria and walked arm in arm with Ginny to the Gryffindor table. She sat down, and saw Harry and Ron enter shortly after her. They saw her and ran towards her their faces worried and slightly relieved.
"Goodness Hermione! You disappeared on the train and for a moment we thought something had happened to you." Ron said glaring at Hermione. She glared back then looked at Harry, she decided she was going to respond to him seeing as he seemed to be a bit more calm and collected than Ron at the moment.
"I found Ginny and got distracted. I actually met some interesting people today, too. Hopefully one of them will be in our House. To be honest, I think she will be." She said this last part to Ginny who nodded vigorously.
"And with her in our house, and one of our new friends, that means you get to see more of her brother." Ginny said. Hermione knew Ginny was making fun of her. She gasped, then laughed. Ginny knew quite well that Hermione didn't like Draco. But the thought that echoed around in Ginny's head was, she doesn't like him... yet. She could tell, call it intuition, or even foreshadowing, that something was going to go down between the two fourth years.
Ron started to say somethng about what Hermione and Ginny were talking about, probably wondering who they were talking about and whose brother Ginny was insinuating Hermione liked, but was cut off when Dumbledore stepped up to the podium. He said a small speech about House Unity and introduced the Sorting Hat. It sang its song, the usual about House Unity and all that crap and explained the four Houses for the First Years sake. Ginny and Hermione saw Cassie looking at them and they gave her an encouraging thumbs up and smiles. She smiled back, only her eyes showed how worried she was. She knew Hermione had been joking, but she really didn't want to be in Hufflepuff. It was probably a very nice house, filled with amazing people but it wasn't for her. She wanted adventure. But either way she knew she would encounter adventure as long as she remained friends with Hermione and Ginny. There was something about them that screamed of adventure and mystery. And Cassie loved that feeling.
Professor McGonagall started calling names, going through the list alphabetically, and finally she reached the M's. "Cassiopeia Malfoy." The hall rang quiet. Apparently no one knew that Malfoy had a younger sister. Ron and Harry frowned at started whispering to Hermione about how she was gonna go straight to Slytherin like her stupid brother and other rude things like that. But Hermione and Ginny shushed them, and waited anxiously to hear what house she was in. Regardless of the house, they would be her friends, that was for certain. Both girls liked Cassie and was glad that they had met. Hermione felt as if the girl would be miniature her and would be fun to hang around and someone she could talk to about grades and marks finally. Ginny knew that she would be just as dangerous with her wand as Ginny was and would be able to conquer the worst hexes instantly. They wanted her in their house, but they silently agreed that no matter where she went, she would be their friend, and on their side.
The hat seemed to have trouble placing her. It took awhile, and seemed to be talking to her. She smiled happily swinging her legs and looked as if she was having a pleasant conversation with the hat. Suddenly out of nowhere, the hat screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione and Ginny stood instantly screaming and cheering for her. They waved her over and Cassie sat down next to Hermione and Ginny instantly marking her as their territory. Harry and Ron stared at the girl then at Hermione and Ginny. Why were they friends with Malfoy's sister?
Shortly after, the feast began and the three girls bonded some more. Malfoy, Draco that is, even came over to the Gryffindor table much to Harry and Ron's dismay. He congratulated his sister and said hey to Hermione and Ginny before walking back to Slytherin.
As the three girls talked and laughed they knew this year was going to be so much different than the previous years. And probably much better. After dinner was over, and everyone left for their Common Rooms, Hermione, Ginny, and Cassie stayed behind. They had of course waved Draco and Victoria over, and stayed for a while, hanging out. As the five students talked and laughed, they had no idea that they were being watched. From atop the Teacher's Platform, Dumbledore smiled as the five mixed and became their own little group of friends, knowing that House Unity had to start somewhere. And Ron and Harry watched, unsure of how to approach Hermione and Ginny about this. But they both knew one thing, this wasn't going to continue. Hermione and Ginny would not be associating with Malfoy's. Ever.