She hated the first day of anything. No matter how much she studied, how much information she gathered, there was always unknown variables. The first day of primary school, for example, she had learned the phonetic alphabet, her numbers up to 100 and the life cycle of the butterfly. On her visit she had memorised the layout of the classroom, particularly where the toilets were, and every teacher and TA in reception. Nothing could go wrong, except of coarse it could. The unknown variable in this case was Victoria templton. Within the first week of school Victoria templton had made sure everyone knew exactly how weird and out of place she truly was.
The same thing happened wherever she went, swim class, ballet, the playground even. Victoria templtons were everywhere, able to pinpoint who didn’t belong even if they weren’t sure why. Sometimes they were the Hugh coopers of the world, or the Tracy stones. She hoped beyond hope that this time would be different, that she wouldn’t be the odd one out anymore.
That is why she found herself holding her breath, as a boy with impossibly blonde hair strode into the compartment, looking to all intense and purposes as if he owned the train itself.
This is it she thought, “I’m Hermione Granger, nice to meet you”, she cringed at herself internally, who says their full name at age 11?!
He glared at her lingering in the doorway. Now she was sure she had made some kind of social faux pas, her first interaction with a school mate and already she would be branded an outcast. She heard the thump of the heavy heavy book falling to the compartment floor. She had nudged her over packed bag and sent it toppling, the book landing at the boys feet. He picked it up, turning it over curiously.
“Draco Malfoy. Why would you carry such a heavy book onto the train?”
So relieved he hadn’t immediately rejected her, Hermione overlooked his condescending tone, “it is quite heavy isn’t it, but I just can’t put it down. I’ve read it several times already of coarse, I like to be prepared and what better what than readying Hogwarts a History, but every time I reread it there’s something new I hadn’t seen before. I’m not sure if it’s the book or me but I just can’t put it down.” Logically Hermione new magic existed, she herself being proof, she just wasn’t entirely sure of the perameters. Were evolving books normal? Or would they call her crazy.
“You’re saying the book gives you new information about Hogwarts everytime you reread it?”
She nodded, now extremely self conscious. Then the boys eyes widened from the assessing squint he’d been giving her and she saw something come alive.
“I’ve been telling my friends this! I guess if they bothered to actually read it they might actually see for themselves!”
Hermione let out a relived little laugh, this had to be the most success she’d had with a peer. Beaming at each other they spent the next hour of the train journey looking at her copy of Hogwarts a History, debating which would be the most interesting subjects and what the mysterious sorting ceremony might involve.
“If we have to stand up in front of everyone and be sorted into a house by other students, i might just beg to be put back on the train” Hermione groaned through her hands.
Draco laughed at the ridiculous idea “Don’t be dramatic, it’s unbecoming of a lady, well that’s what mother would say,” he smirked, but she didn’t even offer half smile “You’re really worried about this? I’ll just make one of the older kids chose you, and then we can be in the same house. See not so bad now.” He folded his arms and leant back.
She looked up in shock. Had someone, someone her own age no less, actually said they would choose her? She wouldn’t be left at the bottom of the rejects pile for once, alone. She lunged forward looping her arms around his neck.
“Thank you Draco” she sniffled. Hope bubbled up in her chest at the mere thought of having just made her first long time friend. Maybe I really truely do belong here, she thought.
Beep .....beep. The sound was coming from inside her bag. She quickly let go and started rummaging in the front pockets.
“Ergh my parents made me bring this,” she held up a pager, “I tried to tell them it wouldn’t work properly in the magical world but they wanted to try.” Draco stared blankly at her as she smiled at the device. “I just need to nip to the loo.”
Smiling brightly at him she practically skipped out of the compartment. When she got back he was gone, however, before she had time to wonder, another boy came in frantically looking for a pet toad, and because Draco malfoy had made her feel as though she really belonged, it gave her all the confidence to reach out.