Ambrogia

AMBROGIA

Chapter One-The New Girl

"Hey, Hermione? Did Professor McGonagall say what this assembly is for?" asked my best friend, Harry Potter as we walked down to the Great Hall after our Transfiguration teacher told us in class about a special assembly that Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of our magic school, had called.

"No," I replied but then frowned. "You were in class too. You would've heard it."

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Ron and I were talking about the latest racing broom called "The Whip". It' supposed to go..." Harry's voice trailed off as I was giving him a reproving look.

"But we really should have been paying attention in class," Harry said, cottoning on to my expression.

I nodded but then my expression softened. "Look, I don't care if you two like talking about Quidditch, but try and pay attention during class. We've got N.E.W.T's coming up and a lot of these lessons will be on those exams,"

"Yes, mom," said my other best friend, Ron Weasley as he hurried to catch up to us.

I scowled at him.

"She's trying to help," Harry said, frowning at Ron. "She's right though."

"I know she's right...but a little break in between never hurt anyone," Ron said, shrugging.

Deciding not to continue, I shut my mouth.

Harry, Ron and I were in our sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We became best friends since our first year. During our years here, we've encountered some difficult times. Our first year, Harry came face to face with his archenemy, Lord Voldemort. In our second year, Ron's younger sister, Ginny was being used by Voldemort via a diary. Harry had rescued her. Our third year, Harry's godfather, Sirius, had come into Harry's life and we learned that Wormtail had been the one who had squealed to Lord Voldemort Harry's parents' hideout and he had killed them, but again, Harry had survived. Our fourth year poor Harry was once again thrown into danger by our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who was really Barty Crouch JR who was accused of being a Death Eater a few years ago...and our fifth year Sirius was killed by a Death Eater and we learned of a prophecy on Harry's side.

We entered the Great Hall and took our seats at the Gryffindor table. The rest of the school was already sitting at their tables.

I was sitting near Harry. Ron was across from us. We turned our attention to Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

He was wearing a royal blue robe with silver stars on it. His gray/white beard and hair reached nearly past his shoulders. His blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon spectacles as he looked around at each student.

"I have a special announcement to make," Professor Dumbledore began. "We have the pleasure of hosting to a foreign student. She comes from the United States. I hope we can all show her hospitality."

Harry looked over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were snickering amongst themselves.

"I think Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle would rather show hospitality to a Flobberworm before being nice to a new student," I said, slowly.

"If she's perfect like Malfoy poo thinks he is, then I don't see why they wouldn't get along," Ron muttered, shaking his head.

Harry snorted.

I frowned at Ron. "Everyone is not perfect, Ron. Everyone has flaws,"

"Not Fleur Delacour," Ron said, promptly. "Remember? The part veela girl?"

I rolled my eyes. "How could I not remember?"

"Ron? She had a flaw," Harry said slowly.

Ron looked at him like he was mad. "What would that be?"

"She gets ugly when she gets mad. God-forbid she gets really enraged," Harry said, shaking his head.

I felt myself smiling.

Ron shrugged.

We turned our attention back to Professor Dumbledore. He was whispering to Professor McGonagall. She got up and walked out of the Great Hall. A few moments later, the doors to the Great Hall opened and every head turned to look.

A girl about our age was standing in front of Professor McGonagall. She had shoulder length dark brown hair and the most amazing blue eyes. She was dressed in a black skirt, which reached her knees; A red V-necked shirt that was under a white V-necked vest and a black robe over that. She had black knee high socks and Mary Jane shoes on. Everyone in the hall was dressed in our uniforms. The only thing different was the house colors stitched on the V neck of our gray vests. Gryffindors had maroon/gold with matching ties. The Slytherins had green/silver...Hufflepuffs had blue/yellow and the Ravenclaws had red/black. The girls wore skirts while the boys wore gray slacks.

I adjusted my tie, as it was becoming tight. The girl and Professor McGonagall began walking up the center aisle between the Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw tables.

"Ah, Miss Danielle Peters...please take a seat wherever you'd like," Professor Dumbledore said, kindly.

Danielle looked around at each of the tables. No one budged over. Once again, I sighed and irritably scooted closer to Harry.

"I believe there's room at the Gryffindor table," Professor Dumbledore said, gently.

