A/N: I was actually suffering from writers block. I would write, erase, write, erase, write some more, and erase some more! So please excuse it if it sucks. Constructive criticism would be much appreciated.

Disclaimer: Draco was nonchalantly passing my bedroom window when I suddenly threw a giant net over him! He was roped and thrown into the bedroom closet! But clever Rowling and her band of proofreading ninjas stole him away! So no… He's still not mine… as of yet!

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Feel the Love? Chapter 2: Lizzie's Bad Day

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"First I had to endure Snape's utter mental torture!" Lizzie seethed, dragging a disorientated Hermione Granger behind her. "Then he made me share my books with that arrogant prat!"

Hermione Granger. Muggleborn Gryffindor.

Lizzie could clearly remember the day she had first met Hermione. Lizzie's family had just moved to a new neighborhood and Lizzie was quite anxious about meeting new people. She remembered sitting in the medium sized study on her Father's big black office chair behind a new shiny mahogany desk with papers laying everywhere. The door bell rang and her Mother had opened the door to a beaming Mrs. Granger and a shy six year old Hermione Granger hiding behind her Mother's leg. Lizzie had gone to take a little peek at the sight but was caught by her Mother and introduced. Lizzie and Hermione shared their first smiles and handshakes that day. And ever since then, Hermione had become Lizzie's closest friend.

The day they both received letters from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was also a very memorable day. Both their parents were shocked but warmly understanding. Not only that, they were bloody ecstatic! Lizzie remembered her Mother grinning wildly and baking Lizzie's favorite confectionary treat: chocolate chip cookies!

But, as Hogwarts had rolled on by and Hermione became involved with Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, Lizzie and Hermione had noticeably drifted apart, what with her being busy saving the day or studying. Lizzie was hurt and lonely at first but had eventually moved on, although she tried her best to keep close ties with Hermione. But after coming to Hogwarts, it had never been the same between them. That was for sure.

Hermione tumbled along beside her childhood friend, trying her best to keep up with Lizzie's amazingly fast pace. Hermione honestly felt like she was jogging to their shared dorm as opposed to 'just taking a quick detour before Charms'.

The brown haired girl sighed and continued to listen to Lizzie's meaningless ranting, knowing that if she didn't, Lizzie would see to it that Hermione lost a couple chunks of her frizzy hair.

"Then that arrogant prat made me stumble into his lap! Did I mention that!?" Lizzie suddenly snapped her head to face Hermione's, awaiting the answer.

Yes, four times… "Erm… no, you hadn't…"

"Well he did!" Lizzie 'humph'ed and took a sharp turn around the corner, almost smacking Hermione's head into the jagged stone wall of Hogwarts Castle.

Hermione knew for certain that the only person in this entire castle that hated Draco Malfoy more than Harry Potter was Elizabeth Mayfield. Lizzie was generally found in a furious rant up and down the halls. Students avoided her at all costs when she was like this. Stampedes of pupils running frantically away from her, every time she was seen with that murderous look on her face. The rumors of Colin Creevy being chucked out the window during one of these mad sessions spread throughout the school like wildfire. Ever since then, no one dared approaching her when she was in her infamous bad mood.

Lizzie is a composed, respectable, justice-seeking sort of person. But when she gets angry… Hermione daren't even think about it…

Her short temper made her an easy and lovable target for a certain blond haired-

"-conceited, self-absorbed, smarmy, slimy, dastardly, thumb-sucking, little ferret with a God-complex!"

Hermione sighed. "He may be all that entirely but- Wait did you say thumb-sucking?"

Lizzie smirked evilly, remembering the time she was carried to the hospital wing one day after almost being a victim of the 'Slytherin Heir' in second year. In the bed next to her that same night, lay a sleeping Draco Malfoy, who apparently had accidently choked on a toffee Dumbledore had offered him, sucking his thumb peacefully.

Lizzie distinctly remembered mocking him about it for the remainder of the school year whilst he continuously sneered at her about being Muggleborn.

Hermione shook her head, grateful for finally being let go of as they approached the Fat Lady.

