Disclaimer: Once upon a time, a long time ago in a land very, very, far away land a pink unicorn and a superhero united in an explosion of fiery awesomeness. From their ashes, a crime fighting duo was born and they rode off into the sunset with Batman (because I love Batman). Oh, and I own nothing because if I did there would currently be a missing Weasley twin. :) mwahahaha
Chapter 1
"I heard you're new. My name's Hermione Granger. Welcome to Hogwarts, we've never had an American student here before." I looked up from my book to see a girl with bushy brown hair and similarly colored eyes watching me, she was wearing the school's robes in red and gold and was small just like me. I smiled and held out a hand.
"I'm Ayla, nice to meet you." Hermione smiled and shook my hand.
"I hear you haven't been sorted yet…" she said, eyes bright with curiosity. I looked down at my own robes, which were similar to hers, but lacking in color. I nodded and looked sheepishly back at her. "News travels fast around here. I hope the sorting hat places you in Gryffindor!" she called over her shoulder as she bounced away towards the doors of the library, arms full of books. I watched Hermione leave before sinking back into the large red velvet armchair I had been sitting in for the past hour. Anyone passing by would have thought I was reading, but I barely understood the blur of words in front of my face as my mind wandered elsewhere. Just a few weeks ago I had been shipped overseas to attend a school for magic, all my life I had never known I was special. I was muggle born as well, so my parents were just as surprised if not more. I missed my family and friends, but being here was amazing, from the lessons down to the details carved into the supporting beams holding up the walls. I looked around the library one last time. "I've spent long enough in here, besides, my sorting is soon." I thought. So I closed my books and started to pack my things. I swung my bag onto my shoulder and made my way over to the doors of the library, I slid a hand into my bag searching around for a map I had been given to help me through the school, but ended up empty handed. I opened my bag wide and peered inside still walking, determined to be on time to the Great Hall.
"Ha. There you are." I whispered tugging the map free from between two of my books. I looked up just in time to see green and silver before I ran into it.
"You might want to watch where you're going from now on." I pulled my face away from Slytherin house's colors to see a pale sneering face inches away from mine. The boy's eyes widened for a moment, but he shook it off quickly; he was leaning towards me and had his hands on my stomach keeping me from totally falling into him.
"Sorry." I grumbled tucking a stray hair behind my ear attempting to tear my gaze from his. His expression held a flicker of amusement.
"I take it you're that new American girl everyone is talking about." He said stepping back to look at me. I tugged at the hem of my skirt, feeling self conscious at the way he stared at me. "Not bad. Personally I wouldn't be caught in this half of the castle though if you have any hope of getting into Slytherin." He mused, the side of his mouth tilting up into a mischievous half smile. I narrowed my eyes refusing to say anything to him. I didn't trust myself not to do anything stupid.
He gave me one last look-over, brushing past me towards the back of the library. "It looks better loose, by the way." He whispered, un-tucking my hair from behind my ear so that it fell into my face. I stiffened, and made straight for the doors, I needed to get away from whoever that boy was.
~. *. ~
I glared down at the map in my hands, I had never been very good with navigation, but after three hours resulting in ending up god-knows-where in the castle seemed slightly ridiculous. I slumped down against the wall cupping my head in my hands, attempting to mentally retrace my steps.
"That map is a little dated. This one is much more helpful," I looked up to find yet another boy smiling down at me. He held out a hand, and I hesitated before taking it. "I don't bite. My brother on the one hand is considered poisonous so I'd watch out for him if I were you. Although, we're identical, so there may be some confusion." I returned his smile, and took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. "I'm George Weasley. Proprietor of all magical practical jokes that are guaranteed to satisfy." I laughed.
"I'm Ayla Jones. Currently the proprietor of invisible products that are guaranteed to be non-existent." I said looking playfully at the tall red haired boy. Freckles covered almost every inch of his face, even the corners of his eyes, which were a startling bright green. He laughed and his hair shifted slightly so that the front hung down into his eyes.
"Ah, a fellow salesperson." He said handing me a thick, folded piece of paper. "Good, that means I can share trade secrets with you." He said winking at me. "This little beauty is the property of Harry Potter, as of two years ago. But it was mine first, so I have a supreme right to it, and I choose to lend it to you." He raised his wand and set it on the paper. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He whispered leaning down to my eye level. I watched as the paper turned into a map in my hands, names dancing across the paper as the people they corresponded with moved accordingly.
"Oh my God. This is amazing. Thank you," I said still staring open mouthed at the Marauders Map.
He shrugged, "Don't mention it. I just figured you might like some help."
