p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"I simply couldn`t wait till Saturday once I had finished the chapter. Here you go, one day early! (I mean, I guess it is Saturday somewhere in the world.) We`re breaking ten thousand words! Enjoy the chapter!/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Chapter 9: Train Ride/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha pushed her luggage trolley across the station. Arnold had wanted to come with her, but she had forbidden it. She would make her entrance alone. King`s Cross station was busy, and nobody had paid her much heed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"No one, that is, until.../p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hey missy!" a rough voice called. Four men - Muggles, by the looks of them - confronted her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had slipped into a back passageway to avoid the crowds. It no longer seemed like such a wise idea./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Why don`t we help you with your luggage there, little lady?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I do not need your help."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was not one to trifle with./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It is in your best interests to leave me alone."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, it is?" The four men laughed raucously. "We will help you, and no one else will."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"One of them grabbed at the handle of her luggage cart./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I have given you a chance to draw out. Since you have refused my offer, may the consequences be on your own heads."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The men laughed more./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her eyes narrowed. They deserved their fate./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She leaped into the air./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The first man she felled with a kick to the crotch, while the next had his face pounded while his legs were swept from underneath him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her rigorous martial arts training regime that lasted two hours and had occurred literally every day for the past three years and gotten progressively more difficult had truly paid off. She had great talent for it, and the agility it and her gymnastics gave her were to be envied./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When the third man threw a haymaker at her, she easily ducked and gave him a sharp slash to the windpipe as she pushed off his chest to launch herself at the last man. He stood no more chance than any of his comrades had. She utilized her momentum to swing around his head before knocking him face first into the ground with all her weight, breaking his nose and rendering him unconscious./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"All this happened in a moment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She saw someone else coming at a run./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry and James were walking down an out-of-the-way corridor in King`s Cross station when they heard something. They sped up a little./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They rounded a corner./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"What they saw made them pick up their pace even more. A little slip of a girl pushing a luggage trolley that had an owl on it was surrounded by four ill-faced men./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It looked like they were threatening her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly, the small girl leapt into action. Within ten seconds, as they ran towards her, all four men were lying on the ground in various states of consciousness./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They didn`t stop running towards her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She saw them running and must have assumed they meant her harm, for she left her trolley behind and started running towards them at an extraordinarily high speed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Stop!" James cried. "We mean you no harm. We were merely running to come make sure you were alright./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The girl stopped./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had mousy brown hair and hazel eyes - in other words, nothing to write home about. But something about her drew Harry towards her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Are you going to Hogwarts? I see your owl. What is your name?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""My name is Samantha, and yes, I am going to Hogwarts. Although it would be awkward for you if I wasn`t."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry glanced at his father when he saw him move uneasily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I`m Harry Potter, by the way."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I`ve heard of you, I think. What did you do again? Defeat a Dark Lord or something? Nah, it's no big deal."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"At Samantha`s statement, Harry stared in shock for a moment before bursting into laughter./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Where are your parents, Samantha?" Asked James, a strange expression on his face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, I don`t need them, as you saw. They brought me to King`s Cross station and dropped me off. I am well able to take care of myself."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Well, we must be going," James said abruptly as the clock struck quarter to eleven./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The three of them walked on in silence, emerging onto Platform 9 3/4./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha kept walking as James pulled Harry aside./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I don`t want you to associate with her, alright?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Why not? And anyway, with fighting skills like that, she`s got to be sorted into Gryffindor, so it will be hard."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Just stay away from her, alright? I love you, son. Have a good time at Hogwarts."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And with that, James walked rapidly away without a backward glance, a preoccupied expression on his face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What is going on?" He asked, more to himself then to anyone else./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I don`t know, but come sit with me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry looked up to see Samantha coming back for him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was silent as two competing forces warred in his brain. Should he go?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I would like to share a compartment with you," Samantha repeated./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Alright." There was nothing the matter with her!