A/N: Ok. I have finally worked up the courage to post my first ever fanfic! So seeing as I'm new, please be considerate. Read and review! Tips, compliments, and constructive criticism are welcome, but please no flames. Thanks!

*This story is set during OotP.*

Italics indicate thoughts.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hogwarts, the Harry Potter characters, or any other elements from those books that happen to be in my story. They all belong to the fabulous JK Rowling.

Chapter 1: New Seats

Nalani Montenegro ran through the halls of Hogwarts on her way to Potions. Ugh, I have class with the Slytherins. They all feel that just because I'm a Gryffindor they are required to annoy me constantly, she thought as she neared the classroom. Professor Snape was already by the door, watching her with his black eyes. The Potions classes were temporarily being held in a spare classroom. Even Hogwarts needed remodeling done occasionally, but Snape did not like being out of his element. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why he was in such an exceptionally bad mood, even for him.

"Late, Miss Montenegro? Ten points from Gryffindor; perhaps you'll join us earlier next time."

Nalani scowled as she took her seat, it wasn't her fault that she'd had Quidditch practice early this morning. Of course, Potions WOULD have to be her first class. God forbid that Snape not get to embarrass her.

Hermione, who was sitting next to her, whispered, "Don't worry about it, he does it to everyone."

"Except the Slytherins!" Nalani hissed.

Their conversation was cut short as Snape slammed the dungeon door and swept to the front of the room. As he began to drone on about potions and poisons and other things no one (except Hermione) really cared about, Nalani doodled aimlessly on a piece of parchment. She drew ballet shoes with satin ribbons, then a panther, and finally her house in California, all the way back in America. She was the only "foreigner" here at Hogwarts.

Suddenly, she looked up to see Snape watching her with a nasty smile on his face.

"Dear, dear, I hope I'm not boring you, Miss Montenegro. Perhaps a new seat by Mr. Malfoy would be more interesting?"

Her cheeks flaming, Nalani gathered her things and moved over to sit next to Malfoy. She was willing to bet Snape knew just how much he infuriated her. Great. This will make this awful class MUCH worse, she thought.

Malfoy looked just as annoyed as she did.

Malfoy's POV

Ugh. Why do I have to sit next to this filthy Mudblood? Wait until my father hears about this. Why couldn't Snape have moved this stupid girl somewhere else?

I glanced over at her. She no longer looked annoyed. Now she was just staring out the window. Lazy. Just then she turned her head, and the sun caught her hair. Red and gold flamed in her long, wavy dark brown hair, shining in the sunlight. I blinked, surprised.

Hmm. She's actually kind of….pretty? No, of course she isn't! She's a Mudblood! A Gryffindor! Nobody! God, I swear the fumes from these potions are making me mental! That has to be it…

Narrator

Nalani sat daydreaming, wishing this class would end already. She turned her head to look at her new-ugh-partner. He had the strangest expression on his face, she couldn't figure it out. Before she could, Snape called for attention from the class.

"Now, working with your partners, you will begin to make the potion I have just described. I do hope you were paying attention," he said as he smirked at Nalani.

Gritting her teeth, she turned to Malfoy.

Malfoy's POV

"Don't even think about using my cauldron. I don't need any Mudbloods touching it with their filthy hands."

She rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, "Wow, I'm really disappointed. Mine works great, thank you. I'll be fine."

I raised my eyebrow. "Really? You can afford a cauldron? I'm impressed."

I of course had really no idea how much money her family had. I was just trying to make her angry, probably trying to make up for the embarrassing and completely untrue thoughts I'd had earlier. Stupid sunshine.

Her eyes flashed. "Well, maybe some of us don't need money to get friends!"

"Whoops, did I hit a nerve, Montenegro?"

Her hazel eyes narrowed. "Drop it, or I'll curse you."

She didn't look like she was kidding. I decided to drop it.

Narrator

As soon as the bell rang, Nalani stalked out of the classroom looking furious. She caught up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to tell them about how Malfoy had insulted her. Then Hermione pulled her aside to ask her something, telling the boys they'd catch up.

Malfoy's POV

I studied her as she left. Montenegro looked furious. Her Mudblood friend Granger pulled her aside to ask her something. Montenegro bit her lip and nodded. She said something, and Granger looked sympathetic, almost like she was trying to console her. Then Granger left, leaving Montenegro to slide onto the ground against the wall.

She put her head on her knees, looking exhausted.

It was strange, I seemed to be feeling remorse for mocking her. I noticed the piece of paper she was holding that must have caused this interesting scene.

I was going to find out what that piece of paper said. Just so I could finally forget about this stupid Mudblood for good.

A/N: Ok, what did you think? Not too cliché, I hope? Not great, I know, but I'll try to make the next chapters longer and better! Again, this is my first ever fanfic and compliments and constructive criticisms are welcome. Any comments on the plot, characters, names, POV, dialogue, whatever you'd like to respond to. Please no flames; it took a lot of courage for me to put this up here! Thank you so much! I will post the next chapter as soon as I decide what will happen and as soon as I get a reasonable number of reviews, probably from ten to twenty. Read and review, it would make my day!