Kings and Pawns, Emperors and Fools

The New Girl

Hermione sat by the window watching the first years excitedly running through the tunnel. The older students' were somewhat less exited, but hurried to the train looking for an empty compartment. This was Hermione's seventh and last year at Hogwarts.

At that moment Harry and Ron burst in.

'Hullo Hermione!!' Harry said, bending down to give her a hug.

'Hi,' Hermione replied.

'How's your summer been?' Ron asked.

'Mine has been great,' Hermione said. 'How has your summer been?'

'Harry and I went to every quidditch game we could and...' Ron went on and on about Quidditch, but Hermione wasn't listening.

Draco Malfoy had just arrived on the platform with his parents (Lucius Malfoy had weaselled his way out of Azkaban, in her 5^th year) and a girl; she was probably the same age as Draco.

She was tall, maybe 1.75m; she had a perfect body, every curve and every lump were where they should be. Hermione was too far away to see her face. Then Lucius did something very interesting, he bent down and kissed her hand.

'Interesting,' Hermione thought.

Hermione interrupted Ron in mid speech about how the Chudley Cannons had crushed the Wimbelton Wasps.

'Harry, Ron, look at the girl that's with Malfoy,' Hermione said. 'Do you know who she is?'

'No,' Ron answered irritably.

'Maybe she's a transfer student?' Harry offered.

'Mhm, maybe,' Hermione said thoughtfully.

'What is she doing with Malfoy?' Ron said.

'Don't know.'

'Did you see what Lucius Malfoy did?' Hermione said.

'What?' Harry asked.

'He kissed her hand.'

'Really?' Harry asked.

'Gross!!' Ron said

Draco and the girl walked to the train, Crabbe and Goyle were carrying there luggage. Draco helped her up the stairs and then walked after her.

'What the bloody hell is he doing? He's acting like... like... err...' Ron looked like he was unable to describe Draco's behaviour.

'Like a gentleman,' Hermione offered. She continued dreamingly. 'It's just like in a movie, the woman is getting into a carriage and her lover or somebody else helps her in.' Sight.

'What? That sounds so girly- like,' Ron said and stuck out his tongue in disgust.

'You don't have one romantic bone in your body, do you?' Hermione asked sarcastically.

'Romantic?'

'My point exactly.'

The train started moving as they quarrelled.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

'Gabrielle, please sit down,' Draco said.

'Draco?' Gabrielle said sweetly. 'Did I ever tell you that you could call me by my first name?'

'Err...no.'

'Then DON'T'

'Yes, my lady.'

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered silently, Gabrielle turned to them.

'Do you think this is funny?'

'No, Gabrielle.'

'Gabrielle?' Gabrielle made a face at them.

'Sorry, my lady.'

'That's better,' Gabrielle said. 'Draco, tell me something about Hogwarts, what qualities each house prizes most and something about the castle.'

'My house, Slytherin, is the best house...' Draco talked for maybe an hour about the houses and then started talking about the castle, the grounds, Harry Potter and much more.

'So...I will be sorted into one of the four houses by a hat?' Gabrielle asked.

'Err...yes.'

'And the qualities that each house requires are?' Gabrielle continued.

'Hufflepuffs are loyal and hard working, Ravenclaws are intelligent, Gryffindors,' Draco spat out the word, 'are brave and true, Slytherins are sharp witted and tongued, we also have social standards, unlike the rest.'

'Draco?' Gabrielle asked sweetly.

'My lady.'

'You may call me Gabrielle,' Gabrielle said. 'You two idiots may as well.'

'Thank you,' Crabbe and Goyle murmured.

'Well, now the only thing I have to worry about is to convince the imbeciles here that I'm your French cousin, Gabrielle Malfete.' Gabrielle smiled wickedly.

The train sped on through the hills, woods and meadows on its way to Hogwarts, where its precious cargo would be safe from The War.