Not Quite - {A Harry Potter Fan Fiction}

1 - Beginnings

>>hey guys!! Be patient with me, I promise it will get good. Anyway this is about a girl whose whole family is Gryffindor as well as all her friends and then she gets put in Slytherin. Starting out in fifth year, it's following the same plot line from Order Of The Phoenix except with extra characters. Enjoy and please vote and review! <<

CHAPTER ONE

I was more hesitant than usual to get on the Hogwart's express this year. Over the summer there had been so many rumours flying around. Rumours of You Know Who returning and Harry Potter fighting him at the Triwizard Tournament. Rumours of Harry being insane, or worse, a liar. Rumours of the Death Eaters reforming their group. The rumours were terrifying enough and now I had to deal with school and seeing everything from both sides. It was difficult sometimes, trying to bridge the gap between enemy houses.

I glanced down at my trunks to make sure I had everything and waved goodbye to my parents, trying to shrug off the ominous feeling that something bad was hovering above Hogwart's this year.

I heard a shout and turned to see my best friends rushing towards me. Isabelle was running and waving her arms while Carmen jogged behind her, as usual looking a bit put out.

"Was the running and yelling really necessary?" She shook her head before letting up on the annoyed expression and giving me a smile. "I've missed you, Clar."

Isabelle enveloped us both in a hug, squealing slightly. "Oh I've missed you both so much! Of course, I actually saw Carmen over the summer so mostly just you." She grinned at me, showing off her sparkling teeth.

"Oh god thanks, Isabelle." But despite the rough tone of her voice, Carmen was smiling too.

Together we boarded the train, quickly claiming a compartment as our own. My tension from earlier dissipated as I caught onto their excitement and watched the train station slowly disappear from view. It was a new year and we were going back to Hogwart's. Nothing bad could happen there. Right?

Isabelle seemed bent on telling me every detail of her summer, so pretty soon I zoned out, watching the hills pass by. Her story stopped suddenly and I glanced quickly at the door. Devon, my Slytherin friend was standing with her hands on her hips. Her blind hair had grown over the summer and now it curled at her waist. She looked perfect and terrifying as usual.

"Aren't you coming to sit with us?" She said it causally but I could see a look of accusation in her eyes. I heard a muffled snort from Isabelle but Devon ignored her. Even my friends couldn't seem to get over the house difference problem.

"Oh, I couldn't find you!" It was a lie but there was nothing else to say. "I've already put my stuff in here. I'll catch up to you when we get there." I smiled trying to make up for the fact that I had chosen my Gryffindor friends over my Slytherin. This happened far too often. Having to choose sides. I hated it.

"Oh ok. Sure." She nodded slowly and turned away, leaving without even a glance in Isabelle's or Carmen's direction.

My stomach twisted guiltily but I ignored the sick feeling and turned back to Isabelle. "So, your story?"

She narrowed her eyes but continued. She had learned years ago that she wasn't allowed to insult my Slytherin friends in from of me.

"Right, I was just saying how my mom and dad got word that the Order is staring up again! Apparently all the old members have started meeting and its all official."

Carmen sat up, adjusting her relaxed position to one more alert and added, "You do realise this is actually a bad thing, right? The Order wouldn't have started up unless You Know Who is back."

I was still stuck on what Isabelle had said. "Are you sure?" My parents were in the Order Of The Phoenix. And they definitely hadn't been going to any meetings.

She nodded emphatically. "Oh totally. I heard it from Dean who is friends with Ron Weasley whose whole family is part of it!" Her back curls bounced as she talked.

Carmen was squinting her eyes, watching me carefully. "Clar, wasn't your family part of it?" Her question was slow and deliberate.

"Um yeah, I think so. A long time ago." I shrugged and picked at the hem of my sweater.

"Oh." Isabelle went quiet and the rest of the ride was silent. I pretended to be checking through my books and I saw Carmen and Isabelle glancing at each other when they thought I wasn't paying attention. Once we had changed into our robes I was reminded again of how much I'd didn't belong with them. My green clashed horribly with their maroon.

"We'll, I'm going to drop by and see Devon and everyone quickly before we get there." I stated, jumping up and opening the door. Both my friends nodded so I left. I didn't actually want to talk to Devon but I didn't know what else to do. Why were they acting so strangely? I turned away from the door to walk when I hit into someone.

"Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention!" Said an extremely Irish voice.

>>Hey guys thanks for reading! Boring first chapter, I know. But you need background and beginnings are generally boring.

Also Seamus bumping into her is cliche, I know, but oh well.

Anyway please vote and review! Thanks again!<<