Hello my lovelies, and welcome to my story! I'm new to the Harry Potter fan fiction community here on ff (I haven't even read much of it! o.O) but I absolutely LOVE the books –and the movies (Tom Felton! –has fan girl moment-) but in my opinion, the movies just don't own up to the amazingness of what J.K. Rowling has so wonderfully put in print for us all.

Anyways, this is a Draco-OC fic, but bear with me. I promise it'll be worth your time. I work really hard on all of my writing so I can guarantee you nothing will be half-assed. There will be humour, drama, and, of course, romance all spun into my fan-based take of fifth-year. Also, for now this fic is rated T simply to be safe but it may end up becoming M, depending on whether or not I feel like smut has a place within the story. As of right now, I haven't decided.

But please, please, PLEASE review this and tell me what you think! Seriously, even if it's just dropping a random comment on how much you liked it or even hated it. Even a negative comment is wanted because believe it or not, it doesn't matter what you SAY, the fact that you took the time to say it will motivate me to write more.

Disclaimer: Of course I own Harry Potter, that's why I write fan fiction! Seriously

Chapter One -Mischief Afoot

If there was a better way to go then it would find me
I can't help it, the road just rolls out behind me
Be kind to me, or treat me mean
I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine

(Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple)

The corridors of Hogwarts were their usual over-crowded and suffocating selves, packed with students hurrying to their afternoon classes. The mob, of course, included myself, desperately trying to fight my way past a group of particularly slow second-years while balancing my stack of books. I had meant to drop off my work from my last morning class but had gotten caught up in listening to my friends Danielle and Wesley argue about something in Witch Weekly (Dani was an avid fan of the magazine and Wes loved to goad her into misguided rants regarding it) and had completely forgotten my plan to run back to the dorms.

And now I was rushing towards the dungeons, thanking the heavens that I happened to have my Potions book with me rather than still sitting in my trunk. And none of this was helped by the fact that I was dead-tired. I had spent most of my night finishing a Transfiguration paper that I had been putting off. I hadn't even remembered it until Dani had brought it up at dinner, therefore launching me into five hours of research, writing, and a lot of crumpled parchment. I still had ink stains on my hands.

As I was busy daydreaming about just how wonderful my four-poster bed upstairs sounded, I found myself surrounded.

"Hey there Mercy," greeted Fred Weasley cheerfully.

"How's it going?" his twin brother George added, similarly upbeat.

I sighed. "Hey guys."

The twins were two of my favourite people in the entire castle. And because I was only a fifth-year, they were also two years older –but that didn't seem to deter them away from our friendship. Ever since I had been declared Gryffindor that first night they had taken an instant liking to me. Some of it had to do with the fact that I was from America –that much I was aware of. Not that I minded; they were always amusing to have around and could generally revive me from any bad spirits I may take to. When I wasn't with Dani or Wes, I tended to be with them.

Today, however, I was tired and they didn't look as if they were in the same boat, so to speak. I wasn't really in the mood for any of their tricks; I simply did not have the energy to go along with their antics. Not that any of that would matter, not in regards to these particular tricksters.

"What's up?" Fred asked, slinging his arm around my shoulders and giving me a slightly concerned but still cheery look.

"You look upset," Fred put in, copying his brother, only his arm went around my waist. I couldn't help but chuckle at the look the aforementioned second-years gave us at that point.

"I look like a pimp," I joked. Both boys broke into matching, devilishly handsome smiles.

"This could be fun," said George, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"That it could," agreed Fred. They exchanged glances over my head and I groaned.

"What are you two up to now?" I demanded.

"What makes you think we're up to something?" asked Fred, pretending to look offended. None too successfully I might add.

I rolled my eyes. "Please. I've known you guys for almost five years; I can tell when you're plotting so you might as well spill it."

"Honestly Mercy," George started, feigning innocence. "We're not plotting a thing."

I let out a half-hearted sigh of frustration as we approached the door to Snape's classroom. If they were determined to keep it a secret then there was no way I'd be able to weasel it out of them.

"Don't you two have class?" I said, switching my voice to a more motherly tone and eyeing them both. They just gave me identical nonchalant shrugs as they untangled their arms from around me and pushed me into my classroom.

"Nice talking to you Merce," Fred said giving me a cheery wave.

"See you later," George added, still grinning.

Oh yes, they were most definitely up to something.

I didn't even get a chance to say good-bye before Snape came over to break us up. One withering look at the twins sent the redheaded tricksters retreating quickly out of sight while I dove away to the safety of my seat before he could turn that gaze on me. The effort would have been much more successful had I not proceeded to trip over a Slytherin girl's backpack and therefore banging my head against one of the tables.

I moaned in pain, rubbing the already growing bump on my scalp while trying to get back on my feet.

"Miss Chambers," came the Slytherin Head-of-House's scolding voice. "Whatever do you think you are doing?"

"S-sorry sir," I apologized, finally wrenching my foot free of the strap I had tripped over. "It was an accident."

"Then take your seat and please try to refrain from further disrupting my class."

I nodded. "Yes sir."

It was only then, when I turned to apologize to the table's occupants, that I realized just who one of said occupants was: none other than Draco Malfoy. I had to physically fight to keep myself from groaning. I had never had a personal run-in with the blonde Slytherin before and I had hoped to keep it that way. The last thing I needed was to be the butt of his merciless jokes for the next week.

"Sorry 'bout that," I said, trying to sound casual –like I hadn't just plowed my head into a table.

However, to my surprise he just looked up at me with not a hint of his usual malicious grin. He seemed to be completely indifferent to the chain of the events that had led me to awkwardly standing in front of him with a massive bulge on my head.

"You should be more careful," he said simply. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he went back to talking to his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

I walked to my seat in between my friends, shocked but immensely relieved. At least I didn't have to worry about the production of nasty pins insulting my mother or dying aunt or something equally as low. Not that I had a dying aunt, but if I did it generally wouldn't keep the likes of Malfoy from insulting her. The Slytherins were professionals at bullying and making people miserable and Draco just happened to be their king.

As a grueling note-taking session on the moon's role in potion brewing ensued I let my mind wander back to the Weasley twins. I decided to grill their younger brother Ron for information, see if he knew what they were up to. I was sure if I just undid a couple of my top shirt buttons I could get him to spill. Guys were easy like that. Some girls complain about stuff like that, but if I could use my feminine powers to get vital information out of someone, then there was no problem. Because what the Slytherins were to bullying, the twins were to surprises. And I really wasn't in the mood for surprises.

Please, everyone, tell me what you think. Constructive criticism is loved. If you like this, tell me and I'll continue. If I don't get reviews, it won't be continued so don't just favourite me or put me on alert. That won't get you any new chapters.

-Shadow