The rest of the summer passed quickly with the Weasley's. Every day was a new adventure, including today. We were going to Diagon Alley and meeting up with Hermione and her parents, who were Muggles.

Once we found Hermione, we walked to Flourish and Blotts, the bookstore. Hogwarts had needed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor since Quirrell was dead, and the school had hired a guy named Gilderoy Lockhart. The new professor was supposed to be at the bookstore, and we all needed new books.

Harry and I were walking into the store to find our second-year books when a tall man with bright, blond hair and blue eyes walked up behind us and said, "Let me guess, the Potter twins?"

We turned around, for once not surprised for the attention. "Yes, sir."

"May I see your scars?"

I looked at Harry, who lifted up his bangs to show him the scar. I followed, picking up the hair on my neck to present my scar. I then put my hair back and waited for the blond man to speak again.

"Oh, how rude of me! I didn't introduce myself. I am Gilderoy Lockhart. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! Now, you can get your free books and have them signed by me!" he said. His attitude was starting to get on my nerves.

He walked towards a booth, grabbed our books from our hands, and began signing them. "Don't worry," he said after handing them back to us. "I'll cover the price of them. Now, smile for the press!"

I turned around, immediately faced with cameras in front of me. I plastered a smile on my face and stood for a few pictures before thanking the new professor and leaving quickly, Harry close behind me.

The cameramen tried following us, so we had to find a place to hide. I noticed a stairwell and ran up it.

Instantly, a cold voice made me regret that decision right away.

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" Malfoy said with a nasty smirk. "Harry and Y/n Potter, can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page!"

"Leave them alone, they didn't want all that!" Ginny said, coming from behind us to stand in front of Harry.

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" drawled Malfoy. Ginny blushed, and Ron and Hermione pushed their way over to us.

"Oh, it's you. Bet you were surprised to see Harry here, eh?" Ron added, attempting to joke around.

"Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley," retorted Malfoy. "I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for all of those."

Ron went as red as Ginny. He put his books in his cauldron, just like Ginny had.

"Cut it out, Malfoy. What do you have against us?" I said, genuinely curious. I got no answer.

Mr Weasley came up behind us, trying to take us somewhere else, but a voice stopped him.

"Arthur Weasley."

A tall man walked up behind Malfoy. The two had a striking resemblance, meaning that the man had to be Malfoy's dad, Lucius.

He looked down at Ginny, and picked up a book from the cauldron she was holding. She tried protesting, but paused when he only staring at it.

"Really, Arthur?" Lucius said, placing the book back in Ginny's cauldron. "Second-hand robes and tattered books? Still can't afford the best for your wonderful children?"

Mr Weasley turned to argue, but stopped. I looked over to Malfoy quickly before walking away with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

As we were descending the stairs again, Star ran up to me. "Hey, Y/n!" she said happily, giving me a fast hug.

"Star!" I smiled, glad to see her after that. "Your dad seems really mean."

"Yeah, I guess you get used to it when you live with him. Anyway, do you guys mind if I walk around with you?"

"No, not at all!"

We ran down the rest of the stairs and rejoined Harry, Ron, and Hermione to finish our day at Diagon Alley.

~~~

Star and I giggled at something stupid while Ron and Harry gathered their stuff together. We were at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters again, and Star was with us so that she wouldn't get stuck sitting with Draco.

"Come on, Harry, Ron, you're taking forever!" I whined at them.

Harry grabbed his cart of stuff and began running towards the wall. There was a loud crash as he slammed into the wall. All of his belongings were strewn about on the floor, and a security guard came over to glare at us. Harry was sitting on the ground, dazed.

I looked up at the sign. It was the third pillar on the ninth platform, exactly where we were supposed to be.

"Bloody hell! That hurt!" Harry said, rubbing his forehead.

I put my hand on the wall. It wouldn't budge.

"What if we miss the train!" Star said, her voice filled with a worry I had never heard from her.

"I think we'd better go and wait by the car," Harry said.

"The car!" Ron shouted excitedly. "We can fly the car to Hogwarts!"

"Ron, we can't drive!" I said to him.

"Yeah, but it's worth a shot!" he replied defensively.

I didn't argue since we had to better way to get there. The four of us rushed out to the car and dropped our stuff in the back. Shadow, my cat, Hedwig, Harry's owl, and Scabbers, Ron's rat, got to sit in the front with us, and Ron got into the driver's seat. Harry was in the seat next to him, and Star and I were in the backseat.

Ron pressed a button to make us invisible, and we took off, following the train tracks to Hogwarts. After about an hour of straight flying, we noticed the invisibility button start to flicker. I looked back at the car. It was visible again.

"We should fly lower. That way, fewer people will see us," I suggested. Ron made us descend slightly, so that we were right over the tracks.

A blaring horn startled us, and Ron jerked the car back upwards.

"Is everyone okay?" I asked once the car was level again. The train passed underneath us while my friends nodded yes.

When I finally saw Hogwarts, it was dark outside. Ron made the car descend, and we landed on the grass with a bump. We started driving smoothly over the ground, but something blocked the car. In the dim moonlight, I saw the Whomping Willow, Hogwarts' biggest tree on the grounds.

The willow tree threw one of its thick branches down on the car, creating a dent in the roof. The back seat got the blunt of it, so Star and I had to bend down to avoid the ceiling. Another branch hit the side of the car, shattering the windows and breaking Ron's wand.

The Whomping Willow continued hitting the car, trying to move us. Suddenly, the car started up without our command and started driving. It stopped after we were out of the Willow's reach, spit out suitcases from the back, and threw open the doors, telling us to get out. We did as told, and, once we grabbed our stuff, started walking towards the castle.

We approached the castle and looked in through one of the windows. I saw the Great Hall through it, and that people were already eating.

"Where's Snape?" Harry asked, also looking through the window.

"Maybe he's ill!" Ron said hopefully.

"Maybe he's left," Star added, "because he missed out on the Defense Against the Dark Arts job again."

"Or he might have been sacked!" said Ron enthusiastically. "I mean, everyone hates him--"

"Or maybe," said a cold voice right behind us, "he's waiting to hear why you four didn't arrive on the school train."

We spun around. There, his black robes rippling in a cold breeze, stood Severus Snape. He was smiling at us in a sadistic way that told us we were in deep trouble.

"Follow me," he said.

We followed him slowly, through the castle, and into the cold dungeons, where his office was. A sudden chill ran down my spine, and I pulled my robes closer to my body.

"So," he said softly, "the train isn't good enough for the famous Potters and their faithful sidekick, Weasley." Snape noticed Star standing next to me. "Oh, and you too, Miss Malfoy. Wanted to arrive with a bang, did we?"

"No sir--" Harry began.

"Silence!" Snape shouted. "You must be more careful! You made the front cover of the Muggle news!"

I gulped. This would be bad.

Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall walked into the office, faces angry. I looked down.

"It will for Professor McGonagall to decide on these boys' punishments, Severus. They are in her house and, therefore, are her responsibility. However, Miss Potter and Miss Malfoy's punishments are for you to decide upon," said Dumbledore calmly.

Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall out of the office. Dumbledore stayed.

"Detention with me," he said coldly. "For two weeks, I want to see the two of you in this office every day at eight o'clock sharp. You are now free to go."