!!!READ FIRST PLEASE!!!

I am not J. K. Rowling, and I definitely don't own Harry Potter. (I'd be a billionare if I did) In this story I choose to use ALL of my own original characters, using the setting that Rowling has created in her books. Even though some, (Ex. Julius Zabini, Reggie Parkinson) are related to Rowlings characters (Blaise and Pansy), I choose to use nobody in the actual stories. The time setting is about ten years after the seventh book takes place. If you are not fond of OC stories, you probably won't have a taste for this one. However, I'd like it if you could make room in your heart for mine. :) Feel free to comment, or submit your criticism, but nothing to harsh, because I don't like harsh. This is my first fanfic, so be gentle. :)

Enjoy!

An Encounter

A small, green fire crackled and danced in the fireplace of an large, dark, and very ornately decorated room. Despite the fire, however, the room was still uncomfortably chilly, due to being located deep in Hogwarts dungeons, however the students whom resided here didn't seem to mind. A detectable, yet subtle smell of leather wafted in the air of the dim room, which was enjoyable to the children who occupied the area. Two girls sat on opposite sides of a festive black couch with green and silver pillows that were adorned with an all too well known snake figurine. The couch was relatively close to the little fire, which provided the pair with some light, because the large books and sheets of parchment that lay in their laps clearly occupied their attention. They shared the company of a couple of other students in the Slytherin common room, some in armchairs having small discussions with the occasional laugh, and another group quietly huddled around a large dark cherry wood study table.

The silence was broken between them when the elder sister, Cassandra, leaned back on the armrest to stretch her long torso, and her layered, silky black hair draped over the armrest elegantly. "Really?" she stated out of the blue, looking over to her sister with a dull expression. "I can't believe you right now."

"What?" replied her sister, keeping her large, glittering black eyes glued to her textbook.

"How long we have been sitting here?" Cassandra whined, placing her face in her hands to add drama. "Rotting away slowly," she continued, "by wasting time staring at these ancient bindings of paper. I could be doing something so much more worth my time than this right now. Let's see, for example, Sergio and Xavier want to see me-"

"-Quit complaining, Cassa, for heavens sake." Valerie snapped. "It's not that bad. Cut the diva crap." She finally looked up at her whining older sister with a clearly irritated look. "Maybe if you didn't fail half your classes so miserably, and focused on other things than boys, I wouldn't be putting you through this pain."

Cassandra just laughed and raised her head from her palms again. Her model like contours to her face were highlighted by the green glow of the fire, and even more so when she grinned. "Whatever, I'm hungry, so I'm going to lunch. Come with me." she nearly demanded, swinging her legs off of the couch and standing up in a fluid, graceful motion.

Valerie rolled her eyes and shoved the books away from her. She tied her identically black hair up into a high ponytail with ease and stood. "I'm only coming along because I'm hungry to." she murmured, refusing to let it seem like she was obeying her sister.

Cassa and Valerie made their way out of the hole entrance to the common room and up the dungeons until they hit the main corridors heading to the great hall. The walked almost in equal pace, choosing not to hold conversation as their made their way down the various halls. Other students who dotted the halls occasionally glanced at the pair as they passed, but quickly turned away, almost like a taught habit.

Right as they were rounding a corner, Valerie bumped into someone suddenly, causing her to stagger backwards. It was so quick, and her immediate reaction caused her to shout, "Hey, watch it!" Afterwards, she looked to see who was clumsy enough not to look where they were heading, and who was stupid enough to dare to bump into Valerie Rinaldo.

Standing there was a very tall, slender boy of about 6'3. She noted freckles that dotted his high cheekbones, gelled brown hair, and attention-grabbing grayish-blue eyes. Valerie vaguely recognized this guy, but couldn't but a name to his face. The collision caused him to drop his book, which he immediately bent over to pick up.

"Well-" Cassa said in an expecting tone of voice, as she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes . "-Don't you have manners?"

The boy just stood tall again, narrowed his eyes, and stared at Cassa like she had three heads. "Uh... Sorry?" he finally muttered, his expression confused.

"Wow that was terrible." Cassandra sneered, looking over his robes. His blue tie, accompanied with the patch on his robe that had a bird etched in, told her he was in Ravenclaw. "Say it like you mean it." she demanded, arms still crossed, giving him a chilling stare. "Or do you not know who you just crossed paths with?"

The bold boy just shrugged. "To tell you the truth I can't give less of a damn. I don't see what the big problem is." His defensive gray eyes flickered from the girl who was harassing him, to the smaller one he just bumped into, and back again.

Valerie was staring at him. For whatever reason she found the boy to be quite... intriguing. Maybe it was because she failed to put a name to someone at a school where she thought she had an idea who everyone was. And because of being lost in thought Valerie hadn't said one thing yet, and just continued to stand and stare with an emotionless expression. She knew she remembered him from somewhere...

Cassa snorted and grabbed Valerie's arm. "C'mon, Valerie. Apparently, this bloody idiot has no idea that he just crossed Rinaldo's. His disrespect won't be repaid kindly." she hissed as she pulled her sister abruptly out of the way.

