The Muggle Born Princess ――― Draco Malfoy

There it was, the bustling train station. Alexandra stared at the crinkled paper in her hands. She gazed up from the paper, looking for the platform numbers. Eight, nine, ten… yet there was no nine and three quarters. Her eyes fell back on the paper.

𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖙𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖒 9 ¾

She looked around once again. Nothing. She sighed softly, was this another stupid prank being played on her by the kids at the orphanage? No, it couldn’t possibly. They were too young and too stupid to plan something as elaborate as this. Perhaps it was the Headmaster, maybe they were sick of her and had kicked her out.

Alexandra was tired of carrying around the false hope that she would be able to find a place that she could finally call home. It was like this heartache was eating away at her. It hurt, it did, it hurt so much.

A singular tear rolled down her cheeks which she immediately brushed away, inhaling a deep breath and holding it as she tried to keep the rest of the tears at bay, but the sobs escaped anyway.

Alexandra was startled as she felt a hand graze her shoulder. She stood up and brushed away her tears furiously. Her eyes red as she stared up at an older woman, surrounded by her family, and they were giving her this look of pity that she so desperately hated.

“Lost, are we? There, there dearie, no need to cry.” Alexandra sniffled at the words of the woman, wiping her nose on the back of her arm.

Alexandra’s voice was dry and croaky as she spoke, “I’m trying to find um, platform nine and three quarters? I’m so sorry for bothering you, I know I probably sound so stupid.”

The woman looked confused because what Alexandra meant had made total sense to her, poor girl, the woman thought.

“Oh darling, how to get on the platform? Follow me dear, it’s Ron’s first time as well, and you can call me Molly Weasley.”

Alexandra didn’t know what else to do but to follow the mother of the five children next to her. Finally they arrived at a wall in between the ninth and tenth platform. Alexandra gripped her cart as she felt her stomach double over, she still didn’t know how to feel about all of this. So it wasn’t some sick joke they had played?

“Alright, now all you’ve got to do is walk straight through the wall. Best to do it at a bit of a run if you’re nervous. Percy will show you how it’s done. Percy, go ahead.” The oldest looking son of the bunch ran straight through the wall, disappearing into what seemed thin air.

“Wow…” Alexandra muttered as the next three went. Finally mustering up the courage to follow through with it, she closed her eyes and ran through the wall. She didn’t open them until she heard the laughter, voices of a bustling train station.

Her eyes wandered the station and the first thing she saw was all the families, the emotional good-byes, the happy tears and the see-you-soon hugs and the I’m-so-proud-of-you looks. It was too much to bear and it left her feeling so utterly lonely.

But she decided to stay strong. It was going to be fine, she was going to be fine. Alexandra didn’t want to sit around and she entered the train, looking for free compartments. She was already feeling better, and once she had finally found a compartment with a nice looking girl, she rested her head on the window and closed her eyes.

Everything was going to be okay.

…

Alexandra was awakened by the sound of the compartment doors sliding open, and the voice of another 11-year-old witch like her. "Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one."

All three girls shook their heads no and the bushy-brown haired girl looked disappointed. Alexandra offered to help her look for the toad, because she knew she wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep again, and because it was nice to do something nice, right?

The two girls wandered the compartments, and got to their last one, with high hopes, Alexandra slid the compartment door open. There were three boys there, a pale-skinned one with whitish, slicked back, blonde hair and two bulky, heavyset boys that sat beside him like they were his bodyguards.

The three boys gave the two girls a look, and Alexandra realized she had been starting too long. “Um,” she cleared her throat, “have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville’s lost one.” She asked them.

"You mean Longbottom?" the pale skinned boy sneers. Alexandra wrinkles her nose at his already unsettling, yet mysterious aura. "I don't know why he could be so worried about a stupid toad, if I had one I'd be bound to lose it just as quickly!"

His rudeness seemed to hit Alexandra, how could people be so rude when there was absolutely no reason to be?

"Why do you care about the toad anyway? What's your name?"

"Alexandra Collins," she said, her voice laced with bitterness.

"I'm Draco Malfoy," the blond-boy spoke, then pointed to the two boys sitting next to him, he explained, "and they’re Crabbe and Goyle." Alexandra nodded like she cared, when she didn’t, whatsoever.

Then with a displeased look on his face he added, "I wouldn't go around hanging with traitors like her." He pointed to Hermione.

"And what's wrong with Hermione?" Alexandra asked, gritting her teeth.

"A filthy mudblood, that's what she is." She rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Don't speak to her like that, the only person in this room who seems filthy is you." She spat.

"Why are you so defensive of her? Don't tell me you're the same, Collins." Draco replies with a coy smirk on his face. “A mudblood.”

"Oh, I might as well be, but how does it in any shape or form matter to you?"

"Purebloods are superior, anyone who goes around associating themselves with muggles or mudbloods are disgraces to the wizarding world."

"So you consider yourself a disgrace?" Alexandra smirked.

"Of course not, why would I?" Draco asked, not realizing her ploy.

"You're associating yourself with me."

"What?” His voice was low, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion, until it clicked.

"You said it yourself, Malfoy, ‘anyone who goes around associating themselves with muggles or mudbloods are disgraces to the wizarding world' I'm muggle-born, and you’re talking to me, you're a disgrace to your family, Malfoy." Alexandra smirked.

Draco looked at the young-witch who had left him completely dumbfounded. His mouth agape, but before he could say anything else that pissed Alexandra off, she left their compartment, feeling awfully proud of herself for standing up for herself and who she hoped was her friend.

"That was extraordinary, no one's ever stood up for me like that before." Hermione thanked Alexandra for her outburst. Alexandra smiled.

"You're welcome, Hermione, it felt good to put him in his place, I hate people like him,” she muttered, “people who think they’re so much greater than others. I hate them.”

