"Hey Leanne," Jada chirped good naturedly. "How'd you sleep? What was the Slytherin common room like? I heard it was down here in the dungeons, but they would make you guys sleep in a dungeon cell, so it must be cozier than it seems. I would advice we staying away from Ron today. He went on a rampage about Slytherin last night, but he'll calm down eventually. He liked you well enough on the train ride here. If you tell him that the Chuddly Cannons are your favorite Quidditch team though, he'll eventually get along with you again. Just prove to him that not every Slytherin in the world is evil." She laid her stuff down on the table and plopped down into the seat next to me. I bit my lip nervously and looked my left to see Draco giving Jada a death glare.
"You can't sit here," Draco said pointedly. Jada looked at him and her bubbly smile faded into a confused frown.
"Why not?" She asked. "Are there assigned seats?" I suddenly found my hands very entertaining as I waited for Draco to respond.
"You're a Gryffindor," he said. The confusion on her face didn't waver.
"I don't understand," she said slowly.
"Let me explain. Gryffindor's and Slytherin's don't get along. They never have. And most likely never will." Draco hissed to her anger flashing in his blue orbs.
A look of dawning realization finally found a place on her face. "Oh, I don't believe in any of that silly nonsense," she said, smiling again. "A little friendly competition is fine and all, but we don't have to hate each other. My name is-"
"I don't care what your name is, I'm telling you to get lost." Draco growled just as the doors to the classroom opened lighting up the dark and somewhat smoky potions room. I took that opportunity to look away from the conversation to see Harry and Ron arriving. I looked back to Jada in time to see her features harden into a look of dislike.
"Now see here, I don't know what's got your knickers in a bunch Malfoy, but Leanne became one of my first friends here at Hogwarts when we met on the train, and she doesn't need you telling her who her friends should be. I understand that all the houses have different aspects that make them special, but that's just the point. We're all special." She glanced at Crabbe and Goyle who were trying to pick their noses with their wands. "Some a little more 'special' than others. So what are if the Gryffindors are supposed to be brave, that doesn't mean everyone else is a coward. Slytherin's are supposed to be ambitious, but that doesn't make the rest of us lazy bums. Now if you'll excuse me, Leanne and I will be sitting over there" she pointed to where Ron and her brother were sitting "And you are welcome to join us when you get a better attitude." Jada gathered up all of her supplies as well as mine and hauled me off to the other table before I could get a word in.
"Little git," she muttered. "We don't need Pureblood lovers to dampen our first day of school or boss you around like a lost puppy." She shook herself and gave me a rye smile. "Sorry about that. I don't like bullies. I had to deal with his sort at the orphanage all the time." I look over at my old table to see an astounded Draco looking after me I quickly mouth an apology and he shakes his head turning his attention to his goonies. I sigh and look back at my friends.
"I'm sorry about Draco he has an umm problem with Slytherin's associating themselves with Gryffindors." I murmured to Jada giving her an apologetic smile.
"That's alright." she said, her cheery demeanor restored. "He's the one I want an apology from, but I assume I'll never get it." I took out my potions book after giving her another smile after her response.
"Yeah, he's like that. Oh well not everyone is nice in this school. I think you and your brother just got on his bad side. I don't know why you guys were to begin with but oh well. I'm just glad I managed to get on his good side the first day so I wouldn't have to worry about something happening to me in my sleep."
Jada shrugged and went back to unloading her supplies. "I guess thats a good enough reason to be his "friend". I honestly don't know what his problem with me is. We've never even met before." She paused. "I saw Harry talking to him before we went into the Great Hall to get sorted, but I don't think they turned into BFF's." She turned to Harry who was only vaguely paying attention to their conversation. "What were you two talking about?" Harry looked a little uncomfortable.
"He told me that I shouldn't make friends with the wrong people, and offered to make sure I didn't get "mixed up" with people like Ron. I told him I was a big boy and could make my own decisions." I laughed to myself quietly and was about to respond when I was interrupted.
"Ms. Granger." the Professor at the front of the room called. I knew him to be Professor Snape head of Slytherin house. I perked up at my name and looked at him.
"Yes Professor?" I asked innocently flinching a bit when I saw his not-so-happy face.
"Care to explain why you are not seated with your house members?"
Jada piped up before I could say anything, obviously still a little tense about the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor idea. "She's sitting with us because we became friends on the train and we didn't feel that the difference between the houses should cause us to stop being friends." She eyed him a little wearily. "Is that alright professor?" Snape stared at her for a moment, caught in his own thoughts before he responded with a flick of his wand and all the shutters banged shut. He proceeded to the front of the classroom, and class began.
"There will be no silly wand waving in this class." he stated in a bored manner. "Instead we will delve deep into the recesses of our minds into the noble art of potions. I can teach you how to create poisons, bottle glory, and even put a stopper on death. Some of you will succeed," he glanced at Malfoy who was smirking himself silly in the back of the class. "Some of you will not." At this he looked pointedly at Harry who was scribbling on his parchment, supposedly taking notes.
"Potter!" Both Jada and Harry jumped to attention. "Mr. Potter," he corrected himself. "Tell me, where can you find a bezoar?" Harry stared at Professor blankly while Hermione Jada and I shot our hands into the air at the same time. Harry glanced at us self consciously, and shook his head at Snape.
"I don't know sir." he said sheepishly.
"No?" he said feigning disappointment. "Well then, tell me. What is the difference between wolfsbane and monkshood?"
Again, our hands shot into the air. Again, Harry shook his head. Ron gave him a sympathetic look.
"No? Well, it seems fame isn't everything, is it Mr. Potter?" Hermione was stretching her hand so far into the air, I was afraid she was going to fall out of her chair, whilst Jada and I deflated significantly after Snape had reprimanded her brother.
"Please sir," Hermione said honestly. I almost did a face palm. Now was not the time for Ms.Smarty-Pants. "You can find a bezoar in the stomach of a goat, and there is no difference between wolfsbane and monkshood. They are the same plant." I mentally face palmed myself and kept my gaze at the table. She just had to answer.
"Ms. Granger, I did not ask for you to be an insufferable know-it-all." He walked up to the blackboard in the front of the class. "10 points from Gryffindor." All of the Gryffindors groaned and Hermione deflated into her seat. I looked at my sister slightly before looking over at Draco his smirk still plastered on his face. He caught my gaze and gave me a thumbs-up. I bit my lip before looking away. Just as a note landed on my table. I will let that slide today, but tomorrow you are going to be sitting with us. -Draco I smiled slightly to myself before looking back at Draco who gave me a small wink causing a light pink to reach my cheeks.
