Chapter One

The Great Hall was filled with students, eagerly wanting to start the new term ahead after a good rest during the summer. Everyone chatted excitedly, telling their friends about how the holidays went and what they hoped to do during the year. The Sorting Ceremony for the First Years had just ended, and the students hungrily waited for the house elves to serve them dinner. Then, someone cleared her throat.

"Attention students!" Professor McGonagall, the Transfiguration teacher, called. "Before we start to eat, I must announce that the Sorting Ceremony is not quite over. This year, we have a new student who transferred into Hogwarts from Azalea, Asia's most prestigious wizard school. She is a fifth year and her name is Alessandria Chen Wyndham. Everyone, please warmly welcome her to Hogwarts. Alessandria, please come up to the front to be sorted."

A thundering applause broke out and everyone's eyes followed the dark-haired girl as she walked forward. She had raven black hair, fair skin and sparkling onyx eyes. No one had seen such a girl before. She looked like a normal, good-looking girl, but yet, her beauty was not the type typically seen.

Alessandria was extremely nervous from all the stares she was getting, but no matter, she confidently strode forward to the stool and sat down. A little gasp of surprise escaped her lips as McGonagall placed the hat on her head. A few chuckles were heard among the students.

"Hmmm, you are a tricky one. You are very bright, like those in Ravenclaw, but yet, you are very cunning. Your charisma is remarkable. Alright. You will be in SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat declared, and the Slytherin table burst into applause and cheers, with a few of the Slytherin boys jumping up and down, delighted that a pretty girl had joined their house. A few groans were heard from the other houses, and some muttered about how they were going to have to deal with another Slytherin snob.

After McGonagall took the hat off Alessandria, she reluctantly got off the stool and walked timidly to the Slytherin table. The Slytherins shifted, to allow the new girl to take a seat, and as soon as she placed her bum on the chair, a whole barrage of questions hit her like a tidal wave.

'This is going to be a long night', thought Alessandria.

"Dude! Did you see that new chick that joined Slytherin today? Wow." Blaise Zabini exclaimed, punching Draco Malfoy in his shoulder. "I didn't know Asian chicks were so good-looking."

"Yes I saw her. And Blaise, honestly, did you even know what Asians look like?" A bored Draco answered. "And another thing, Blaise. Do you know what volume control is? You can't shout about her all over the place when she's in our house."

"Fine," conceded Blaise as he collapsed into an armchair next to Draco. "But she doesn't seem very Slytherin, does she? You know how the Slytherin girls are." He smirked.

"Slutty, dense and loud bitches? Yeah sure, I know how they are." replied Draco.

Blaise continued, "I mean, she's so quiet. You heard the hat, she's smart and everything, and from the way she's working, she could even match up to Hermione Granger." Blaise looked in the direction of Alessandria, who was sitting in the corner of the Slytherin common room, reading her Potions textbook at amazing speed. "Hah, now we've got the Hermione Granger of Slytherin."

"Oh joy, we really need another know-it-all, don't we, Blaise?" Draco responded sarcastically. "But in any case, you're right. She is, sort of different. She doesn't have the air of a Slytherin. 'Neither did she even look at me from dinner till now. That's a first.' thought Draco. Girls usually swarmed to him like bees to honey. Draco felt a grimace on his face. "She is a pureblood, right?"

Blaise could not help but laugh at Draco's contorted expression. "Miffed that she didn't notice you? And a pretty one at that. And yes, she is a pureblood. Daphne asked her during dinner. Her expression when she said 'yes' was kind of strange though, as if being a pureblood was nothing fantastic. Wonder why…" Blaise's expression then turned distant, as he thought of why Alessandria acted the way she did.

Draco stood up and walked towards his dormitory. He was tired. However, just before he closed the door to the dormitory, he called out to Blaise. "Take your time to figure it out. And when you're done, I might ask you why." Then the door closed quietly.

As Draco lay in his bed, he could not help but think of Alessandria and what Blaise said. Like Blaise, he could not help but wonder why she reacted the way she did to Daphne's question. Draco also could not help but dwell on the fact that she had not even cast a glance in his direction. That was a first.

Clenching his teeth, Draco was determined to get her to talk to him somehow. He was Draco freaking Malfoy. He was the Slytherin Prince and every sane girl's dream. No girl got away with shunning him.

"No girl." He whispered to himself as he fell asleep.