…

The train had finally arrived at Hogsmeade station.

A loud, booming voice called out to the students. "C’mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs’ years follow me!" They all scurried over to the half-giant man named Hagrid. As they followed him, they slipped and stumbled over their own steps and the gravel beneath them. Hagrid led them through a steep, narrow path, covered with lush forestry.

The seemingly narrow path soon opened up to the edge of a large, black river, it looked clearer than glass. It seemed almost unreal to Alexandra, its beauty was unmatched.

Her eyes traveled up from the great lake and to the huge castle that was perched upon a mountain. Hogwarts, that was Hogwarts. It was so unnaturally beautiful. Its windows sparkled in the starlit night sky, it was vast, covered with many turrets and towers. She was amazed by its glory.

"No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Everybody got into a boat. Alexandra sat with Hermione and Neville- the boy who had lost his toad- and sadly, her boat was right next to Malfoy’s, who was burning holes into the back of her head with his glare.

"Right then — FORWARD!" Hagrid commanded as everybody had found a boat. The boats moved forward, gliding across the glassy lake.

“Heads down!” yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. The ride went by faster than anybody could have expected, and they were a bit shaken when the boats docked.

Alexandra brushed away the invisible creases on her robes as she got up from the boat. They followed Hagrid as he lit up the path with the lamp in his hands, they walked along the damp grass to then a stone pathway in the castle's shadow. Hagrid told the students to wait as he walked up the stairs to a huge, oak door. He knocked on the door three times.

It was silent for a moment before the door swung open, a tall, stern looking professor led them inside. The inside of the castle was more fascinating than the outside.

The halls were so wide you could fit at least a thousand kids at once, the stone walls were lit with flaming torches, just like the ones they had seen at Gringotts and there were marble staircases to one side leading them up to the upper floors. The students followed the professor across the flagged, stone wall and to an empty chamber where they all crowded around one another.

"Welcome to Hogwarts,” stated Professor McGonagall. “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.

You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." She finished her long speech. The students nodded, absorbing all the words excitedly.

“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.” The professor exited the room, and light chatter took the place of her presence. And, Neville had also found his toad, finally giddy.

"I'm sort of nervous, you know?" Hermione said, looking at Alexandra.

"Why?" Alexandra asked, if Hermione was nervous…then…

"Well I don’t want to be sorted into a bad house. I’m hoping for Gryffindor, it seems like the best house, though Ravenclaw wouldn’t be much of a disappointment either." Hermione told Alexandra, who just nodded along with her, but their conversation was cut short by some commotion going on next to them.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," Alexandra turned to see Malfoy from the train ride, she groaned, but thankfully he hadn’t seen her yet. "This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." The girls saw Ron snickering.

"Think my name's funny, do you? I've no need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley." Draco spoke to Ron, glaring at him, then turned to Harry, "you'll soon find that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

Alexandra rolled her eyes at Draco’s behavior, it was so insanely childish. Thankfully, Harry refused Draco's offer."I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks." Draco glared.

The tension between them was so thick you could practically cut it with a knife. It was only their first day and these two had already gone and made enemies with one another. Wonderful, wasn’t it?

Draco walked away angrily, all eyes on this humiliating attempt at friendship and something inside Alexandra felt bad for him until she remembered the train ride. She couldn’t get upset over someone as prejudicial and disrespectful as him.

"We're ready for you now. Follow me."Professor McGonagall announced from the doorway, the first years arranged themselves into a line and followed the professor, once again.

…

They walked out of the small chamber, back across the hall, and through two huge double-doors into the Great Hall. It was beyond anyone's greatest imagination. It was bizarre how a single room could capture so much beauty. It was splendid, really. It was lit by a thousand floating candles that gave the room its golden glow, and there were four long tables, each representing their houses. The tables were decorated by glittering, golden plates and goblets. There was another table up front where the professors sat.

Professor McGonagall led them up to where a hat sat on a stool. The rest of the students looked like pale lanterns among the candlelight, and dotted here and there between them were the ghosts, which shone a misty silver.

Alexandra’s eyes wandered up to the ceiling to see an alluring, velvet sky dotted with hundreds of stars. It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn’t simply open into the heavens. "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." Hermione spoke softly to Alexandra, causing her to look back down, and focus somewhere else.

The hat upon the stool looked like it had been patched many times and it was frayed, looking extremely dirty.

All right, will you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words.

“I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce. The first years, please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you.” A shiver ran down Alexandra’s spine, and she did not have a good feeling about his words.

And before she could think about anything else, the sorting hat began to sing! Sing!

“Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry,

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin,

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means,

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!”

Everyone clapped as the sorting hat bowed to all four tables.

“When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Hermione Granger.” Professor McGonagall announced when the hat finished its performance. “Ah, right then... hmm... right. Okay. Gryffindor!”

“Draco Malfoy.”

“Slytherin!”

“Susan Bones.”

“Let's see... I know! Hufflepuff!”

“Ronald Weasley.”

“Ha! Another Weasley. I know just what to do with you. Gryffindor!”

“Harry Potter.”

“Well, if you're sure. Better be... GRYFFINDOR!”

“Alexandra Collins.” Alexandra scurried over to the hat, placing it on her head, and after a moment of awkward silence, it finally yelled out, “I have a good feeling about this one, SLYTHERIN!”

Alexandra gawked at what the sorting hat had said, but she didn’t dare question it. She walked over to the Slytherin table, and everyone seemed to be quiet and extremely confused, it was so very rare that a muggle-born would ever become sorted into Slytherin.

The very first thing that Alexandra heard when she sat down was, “A mudblood in Slytherin? How could that be?” and she knew it was going to be, and extremely, extremely long year.