The Snake and The Osprey

Chapter Two

The next morning, I was awoken by something cold and wet against my face. I open my eyes to see Luna hovering over me.

"Did you just lick me?" I ask, wiping my face.

"No, of course not silly. That was Kishami," she says, turning to open the drapes. I groan as the light hits my face, and force myself into a sitting position.

"Where is everyone?" I ask, noticing the two other girls I'd met the night before were not here.

"Everyone's went down for breakfast. They wanted to wake you but I told them to go on."

She waits as I change, pulling on my robe with the Ravenclaw crest and my blue striped tie that should have been green.

We head down to the Great Hall, the voices of the chattering students filling the air before we get there. I grab some toast and an apple as I sit down at the Ravenclaw table. The wrong table.

I stare longingly over at the Slytherins, admiring their robes and green ties. Suddenly, I make eye contact with someone.

Three boys were staring at me, one with strikingly blond hair, one with an abnormally bulky frame, and the last, heavy-set. I quickly look down at my plate. That was weird.

After a few seconds I slowly look back up, but they were gone. I scan the table to see where they were, until suddenly the very same blond headed boy I'd just seen plops down across the table from me, followed by his friends.

I jump back and give a sharp look at Luna, who was looking at the boys with mild curiosity.

"Shame really about you getting placed in Ravenclaw, though at least it's not Gryffin-bore or Annoying-puff. I reckon your family wouldn't have been too happy about that," the blond drawled.

"I think my mother would be fine with whatever house-"

"Oh I don't mean you mother!" he says cutting me off. "I mean your grandmother and your uncle."

"Oh. Well, I've never met either of them, so I don't know what they'd think"

Finally, the heavy set boy speaks. "You've never met Gramma? I know we've never met and you've never met my father, but I would think you would've met Gramma."

Gramma? "I'm sorry, do I know you?" I ask, confused.

"I- What- Do you know me?" he sputters. "I'm your cousin! What do you mean do you know me?"

I force out a chuckle. "Right... And I'm Helga Hufflepuff. I don't have a cousin."

The blond headed boy grins. "Looks like your mother has hid a great deal from you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Draco Malfoy." He sticks out his hand to me, but I ignore it. This doesn't make any sense.

"So, you're telling me my mother never told me that I had a cousin? You're... lying! This is a joke, right?"

The blond had quickly pulled his hand back when I ignored it, as though he'd never stuck it out in the first place. "I don't appreciate you calling me a liar. It's true. This is Crabbe. Vincent Crabbe." He jerked his head over to my 'cousin'.

"I'm so confused..."

"Oh my Salazar, it's not that hard," a new voice said. I jump, nearly letting out a shriek. Three more people had arrived at the table, without my knowledge. A tall, dark skinned boy, a skinny boy with messy hair and a pointed nose, and a girl with short black hair.

The dark skinned boy continued talking. "Everyone- well all purebloods- knows the story. Your grandfather died when your mother was young, so your grandmother married Crabbe's grandfather. Your mother is sort of a blood traitor and hasn't talked to the rest of the family for years. Apparently she was a runt of a thing as a child."

So many questions were going through my head and they sort of came out at once. "My mother is not a blood traitor! Who do you think you are? And besides, she would never hide something like this from me..."

My voice sort of faded at the last sentence. My mother had never really talked about her childhood, and I'd never really asked. I'd always assumed that they'd just had a falling out or grew apart.

"Blaise, you're confusing the poor girl," the girl said. "I'm Pansy Parkinson. That's Draco Malfoy, that's Vincent Crabbe, that's Greggory Goyle, and that's Blaise Zabini." She pointed to each person as she said their names. At last she turned to the boy sitting beside her. "And this right here is Theodore Nott. A right pain in the arse if you ask me."

"Hey!" Theodore protested. Then, he leans over and takes my left hand, kissing the top of my knuckles. I quickly jerk my hand away.

I'm saved from more of this odd conversation when dozens of owls flew into the Great Hall. Their loud hoots filled the air as a dark feathered owl landed in front of me.

It was our family owl, a roll of parchment tied to it's leg. Last night I had sent my mother a letter about what had happened. I was really excited to get her reply, her support, but now... If what these kids were saying are true...

I quickly scan the letter. It's what I'd expected, how she's proud of me no matter what, how I have Luna, how I'm going to make so many more friends. Nothing about a secret cousin.

I sigh. "Why should I believe you guys? I trust my own mother more than people I've only heard about before."

Draco sneered. "Why don't you ask your mother? And see what she says, though she'd probably lie, the blood traitor she is."

Okay, that was it. I did not like this boy. "Stop talking about my mother like that! You're just a-"

Thankfully, I was cut off before I could say something I would regret. An extremely loud voice filled the hall, causing several people to spill their drinks or knock over their plates.

"-STEALING THAT CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-"

Once the initial surprise was over, we all scanned the hall to find the source. It seemed to be coming from the Gryffindor table, in the form of a Howler.

"-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED-"

A redheaded boy was sinking low in his seat, trying not to be seen, though that made him even more conspicuous. Beside him was a boy with round glasses and extremely messy hair.

"-ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED, YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME."

There was a lot of whispering and giggling until I heard Valentina Roberts, one of my dorm mates, whisper, 'That's Harry Potter.'

I whip around again, looking for the boys I'd just seen. Of course it was him! I'd seen pictures of him before, in the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly (don't tell Luna). How did I not recognize him? But now was not the time. I had another problem.

Five of said problems were laughing at the scene that'd just occurred, mocking the boys' expressions. However, Draco was scowling and muttering, something about 'of course it was him... probably did it for attention... perfect little potter'

I was grateful when Professor Flitwick came around with our schedules. He shooed the Slytherins back to their tables as I took a look at my classes. We had Charms first period with the Gryffindors.