"Do tell me, what is it like being the only Weasley in the great house of Salazar Slytherin?" The interviewer pressed, trying Katharina's patience. In her opinion, this question was totally uncalled for and out of the blue. They were in a dignified institution of wizarding education, not a talk show.

'Kathy' was seated stiffly on an otherwise plushy leather couch, in the cool Slytherin common room. Other than the two of them, no one else lingered- the students were all in other classes and the fire was gone with them. This brought her to the question that kept repeating itself within her subconscious; what the on earth am I doing here?

"I'm not a Weasley." She insisted, knowing very well how her gloriously crimson locks betrayed her.

"Not in name, perhaps, but I understand that Ginerva Weasley-Malfoy is your mother, is she not?"

Kathy wondered whether Rita Skeeter had ever had any children, because this irritating woman was begging to be adopted. What was her name again, Flora Temple? It seemed the only difference between her and Rita was that Flora manually wrote down what her interviewee said in a large notebook. But then, this was only because magical quills were banned years ago.

"She is."

"Then you are capable of answering the question, are you not?"

The fifteen-year-old sighed, crossing her legs and angling them to the side like the lady that she was. Oh, how Narcissa would be proud. "I am."

"Could you please do it in this century?" Mrs. Temple almost snapped impatiently, following the slight shift in the girl's especially tailored white dress.

The girl had been perfectly dressed for the interview, even donning a short, curve-hugging black vest to add a formal touch to the feminine frock and to emphasize her slender waist. She had been, no doubt, expecting to graciously pose for a requested photograph and that she did. Smart casual, Flora reflected wryly- but the Malfoy brat was much more smart than casual, actually.

Kathy was not shaken by the hasty question; she actually smirked at this sign of discomfiture and idly twirled a lock of her hair before responding, so as to irritate the witch further. When she did answer, there was a warning glint in her gray eyes. "I expect no twisting of my words in the publication."

Flora nodded, suddenly intimidated by the beautiful heiress.

Kathy pursed her lips in thought, and when her words formed, they were released in a slow, intelligent drawl. "It came as a shock, as I'm sure you'd understand. My brother had been sorted into Gryffindor during the previous year. I fully expected that he would be in Slytherin and that I would be in Gryffindor. After all, his looks are all Malfoy just as mine are all Weasley."

"And how does that reflect on your personalities?" Flora seemed to state it in a taunting manner.

Kathy, however, did not bat an eyelash. "I simply have more of my father- more Malfoy. Alex has more of mom- more Weasley."

"I see." Temple muttered, disappointed at the perfectly crafted answer. She thought she had cornered the young Malfoy into a reply that was wholly unbecoming or perhaps insulting to the Gryffindor traits. She did not pursue the matter any further. "How does it feel to be the most popular or, shall we say, most sought-after Slytherin princess despite this drawback?"

Kathy raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, only a thread of control kept her from laughing. "Slytherin princess? I think not. I fit in easily enough, perhaps because they acknowledge that there's more Malfoy in me than Weasley."

"So your peers wouldn't have liked you if you were more Weasley?" Flora pounced on the possible intrigue the answer could cause.

The young Malfoy's manners hindered her from rolling her eyes. "It would be hard to relate to the rest of them as the Weasley countenance is more suited for Gryffindor."

"Any boyfriends your parents should worry about?" Flora digressed, disappointed yet again at the second dead end.

A wan smile brightened Kathy's physiognomy ever so slightly. "What is this about, Mrs. Temple? Have I done something particularly outrageous this year? You could have asked these questions the day after I was sorted and received the same answers."

The woman put down her quill to give a spiteful glare. "That may be true, but this year your rise to power has reached a turning point. In case you haven't noticed, every breathing male want to have you and every breathing female wants to be you. So answer the question, Malfoy- any love affairs lately?"

Kathy's nose rose higher as she regarded the older woman's impertinent tones. "None that I'd like you to know of, Mrs. Temple."

Flora scowled at this and scribbled harder into the notebook. "How about best friends, do you have ones from Gryffindor as well?"

"Winona and Aiden Chaisty in Slytherin, all my cousins in Gryffindor are my best friends, of course." Kathy supplied promptly, hoping to patch things up immediately.

"Winona and Aiden, the twins?" Mrs. Temple asked condescendingly.

