AN: Sorry that this is kinda late. I think I am going to be able to manage about one chapter a month. I wanted to have one done each time I posted one, but this one is like 4,000 words. I thought I had it done Thanksgiving week, but went back and read it, before I posted it, and decided I didn't like the ending, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. So I hope you enjoy this chapter. I don't know when the next one is going to be up, mid-terms are coming up and so are the holidays, and I won't have limited computer access.(:() Not to mention I am working on scholarships now that I was accepted into my first choice, which is a private institution. I hope to have the next chapter up by the end of January, but I make no promises.

-Nessa

Friday September 13, 1996

"What the bloody hell are you doing up at this hour of the morning?" my new roommate Emmie screamed at me from under her covers, throwing a pillow, being that it was the closest object to her, at me.

"Well for one we have school, and two I really want to finish this book." I replied.

"Oh great another one, and I had to get stuck with her," Emmie seemed to be annoyed and slightly delusional, talking to herself.

"Another what?" I asked.

"Another early riser and reader. Why can't I find normal friends, who sleep in until noon and enjoy watching boys rather than reading about them?"

"I know Alissa is the reader, but who is the early riser? And for your information I have no problem watching boys, but the ones I read about can't compare to the ones you watch."

"Touche. Rachel is an early riser, I mean don't get me wrong she sleeps in every now and then, but she tends to wake up early. Always has."

"Well I'm sorry I woke you, I really tried to be as quiet as possible."

"Oh I didn't hear you. It was that damned light, that woke me up."

I quickly turned it off. "I'm sorry."

"Eh, it's alright, I need to get up anyway, like you said we have school." Emmie sounded less than thrilled.

"Um… if we're going to be roommates there's something I should tell you."

"What?" She sounded a little frightened.

"Well as you've already observed I'm an early riser. I can guarantee you I will always be up before you even if I go to bed after you, I'm just an early riser."

"Well I guess I won't have to worry about detention due to tardiness this year."

"I guess not. Well I'm going to go out to the common room so that you can get ready."

"Thanks. I'll see you down there in ten minutes." I had already put on my uniform, early this morning before anyone was up. This was the one tricky part. I had no idea how I was going to continue to pretend to sleep, I was eventually going to have to tell my new friends, Emmie at least. I don't care what Carlisle said, the wizarding world is different from the muggle world, vampires are known to exist, however said existence is still dangerous. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but I had to tell my friends, I was still a new born and as a result my blood lust was still difficult to control, and while my being a witch made is easier I still had the potential to rip out someone's jugular. Just at this thought someone else entered the common room. I could smell him. His cologne smelled good, but it only masked the deliciousness of the blood I could smell and almost taste. I had never smelt anything like it, and I wanted to taste it. I turned around, it was the same blonde boy I had escaped last night. He noticed me right away staring at him.

"I thought you weren't interested?" He said moving closer. His smell was intoxicating, I could feel myself losing control. How did I miss this last night? I had never smelt something so tempting.

"I…I…I'm not." I stuttered, I was fighting not to get up and get a taste of him.

He took another step closer, "I'm so sure. No one can resist this." I could believe that, now, not only was he beautiful but he had this predatory grace about him that made you want to be his prey. That was probably what made him smell so appealing.

Just as I was getting up, Emmie walked in the common room. "Ready to go meet-" She started to ask me, until she saw that my eyes were locked on the blonde boy's and his were on my mine. She must have thought we would be the only two in the common room at the early hour. "Oh hey Draco." Emmie said.

Draco broke his gaze from my stare, to look at Emmie but said nothing.

Emmie feeling weird just continued to talk, "I see that you have met my friend and roomie, Veronica."

He broke his gaze from Emmie, and turned back to me. "Veronica, huh? Guess that's one secret you couldn't keep."

"My name is hardly a secret, we will be in the same classes, you would have learned it eventually, Draco." I replied using his name for the first time, and putting a lot of emphasis on it so that he knew I learned his name too.

"Well then, I guess I will see you in class."

"Class, the dormitories, the Great Hall, the common room, we are bound to see each other again, it's part of being in the same house." I turned my back on him, and turned to Emmie, "so what is the plan this morning?"

It took her a minute to recover, then finally replied. "Right, well we need to go meet Rachel and Alissa, it is tradition to meet in the same place every year and exchange schedule information and other information, such as new crushes." Emmie said elbowing me in the stomach and looking Draco's way, "So do you have your schedule?"

I pulled it from a pocket in my cloak, "yes it is right here."

"Well then good, let's go."

And we left the common room through the entrance. Once through the entrance I confronted Emmie about the little elbowing stunt in the common room, as we walked to the destination.

"What was that back there?" I asked her.

