Chapter 1
Finding out I was a witch on my eleventh birthday was probably the weirdest thing to happen to me. That stuff just doesn’t happen in real life. Except it did. I had my birthday party at a park near my house. We’ve been living in England for two years and I was just getting used to it. Then when I come home with all my presents in tow, on the floor just inside the door was an old parchment letter addressed to me.
I looked up at my parents in confusion. I never got mail, especially not mail that said Miss Avery Malone in pretty green pen. But it didn’t really look like pen. Mom and Dad encouraged me to open it, so I did. I had been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It had to have been some kind of joke and a mean one too because what child doesn’t want that to be real?
Apparently, it was real though because by August we were directed to a place called Diagon Alley to get all the things that are required for school including robes, a wand, cauldrons, and a pet. I could pick out what I wanted so I went for a pretty brown owl. I’m sure my parents would have preferred a cat, but I thought I should go all out. Besides, if we don’t have email at the school, I need some way to stay in contact with my parents.
Another month and Mom and Dad were taking me to King’s Cross Station to find a platform 9 3/4. Luckily there were some redheaded kids running straight at a wall between platforms nine and ten. Otherwise, there’s no way we would have made it. Who thinks to run into a wall?
So here we are now, ten minutes to nine and saying goodbye. I’ve never gone to a school like this where you don’t come home every day and I’m scared.
“Everything will be okay, baby,” Mom says pulling me into a tight hug. I can’t speak over my tears so I just nod.
“You better get on the train before it’s too late,” Dad says taking his turn to hug me.
I break the hug and turn to look at the massive scarlet train. Trains are not that uncommon here but this one is bigger than I’ve ever seen.
“Bye. I love you,” I say giving my parents one final wave before stepping up to one of the doors.
A whistle blows loudly making me jump and when I turn to look out the window, the train is slowly moving and before too long my parents are out of sight. There’s a ton of kids sitting around in a car.
“Does the mud-blood miss her mommy and daddy already?”
I turn to find the speaker. It’s a boy with white-blonde hair and a sneer like he thinks he’s funny. I raise an eyebrow and feign ignorance.
“Is that supposed to be an insult or something?” I ask. The boys smile kind of drops.
“Yeah, it means you're a muggle and have dirty blood.”
“As opposed to?”
“Pure-bloods, like me,” the boy says lifting his chin in superiority.
“I think your mistaken. Historically, royals that married member of their own families to keep their blood “pure” ended up with a ton of problems and deformities. It brought the description of a lot of family lines so I think I might prefer being dirty. Besides, you were bred to have magic. I have it by chance. Which is more magical?”
The pale boy stared at me and all the kids who had been laughing before were stone still and quiet. Just to be dramatic, I turned and let my ash blonde hair fly around as I stalked to a private compartment with a small triumphant smile. I was bullied enough at school for being from America that I was used to it. I was also used to turn their insults back on them. They never know what to do.
I change into my black robes but I’m having trouble with the black tie. I don’t want to have it wrong or undone for the rude boy to see. No sense in giving him more ammunition.
“Here, let me help,” a girl with frizzy hair says.
“Oh, thank you,” I reply and turn.
“You’re American?”
“I’ve lived here for the last two years. My dad’s job brought us here,” I explain like I’ve done many times before. It’s a common question when people hear me talk.
“There. I’m Hermione Granger,” she says holding her hand out for me to shake.
“Thanks. Avery Malone,” I reply, and we leave the bathroom. Some boy is complaining about losing his toad, so Hermione goes to help him, and I’m left alone again.
As I’m walking back to my compartment to finish my book, I catch sight of the blonde bully again. He sees me but now instead of a sneer, he’s just looking at me curiously. I smile at him and wave as I pass to my compartment.
Five minutes later, the door opens but I don’t bother looking up from my book. Since I’m the only one in here, I’m lying on the bench with my head on my balled-up robes.
“What are you reading?”
It’s the boy. I glance over and drop the book on my chest. I debate on answering him truthfully or full of sarcasm. He didn’t come in here sounding the same as before, so I decide to be nice…for now.
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” I say.
“What is it about?”
“Demi-gods. Children with a mortal parent and a Greek god as their other. Percy’s the son of Poseidon. It’s good. You should try it out,” I say, sitting up, so I don’t accidentally flash him.
“That doesn’t seem plausible,” he says.
“Witches and wizards going to a magic school do?”
“Well, yes. We’ve always been here.”
