Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling. There are some LOTR characters in the fic too. Maranquin is mine.

AN: someone's thoughts. I'm always happy to take suggestions or constructive criticism. I would prefer it if you didn't flame me. If you well that's ok. I'm always up for a good laugh. So enough of my blab and on with the story.



~Five and a Half Chestnut Dragonheartstring~

"...And you're sure I look the part?"

"Of course you do dear. You look like the dazzling young headgirl I know you can be." Said Dumbledore smiling down at the youth with his twinkling blue eyes alive and mischievous.

"Thanks Albus!" she said as she flung her arms around him in a sisterly embrace.

Draco Malfoy, a rugged looking Slytherin 7th year had been summoned to Dumbledore's office. He had heard the tail end of the conversation between the headmaster and the new Headgirl. Why did she call him Albus? He wondered. He pushed open the slightly cracked door and peered in. He snickered to himself as he saw the girl release the headmaster. Dumbledore smiled as he saw Malfoy.

" Ah, Mr. Malfoy, so nice of you to come."

"I got an owl Sir; you wanted to see me?" Said Draco trying to see if the girl was Hermione Granger. She had not yet turned around.

"Yes Draco I am happy to inform you that you are this years Headboy. I tried to owl you sooner but as I didn't get a response I figured you must have been on vacation with your family. How is your father doing by the way?" Said Dumbledore cheerfully until he mentioned Lucius. There was a small glint of anger in those normally smiling eyes at the mention of Draco's father.

" Oh err… yea we went to umm… Barbados and didn't get back until late last night." He mumbled trying to sound convincing but failing horribly. Dumbledore, however, did not look at all surprised and seemed not to notice that Draco was lying through his sparkling Slytherin teeth.

" Oh dear, Draco my boy, where are my manners. Here I am babbling on about vacations when I haven't introduced you to our new Headgirl. Draco I would like you to meet…"

Please not Granger please oh please not Granger. Prayed Draco silently.

"… Maranquin. She's new here. Just arrived from Ireland this morning." Said Dumbledore as the girl turned around.

The sight of her nearly knocked the wind out of Draco. He just stared for what seemed like ages, too dumbfounded to say a word. The girl was about 5'5'' with long chestnut hair that was braded in the back and billowed down around her shoulders. She had enchanting aqua eyes that cut through the helpless Slytherin as he stared. Those eyes tormented Draco. They were quite unlike his icy gray ones. They were warm and welcoming. Hearing something he stirred out of his mental daze.



"Sorry, did you say something?" He said still in awe.

She laughed softly. Like a chuckle but not as girly sounding. "Yes, I said it's a pleasure to meet you. Are you alright Draco?"

"Err… yea I'm fine. Just a little out of it." Said Draco blushing just enough to add a little colour to his milky white skin.

"I'll say Malfoy," said a rich Scottish accent from behind. Draco whirled around to see Professor McGonagall giving him one of her disapproving looks.

" Ah Minerva, could you show these two to their quarters please?" said Dumbledore.

McGonagall didn't look too happy to spend more time with Malfoy than was necessary but she reluctantly said. "Very well Albus. Maranquin we've met before have we not?" the girl nodded "Your things are in your room already. Mr. Malfoy I will tell the house elves to bring your trunk up to your room. Follow me please."

She led them down a corridor that was near the Gryffindor commons and then stopped at flight of stairs. "Here now. You see this lion?" she pointed to a small carving on the banister. It appeared lifeless until McGonagall tapped it with her wand. It then stood up and yawned lazily. As it did the staircase promptly moved. It reached its destination and they began to climb the stairs.

"Thank you Naulden." McGonagall called back to the lion. He grunted and promptly went back to his original pose; sitting bolt upright with his mouth open in what was supposed to be a growl with his tail curled behind him. " Tap him with your wand and the staircase will move to the hall that leads to your rooms." She explained as they climbed.

Maranquin looked around as if she had never seen a wizards picture before. Draco thought she was a little odd but didn't say anything. She looked like the kind of person you could easily talk to, so he figured he'd get her on his side before Potty could get at her.

The got to the top of the stairs and reached a hallway that Draco had never seen before. She turned to a portrait of a blond jouster on a glossy black steed.

" What hoe McGonagall? Come to bring me the new recruits. Jolly good." Said the knight with a strong northern accent. He pulled off his helmet to get a better look at the new Heads. "Oh yes very nice indeed. Dumbledore did a good job with these two."

Looking slightly agitated McGonagall said " They're all yours Lord Heathcliff." Then turning to Draco and Maranquin, " the password is Ice Mice. You may change it if you wish. You can figure out which room is your own. Dinner is at 7 and you both will attend and sit at the Head table with the teachers. That is only for special occasions such as Halloween or Christmas. Normally you will sit with your own houses. Don't be late."

And with that she left them grumbling about Dumbledore's stupid password choices, how she always had to tromp around after students, and how she needed a vacation.

They opened the portrait hole and went inside. There were two big cozy armchairs and a couch by a fire that the house elves had gotten roaring. There were a few bookcases and a desk with quill and parchment ready for whatever it was needed for. All in all it looked quite roomy. Draco saw that there was a door with a picture of a Mermaid on it. Great, we've got our own bathroom too. This sure beats the Slytherin commons.

"Well uh… I was really surprised to hear that a new girl beat Granger for Headgirl" Said Draco trying to make conversation with the mysterious newcomer. To a school that hadn't had a new kid for the entire 7 years Draco had been there, her coming was quite a surprise.

"Granger? Oh you mean that sweet girl from the train?" a groan from Draco.

"If you've met Granger then you've probably met Potty and his Weasel." Said Draco praying she hadn't.