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily moved quickly onto the platform, wending her way around many others, paying them no heed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her goal was to get onto the train sooner rather than later. She wanted to claim a compartment for herself, as it would give her the upper hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"After her surprise adoption, things had been quite interesting./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had several goals for the train ride, but thankfully there were many hours to accomplish them in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"After she claimed her compartment, she waited until the train was underway to move on./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her godfather - now, her adopted father - had told her how he and Marlene had managed, with the aid of many ancient books on Mind Arts from the Black Family Library, to undo the memory and compulsion charms upon him that prevented him from remembering the existence of the other three Potter siblings. He had also told her how they had offered to undo the charms on James, but he had refused to allow them to mess with his mind. Albus Dumbledore was a lousy ****./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now, she knew of all her siblings. She intended to meet them all on the train, as well as Draco Malfoy, who was now her cousin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"First Target: Draco Malfoy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She soon found him, after inquiring as to his whereabouts in several compartments./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hello, Heir Malfoy," she said politely as she opened the compartment door. "I am Heir Black."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She extended her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Pardon me, but who are you to lay claim to the prestigious title of Heir Black?" he inquired./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He did not take her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I, Heir Malfoy, am Lily Dorea Potter-Black."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She did not retract her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Sirius had told her that he might react like this, as he believed that he had the greatest claim to that title, with Sirius` children dead./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Pleased to meet you, Heir Black." He forced a cold smile to his lips. "May we have many more meetings in the future."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He kissed the back of her knuckles. No one could say she was not a striking sight, with her flaming red hair and vivid green eyes, dressed in robes that befitted a member of the House Black. She was the image of her mother./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"" I must ask: do you intend to continue the ancient House Black tradition and be Sorted into Slytherin, or do you intend to follow in your father`s footsteps and get Sorted into Gryffindor?" He curled his lip as he said the last word./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I have no wish to go into the house of lion-hearted idiots," she replied frostily. "Slytherin is where I wish to be."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Then we very well may get along."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Farewell," she said as she exited the compartment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Next Target: Harry or Samantha Potter./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry Potter was easily found./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was surrounded with admirers from similarly Light families./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Greetings, Heir Potter. I am Heir Black." She extended her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What? How?" He stuttered. "I thought all of the Blacks of this generation were dead."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He realized his error too late./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That is a singularly cold way to put it, especially considering that the reason they died was association with emyou/em."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I apologize. But how?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I, Heir Potter, am Lily Dorea Potter-Black."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He stared at her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""In other words, I am your long-lost abandoned sister."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"This time everyone stared at her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Have you no other greetings for me?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He finally reacted./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You lie!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She flicked her wrist and her wand appeared in her hand as he did likewise./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Everyone scattered - except for one person. A small mousy brown-haired girl remained seated, watching with interest. That must be Samantha!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Well, she would put on a show for her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She drew on the power deep inside her and produced a Protego as he shot a jelly-legs jinx, followed by a stunner. He appeared shocked when she successfully blocked these but blocked her spells with an ease that bespoke experience./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had a feeling she might be outmatched, but his next move confirmed it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He fired a small blasting curse, followed by a shield breaking hex and a trio of stunners!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her shield absorbed the blasting curse, but the shield breaking hex caused it to shatter. One of the stunners missed her, but the other two impacted as she saw black./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha watched the duel with interest. They weren`t terrible, but she knew she could defeat them at the same time if she needed to without drawing on her strange stormy abilities./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When the girl who claimed to be Harry`s sister was laid low to a trio of stunners, Harry turned to her, panting./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That was something, wasn`t it? I beat that upstart and showed her what a real Potter fights like."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I guess."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A prefect came running into the compartment, followed by several of those who had been displaced by the fight./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What is going on here?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Nothing now," Harry said, "She`s unconscious, that's all."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And how did she get that way?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I stunned her."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I will be reporting your conduct to whomever your head of house turns out to be."