“What’s your name and why are you so rude?” I ask.
“Malfoy,”
“That’s an odd first name.”
“No, it’s Draco Malfoy.”
Draco looks kind of frazzled from my questioning and it makes me want to laugh. Since he started with his last name, maybe it’s supposed to mean something, make me afraid of something. But since I don’t know who they are, it doesn’t.
“Why don’t you just say Draco, then? Do you think being part of your family will get you more respect or something?” I ask.
“Well, if you knew who my family was, you would have more respect for me. I couldn’t expect someone like you to know.”
“People need to earn my respect Draco. I don’t care who your mommy and daddy are. From the way you act, they’re probably snobby which I don’t like, but you came in here Draco. Why? If you think I’m so beneath you.”
“I don’t know,” Draco says and disappears.
By then, the train is slowing, and I won’t get to see if Percy gets the lightning bolt back to Zeus or not. I sigh and pick my things up to head to the platform. The kids from the other years go off in a different direction while we’re herded towards a man bigger than I’ve ever seen before. Maybe he’s a giant. Wouldn’t surprise me.
Somehow, I end up in a boat with Draco and his followers. I roll my eyes in their direction because one of the chubby boys Draco is with fake gags at me. Real original. Part of me kind of wants to shift my weight enough to make him fall in but I rethink it. Who knows what’s in these waters? He’s rude but I don’t want to hurt him…seriously.
When we get to the castle, we’re herded to another room and the doors shut for us to wait. I see Hermione and she smiles and waves at me. I return the gesture and I notice Draco staring at me. He quickly looks away when he sees me and gets shot down by a boy with dark hair. I giggle at the failed attempt at friendship and Draco glares at me when he hears.
A tall lady with a pointed witch’s hat comes in holding a scroll.
“My name is Professor McGonagall. In just a few moments, I will lead you into the Great Hall. There you will be separated into your houses. One by one I will call your name and you will sit to be sorted. Do you understand?”
There’s a few murmurs and a general expression of yes before we’re led into the biggest room I’ve ever been in. Four super long tables stretch across the length with kids crowding each. At the front is another table for staff, I assume.
Above me are hundreds of candles and they’re floating in midair. Above them, the ceiling is like the dusky sky with clouds and the beginnings of stars just like it’d be outside. I know I’m grinning like a maniac but it’s incredible. When I look down again, Draco is smiling in my direction. Is that a smile? I can’t tell if he’s capable, but I can’t guess why he would at me.
We’re stopped in front of the Great Hall and a super old man in maroon robes and a long while beard comes up to speak. He welcomes us and tells us how the sorting is going to work. He introduces himself as Professor Dumbledore. He’s the one who sent the letter to me.
One by one kids get called by Professor McGonagall to sit on a stool in front of the entire school. A dusty old hat gets put on them and it talks! Somehow it sees into our head and places us where we’re meant to be. How fascinating.
“Granger, Hermione.”
I pay attention because she’s the only one I know besides Draco. She looks so nervous, and I think despite her obvious knowledge about what’s going on here, she’s like me. Muggle-born.
“Gryffindor!” the hat shouts. Hermione slumps in relief and I kind of hope I get placed with her, so I at least know someone.
“Malfoy, Draco.”
i look up and I hate that I’m so interested in where he’s going. The hat is barely on his head before it places him in Slytherin, and I should have known. He’s got a self-satisfied smile on his face, so I know that’s where he wanted to be placed.
“Malone, Avery.”
God, it’s my turn and I have to walk past all these kids, up the stairs, and get onto that stool. I take careful steps because I do not want to trip and have everyone laugh at me. I hate having people stare at me like this. Luckily, I make it up there without incident.
The hat is placed on my head. It mumbles as it thinks, and I only catch parts of what he’s saying. Something about food and loyalty. I smile a little at the mutterings.
“Better be Hufflepuff!”
I try to slide off the stool as gracefully as I can as I head to the Hufflepuff table. On the good side, everyone there looks super friendly. Hopefully I won’t have as much trouble making friends here as I did in my other schools. At least I’m not the only new kid either. Slytherin’s table is right next to ours and Draco is sitting just across the aisle.
“Knew you didn’t have what it took to be in Slytherin,” he says to me.
“What? A sense of self-entitlement and self-importance to boost themselves up because they’re actually pretty dull? No, you’re right. I don’t have that.”
Draco huffs and turns around as the rest of the students get sorted and the feast can finally begin.
