A few friends Closed

"U-um, he-hello, M-my name is (Redacted), nice to meet you!"

Mia waited for the girl to shake her hand, and then noticing her pause, withdrew it. I was right! Mia thought. She did seem magical, and Mia's hunches were usually right. Mia looked up at the girl, noticing her hesitation.

"Yes that Alexander, if your thinking what I think that you are thinking."

Mia, taking advantage of her silence, got off of her swing and stood near the tall girl.

"Mind if we walk a bit? I have time to spare, and I would like to get to know my fellow first year before school starts, even If I only have a limited amount of time."

Mia started walking towards the entrance to the playground.

"Playgrounds can be so dreadfully boring, and besides, everyone can hear us here."

Mia paused to open the gate and step out onto the path in Hyde Park. Without looking back, Mia started walking towards the side of Hyde Park that Kensington was towards. She was sure the girl lived there. She quickened her step. The girl could catch up. And if she didn't that would show if she was worth keeping as a friend, or an ally. Yes they were different.

"M-Mia!"

The girl squeaked the syllable out, and Mia stopped suddenly, allowing herself to wait for the girl to catch up. She was surprised at how slow the girl was, even with her height. Mia was short for her age, and the girl was tall. Very tall. Even so, Mia allowed herself to wait, knowing well that now she would have to run to keep up with the girl's longer stride. Even so, the girl was turning out meeker than she thought. Maybe she could feign a stroll. She looked behind her at the girl, and started tapping her foot impatiently.

"I have to be at my grandmothers house before 3, and it's already 2:40"-she looked down at her blue watch-"Can we walk this way? It will take us maybe 10 minutes to get to the end of the park, and I presume you live in Kensington? I can drop you off."

Mia glanced at the girl and pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

"Is that plan alright with you? Sorry I wasn't clearer before about my intentions."

Once the girl caught up Mia started walking at a slower pace, making sure to keep in mind the girl's pace.

"I-I do live in Kensington, um, and it's alright I probably live further from this park then you do."

The girl answered. She seemed nervous, and Mia could do nothing about this. Exept start talking. So she did.

"I don't live here. I live in Chelsea, farther away in London. My whole family lives here though, so I visit often."

She sighed and looked at a leaf on the ground, and then back at the girl.

"So. Obviously you're going to Hogwarts. Which house will you most likely end up in? Your dad and mum, which house did they go to?"

She sighed. She didn't remember if the Lashkia's were one of the Slytherin types, though probably not. It was safe to assume that the girl would not be a Slytherin, as she didn't fit the stereotype. Maybe a Hufflepuff, or even a Ravenclaw. Mia usually got along with Ravenclaws the best, because they didn't pick fights (like most Slytherins and Gryffindors), and were actually interesting to talk to. Hufflepuffs weren't bad either, they just tended to be a little dull and too nice. Mia hoped that this wasn't the case with (Redacted). If it was then this would be a waste of a perfect walk home.

"What about you?"

The girl looked nervously at her and Mia smiled, knowing fully that (Redacted) was just being nice. She decided not to call BS and answer her question.

"Slytherins on my dad's side and Slytherins and Ravenclaws on my moms. I'm practically guarenteed a spot in Slytherin."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm smart, but not extraordinarily so. I mostly just work hard, I wasn't blessed with brains like some people."

Mia put a stand of hair behind her ear.

"And about the corageous thing. I don't think that you need to be worried"-Mia smiled and looked at the girl-"If I got into Hufflepuff my parents would be surprised, yes, but I'd still be the same girl as I have always been. Plus, Hufflepuffs can be very cool."

She paused and looked at the mute girl, giving her a look.

"It really just depends who they are. On top of that, you managed to hold a converation with me-a very difficult person to get along with-for more than a minute, so brains aren't the ONLY thing you've got going for you."

Mia kicked at a pebble on the floor.

"Ever heard of Cedric Diggory? A Hufflepuff, and one of the most respected people in the wizarding community. Don't be worried."

"No I've never heard of him... sorry ...but um, who was he? What did he do?"

Mia glanced at the girl.

"Really? You've never heard of him?"-She blew a strand of hair out of her face-"Ok get ready for a major history lesson"

She smiled. She was a huge 'nerd' about history, especially magical history.

