♪ Yeah, I wanna dance
With somebody who loves me ♪
~ Whitney Houston
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody"
Vanessa
"Nessa!" My older brother, Lee, shouts, swinging open the door to my bedroom.
"What's up, Lee?" I mutter, refusing to peel my eyes from the pages of Quidditch Through the Ages.
"Where are my Gryffindor socks?" He walks over to me before shoving his hand in front of my page to get my full attention.
"What Gryffindor socks?" I sigh, this time looking up at him.
"The knee-high, stripy ones that you always say look ridiculous on me." He describes.
"Oh, those ones... they do look ridiculous on you," I smirk, "but I don't have them."
"You do! You borrowed them sometime over the summer!" He accuses, his voice rising.
I shrug my shoulders. "I don't think I did, but I'll have a look for you."
"Find them!" He huffs, storming out of my room and slamming the door behind him.
"Wow. Feeling dramatic today, are we Lee?' I mutter.
I get out of my chair and walk over to my chest of drawers in the corner of my large bedroom. I slowly start sifting through each draw, checking for my stupid brother's stupid socks. I look in every drawer, in my wardrobe, under my bed, and even in my dirty laundry for them, but come up empty-handed.
The truth is, I do remember borrowing a pair of long, Gryffindor-coloured, stripy socks, but I have no idea where I left them.
I push the thought away and look over to the centre of my room, where a near-empty leather trunk sits open on the grey carpet.
All I've managed to pack for school so far is my broom. I got the Firebolt new last Christmas, but the Triwizard Tournament called off the Quidditch House Cup last year, meaning I am yet to play a game atop my broom.
I joined the Gryffindor house quidditch team in my third year as a chaser. I'm pretty good, too. I've been practicing throughout the summer, whenever I get the opportunity.
My family and I live in an area inhabited predominantly by Muggles, so flying around on a broomstick would not be taken lightly by the Ministry of Magic.
The only times I get to practice Quidditch are when we visit the Weasley family in Ottery St. Catchpole. The fields surrounding the crooked Burrow are the perfect opportunity for a game or two.
My family and the Weasleys have been close for as long as I can remember. Arthur and my father, Peter, went to Hogwarts together and then onto the Ministry as partners, before my father was moved up to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, while Arthur Weasley opted for placement in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office.
While I don't hang around them too much at school, I get along perfectly with all the Weasley siblings. Lee, Fred and George are thick as thieves, and so despite being friendly with the twins, I often hang out with Ginny and Ron when we're not all in a big group in order to get away from Lee.
I sigh, staring down at the trunk. I know I'm procrastinating, so I set to work, grabbing clothes, books, robes, and everything else I'll need for the school year to come. My brain buzzes in excitement and anticipation. I go back to Hogwarts tomorrow!
Just like my brother, I'm a Gryffindor, proud and loud, though I do take my studies seriously. I'm a total bookworm and am often the one asked for the homework answers. This year will be my fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
I'm slightly nervous, given everything that happened last year, when a boy called Cedric Diggory died in the Triwizard Tournament. Cedric and Lee were close as kids. My mother Fiona, and Cedrics mother Anastasia, used to have tea while Lee, Cedric and I played. As we got older, we drifted apart. Though we have been seeing Amos and Anastasia regularly since Cedric died to offer our support.
I can't believe it was only last summer that we all went to the Quidditch World Cup together. Only last summer when I had been crushing on Cedric, although those feelings diminished when he started going out with Cho Chang, my best friend, Mei's, older sister. That year, I started dating Draco Malfoy.
Much to the disgust of my good friends Ron, Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger, I am absolutely enamoured by Malfoy.
My parents are both magical, but they sent Lee, Posie and I to a Muggle school until we were 11, so I've had plenty of exposure when it comes to the Muggle world. I love Muggle music, and I flick on my stereo, dancing around my room to 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' by Whitney Houston as I throw stuff carelessly into my trunk, singing into my hairbrush like a microphone.
I double check everything on my packing list and realise I'm missing a book. I know exactly where to find it though.
I race out my room, still dancing down the hallway until I reach my younger sisters room.
"Po?" I say quietly, knocking on the door.
"Yes?" She says. I open the door, my eyes travelling around her immaculate, organised room. Posie Jordan is a total bookworm with bouncing, curly hair and a smile brighter than the sun. This will be her first year at Hogwarts.
I quickly think back to the day she got her letter. It was the happiest she'd been for ages. Posie is a severe overthinker and has been showing a few early signs of generalised anxiety disorder. Recently, though, it's obvious her mood has improved.
"Do you have my astronomy textbook?" I ask her, walking over to her bookshelf, which is brimming with books. I take a second to scan the books, which she has organised by colour, alphabet and height.
"Yeah," she says, crossing the room to stand next to me. Wobbling on her tiptoes, she reaches to the top shelf and grabs out my thick textbook before holding it out to me. I take it from her, smiling.
"Are you all packed for school?" I say, knowing full well she finished packing weeks ago.
"Yes, Nessa. I'm all packed," she says. Her voice is so cute and sweet, I can't imagine her ever growing up, ever being more than my baby sister.
"Are you excited?" I grin at her. She hesitates before smiling slightly.
"Yes," she says quickly before her smile disappears again.
"What's up, Posie?" I ask because it's obvious something's not quite right.
"I guess I'm just not sure that the other kids will like me," she says, her voice wavering.
"Oh, Po! Of course they will; don't even worry! You are the funniest, kindest, and most caring eleven-year-old I know," I smile, "and you will find people who want to be your friends. I just know it."
"Thanks, Nessa," her grin reaches her eyes this time, and she grabs me in a quick hug.
"You're welcome, Posie." I smile, before leaving the room.
♡♡♡
"Draco!" I say, running up to my boyfriend on the platform and flinging my arms around his neck.
"Hey, Vanessa," he sighs, wrapping his arms around my waist in a hug. Out of all my friends and family, Draco is the only one who always calls me by my full name. "Let's board; the train's about to leave," says, climbing onto the train. I had already kissed my parents goodbye and helped Posie with her trunk, and so I climb into the train after Draco. We walk down the corridor to the very end compartment, where Draco's friends Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle sit with Pansy Parkinson and my best friend, Mei Chang. Draco slides open the compartment door, and we pile into the small room.
Pansy, while an insufferable bitch, has been friends with Draco since first year, and because Mei and I only started hanging out with the group last year, it didn't seem fair to hate her, despite the opinions of most of Gryffindor House. I'm pretty sure she has been in love with Draco her whole life, but she and I are close friends, despite having our ups and downs.
The drive to Hogwarts is long, and so I stare out the window at the clear blue sky and rolling, green hills speeding past, feeling the comforting weight of Draco's hand in mine.
♡♡♡
♥︎ Authors Note ♥︎
First chapter, done!
Merry (late) Christmas!!
Welcome to 'Are You Joking?'
I'm so excited to write this story and bring you along for the journey, I really hope you enjoy!
xoxo ♥︎