"Yes, Mrs. Temple. You don't like them?" Katharina inquired, feigning surprise. They had a reputation, she knew, of being somewhat… promiscuous. But that didn't mean that they made horrific friends. In fact, they had proved to be quite the opposite and she didn't like how people like Flora were so judgmental.

"Surely you know of their… habits."

"No, I surely don't. Next question please."

The great hall seemed more welcoming, Kathy thought, as she walked into the large room right after the interview. The bad mood she got from missing half a transfiguration class- her favorite of all the classes- disappeared as majority of the populace turned their heads to glance in her direction.

She aimed a dazzling smile in their general direction before surreptitiously glancing for the blondest heads in the whole room. She saw one and met Aiden Chaisty's eyes. He was, as usual, surrounded by adoring females, most of whom were less beautiful creatures than he. It wasn't that he was gay-quite the opposite, in fact- it was more of the fact that he divided his time between his friends (males and females alike) and his… affairs (strictly females only).

Today though, the renowned Slytherin sex-god murmured his excuse and walked up to Kathy to offer his arm at the door.

"Another hundred marriage proposals, I suppose." Kathy teased good-naturedly, taking the arm gratefully. She searched his brilliant hazel eyes for the cause of his sullen mood- even his stride was measured and tense.

"I got kicked off the team." By the team, he meant the Slytherin Quiditch Team and Katharina was shaken by this. It was probably the greatest misfortune to ever befall an individual.

"What? How-" But she was cut off brusquely.

"…accused of sleeping with the captain's girlfriend…" He offered bluntly.

She didn't bat an eyelash at the explanation. Kathy shook her head in indignation, not at her friend but at his offender. "How dare he? You're the best beater there is!"

"I believe that appellation belongs to you." He amended wryly, but she ignored him.

"How in Merlin's name does he expect me to go on without my partner?" They had reached the front end of the table by now, passing Aiden's legions of enamored girls who were aiming jealous glares in her direction. This was where the eminent members of the school sat; it was an indicator of their status. Here were the members of the quiditch team, the wealthy, the famous, and the gorgeous- Kathy was all of these and Aiden too until today. The geeky, gross, misunderstood angst-collectors sat at the opposite end.

Aiden took one look at where his sister Winona sat- next to the detested Captain Rod Loxley- and groaned. Kathy gazed at him questioningly.

"She's taking advantage of his newly-single status, completely unknowing of how it happened." Aiden explained darkly. He and his sister were exactly alike in this manner, and they didn't mind as long as there was no "sleeping with the enemy" as it was in this case. There was no doubt in Kathy's mind that he would inform his sister about the situation.

"Come on." Kathy steered him away from there to sit at the opposite end. He stared at her in horror. "You don't need this right now."

Fortunately, there was only one misfit at the other end; Derik Zabini. He usually minded his own business, though, and today a book covered his brooding features. He was a mystery. Once upon a time he was the most charismatic and sought-after personality in the whole school, and now… Now he wasn't worth a second thought.

"Did you really do it- I mean, her?" Kathy asked, rather candidly. This was normal between the closest of friends, whispering among themselves as they disregarded luncheon to ponder over a dilemma.

Aiden groaned and raked a hand through his platinum blond locks. "She just looked so ravishing in her little black dress the other night, and to be frank, she was more than willing to oblige."

"Aiden…" She started admonishingly. "… Rod himself would be willing! You need to control yourself or you'll have no friends left!"

"Lies, all of it; except the part about Loxley." He replied, earning a chuckle from Kathy. "I can't seem to get you to be willing, and you will always be my best friend."

His 'friend' rolled her eyes. "That's different. I'm your partner and I'm practically your sister."

"I wish you were my sister instead of that slattern over there."

The young Malfoy furtively glanced in Winona's direction. Her blonde head tipped back to laugh at something Loxley said and suddenly Kathy felt nauseated. Oh, Winnie, if only you knew…

"Don't say that… She has no idea that Loxley is a jealous bastard who can't keep his only girlfriend satisfied." Kathy declared heatedly.

"You know, I like you. Why haven't I seduced you yet?" Aiden teased, regaining most of his spirit with the help of his favorite girl.

"You can't handle me, darling. I'd chew you up and spit you out with my eyes closed." Katharina said peremptorily.

