Secrets

Chapter Two

Rosaphina was dying. She, being the impatient child she was, couldn't contain her excitement for Hogwarts. She bounced into an open compartment and sat down, stroking her cat's fur as it purred in her lap. As she stared out the window, the door slid open. "Oh, bloody hell."

"Malfoy," Rosaphina spat, her eyes pure fire.

"Is it just me, or does it smell in here?" He asked no one in particular, his pale nose scrunching up. "Oh, sorry. I forgot you and your feline are in here. Must be the Blood Traitor."

She snorted. "I'm not nearly as repulsive as you."

Marybeth stepped inside the compartment. She seemed tense and was clutching her belongings tightly. Rosaphina's mood lifted immediately. "Hello, Mary."

Her grey eyes shifted to Rosaphina and she let out a small, relieved sigh. Her hands were shaking. "Hi, Ro."

"Mudblood," Draco growled at her.

"Don't mind that rat," Rosaphina told Marybeth. "He'll be leaving. Now."

"Since when do you know me?" Marybeth asked Draco, sneering. There was hostility in her voice, even though she didn't seem like the type of person to say something of the sort.

"Do you know who you're talking to? My father will hear about this!"

"Bye, darling," Rosaphina sang, pushing him towards the door.

"Let him hear! He can't do anything!" Marybeth called after him. She was getting extremely defensive.

"That's what you think, Mudblood!" Draco howled before Rosaphina slammed the door shut behind him.

Marybeth stared at the door, twitching. Rosaphina placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"He thinks he controls everyone. Don't let him get to you."

"I didn't. I'm fine," she replied with a reassuring smile. Rosaphina's cat was brushing up against Marybeth's legs. She reached down and stroked its back. Beside her was a small, rounded cage. A rather tiny, brown owl sat inside, perched on a bar.

The compartment door opened once again. "S-Sorry, but do you mind if I sit with you? I can't seem to find my gi-... my friend..."

Marybeth looked up, and her owl made a little low-pitched noise. Carter stood there, his cheeks bright pink. Rosaphina smiled politely. "Sure. There's room for more, if you do find them."

"Thank you..."

"I was hoping she'd say that," another voice said with a yawn. Holly stepped in seconds after him.

Carter jumped ten feet into the air. "Bloody h- Holly, where were you?!"

"Walking around."

"I was looking all over for you!"

She set her belongings down. Carter pulled her into a loving hug. She squeezed him tightly. Marybeth exchanged an awkward smile with Rosaphina. Rosaphina had a slight scowl on her face.

A Slytherin... and possibly a Hufflepuff? Carter thought as he stared at them. Holly let go of him and sat down.

"Holly," she said to the other two girls.

"Rosaphina Vianelli."

"I'm Carter," he said shyly.

"I'm Marybeth."

Carter sat down on the seat, pulling Holly down beside him. She had a silver-colored cat in her lap. Rosaphina's cat hissed at it. Holly's seemed unbothered. It laid down, purring. Carter pet it softly, glaring at Rosaphina's cat. His owl hooted to Marybeth's.