What If? Year 1

Chapter 8

"Wattlebird," Percy says, to the portrait with a lady on it. The painting swings to the right and reveals the Gryffindor common room. 
"Wicked," Ara says, as we start to pile into the room. 
"Hermione!" I hear Harry shout, "What house is Goldie in?" I run at Harry and tackle him. 
"Gryffindor!" I shout, "can you believe it, Harry?" Harry laughs and hugs me. 
"That's great!" Harry says, "we should write to dad. He'll be so happy!" We get up and he pats me on the back. 
"Now," I say, smacking him, "Where the hell were you?" Harry rubs his check, and whines. 
"Ron and I couldn't get through the barrier," he whines, "We flew with Mr. Weasley's car." Hermione was scolding Ron. 
"You both could have been injured!" she says, "and you worried Goldie, Ginny, and I."  Harry hugs me. Ron does the same to Ginny. 
"We're fine, see?" Ron asks. 
"I wish my brother was like that," Ara says, her hair turning blue. 
"I'm sorry," I say, "he seems like a real git." Ara nods, but smiles. 
"Who's she?" Harry whispers to me. 
"Ara Malfoy," I tell him, "And before you freak out, she's nothing like her brother. Believe me, I met her brother! She hates him." Harry smiles at Ara. 
"I'm Harry," he says, putting out his hand for Ara to shake, "Goldie's brother." Ara shakes his hand. 
"I'm Ara," she says, "and the git, Draco, is my brother." Harry laughs. Ron nods to me. 
"You're going to be in so much trouble, Ron," I say to him, "I hope you and Harry get howlers." Ron's face drains of all color. 
"Oh, Merlin!" he exclaims, "I don't wanna get a howler!" Ginny, Ara, and I laugh. 
"You should all get to bed," Percy says, "classes start tomorrow, and you'll want a full nights rest." Ara and Ginny nod. 
"Night, boys," Ara says, waving. 
"Night, Harry." Harry kisses me on the forehead. 
"Night, sis," he says, "See you in the morning."  Ara, Ginny, and I go up to our dorm.  We open the door to find bright red sheets on four beds and four trunks with Gryffindor ties and scarves.  Another girl, Heather, was sitting on one of the beds. 
"Hello," she says, "I hope it okay with you that I took this bed." 
"Yeah," Ara says, "That's fine." Ara takes the bed next to Heather and I take the one next to Ara. Ginny takes the one in between Heather's and mine. 
"So," Ginny says, "Are we actually going to sleep.. are we going to introduce ourselves a little.." 
"Well," Ara says, "I'm Ara Malfoy. I am a metamorphous, like to have a good time.  Looking forward to Potions and Flying Classes." Heather nods. 
"I am Heather Issac," she says, "I'm what a muggle would call an artist, like to prank people. I'm looking forward to History of Magic and Astronomy." 
"I'm Ginny Weasley," Ginny says, "I like to fly my brother's brooms without permission. I'm looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts." 
"I'm Marigold Potter," I mumble, "I am a nerd and a beater.  I am looking forward to all of our classes. But Charms seems the most interesting." We all talk for a while, but then start to get ready to sleep. I put on my sweatpants and a short-sleeve shirt on. Everyone gets into bed. 
"Night," Ara says. 
"Night," the rest of us sing back. I fall asleep, to the sound of wind outside. 

"She's in Gryffindor!" my dad shouts, jumping up and down, "my daughter in is Gryffindor!"
"That's great, honey," Mom says, "Minerva tell you?" Dad nods. They were proud of me. 
"Now all she has to do is get on the quidditch team!" Dad exclaims. I feel a sickening feeling in stomach. 
"What if that's not what she wants to do?" Mom asks. Dad frowns. 
"What else would she want to do?" he asks, making mom frown. 
"Maybe focus on her grades?" she asks, "or maybe she just wants to bled in, James!  Not everyone wants to be the center of attention." 
"She's a Potter," Dad says, "she's going to be the center of attention no matter what. She might as well embrace it."
"You know that Goldie doesn't like all the attention," Mom says, "She should not do anything that makes her uncomfortable." 
"I guess not," Dad says, "I should send her a letter to congratulate her!" 
"Are we not going to talk about the other elephant in the room?" Mom asks, making Dad stop in his track.
"I doubt Harry meant to," he says, "He's just a kid, Lils." 
"He was seen, James." 
"The Ministry is fixing that," Dad says.
"He still needs to be punished," Mom says.
"I'm sure he's being punished at Hogwarts," Dad says, "Why punish him here too?" 
"Because that is our job as his parents," Mom says, "I'm sending him a howler."  Dad sighs and goes back to write me a letter. 

I wake up in sweat. Everyone else was asleep, so I go and grab some parchment to write Mom and Dad a letter. I take my flashlight out and use it, making sure not to wake anyone else. I start to write:

Dear Mom and Dad, 
I was sorted into Gryffindor! It took a while, but the hat decided that I would fit best here, I guess. Ginny and I have made some more friends. Neville Longbottom, he's from Harry's year, and is a Gryffindor as well. Then there is Luna Lovegood, she is in my year, and was sorted into Ravenclaw.  Heather Issac, is a muggle-born Gryffindor, and is in my year. And then there is Ara. Ara Malfoy. Dad, before you freak out, she is nothing like her family. She is in Gryffindor, and she's a metamorphmagus and is in my year. Harry and Ron flew a car to Hogwarts. What idiots, right, Mom?  Dad is probably mad he did not think of it first. Tell Evie I love her, and her letter will be coming soon. I need to get back to sleep, so I am not tired for my first day of classes. 
Love,
Goldie

I smile, proud of my work. I fold it and put it in one of my make shift envelopes and seal it. The sun had risen now, and I groan, realizing that I won't be getting anymore sleep.