Second Chances

Chapter One: A New Beginning

Catherine looked at the Hogwarts Express not believing what was happening. She still had doubts about what the chief of police had told her that fateful night. Who would have thought that she, an orphan from America, would be attending what was known as "one of the finest wizarding schools in the world." But then again, who would have thought that a blood gang member would have been a witch.

I wish that I had known that sooner, she thought, magic probably would have come in handy on some of the missions that I had to go on.

She averted her eyes from the huge scarlet train to her surroundings. All around her families were saying their good-byes and students were hustling to get on the train before it left. Catherine picked up her trunk and dragged it to the train. She quickly checked that she had everything before getting onto the Hogwarts Express.

Inside, the train seemed much bigger than it had from the outside. Catherine walked down the aisle, looking for an empty compartment. She ignored the people staring at her and whispering to each other,

"Do you know who she is?"

"I've never seen her before."

"She's too old to be a first year."

She rolled her eyes at them, although she knew that she stuck out like a sore thumb. Most of them had already changed into their school robes. Catherine was in low-rise baggy cargos with a double row pyramid belt, army boots, and a black tank top. The tank top showed off her tattoos; a tribal band around her upper right arm and on her lower back above her pants, the word Wildcat. The tank top said, "Don't mess with me." Her dark red hair hung loose around her face, pin straight. Her makeup consisted of black eye liner and black mascara that showed off the color of her eyes. They were a honey color, with a dark rim of brown around her pupil. She was different from them. Did she care? No.

Catherine finally found an empty compartment at the end of the train. She dragged her trunk into it and sat down. Once she was settled, she pulled out her mp3 player and turned it on. She sighed happily as "Wait and Bleed" by Slipknot started to play. During the ride to Hogsmead, many people peeked into the windows of her compartment, trying to figure out what she was doing there. A few people even had the guts to come in and try to talk with her. She ignored them.

There was a knock at the door. Sighing, Catherine got up and opened the compartment. Standing there was a very tall redhead boy, a short bushy haired girl, and a tall boy with messy black hair and glasses.

"Hi, I'm Hermione, this is Harry and this is Ron. Do you mind if we join you? There is no room anywhere else." Hermione talked very fast while Ron looked at the floor and Harry stared at Catherine.

"Yea, sure." Catherine turned away from the door and sat down.

"So where are you from?" Catherine looked at Hermione, startled by her question.

"New York City. It's not so bad. A lot of people don't like the crowding but after awhile you get used to it..." She looked up after realizing that she was babbling. They were interested so she talked about the city, leaving out her gang, until the witch with the food cart came by. They all made a few purchases; Catherine got Chocolate Frogs and Pumpkin Pastries. Then she turned the conversation to Hogwarts. Soon, she went from not knowing anything about it to knowing practically everything about it.

"You forgot one little thing about Hogwarts, Potty. They let in just about anybody, regardless of blood. Half bloods, Mudbloods, and Mudblood lovers." drawled a cruel voice from the door.

Catherine had been so absorbed in learning about Hogwarts that she didn't notice the boy until he talked. She looked at the door and saw a tall blond boy flanked by two huge boys who looked like they could be bouncers at a club. Then Catherine noticed their blank looks.

I take it back...they don't look like they could even tell me what two plus two is.

"How long were you listening Malfoy?" Harry spat back, standing up. Catherine could see the anger building up inside of him. Hermione saw it too. She got up and went to him. Putting a hand on his arm, Hermione started talking to Harry in a low voice, telling him to let it be.

Once Catherine saw that Harry was under control, she swung her attention back to the blond boy. Her eyes scrutinized every part of him, sizing him up as if he were a rival gang member. He was very well built; his muscles showed through the tight black shirt that he was wearing. He was thin, but not scrawny. His skin looked like it hadn't seen sunlight in awhile.

Well I guess he didn't go to the beach this summer, Catherine thought.

His silvery-blond hair was long enough that it hung in his gray eyes. She met them. In them, she saw curiosity, resentment, pain, and something she couldn't quite place. Then he blocked his eyes from showing any emotion.

That was interesting... Catherine thought. She tried to get past the block in his eyes, not realizing that she was staring. His voice brought her back to reality.

"Who's this Potty? Is she your girlfriend or is she the Weasel's girlfriend?"

Catherine didn't like the tone in his voice. It's obvious that he wants trouble. She watched, as he looked her up and down, his eyes not missing an inch of her body.

If it's trouble he wants, I will give it to him, he won't know what hit him.

She smirked and turned to Harry, Hermione and Ron. She noticed that they had pulled out their wands and she shook her head at them.

"Let me handle this guys, he's just a little boy." she stressed the word boy as she looked back at the blond. When she spoke, her nerves hummed as she prepared herself to fight if she would need to.

"You are?"

"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. I would watch whom you hang out with, people like these" he gestured to Harry, Ron and Hermione, " a Mudblood and two Mudblood lovers. That can rub off onto people. I am a pureblood, from one of the oldest wizarding families around." She could trace pride in his voice.

"Hey, Malfoy. I have no clue what my blood is. I never knew my parents. Grew up in an orphanage and foster homes until I ran away. Joined a gang, earned a name for myself." Catherine smirked, "Don't mess with me, you will honestly regret it. Just because I am a girl doesn't mean that I wont hesitate to hurt you if I have to."

He reached out and pinned her against the wall, looking into her eyes. Looking back into them, Catherine felt as if she were drowning in a gray sea. She mentally shook herself as he leaned his lips to her ear. He spoke into it softly, "Try me."

She punched him in the stomach and then again quickly in the nose. Surprised by her speed and the force behind her punches, Draco stepped back, holding his nose. Catherine looked towards the other boys, waiting for them to attack. They never did. She looked back at Draco.

"I told you not to mess with me. Now get out." Draco glared into her eyes. The gray sea had turned into a steely gray color. She could read the message in them; I'll get you for this. Catherine stepped towards him, and he got up quickly, leaving the room.

She rolled her eyes at him and shut the compartment door behind him. "I'm glad he's gone. He's a bit of a cocky bastard." She turned around to see Harry and Ron grinning at her and Hermione coving her mouth in shock. "What?"

"Where did you learn that stuff? That was great! You didn't use magic so they can't take away from the house that you are put into!" Ron exclaimed.

Catherine sighed, "Well...it's a long story..." She told them about her gang life in New York City until the train stopped.