"Oi! Fat Lady!" Lizzie called, showing the stout lady in the portrait that she wasn't here to play games.

Unfortunately, the portrait didn't appreciate being called 'fat'. "I am not fat, young lady! I am simply-"

"Simply obese, got it!" Lizzie cut in, sending a cold glare her way. "Fanged Frisbee's!"

The Fat Lady sniffed indignantly before swinging open and revealing inside, the Gryffindor common room.

Lizzie sighed, mentally noting to apologize to the poor woman. After all, she hadn't been the one to anger Lizzie to the point of Crucio-ing small children and forest sprites whilst laughing maniacally.

"Wait here," She instructed Hermione, quickly dashing up the stairs to her dorm. "I'll be back!"

Lizzie sprinted up the stairs two at a time before dashing inside her room.

Four four-poster beds were spread out across the room, each made up perfectly except for hers. The walls were painted a deep scarlet with gold edgings; the Gryffindor emblem occasionally drifting peacefully across those walls. An oak door separated the pleasant bedroom and the painfully gleaming white bathroom. A part of Lizzie was let down when she saw it; she was clearly hoping for a more magical bathroom instead of one similar to the loo back in her house. Windows placed strategically illuminated the room with the bright light of the sun peering through the thin clouds. If the ringing of your alarm clock didn't wake you up, then the glare of the beaming sun certainly would. Excluding Lizzie, the only other occupants of this lovely room was Parvati Patil, Romilda Vain, and Hermione Granger.

Hermione, being a prefect, naturally had a shared dorm with a certain red-headed, cutely freckled Weasely. But Hermione's timid romantic side couldn't cope with being near Ron, especially knowing he sleeps in a sleeveless tee and red stripped boxers at night. So, persuading a rather disgruntled Professor McGonagoll, Hermione managed to weasel her way back into her old dorm.

Lizzie was bloody ecstatic. One more night of Lav-Lav slumber parties and Lizzie would have chucked herself out of her window. It wasn't as though she didn't like Lavender; she just didn't like Lavender, Parvati, and Romilda gossiping all night long. With Lavender out of their dorm, Parvati and Romilda would just sulkily go to sleep. Lizzie vaguely recalled hearing the three of them make some of pact; something about not gossiping unless the other two was present.

Lizzie looked around the room in confusion. Her patriotic satchel was no where to be seen.

She fell to her knees and scanned underneath all four beds. There was nothing except for the occasional dust bunny hoping around. I really need to get rid of those…

Lizzie frantically tore up the dorm room in search for her precious satchel. And just as she hexed the stuffing out of Romilda's duvet, something outside caught Lizzie's eye. Something standing out on the grounds below. Something on the shores of the Black Lake. Something… red and gold!

Lizzie's eyes widen dramatically. She rushed to the closest window and wrenched it open and there, bright as day, was her satchel; being drenched by the waters of the Giant Squid's lake. Students were merely walking past it, not even registering that someone's book bag was being harassed by the icy cold water. She had no idea how long her satchel had been there but she definitely knew it was long overdue.

Lizzie darted out of the room and whisked past a startled Hermione. She pelted down the stairs and out onto the green grassy grounds. Every one outside at the time saw her running with a maddening look in her eyes scuffled away, not wanting any part of her anger to be vented on them.

Lizzie rushed past everything and, ignoring the chill of the Black Lake, grabbed her satchel and hoisted it out of the water.

She dragged the bag to the safety of the dry grass just as Hermione came bursting out the door and upon spotting Lizzie, ran towards her.

"My bag!" Lizzie exclaimed, pointing at the ruins of her beautiful satchel. The gorgeous red bag was stained by mounds of dirty brown mud with loose blades of grass clinging on to it. Hideous green stains donned the bottom of the satchel from being dragged and Lizzie's most favorite part of the bag, the single Gryffindor emblem that elegantly decorated the bottom right corner of the satchel was replaced by the horrendous Slytherin emblem! "My books! My quills! My work! My EMBLEM!!!!"