"Cedric Diggory was born in October of 1977, and lived until 24 June, 1995. He was the son of Amos Diggory and his wife. He started attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1989, and was sorted into Hufflepuff House. During his time at school he was a prefect-yes, a Hufflepuff and smart-and captained the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, playing as Seeker. He was basically the whole package, smart, athletic, and kind. In his sixth year Cedric put his name forward to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. He was selected as the Hogwarts Triwizard Champion and, although overshadowed in the press by the entry of Harry Potter-who I'm sure that you've heard of-Cedric enjoyed almost overwhelming support from all of the houses, so yes popular too, and after the first two tasks, tied with Harry for first place. Cedric and Harry completed the Third Task together. Both took hold of the Triwizard Cup, which transported them to the Little Hangleton graveyard. In the graveyard, Cedric was murdered, we don't know who did it but we suspect that it was"-she lowered her voice to a whisper-"Lord Voldemort".

Kathleen had been wandering around London when she noticed the tall girl she had often seen before, Mia or something, on a sort of... playground with another girl next to her on the swings. Kathleen drew nearer. Slowly. Suddenly, she heard something that made her gasp, said in Mia's low voice. "by... Lord Voldemort." She was actually not afraid of the name herself - she as a Muggle-born had only found out who he was a couple of weeks ago and found, like her idol Albus Dumbledore, that fear of a name just increased the fear of the thing itself. But she was pretty much alone with that opinion. No one but experienced wizards and witches had ever said the name aloud in her presence. To hear it now, here, in Muggle London from the mouth of another witch, surprised her immensely. Interested, she opened the gate. It squeaked loudly, but the two girls did not interrupt their talking. Instead they just gabbled on and on. Even though no one seemed to notice her, Kathleen still felt remotely awkward at the sound of her bright red sneakers on the wet gravel. "Hi, Mia", she said cautiously. Their first meeting had not exactly been perfect: they had not really thought well of each other then, but got along quite OK now.

Mia finished talking to Emily and turned around to say something to her, only to hear a voice in the distance.

"Hi, Mia"

A girl with long red-ish hair stood behind her, illuminated by the sun. She seemed vaugly familiar and then it clicked. Mia knew who she was.

"Hi, Kathleen-was it?"

Mia tried not to stare, or gaze too intently. She partially succeeded.

"Do you live around here? In Kensington?"

Realizing that Emily must have felt left out, Mia turned to her.

"Emily, this is Kathleen my..."- Mia paused a bit, debating which word she should use.-" Aquaintance. We met not so long ago."

Mia turned back to Emily.

"As I was saying, Hufflepuffs are really cool. Like Helga Hufflepuff, Bridget Wenlock, Newt Scamander, Pomona Sprout, and Cedric. Even the ones who aren't famous are smart, nice, and cunning. Most of them anyway. Though some can be snobs. So can people from other houses though."

Mia ran a hand through her hair.

"Kathleen, Emily and I were walking back to my grandmum's house, where Emily was going to drop me off. Care to join us?"

Mia started walking, expecting the other girls to follow. She would not be late-she couldn't be-Grandmum would yell.

Mia walked along with Emily and Kathleen, looking up at the sky. It was bright blue and there were wisps of clouds floating in the vast flat color. It looked like something out of an oil painting. Mia smiled up at the clouds. She was never a nature person, but she liked observing. She whipped her head around to look at the rest of the park. It was green, filled with trees, and their feet crunched satisfyingly on the dirt path. The flat brown shade contrasted nicely to the brightness of the other colors. Mia whipped her head up to catch a glimpse of an owl soaring through the sky. That was weird. They were nocturnal after all. Mia shook her head, not bothered. It was probably for Grandmum. Her house was that way. Increasing her pace, Mia looked over at the other two girls. They really were different. One was slender in a way that girls mostly weren't at her age, and the other practically radiated awkwardness. Mia could very easily guess who would be popular. Though Kathleen didn't really seem like the bratty type. She seemed..reserved. But still elegant. And kind of an air head. Mia shook her head, trying to clear the thought from it. Don't judge someone prematurely Mia! she thought, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Verla skipped down the street silently and swiftly, flipping her hair side to side as she did. She began walking when she saw others from her school. Then she hid in the shadows and listened to their conversation. Then she took a step forward and a twig snapped. She gasped and hid behind a tree, hoping they didn't hear it.

She hoped they couldn't see her too. She held her breathe and bit her lip nervously and squeezed her eyes shut until she looked and saw both heads looking toward her. She squealed and began to run down the street.

She hated when people noticed her, especially be accident. She didn't think she needed to be embarrassed by people any more than she already had. Then she hid behind a tree about a block down, hoping they weren't chasing her. She felt bad for eavesdropping, and she now just wanted to go home. She was scared, she felt like she was being hunted if they were looking for her. She hated that feeling, and as she hid, she began to shake, knowing she would need to check. Then she walked out with a sigh and said "sorry, I eavesdropped on you."