𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆.
chapter two; Chocolate Frog Card Collectors
" I don't imagine any of us will get Slytherin, no way. "

  ATLAS POTTER-BLACK was quite excited to get to his best mates. Iolanthe had allowed Atlas to drag her along only since he'd heaved her luggage onto the rack for her, and the second she regretted it was when Fred and George Weasley crammed into the compartment, going on and on about Harry Potter.

  "Can't believe we're best mates with his cousin and we still had to meet him on a whim─"

  "Yeah, why are we friends with At if he doesn't get us any further?"

  "Useless, he is."

  "Oi, where would you be without me?" Atlas spoke up finally, his face twisted into offense, "Who really found the Map, who put the first stink bomb in the Slytherin common room─"

  "Anyone can use one of those," Iolanthe informed tastelessly, earning the attention of the Weasley twins, "A pre-packaged prank item, I mean."

  "I don't think you understand the urgency a stink bomb requires."

  "I don't think you understand the extent to which I don't care."

  "You'll be sorry when you see what we've been working on," Fred said quickly.

  "New, never before seen, prank items," Atlas assured, only earning an eye roll from Iolanthe.

  "Is that what all the explosions are from your room?"

  Atlas laughed, unable to argue with the truth of her statement.

  Even though Iolanthe had never been allowed into these secret meetings between the twins and Atlas, she could tell their method was one of trial and error.

 "And what's this map you keep going on about?"

  Atlas began floundering for some poorly crafted lie, much to the amusement of the Weasley twins, but Iolanthe's attention was quickly stolen by the sound of a trolley rolling their way, the wheels bumping over every impurity, and as she stood with excitement, Ziggy emerged from beneath her seat.

  Fred and George let out shouts as Iolanthe carelessly slid the compartment door open, Ziggy staring at the twins a moment before finding himself at her heels once again.

  "Where did it come from?"

  "Ziggy disappears and reappears at will," Atlas whispered, "Laney says she's not put a jinx on him, but I think she's lying."

  "I can hear you," Iolanthe informed before plastering on a smile as the sweets trolley towards her, though it melted off at the sight of it.

  Sparkling silver metal created a reflection of Iolanthe, her shocked expression in the place sweets should have been piled high. And yet, it was barren, robbed of every deliciously sugary food she'd brought a pouch of coins for.

  "I'm sorry dear, I've run out entirely."

  "We just started moving," Iolanthe said disbelievingly, "How?"

  "Someone's bought everything if you'll believe it."

  "Where?"

  Iolanthe stomped her way down the corridor after being told which compartment stole every sweet possible. She didn't dare hesitate, and neither did Ziggy, his trot keeping up with her battle-ready stride─ all until she wrenched the compartment door open.

  Harry Potter and Ron Weasley looked at her in instinctive guilt, their cheeks stuffed with the very sweets that had set her on a warpath.

  "Hello again," Harry said nervously, swallowing a chunk of pumpkin pasty, "Is. . . um, everything alright?"

  "Yes," She responded, regaining composure, "I just─ the trolley was empty, and I, well, now that I know it's you it doesn't really matter."

  Iolanthe lingered for a moment before turning on her heel, only to be stopped once more.

  "You can stay," Harry offered without thinking it through, "If you want to- we'll hardly be able to finish this all by ourselves."

  Iolanthe leaned on the doorway slightly, eyes skirting to Ron who was still frozen, "It's fine, I wouldn't want to intrude, anyways."

  "You wouldn't be," Harry smiled shyly, "Honestly, I'd like to talk to you a bit."

  The girl flattened her skirt down, comfort coming when the fabric pressed against the back of her thighs. She entered the compartment, closing the door gently, and faltering when the choice came on where to sit.

  As Iolanthe often did, she chose the familiar boy to share a seat with, claiming the cushion beside Ron, who very quickly attempted to move the mountain of sweets so she had somewhere to sit.

  "So, erm, how was your summer, then?"

  "Really?" Iolanthe responded to Ron, "I've been to the Burrow every month this summer, Ron."

  "Oh, right," Ron mumbled in response.

  The redhead looked at Harry, who was already looking at him. The two made wild gestures as Iolanthe dipped her head to inspect the sweets, silently communicating that they did not know how to deal with a girl─ how to deal with Iolanthe.

  "D'you have any chocolate frogs left?" Iolanthe spoke up, making the boys freeze again, "I've been looking for a Montague Knightley card for weeks, now."

  "Wicked," Ron whispered to himself, before clearing his throat, "They're tricky, but I found one in June─ here you go."

  Iolanthe accepted the box from the boy, carefully prying it open. The chocolate frog wiggled and leaped free, and a small squeak of fear came from Ron as Ziggy tore its leg off.

  "Isn't chocolate bad for cats?" Ron questioned, holding tighter onto his rat.

  "Ziggy's resilient," Iolanthe brushed off, sighing as she pulled out the card, "Just another Morgan Le Fay."

