Lullaby

Chapter Ten

It felt like I was walking on clouds as I finished packing. I was finally going back to Hogwarts for my second year!

During the summer, I had lost contact with Sinna because she never replied to any of Mae and my letters. It wasn't like her, because she would tell us if she was moving or any important news like that.

I flatten my skirt and straighten my headband before hauling my luggage downstairs. Lullaby was inside her cage, eating some nuts Jennie had found earlier this morning.

Princess was climbing on our counters since Jennie had brought her home for the first time, which was highly disproved by mum.

She tried to teach Princess not to do it but the cat stubbornly refused to learn, so we all gave up.

I finish eating my waffles and quickly drink my orange juice as the doorbell rings. I eagerly stand up and open it, revealing Mae.

Her shoulder-length ginger red hair had been growing all summer since she hadn't cut it for awhile, her emerald green eyes still shining.

"Are you ready?" she asks me.

I nod as she brings her luggage and rat, Lola, inside. Jennie, Mae, and I huddle around the living room when my mum finally brings us a small bowl of flu powder.

Jennie takes some of the powder and crawls into the fireplace before shouting, "Diagon Alley!" And exploding into green flames.

I never used flu powder before but it seemed easy enough. I take some powder from the bowl before crawling into the fireplace and shouting 'Diagon Alley' loudly and as clearly as I could.

The next thing I knew, I was standing on the side-walk of Diagon Alley. Other wizards and witches were scrambling around the streets, luggage everywhere. A few owls were even flying over the people's heads.

It takes me a moment for everything to sink in before Mae and mum shows up behind me. We shop for our books first, but delayed a bit when we saw a huge crowd outside the book shop. When we finished all our shopping, the book shop was still crowded.

Mae and I decide to see what the commotion was so we headed inside. A wannabe be wizard named Gilderoy Lockhart had Harry at his side, the Daily Prophet taking lots of photos. I roll my eyes when I spot Ginny, Ron's sister, and Hermione gushing over him.

How old is he? Twice our age?!

When the crowd disperses a little, Mae and I finally have the chance to catch up with Hermione.

"Isn't he wonderful?" Hermione has a starry look in her eyes as she continues talking about how "wonderful" and "amazing" Gilderoy was.

I sigh and shake my head since she was acting like she was under some sort of love spell. The Weasley's, Mae, Hermione, and I begin to head out the door when a snicker is heard on the stairs.

My eyes widen slightly when I see Malfoy. He hadn't changed a whole lot, but he did get taller. Why did I have to be so short?!

"Isn't it wonderful, Potter?" Draco spits out. I'm guessing he hasn't spotted me yet since he was so transfixed on Harry. Again, crush. "You can't even go to a book store without having your face on the front page!"

"Leave him alone," Ginny glares at him while she steps forward.

"Ah, look at that?" Draco chuckles darkly. "You got yourself a little girlfriend. Let's see, red hair, hand-me-down robes, must be a Weasley."

"Can't you say a nice comment for once?" I finally speak up and tilt my head a little.

He seems a bit startled to see me but gets covered when his dad comes into the shop. Like his son, Mr. Malfoy had light blonde hair flowing past his shoulder with a long black cane.

"Now play nice, Draco," he places a hand on Draco's shoulder to make him move aside.

"Ah," Mr. Malfoy uses the tip of his cane to move some of Harry's bangs out of his face, showing the scar. "Your scar is legendary, as the wizard who created it."

"Voldemort was nothing but a murderer," Harry glares daggers towards him.

"You dare speak his name? That act is either very brave or very foolish."

"Fear is in the name itself," Hermione breaks into the conversation, bring intellectual facts into it.

"Ms. Granger, I presume?" Mr. Malfoy says as he turns his direction to her. "Draco has told me all about you. Your parents are muggles, aren't they?"

I narrow my eyes at Draco who was half hiding behind his father and the other standing next to him. Or trying to.

Before the encounter could escalate, Mr. Weasley breaks it up. When the two Malfoy's leave, it felt like the air fresher than before.

We all head to the train station since everyone got their supplies.

I spot platform 9 3/4 and run straight into the pillar, the world sinking away into an entirely different train station. Mae and Hermione soon follow me and we find a spot quickly since we were a bit early. Harry and Ron don't show up, making Hermione assume the two were in a different cart.

"That fowl-mouthed man and equally foul-mouthed son," Hermione grunts in displeasure as she sits down. "What right do they have to say those things?"

"Ignore it," Mae replies. "They're not worth our time."

I stared out the window, head leaning on the glass. That encounter somehow felt like déja vù...had I somehow experienced it before?