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The prefect turned and left, levitating the girl along with her with some effort./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The rest of Harry`s entourage trailed back in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"At that, knowing that there would be countless praises of Harry Potter from now on, Samantha left the compartment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now, to find somewhere else to sit./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco was sitting with another muggleborn named Justin Finch-Fletchley and having pleasant conversation. As they were talking, a girl came in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was nondescript and average looking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""May I sit here?" she asked. "My name is Samantha Taylor."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What happened to the compartment that you were in?" Asked Justin, curious./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It got monotonous."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You're welcome to sit here," Marco said. "Are you a muggleborn like us?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I might be," she said. "I'm adopted, so it is entirely possible I am from a magical family."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Interesting," said Marco. "I'm adopted as well, so I suppose the same could be true for me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha turned out to be very knowledgeable./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She knew way more than he did, which was interesting when you considered the fact that both of them were at least muggle raised, if not muggleborn, and had equal opportunity in theory./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The three of them agreed to stay in touch, even if they were Sorted into different Houses./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Us muggleborns have to stick together," Justin said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Let's make a non-binding magical vow to help each other," Samantha said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What do we need to do?" asked Marco./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We simply need to touch our wand tips together and recite some words."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They all agreed, pulling their wands out./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Just then, somebody came into their compartment - without knocking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was about to say something, but when she saw they had their wands out she paused./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It is considered polite to knock before you enter a room," Samantha said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Are you about to do magic?" the girl asked, ignoring Samantha`s comment. "Let`s see what you`ve got."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excuse me," Samantha said, "but we were in the middle of a private conversation. And as it pertains to muggleborns, you are not welcome."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The girl, indignant, was about to reply when two good looking boys stepped into the compartment. Without knocking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""With manners like that she`s got to be a muggleborn," one of them said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Umm... You just did the same thing..." Marco said, but nobody heard him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Does nobody in the Wizarding World have any manners?" asked Samantha. "Didn`t your parents teach you any?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, they did;" said the darker skinned of the two. "They stuffed our heads so full of manners that our heads imploded and every single bit of knowledge regarding manners was wiped from them. By the way, I am Blaise Zabini, Heir to House Zabini."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And I am Theodore Nott, Heir to House Nott," the other boy said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Well met, Heir Zabini, Heir Nott;" Samantha said. "My name is Samantha Taylor, a muggleborn."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Are you sure?" asked Nott. "You don`t act like one."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""No, I am adopted and muggle-raised. There is a decent chance I am the kid of a squib."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Where did you learn Pureblood Courtesy?" asked Zabini./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""A Squib who lived nearby taught me when I found out I was a witch."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excellent! May I call you Samantha?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""If I may call you Blaise. The same goes for Heir Nott, of course."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I suppose," Theodore said, shrugging. "But I prefer to go by Theo."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The rest of the people in the compartment were staring at the three./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We will be taking our leave then," Blaise said into an awkward silence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The two boys left the compartment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"As if the boys had never entered, the girl asked, "So what magic were you about to do? I`m Hermione Granger, a muggleborn, so I qualify for whatever it is."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We were about to perform a non-binding magical vow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What good is a magical vow if its non-binding? I didn`t know that was even a thing. What were you going to do it about?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""About helping each other out, because we were all muggleborns without familiarity with the culture," Justin said. "But I`m no longer so sure that Samantha should be doing it with us."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco was shocked. "It was Samantha`s idea in the first place! And since she knows so much, she can help us," he protested./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I think this is a terrible idea, and I am certainly not participating," Hermione said. "I don`t need her help."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We didn`t ask if you wanted to do it with us," Samantha snapped. All of a sudden, she changed the subject. "What House does everybody think they are going to be in? I think I`m going to be in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ugh! Why would you want to be in Slytherin?" Hermione asked. "Ravenclaw sounds alright, but Gryffindor is where I want to Dumbledore, the current Headmaster was in Gryffindor! All of the Slytherins are sneaky rude purebloods. But I guess you might fit in that category," she added./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Remind me about the Houses again?" Justin asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco thought that would be useful as well, so for the next fifteen minutes the two girls argued and debated their way through explaining the four Houses of Hogwarts./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Before too long, the train pulled to a stop./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Time for Hogwarts!" Marco cheered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Once again, we have the longest chapter yet in the story! This is also my favorite chapter yet. If all goes according to plan, next Saturday you will meet Snape and Dumbledore POVs in Chapter 10 - The Feast!