Ginger Malfoy

First Classes and an Invitation

Ginger opened her eyes and was surprised at what she saw.  She was in a grey and green room.  This isn't her room.  Why is she-  oh.  Slytherin house.  She figured out that she was at Hogwarts and she felt sudden motivation to get up and get dressed.  She put on her robes and stepped out into the common room.  She sat down on a couch near her and looked at the ceiling.  She was so focused on her thoughts that she didn't notice someone sit down next to her.

"Hey," the boy said.  He had deep brown eyes and smooth, straight black hair.  His skin was very tan compared to pale Ginger and he was just slightly taller than her.

"Uhh, hello," Ginger replied.

"You must be Ginger Malfoy.  I've heard about you.  I'm Nott.  Alexander Nott."

"Theo Nott's son, I'm guessing?  And yeah, I'm Ginger.  Pleased to meet you."

"The one and only," Alexander replied.  "And I'm weird like you."

"What?" Ginger asked, making sure she heard him right.

"My mum was a Gryffindor.  My dad was a Slytherin.  Same years, too."

"Oh.  Who's your mum?"

"Katie Bell.  The one your father-"

"Oh," Ginger interrupted, not wanting to hear about the things her father had done as a Death-eater.  "Glad I'm not the only one whose parents were enemies."

"Yeah," Alex looked closely at her.  "See ya 'round, Malfoy."

Ginger smiled and waved goodbye as he retreated back into the boy's dorms.

She stopped and thought.  Alex's father had probably called her dad Malfoy all the time.  So had Lobelia's parents.  Ginger found it kind of odd.  Depending on who it came from, Ginger was finding out, Malfoy could mean dozens of different things.  It could hold love, admiration, or friendship, or more likely disrespect, pain, and hatred.  The name of Malfoy had a lot of baggage.  Even in its own house.

Ginger pictured Alex in her head again.  He was pretty attractive.  He was different though.  He was the opposite of Albus- talkative and hasty.  Albus thought through everything before he did it.  Ginger was sure that Alex wasn't like that.  He seemed pretty exciting.  And he was in her house.  This might be a good friendship.  Friendship?  It didn't seem right in Ginger's head.

Ginger went back to the girl's dorms and woke up Lobelia.  She helped her get ready and they headed down to breakfast.

The four friends had agreed that they would sit by Albus at the Ravenclaw table that morning because it was the most neutral house of the three represented.  If they had elected to sit at Slytherin, Rose probably would have killed someone.

Ginger tried to eat but was lost in thought.  She absentmindedly carved words into her oatmeal and then flushed bright red when she saw she had been drawing hearts as well.  Rose raised an eyebrow at her and Lobelia took it as an opportunity to start talking about boys.  Slytherin boys, Ravenclaw boys, Hufflepuff boys, and Gryffindor boys.  Lobelia seemed to love them all.  Ginger was totally uninterested.  Rose appeared to be uncaring as well, but she still smiled and nodded at the appropriate times.  And Albus, well, he just shrunk back and finished his bacon.

When breakfast was done, Ginger gathered her books for her first class.  Transfiguration.  She was excited.  McGonagall was her favorite professor.  She found it amusing that she was still here after having her parents both as students.  But it seemed wrong for her to retire.  It just wasn't right.

Ginger pulled out her Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration and paid close attention to Professor McGonagall.  The class was going by quickly and Ginger enjoyed it a lot.  She turned around and saw Alex Nott looking at her.  She turned back into her seat and giggled.  She felt fluttery and happy inside.  Lobelia must have been on to something.  Before she knew it, the class was done and she was off to Charms.