Mafalda Prewett-Weasley

Hogwarts Express

The next few days weren't nearly as eventful: we were herded back to the Portkey, where Fred and George were waiting. Then, we went home. Aunt Molly was absolutely distraught. She commented that she had been worried sick, and "Have you been feeding them, Arthur?" She quickly made a meal to 'fatten us up' again. I took mine downstairs to my room.

The time to finally go to Hogwarts arrived within the month; that morning, I got up before the sun, and packed my things. Some hand-me-down robes and cap from Ginny, my books, and the cage where my pet would've gone...filled with more books. I also had my suitcase, and a few other wrapped packages; Aunt Molly had left these by my bed the night before. I assumed they contained food for me to smuggle into Hogwarts.

Now, I was not typically one to follow the rules, so this was fine with me.

We drove in the Ford to King's Cross station, where I then moved my things onto a luggage trolley. It would've been much easier if we weren't around all the Muggles, and had been able to use magic. Uncle Arthur led the way to Platform 9 ¾; I kept a strong hold on my ticket.

To get to the Platform, you had to run into the pillar between the signs for nine and ten.

"Now, you just have..." Percy began to explain the process. I pushed past him.

"You think I don't already know?" I raised a brow, and causally walked in.

I could hear the snickers coming from George and Fred as I did.

I hopped onto the train, and quickly used the levitation charm to put my things away. A group of older students gathered around me as I did, looking at me with shock. Yes, I knew first years weren't allowed to use unauthorized magic. But they didn't realize that I was really a third year.

As I walked back through the crowd, I noticed a tall boy with blonde hair among them. I tried my best to ignore Draco, and continued to get back onto the Platform.

Aunt Molly proceeded to hug me, and Uncle Arthur snapped a picture with a Muggle camera of my very embarrassed expression. My cousins were all rather joyous, on the other hand, and laughed while I glared at them.

As I got into the Hogwarts Express again, I parted ways with my family and their friends. Harry Hermione, and Ron went into their regular box, Fred and George hurried along to prank someone, Ginny left with her own friends, and I...well...I sat alone.

I had, however, brought a book with me: as always. This one was called The History of The Muggle-Wizarding Wars* .

It was a bit dull, as I had already read it twice, but I really had nothing better to do.

As I got to Chapter two, the compartment door slid open. I didn't look up from the book.

"This one's full."

I know it wasn't really ; but I didn't want anyone bothering me at that time. Or any time, really.

"Doesn't look like it to me, Weasel."

I sighed, and continued reading. "Just go away, Malfoy. I'm conducting serious knowledge-related affairs, and I wish not to be interrupted."

I heard myself as the words came out of mouth, and immediately came to terms with the fact that I was trying way  too hard: the people in my compartment were probably all idiots -at least, compared to me.

I heard some other boys, and a girl, chortling.

My book was flipped down, and –sure enough- I could see Malfoy had three other Slytherins with him.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to ignore people?"

I raised a brow at him. "Didn't yours' ever tell you it's rude to interrupt people reading?"

He smirked. "No. She didn't." then, he gestured to the others. They all sat down, with him on one side of me, and the girl on the other.

I picked my book back up, and started where I had left off.

The rest of the journey was filled with teasing, annoying snorts, and Draco acting like he was royalty. Eventually, I just left, and made my way to a different compartment: one far away from anyone else who could annoy me in the slightest.

*I know this technically isn't canon, but I just felt like sliding it into the story