No Longer A Target

Chapter 1:

A New Friend.

I sat in an empty compartment, by myself as usual. I was waiting for Harry and Ron to show up on the platform. But as usual they were late and I ended up sitting by myself for at least twenty minutes.

Harry had stayed at Ron's for the last couple of weeks. I unfortunately had got a bad fever and had to refuse when Ron sent me an owl asking if I wanted to come.

So here I was again, waiting for those two to arrive. This usually wouldn't have proved a problem for me. I would just pull out one of my new spell books and revise. But things were different this year. I had caught up with some of my muggle friends during the holidays. Don't get me wrong. I had a great time. But it just made me realise that even though I have two great best friends, what I really needed was a person I could share personal secrets with. I needed my own girl best friend. There were some things I just couldn't share with the boys.

Lavender and Parvati where great girls but I didn't approve of all the "boys crazy, giggling", it was just so stupid. They were just so obsessed with how they looked, if they put that much effort into their schoolwork they would do really well. But the day that Lavender and Parvati give up fashion is the day that Snape starts giving random hugs. What a horrible thought to be hugged by that slime ball, I thought.

I was so caught up in my brooding that I didn't notice the compartment door open and a figure step inside. I didn't notice anything until a heard a small cough and looked up to see a girl around me age standing in the doorway look nervous.

Being a Prefect I felt untitled to help her with whatever was wrong. "May I help you," I asked then thought and asked, "Are you lost? Is someone being cruel to you?"

The girl looked up and I got a better view at her face. She was definitely in my year, though I couldn't recall ever seeing her before. She had blonde hair that looked like it was slowly turning brown, with still present natural blonde streaks. Her hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail and she had some short bits of hair that framed her face and others were tucked behind her ear. She had brown eyes. People often described brown eyes with words such as chocolate and wet dirt.

Which, I personally found a bit stupid and a bit disturbing. Her eyes were just brown. Very different to my own, but they certainly weren't ugly. She had slight lines around her mouth that might have suggested she smiled a lot, or frowned. She wore a pair of faded jeans with a belt and a black halter-neck top. Behind her stood a trunk and a cage, probably containing an owl, I thought.

I was so busy studying the girl (that I was positive I hadn't seen her before) I missed her reply and had to ask her to repeat it.

"I asked if they was anyone in this compartment. I'm new here and everywhere else seems full. My name is Michelle by the way. Michelle Spence," she replied. It took me a while to realise what she said, her accent was like nothing around here.

"Ummm... well there is just me, and my two friends will be arriving soon but your welcome to sit with us. I'm Hermione Granger by the way and I'm in Gryffindor. What house are you in? I don't mean to be rude but I can't remember ever seeing you around Hogwarts before," I said.

Her name sounded vaguely familiar to me, though I couldn't remember where I had heard it. This girl started to bug me. I had never seen her before but I had heard of her name and if was one thing I couldn't stand it was being left in the dark about something. I've always been naturally curious and this new girl was just one puzzle waiting to be solved.

Fortunately her reply saved her from a game of twenty questions since she asked one of her own.

"Well actually I haven't been sorted yet," she then seemed to think for a minute, "Did you say your name was Hermione Granger?"

"Yes that's my name," I answered.

"Oh, thank god. I've been looking everywhere for you. A lady professor... Macdonhall? Anyway, she said I should find you. I just transferred from Australia. I'm a new student and the professor said that maybe you could help me out. You know, like showing me around and introduce to some of your friends. I'm really look forward to studying here at Hogwarts," Michelle said.

I felt like yelling eureka, but held back the urge for the sake that Michelle might think I'm insane. Everything fell into place. Her accent, her name, her manner, everything!

It was then that I remembered that in the Hogwarts owl I had received Professor McGonagall, it stated somewhere that a new student would be arriving and joining the sixth years. It had also said something about being nice, and helping her if she needed it, depending on where she got sorted. I can't remember if said the reason for her transfer but it was probably personal and that's why nothing was said in the letter.

I thought a new face around Hogwarts would be good, especially if she turned out to be a good friend and as long as she wasn't sorted into Slytherin.

So I did the first thing I could think of, I extended me hand and said, "Nice to meet you Michelle. I think we will get along just fine".

She shook my hand and sat at the seat across from me, a small smile was on her face.

"Hermione?"

"Yes"

"Have you read our The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6) yet?

I nodded, wondering where this conversation would take us.

"I looked over it a couple of times and finished it but I'm stuck on Chapter 35. I don't understand why you have to trace an eight in the air when other charm books say pointing is just fine. I don't suppose you could help me, " Michelle asked.

I stared dumbly at her for a moment and regained myself and thought. I to had come across the problem but I thought I would probably be the only one. I smiled, turned to Michelle and explained what I had read. As I explained I thought that this could be the start of a very good friendship indeed.