"Probably." He agreed placidly, then… "How in heavens name…?"

Mr. Chaisty stalked off in the direction of his sister. Kathy saw the said female leave the place with Loxley's arm about her shoulders.

Just like that, Katharina Malfoy was left by her own lonesome self at the 'far' end of the table. How disgraceful! Sighing, she rested her head in her right palm. Typically, she wouldn't be caught observing a single other living thing. No, Katharina was above such pastimes. It was she who was observed. Notwithstanding, she found her perspicacity simply delightful, and today her tired eyes needed supplication.

Reflecting on her father's description of how Slytherin once was, she realized that there seemed to be no difference. Status was still blatantly evinced, the parties in the lavishly decorated common room were still the best in the whole wizarding world, and the cut-throat competition for the quiditch team and superiority in general was evident. Slytherins could do anything and anyone they wanted, most of the time without facing the consequences. They were delectably sly and witty that way.

Her mother's description of Hogwarts was a different thing altogether. She snuck an inquisitive glance at the Gryffindor table where noisy first years elicited smiles from their predecessors. There was no competition to speak of. School life consisted of only good friends spending bonding time by the Gryffindor fireplace, exuberance after making the quiditch team after fair tryouts, the excitement of attending the Yule Ball… how droll, or was it? Her brother was happy enough in it with the rest of the Weasley boys and girls.

Katharina wondered whether life would've been less complicated had she opted to join the brave-hearted Gryffindors. After all, it wasn't the house that chose the student; it was the student that chose the house. The sorting hat is, and will always be, just a formality. Deep within herself, Kathy had dreamed of becoming a Slytherin. She desired the attention and exclusivity it brought. She was a true-blooded Malfoy where her brother wasn't one at all.

A deep, throaty laugh broke her intense chain of thoughts. Her wary silver eyes appraised the culprit.

"That book must amuse you, Mr. Zabini, even if you're not looking at it." Derik, she noted loathingly, was staring at her quizzically. She abhorred the sight of his bright blue eyes and their long lashes more than anything at that moment. Was he wondering why she was sitting were she was? He probably hadn't listened in on her previous conversation, and why should he? It was none of his business.

"It doesn't." The book lay closed where his lunch plate should've been. "Your friend does."

"Aiden?" She inquired, raising a haughty crimson eyebrow. She inwardly debated whether or not she should entertain this nobody.

"…particularly how he picked his captain's girlfriend to sleep with and then act like a wounded sheep when he gets kicked off the team." He replied imperiously.

What impertinence! "What do you know?" She accused, crossing her arms snootily.

"Ms. Malfoy, I believe the expedient question would be, 'what do you know'?" He corrected arrogantly, picking up his book to disappear once again into its pages.

So what if she wasn't promiscuous? Was that what he meant? Well, one didn't have to be… not really, not for someone of her caliber.

The loner wasn't diffident, Kathy realized. It was his disagreeable disposition that made his status. It couldn't be… his formidable comebacks were actually desirable in a Slytherin. He was simply indiscriminate on whom he used them on and that must've been the cause of his downfall.

Wanting to alarm him, she said, "I do believe you're late for potions, Zabini." She uttered his last name like it was a deadly disease.

"Why would you say that, Malfoy?" He returned in the same disdainful tones, causing her to turn a bright shade of red. "Whatever are you blushing for?"

Kathy placed a hand to her cheek and found that she was, indeed, blushing. Compunction filled her lungs and nearly suffocated her. Until now, she had never exhibited that blasted Weasley trait. Her cheeks were always just pale, or slightly tanned, but never filled with this blasted color. Regaining her wily countenance, she chose to ignore his latest statement.

"We are in the same year, are we not? Even if you happen to be a year older…" Strange how that occurred, Kathy thought to herself. He had been the guy to be during his first four years of Hogwarts. Then he and his family mysteriously disappeared- out of the country, they said- to skip his fifth year. He chose to take it on this year instead.

"Yes." He murmured emotionlessly.

The blush darkened further beyond her control. "So?"

"I don't need to take it."

She snorted. "And I'm a troll. Have a horrendous day for me, will you, Zabini?"

"I shall try my very best, Malfoy, although seeing your face should've done that for me ages ago." He claimed impudently.

"And seeing yours should've killed me!"

