For Want Of A Malfoy (Book One)

2) The Hogwarts Express

Time's fun when you're having flies.
-Kermit the Frog

I looked around the platform, and a small smile appeared on my face. As I observed my new surroundings, I noticed how different people were. Some, like the Malfoys and I were immaculately dressed, with brand new... well, everything, really. Some, apparently middle class, wore decent clothes, and new belongings, though they weren't nearly as expensive as mine and Draco's. And others, though fewer in number, wore hand-me-down clothes, and used whatever other hand-me-downs their families could give them. Anything they had bought was dirt cheap and of bad quality. And yet, everyone was smiling.

I took a few steps away from the column I had just walked through so that Uncle Lucious and Aunt Cissy wouldn't run into my back. I saw the chauffeur unloading my things for the train workers to put on the train. When my things were done, he moved on to Draco's belongings. Draco, however, was not with the chauffer. He was over to the side, talking with Victor and Greg (Crabbe and Goyle). I considered joining them, but I knew Draco would want to speak with his friends without my intrusion. Besides, Victor and Greg were morons. I didn't want to speak with them anyway. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Pansy Parkinson speaking with a girl I didn't recognize. Deciding that was better than standing by myself with no one to speak to, I made my way over.

"Hello, Pansy. How are you?" Pansy looked up at me, ceasing her conversation with the other girl.

"I'm just fine, Amelia. How are you?"

I smiled at her, though it was quite fake. I didn't like her. "I'm well, thank you." I was about to ask her about her family when I was interrupted by the girl I didn't know.

"Merlin's beard, your kitten is adorable!" I turned to face her, finding her eyes completely focused on Midnight.

"Thank you. Her name is Midnight. She's only a few weeks old."

The other girl smiled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Pansy sigh with irritation. I didn't mind though. I liked making new friends, so long as they weren't Pansy. "She's so beautiful. Can I... Would you mind if I..." The girl looked so nervous, I took pity on her.

"Go ahead. Ask. I won't get mad."

She kept her head angled towards the floor but looked up at my face. "Could I... maybe... hold her?"

I laughed. "Oh, is that all? Oh course. Just be careful with her."

I handed over Midnight and a giant grin spread over the girl's face. As she pet my kitten and cooed at her. I looked over at Pansy. I caught her taking in my appearance enviously. It was no secret than Pansy wasn't much of a looker. Everyone called her Pug Face behind her back, though I had a suspicion that she knew about the nick name. Her forehead was gigantic and her nose was a bit too flat. Her stringy hair and bushy eyebrows didn't help either.

I, on the other hand, supposedly inherited the best of my mother and father's features. Long black hair that matched Midnight's fur, full lips, and a button nose are all things I enherited from my mother. From my father, I got gray eyes the same shade as Draco's, freckles across my nose and cheeks, dimples when I smile, high cheekbones, and his pale skin. I was a good height, not too short, not too tall. I wasn't petite, but I wasn't big boned, making me strong, yet feminine. And I knew Pansy was jealous of it all.

I turned back to the girl when she spoke. "My name is Millicent. Millicent Bullstrode."

I smiled at the girl and was about to tell her my name, but Pansy spoke first, likely to try and get some attention. "She's a half blood, Amelia. Best to be careful. She might infect your blood with her inferiority."