I looked up at him to find his eyes on mine. "No really, thank you. I really appreciate it. Do you know how long I've been wandering around here trying to find the Great Hall?"
He laughed and placed a hand at the small of my back. "No, but I have a feeling, my dear, that you're going to tell me on our way to dinner." He said leading me forward towards yet another staircase.
"Are you sure you know where you're going?" I said eyeing George suspiciously. So far we had gone down several different hallways and had to double back twice.
He put a hand over his heart dramatically; "You don't trust me? That hurts." I laughed and pulled the Marauders Map from my pocket and waved it in his face.
"Sure I do, but using this would be more helpful." George stuck his tongue out at me, and tugged at the map in my hands. I held onto it tightly, refusing to let him take it away.
George looked at me playfully and tapped me on the nose with his index finger, "You have two options, let me have it, or I'll use my boyish charm to take it away, and then I still get it." I smiled deviously, and tugged the map away from him.
"You have to catch me first." I teased, breaking into a run down the hallway.
"Hey!" he called after me, "Ayla you're going to be sorry when I get a hold of you!"
"I doubt it!" I called, looking back over my shoulder, but George was gone. I stopped and turned in a circle through the hallway, "George?" I called softly through the hallway, but got not answer in return. My pulse quickened and I began to get a little scared "George this isn't funny!"
"Roar!" George growled, leaping out from behind a suit of amour, I screamed and he knocked me to the floor. He pinned my arms above my head and sat on my stomach to keep me from wriggling loose. "Ha. Told you so. Now can I have the map, dear?" he said smiling victoriously.
"No. And you're hurting me." I whined, trying to free myself. His grip on my wrists slackened some, but otherwise stayed where he was.
"Oh well, guess I have to go with plan B. in this case B standing for boyish charm." I rolled my eyes, and he pulled me to my feet, backing me into an alcove in the wall, he pushed my arms up above my head, and stepped closer to me. "Last chance," he whispered leaning his forehead against mine. I rolled my eyes again, and stuck out my tongue. "Have it your way." He teased, brushing his lips against mine. He took one hand away from my wrist and slid it around me, pulling me closer to him. I tried to pull away in protest but before I could, he pressed his mouth firmly to mine. I stood there eyes open wide for a second, before sinking into him. I wove my free arm around his neck and pulled him closer. I felt George smile, and slip his hand into my robe pocket. He released my wrist and stepped back from me holding the Marauders Map between his middle and index finger.
"Not fair." I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest.
The corner of his mouth tilted up into an ornery half smile as he stepped backward into the hallway. "Never said anything about fair did I?" he mused, picking up my bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "Shall we go?" he said courteously outstretching a hand towards me. I couldn't stay mad at him, so I smiled and stepped into the hallway and high-fived his hand instead of taking it. He rolled his eyes this time, George glanced down at the map and soon I was following him like a lost puppy dog to dinner.
By the time we had reached the Great Hall, half of it was empty. I mentally kicked myself for missing my sorting, but continued forward, George by my side.
"I think we're late." He whispered, nudging me with his elbow.
"No kidding," I grumbled, stealing glances around the room, my eyes drifted over to the Slytherin table and I saw the boy from earlier watching me. When our eyes met he smirked, and then winked at me. My stomach flipped and I looked away, he wasn't bad looking and I had a feeling that was going to end up being a problem.
"Hey George! Ayla!" I turned my head to the Gryffindor table to see Hermione waving at us. I smiled and waved back as George led me over to where Hermione and three other boys were sitting.
"Ayla, this is my brother Ron, and the other ginger is my twin, Fred. And I'm assuming you know who this is?" he said gesturing towards the third boy with glasses and shaggy black hair. I shook my head and offered an apologetic smile.
The boy stood up; "Well you'd be the first. I'm Harry Potter."
"Hi Harry." I said, trying to place where I had heard the name before.
"I was wondering what had happened to you Georgey, but as I can see you were busy enjoying yourself," Fred teased, giving me a knowing smile. I smoothed my hair down and straightened my uniform.
George elbowed Fred in the back, "As a matter of fact I was." He said sitting down on the bench beside his friends.
"I think Dumbledore is waiting for you." Hermione said gesturing towards the front of the room.
"Thanks see you guys later." I said eyes locked on George, he smiled.
"Until next time." He said kissing the top of my hand, I felt my cheeks go hot and I glanced back at the Slytherin table. The boy's gray eyes had drifted over to George and his stare was cold and menacing. I smiled at his anger and tugged my hand away from George's.
