Erica skipped along with her trolley, not too fast so Parker could catch up.

"You're so fast." Parker panted.

Erica giggled,"I'll slow down more."

"Thank you." Parker nodded.

Erica hummed as she waited for Parker.

Parker finally caught up and got her breath back,"Much better."

"Right, we'll be late if we don't keep moving." Erica sighed.

"We can have a compartment together now." Parker smiled.

"Yay!" Erica hurried forward.

They had finally put their luggage on board, Erica said goodbye to her family before the two boarded and sat down in a booth.

"Hogwarts, here we come." Erica smiled.

"It'll be nice to get away." Parker lay her head back, the train beginning to move.

"Hang on... Where are Harry and Ron?" Erica sat up straight.

"Didn't they board with us?" Parker shrugged.

"No, they were behind us." Erica shook her head,"Did you see them on the platform?"

Parker thought for a second, sitting up,"I... I don't think so."

"Uh oh.."

"They... Should be okay, right? They'll get to Hogwarts?'

"Y-yeah, they'll be fine. Mum and dad will find them.' Erica nodded slowly.

"Your mum will be furious." Parker chuckled.

"As long as they stay calm and don't do anything stupid, they will be just fine." Erica smiled slightly.

"This is Harry and Ron we're on about." Parker reminded her.

"They're screwed."

"So screwed." Parker sighed.

*********************************

Erica was sat at the Hufflepuff table, tapping her spoon against it. She was just nervous.

"God, Erica. Could you be any louder?" Hannah rolled her eyes.

Erica stopped and sighed,"Sorry."

Hannah sighed and looked at her,"Have I ever told you I don't like your short hair? It looks so... Weird on you."

Erica looked away,"And what was the need for that?"

"I'm just saying! It looks weird. You look like a boy."

"So?"

"I don't want to be sharing a room with a boy." Hannah scoffed.

"But I'm not a boy." Erica sighed.

"The point is, you look like one." Hannah got up and sighed,"I'm going to Max."

With that, Hannah walked away from her.

"Hey Beanie." Cedric walked up and sat beside her.

"Cedric!" She smiled.

"I saw Ginny getting sorted." He hummed.

"Yeah, she's in Gryffindor." Erica nodded.

"Well, the best Weasley is in Hufflepuff." Cedric ruffled her hair.

Erica chuckled before stopping,"You... You like my hair, right?"

Cedric looked at her,"Of course I like it. You've got curls in all the right sections."

"Okay, that's all I wanted to know."

"You like it too, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Good. How was the trip over? How was summer?... On the days I didn't see you."

"Summer was good." Erica told him,"Oh, I actually got to spend time with Oliver too."

"Oliver?... Wood?"

"Mhm, he's friends with Percy." Erica nodded.

"I see." Cedric nodded slowly.

"Dont worry, I made sure to tell him who the better player was." Erica hugged him.

"Thank you." Cedric chuckled and hugged back.

Erica smiled as she heard a small crash from behind her. Maybe... Maybe it was someone else's owl

"Eroll!" Ron groaned.

Erica sighed and looked her owl, her eyes widening at the sight of a red envelope. That's when Erica - And the rest of the Hall - heard Molly shout from the Howler.

"Ronald Weasley! How dare you steal that car?! I am absolutely disgusted! Your father is now facing an inquiry at work and it's entirely your fault! If you put another toe out of line, I'll bring you straight home!" She shouted.

Erica blinked,"For the record, that's not my brother."

"No? He's not Ron Weasley?" Cedric laughed.

"Nope."

"If you say so."

"I do say so." She sighed.

"You don't look alike at all." Cedric hummed.

"Of course not, there's plenty of gingers around."

"There's... Actually not that many." He looked around.

"Susan is just along there." Erica shrugged.

"See anyone else?"

"Uh..."

"Exactly." Cedric laughed.

"Hmph."

"I think your friend wants you." Cedric pointed over to Slytherin table, where Parker was waving.

Erica got up and walked over, standing beside Parker,"Hi!"

"Hey." Parker smiled,"Did your hear your brother's Howler?"

"Who couldn't have?" Erica sighed.

"Probably Filch." Parker sighed,"I swear he's looking more and more old each minute."

Erica chuckled and shook her head.

"Did you get your timetable?"

"Mhm!" Erica pulled it out.

"What do you have first?" Parker looked over.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Me too!" Parker clapped.

"Yay!"

"But... Who's our teacher this year?" Parker turned.

"I don't know, I guess they needed to replace Quirrel after... Y'know.." Erica trailed off.

Just as the two began to walk, they heard some older 5th years gossiping.

"Did you hear who the new DADA teacher was?"

"Yes, Gilderoy Lockhart!"

"He's so handsome." The girl smiled.

Erica masked her gag with her hand, covering her mouth.

"You're joking... Right?" Parker groaned.

"Kill me now, will you?" Erica sighed.

"We have to deal with Lockhart?"

"For a whole year?"

"You know how I said I wouldn't skip a class?" Parker looked at her,"I might've lied."