Hermione, sensing that Lizzie was on the verge of a breakdown, swiftly brought out her wand and tapped the bag three times whilst muttering "Aqua Reparo!" and looked at Lizzie gently. "All fixed."

Lizzie sniffled, blowing her nose on a handkerchief. "R-Really?"

Lizzie could be such a drama queen sometimes… "Yes, Liz. It's all better. Now come on or we'll be late for Charms!"

"But I need to find the retard who thought they could do this to my satchel and get away with it!" Lizzie exclaimed again with dramatically renewed anger. The fact that her Gryffindor emblem was replaced by the Slytherin emblem gave her the vague idea that a certain notorious Slytherin might have done this despicable act. And right now, what she needed more than anything in the world was Malfoy's head on a spit!

"Elizabeth, please…" Hermione pleaded, using Lizzie's full name.

Lizzie knew quite well that Hermione only used her full name when she was desperate for something. And that desperate something right now was Charms. Lizzie grimaced and slumping her shoulders in defeat, dragged her feet behind Hermione as they walked.

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"Lunch time!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron. "I don't see what is so amazing about lunch time." She sniffed in annoyance. "I think it would be better if they just cancelled out lunch and went straight to Transfiguration."

Ron scowled darkly. "Hermione! Don't you dare!"

Hermione just rolled her eyes again and trudged along side him. She shot Lizzie a good-bye wave and vanished outside the History of Magic door.

"I think Hermione should keep comments like that to herself." Melanie Carlisle muttered, shaking her head.

"That's a tad rude, don't you think?" Lizzie commented, arching an eyebrow.

Melanie Carlisle, a fairly short, energetic girl with curly red hair and almond shaped green eyes, shook her head defiantly. "She has a lot of influence with the teachers, 'specially McGonagoll! What if they start considering cancelling lunch!?"

Lizzie smiled at her best friend's stupidity. They would never cancel lunch… would they?

"Hah!" Melanie gloated, seeing the debate in Lizzie's eyes.

"Oh just s*d off!" Lizzie said dismissively, flicking her wrist at Melanie before sauntering out the door.

Melanie, still slightly dazed from her nap during History of Magic, only noticed ten seconds after Lizzie's back had disappeared from view.

"Hey, wait up!"

Lizzie giggled, seeing Melanie trip and tumble her way frantically to her.

Melanie Carlisle. Pureblood Gryffindor.

Like a typical Gryffindor, Melanie was brave and courageous and found joy in other people's happiness. But she was unlike most people Lizzie had ever met. She was random and tripped over almost anything – including her feet. Ever since Lizzie had accidently befriended her back in second year after Lizzie saved Melanie from her impending doom as she somehow toppled over the stair banister, she noticed that Melanie was often dazed and tuned in and out. Sometimes she would just stare at the wall quietly and keenly like a television set – thought Melanie had no idea was a television was – and other times she would purposely read her books upside down or suck on her real non-sugar quill. Both Muggle and magical doctors alike informed Melanie's parents that she is perfectly sane; just a tad unique. But because of this uniqueness, Melanie was a loner; she had no friends. Many students would stare at her and whisper cruel words. It sickened Lizzie how heartlessly unjust people could be but she herself never approached. It made her feel like a hypocrite but something about Melanie just didn't sit right before Lizzie had accidently befriended her. Being with Melanie, actually conversing with her or shopping with her or just plain hanging out with her; it let Lizzie see the girl in a new light.

Though Lizzie still found her strange and slightly freaky at times; Melanie Carlisle was a friend. And Elizabeth Mayfield was her first friend.

"Sorry!" Lizzie called after Seamus Finnigan. That was the ninth person Melanie had bumped into blatantly on her way down to the Great Hall. Poor Seamus just wanted to say hello in that Irish accent of his when Melanie, seemingly not noticing his presence right in front of her, knocked into him headfirst. Using a quick mending spell for his broken nose, learned from Hermione, Lizzie sent a scowling Seamus to the Hospital Wing for further treatment.

