My eyes befell upon the castle. It was still distant, but no less beautiful. They locked and lingered upon it for a moment, before I heard a familiar voice addressing me.
"It's gorgeous, isn't it?" They said. I nodded in agreement before turning to face them politely. My empty blue eyes met his enchanting green ones instantly. He remained silent, as did I. At first I began to panic that we were having a moment, you know, the romantic ones in movies. Yet, the tension seemed to develop and it was nothing else but awkward.
"How do you get there?" I half whispered, not really caring for a reply. At this moment I was mesmerised by the castle, my face now facing only that. I had never, in my entire life, been to Hogwarts. Although, considering my relationship with Dumbledore, you would have guessed that I had. I hadn't really cared much for it either. I'm certain that I knew it existed, and I had been told that it was a sight to see, but I had never quite built up the anticipation for this moment.
"Well," Harry cleared his throat awkwardly, and stood by my side, "I'm not quite sure how you get there. You see, the first years usually take the boats with Hagrid but the elder years go by carriage".
"By carriage?" I asked, intrigued by the unfamiliarity of the situation, "like a fairytale carriage, with horses?" I wasn't sure why I asked. Perhaps it was simply because it all just seemed like a huge fairytale to me. Nevertheless, Harry laughed at my childish behaviour and lack of knowledge- in a friendly manner, of course- before taking a step before me and offering his hand.
"I'm not so sure I'm supposed to do this, but hey! Come with me and I'll show you," He smiled at me, and I couldn't seem to refuse his offer; I placed my petite hand in his larger one. For a moment, he stopped and simply stared at me. My angst built and I couldn't help but wonder why he seemed to always act in such a peculiar manner. Yet, his stillness didn't last long and he soon began to move forward, pulling me with him.
I allowed my eyes to dance with the passing surroundings; there was so much to see. It was loud, so brutally loud. Upon my left was a man who was so tall, I immediately assumed him to be a giant (or at least half of one). He towered over the contrastingly small first years, who pushed and pulled at each other to get near the front. To the right there was some new faces, but not faces that belonged to any students. They were dressed in robes so mature, I could only guess that they were staff, and they stood to the side, loading a luggage cart with their wands. Then I faced forwards, a good job since I'm prone to falling on my own feet, other than Harry, there was plenty of students whom I didn't know. Some bore crests of emerald, some of ruby, and others of cristine and sapphire, all were as equally intimidating.
Harry approached an empty carriage, and released my hand. My own felt empty, lacking warmth, but I merely blamed it on the ice cold weather. It was below freezing cold. He offered to take my hand luggage, like a gentleman, and politely I accepted. Having put them both on there, mine and his, he climbed upon before holding out his hand to help me up. Why was he being so kind to me? I couldn't help but wonder. I dismissed it. Not everyone has ill intentions, I told myself, shaking the idea away and helping myself up.
It wasn't too long before Hermione hopped on, followed by a slower Ron. Ron, although seemingly rather adorable, seemed to be quite slow at everything really. I had only known him for a few hours and had already noted that. I couldn't help but wonder if it must be a little annoying after a considerable amount of time was spent with him.
"Harry," complained Hermione, drawing my attention once more to my surroundings, "you need to stop wandering off"
There was no reply from Potter.
"It's because he can't stop bloody flirting, that's why," Ron commented.
I felt my face flush a light crimson. Harry was not flirting with me, was he? Even if he was, why did Ron care? It was none of his business, after all.
Unable to prevent myself, I felt the words slip from my lips. "And you cant help but to be a slight git," I commented, smirking quite proud of my retaliation. Ron, however, did not seem so impressed and consequently sheepishly rubbed his neck. Hermione laughed, and I could have sworn that I saw a slight smile crack on Harry's face.
"Slight?" Hermione laughed, giving me a supportive smirk, "you mean a great big one. Say, what are you doing here, Cami?"
"Yeah," mumbled Ron, echoing her defensively, "what are you even doing here?"
I glared at him, before lightly rolling my eyes. "You mean, at this school?" I questioned, rather confused at what she was asking.
"No," she replied, "well, that too. I just meant in this cart. Did Harry lead you here?"
"I did," potter answered for me, one of my pet hates but I let it slide.
Hermione nodded in acknowledgment. I knew what question was coming next. "So," she persisted, "why have you come to Hogwarts?"
I paused a moment. Why had I come to Hogwarts? It was a decision I hadn't really thought about, or had much say in. I guess just because Albus and Sirius wanted me to come, but I couldn't tell that to them. That would attract too much attention.
It seemed that I didn't need to answer because we were soon disrupted. There was a large groan amongst my new friendship group, and the carriage heaved at one side. I didn't need to look ,to know that someone disliked by the trio had joined us. Nevertheless, my curiosity few, and it soon got the better of me. I turned to face the arrival warily.
"Potter," they sneered, before turning to glare at Hermione and Ron, "mud blood and Weasley. Merlin's beard, it's the whole gang. Aren't I just lucky?"