"Bye." I said one last time before turning to the teacher's table in the front of the room. Albus Dumbledore sat precariously in the middle chair beckoning me forward. I quickened my pace and soon enough was directly across the table from him.
"You seem to be making friends rather quickly." He said gently smiling down at me. His eyes twinkled with interest and kindness, and I knew that he would soon be my favorite professor. "However, one of them seems to have postponed your sorting." I dropped my eyes and tugged at the hem of my skirt. "The Sorting hat is still awaiting you though, should you choose to want a room to sleep in." Dumbledore said smiling. The hat that sat in front of him moved and looked up at me.
"Woah." I gasped picking it up under the brim.
"Place me on your head and I will help you find your place. Inward reveals a clear choice, although conflict is written on your face." I gulped nervously, but did as the hat said and let it flop down over my eyes. "There is something difficult about you. You exhibit traits of all four, loyal, brave, intellectual, but cunning with an underlying darker side. This is difficult; you are very much filled with the turmoil of many different thoughts." My thoughts strayed to the blonde boy in Slytherin, and the hat seemed to notice. "Ah," it hummed in my ear. "And so your desire persuades your decision, as well as mine." I stiffened.
"You're wrong." I hissed.
"Am I?" the hat questioned, I felt my certainty about the boy slip, just as the hat laughed. "A liar as well I see. I have made my final decision." The hat paused and I close my eyes tightly and held my breath in silent apprehension. "Slytherin!" the hat's voice echoed through the hall. Dumbledore reached to take the Sorting hat from where he was sitting. He smiled warmly and taking the hint I pulled the hat off my head and set it down in his hand gently. I turned to see Hermione shaking her head in disappointment while Ron and Harry whispered behind their hands, Fred's gaze had turned hard and the only one who seemed to be unfazed was George. My pulse quickened for the second time that day, realizing the full impact my placement had on whom I was supposed to talk to, and who my friends could and couldn't be. I breathed deeply and walked over to the Slytherin table; the boy smiled widely at me and patted the seat next to him.
"I knew you were Slytherin material." He said triumphantly as I sat down with him. "I didn't get to introduce myself properly earlier. Everyone here knows me as Malfoy, but you can call me Draco." He said sliding closer to me.
I yawned, "I'm sorta tired… so um, if you could just show me where the common room is, you can be my new best friend."
He smiled arrogantly at me, "Alright. I'll even show you to your room, but I'm considered way more than best friend material, just so you know." I rolled my eyes and scanned the Great Hall for George. He was one of the only people still sitting at the Gryffindor table, he was also one of the only ones that wasn't watching me. George was glaring darkly at Draco, I felt a tug in my chest and I wanted to comfort him. But I knew that now he probably wouldn't want to talk to me anymore.
"Take me away." I joked holding out my wrists for imaginary handcuffs. He clamped his hands around my wrists and met my eyes.
"Remember, I'm the one with the key. So it's up to me when you get out of this." He released my wrists that felt ten times heavier and sagged onto the table.
"You didn't." I hissed, but his devious smile told me otherwise. "I was kidding!"
"But I wasn't." He said winking at me. He pulled his wand from his robes and moved it side to side. I watched incredulously as my hand-cuffed-wrists followed the wand's movements. "Perfect. The charm seems to be working, so I think it's time for us to leave."
He stood and held his wand above his head backwards so that it was facing me and began walking to the doors of the Great Hall. I grumbled indignantly as my arms lifted themselves above my head and tugged me forward. My first night as a Slytherin and already I had been thoroughly embarrassed being dragged around by Draco Malfoy like I was on some sort of leash looking like an idiot with my arms hovering above my head, typical Ayla. Draco wove his way through several crowded hallways; I ducked my head hoping nobody would recognize me as he displayed his trophy for everyone to see. After about an hour he finally took me down into the dungeons toward the Slytherin common room, he dragged me through a few more groups of Slytherin, making sure to introduce me along the way. By the time he had finished I was about ready to strangle him until he had stopped squirming, just as soon as he had taken my invisible handcuffs off of course. He led me down another set of stairs that had been hidden behind a tapestry moments ago.
"Um, where are we going?" I asked eyeing my surroundings nervously.
"My father paid for a separate room for yours truly, you'll be staying there tonight." He said over his shoulder leading me by my wrists down the flight of stairs until we reached an ornately carved black door at the base of them. Draco swung the door open to reveal a large master bedroom, complete with a bathroom and sitting area. My mouth fell open as I surveyed every detail of it. The king sized four poster bed centered the room and was adorned with silver curtains draping softy around its frame. The seating area was to the right and made up of black leather couches with the Slytherin house symbol carved into the back of each. The dark wood floor was smooth under my feet and radiated warmth. "Your things are already here." He said gesturing toward the other end of the room where my belongings were stacked neatly against the wall.
