An Orchid By Any Other Name

Chapter 4- Hogwarts Express

Harry and Ron managed to make it to platform 9 ¾ in time, and were now rumbling along the track with all the other young witches and wizards of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As Ron, Hermione, and Ginny settled into a compartment near the front of the train, Harry stowed his trunk and Hedwig's cage in with them, saying, "I think I'll just go see where Neville is; be back."

They did not seem to mind at all; Ginny was searching her trunk for her deck of exploding snap cards, and Ron and Hermione were arguing over exactly how long the train trip usually was. As it turned out, Harry hadn't really been lying. Neville was in the last compartment all by himself, trying to fix the lid of his trunk with his wand. Harry joined him. "Hey Neville! What are you doing way back here?"

"Oh, well I didn't see you guys, so I just found an empty one to sit in 'till I get this fixed," Neville replied, pointing to his trunk.

"Do you want help? Here, I'll hold it straight while you charm it," Harry offered, forcing Neville's trunk lid straight. Neville took aim.

"Reparo," he said. Just then, Orchid came in.

"Harry..."

Harry looked up. His cheeks flushed as he said to Neville, "Um...Neville, this is Orchid- she's going to be at Hogwarts this year- she's from the States."

"Hi," said Neville.

"Hi."

"Well, you know, Neville, " Harry stammered, "I was supposed to meet Orchid here, and I told Ron and them that I'd find you; they're in the front of the train."

"Okay." Neville took Harry's meaning. "I'll just tell them you're tied up or something. See you later." Neville took his trunk and grinned at Harry as he closed the glass compartment door behind him.

"Orchid!" Harry took her hands in his. "You're real- I was still afraid that last night was just a dream!" He kissed her lips quickly.

"Be careful, Harry, anyone could be looking!"

"Who cares? What can anybody do?"

"I'm afraid that if my cousin finds out, he'll tell my parents, and I know them, harry, they'll bring me right home. They'd never approve."

"Why? Because I'm half-blood?

"That too, but no Harry, because you're you."

"How do they know about me over in the states?"

"Everyone knows about you- besides, my dad's British, you know, and you can guess what he's like, seeing how his brother Lucius is."

"Is he a Death Eater too?"

"Voldemort sent him to the states the year before he fell from power, to recruit over there."

"You said 'Voldemort'!" Harry blurted. At this, a few kids in the aisle turned and stared.

"Keep it down, Harry..."

Harry pulled his invisibility cloak out of his backpack and put it on, which helped Orchid feel less nervous. They sat down and talked about everything. Orchid told Harry how her mother was from the oldest pure-blood family in the States, how she was expected to agree with their ideology, how they reacted when they found out her best friend was Muggle born, and sent her here to prevent her school teachers and friends from "polluting" her any more with their dangerous ideas. "The last thing they'd want would be for me to come here and fall in love with you," she said.

"About that," he said, moving closer, "I need to tell you something. Do you know about the prophecy?"

"No."

"It was prophesied that either I'll kill Voldemort or he will kill me. There is no other way. I don't know if it's so smart for you to fall in love with me. I'm, like, a marked man or something."

"Harry, you don't understand... I can't help it. I loved you the minute I saw you- saw your eyes, I mean. She lowered her head.

"No- I do understand, Orchid, really." Harry lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "I love you and I'll take care of you, no matter what." He kissed her again. If anyone had been looking, they would have thought Orchid was crazy, kissing thin air.

"I trust you and I'm not afraid," she said. "Where can we go though? I have two years of school left."

"...Orchid... will you marry me?"

"Yes, Harry- yes; but can we?"

"I don't know, but if we were married, then they couldn't take you away from me, could they?"

"I guess they couldn't," she said. "How can we find out?

"I'll ask Professor Dumbledore tomorrow." He leaned in to kiss her again when the door slid open and Draco looked in.

"Orchid, I was looking for you. I want you to meet some friends of mine who couldn't make it last night." Draco started to come in with Crabbe, Goyle, and a couple of Slytherin girls Harry did not recognize.

Orchid jumped up, saying, "No, lets go somewhere else- the sun is too bright in here- It's giving me a headache."

After they left, Harry slipped off his cloak and made his way back to the front of the train. As usual, Ron and Hermione were bickering when he got to their compartment. "I'm not backing down, Hermione, and that's it! After what he called you? No way!"

"But Ron, term hasn't even started yet, and I don't care what he calls me! Don't get yourself into trouble the first day back for him!"

"What's going on?" asked Harry, sitting down.

"Draco challenged Ron to a duel tomorrow after dinner because of that party thing last night. And he called Hermione a Mudblood," Ginny explained.

"What! That jerk!" Harry exclaimed. "...But Ron, Hermione's right. I wish we didn't have to fight anymore- after all, if we tried to work toget-"

"Oh, come off it Harry!" Ron interrupted, " He's been pissing on me for 6 years now, and I'm done taking it! Just 'cause you're all lovey-dovey with the Malfoys now, don't try telling me not to fight this moron!"

"Harry's lovey-dovey with the Malfoys? Since when?" asked Hermione.

"Since he met Draco's cousin, Orchid, right Harry?" Ron said.

"Draco's cousin?" Neville raised his eyebrows.