Revenge ~ An HP FF

~Chapter 2~

As I finally managed to change, the train was nearly at the platform in Hogsmeade. Thanks to Mattheo, my Hufflepuff uniform was completely dirty and crumpled. The train jerked to a stop, and my head banged against the window. Just great. The two first-years sitting with me hurried out of the compartment, practically tripping over each other like they were running from something. This year, the school had arranged something special to transport students from the station. Winged horses—some called them Pegasus—stood at the end of the platform, hitched to magnificent black carriages, waiting for us students. I grabbed my bag from the overhead rack and followed my classmates towards the carriages.

"All first-years to me! First-years, over here!" a familiar voice called across the crowd. I spotted Hagrid towering over the students. I smiled and waved, and he gave me a broad grin in return. That was exactly why I liked Hagrid so much. He could seem gruff on the outside, but inside he was like a giant teddy bear. You couldn't help but love him. Well, if you had a heart. Not like Riddle.

The crowd divided into small groups as they headed to the carriages, each one holding about eight people.

"Aewyn! Come join us!" I spun around and saw the round face of Jessica Smith, a Hufflepuff in my year. Smiling, I walked over to her group.

"Thanks, I—" I didn't even get to finish before one of the Ravenclaw boys interrupted."Are you crazy, Jessi?! Do you want to end up like her?!" He pulled another boy towards him and gestured for the others to get into the carriage. Wow. Very kind of him.

Jessica mouthed a quick "sorry" in my direction before disappearing inside the carriage. I sighed and looked around. Knowing my luck, I'd probably end up walking all the way to Hogwarts.

"Miss Frost! Would you kindly get into a carriage already? It's only a ten-minute ride; surely you can survive without your friends!" came the sharp voice of my Arithmancy teacher, Miss Pearson, from behind me. "There's still a spot with Mr. Riddle and his friends. Please, get in there." I froze. Okay, correction: knowing my luck, I'd end up riding to Hogwarts with Riddle.

"Miss Pearson, I—"

"Don't you even think about contradicting me!" she snapped, whirling around to join the last remaining students in her own carriage.

"Couldn't I just—" Miss Pearson's carriage started moving, and she shot me a venomous glare. She'd never really liked me. Probably because I'd dropped her class after three lessons and told everyone behind her back how boring it was.

"Oh, is the princess too good to ride with us?" Mattheo. Of course. I walked over to the carriage and hefted my suitcase onto the luggage rack. Mattheo had lit a cigarette and was filling the entire carriage with smoke.

"Put that thing out. I don't want to stink of smoke when we get there!"

"Then feel free to walk if it bothers you so much, princess." I sighed and climbed in, ignoring the smoke as I shut my eyes. I tried to block out their chatter. At first, they made jokes about me, but when they realized I wasn't reacting, they moved on to talking about Mattheo's latest escapades with girls. Pathetic. And he didn't even seem to care. But I felt his gaze on me. Then, suddenly, a burning pain seared across my forearm, followed by the smell of burnt flesh. I yanked my arm back, my eyes wide with pain. That little bastard had actually put his cigarette out on my arm. Tears pricked at my eyes.

"Didn't you hear that Pansy was trying to talk to you?" he said in a dangerously calm tone. Even Pansy's eyes were wide with shock. She'd been expecting a lot, but definitely not this. No one laughed this time. They just sat there, staring in stunned silence at my arm. "It's rude, princess." Mattheo leaned back in his seat and flicked the cigarette butt out the window.

"I—" I stammered. God, what an asshole!

"Mattheo, don't you think that was a bit much—" Malfoy began, but he fell silent when Mattheo raised an eyebrow. The carriage rattled to a stop, and the door swung open from outside. Hagrid beamed at us from the entrance. Blaise just sneered before he and the others climbed out of the carriage, grabbing their luggage. They headed off, following Mattheo through the large entrance hall, but not without Mattheo whispering in my ear as he passed: "Not a word, princess..."

"Hi, Hagrid..." I murmured. "Have the first-years all arrived?" He nodded, beaming.

"Yup, all sorted. Come on, I'll help you with your bags. You need to hurry if you want to make it to the Great Hall in time."

Damn it. I nodded and dashed towards the main entrance.

"Thanks!" I called to him as he lifted my suitcase from the rack.

"No problem," was the last thing I heard before I disappeared into the grand castle.