The New Girl

CHAPTER 1

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane

In proving foresight may be vain;

The best laid schemes o' mice and men

Gang left agley

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promis'd joy.

-To a Mouse

Robert Burns

"Hermione, have you seen Ron?" asked Harry Potter. He was making his way towards one of his best friends, Hermione Granger, through the people milling around platform nine and three-quarters. He had come here with both Hermione and his other best friend Ron Weasley, but now Ron was nowhere to be found. It was almost time to board the train to get to their school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he didn't want Ron to miss it.

"He's probably already on the train," said Hermione, flipping her golden brown hair behind her head, it had gotten very long over the summer and was always getting in her way. "C'mon, we don't want to miss it."

"Harry, Hermione, c'mere!" It was Ron, dodging the people in front of him to get to them. "There's someone you have to meet!"

Ron was very tall, almost six feet, with bright red hair. He often complained about his hair, how it made him stand out from everyone except his five brothers and one sister. As he caught up with them, Harry and Hermione noticed a short girl with shoulder-length brown hair running behind him trying to catch up with his long strides.

"This is Corey Witberg. She's a transfer from a school in America, and she's in our year. Corey, this is Hermione Granger and Harry Potter," said Ron.

"It's nice to meet you," said Hermione, shaking Corey's hand.

"You too," Corey replied.

"You're in our year?" asked Harry incredulously, and a little rudely. "Aren't you a bit, short?"

"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, nudging him in the ribs. "Just because almost every other girl in our year and above is taller than you doesn't mean you have to be rude!" Harry was only about 5'5, but it was true that almost every girl was taller than he was. Hermione wasn't, but she was only an inch shorter. So it was kind of a shock to see a girl his age who was only about 5'1.

Ron started to laugh. "You tell 'im, Hermione," he said.

Harry started to blush. "Sorry," he said to Corey, "it just sorta came out."

"It's okay, it's not the first time that happened," Corey said with a smile. Ron was still laughing. "I'm sorry," he said, trying to control himself. "It just feels so good to see someone else blushing for once, and to see Hermione dis Harry like that." Hermione looked up at Ron and started to laugh too. After taking a look at the two of them, Corey also started laughing, and then, reluctantly, Harry joined in too.

"Well, well, well, either Weasley came up with some money, Potter came up with some parents, or Granger came up with some non-mudblood roots, cause I can't think of anything else that would make you three so happy," said a voice behind them. All four of them immediately stopped laughing. It was Draco Malfoy, the slicked-back blonde with whom Harry, Ron and Hermione had been enemies with since first year.

"Fuck off, Malfoy," said Ron angrily.

"Oh I will, Weasley, as soon as I found out who this is," said Malfoy, noticing Corey for the first time.

"Corey Witberg," said Corey, throwing uncomfortable glances towards Ron. "And you are?"

"Draco Malfoy," he said smoothly, "and I'm very pleased to meet you." And then, Malfoy did something very surprising, and took Corey's hand and kissed it. Then he gave her a long look. "I'll see you later," he said, and walked away.