"Forget about the blood and come one!" Melanie whined, somehow unharmed from her head on collision. "Filch'll clean it!"

"Fine…" Lizzie muttered begrudgingly.

"FOOD!" Melanie screeched, opening the doors of the Great Hall dramatically. And before anyone could even blink an eye or cover their ears for that matter, she had darted to the Gryffindor table and shoved her face into a giant vat of cheese and mustard porridge, gulping heartily and ignoring the glares of sheer disgust sent her way.

Lizzie sighed and plopped herself down on the seat next to Melanie, who by now was clamping her jaw hard on a chicken leg, somehow the calories of the disgustingly fattening porridge vanishing in thin air. Melanie continued to retain her slim figure, despite the puke worthy amount of food she consumed throughout each and every day. Lizzie often envied this aspect of her best friend as she selectively chose the least fatty foods displayed on the long oak table.

"Food is fuel!" Melanie always said. "You get picky about what you put in the tank- Hey, Liz, what's the rest of that quote?"[1]

Lizzie snapped her head to meet Melanie's face screwed up in confusion and concentration. She sighed. "I don't remember."

"Oh well!" Melanie exclaimed, shoving a fistful of chips in her mouth.

"Well, well, Carlisle. Stuffing your face as usual I see." A deep mocking voice Lizzie heard behind her teased. Her eye twitched in annoyance as footsteps were heard approaching; she could recognize that idiotic, snide, repulsive voice anywhere. She didn't even bother looking up as the footsteps stopped behind her. "I think the Gryffindor insignia doesn't quite suit you but a squealing pig might."

The Slytherin table situated – conveniently – next to the Gryffindor table erupted in laughter.

Draco Malfoy. Pureblood Slytherin.

A despicable person with a superiority complex – no, strike that: a God complex. His egotistically smug self never missed a chance at being annoying. It drove Lizzie insane when he drawled on and on about being wealthy or pureblooded. And his fascist hate for anything associated with Muggles was absolute murder! And being Muggleborn, Lizzie was an obvious target for his insults and ridicule. Ever since the day she bumped into him in Diagon Alley during her first trip there, Lizzie hated the way he spoke and walked as though the entire world was inferior to him. The worst of it started when he first found out she was Muggleborn. Immediately, the torment increased and Lizzie's sanity decreased. One of the reasons she was so short tempered was because she was fed up of being pushed around by an arrogant aristoprat!

Draco Malfoy was Lizzie's number one enemy and nothing could change that.

"Food is fuel!" Melanie shouted through a mouthful of strawberry and cabbage pudding with little bits of rhubarb caught in between. "You get picky about what you put in the tank- Hey Liz, what's the rest of that quote?"[1] She looked at Lizzie questioningly as if forgetting she asked that same question about a minute ago.

"I already told you I don't remember." Lizzie snapped, irritated by Malfoy's presence. Suddenly, the word "emblem" loomed over her head. She instantly turned her head to face – more like look up to – the smirking Malfoy with his hands shoved casually in his pockets standing directly behind her. Her face darkened. "You retarded little ferret! You threw my satchel into the Black Lake!"

Malfoy raised an eyebrow, unnaturally calm though he could clearly see the vein throbbing in her temple. "What on earth are you talking about?"

Lizzie stood up with a nasty snarl. "You know d*amn well what I'm talking about, you filthy weasel! You threw my satchel into the lake and changed the Gryffindor emblem to a bloody Slytherin emblem!"

Malfoy took a step back, examining Lizzie clearly. She did indeed look angry but Malfoy had no idea what she was talking about. He shook his head, smirking wildly to wind her up. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Mayfield."

"Yes you do!" Lizzie yelled, throwing her hands up.

Malfoy glared at her. This woman often got on his nerves with her short temper and wild fits. "I was inside the whole bloody morning. And how on earth could I sneak into the Gryffindor common room let alone your dorm room?"