/span/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Chapter 9: Train Ride/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha pushed her luggage trolley across the station. Arnold had wanted to come with her, but she had forbidden it. She would make her entrance alone. King`s Cross station was busy, and nobody had paid her much heed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"No one, that is, until.../p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hey missy!" a rough voice called. Four men - Muggles, by the looks of them - confronted her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had slipped into a back passageway to avoid the crowds. It no longer seemed like such a wise idea./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Why don`t we help you with your luggage there, little lady?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I do not need your help."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was not one to trifle with./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It is in your best interests to leave me alone."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, it is?" The four men laughed raucously. "We will help you, and no one else will."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"One of them grabbed at the handle of her luggage cart./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I have given you a chance to draw out. Since you have refused my offer, may the consequences be on your own heads."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The men laughed more./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her eyes narrowed. They deserved their fate./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She leaped into the air./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The first man she felled with a kick to the crotch, while the next had his face pounded while his legs were swept from underneath him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her rigorous martial arts training regime that lasted two hours and had occurred literally every day for the past three years and gotten progressively more difficult had truly paid off. She had great talent for it, and the agility it and her gymnastics gave her were to be envied./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When the third man threw a haymaker at her, she easily ducked and gave him a sharp slash to the windpipe as she pushed off his chest to launch herself at the last man. He stood no more chance than any of his comrades had. She utilized her momentum to swing around his head before knocking him face first into the ground with all her weight, breaking his nose and rendering him unconscious./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"All this happened in a moment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She saw someone else coming at a run./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry and James were walking down an out-of-the-way corridor in King`s Cross station when they heard something. They sped up a little./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They rounded a corner./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"What they saw made them pick up their pace even more. A little slip of a girl pushing a luggage trolley that had an owl on it was surrounded by four ill-faced men./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"It looked like they were threatening her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Suddenly, the small girl leapt into action. Within ten seconds, as they ran towards her, all four men were lying on the ground in various states of consciousness./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They didn`t stop running towards her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She saw them running and must have assumed they meant her harm, for she left her trolley behind and started running towards them at an extraordinarily high speed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Stop!" James cried. "We mean you no harm. We were merely running to come make sure you were alright./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The girl stopped./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had mousy brown hair and hazel eyes - in other words, nothing to write home about. But something about her drew Harry towards her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Are you going to Hogwarts? I see your owl. What is your name?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""My name is Samantha, and yes, I am going to Hogwarts. Although it would be awkward for you if I wasn`t."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry glanced at his father when he saw him move uneasily./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I`m Harry Potter, by the way."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I`ve heard of you, I think. What did you do again? Defeat a Dark Lord or something? Nah, it's no big deal."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"At Samantha`s statement, Harry stared in shock for a moment before bursting into laughter./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Where are your parents, Samantha?" Asked James, a strange expression on his face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, I don`t need them, as you saw. They brought me to King`s Cross station and dropped me off. I am well able to take care of myself."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Well, we must be going," James said abruptly as the clock struck quarter to eleven./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The three of them walked on in silence, emerging onto Platform 9 3/4./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha kept walking as James pulled Harry aside./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I don`t want you to associate with her, alright?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Why not? And anyway, with fighting skills like that, she`s got to be sorted into Gryffindor, so it will be hard."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Just stay away from her, alright? I love you, son. Have a good time at Hogwarts."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"And with that, James walked rapidly away without a backward glance, a preoccupied expression on his face./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What is going on?" He asked, more to himself then to anyone else./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"I don`t know, but come sit with me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry looked up to see Samantha coming back for him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was silent as two competing forces warred in his brain. Should he go?/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I would like to share a compartment with you," Samantha repeated./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Alright." There was nothing the matter with her!