The Minster's Daughter- Draco Malfoy

sorted again.

"Audrey Crouch- as in the Minister's daughter?" He asked, but Hermione scolded him in a whisper, telling him to stop being nosy, apologising on his behalf.

"It's fine. And yes, Ron, but we aren't too close. I've been in France for a while, until now. I literally arrived in England yesterday." I said to him. He smiled and proceeded to ask me questions.

"Father told me you were in France. He said the Minister sent you there after your brother passed. I seen the Minister speaking with my father when I got on the train. What was it like in France?" He asked me. France was a complex subject.

"From what I've heard, very different from Hogwarts. My father has told me that you have a sorting hat, that places you into one of four houses, but at Beauxbatons, we shoot an arrow that erupts the colours of your house, which is only 3 possibilities. I was in Ombrelune, and we were taught by one teacher for all subjects, instead of taught by teachers of specialist subjects." I ranted. It was so complex there compared to here and I could see it in their faces.

"So, you only had one mentor? Did you do the same subjects as us? How did it work?" She questioned. I felt slightly interrogated, making me nervous to give detail to my answers.

"Yes, we had one mentor that escorted us to classes that had things in for the subjects we were being taught in sessions. From what I understand, we done the same subjects as you but we had to choose a specialist, which wasn't in the curriculum. They were mostly sports skills." I said. I really hoped there weren't many other questions.

"Specialist? Is that not a bit hypocritical, seeing as they didn't have any?" Harry asked, looking confused. It really was hard to wrap your head around.

"Well, technically our non-curricular specialist subjects were some teachers subjects that they taught. I done dancing and quidditch, so I had the teacher who unfortunately taught both. She was also my head of house so she taught me everything else. Honestly, I'm glad to get away from her." I ranted, yet again. I hated her. Correction- hate her still.

"Sounds like someone wasn't best friends with the teacher" Harry said with a smile. I laughed. I really bloody wasn't. "Anyway, if the teachers weren't best suited to a subject, then what happened? Did you just not learn it as well?" He asked. Why so many questions?

"We did, but we worked from books. In our pairs, we worked at our own paces and the aim in my pair with my friend was to work as efficiently as possible, so we would have to do less later on. It worked for the most part until Madame Carrow seen we were doing nothing. Last year, she made us re-write some old school records to 'create valuable time' instead of lazing around" Even talking about her made me angry. There were many questions following that. I also asked questions about their school, but I had been there frequently enough on messages with my father during summer times when he allowed me to return. After a while, the train slowly came to a halt, making me nervous all over again. Ron invited me to stick with them, an offer I took graciously.

We got off the train and we were met by Hagrid. He and I knew each other, as he gave me my owl. He gave me a smile after his initial surprise that I was here.

"Evening, Miss Crouch. I see you've found the trouble makers now, have you? How's Dixie? I hope you've been taking good care of her, she's a proud bird, you know!" He said, passionately. He loved Dixie, what was now my owl. He sent instructions on how to take care of her properly. She's a bit too pampered for an owl, but I couldn't care less.

"Of course, Hagrid, although, you failed to tell me that a 'tan mouse' is a seasonal item in stocks" I joked. Hagrid let out a hearty laugh.

"Hagrid, you know Audrey?" Harry asked, confused.

"Oh aye, of course I know her! She's Barty's. Well, looks like they are all of the train. I'm gonna have to get the first years over the lake first, go to the back and you might catch me." We turned and got to the back of everyone. Eventually we got to some carriages being wheeled by threstrals. I could see them, as a girl once had a fatal quidditch accident in my match. The bludger almost hit me instead of her.

Harry and Ron got onto a fairly full one, whilst me and Hermione got onto an empty one. Hermione asked me about the book I was reading on the train, which sparked a conversation about our favourite authors. Alas, the conversation stopped when someone else got into the carriage. He was a tall boy, wearing all black with a mop of bright blonde hair on his head. He sat opposite us, followed by his friend.

"Shove off, Malfoy. We never invited you on our carriage. Take Blaise with you." Hermione said, angrily. Don't blame her. The Malfoy's are notorious for being rude, especially over blood status.

"Pleasure to see you too Granger. And, I would, but there are no more carriages, you see so I must suffer," he looked me up and down and slightly smirked, but narrowed his eyes as if trying to figure me out "besides, I have yet to meet your new friend. Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. And you are?" He asked with genuine question. I'm pretty sure he's looking for something else to say about the information I was about to tell him.

"Audrey Crouch" I said, not wanting to say anymore than I needed to.

"Ooo a Crouch. Barty's daughter, right? I've heard all about you from my father. Good to know there's still some sacred 28 blood in Hogwarts. You must be familiar, right?" He asked. So the rumours were true. So what if I'm sacred 28? Why should he care? I certainly don't.

"I am, but I don't see the need in placing people on pedestals over their blood" I answered back, keeping my eyes averted.

"Not so nice about that, are we? I can certainly change that." He said, smugly. I decided not to answer and soon enough, time had passed and we had to get off to enter the castle. It was better than I last remember, more magical. Professor McGonnagal came out, addressing everyone in, but told me to remain slightly behind. She guided me to the outside of the Great Hall, when all of a sudden, voices were hushed and I could faintly hear Dumbledore welcoming everybody, and the doors opened when McGonnagal signalled me to follow her. Some people were too engrossed in conversation to notice I had came in, others looked at me.

"I would like you all to warmly welcome Audrey Crouch, a transfer from Beauxbatons in France. As she will be beginning today, she will be sorted before the first years." Dumbledore said just as I was getting to the top. I knew everybody was watching, so I focussed on other things, rather than everyone's stares. McGonnagal signalled that I sat on the stool as she held the infamous sorting hat, inclining me to sit.

"Ahhh, another Crouch. Brave, this one is, but ambition running through your veins. Brainy and creative you are, yet ever resourceful. I'll have to place you," It paused for a couple of short seconds. The candles above had caught my attention, whilst listening on eagerly, "in SLYTHERIN" Clapping erupted from the Slytherin table. Disbelief. Pure disbelief. I sat in an empty seat, not realising Malfoy was opposite with that looked like two chunky bodyguards next to him. He smirked at me and I turned and met the gaze of the three I had shared the train compartment with, only getting looks of sympathy.