Valerie just followed her sisters pull obediently, taking one last compulsive look over her shoulder at him. Really, he must have had some kind of nerve or bravery standing up to two members of one of Slytherins most famous and notorious families. Without batting an eye too. Most kids just do as Vinnie Jr., Augusto, Cassandra, Valerie, Joseph or Natalia Rinaldo command and get out of the way, because they know it never ends up well if they take the opposite plan of action. Usually it would result in public embarrassment/humiliation, a nasty jinx, emotional damage or a sick combination or the three.

It's all because of their families interesting bloodline and history. Their mother, formerly known as Salvia Bottsmith, now Salvia Rinaldo is the last living soul that has even a drop of the blood of Salazar Slytherin himself running through her veins, or so her family claims, according to a very old, battered, torn, and questionable family tree. Luckily, her branch of the family was one with less incest, (still existent, however) making her facial features actually quite elegant. This left the children also with notable, but faint blood from Slytherin, something that was highly rare as it was respected. Meanwhile, their father, Vincent Rinaldo, was rumored to be a loyal death eater in the days of the Dark Lord. Vincents brother, also known as Uncle Antonio to the children, was an actual cold blooded murderer employed by Lord Voldemort, but was eventually killed by a skilled wizard during the raging war about ten years back. Plus, his side of the family proved to be even more honorable still, because a couple of Vincent's ancestors had been a successful headmaster at Hogwarts, a world famous inventor, and a few respected professors, who were all the head of house for Slytherin during their time teaching at Hogwarts.

And that, just the tip of the iceberg, was what made the Rinaldos so feared and revered.

And to think, a random boy, taking all of this into consideration, was not swayed even in the least?

Odd.

Valerie stormed down the large and rather empty, echoing corridor, leaving her sister Cassa behind to mingle with her many "male friends". Her eyes were narrowed and her pace was quick, the sound of her hard footsteps bounced back at her, reminding her with every echo why she was upset. Now she became flustered about the boy who had just collided with her, and refused to even say a simple sorry. Valerie had no idea why the anger was hitting her now, and why exactly she let this slip so easily. She was now replaying the encounter in her head over and over, in the manner she would have preferred it to turn out. More along the lines of retorting with a, "Are you blind?", or "Where's your respect, you idiot?", versus just, "Hey, watch it!".

She just shook her head in irritation, her black ponytail bouncing wildly with the gesture. When she saw that guy again, whomever he was, it wasn't going to be as pretty as before. "The nerve of some people." she muttered under her breath. "Doesn't he know who I am? A Rinaldo deserves far more respect than that guy offered." To her, he seemed so nonchalant and ill-mannered he might have done that with nearly anyone, let alone one of the famous Rinaldo clan.

Her black eyes moved upwards, to see a rather tall deep skinned boy approaching her. His head was free of hair by choice, and his hazel eyes examined Valerie with bewilderment. As he got within earshot, he asked in a particularly smooth voice, "Wow Val, what's eating you?"

She sighed heavily and smiled at him. "Hey Julius... Umm... It's nothing I suppose. Some Ravenclaw kid nearly knocked me over and didn't apologize. I found it really unnerving." She explained, crossing her arms.

Julius Zabini tilted his head back a little, "Ohhh okay that explains it. Do you know who it was?" he inquired, looking only slightly interested in what could make Valerie so upset.

"No, that's just the problem! If I knew who he was I probably would have been able to get him back somehow. All I know is that he was very tall, had brown hair, and big, bug-like eyes." Valerie just shrugged. She knew his eyes weren't bug-like, they were actually quite pretty, but she would never admit to that and tried her hardest to make him seem as unappealing and weird as possible to Julius. "But anyway, what's up? Is there anything about the game tonight you wanted to tell me or something?"

Julius nodded, "That's actually exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Speak of the devil, we're playing Ravenclaw tonight. They have an absolutely incredible new seeker with a perfect record of snitches caught during all his scrimmages and matches. He's a sixth year, and its odd he didn't play the last few years. This is why I just wanted to inform you of the group meeting I've arranged after lunch." he paused to wave a two boys walking by with green patches on their robes. "I wanted to make sure we're ready for him. I have quite a few tactics I want to go over with our beaters, and maybe a few new plays for you guys." he finished, looking intently at her. "Although I do realize you are my co-captain and I value your plays as our best chaser just as equally as my own." She knew Julius took his role as captain of the team quite seriously. It was actually somewhat amusing to her, knowing that he eats, sleeps, and breathes for Quidditch.

Valerie smiled, "That's fine with me, I'll definitely show up..." she tilted her head a little in wonder, "-but who's the new seeker?"

"All I know is that his name is Joel Hampton. He's a new found talent and a very intimidating one at that. Neither Hufflepuff nor Gryffindor, each with impressive teams this year, have won against Ravenclaw yet because he's so good. This is so odd because usually Ravenclaw is dreadful." Julius said flatly. After another pause he confidently stated, "But he should be no problem to us."

Suddenly Valerie couldn't help but think of that boy she collided with today. She didn't know who Joel was... Or whoever that idiot was... Could it be that she had an encounter with the seeker before she ever had to play against him?

Julius blinked at her, his cheeks rising again to show even more confusion towards her uncharacteristic behavior. "Valerie?"

"Oh-yeah... Sorry well I'll see you then. Thanks Julius." she managed, before walking past him and towards the Great Hall. Her mind began to spin about the meeting after her lunch, and even more so the highly anticipated match a few hours later.