~*A Quiksilver Eternity Under Amethyst Skies*~

Gwynneth de Lioncourt

Draco sighed as he looked over his fifth year schedule. Another boring year at a school that allowed mudbloods to train there. How could the other purebloods stand it?!

He shook his head as he looked at the other students at the Slytherin table. His two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, were nearby, like they were every year. He looked to the Gryffindor table and sneered at Potter and Weasley. The mudblood, Granger, didn't even need to be mentioned. If it weren't for that meddling little muggle, he would have been top of the class. He growled slightly under his breath and lowered his head somewhat to continue eating his breakfast in silence.

All eyes in the dining hall looked up as there was a skidding of feet and a burgundy haired girl slid to a stop just inside the door. She put a hand to her slightly heaving chest and blushed at the stares of everyone. They act like they've never seen a red head before, she thought. "Um... hey, everyone. I just got transferred here, today. Can someone be so kind as to point out the Slytherin table to me?" She looked pleadingly at the assembly of teenagers.

Draco's breath caught in his throat at the girl's voice. He looked up from his meal and did all he could to prevent his jaw from dropping to the floor. She was absolutely perfect! His seemingly cold silver eyes took in her whole figure. Gorgeous nearly wine-colored hair went just below her shoulders, curling slightly at the bottom. Her eyes were a deep lavender color, something he had never seen before. Even under her robes, her body seemed to have a sort of physical power emanating from it. She reached up and ran a hand through her hair, exposing some of the tanned skin of her arm as the material slipped off it.

"Hello? Is anybody alive out there?" She spoke again, and it was like music to Draco's ears. A voice that had a dry and sarcastic tone to it, yet it still had a feminine beauty to it.

Almost of it's own volition, Draco's body stood up and he waved to her. "Hey. This is the Slytherin table..." He trailed off as he watched her body sway, as only a female's can, as she walked over to the table.

Everyone at the table, and the whole hall for that matter, blinked in confusion. Since when did Draco welcome newcomers? Even if they were in the same house as he was, it just didn't make any sense. The rest of the dining hall went back to their breakfasts and talked a bit about the new girl before returning to their former conversations.

Draco's heart pounded in his chest, and he couldn't quite explain it. He'd seen plenty of pretty girls before, but something about this one was different. He stayed calm on the outside and held out his hand in greeting to her. "My name's Draco Malfoy. I don't believe I caught your name, Miss?"

The purple eyed youth grinned and took his hand firmly in hers. "I'm Amethyst, Amethyst Phoenix. Nice to meet you, Draco."

Her hand was warm and quite strong, even for a female. Draco nearly shook himself to make sure that he wasn't dreaming, but resisted the urge with great difficulty. "Have you eaten breakfast yet, Miss Phoenix?"

Her glossy lips smirked as she saw the shocked looks on the faces of the other Slytherins. She leaned in close to him and whispered, "You normally aren't this accepting of people, are you Draco? Your fellow house mates seem to be in shock."

The warm and moist feel of her breath on his ear sent a shiver down his spine, but he kept his body still. "You're very observant, Amethyst. It's been awhile since we've had a new Slytherin, so perhaps they've just forgotten how welcoming I can be, at times."

She punched him lightly on the arm. "Loosen up a bit, Draco. You don't have to be so formal, you know. And just so you know, I haven't had breakfast. My stomach can't handle food in the morning."

He nodded and smiled as his tension eased a bit. "Sorry 'bout that."

She winked. "No need to be sorry. A boy as good looking as you is allowed to make mistakes now and then." The whole table gasped in shock at Amethyst's open attitude. "Tell you what, Draco. Just for being so nice to me this morning, after my... nearly comical entrance," she pressed the tip of her index finger to his forehead, "You can call me Meth."

Draco couldn't resist a slight grin. No one had ever been so relaxed around him before. Being a Malfoy had its downfalls. Everywhere he went, people were groveling and sniveling because they feared the wrath of Voldemort. This year might not be so bad after all, he thought.

A few students from the other tables watched the strangely friendly exchange. "Can I see your schedule, Draco?"

"Certainly, Meth." He picked it up from the table and handed it to her. She pulled a neatly folded schedule from her pocket and compared the classes. After a moment, she looked up into his silver eyes and winked again. "Well, well. Whaddya know, Hot Stuff? Our schedules are exactly the same."

Draco tried not to laugh at the pet name she gave him. "Is that your name for me, now?"

She shrugged. "Why not? It's perfectly true. Surely the girls around here have noticed. I can spot a fox a mile away... especially a silver one."

A few girls who were members of the Draco Malfoy fan club had sour looks on their faces. Meth grinned. "So , hot stuff, think you can show me around?"

Draco's tension dissipated and he relaxed completely. He winked his pretty, pale eyelashes at her. "Of course I will, Meth."

"Think we can leave a few minutes early?" She took his hand in hers again and he couldn't help but nod.

The pair left the hall, heading downstairs to the dungeons. Potions was their first class.