  "No way, I haven't even seen one of those!"

  Iolanthe passed the card to Ron, whose mouth was still agape as he thanked her profusely. A knock interrupted Ron's gratitude, and the compartment door slid open slowly to reveal a teary-eyed boy.

  "Sorry, but have you seen a toad at all?" The trio shook their heads reluctantly, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"

  "He'll turn up," Harry assured.

  "Yes," He agreed sadly, "Well if you see him. . ."

  "Don't know why he's so bothered," Ron said after the boy had left again, "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, I can't talk."

  "Everyone has different pets for different reasons," Iolanthe shrugged as Ziggy hopped onto the seat with them, circling around until he set sights on Scabbers.

  Ziggy crouched down, swishing his tail in the air and letting out a low rumble.

  "He's going to attack Scabbers!"

  "He is not," Iolanthe argued, picking up her kitten and moving him to the other side, "Ziggy's a lover, not a fighter."

  But she couldn't deny the cat seemed on edge, hair raised along the ridge of his back. Iolanthe brushed his fur down, turning back to Ron. 

  "Yeah, but Scabbers might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," Ron grumbled, staring down at his rat, "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you, look. . . ."

  Iolanthe winced as she set eyes on Ron's wand. It was battered and chipped, she could tell it was on its last leg─ somehow she'd managed to ignore every second-hand object the Weasleys used until right now.

  She was privileged. Her wand was fresh out of the box and with Ziggy she'd gotten three new collars. She refreshed her wardrobe three times a year and got copious amounts of spending money for mundane things. And suddenly she felt like if she breathed, this was rubbing the monetary privilege in Ron's face.

  "Unicorn's hair nearly poking out. Anyway─"

  The compartment door slid open again, and this time the teary boy was accompanied by a girl with wild locks─ each curl a rebel in its own right.

  "Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one."

  "We've already told him we haven't seen it," Ron said.

  "Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."

  The girl took a seat beside Harry, and Iolanthe inspected her quickly. She was entirely unfamiliar, and rather bold to invite herself into the compartment, but Iolanthe chose not to speak up.

  "Er─ all right," Ron mumbled, clearing his throat, "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

  Iolanthe stared at Scabbers for a moment, but his color and state of slumber remained the same.

  "Are you sure that's a real spell?" The girl asked, "Well it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school for witchcraft there is. I've heard─ I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough─ I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"

  Iolanthe looked to Harry, who was clearly shocked, and the duo looked to Ron─ relieved they were all on the same page.

  "I'm Ron Weasley."

  "Iolanthe Potter-Black."

  "I've heard of your families," Hermione noted, nodding.

  Iolanthe could do nothing to hide the sting of that statement, hoping only that her mother's legacy burned brighter than her father's infamy.

  "Harry Potter," He finally said.

  And then came Hermione's outburst of reaction.

  "Are you, really?" She asked, "I know all about you, of course─ I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century?"

  "Am I really?"

  "Of course," Iolanthe said, dumbfounded, "Atlas thinks you'll be some sort of celebrity at school."

  Harry's eyes widened at his cousin's confession.

  "Goodness, didn't you know," Hermione continued, undeterred, "I'd have found out everything I could if it was me. Do any of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I heard Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad. . . Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You three had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

  Hermione led Neville from the compartment, leaving the three in a brief silence.

  "Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron. He chucked his wand back into his trunk and smiled, briefly, as Iolanthe let out a laugh, "Stupid spell─ George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."

  "What house are your brothers in?" Harry asked curiously.

  "Gryffindor," Ron sighed with gloom, "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."

  "I don't imagine any of us will get Slytherin," Iolanthe said with a spark of ferocity, "No way."

  "That's the house Vol─ I mean, You-Know-Who was in?"

  "Yeah," Ron confirmed, sinking back into the seat.

  "You know, I think the end of Scabbers' whiskers are a bit lighter," Harry attempted to cheer the redhead up, "So what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left, anyway?"

  "Charlie's in Romania studying dragons," Ron said, "And Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringott's."

  "Atlas is so sure that he'll work with Charlie once he's done with school," Iolanthe told Ron, making the boy giggle slightly.

  "Charlie said Atlas wouldn't leave the building after seeing a Peruvian Vipertooth in a bad mood."

  "I never said that he'd really do it," Iolanthe smiled lightly, "Just that he's convinced himself he will."

  "Fred and George'll get a kick out of that," Ron laughed again, "Anyway, did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles─ someone tried to rob a high-security vault."

  Harry was still trying to understand what a Peruvian Vipertooth was, and why Iolanthe only seemed to want to converse with Ron.

  "Really?" The boy asked after a long pause, "What happened to them?"

  "Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get 'round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything. That's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who is behind it."

  "But that's just the lingering fear he instilled a decade ago," Iolanthe jumped once she saw the worry form on harry's face, "A dead man can't break into Gringotts, naturally."

  "Right," Ron agreed reluctantly, nervously smiling under Iolanthe's discreet glare.