"You're insane if you think I'm staying in the same room as you." I shook my head, and tried to back out of the room. Draco tugged his wand forward and I was pulled inside unwillingly.
"Ayla, you aren't in much of a position to argue." Draco tapped his shoulder with his wand and my wrists flew towards him, resting on top of his wand. I yanked myself as far from him as I could, but it still didn't seem like enough. He smiled dangerously and slid his wand over to his chest. My wrists followed suit, and Draco laughed softly as my face turned bright red. He stepped backward toward the bed and my stomach flip flopped in alarm. I tried again to wriggle away from him but that only seemed to encourage him. He sat down on the edge o the bed and began to slide backwards.
The handcuffs followed him and soon I was on my knees in front of Draco with my wrists still pressed to his chest. He ducked his head and touched the back of his neck with his wand; and my wrists again were dragged along unwillingly. He straightened and used one hand to hold his wand while the other brushed a stray hair from my face. We sat frozen that way for a minute, my arms looped around his neck and his hand on my face. He dropped his wand onto the bed but my hands didn't follow, they were free again. I relinquished the idea of strangling him, choosing instead to stay where I was. His rain gray eyes softened as they met mine. "You have pretty eyes. They're like a winter blue color." He said titling his head to the side, "They have a silver ring in them you know." I nodded; I had always loved that about my eyes.
"The rings are gold in summer, depending on how much sun I get." I whispered, staring into his eyes. "I like yours, they're interesting."
"How so?" he asked, leaning closer to me.
"Well… they um… are uh," I said trying to put a sentence together but failing miserably.
"You know Ay," he whispered softly, "You really do have a way of ruining the moment." I smiled sheepishly. Draco slid his arms around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. I pulled him toward me sliding closer to him; he nipped at my bottom lip still staring at me, a silent request for permission in his eyes. I kissed him in answer, and he growled appreciatively sinking into me. He slid his hands under my shirt and held the small of my back. He leaned back onto the bed pulling me with him, I slid his robe down his shoulders and traced his bottom lip with my tongue and he shivered beneath me, Draco rolled me on my back hovering slightly above me. He stared at me hungrily, and pulled his shirt over his head tossing it off to the side. I took my robe off and Draco started unbuttoning my shirt, I grabbed his hand and shook my head.
"I don't think so." I said taking his hands and placing them on either side of me. He whined in protest sliding his hands above my head. "No." I said tapping him on the nose with my index finger. Draco raised an eyebrow at me and rolled off next to me, I turned on my side to face him. He was staring at the canopy above the bed in irritation with his hands clasped behind his head. "I take it you don't like hearing that word." I said rolling my eyes at him. Draco pursed his lips and turned his head to the opposite wall. "The silent treatment? Are you seriously like five or something?"
He stood up and walked into the bathroom slamming the door behind him. I threw a pillow at the door and crawled under the covers to go to sleep; "When he comes out of there he's probably going to come lay with me." I thought, propping myself up with my elbow. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened and Draco strode out with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. "GAH!" I shrieked ducking under the covers to hide. He chuckled softly and I heard his footsteps carry over to one of the tall wardrobes across from the bathroom. I waited a few moments before shouting over to him, "Are you dressed yet?"
I jumped when his voice sounded directly above me "Maybe."
"Great so now that we're on speaking terms," I said shaking the image of an un-clothed Draco from my mind, "You're on the couch and don't even think about getting anywhere near this bed."
"Or?" he asked playfully poking me from the other side of the comforter.
"Or I'll hex you into the next century." I hissed slapping his finger.
"Oh how empty threats never cease to amuse me." he said his voice carrying farther away from me. I peeked out from under the covers and immediately wished I hadn't, Draco was standing next to the couch watching me. His wet hair clung to his forehead shadowing his gray eyes; he had changed from the towel to a pair of loose hanging gray boxers. "I thought you said you were wearing clothes!" I yelled pulling the blanket back down.
"I don't recall saying anything about wearing clothes, but I could take these off too if you want." He teased. I grumbled turning away from him.
I curled up on the side of the bed farthest from Draco and felt a feeling of guilt wash over me, just a few hours ago I had been kissing George and now I was in Draco's room, in his bed, having just made out with him none the less. I drifted off to sleep thinking of what I would say to possibly fix things with George tomorrow, that is if he still wanted anything to do with me.