Chapter 1

The halls were full of students desperately searching for their class. I, on the other hand, was desperately trying to keep my eyes open. Leaning against one of the pillars in the Dungeon staircase, my pale green eyes started to close as I drifted into a dreamless state. I had spent the majority of the night chatting with the other first years who couldn't suppress their excitement about their new lives here at Hogwarts. They talked endlessly about their classes, teachers, aspirations and especially boys. I, on the other hand, was just glad not be home. Even when I felt the exhaustion in my body last night, I didn't want to pass the girl bonding opportunity. I decided to make the most of these few months away from my prison. I wanted to make friends and freely do whatever I want without reprimand.

"Eliana!" I turned to see my friend Corie run towards me. She had an exasperated look on her face with all of her books in tow. Her chestnut hair, which came to just above her shoulders was messy as if she had just woken up. Her robes bore the familiar green accents, which proudly displayed our house. "What are you bloody doing here!? We're almost late!"

Before I could respond, she grabbed my arm and raced down the corridors and into a classroom. We took the two remaining seats at the front row and settled in, "What on earth is wrong with you Eliana? You were almost late for potions. You're damn well lucky I happened to pass by."

"What are you talking about? Weren't you almost late yourself? Also, I don't recall seeing you at breakfast today…," she blushed slightly as I smirked in triumph while tucking a piece of my dark hair behind my ear.

"Touché Lestrange…" we both giggled as Professor Slughorn walked in. I could feel a pair of eyes on me so I glanced to my left to see a dark haired boy staring at me. His hair was neatly combed and his gaze was calm with no smirk, smile or frown. He just stared blankly at me almost with no emotion. His chin rested on his palm, which was being held up by his elbow on the table. When I smiled at him, he responded by furrowing his eyebrows slightly then slowly turning back to his notebook. Weird… Maybe he's just shy, I thought. I tried stealing a glance from the boy next to me again but he was too preoccupied with taking down notes. I wanted to say hi and maybe make a new friend but he didn't seem all that interested.

Before I knew it, the class had ended.

"I look forward to the rest of this school year… and well… that's it for today. Remember to read the first chapter of the book. I would like to start concocting our first potion tomorrow." Students had already started packing before Professor Slughorn could finish his speech. I was one of them. Transfiguration was practically on the other side of the school. I couldn't afford being late to that. I have never met Professor Dumbledore so I wasn't sure what kind of a professor he would be.

" Are you still thinking of trying out for quidditch this year?" Corie asked as we headed towards our next class.

"I'm not sure. I'm not really a physically active being…"

"No kidding. I'm surprised you even thought about it. I'm still planning on trying out though…" We both smiled. Corie had lived near me since we were little. I remember playing with her under a willow tree near her house as our mothers talked when I was little. Her mother was one of the few who still remained friends with my mother after my father had kicked her out while she was still pregnant. I guess you can say, my father and mother had different views on muggles, marriage and such. I became a recluse once my mother had died and my father reluctantly took me and my twin brother in. However, Corie was someone I stayed in contact with. It was nice catching up with her on the train. I felt more relax once I saw someone I recognized.

"Romulus is coming this way," I heard Corie whisper behind me. I turned to see the exact person I was trying to avoid.

"Hey Eliana! What were you doing eyeing that little prick at potions?" he exclaimed while he matched our pace up the dungeon staircase. He always found a way to criticize or pick on me even when we were little.

"I don't know what you are talking about Romulus." I could see Corie roll her eyes at my brother as I spoke.

"She can look at whoever she wants Romulus and besides, he was probably cute anyways," she flashed him a grin to which he grimaced.

"I wasn't talking to you Bulstrode! And I'm just warning you Eli. That bloke is outright bonkers. I heard he came from the muggle world," his friends nodded in agreement as they too tried to match our pace, "The guys and me were talking. He's probably some mudblood who got abandoned for casting magic on his dumb parents. He wouldn't even talk to us. Acting all high and mighty…"

"Or maybe you were just being extremely rude like you always are," I spat. It wasn't fair that they were spreading these lies especially since they didn't even know him. I was infuriated. Just then, Romulus grabbed my arm and pulled me so hard I thought my arm was going to come right off.

"What did you say?" he looked extremely angry. I had insulted him in front of his friends and I could tell he was going to make me regret it.

"I-I…." Before I could compose a sentence. A hand grabbed Romulus by the wrist and twisted it causing him to loosen his grip enough for me to brake free.

"Bloody Hell!" I hear Romulus screech. I looked up to see the dark haired boy from potions standing in front of me. His expression still blank but his posture was straight up. Romulus looked like he was about to hex him when…

"What's going on here?" The head boy came strutting towards us, "Get back to your classes or I will make sure 10 points for each student will be deducted from Slytherin."

My brother glared at the dark haired boy, "Watch your back Riddle." He walked off with his small gang leaving me, Corie and Riddle behind.

"Hey…ummm. Tha-," before I could finish my sentence, the boy calmly walked off to Transfiguration class.

"Well that was rude," Corie commented as we also walked to class. I could see where Romulus' presumptions were based of but I was convinced that this boy was more than meets the eye. And I was determined to get to know him.