"How unfortunate!" He mimicked but was smirking at her in the most infuriating way. He was enjoying this!

Katharina turned on her heel to exit the hall in a dash. How unfortunate indeed that the insufferable brat was a Zabini. Blaise Zabini and Luna Zabini, the mediocrity's parents, were her own mother and father's very best friends. From the many visits Kathy could tell that the former is a charming, humorous, influencial, wealthy Slytherin man so unlike his son in character. Luna is a whimsical personality agreeable in every sense as well. How they were able to produce a devil's spawn, Katharina did not know.

Well, it wasn't very often (and over a year ago) that Kathy got to see the daughter Tamara Zabini and she never got to see Derik.

"Ms. Malfoy, an explanation for your tardiness would be wonderful." Professor Severus Snape drawled.

"I-" Kathy glanced at the Slytherins for support. Just a simple excuse would've appeased the ancient Potion's Master, but she couldn't say she was with…

"The fault is mine, professor. I importuned her with my musings." A voice came from behind her. Gasps echoed across the room.

"Mr. Zabini, what brings you to my class?" Snape asked, and Kathy panicked at the surprise in his tone. Had the Zabini been telling the truth? She saw the answer the students' eyes. This must've been his way of rubbing it in, getting the better of her.

She looked behind her a few inches to see Derik targeting a smug look in her direction. She was, more than anything, intimidated by his height. The sixteen-year-old must be about 5'11". Her admirable 5'8" seemed tiny in comparison.

"I find boredom to be a bothersome companion, professior. I believe potions may alleviate it." Derik supplied, walking passed Snape and Kathy to find an unoccupied seat at the back of the classroom.

Kathy wordlessly did the same, only to find her usual seat next to Winona in front, relieved to have escaped Snape's probing. The class began and she was permitted- as all Slytherins were- to speak with her friend.

"Did Aiden tell you?" Kathy inquired emotionlessly, drained from her earlier encounter.

"About his fatal mistake with Loxley's whore? Yes." She sighed remorsefully. "That gives me one less tall, dark, handsome, non-single man to choose from."

"Oh, Winnie." Kathy exclaimed, watching the grimace form on her friend's pretty face at the hated nickname only she could get away with. "There are a lot more where he came from."

"You seem to be going in that direction. What's with you and tall, dark, and handsome Derik Zabini?" Winona demanded, peculiarly awed.

"Ugh. I know he's like one of the lowest of the low." Kathy groaned. Was he really good-looking, though?

"That doesn't mean he's not…" The next word was a whisper. "…hot. He's great for a secret love affair."

"Er… no thank you." Kathy murmured. She couldn't even spare the 'hot' male a single glance for fear of his demeaning stare. "I just can't believe he doesn't have to attend potions."

"Of course not! He always gets an 'O' no matter what he does. He always gets an Outstanding in Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts that's why he never attends either of those." Winona said matter-of-factly. "Of course, the rest of his marks are shit but that's not why his status is what it is today."

"What else do you know?" Kathy asked eagerly, in spite of herself.

"You know how he was so popular before he skipped one year and came back to become a total outcast?" Kathy nodded. "Apparently, there's an amazing story behind it."

"What do you mean?"

"Some say he underwent a corruption of some kind… They say he has a scar somewhere on his back that he keeps covered no matter what and that he has serious behavioral problems. His friends- all of high standing- started fearing him for some reason. Doesn't it just make you want to know more?" Winona exclaimed. A bunch of Hufflepuffs shushed her. She responded with a raised middle finger to effectively shut them up. She looked back at Kathy to find that her friend had visibly paled.

"Oh Merlin… I've been offending a reprobate!" Kathy whispered, alarmed.

"Only if the rumors are true..." Winona whispered back reassuringly. "And even then… he wouldn't dare… this is Hogwarts! Headmistress Potter is your close family friend!"

"Yes, she is." Kathy said in relief, thinking how close she was not only to Hermione Potter but to her husband Professor Harry Potter and to her daughter Lily as well. They wouldn't permit anything bad from happening to her. "You know, it's also possible that they just discovered what a complete and utter git he was when he came back."

"Yeah… It mustn't be true then, Kathy." Winona replied, waving a hand about dismissively. "But I really want to see that sexy scar-"

This time it was Kathy herself who shushed her blonde friend.