"Hey, I could ask you the same question?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"You and Draco were totally flirting."

"I don't know what you saw, but we certainly were not."

"From what I saw you were."

"I can only speak for myself, I was not flirting. He may have been."

"Like I said it looked like flirting to me, and it takes two to tango."

"What does dancing have to do with it?"

"It is an expression, it means it took two of you to flirt."

"But I wasn't flirting."

"He was, which mean you had to be flirting."

"Ever think that it maybe we were fighting."

"Nope it was flirting."

"I'm not going to win this argument am I?"

"Wow you learn fast."

Just as we rounded the corner, I saw Rachel and Alissa waiting for us.

"So what does this one learn fast," Alissa asked.

"That she isn't going to win an argument with me." Emmie responded matter of factly.

"Smart girl you are," Alissa replied.

"So what were you arguing about?" Rachel wanted to know.

"Well our little Hogwarts newbie is after my heart, this morning I walked into the common room and who should I find our little newbie flirting with?" Emmie asked.

"No?" Rachel said.

"Yes, she was flirting with the one and only Draco Malfoy."

Emmie and Rachel actually squealed. While Alissa sat there and shook her head at all three of us while I protested. "I was not flirting with him."

Completely ignoring me, Rachel asked Emmie, "Was he flirting with Veronica?"

"Yes," Emmie squealed again.

"I was not flirting with him," I protested once again.

Alissa looked at me, "Don't even try it. Emmie has it in her head that you were flirting, so you were flirting."

Pouting, I attempted to change the subject "So what is your schedule like?"

"So do you like him?" Rachel pressed.

"What I feel for Draco is complicated."

"Lust isn't complicated," Emmie replied.

"That's what you think. Now can we please get off this subject."

"I agree with Veronica, can we please stop discussing Draco for my sanity." Alissa chimed in.

"Fine fine, so do we have any classes together this year?" Emmie asked.

We all pulled out our schedules and compared. "I have Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfigurations, Charms, Arithmancy, Potions, and Astronomy." I said.

Emmie was next, "Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfigurations, Charms, Divination, and Potions. Why did you take Arithmancy Veroinca?"

"Because I love numbers and a challenge." I replied.

Then Rachel gave us her schedule, "Potions, Transfigurations, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Divination and Herbology."

Last was Alissa, "Potions, Transfigurations, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Arithmancy, Herbology, Ancient Runes, History of Magic, and Muggle Studies."

"How do you possibly fit that all into one day?" We all asked.

"It's a secret." She replied.

"Okay, so we all have Charms together, and Alissa and Veronica have Arthimancy while Rachel and I have Divination. Not terribly bad. At least we all have one class together."

"Okay so we have settled that, how about we go get some food I am starving." Rachel said patting her stomach, or lack thereof. We all agreed and headed for the Great Hall. I was actually quite thirsty, and being around all the fresh blood was extremely difficult and tempting, the goblet's content quenched my thirst but by no means sated it. I promised Carlisle that I would follow his ways, but it was extremely tempting, especially with so many tempting smells around me. I was thinking this as Draco walked in to Herbology and sat right across from Emmie and me, Emmie elbowed nudged me again as he did this and gave me a knowing look. I clenched my fist and prayed that this class would get over with quickly.

More and more students began filing in and I began to notice they weren't all from my house, there were Gryffindors in the mix as well, which meant Potter and his friends would be in the class. Sure enough right before Professor Sprout walked in, Harry, Hermione and Ron filed in. I looked over and indeed noticed that Emmie was looking at Ron, she had a crush on him and she couldn't deny it. "You have no room to be talking about crushes, I see you looking," I leaned over and whispered in her ear. She jumped, then realizing it was me laughed, though I could tell she was nervous and uncomfortable. Herbology passed rather quickly, and went quite well seeing as there were no deaths. At the end of class Professor Sprout pulled me aside, and asked me what I had learned at Beauxbatons, to get an idea of where I was, so I told Emmie to continue on to Defense Against the Dark Arts without me. It only took a few moments, Professor Sprout just asked me about a few things to get a feel for where my schooling had left off. As I was walking out of the Greenhouses I was stopped by Potter.

"H-h-ow-ow, are you liking Hogwarts?" He asked nervously, I had no idea what was making him nervous, it could have been the way I talked to him yesterday or the green tie around my neck.

"Just fine Potter." I replied coldly hoping he would back off.

Instead he took it as an invitation to start a conversation, "A shame you were sorted into Slytherin, you know your father was a legend in Gryffindor, he-"

I turned on him fast just before we entered the castle, "Don't you dare talk about my father! You are the reason my father, mother and sister are dead. I told you yesterday, I don't want to be your friend, I don't care about your cause. Stay away from me!" I turned and ran away from him. I was extremely angry and if the wrong person crossed me I would do something I would regret later. And then I smelt him. He came up behind me, just after I walked into the castle.