His two larger friends, who had just jumped upon the carriage (and had nearly tipped it) began to chuckle. Although, the one on the left seemed to be more engaged with a chocolate cake than with the conversation. I allowed my eyes to scan the stranger, and after a few seconds realisation washed over me. It was that snooty boy from the train station. It was Draco Malfoy.
"You don't have to stay here, Malfoy," Harry retorted, his emerald eyes locked into a stone cold glare.
"Afraid I do have to, Potter," Malfoy returned, leaning back into the chair cockily, "there's no room elsewhere, but you can walk if you want".
"You have some cheek, Malfoy," Ron butted in, "coming here and speaking to us like that-"
"Oh really, what are you going to do about it?" He retorted, his handsome face morphed into an unattractive sneer.
"Not run and tell daddy, that's for sure". The comment was unexpected, and it silenced everyone for a moment I don't think anyone quite expected me to join their conversation; I had been long forgotten, my company invincible next to the trio. However, they soon realised what I had said and all three burst into laughter (even the plumper boy who had come with Malfoy, although I think he had thought it was his cake talking. He seemed to be staring at it quite dreamily).
"Ah, the mud blood tries again," Malfoy retorts, a sad attempt for himself. He doesn't seem to know what else to say. He stares at me, awaiting my response, but soon looks away when he realises that I'm beyond petty arguing.
The trio seemed to have settled, and Ron is quick to block out Draco and continue the conversation.
"So, go on then," he pesters me, "why have you come to Hogwarts? It's a bit late to be starting, ain't it?"
Not quite expecting that question to arise again, I have nothing to immediately say. Instead, I look up and around in search of some answers.
"I don't know," I replied truthfully, "I guess I just wasn't settled where I was. It wasn't really my choice".
"Poor you," comforts Hermione, "what school have you moved from?". I almost instantly panic. What school did I come from? Do I admit that I was home schooled? Would that be weird? Draco seems drawn into the conversation, curious to hear the answer to my interrogation, and I feel my heart rate quicken.
"Beauxbatons," I lie, before realising my stupidity. I expect the trio to laugh, or point out my lie, but they say nothing and not acceptingly.
"That would explain a lot," Ron explains to himself.
"What do you mean?" I ask him, using all my energy to refrain from laughing.
"You're blonde and new, plus you have a strange accent" he states the obvious and I desperately attempt to not cringe.
More to the point, since when did I have a weird accent? How? I've lived in London for as long as I could remember. Nevertheless, I nod and encourage his theories. Whatever, as long as he believes my lies.
I look around at the scenery, since the carriage has started moving. I've never really spent so much time in the countryside before. In fact, I never really left central London. The sky is a beauteous mix of white and grey. The wind blow gently, but bitterly, and the trees hum from its movement. There are so many colours here, it's so exotic yet so familiar. It feels like a dream.
I turn once more to face those in the carriage, and catch Draco looking at me. My eyes lock on his grey ones, but they do not move uncomfortably. He does not seem bothered have caught him. No, instead he smirks, but his time it's a different smirk. It's not cocky or snooty, it's mischievous. It's a smirk that implies to me that he's not as easily bought as Ron, and he sees through my lies. I mentally roll my eyes, but do not move my physical ones; I will not look weak or intimidated. Instead I scrunch my face into an expression that says: try me.
The carriage pulls to a stop, and everyone is quick to stand. They're probably tired and are simply eager to get some food before bed. It's been a long day. We all climb out, Malfoy first since he seems to think that he's a priority, and everyone moves forward without me. I exhale a small, weak sigh. Of course, why would they remember me? I'm pretty insignificant to them.
Picking my bag up, from where I had thrown it, I turn to make my own way towards the castle. I don't exactly need them anyway, it's scarcely a journey.
Yet, instead of stepping forward into air, I find myself hitting something hard and muscular. Rubbing my head, I move backwards to eye the blockade, and shock floods me when I see that that it is Malfoy. How was he still here? I could have sworn that he had exited way earlier with his lackeys.
"Move, Malfoy," I demand, placing my free hand on my hip. I attempt at looking intimidating, but he doesn't seem too bothered. In fact, he looks amused. He clutched his chest mockingly, and pretends that I have hurt his feelings.
"Who has no manners now, hm?" He throws my earlier, train station, comment in my face.
I shake my head, no. I'm going to ignore him. I attempt to step around him but he moves in my way again, he is not to be beaten.
"What do you want?" I hiss defeated, attempting to cross my arms with my hand luggage in my right hand, "seriously?!"
He smirks, seeing that he has drawn out a reaction. "I just wanted to say," he continues, his excitement growing as his taunting goes on, "that you're an awful liar".
"I don't know what you're going on about," I shrug, pushing down my rising panic. I ensure I keep on my biggest poker face.
"No?"
"No".
"I don't appreciate being lied to, Cami," he adds.
"It's a good job I'm not lying then, isn't it, Malfoy?"
"Okay," he states emotionlessly but his eyes gleam, "I bet you can't wait to reunite with your Beauxbaton friends then, hm?"
I pause dead in my tracks, my what now?
"I'm excited for you. Maybe you can introduce me to them," he says charmingly, before pulling an obvious fake smile and walking off.
Oh no.