Danielle looked confused.

"Will the Gryffindors please raise their hands?"

I eagerly raised my right hand. Danielle looked a little relieved. I heard snorting and laughing at the Slytherin table. I looked over at the table and scowled at them.

Leave it to them to make the girl feel like a complete fool on her first day. I thought angrily. Of course she wouldn't know where our table or any of them for that matter were...this is her first time here!

Danielle walked up the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor table until she found us and sat down beside me.

"Hi," she said, brightly. "I'm Danielle Peters."

"I'm Hermione Granger,"

"Harry Potter,"

"Ron Weasley,"

Danielle grinned at each of us. "Pleased to meet you,"

What struck me odd is that she made no hint of knowing Harry or even hearing of him. She kept her eyes on his face, not even moving up to his scar. Harry must've realized that too, as he looked at me with raised eyebrows.

I just shrugged and shook my head. I had no idea why that was.

"So, what part of the US are you from?" I asked, forcing cheerfulness into my voice.

"Here and there," Danielle said automatically.

There was just something about her that didn't sit right with me...something along the lines of having no remorse.

"Where did you go to school?" Harry asked.

"Oh I didn't. I just decided to wear this to kind of fit in...you know?" Danielle asked, cheerfully.

"But are you a witch?" I asked shocked.

"I guess so," Danielle said, but then changed the subject. "Hey! Do you have any cute guys here?"

My jaw dropped. She was eagerly scanning the entire Hall until her eyes landed on the Slytherin table.

"We have contact!" Danielle said, happily. "Who's he?"

"Draco Malfoy," Harry said. "He's a git."

"I don't think so. He seems nice and I think he's cute," Danielle said. "Be right back."

With that, she stood up and walked toward the Slytherin table. Ron's jaw dropped as well.

"Is she bloody mad?" Ron asked, shocked.

I looked at Ron and Harry.

"Something doesn't sit right with me. For someone from the US, she wouldn't know what 'git' meant...and she did. Secondly, she's not very clear about where she's from," I said.

"Maybe she learned our terms before coming?" Harry suggested.

I frowned. "Maybe,"

We turned our attention back to Danielle and Malfoy. They were talking and just before the bell rang, ending breakfast, they headed off together out of the Hall.

"Did you see that?" Harry whispered to me as the three of us headed to Charms class.

"Yeah...it looked like they were buddy-buddy," Ron replied, still ogling after Danielle and Malfoy.

We entered class. We were learning the Return Charm, after the Summoning Charm was used.

About 20 minutes later, Danielle and Malfoy returned back from wherever they went. Malfoy's robes looked tousled and lopsided.

Harry and I looked at each other with wide eyes. Danielle spied us and came over to us taking seat behind Harry and I and sat next to Ron, who was behind Harry.

"He really is nice," Danielle said, in an off-hand tone.

"What did he do to you?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Its not what he did to me...its what I did to him," Danielle grinned evilly.

At that, my stomach churned.

She slept with him! I thought.

I think Harry and Ron caught on too, because Ron was blushing and so was Harry.

"I see," I said, slowly.

We continued the rest of the lesson.

After Charms, we went to Transfiguration, History of Magic, and our last class of the day was Potions and learned the Scaravat Potion. It was used to momentarily confuse someone. It was changed into a gas and dropped in front of the person you wished to confuse. It was harmless really.

During Potions, Malfoy said he wasn't feeling well and asked to go to Madam Pomfrey. Professor Snape, concerned naturally, allowed him, Crabbe and Goyle to leave the classroom.

I leaned close to Harry.

"I wonder what's wrong with him?" I whispered.

"Dunno, but if it was one of us sick, he wouldn't care less," Harry muttered.

Danielle was happily talking to Ron asking him all kinds of questions about his family.

She seemed to intent on hearing about him and his family.

"Why is she so set on learning about Ron's family?" I whispered to Harry.

"Probably just curious," Harry said, shrugging one shoulder. "Relax."

He grinned and winked at me.

I glanced back at Ron and Danielle still talking low so Professor Snape wouldn't hear them. I just frowned and returned to my potion.

THE NEXT MORNING.

The next morning for breakfast, we entered the Great Hall. Odd thing was, Danielle was missing and so was Malfoy.