"I think you hurt Potter's feelings." Draco said to me sarcastically.

"And you care because?" I asked walking faster, I needed to get away from that smell.

"I don't. Actually I would like to shake your hand. Whatever you said hurt him."

"Good." I just continued to walk faster, without walking too fast. I wanted to get away from him, but I had to keep in mind the fact that I had to appear human.

"Do you think you could slow down?" Draco asked still on my heel but slightly out of breath.

"I could, but I'm not going to." I said, keeping the same pace.

"I would like to talk to you, but it's difficult when you are walking so damned fast." He sounded more out of breath and slightly irritated.

"So you picked up on that," I said turning around to face him, right before I walked up the stairs.

"Picked up on what?" he said slowing down a bit to catch his breath.

"That I don't want to talk to you."

"But you just turned around to talk to me."

I grunted and then sprinted up the stairs to the third corridor. He stayed behind me, trying to keep up, but failed. It wasn't until we finally reached the end of the staircase at the third corridor that I slowed down.

"You know you're late," Draco panted, attempting to be his know-it-all self.

"And so are you."

"Snape does not allow tardiness."

"I have an excuse unlike you."

"Wrong, he doesn't condone any form of tardiness."

Right before I walked in, I said, "then I suppose I will see you in detention." Then I walked in his classroom and immediately regretted it. All eyes turned to me when I walked in, including the greasy headed instructor.

"You're late Miss.."

"Du- I mean Cullen. I'm Veronica Cullen the transfer student from Beauxbatons."

"Yes, I know who you are. What I would like to know is why you are late."

"I'm sorry, I-"

The door opened right as I was about to explain to Professor Snape where I was at, and Draco came in, "Mr. Malfoy you are late as well?"

"Yes Professor, I am sorry. I found our new transfer wandering about the hallways completely lost, and helped her find her way to class. Just being a good prefect." Who was he playing?

"Well Miss Cullen do you know where my class room is now?"

"Yes sir."

"Then there is no reason you should be tardy again. Both of you take your seats."

I looked around the classroom and saw Emmie, who was already sitting with a group of guys, she mouthed sorry to me, and I let her know it was alright. Unfortunately what this meant is that Draco and I were stuck at a table together. We sat down and Draco leaned over and whispered, "You owe me Cullen."

"No I don't." I whispered back, and proceeded to listen to Professor Snape drone on about what we would be learning this year and how the education up to this point had been wrong or something like that.

After class I caught up with Emmie, and we walked to Transfigurations together. Not without her prying however. "Spill."

"Spill what?"

"What do you mean spill what? You walked in with Draco Malfoy. What happened?"

"Nothing. And he walked in after me."

"Oh come on. I don't buy that you got lost. So what really happened?"

"What really happened was I got stopped by an inconsiderate prat."

"Draco?"

"No. Potter."

"Oh, so then where does Draco come in to play?"

"He was listening to mine and Potter's conversation."

"Oh, jealous I suspect. So then what happened?"

"Why would Draco be jealous?"

"He likes you, I'm telling you. What happened?"

"He does not like me."

"He does. So what happened next?"

I grunted in frustration, "He followed me all the way up the staircase, claiming he wanted to talk. Then he came in to the classroom and made up that ridiculous lie saying I got lost. Then when we sat down he told me I owed him. Which I certainly do not."

I looked over to see Emmie smiling, "He likes you."

"Why do you keep on saying this?"

"Because my naïve newbie, Draco never follows girls, he makes them come to him. So the real question is do you like him?"

Fortunately or unfortunately at the moment we were interrupted by the subject of our conversation. "Who does Veronica like Emmie?" He asked mocking her.

"It is rude to eavesdrop Draco." Emmie said at the same time that I said, "As if I'd tell you."

Draco ignored Emmie's comment and focused solely on mine. "You already have."

I didn't realize it but Draco was pulling me away from Emmie, and what is worse, Emmie was letting him. Before I realized it Draco and I were walking the way we had been earlier. "Oh and what have I told you."

"Well you've told me who you don't like, therefore telling me who you like."

"I see. So share with me your wisdom."

"Well you don't like Potter at all. So I assume that you don't like the Gryffindors, which means that you will not like any Hufflepuffs. It is possible that you could learn to like someone in Ravenclaw, had you not already met someone in your own house."

I actually stopped and turned around, letting him catch up. "Pray tell, who is this person I have met in my own house?"

"I will let you discover that on your own." He said beginning to walk away.