"Harry and Ron, yes they were with Hermione" oh no she's in league with the dynamic duo and the brain. Great, just great " They're really nice. They told me loads about Hogwarts. It's hard coming to a new school but they made me feel very welcome." Another groan from Draco.

"Well if you've befriended Potter then you're probably in Gryffindor right?" she nodded "well it was nice talking to you pity we have to be enemies now." Said Draco disappointedly.

He had really wanted to be friends with this girl. He had never had a true friend before. Crabbe and Goyle were just pieces of meat that followed him around at the order of their equally thick fathers. He knew that they would never risk their skins to save him from a spot of trouble. That was mostly why he hated Potter so much… he envied him. He envied him not because he was the boy who lived or had all the fame but because he had true friends who wouldn't leave him to die even if it meant risking everything.

But Draco had no time to think about Potter because at that moment he saw a strange look pass over the friendly aqua eyes. Sorrow, fear and then anger passed through them. Then before he had a chance to speak she raised her right hand and a fencing foil flew from its display on the wall into her open fingers. She quickly flipped it down and had Draco on the floor at sword point with the tip of the foil at his heart.

"Why do we have to be enemies? Who are you working for? The Ringwraths? Speak

Now or face the consequences!" Fire blazed in her eyes. She looked quite fierce. For once in his life something scared Draco, almost as much as his father. She could see the fear in his eyes as he spoke.

"I didn't mean anything except that Potter and I hate each other and if you made friends with him and Weasel then you wouldn't want to be friends with me. I am a Slytherin you know." He said looking cautiously at the foil still pointed at his chest. She looked at him then removed the foil from the front of his forest green robes.

" I'm sorry Draco. I didn't mean to startle you but where I come from you do not talk lightly of enemies." She offered him a hand, which he took after a moment.

"How did you do that? Do you have your wand in your pocket or something?" Draco was in awe how had she made the foil come to her without a wand?

"Oh err… I don't know how I did it. I guess it just happened." Draco could plainly tell she was lying but he didn't want to pursue the matter. He really wanted to make friends with the beautiful creature. There was defiantly something odd about her. Why did she transfer from Ireland in her seventh year? He thought and why did she call Dumbledore Albus? Only teachers and Fudge called him Albus.

Maranquin decided to change the subject. Draco was thinking too much. "Draco, do you want to go see your room?" she asked.

"Sure. I'm tired from the train journey and I think I'll get some sleep before dinner." Maranquin looked at him and true to his word he looked exhausted.

"Well you go lie down and I'll try not to make too much noise out here." He turned to go and she said, "Draco, I do wish that we can be friends."

Draco turned looking hopeful and then gave her one of his extremely rare genuine smiles. It wasn't a smirk or a full of sarcasm but a true smile. "I'd like that" he said simply.

He turned back and went to what he assumed was his room; it had the Slytherin crest on the door. He put a hand on the cold doorknob and turned it thinking it's good to be back His door opened into a room black as pitch. He walked over to the big wooden wardrobe and opened it.

Suddenly his father jumped out of the closet and stood tall glowering down at his son. Draco forgot about all magical defenses and panicked. He ran out of his room and shut the door with a loud slam. Maranquin who had been looking at the crackling fire jumped as Draco suddenly appeared again leaning against his door panting and shaking violently.

" Maranquin, he's…he's come to get me. Oh god oh god what have I done this time to make him actually come to the school. Quick hide!" Said Draco gasping for air. His heart was pounding in his chest and he looked quite deranged.

Draco slow down who's come to get you?" asked Maranquin shocked to see the calm sophisticated Draco of just a few moments before looked like he'd seen death itself.

"My (gasp)…my father. He's in my room right now." He's going to come out any second hide quickly.

"Was he in your wardrobe by chance?" She inquired calmly.

"Yes, yes he was but wh…" He didn't finish because Maranquin started laughing softly. " I don't see what you find so amusing. My father is a very dangerous man. It's very serious. Why are you…?"

" Sorry. No I'm sure your father is a very dangerous man and I would be deeply concerned if he was really in there but…"

"You think I'm lying? I wouldn't lie about something like that. I'm not hallucinating you know."

"Oh no I'm very sure you saw him but its not really him." Draco looked bewildered. " What I mean is I'm sorry it slipped my mind Albus told me that there was a boggart in our rooms somewhere. Sorry if it gave you a fright." It took a while for this to sink in and Draco could feel his knees going. Maranquin helped him onto the couch. He sat there for a while thinking. He still looked a little frightened.

Maranquin could see that he needed someone to comfort him so she stroked his hair gently. He looked up at her with an almost pleading look. She asked him softly "What does your father do to you?"



He looked up into her eyes for a moment then looked down. "He does nothing to me. Why would you think that?" She looked at him and he knew she could see right through his lie.

"I have a very good friend who's father beat him for the longest time. He always gave me that same look of fear that you did just now when he spoke of him father." She looked at him compassionately. He felt that she would understand and not laugh at him. So he began to speak.

"He doesn't like it when I'm not the absolute best at everything. He hates Potter and his crew because of what happened with Voldemort." He was surprised when she didn't flinch at the mention of the Dark Lord's name but continued anyway. "He can't stand Muggles or Mudbloods and wants to destroy all of them. He has Dungeons in Malfoy Manor where he keeps his selection of assorted prisoners and torture victims. When he's not pleased with me he throws me in there too. I…" He choked. He couldn't continue on.

Maranquin understood. She pulled the Slytherin's head into her lap. She rubbed his chest with both hands as he fought back tears. It was painful to watch. He looks just as Legolas did in his earlier years, helpless, frightened, feeling alone.

"Cry Draco. I know you don't have the best impression of me but I do understand. I lost my own father a few years back." She hugged him to her protectively as they sat there for hours, silent but neither one felt alone anymore.