Where The Beginning Of The End Begun
Chapter 3-
Gloomy. That's exactly what the weather is. Down- right depressing. I mean, sometimes I love when the weather is like this because it's like a reflection of my mood but right now, I just wish the sun was shining.
Leaning my head against the window of the compartment I look out at the rain. I listen as the drops hit the window and I let it calm me. I look around the compartment to see the dour faces of Hermione, Harry and Ron. I can't blame them for not being ecstatic about going back to Hogwarts after what happened at the World Cup but I don't think that they all need to look depressed about it. That is why I wish for the sun to break through the clouds and shine down on all of us, Merlin knows we need it.
I roll my eyes at the moving picture on the copy of the Daily Prophet that Hermione is currently reading. It's the picture of the Dark Mark from the other night. I'm absolutely sick of seeing it. Hermione catches my eye and she folds the newspaper up, putting it down beside her. I silently thank her and she smiles a small smile back at me.
"Anything from the trolley?" I hear outside of the compartment. I look up to see the lady opening the compartment door. "Anything from the trolley, dears?" she asks sweetly. I politely shake my head at her but Ron and Harry get up to get their sweets.
Through the window I see Cho Chang and she catches my eye before awkwardly moving around Harry to put her head into the compartment.
"Magenta," She says in her sweet, Scottish accent. "Adelaide's asked me to tell you that she needs to speak to you, she said it was quite urgent." Cho's sentence ended up sounding a bit like a question at the end.
"Of course it's urgent." I mumble under my breath, earning a look from Hermione. "Thanks Cho." I smile at her as she walks away. I sigh and stand up, brushing myself off.
"Where are you going?" Hermione demands. Ron and Harry give me questioning looks to follow Hermione's question.
"Best not to keep Adelaide waiting. If I'm not back before we stop, come bloody save me." I half growl as I pull back the compartment door and stalk off to where all the Slytherin's sit on the train.
Adelaide Pierce. My lovely, conniving, manipulative cousin. We used to spend a lot of time together when we were younger because our mums are sisters but then they started to drift and I started Hogwarts the year after her. But, as we are in separate houses we do not speak to each other very often. I do love her, I really do. In some ways she's the big sister I never had and she's part of the small amount of family that I have but sometimes she can be…oh how to put this nicely…a total bitch. Not to me personally, but to others, like Hermione and Ron and Harry. She hates them because they are in Gryffindor, they are 'blood traitors' and Hermione is a Mudblood. I only get dragged into it because I stick up for all of them but in the end, Adelaide never completely blames me for anything.
I walk through the Slytherin part of the train, where there are no compartments; just seats, before I finally spot the beautiful brunette sitting with her pompous, arrogant friends. Adelaide, even though only a 5th year, is one of the 'queen bees' of Slytherin house and everyone wants to be her or be with her. Who wouldn't though, with her perfect olive skin, long brown hair, chocolate coloured eyes and amazing body?
Our mums used to say that we could pass for sisters any day but the way I see it she is a goddess and albeit I don't find myself ugly, quite the opposite actually, I am nothing compared to her. We share small resemblances of course like, our eyes and our slightly tanned skin colour but that was just the family genes. Where her hair is straight and light brown, mine is fairly darker and perfectly curled. She's tall, with shapely legs. I on the other hand am quite small and obviously haven't completely grown into myself yet.
"Magenta!" Adelaide calls out as she stands up from her seat. She smiles brightly at me, showing off her perfect teeth before pulling me in for a completely unnecessary hug. I return it with little enthusiasm before she pulls back and puts both hands on my shoulders, looking past me at something. I begin to turn my head to look but she quickly grabs my chin, making me face her again. I look at her with wide eyes, has she gone mad? She shakes her head at me before yanking me back down with her. "Move and let my little cousin sit down." She commands her minions. They immediately part so that I can sit opposite Adelaide, giving me dirty looks in the process, probably disgusted to have a Gryffindor in their presence.
"What is it you want to talk about?" I ask her, wanting to get straight to the point so that I could leave.
"We'll talk about that just as soon as you tell me why Draco Malfoy was staring at you just there." I feel all of the girls' eyes on me as I look at my cousin with confusion written all over my face.
"Me? Are you bloody mad? He was probably just looking at you." I tell her, trying so hard to fight the blush threatening to spread across my cheeks.
"Yeah, why would he be looking at her anyway? She's a Gryffindor." Shauna Simons spits out as if I'm not even here. If looks could kill, Shauna would be dead from the glare Adelaide is sending her.
