"Mr. Malfoy, why are you late? The feast started nearly twenty minutes ago." The strict Transfiguration professor, Professor McGonagall, had caught Draco Malfoy walking toward the Great Hall in the empty corridor.

"Sorry, Professor. I thought I had dropped my Prefect badge in the train, but I remembered it is in one socks in my trunk." Draco lied smoothly.

Professor Snape, the greasy, pointy-noised Potions professor walked towards Draco. "Professor McGonagall, does there seem to a be a problem?" His dark eyes stared into Draco's pale blue ones.

"Mr. Malfoy is twenty minutes late to the feast, Severus."

"Thank you, Minerva. As Draco is in my house, I will deal with this accordingly. I will escort him to the feast myself."

Professor McGonagall nodded curtly and walked away, back toward the anxious first years awaiting their Sorting ceremony.

Just as Draco was turning to go toward the Great Hall, Professor Snape clasped a clammy hand on his shoulder, "you need to be much more careful, Draco."

"Yes, sir."

"And if you need anything while you carry out your…task I am here to assist you."

Draco narrowed his eyes; "my mother put you up to this, didn't she?" Before Snape could respond Draco continued, "well I don't need your help! I don't need my mother's help; I don't need anyone's help. I have a plan."

"Do you not understand how imperative it is that you succeed on the first attempt? One attempt! So, confide in me, Draco, I can help you. Tell me what your plan is."

For a moment, it seemed as if Draco were considering it. "No, sir. I understand how important this task is. I don't need any help."

Professor Snape sighed and said, "do not make a scene when you enter the Great Hall. Sit in the back. You can converse with your friends after the feast."

"Yes, sir." Draco spat. He turned on his heels and pushed open the heavy oak door and took the very last seat at the Slytherin table. His conversation with Professor Snape caused him to miss the entire Sorting ceremony. He wouldn't have any idea who to escort down to the dormitories. First-years were easy to spot, though. They were always scared and pale with fright. The Slytherin first-years were usually a lot less nervous than the others. They came from pureblood families and therefore had come form a long list of wizards who had gone through this process before them.

"Can you pass the potatoes?" A girl across from Draco asked quietly. She had deep black hair that seemed almost blue that was neatly pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her green eyes blinked curiously at him. Draco was deep in his thoughts and didn't hear her. "Excuse me, can you pass the potatoes?"

"Get them yourself." Draco muttered.

"Grossier." She said.

"What did you call me?"

"I said 'grossier'."

"And what does that mean?"

"It's French for rude."

"Well, I've never been insulted in French before."

"Now you have been."

Draco flashed her a smile, "I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy."

"I know who you are. And if you weren't too busy being a prat all the time you would remember who I am."

He studied her silently. "Emarie Chabert." He said suddenly.

"Oh, look at that! He does know people other than himself exist!"Emarie chuckled lightly.

"I thought you went to Beauxbatons?" Draco asked. "It's definitely a lot closer to home."

"My parents thought it would improve my English to go to Hogwarts. I had begged to go to Beauxbatons, but they simply refused."

"Why is this the first time I'm seeing you?"

"I guess you've never looked."

"Well, I'm glad I found you."

"That's very smooth for someone who didn't know I existed until two minutes ago."

Draco glanced up the table where his friends were waving him to join them. "I'm not going to join them. Dearest Professor Snape told me to sit here for the feast." Draco watched Emarie's eyes flicker toward his obnoxious friends. "Why aren't you sitting with your friends?"

"I prefer to go solo. It allows me to focus on my studies."

Draco knew she was one year younger than him so he asked, "what about the girls from your year?"

"They're all petty, insolent, vain…"

"I get it."

"It's true."

"Eat with us tomorrow."

"I'm not sure your girlfriend would appreciate that."

"Damn her! Eat with us."

Dumbledore stood up and food began to clear. Emarie focused her attention on the Headmaster leaning over his podium.

"Eat with us." Draco whispered.

"Maybe." Emarie responded. She turned her attention back toward Headmaster Dumbledore and watched as the entire Great Hall began to empty. She watched Draco and Pansy round up the first years and escort them out. Quietly, Emarie joined the crowd and began to make her way down to the Slytherin common room.