Erica gasped,"No, we have to prove how strong we are."

"I can't handle Lockhart!"

"You must! The greater good depends on it!" Erica shook her by her shoulders.

"The greater good shall fall." Parker laughed and skipped off.

"No!" Erica ran after her.

*********************************

"How much longer is he going to take?" Parker sighed as they waited in the classroom.

"I bet he's doing his hair." Erica shook her head,"Oh! I bet its a wig!"

"It probably is.' Ron laughed.

"Exactly." Harry chuckled,"He probably loves his hair more than this job."

"He loves himself more than his job." Parker pointed.

"I think he's great." Hermione shrugged.

Erica blinked,"Of... Of course you do."

"Theres always one." Parker hummed.

Erica shook her head as she sat it on the desk.

"Hello! Hello! Sorry I'm dreadfully late!" Lockhart sighed as he walked in.

"Finally." Ron muttered.

"I just had the most interesting talk. But I am here, and I'm sure you all missed me." Lockhart hummed.

"Oh, I'm certain." Harry sighed quietly.

"Ah! Mr Harry Potter." Lockhart smiled, picking up Neville's book before he put it down,"Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League and five time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!"

He laughed, looking at others to join. The room was silent however.

"I see you've all bought a complete set of my books, well done. I thought we'd start today with a little quiz. Nothing to worry about, just to check how well you've read them, how much you've taken in." Lockhart began handing out papers.

"I... Have not read a single book of his. We only got them the other day." Parker sighed.

"Me neither, don't worry." Erica assured her.

"You have thirty minutes." Lockhart clapped,"Start now!"

Erica looked down at her paper and froze,"Hang on, this is a quiz about him!"

"What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour?" Parker read out, confused.

"L." Hermione turned to them.

"You know this... Why?" Parker sighed.

"I-I just do." Hermione looked away, embarrassed.

"Hermione, that's a problem." Shs whispered.

"Parker, I don't mean to scare you but there's... One hundred questions." Erica sighed.

"One hundred?" Parker gasped loudly before she covered her mouth.

Erica nodded slowly, resting her head on the desk.

"His secret ambition is to give us all headaches." Parker wrote down.

Erica began answering with whatever she felt like, the stupidest answers she could think of. After what felt like one hundred years, Lockhart began collecting in the papers, looking through them.

"Tut, tut, hardly any of you remembered that my favorite color is lilac. I say so in Year with the Yeti. And a few of you need to read Wanderings with Werewolves more carefully." Lockhart scanned the papers,"I clearly state in chapter twelve that my ideal birthday gift would be harmony between all magic and non magic peoples though I wouldn't say no to a large bottle of Ogdeds Old Firewhisky!"

"Parker, is class over yet?" Ron groaned.

"Unfortunately not Ron." Parker sighed.

"But Miss Hermione Granger knew my secret ambition is to rid the world of evil and market my own range of haircare potions, good girl! In fact... Full marks! Where is Miss Hermione Granger?" Lockhart looked around.

Hermione excitedly raised her hand.

"Excellent! Take ten points for Gryffindor!" Lockhart smiled.

Hermione smiled proudly.

"Get in." Ron smirked.

"I- How?" Erica blinked.

"Cause we're better than you." Ron laughed.

"Or because Hermione fancies Lockhart." Harry muttered.

"Now, be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm and do not scream. It might provoke them." Lockhart brought out some angry looking pixies,"Yes, freshly caught cornish pixies."

"What- What are we supposed to do with those, sir?" Erica questioned him.

"Well, for now? Let's just see what you make of them." Lockhart opened the cage and the pixies came flying out.

The pixies, as expected, began causing chaos. Throwing books, flying about, breaking things.

"Oh my god!" Parker yelled and ducked under the chair.

"He is officially my least favorite teacher!" Erica hid under her desk,"Yes, he's even worse than Professor Binns!"

Parker covered her head as they saw Neville being lifted up by his ears.

He was soon hung up on the chandelier by his cloak.

"Why's it always me?" He sighed.

"Poor Nev." Parker sighed.

"I would try and get him down but- Hey!" Erica swatted a pixie away with her book.

The pixie laughed and flew away.

"I hate pixies." Erica muttered.

*********************************

"What have I told you?" Draco crossed his arms.

"You've told me a lot of things." Blaise sighed.

"About my sister."

"What about her?"

"You're just- You're distracting her."

"Distracting her?"

"Blaise, you're my friend. Okay? But you and Parker, it's just.. You like each other too much. And I don't like it. Parker needs to do well and you distract her."

"And you constantly picking on people she cares about and constantly getting into fights doesn't distract her?

"She needs to know who the right people are. Weasley and the others aren't."

"So I'm not the right people?" Blaise crossed his arms.

"You are. Just not for her." Draco sighed.

"What's going on?" Parker walked into the common room.

Blaise sighed,"Just a friendly dispute."

"Draco?" Parker raised a brow.

"It's nothing."

Parker narrowed her eyes,"Blaise, can talk to you?"