"Shut up. Just because you're in love with him and he wants absolutely nothing to do with you. I mean, honestly, he's younger than you. It's pathetic." I'm surprised by the harshness of Adelaide's words. Especially because Shauna is one of her best friends and because she's sticking up for me.
Shauna shrinks back into her seat with a huff, acting like a child that has just been scolded.
"Now, honestly tell me, is there something going on between you and Malfoy?" Adelaide asks me with a smirk.
"Of course not. Now hurry up and tell me whatever it is that you have to tell me." I try in vain to get her off of the Malfoy subject.
"Fine. So, as you know, soon enough I will be turning sixteen and I will be hosting a ball," I had completely forgotten about that. It was a tradition in the Blakewood family that whenever a girl turns sixteen she must host an event of some sort. I had promised Adelaide a few years ago that I would help her with it all. "I just wanted to know if you still want to help me?" She asks sweetly.
"Oh of course I want to! I mean, this is going to be a huge deal for you and where would you be without my expert advice?" I giggle at her.
"What? I thought I was going to be the one helping you!" Belinda Carver nearly screams at Adelaide. Adelaide just looks at her, unfazed.
"No. Little Gen here is my cousin; therefore she shall be my right-hand girl." Adelaide tells her bluntly.
"Okay… well, I'm going to head off because I think we're almost there. But thank you for giving me something to look forward to Adelaide." I pull her in for a small hug.
"I can't wait darling." She smiles as I stand up and turn to the aisle. "Oh, but one more thing," She grabs my hand. "Keep me in the loop about you and that gorgeous little Malfoy." She winks at me, letting my hand go as I blush.
"Ah, Blakewood. Just the Gryff I was looking for." I roll my eyes as Blaise heads towards me with something black and fluffy cradled in his arms. "I do believe this belongs to you." He smirks as he gently hands me Binx.
"Well thank you Zabini." I smile as Binx rubs his cheek against mine. "Nice holiday?" I ask, turning my attention back to Blaise.
I like to think that Blaise and I have become some sort of friends over the years. The bond between our mums had gotten stronger and after spending time with him, I realised that he's really not that bad. He is without a doubt my favourite Slytherin, well maybe second favourite if I'm counting Draco. But, Draco and I aren't really friends per say, we're just more of; well…actually I have no idea what we are.
"It was alright I suppose. Yours?"
"Fine, fine. A bit boring really, mum's away in Russia you see, so I was by myself most of the time." I look down at Binx, stroking his fur softly, thinking about my mum. She left half way through the holidays and I've had very little contact with her since.
I look back up when I hear the unmistakeable, annoying voice of Pansy Parkinson.
"Come on Blaise, we're practically there. We need to get back to our seats." She urges him to move as she gives me a nasty glare. I send her one right back but then notice Draco behind her. We make eye contact for a split second before we he looks away.
Pansy moves in front of Blaise so she is standing in front of me. I raise my eyebrow at her expectantly and she gives me a cold look.
"There's no need to be wasting your time talking to filthy little blood-traitors." She spits out as she roughly pushes passed me.
I grit my teeth and resist the urge to pull my wand on her.
"Sorry Blakewood, we'll catch up later, yeah?" Blaise asks giving me a slightly sympathetic look as he walks by me.
"Yeah, sure." I mumble back. I try to walk past Draco to get back to my compartment but he blocks my path and I look up at him, not in the mood for anymore shit.
"I think you should stay away from Pansy." He tells me quietly but sternly. Was he really saying this to me?
"Maybe you should tell your little girlfriend to stay the hell away from me instead." I grit out before roughly pushing him out of the way, walking back through the train, cradling Binx close to my chest.
By the time I get back to the compartment the train has stopped and everyone is trying to get out. I spot Hermione up ahead looking around, probably for me, but decide that I can't actually be bothered calling out to her through the crowds of students so I let her walk off with Ron and Harry whilst I slowly move with everyone else.
"M!" I hear an Irish voice call from behind me. I turn to see Aibhlin O'Malley. She runs to catch up with me before she embraces me in a tight hug. I smile at her and we continue to walk.
Aibhlin and I have been friends all our lives because our families are close. She comes from one of the richest families in Ireland. It wasn't until second year when I realised that Hermione was going to be closer to Ron and Harry, that Aibhlin and I became really close. Aibhlin understands me in a way that Hermione just… doesn't. And it's not at all Hermione's fault, it's just because of Aibhlin and I's background, I suppose. We're just closer. Although I do love Hermione and we will always be best friends.
"Excited for this year?" she asks me as we walk towards the carriages together.
"I suppose so."
I sigh and look at the magnificent castle just up ahead, mentally preparing myself for what is likely to be another eventful year at Hogwarts.