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Lily moved quickly onto the platform, wending her way around many others, paying them no heed./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her goal was to get onto the train sooner rather than later. She wanted to claim a compartment for herself, as it would give her the upper hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"After her surprise adoption, things had been quite interesting./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had several goals for the train ride, but thankfully there were many hours to accomplish them in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"After she claimed her compartment, she waited until the train was underway to move on./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her godfather - now, her adopted father - had told her how he and Marlene had managed, with the aid of many ancient books on Mind Arts from the Black Family Library, to undo the memory and compulsion charms upon him that prevented him from remembering the existence of the other three Potter siblings. He had also told her how they had offered to undo the charms on James, but he had refused to allow them to mess with his mind. Albus Dumbledore was a lousy ****./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now, she knew of all her siblings. She intended to meet them all on the train, as well as Draco Malfoy, who was now her cousin./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"First Target: Draco Malfoy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She soon found him, after inquiring as to his whereabouts in several compartments./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Hello, Heir Malfoy," she said politely as she opened the compartment door. "I am Heir Black."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She extended her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Pardon me, but who are you to lay claim to the prestigious title of Heir Black?" he inquired./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He did not take her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I, Heir Malfoy, am Lily Dorea Potter-Black."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She did not retract her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Sirius had told her that he might react like this, as he believed that he had the greatest claim to that title, with Sirius` children dead./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Pleased to meet you, Heir Black." He forced a cold smile to his lips. "May we have many more meetings in the future."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He kissed the back of her knuckles. No one could say she was not a striking sight, with her flaming red hair and vivid green eyes, dressed in robes that befitted a member of the House Black. She was the image of her mother./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"" I must ask: do you intend to continue the ancient House Black tradition and be Sorted into Slytherin, or do you intend to follow in your father`s footsteps and get Sorted into Gryffindor?" He curled his lip as he said the last word./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I have no wish to go into the house of lion-hearted idiots," she replied frostily. "Slytherin is where I wish to be."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Then we very well may get along."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Farewell," she said as she exited the compartment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Next Target: Harry or Samantha Potter./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Harry Potter was easily found./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He was surrounded with admirers from similarly Light families./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Greetings, Heir Potter. I am Heir Black." She extended her hand./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What? How?" He stuttered. "I thought all of the Blacks of this generation were dead."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He realized his error too late./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That is a singularly cold way to put it, especially considering that the reason they died was association with emyou/em."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I apologize. But how?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I, Heir Potter, am Lily Dorea Potter-Black."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He stared at her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""In other words, I am your long-lost abandoned sister."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"This time everyone stared at her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Have you no other greetings for me?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He finally reacted./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You lie!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She flicked her wrist and her wand appeared in her hand as he did likewise./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Everyone scattered - except for one person. A small mousy brown-haired girl remained seated, watching with interest. That must be Samantha!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Well, she would put on a show for her./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She drew on the power deep inside her and produced a Protego as he shot a jelly-legs jinx, followed by a stunner. He appeared shocked when she successfully blocked these but blocked her spells with an ease that bespoke experience./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She had a feeling she might be outmatched, but his next move confirmed it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"He fired a small blasting curse, followed by a shield breaking hex and a trio of stunners!/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Her shield absorbed the blasting curse, but the shield breaking hex caused it to shatter. One of the stunners missed her, but the other two impacted as she saw black./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha watched the duel with interest. They weren`t terrible, but she knew she could defeat them at the same time if she needed to without drawing on her strange stormy abilities./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"When the girl who claimed to be Harry`s sister was laid low to a trio of stunners, Harry turned to her, panting./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""That was something, wasn`t it? I beat that upstart and showed her what a real Potter fights like."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I guess."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"A prefect came running into the compartment, followed by several of those who had been displaced by the fight./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What is going on here?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Nothing now," Harry said, "She`s unconscious, that's all."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And how did she get that way?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I stunned her."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I will be reporting your conduct to whomever your head of house turns out to be."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The prefect turned and left, levitating the girl along with her with some effort./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The rest of Harry`s entourage trailed back in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"At that, knowing that there would be countless praises of Harry Potter from now on, Samantha left the compartment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Now, to find somewhere else to sit./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco was sitting with another muggleborn named Justin Finch-Fletchley and having pleasant conversation. As they were talking, a girl came in./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was nondescript and average looking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""May I sit here?" she asked. "My name is Samantha Taylor."