Fire Diamonds

Chapter One

"Friends and Enemies"

That's right, Darren. All I ever do is sit around and think of ways to ruin your life!" I'll bet you a buck he doesn't even answer.

"Hmmmm..." Told ya!

"What? You're not even going to say anything?"

"Whatever I say is only gonna make you yell more, Tessa, "he said calmly. "Why even bother?"

"Well, for one thing..." Think, Tessa. Think! "I don't know." I hate fighting. It doesn't solve problems, and I suck at it. But, this is Darren we're talking about. I've wanted to beat him for four years.

"Tessa," he sighed. Oh my God. Is he going to apologize? "We've hated each other for four years now, and... I'd like to keep it that way." That's so like him! Given a chance to change everything, and he totally ignores it. He turned on his heel and walked away with his "friends" behind him.

Darren is your all around schoolyard bully type. (Think magical wedgies) Last year, he was caught dangling first years from the astronomy tower by their ankles. His only defense was that O'Brian was on the ground to stop them before they fell. (In other words, produce an eleven-year-old-sized lake under them. I was there.)

Ever since, Snape, our head of house, has had him on a 'thousand strikes, you're out' type system. He's one of Snape's favorites.

If you haven't guessed, the only thing Darren and I have in common is Slytherin and our schedule. I don't know who it was that made these schedules, but they probably hate me. One class wouldn't be so bad, but all of them? Crazy. The only class I've ever beat him in was Flying Lessons. I'm a chaser for the house team, so that wasn't too terrible. (Even though we only had that class in first year.)

As the crowd dispensed, I noticed the girl Darren had be picking on. She was a little shorter than me, probably a second year. Two years ago, I decided to 'defend' the less... ummm...aware... from Darren and his gang. Not been going so well. Tessa, the human shield, is getting kind of tired.

"Are you okay?"

"Uh... yeah... A little wet, but not all that hurt. Thanks for helping me, though."

"Where are you headed...?"

"Sorry." She finished picking up her books, and straightened up. "Ravin. Ravin Robinson. Flying Lessons. I was lost, and I guess I asked the wrong person for directions, huh?"

"Yeah. Too bad you didn't just get the wrong directions, right? So, you're a first year?"

"Mmmhmmm. From America. You?"

"I'm in my fourth year. From New York. Why aren't you in school over there?"

"My name was down for the Salem Witches Academy, but as soon as Dad found out I was accepted here; good-bye USA!"

"I was gonna go there too. How weird is that?"

"Very, but aren't we late for lessons? It's the first day of that class; I don't wanna leave a bad impression."

"No worries, I'll explain to Madame Hooch why you weren't there today. I could teach you how to fly anyways. I'm Chaser for the Slytherin team."

"Team? What sport do you play?"

"What? Quidditch! What other sport do you know that's played on broomsticks?"

"Uh... none. What's 'squid-itch'?"

"There's no way you don't know about Quidditch! Are you muggle-born or something?"

"No, but Dad didn't tell me I was a witch until, I was ten. That was two years ago. I didn't even meet another witch or wizard until I went to buy school supplies."

"Well, I guess we'll have to start from the beginning. Meet me at the front doors after dinner, okay?"

"Sure. I can't wait"

"Hey, before I forget; what house you in?"

"Ravenclaw. You said you were in Slytherin, right?"

"Yeah. Too bad we can't sit together. No inter-house mingling, right? Stupid, conceited, unwritten 'pureblood' law. I swear, one of these days..." We walked into the Great Hall, and took our seats, alone.

Author's Note: Yeah, I know. There aren't any HP characters yet. Trust me, Harry's in the next chapter!