Confused for a minute I quickly caught up with him. "You?" I said catching on completely shocked and unable to say anything intelligible.

"I told you. You have to figure this one out on your own. I'll see you around Cullen, remember you're in my debt." Draco said smirking in my direction as he hurried on ahead to Transfigurations.

When I got to McGonagall's classroom Emmie gave me the third degree. "So what did you two talk about."

"I think he thinks I like him," I said through gritted teeth, still angry and shocked.

"Do you?" she asked for the umpteenth time today.

I didn't reply, because once again I was interrupted by McGonagall. I did not have to talk again until the end of class, but I was drilled by Emmie right after.

"Did you happen to see who had eyes for you the whole class?" Emmie asked as we walked out of the classroom.

"No, I didn't." I replied, less angry but very distracted.

"Well he was looking at you the entire time. I really think he likes you. I mean I've known Draco practically my whole life, and he has never done this with a girl. He only gets this persistent when he really wants something."

"I'm not a thing Emmie, I'm a person."

"I know that, I'm just saying he only gets like this when he really wants something."

"Well he can continue to want, because I don't want him." I lied.

As soon as the words left my mouth he stormed past us, nearly knocking me over.

"I think he may have heard you, Veronica."

"Really, what gave you the first clue, the angry look on his face or the fact that he nearly knocked me down."

Emmie decided it was best to drop the whole conversation. So we walked on to Charms talking about other random subjects, basically anything that was not related to Draco Malfoy. It surprised me that Emmie did this, but what surprised me even more was that Emmie did not mention Draco once to Alyssa or Rachel when we got to Charms. Draco stormed in right after us and shot me one glare as he walked by, and bumped into me with his shoulder. I saw Emmie and Rachel exchange a glance out of the corner of my eye, then heard her whisper, I'll tell you later. Allissa took her seat next to me, and the class began. Charms went by quickly, we didn't have any time to speak because Professor Flitwick came around and quizzed everyone on the homework they were supposed to do over break, from which I was going to be excused until I executed it better than anyone in the class. I looked over to Draco and noticed he was still fuming, especially after he got a frown from Flitwick when he performed the charm wrong.

"Veronica, let's go, I'm starved." Rachel said coming over to me after class, prepared to drag me to lunch.

"That's alright guys, I'll catch up with you, I need to take care of something," I said glancing over at Draco.

Emmie and Rachel exchanged another glance, and Alissa rolled her eyes. "Are you sure you won't get lost," Emmie asked referring to this morning.

"Ha ha, very funny. Seriously I'll see you guys in a few minutes."

After they left the class room, I walked over to Draco, who was still putting his stuff in his bag. I walked up behind him, "Um, Draco…I wanted to talk to you."

He turned around and saw me, and sneered. He was not pleased with me. "And I care why?"

"I'm sorry." I blurted it out.

His eyebrows raised a little, he looked kind of shocked. But quickly replaced that with another sneer. And began walking away. I caught up with him, and continued to keep up with his long strides.

"I didn't mean to be rude this morning."

"I don't care."

"I don't believe that."

"Then don't."

"Would you just stop?" I said annoyed that he was acting so indifferent, only this morning he had chased me up the stairs trying to tell me something.

He turned around, clearly annoyed with me. "Why should I stop for you? You didn't stop for me."

"Well no I didn't, but we were also running late for class."

"And I am running late for lunch." He said beginning to walk again.

"And your stomach can't wait for a few minutes to talk to me?" I said matching his strides.

"No as a matter of a fact it can't."

"Please, would you just stop and talk to me," I said, grabbing him by the arm, making sure it was where his robe covered.

"Why do you want to talk now?" He asked sounding a little hurt.

"Because I think I upset you. I don't know if you over heard what I said or if what you wanted to tell me was important, just tell me. I don't want to make enemies this soon and especially not with a member of my own house. Please don't give Potter another reason to talk to me, a common hatred of you would do that."

He chuckled a little, "You just made a mistake Cullen, you're already in my debt, and now you're giving me a way to control you. And I actually thought you were smart."

"I am smart."

"Clearly you aren't that intelligent, you just gave me power."

"How?"

"Well I know Potter annoys you, and you have made it obvious that you want to know what I wanted to talk to you about."

"So then are you going to tell me?"

"Nope. I think it will be more fun to annoy you." He said cocking his head to the side and smirking, and then he started to walk away.

"You are infuriating Draco Malfoy," I yelled to his back.

He turned around and replied, "As are you Veronica Cullen." I turned around and started to walk away, until I heard him speak up again, "the Great Hall is the other way."

"I know," I replied.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"No, I'm just really thirsty." I said and continued to walk the other way, putting as much distance between me and my recent cause of thirst.