Rough Diamond (The Poisonous Princess Book 3)

Tricky Train

I woke up late !
I packed all of my purchases on my school's luggage as fast as I could ! I checked the room quickly before leaving and ran.
I left the Leaky Cauldron by throwing the gallions to the desk.

"Excuse me but I'm late ! Keep the change !" I apologised while rushing outside.

Luckily, King's Cross station was not far and I passed through the 9 ¾ wall at 10:55.
I gave my trunk to the staff after checking if it was well locked.
I jumped in the train just when the steam jet made the noisy signal of departure.
Many students were in the tight corridor so we hit shoulders a lot.
I fund a compartment where Ginny, Katie, Leanne and Poppy were and I joined them. There was another girl that I didn't know yet.

"Hi Isabella. My name is Luna Lovegood. You don't know me but we have many mutual friends. It's true what I heard, you are pretty just as your name." She said with a very soft tone.

"Oh hu... nice to meet you. I don't think that's what people say about me but.. thanks."

"Belladona is a fascinating plant, even if it's poisonous, it is also a medicine. The most elegant women used it as an alternative beautifying potion, but you know this of corse." She said again.

"That's sweet to say."

My friends and I kept our tradition alive by ordering each one snack and we shared all together.

"Will we ever be able to try all the existing candies ?" I joked

"I will still think about you when I will eat candy in my adulthood ! "promised Katie, half kidding.

"Me too !"

After a moment, Moranna appeared at our glass door and opened it.

I greeted her with full mouth.
"Hi Anna, how wash you' shummer ?"

"Hey everyone. I had a peaceful time. You all enjoyed holidays too ?" She said politely.

She seemed different. Almost easy-going...

All the compartment answer the question abstractly.

Then Anna asked : "Isabella, can I talk to you ?"

It was surprising but i followed her in the hallway.

She led the way and spoke while walking.

"You must be surprised that I speak to you after all this time that I acted cold." She started.

I didn't answer.

"If i was distant it's because of your complicity with Draco."

My throat closed up of stressed.

"You became good friends and I was jealous..."

She seemed to still believe we were just friends Draco and I. But my secret relationship would be hard to keep for long.

"You don't know but during our childhood, my family and his were close. Maybe even more than other noble families from our circle. We were friends and I pictured us being best-friends-forever. My parents rised me with the idea that I would marry him one day."

I choked.

"That shocks you, right ?"

"No, no. I just swallowed a last piece of candy." I lied.

"You have to know that all the pure-blood families of the Sacred 28 know each others and marry only each others. Even more specially the deatheaters. Some are already engaged or try to be soon."

I started to be concerned.

"But you're not, right ?"

"No. Actually... I will disappoint my family beyond their imagination."