A/N: Hey everyone! I originally wrote this fanfiction under another pen name and the email used under that account was disabled, so I no longer can get into it. I decided to rewrite it and I'm going to make it much better. This idea does belong to me, so if you try to say otherwise, don't read it. So anyway, enjoy! Criticism is very welcome.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters, locations, or original events.

Draco Malfoy felt fantastic. Potter and Weasel hadn't been on the train, the Golden Trio was nowhere to be found, and the group of First Years looked like good Slytherin material. So far, the year's events were leaning in his favor.

Severus Snape, however, was very on edge. He had been discussing a new student with the Headmaster that would be arriving at Hogwarts this year. But there was no time left to fret. The Sorting had already begun and he needed to know if this was going to be the best day of his life or not.

When Professor McGonagall got to the M section, she smiled.

"Ah, and now for our new American student." All eyes turned to her, shocked, and Snape shot to attention. "Matthews, Faith."

The group of First Years separated to reveal a small, blonde with her nose stuck in a Second Year Potions book. She continued to read, completely oblivious to what was going on around her. A smile threatened to form on Snape's lips and McGonagall cleared her throat.

"Ms. Matthews?" she called. Faith looked up, still clueless. "Your Sorting?"

A look of realization spread over her face and she slammed her book shut, scrambling up to the stool where the Sorting Hat was waiting for her.

Before she could even sit down, the Sorting Hat cried, "Slytherin!" silencing the light chuckles that were quickly spreading throughout the Great Hall.

Snape had never had to fight against a smile so hard in his life. He couldn't be more proud.

The Slytherin Prince was frozen in shock. He took that as a huge threat to his throne, someone who competed with him as the slimiest Slytherin and fastest Sorting. But he got all of his confidence back when everyone scooted away from her as she sat down. She simply sighed and moved to the end of the table by herself.

What Draco hadn't expected was the twinge of guilt in his chest.

After the Sorting was finished and the feast had begun, Faith still didn't have anyone next to her. The Hall was still in silence, everyone shocked about the new student.

Draco sighed. "I cannot believe that I'm about to do this," he grumbled to himself before turning to his loyal subjects. "I'll be right back."

Every student in the Hall watched, stunned as Draco got up from his throne at the center of the Slytherin table and sat in front of the American girl, who everyone thought he would treat worse than a Muggle-born.

"Can I help you, oh mighty Prince of Slytherin?" she asked, not bothering to look up from her book.

Every pair of eyes widened to approximately the size of saucers at the comment, but Draco just smiled.

"So you've heard of me."

"I'm American, not stupid. What do you want?"

"Well, you looked a little lonely, so I'd thought I should come join you." Faith glanced up, raised an eyebrow and Draco chuckled to himself. "That was very Hufflepuff of me, I apologize."

She shrugged. "Everyone needs a little Hufflepuff sometimes."

He looked up at her and she granted him a soft smile as she quietly closed her book. He glanced at Snape, whose eyes were so narrow in a glare; they might as well be closed. Draco blinked at him, shocked at his Godfather's protection over the girl, before turning back to Faith.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, if that's all that you wanted, I think it's time you returned to your subjects. They've had enough shock therapy to last them at least a week."

Draco looked back to his friends to see them all staring at him in shock. Well, Blaise was gazing at Faith, but everyone else was staring at him.

Wait.

Blaise was gazing at Faith.

Why the Salazar was Blaise gazing at Faith?

Draco was about to bid Faith goodbye and return to his friends to ask Blaise why the hell he was gazing at her when Dumbledore announced the end of the feast. Faith stood and followed the rest of the Slytherins, waving to Draco as she left. Snape approached the stunned boy and looked at him down his nose.

"Mr. Malfoy," he drawled, "if you lay a finger on her, you will regret it more than any other idiotic act you've ever committed, and believe me when I say that I know of plenty. She doesn't need your stupid infatuation distracting her from her studies."

"Sir, I am most definitely not infatuated with her. And I must say, I am quite out of her league, so you needn't worry." Draco replied haughtily.

"I do recall leaving all of your Malfoy dignity behind to act like a bloody Hufflepuff." The Professor snapped. This was the first time Draco had ever seen the Potions Master lose his temper. Snape took a deep breath and continued. "And if anything she is so far out of your league that it will take you your entire lifetime to catch up. Get to your House and return this book to Faith. She seems to have forgotten it, as she was too distracted by all of your Hufflepuff glory to pick it up on her way out."

Snape shoved Faith's Second Year Potions book in front of him, but Draco just stared at it.

A Second Year book?

Draco bid Snape goodnight and made his way to Slytherin House. He found one of the First Year girls in the common room and held the book out to her.

"Could you return this to Faith Matthews for me?" he asked softly.

The entire common room turned to stare at them and the small girl looked down.

"She's not in my dorm," she responded quietly.

Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "She's in First Year, yeah?"

The girl shook her head. "She was led to the Second Year dorms."