"Don't suppose they're off..." Ron's voice trailed off.

"Dunno," Harry said. "I caught what they did yesterday. How did she do it?"

I looked at Harry with an amused and annoyed expression.

"Didn't the Dursley's teach you anything about pro-creation?" I asked.

Harry looked at me for a moment before digging the heels of his palms into his eyes.

"Egads! Don't put horrid images of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia in my head!!" he wailed.

Ron burst out laughing. I stood, scowling.

"No, Hermione. What I meant was literally 'How could she do it?' That's Malfoy we're talking about. He's...Malfoy," Harry said.

I shrugged. "Maybe they like each other,"

Ron was still rolling with laughter.

"They'll be little Malfets running around soon!"

Harry nearly choked on his eggs and sausage as he too, burst into laughter.

I just shook my head and turned my attention back to my food.

By our second class, neither Danielle or Malfoy showed up. Even Crabbe and Goyle were starting to worry about him.

"Where on earth are those two?" I mused as we walked to Transfiguration.

"I hope far away," Ron muttered. "That girl gives me the heebie jeebies."

"In what way? She was certainly interesting in hearing about your family," I said.

"Dunno...something about her..." Ron's voice trailed off. "There's Malfoy."

We turned and looked.

Sure enough Malfoy was walking up the corridor looking oddly smug. He joined Crabbe and Goyle and they entered the classroom without even looking at us.

We exchanged looks and entered the classroom as well, taking our usual seats.

Malfoy was oddly smiling at us during the lesson.

Harry nudged me with his elbow.

"Check out Ferret boy," he whispered.

"I know...I caught it. What's going on with him?" I whispered back.

"Weird," Harry whispered back.

Ron leaned forward next.

"And where is Danielle? She just disappeared into thin air," Ron whispered looking thoroughly confused and surprised.

"That's another thing," I said, slowly. "She hasn't been at breakfast or dinner or classes yesterday. The last time we've seen her was after the 'incident' with Malfoy."

Ron shook his head and we went back to our Potion.

Professor Snape made his rounds to check the potions. He deducted 10 points from Gryffindor because Harry had forgotten to add the Lyrix wings to his potion and when he went to check on Malfoy's, we got a pleasant surprise.

"Mr. Malfoy...are you deaf boy?" Professor Snape asked, sneering.

Immediately, Ron, Harry and I's heads popped up to listen. I think the rest of the Gryffindors were listening intently as well.

"No," Malfoy stammered.

For the first time since we've known him, he looked scared of his house teacher.

"You were supposed to add 3 Lyrix wings, 12 Obinon nails and 9 Jumlort scales!" Professor Snape snarled.

Malfoy looked terrified.

"He's never been scared of Snape...that's his house teacher," Harry said, slowly. His emerald green eyes were filled with surprise and confusion behind his black-rimmed glasses.

I didn't reply and watched Malfoy's reaction start to change.

"His expression changed," I whispered to Harry and Ron.

We continued to watch.

Malfoy stood up and placed both palms face down on the desk. He leaned forward toward Snape.

"You sir, have a nasty attitude," Malfoy said, smirking.

Professor Snape looked taken aback and his eyes widened.

"I've never heard Malfoy talk back to Snape like this! Malfoy's like Snape's' Golden Child," Ron said, awed.

Professor Snape recovered himself and glared at Malfoy.

"And you sir are out of line! How dare you speak to me like that! You are nothing but a student! I don't take orders from students!" Snape hissed.

"And you are nothing but at nasty, self indulged, lonely, deprived bastard," Malfoy said smiling.

At that, our jaws dropped in unison. Malfoy had certainly gone far...nothing as to what he was before. This was an all-new side to Malfoy.

Even Crabbe and Goyle were looking at Malfoy as if he'd just crossed over into Gryffindor. The classroom was silent. We could almost see the vein throbbing in Snape's forehead. He looked like he was turning shades of scarlet.

"Take yourself up to the Headmaster, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Snape said, in a low, dangerous voice he uses when he's reached the boiling point.

"My pleasure," Malfoy smiled as he gathered his things and as he passed us, he smiled and said:

"Are there anymore cute boys here?"

With that, he disappeared out of the classroom.