"Uh, sure." Blaise got up.

Parker hummed and walked to the hallway. Blaise followed her closely.

"How was your summer?" Parker smiled.

"My summer was alright, you?"

"Oh, a nightmare."

"Oh?"

"My father... Draco." Parker hummed.

Blaise sighed and rubbed her arm.

"Did you and your mum have fun?" Parker tilted her head.

"Oh, plenty." Blaise nodded, although slow.

"Really?" Parker leaned closer.

"Really."

"Okay." Parker hummed, "I have something for you."

"Oh?" Blaise raised a brow.

Parker pulled a book out from behind her back,"I got one at the library."

Blaise smiled warmly,"Thank you, Parker."

"Take good care of it." Parker pointed.

"I promise I will.' He chuckled.

"Pinky promise." She held up her pinky.

"Pinky promise." Blaise locked their pinkies.

Parker smiled and jumped a little before she let her pinky go,"Hey, I heard Slytherin got a new seeker. Do you know who it is?"

Blaise sighed,"You won't like it."

"Don't tell me it's-"

"Your brother? Yep." Blaise shook his head.

"Oh Merlin." Parker groaned.

"I know."

"I gotta go tell the others."

"Good luck with that, I'm sure they'll be thrilled."

"They'll be absolutely thrilled." Parker rolled her eyes.

"Well, have fun." Blaise waved.

"Bye Blaise~" Parker waved before she skipped off to find her friends.

Blaise smiled after her before walking off with his book.

*********************************

"Guys!" Parker ran up to her friends who were in the Great Hall.

"Yes?" Erica looked up at her.

"Harry, I'm sure Oliver has told you about the new Seeker for Slytherin?" Parker raised a brow.

Harry nodded slowly.

"Take a guess on who it is." Parker crossed her arms.

"Oh... Don't tell me it's-"

"My bloody brother." Parker pointed,"Excuse my French."

"That wasn't French." Ron mumbled.

"Tais-toi." Parker hummed.

"Better." Ron nodded.

"Harry, you need to beat him now." Parker sighed.

"I'll try my best." Harry nodded.

*********************************

Soon, the Gryffindor Quiddich players were in the courtyard with Parker, Ron, Hermione and Erica when the Slytherin Quiddich players walked up to them. Although the brooms they had on them... They were new, more new than Harry's broom!

"Flint?" Oliver looked at him,"I thought I'd booked the pitch for Gryffindor today."

"We have to train our new Seeker." Flint smirked.

"And oh, pray tell, who is this new seeker?" Oliver raised a brow.

That's when Draco Malfoy walked forward, the same sly smirk on his face.

"Of course." Oliver muttered.

"Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team." Malfoy held his broom out.

"Is that how you got on the team too? Your dad's money?" Erica asked him.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in. They got in on pure talent." Hermione crossed her arms.

"No one asked for your opinion, you filthy little mudblood." Draco spat.

"Draco!" Parker gasped.

Along with Parker, everyone but Harry and the Slytherin team was shouting at Draco. Flint had to jump infronf of him so that Fred and George couldn't grab him.

"Oi, Malfoy!" Ron took out his wand,"Eat slugs!"

Instead of firing a spell at Malfoy, the spell backfired and hit Ron instead and sent him flying backwards onto the grass.

"Ron!" Erica ran up to him.

Ron opened up his mouth to speak, although... A slug came falling out his mouth and onto his lap.

"Can you flip him over, Harry?" Colin asked, camera in hand.

"What? No! Not now Colin." Harey nudged him away.

"Let's take him to Hagrid, he'll know what to do." Erica told them.

*********************************

When they got to Hagrid's, they noticed Lockhart leaving Hagrid's hut. They waited until he was gone before they went into the hut, Hagrid quickly giving Ron a bucket.

"Nothin' much we can do, I suppose." Hagrid sighed,"Who was Ron tryna curse anyway?"

"My brother." Parker nodded.

"He deserved it, well, I think he did." Harry nodded slowly,"He called Hermione a... Well, I don't know what it means."

"He called me a mudblood." Hermione muttered.

Hagrid gasped,"He did not!"

"What's... A Mudblood?" Harry raised a brow.

"It means dirty blood. It's a foul term for someone with non-magic parents, someone like me.." Hermione looked away, her voice shaking.

"There are some wizards like the Malfoy's who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pureblood. Well- Minus Parker." Ron explained before he spat out another slug,"I mean, the rest of us know it doesn't make any difference at all. Look at Neville Longbottom, he's pure-blood and he can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up."

"I like Neville." Erica nodded.

"I know you do. He's a nice boy." Parker smiled,"It's a disgusting thing to call someone. Dirty blood, common blood. It's ridiculous. Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we would've died out."

"Which is why there is nothing wrong with being a muggleborn." Erica patted her shoulder.

"Well, don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron." Hagrid shrugged,"Bu' maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble."

"There's always a bright side to these things." Harry nodded as Ron coughed up another slug,"Maybe?"