  "What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked suddenly, turning back to Harry.

  "Er ─ I don't know any."

  "What!" Ron's voice echoed, briefly making Iolanthe jump, "Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world─"

  Iolanthe sat boredly as Ron rambled off about the sport─ the players and famed games the Weasleys had gone to, dream broomsticks, and every small aspect he could.

  "I don't think Quidditch is all that great," Iolanthe admitted when Ron asked her the same question, making him gape offendedly, "It's all Atlas talks about and it gets boring!"

  "I can't look at you," Ron mumbled, fully turning away from the girl and making Harry smile lightly.

  And, the interruptions continued as the compartment door slid open again. Iolanthe let out a huff when she saw the boys huddled in the doorway, for she knew Draco Malfoy all too well.

  Even Ziggy, who'd been content in his spot, was alarmed at the blond─ his hair prone to sticking up on his back. The cat knew the line between good and bad and didn't take to Draco how he'd so uncharacteristically taken to Ron.

  "Is it true?" Draco asked, "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

  "Yes," Harry said.

  "Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," Draco introduced, "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

  Sadly, Ron's cough which half-heartedly covered a snicker took the attention off of Harry instantly.

  "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."

  "Piss off, Malfoy," Iolanthe snapped.

  "Black," Draco noted irritably, "It's a shame your father couldn't take you to the platform on your first day."

  Everyone fell silent at this and a satisfied smirk overtook Draco's face as he turned back to Harry.

  "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you out there." Draco held out a rigid hand for Harry to shake, but the boy didn't take it.

  "I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks."

  "I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," Draco said slowly, "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riffraff like Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."

  The way Ron, Harry, and Iolanthe shot out of their seats seemed like a well-practiced routine. It was the mention of Lily and James Potter that set the trio off, the defamation of their characters was unacceptable in their eyes.

  "Say that again," Ron said, his face reddening.

  "Your family's worse off than any of ours─ a group of followers," Iolanthe spat off quickly.

  "Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy asked.

  "Unless you get out now."

  "But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some."

  Goyle started for the horde of Chocolate Frogs between Ron and Iolanthe, the redhead leaped into action but it seemed Scabbers was ahead of him, as the rat was hanging from the boy's finger, earning a scream from Goyle himself. Draco and Crabbe backed up as Goyle attempted to shake Scabbers loose, and when the rat lost his grip and went flying, all three boys fled quickly.

  "What has been going on?" Hermione Granger asked, barging in yet again, her eyes assessing the situation.

  "I think he's been knocked out," Ron informed his friends as he picked up Scabbers by his tail, "No─ I don't believe it─ he's gone back to sleep."

  And then, the conversation circled back around to Draco Malfoy. Harry explained how he'd run into Draco in Diagon Alley, but the interest had only been piqued when his name was revealed.

  "I've heard of his family," Ron said darkly, "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the dark side."

  "What about you?" Harry wondered to Iolanthe after a long pause, "You seemed to know each other."

  "There are 28 surnames in the Wizarding World that turn heads," Iolanthe noted, "I have one of them. The Malfoys are another. They took interest in my mother once my brother and I were born. . . but it didn't go smoothly. My mother doesn't agree with their. . . beliefs. Made an enemy of them, I suppose."

  "What about. . . your father?"

  "My father's a man I hope you never meet," Iolanthe said quieter, "I hope none of us meet him. And I wouldn't like to say anything more if that's alright."

  Harry nodded quickly, hoping Iolanthe wouldn't be angry with him for inquiring.

  "Can we help you with something?" Ron asked Hermione finally.

  "You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!"

  "Scabbers has been fighting, not us," Ron scowled, "Would you mind leaving while we change?"

  "All right─ I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors," She said, "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?"

  Hermione left swiftly, and the trio stood in silence for a long moment.

  "I'll go change. . . somewhere else," Iolanthe noted, reaching into her trunk and pulling out the robe on top─ no house crest claiming it yet, "Save me a seat on the boats?"

  Ron nodded quickly, a small smile taking over his face when Iolanthe's lips tugged upwards. She was already halfway out of the compartment when she heard Harry's voice.

  "Boats?"

  Iolanthe narrowly avoided the students Hermione had been going on about, chasing each other down the hall, as she slipped into a bathroom. She paused before pulling her robes on, nerves flowing through her veins faster than before.

  She'd always wanted Ravenclaw, to be just like her mother and nothing like her father, but if Harry and Ron were destined for the red and gold house─ she wouldn't mind it. Being brave with them was easy, despite the short amount of time she'd known them.

  Her robes fell perfect, not a wrinkle in sight, and with one swift hand movement, her hair reclaimed the status of perfect. Iolanthe let out a shaky breath, one hand on the door handle, for she was finally ready for Hogwarts.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE. )
when I tell you Ron and
Laney's dynamic is my
favorite─ but also,
Addison gets introduced
next chapter and I can't
wait, all my Anobrain
homies will get a check
up from the Declans!