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What happened to the compartment that you were in?" Asked Justin, curious./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It got monotonous."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""You're welcome to sit here," Marco said. "Are you a muggleborn like us?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I might be," she said. "I'm adopted, so it is entirely possible I am from a magical family."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Interesting," said Marco. "I'm adopted as well, so I suppose the same could be true for me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Samantha turned out to be very knowledgeable./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She knew way more than he did, which was interesting when you considered the fact that both of them were at least muggle raised, if not muggleborn, and had equal opportunity in theory./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The three of them agreed to stay in touch, even if they were Sorted into different Houses./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Us muggleborns have to stick together," Justin said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Let's make a non-binding magical vow to help each other," Samantha said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What do we need to do?" asked Marco./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We simply need to touch our wand tips together and recite some words."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"They all agreed, pulling their wands out./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Just then, somebody came into their compartment - without knocking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"She was about to say something, but when she saw they had their wands out she paused./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""It is considered polite to knock before you enter a room," Samantha said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Are you about to do magic?" the girl asked, ignoring Samantha`s comment. "Let`s see what you`ve got."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excuse me," Samantha said, "but we were in the middle of a private conversation. And as it pertains to muggleborns, you are not welcome."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The girl, indignant, was about to reply when two good looking boys stepped into the compartment. Without knocking./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""With manners like that she`s got to be a muggleborn," one of them said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Umm... You just did the same thing..." Marco said, but nobody heard him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Does nobody in the Wizarding World have any manners?" asked Samantha. "Didn`t your parents teach you any?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Oh, they did;" said the darker skinned of the two. "They stuffed our heads so full of manners that our heads imploded and every single bit of knowledge regarding manners was wiped from them. By the way, I am Blaise Zabini, Heir to House Zabini."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""And I am Theodore Nott, Heir to House Nott," the other boy said./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Well met, Heir Zabini, Heir Nott;" Samantha said. "My name is Samantha Taylor, a muggleborn."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Are you sure?" asked Nott. "You don`t act like one."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""No, I am adopted and muggle-raised. There is a decent chance I am the kid of a squib."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Where did you learn Pureblood Courtesy?" asked Zabini./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""A Squib who lived nearby taught me when I found out I was a witch."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Excellent! May I call you Samantha?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""If I may call you Blaise. The same goes for Heir Nott, of course."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I suppose," Theodore said, shrugging. "But I prefer to go by Theo."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The rest of the people in the compartment were staring at the three./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We will be taking our leave then," Blaise said into an awkward silence./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"The two boys left the compartment./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"As if the boys had never entered, the girl asked, "So what magic were you about to do? I`m Hermione Granger, a muggleborn, so I qualify for whatever it is."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We were about to perform a non-binding magical vow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""What good is a magical vow if its non-binding? I didn`t know that was even a thing. What were you going to do it about?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""About helping each other out, because we were all muggleborns without familiarity with the culture," Justin said. "But I`m no longer so sure that Samantha should be doing it with us."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco was shocked. "It was Samantha`s idea in the first place! And since she knows so much, she can help us," he protested./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""I think this is a terrible idea, and I am certainly not participating," Hermione said. "I don`t need her help."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""We didn`t ask if you wanted to do it with us," Samantha snapped. All of a sudden, she changed the subject. "What House does everybody think they are going to be in? I think I`m going to be in either Ravenclaw or Slytherin."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Ugh! Why would you want to be in Slytherin?" Hermione asked. "Ravenclaw sounds alright, but Gryffindor is where I want to Dumbledore, the current Headmaster was in Gryffindor! All of the Slytherins are sneaky rude purebloods. But I guess you might fit in that category," she added./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Remind me about the Houses again?" Justin asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Marco thought that would be useful as well, so for the next fifteen minutes the two girls argued and debated their way through explaining the four Houses of Hogwarts./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"Before too long, the train pulled to a stop./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;""Time for Hogwarts!" Marco cheered./p
p style="max-height: 999999px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 13px;"span style="font-weight: bold;"Once again, we have the longest chapter yet in the story! This is also my favorite chapter yet. If all goes according to plan, next Saturday you will meet Snape and Dumbledore POVs in Chapter 10 - The Feast!/span/p