The coldness of the floor of the second landing of the clock tower did nothing to deter Odette from where she sat reading. This was one of the few places in the castle where she should read in peace and quiet as the castle was always bustling with students and as such there weren't many places where a person could get privacy. The quietness and isolation was something that Odette had welcomed as over the past week since term had started Odette had constantly been surrounded by friends and the noise that came with them as they all settled back to being at school again. As much as Odette adored her friends and had missed then over the summer, there was just sometimes that she needed to be by herself for a while and the clock tower provided that escape. Being by herself was something that Odette was very much used to as her parents, as nice as they were spent more time working than they did with their daughter. So loneliness was something that Odette was very much used to, in fact Odette was used to being by herself that a lot of the time she welcomed it like it was an old friend. Loneliness seemed to suit Odette as she was a naturally quiet person, she wasn't very outspoken and one of those people who felt the need to always talk. Odette was more reserved when surrounded by other people. Alone and content being by herself Odette had been reading for the better part of forty minutes. But now she was was looking out to the courtyard below her, watching as everyone went about their business. It was nice being back at the castle, Odette had enjoyed being at home for the last few moths and spending time with her parents, the rare moments that they had time to spend with her. But Odette preferred being back at Hogwarts, to be with her friends and able to use her magic so freely without worrying about getting in trouble for underage magic. Most importantly Odette appreciated being able to be her own person instead of the daughter of Magnus and Everly Huntington. Odette's parents held quite important positions in the department of magical law enforcement as advocates to the wizarding world. Because of that Odette tended to be overlooked and overshadowed by her parents achievements as if she was invisible. But here at Hogwarts? Odette was less invisible than she was at home so any acknowledgment was very much welcomed.

"Well if it isn't the Ugly Duckling."

All Odette ever wanted was a bit of acknowledgement and now she was getting it. However it was coming from the last person that she had previously ever wanted it from. Draco Malfoy. Odette didn't even have to look to know that it was him as the all familiar obnoxious and over confident cocky voice was enough for Odette to know that it was the self confessed Prince of Slytherin who was addressing her. Clearly Draco had finally remembered the dreadful nickname that he had inflicted on her since first year since their encounter on the Hogwarts Express last week. Odette had to admit that she had been rather indifferent and a tad bit condescending with him but given that this was Draco Malfoy, she had not wasted to much time worrying about it. After all the boy in question didn't even know her name and probably didn't even after all these years, instead he just went about calling her a rather insulting nickname. The same nickname that Odette now found herself smiling at. It had taken a week for Draco to recall his ugly duckling nickname for her before approaching Odette to call her it. Odette wasn't sure whether to be flattered or insulted. "I see you remember..."

"You thought I forgot." Draco replied in somewhat feigned disbelief. Clearly he wanted Odette to think that she was of little importance to him and he needn't bother. Odette already knew that as in the years they had been at Hogwarts they barely even spoke despite being in a lot of the same classes.

"Perhaps, given that you have so many nicknames for so many different people. It must be awfully hard trying to remember them all." Odette sarcastically said with a wearily laugh before turning around to face Draco. He was standing about a meter or so away from Odette and looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face. He had been doing that a lot recently, staring at Odette that is. Draco had been staring at her when he thought that she didn't notice but Odette did, however she had to admit he was very careful and only did when no one else was look. Odette was far from stupid, she knew Draco was looking at her. No doubt surprised about the way she had spoke to him. It was a first for Odette too as normally she didn't speak to a lot of people like that, let alone someone like Draco Malfoy. But things had been changing for Odette over the last few months.

"Everytime I see you your always alone, maybe I should start calling something like the little lost and lonely duckling without a clue or any friends."

"Could say the same for you, every time I run into you Draco you too see to be by yourself. It seems that you're just as alone as I am, you might want to think about that." Odette retorted as she was quite surprised that Draco was here alone and not surrounded by his usual gaggle of friends. They were normally attached to Draco like they were his shadow. Odette noted that Draco seemed surprise by her quick witted response and dare she believe that she saw Draco smirk at something she said. "Must be interesting for you to realise that I'm not the shrinking violet I make myself out to be."

"Something like that... You have some real nerve calling me by my first name duckling." Draco slowly said and now it was time for Odette to smirk. Whilst she didn't know Draco, she knew that most people tended to refer to him by his last name. Clearly her calling him by his first name was something that he wasn't used to, especially by someone he called names. It was kind if ironic in a small way.

"Well it is your name after all and besides one of us should be using proper decorum and etiquette. If you insist on calling me duckling than I'll keep calling you by your first name."

"Are you sure your in Ravenclaw? Because that self righteous and arrogant attitude seems to suggest that your in Gryffindor." Draco questioned on a dry tone of voice and Odette could have sworn she could have heard utter contempt in Draco's voice when he had mentioned Gryffindor. It was common knowledge to everyone in the castle that Slytherin and Gryffindor shared more than a house rivalry. The two houses hated each other and had done for centuries.

"Oh I'm quite sure." Odette replied with a small chuckle as she turned her attention back over to the courtyard. It was such a beautiful day and Odette knew she probably should be spending it outside. But she was hiding away in the clock tower and having a conversation with Draco Malfoy of all people. It was very bizarre yet interesting at the same time.

"Just who are you?" Draco asked and the question seemed genuine, honest and most importantly like he was actually interested. Odette found herself turning back to look at Draco. It was such an odd question for him to ask her that Odette stood up from where she was sitting and walked over to where Draco was standing. To her surprise he didn't move or even demand that she stay at least two feet away from him because of his superiority of some nonsense along those lines. Instead Draco just looked straight back at her. Odette forced a smile on her face as she looked at Draco for one last time, he was handsome enough with his white blonde hair, tall slender body and grey eyes that seemed so cold and lacking emotion that Odette seemed unable to tear her eyes away from his. But eventually she did. As boys like Draco Malfoy didn't care about who girls like Odette Huntington were, she was just the ugly duckling. He was asking her all these questions and yet he didn't even know her name.

"I'm the ugly duckling of course."