Draco nodded and found one of his best friends, Pansy Parkinson, handing her the book.

"Could you give this to her for me?"

"Oh, Draco honey, you know I would, but why would I when she's right there and you could give it to her yourself?"

She nodded toward the fire place and Draco followed her gaze to see Faith sitting down on the floor, reading another Second Year book. He smiled and actually sat on the floor next to her, sliding the book into her lap.

"So I have a question," he stated, leaning back on his elbows. He noticed that everyone was staring at them and waved them away. "Why do you have Second Year books?"

She looked at him like that was the dumbest question he could have asked.

"I'm in Second Year," she responded slowly, as if it was obvious.

"But you were just sorted."

She nodded. "Hogwarts isn't exactly easy for me to access, seeing that I had to cross an ocean to get here."

"Yes, I understand that, but why didn't you come last year?"

Faith looked down, very aware that everyone was watching them. "Um, my parents home schooled me." Draco raised his eyebrow at her. "I-I mean my tutor schooled me. My mom didn't think I was ready to be away from home yet."

"Well, you must be a large name in magic, seeing that you were accepted into Hogwarts. How come I haven't heard of your family?"

She shrugged. "Different countries, different celebrities."

"Then how did you know about my family?"

"My parents still have the Daily Prophet delivered to us. They used to live here. They went to this school, actually."

"Interesting. And by the way you were Sorted; I'm assuming that they were both in Slytherin?"

She shook her head. "My mom was in Ravenclaw. My grandmother wasn't very happy about it, but you can't argue with the hat."

Draco nodded. "I understand why. Ravenclaws think they know everything." Faith glared at him and he stood. "Well, I'm off to bed. Sleep well."

She nodded. "Same to you."

Draco went to his dorms, leaving the rest of the Slytherins to stare at Faith in awe. After ten more minutes of reading by the fire, she stood up and froze when she saw every pair of eyes on her. She gave a small smile and walked to the Second Year girls' dorm.

She was surprised to be met with two harsh stares from her dorm-mates. She quietly made her way to her bed on the far wall of the room. She got her pajamas from her trunk, changed in the bathroom, and made her way back down to the common room. She sat on one of the soft black couches and opened her Potions book to page four-hundred sixty-seven and stared at it.

The common room slowly emptied and soon Faith was alone. She tapped the page with her wand three times. The page turned from a simple cure for boils to a potion that's haunted her since she was six.

Dark Mark Removal Potion.

She, her brother, and her father, who invented the potion, were the only people who knew of it's existence. She rolled up the left sleeve of her sweatshirt, revealing her slithering Dark Mark. She winced in pain as a hissing sound echoed in her mind. It seemed to be coming from the walls and it gradually morphed into words.

"Niece of Riddle," it hissed. "I command you to find the Boy Who Lived and bring him to me. You will be rewarded greatly."

She slammed the book shut, pulled her sleeve back over her arm, and closed her eyes as she felt her green irises deepen in color. Yes, she could feel it. She could also feel the tips of her hair turning black.

A door opened and Snape stepped out of his quarters into the common room. He felt a twinge of guilt course through him when he saw Faith curled up, clutching her left arm, wincing as her hair turned back to blonde. He sat next to her on the couch. He wasn't good at comforting people, but for her he'd improvise.

"I know how you're feeling," he attempted.

"How? I thought you were in the Order."

He nodded. "But I haven't always been on the side of the Light."

She looked at him and sniffled, hugging her knees to her chest. "Why are you telling me this?"

He sighted. "Faith, there's a reason that you were asked to come to Hogwarts on your eleventh birthday." He looked up from his twisted hands and she leaned forward, urging him to go on. "Professor Dumbledore heard from one of the other teachers of your… situation at home."

"My situation?"

"Your story, rather."

"How does anyone here know my story? Not even my own parents know my story, seeing that they just decided to dump me out of theirs."

"Faith, we had reasons—"

"—We? As in you're my father?" She asked accusingly.

Snape took a deepened breath and closed his eyes. "Yes, I am your father, but before you overreact, let me explain."

She sat back and crossed her arms, ready for him to explain why he'd missed ten years of her life and why he'd forced her to spend four of those years with Bellatrix of all people! But the door of the First Year boys' dorm opened before he could explain.

Two boys ran over to Snape, one holding his eye.

"Professor!" the other begged. "His wand just started shooting sparks and one hit him the eye! We don't know what happened."

Snape sighed and looked to Faith. "We will continue this tomorrow after class. I will let your next teacher know that you'll be late."

"Fine, but I'm telling Noah."

Snape nodded. "I believe that's in order. Alright, get to bed. I'm taking these two to the Hospital Wing."

They left the common room and Faith sighed, going back to her dorm. Luckily, the other three occupants of the room were fast asleep. She crawled into bed and immediately fell asleep, exhausted from the day's events.

A/N: So here's chapter one of the new Have Faith. I really hope that you enjoyed it and are willing to leave reviews. Once again, criticism is welcome. Thanks guys!