Fleur-de-Lis: Draco Malfoy x OC

2

Clarissa

I had to go to the train station on my own, as my Mum left for Hogwarts the previous night, due to the fact that she taught at the school every now and then. I don't know how we even had money, as my mother was a half-arsed teacher and my father did- well, actually I wasn't sure.

 I watched as everybody hugged their mums and dads tight, saying goodbye, which sparked a bit of jealousy deep down. I stood anxiously at the platform, waiting and waiting for the stupid train to show up. I looked down at my black flats for what felt like hours until the train came, in it's bright cherry red colour and puffs of steam. 

 I walked down the aisle of the train, clinging onto my bags and not sure where to sit, as I didn't really have any friends at Hogwarts. I saw everybody watch me as I walked past their cabins, which made my cheeks burn a fiery shade of red. I began to feel anxious, until I heard a familiar voice say, "Oi, Cardaillet, come sit with us", from the cabin I was about to walk past. I turned, to see the signature grey eyes and bleach blonde hair looking at me that I had seen the other day. Draco Malfoy, accompanied by Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson.

I sat down next to Blaise in the compartment, trying not to make eye contact with any of them as they rambled on about what happened at the Triwizard Tournament and what was happening with Snape. He was the one out of the three that I was least intimidated by. Out of habit, I yanked at my silver fleur de lis necklace, trying to get my mind off of the fact that I was in a compartment with three of the most popular people in our year. It was my coping mechanism.

After about an hour of sitting quietly, listening to what Draco, Blaise, and Pansy had to say to each other, Draco piped up to me, "So, Cardaillet, tell us a bit about yourself. You don't talk much." I rolled my eyes, gesturing that that was obvious, just to get the response, "Ooh, sassy are we?", from Draco. I could see Pansy fuming that I was being given the attention rather than her. I didn't really know her, but I'd seen the way she acted around other people. So desperate for attention and popularity. She didn't deserve a minute of it.

"Oh please", I spat at Draco, to his surprise. "You know exactly who I am."

"You filthy little mudblood", he spat, angrily glaring at me, not liking the attitude I provided. She crossed his arms in disgust of being talked back to.

"Come again, Malfoy? You heard my surname. Cardaillet. Put some respect on it." He didn't reply. "And that's pureblood to you." I stared him down, leaving all three of them surprised by the fact that I even spoke to them. The rest of the train ride was awkward silence, as I refused to look at Draco, and Blaise fell asleep, leaving Pansy to try to converse. That obviously didn't go very well.

Just as we were about to get off of the train, Draco and I were the last ones in the line to get off. As soon as everyone but us got off, he slammed the door shut, trapping us in the train carriage. He pushed my shoulder blades up against the door, holding my neck by his hand. "Listen here, Cardaillet. Talk to me like that once more and see what happens.", he glared down at me, giving me the most horrible look, leaving me in shock. He let go of me and pushed me out of the way as we got out of the carriage. My breathing was intense and my hair messy from being pushed around. Without a moment of peace, Pansy Parkinson grabbed my wrist once I got out of the train.

"What the hell was that about, Cardaillet ?", she yelled angrily.

"Little jealous, are you Parkinson? Shove off, you foul git." I stated calmly, walking away from her grasp. Her mouth agape, she just stood there, as I walked away. Draco, standing next to her, mimicked her facial expression, both of them looking surprised. I turned around. "Wait, where'd your little minions go, Malfoy? Did you scare them off with.. that?" I pointed at Pansy and made a pretend scared face, hoping I put them in their place. With that, I walked away, laughing, trying to catch up with the rest of the students while Pansy and Draco trailed, I could feel the burning of their glares in my back as they followed me.

Sitting in the Great Hall, I felt a sense of empowerment for the first time ever at Hogwarts, as word had gotten around that I stood up to Pansy and Draco, which was pretty impressive for an introverted nobody. Occasionally, a first year or second year would stare at me with their little innocent eyes, or one of Pansy's bitchy little friends would scoff at me. I kind of liked it. I watched as the new first years got sorted, and I cheered when one got put into Slytherin. It was pretty nostalgic.

As I unpacked, I set up my dorm, and to no surprise it looked like everyone else's. Green bedding, silver furniture, same old robes. Hogwarts was boring this time around, except for the fact that I got threatened by Draco Malfoy and his stupid little friends. However, I wasn't gonna stop standing up to them. To be honest I was kind of excited to see what he'd even try on me. Very. Excited.