Adrien offers his hand, and I grab it with a grin as he pulls me up. "You good?" he asks, his concern evident. I nod, feeling a flush creeping up my cheeks. Before I can say anything, Harry jumps in, his green eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What's your name?" he asks. I almost spill the beans about being a Riddle but catch myself just in time. "Opal Rivera," I blurt out instead, playing it safe. Harry introduces his friend Hermione, diverting attention from my slip-up. Suddenly, the compartment door swings open, and Jesse barges in, making us both scream in surprise. "Jesse!" I shout, thrilled to see her after a year. She rushes over and hugs me tightly, then spots Harry and blushes. Jesse's had a thing for him since forever. "How've you been?" she asks eagerly, barely giving me a chance to answer before Draco walks in and pulls me into a hug, taking me aback. "Hey, Opal," Draco says casually, but there's a possessiveness in his tone that catches everyone off guard. Adrien looks puzzled, so Draco steps in smoothly. "I'm Draco Malfoy, Opal's boyfriend," he announces, claiming his territory before I can get a word in. I furrow my brows. Of course, he's trying to play the part now, and I shoot him a glare. "Yeah, I guess," I mutter under my breath. Adrien flushes, and I offer him a reassuring smile. "Well, Draco, I'd rather hang out with my friends, thanks," I assert. Draco scowls and exits the compartment. "Why are you dating Draco Malfoy?" Harry questions sharply, his tone laced with concern. He must know Draco's affiliations with the Death Eaters. "Because now I can have some peace and quiet," I retort sharply. Harry seems taken aback, but Adrien just continues to smile calmly. Jesse catches sight of Clyde passing by outside the train and hurriedly bids us farewell as she rushes out. "Well, I should go find Hermione," Harry announces, standing up and leaving the compartment. Now, it's just Adrien and me, alone. As I notice we're alone, a blush sneaks onto my cheeks. The guy in front of me isn't bad-looking; actually, he's kind of cute. But his eyes, they're this vibrant green like Harry Potter's. Lost in thought, I see him blushing too. "Um, what house are you in?" I ask, trying to break the silence. "Slytherin. And you?" he responds, sounding curious. "I don't think we've met before." "I'm a transfer student. Getting sorted with the first years," I reply, keeping it low-key. He nods, so I press on, "You're a Potter, right?" Before he can say anything, Jesse barges in with her boyfriend, Clyde Barrow. He's got this beach blonde hair and those piercing blue eyes, a real match for Jesse. They've been together since he joined the Death Eaters. "Let's get ready for Hogwarts," Jesse announces, cutting through the moment. With a quick glance at the guy, I follow them out of the compartment. After changing into our Hogwarts gear, we hop off the train. Jesse and Clyde stick close, hands clasped. "So, finally stepping out of homeschooling, huh?" Clyde jokes, grinning. I playfully hit his arm. "Yep, but my powers are still intact," I shoot back, grinning. He nods, and I spot the guy from earlier. "I'll be back in a sec," I tell Jesse and Clyde. "Meet us in the fourth carriage," Jesse replies, used to me wandering off. I head over to the guy with a smile. "You never answered my question," I whisper in his ear. He looks surprised, whispering back, "Later, Opal," before disappearing into the crowd. I see him chatting with Potter, so I move on. Back with Jesse and Clyde, we jump onto a carriage pulled by black horses, probably Thestrals. It's about to leave, and I barely hop on in time. "You excited?" Jesse asks, looking serious. "You gotta get sorted into Slytherin; the Dark Lord won't like anything else." "I know, wouldn't want to disappoint him," I reply, trying to sound casual. "Ready for the mission? Can you handle it?" Jesse asks, her concern clear. "Of course, just gotta gather intel," I assure her, trying to sound confident. But her next words hit me hard. "You do realize what you're getting into, right? You've gotta take out Dumbledore," she says, her tone heavy with gravity.
