Well, now it's my third year! I'm still ignoring my brother and ruling the school with my Slytherin friends. And, at home, it's even better! Since I'm gone most of the time, when I come back, I get extra pampering. It's really nice!
"Goodbye, auntie! Thank you for everything!" I hug Aunt Petunia and make my way through station 9 3/4. My cat in a bag in one arm, my suitcases in the other. The train ride is always my favorite part. I hug Pansy hello and we enter the train, heading for our usual spot. I spot Draco terrorizing some first years and all I can think is, "Wow, Dudley would like to see that." So, I record it. Draco takes the kid's suitcase and throws it across the train as if it weighed nothing. The kid cries, afraid. Draco laughs and spots us. He walks towards us, leaving the kid to run away and find his suitcase. The kid almost trips with how fast he's moving. Draco approaches us, smirk on his face, and daps us up.
"Long time no see, Potter." he teases while grabbing my suitcase out of my hand and dragging it himself.
"It's only been a few months, Draco. You can survive a summer without me." I roll my eyes and thank him for grabbing my suitcase. He can be a gentleman sometimes.
"Yeah, sure. I saw Pans this summer, though! Right, Pans?" he nudges Pansy, taking her out of her dream-like state.
"Huh? Oh, yeah! I went over to the Malfoy's Manor. Cissy is really nice!" she smiles and holds my arm a bit tighter at mentioning Cissy.
"Lucky. I wish I could go." I pout.
"Come for Winter Break, then! We're having a big party! All purebloods invited!" Draco exclaims as we approach our compartment.
"I'll ask Auntie Petunia. She'll probably let me go. You guys have a room I can stay in, right?" I ask.
"Yeah! Of course! It's a bloody mansion, not some mudblood house." he says, as he opens the compartment door.
"Hey, Pans, what are you thinking so much about? You've barely said a word this whole time." I ask her.
"What? Oh, sorry. I just have a lot on my mind. . ." She says as she takes a seat on the window seat.
I become worried but I suppose I'll ask her later, when we have some privacy. Maybe when we get to our dorm. I hope she's okay.
"Hey Rina!" Blaise says as he stands up to hug me. I melt into his embrace with a smile on my face. He's like the brother I've never had. Harry never treated me like this, but Blaise does. He's loving and caring. His hugs always make me feel better. I can't help but notice Draco sneering and his cheeks turning red.
"Hello there, Pans!" he lets go and goes to hug Pansy, who's still stuck in her head. She jumps when he hugs her but then hugs back. Wow, it's like her mind is in another planet today.
"Hey Draco!" Blaise enfolds Draco in a hug. Draco looks uncomfortable, but eventually gives in.
I take a seat next to Pansy, grabbing her soft hand into mine and enclosing it to help her feel better. Sometimes physical pressure can be therapeutic. Draco puts my bags in the overhead compartment, and then takes his seat next to Blaise.
"Luna looks good." Draco says, holding my cat, who's purring, in his hands.
"Yeah, thanks. She's the best cat ever." I stare at my greyish - whiteish cat. She has a large grey strip from her head to her tail, but her whole downside, neck to paws, is white. Luna has piercing green eyes that shine when the sun hits them just right.
The door to the compartment opens abruptly, and I stop analyzing my cat. Draco jumps, and holds Luna even tighter. Blaise takes out his wand, reaching one arm across to protect Pansy. Pansy has fallen asleep. I hold my wand out as well, ready to fight. Everyone knows not to mess with us, but those pesky 1st year old's might not. I take an arm across Pansy, leaving my right arm stretched out in front of me, ready to attack. Suddenly, I feel my soul getting drenched in piss. I feel hopelessness and despair. The room starts getting cloudy and it starts spinning.
"Draco, why is the room spinning?" I finally manage to say.
"De- de- dementor!" He yells. So much for him being the tough one. Blaise took to protecting the sleeping Pansy while I scrambled to create a patronus.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I yell at the top of my lungs, while thinking about my first day of school here. A beautiful ragdol cat comes out of the tip of my wand and scares the dementor away. I take fast, shallow breaths as I sit back down. Pansy has woken up and is clutching Blaise's shirt for comfort. Draco releases Luna into my arms and sits down, running his hands through his hair. They all look terrified.
"How- How did you-?" Draco struggles to ask.
"The patronus? I learned a while ago. Professor Quirrell took a liking to me in first year and taught me how to conjure one." I explain, rubbing Luna's head.
"He did?" Pansy asks, impressed.
"Yes. Of course, I didn't know he was evil. But, it's useful to know now." I explain.
"Can you teach us how to do it?" Blaise asks, looking fearful. He's probably terrified now. Meeting a dementor is no fun moment.
"Yeah, of course. All you have to do is think of a happy moment. A moment that overfills you with joy. And then, only thinking about that moment, you shout 'EXPECTO PATRONUM'. It's that easy." I show them with my wand.
"What's your happiest moment?" Pansy asks, suddenly interested. Draco stares at me too, looking completely intrigued.
"Umm. . . well, it's a bit embarrassing. . ." I carry Luna up to my face and boop her nose with mine, as an attempt to try to hide my red cheeks from them.
