[Wattys '13 FINALIST] How Can I Love You When I Hate You So Much? (Draco Malfoy)

How Can I Love You When I Hate You So Much? (Draco Malfoy) Chapter 2

I couldn't keep chapter 2 in, so here it is, love it or hate it.

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Chapter 2 Welcome to Hogwarts

The train pulled to a stop as I was lowering my trunk with a spell and making it follow me. Hermoine had so kindly announced that I was a morph, and the whole crew was shooting me questions except for Fred, who was eying me silently. We were stepping off the train when he finally said something. 

'Oi! You are all bloody dense. Can't you see she doesn't like the third degree? Sod off, the lot of you.' I heard a few mumbled apologies as the group headed to a pack of carriages. A huge man was standing on the bank of a lake calling for first years. I looked back and forth before rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. 

'What's wrong, Jez?' Fred asked. 

'Dumbledore sucks at giving directions, that's all. I'm not sure where I should be. I mean, on one hand, it makes sense to go with the first years, because I know I have to be sorted, but that giant gentleman in the fur is specifying first years but I know tranfers at this school are rare but-' I was cut off by Fred dragging me to the giant furry man. 

'Hagrid, this is our new transfer student, Jez Hawthorne. Did you get any special instructions for her?' Fred pushed me forward, the man called Hagrid smiled and patted my shoulder. I would have fallen to my knees if Fred wasn't holding my arm. 

'Yer the American, then! I bin waitin' fer yeh! Yeh come on th' boats wit me an' the firs' years. Thanks, George!' Hagrid's voice was loud, almost scary, but I could tell he was a nice man. 

'That's Fred, though.' I said. Hagrid looked at me, then to Fred. 

'I never can tell tha' diferns.' Hagrid said before resuming his booming call for first years. 

'I didn't know you could tell us apart. Mum can't even do that most of the time.' Fred said with a chuckle. I shrugged and looked at my shoes, then up to his face. He was staring at the ground. I bent down into his line of sight and smiled. 

'Thanks, hun. I guess I will see you inside?' Fred looked at me and smiled, his ears slightly red, before turning toward the carriages. I walked toward a boat and climbed inside. The few 11 year olds in the boat looked at me, fear apparent on their faces. I smiled in what I hope was an encouraging way before we set off toward the castle. 

Hagrid joined me on the same boat, which had the first years terrified. 

'So, Jez, you are movin' here from the U.S., is tha right?' He said. I simply nodded, honestly tired of the attention. I mean, I was expecting it, but still. 

'Dumbledore told me why you were comin'. I think it's great.' He said simply. I tilted my head. The second person to tell me they knew I was here. I sighed and shook my head. Dumbledore was a blabbermouth.

We reached the castle and I jumped off the boat, ready to get inside and get some sleep. I hadn't slept since boarding the plane back in Atlanta. 

I followed the herd to a staircase where a woman stood in dark green robes and a matching hat, looking down at us over her glasses that were perched st the end of her long nose. 

'My name is Professor McGonagall. Please allow me to be the first to welcome you to Hogwarts. Oh, Miss Hawthorne, I'm glad you arrived safely. You will be the first to be sorted. I hope your trip was not too difficult?' She asked, apparently forgetting the crowd of nervous 11 year old surrounding us. 

'The directions could have been a little more clear, but I managed. So, does everyone know why I'm here?' I whispered, but she held up her hand, and led us inside. 

I stood at the front of a line that was gathered just outside the Great Hall, where all the returning students were having supper and catching up. Dumbledore stood, and the hall fell silent. 

'Now, before we start the sorting, I have to announce and welcome a special guest that wil be joining us this year. A very special transfer student from America, and only the seventh metamorphmagi to ever be a student at Hogwarts. Please join me in welcoming and sorting our new fifth year student, Miss Jezabel Hawthorne.' The hall erupted in applause and I ballet twirled into the room before doing a split and bowing. The weasley twins cheering grew louder as many of the students laughed. I stood and bowed low again. A few of the teachers chuckled. One teacher, a short woman dressed in all pink that made me think of a pale toad, glared at me like I was a diseased rodent. Professor McGonagall led me to a small stool where a rumpled hat was placed. She lifted the hat and motioned for me to sit before placing the hat on my head. A small gasp rang through my head a soon as the hat touched my head. 

'Ah, how very curious. Your mind is very interesting. Complicated. You are very bright, exceptionally so. Ravenclaw would suit you in that aspect. You are also very brave, strong willed. The makes of a strong Gryffindor. You are kind, considerate of other people, the definition of a Hufflepuff, but alas, when you have your mind set on something, you wil do whatever it takes to get it, others be damned. You are a determined child, and cunning. Some would call you ruthless when you want things to go your way. Salazar Slytherin would be proud to have you. Your strong, pueblood descent is also a factor. Where to put you, then...' I listened to the hat, unsure of what I should say. I looked around. Fred and the rest of them were seated at the Gryffindor table, eying me expectantly. My eyes wandered over to the Slytherin table, where that purist boy Malfoy was watching me with his cold stormy eyes. I wondered to myself if it was possible to change a purist, but was shaken from my thoughts by the hat talking again. 

'You have it in you to help in uniting these houses the way they need to be in these hard times we have coming toward us. I think you would do best in...'

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Sorry for the cliffy. Comment and vote for the suspenseful chapter 3 :-)