Pride & Ambition

First Year: Chapter 1

"Come on, Ryd, we're going to miss the train!" my best friend Draco called impatiently. We hurried along the crowded train station, headed for platform 9 3/4. Our parents were behind us, dressed to impress.  This was our first year at Hogwarts, the magical school for witchcraft and wizardry. I'd literally been dreaming about this moment my whole life. My brother Massey wasn't old enough to go yet, he was just a year younger than me and Draco. He'd be joining us next year though.  I looked behind me at Massey, who was walking beside Missus Malfoy. Father was talking with Mr. Malfoy, about the next upcoming charity event, or some news from the Ministry. "Coming!" I called to Draco. 

We stopped between platforms nine and ten, and waited for our parents and the house elves pushing our carts to catch up. "Are you children ready?" Missus Malfoy asked. Draco and I nodded eagerly. "Just run on through, and we'll have the elves load your trunks." my father told us. I turned to Draco. "Together?" I asked. "Always." he replied. He took his hand in mine,  and whispered "Don't be scared, if you crash, I'll be right here laughing." "I'm not scared," I told him, rolling my eyes. 

Hand in hand, we ran towards the barrier. I shut my eyes a bit at the end, and miraculously, we made it through. A moment later, everyone else walked through calmly, the epitome of what a pureblood wizarding family should look like. The Hogwarts Express was a large black and red steam train, with smoke billowing out of the top. Students were already milling about, and I spotted some of my friends.

"Blaise!" I called. "Theo!" Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott were my other two closest friends. These boys were like my brothers, aside from mine, of course. "Ryddall!" Blaise walked over, Missus Zabini following him, going over to speak with the other adults. "How was your holiday?" I asked. "It was alright. Mum dragged Theo and me to Italy this year." "That sounds fun," I said, knowing that Blaise secretly enjoyed his vacations with his mother. Blaise's father had died years ago, and Missus Zabini had countless flings, but never settled down, instead opting to travel the world, often dragging Blaise along. "Massey and I spent the summer at Malfoy Manor," I said nodding to Draco, who was chatting with Massey and Theo.

"Children you should probably board the train, if you want an empty compartment," Mr. Malfoy suggested. Actually, it wasn't really a suggestion. I hugged my my father and brother, and said my goodbyes. Massey was a little reluctant to let go, but I promised to write. In fact, father had bought me an owl, on the condition that I write him lots. I named him Archimedes, after a person in a muggle history book I'd recently read. Massey made me promise to tell him all about Hogwarts, to which I replied "You'll see it yourself next year, Mass." "I know, I know," he pouted. "Can't I go with Ryd this year, Father?" "Next year, son," Father replied. "Ready?" Draco asked. I took his hand, the way we've always done, and let him lead me towards the train, Theo and Blaise behind us. 

Draco helped me onto the train, and the four of us found an empty compartment. Draco let me have the window seat, which he knew I liked. Blaise sat across from us, and Theo sat across from Draco. "What house do you think you'll be in, Ryddall?" Theo asked. "Obviously Slytherin," Draco answered for me before I could even open my mouth. "She's a Greengrass, what else do you expect?" "Fair point," Theo chuckled. It was true. All the Greengrasses were descended from a long line of Slytherins. Honestly, if I didn't end up in Slytherin, I probably shouldn't bother even going home, because I'd surely be disowned. 

At that moment, the door to our compartment opened. A pug-faced girl stood in the doorway. "Who are you?" Draco asked, not even trying to mask his contempt. That was how he acted towards literally everyone, not in our elite circle. "Pansy Parkinson." Draco relaxed, she was from the same group of families as ours.  He nodded, as much of an apology as Parkinson would ever get. "Well, I was just coming to ask if you all had met Harry Potter yet." "No," Blaise, Theo and I all said at the same time, Just as Draco said "Once." "What?" I turned to face him. It was common knowledge that Harry Potter, the famous boy who lived, would be starting at Hogwarts this year, the same as all of us.