"Come on, Rina! You know you can trust us." Pansy begs. I stare at Draco and he has slanted forward with his elbows on his knees, looking at me with great interest. I guess I have to tell them now.
"I think of the first day of school. First year. When we all first met." Draco smirks and sits back up. Pansy squeals and hugs me, mumbling about how sweet I am. And, Blaise smiles at me, looking proud. I blush a little and hide my face in Pansy's shoulder.
"That's powerful enough?" Draco scoffs.
"Yes, in fact, it is. Happiest moment of my life." I stare at him in an intimidating way. Daring him with my eyes to say something else. He blushes and turns to look at the window. Blaise and Pansy start laughing.
"That's the happiest moment of your life?! That's kind of sad!" Blaise says between laughs.
"Yes. It is. Because I finally felt at home. The memory I use is the one right after I got sorted into Slytherin. At that moment, I felt like I belonged." I explain.
"Awww! Look at you being so sweet!" Pansy exclaims as she squeezes my arm tighter. Blaise winks at me and Draco is still beet-red looking out the window.
Suddenly, there is a knock at the compartment door. I quickly reach over and drop Luna into Draco's arms and pull out my wand. I approach the door slowly and open the blinds. Oh, it's just the food trolley lady. I exhale the breath that I didn't know I was holding in and open the door. She comes in asking what we want to buy.
"Oh, I don't have any extra money. Sorry." I tell her, and take a seat. Pansy buys herself a chocolate frog and some Every Flavour Jelly Belly Beans. She likes to prank people with those. Blaise buys himself an iced pumpkin juice and some liquorice wands. Draco bought himself two Cauldron Cakes, two chocolate bars, and two iced pumpkin juices. How nice it must be to be rich. The nice food trolley lady exits our compartment, leaving Pansy and Blaise devouring their food. I look over at Draco, who's still holding Luna, and stand up. I take Luna from him so he can eat, but he pulls her back into his lap.
"Here, Dray. Let me take her off your hands so you can eat." I tell him.
"Nonsense. This is for you." He passes me one chocolate bar, one Cauldron cake, and one iced pumpkin juice.
"Shit, Draco. Thank you! You know you didn't have to."
"I'm not just gonna let you go hungry. Enjoy your food."
I start devouring my Cauldron Cake, going somehow faster than Pansy and Blaise. I haven't eaten since this morning and this tastes delicious.
"Merlin, Draco. You're the best!" I say, between bites.
Draco smiles and says, "Don't talk with your mouth full, you animal."
My cheeks get warm and I send an apologetic look at him. He just starts laughing. I finish the chocolate bar. Suddenly, I'm really thirsty. I grab the iced pumpkin juice and start drinking it. I finish the juice in a few gulps and thank Draco once again. He smiles and starts sipping his juice, rubbing Luna's back with his other hand. I look out the window and notice we're close to Hogwarts. I can see the grand building from here. I poke Pansy and tell her we have to go change. Draco stands up, giving Luna to Blaise, and grabs my bag for me. Let's just say I'm the shortest one there. So, Draco has to grab it for me. I unzip my suitcase and grab my robes. Pansy does the same. But, she's taller so she can get her own bag. Although she has complained that Draco doesn't do that gentleman shit for her. She always loses that argument. Robes in hand, we head off to the bathroom. We go into the bathroom together and start changing.
"Did you see that new 3rd year? I heard she moved from Beauxbatons. She's beautiful." Pansy starts telling me as she takes off her shirt.
"Oooo! Does Pansy have a crush?" I tease her, whipping her lightly with my shirt.
"Maybe. . . I need to meet her." Pansy came out as lesbian last year. It was no surprise really, I've never seen her look at guys the way that she looks at girls. Blaise was so happy for her and Draco didn't really care. Some girls gave her death stares in the locker room when they were changing but Pansy responded by flipping them off and saying "I would never date your crusty looking asses! I have taste and self-respect." Needless to say, the girls stayed away.
"So, are you gonna talk to her?"
"Maybe. . . Let's see what house she gets into first."
"Is this why you've been in dream land the whole ride? Envisioning your future with her?"
"Ha ha. Very funny. Move over, Rina." She pushes me to the side and exits the bathroom. I finish putting on my robe and follow her out. When we come back, Luna is back in her cage and Draco and Blaise are clothed and ready to go. I take a seat next to Pansy, but she's looking out the window. I know she's probably worried about the new girl. What if she's not into girls? I feel bad for Pansy cause she never knows. And, Draco and Blaise are some of the biggest players in the school, followed by Cedric. So, I have to tell them to stay away from her.
"Dray, Blaise, I need you to do me a favor. Stay away from the new girl from Beauxbatons."
"Why?" Draco asks. He doesn't like to be ordered around without reason.
I shoot a look at Pansy and Draco catches on. Draco mouths an 'oh' and Blaise says of course. Pansy looks at me, as if saying thank you, and puts her head on my lap. I stroke her hair and watch as we get closer and closer to Hogwarts. Let's get another year in the books.
We stop at the station. As I walk off the train, I take a deep breath and sigh with enjoyment. Merlin, I love this place.
Let's get ready for another year.