Lizzie just glared back. He had her there. She herself couldn't figure out how he got past the Fat Lady and to her satchel without being noticed but she knew – or it could just have been her prejudice – that he had definitely been the one to do it. Even if he himself didn't do it, he probably demanded that one of his cronies to. Whatever the case, Lizzie was sure Malfoy had thrown her precious satchel into the Black Lake.

"Now if you're out of excuses to talk to me, I'm off!" He said, giving Lizzie a cheeky wave and smirk before sitting down next to his band of cronies.

"Bastard…" Lizzie muttered, sitting down. She grabbed an apple and bit down hard on it; channeling all her anger into torturing the fruit before devouring it. Just who does he think he is!?

"Don't let him bother you, Lizzie." Melanie said, slugging down a glass of pumpkin juice before placing her hand soothingly on Lizzie's shoulder. "He's a wanker."

Lizzie snorted a badly hidden laughter; almost choking on a piece of apple. "True…!" Lizzie coughed out.

Melanie looked sympathetically at Lizzie before grabbing a handful of rhubarb and dragging a still choking/laughing Lizzie to Transfiguration. Lizzie let herself be dragged, too caught up in her euphoria to object to anything. Wanker! Lizzie repeated in her head breaking into a fit of renewed laughter.

"HAHAHA!"

Lizzie, abruptly stopping her laughter, looked at Melanie strangely. She had suddenly burst out laughing, letting go of Lizzie to clutch her stomach.

"Uh… Melanie?"

"Hah!" She breathed, wiping a tear from her eyes and facing Lizzie. "Now I get what you meant about those weasels with measles!"

"Melanie, I told you that joke two years ago…" Lizzie trailed off, wondering it she could fit in a quick visit to the Hospital Wing before Transfiguration.

"I know!" She breathed out again, laughing insanely.

Sometimes Lizzie really wondered how on earth she befriended Melanie Carlisle. Other times, she wondered if Melanie was sane. Most of the time, she wondered both.

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"Twelve inches on the Wizarding World's involvement during World War I for homework. Hand it in by next Wednesday." Professor Bins drawled, drifting out of the room through the chalkboard.

Lizzie sighed. History of Magic twice a day on Monday was extremely tiring. Somehow, her timetable was messed up, allowing her to have two doses of the dullest class ever in one day.

Life is cruel.

But that meant the day was finally over. Every seventh year could be heard breathing a sigh of relief. Usually teachers never give homework on the first day of classes but being in seventh year meant less time for relaxation and more time for studying. They kept claiming that this was for the best but Melanie said she knew better. She always said that the teachers would sneak to a secret dungeon, holding meetings to determine how to torture the students, what other dull subjects to create, and who the hell sent Professor Snape love letters last year – which were rumored to be quite promiscuous.

Lizzie walked past an empty classroom and stopped. Professor Snape emerged from the classroom looking rather flustered and red faced. He looked coldly at Lizzie before swiftly marching past her, his cloak billowing behind him as he power-walked.

Lizzie smirked. Probably reading those love letters I sent him…

She glanced at a grandfather clock located near her. 8:35

Her eyes flew wide before she darted along the corridors to the Great Hall. Apparently Dumbledore had an important announcement to be stated during dinner – 8:30 – that same evening. The mischievous glint in his eyes and knowing smile made many students – Lizzie included – anxious and nervous. He would never do anything to bring harm to anyone in this school but he could be quite unpredictable at times.

Lizzie pushed open the doors of the Great Hall and shot down on the nearest seat as nonchalantly as possible, folding her hands on the table like a good girl. She ignored the few stares that came her way and paid close attention to Dumbledore.

"Now that everyone is here, I'll continue." Dumbledore stated, beaming at Lizzie.

Lizzie flushed and shrunk in her seat. So much for her plan to stay hidden; every student had turned their heads to take a look at her. Some with confused looks; some with humorous looks; and a certain one with a smug smirk and a cheeky wink.

Stupid blond ferret!

"Over the past years, animosity has grown between Houses." Dumbledore boomed, outstretching his arms for emphasis. He had a startling powerful voice considering his age. "But as the Dark Lord has indeed risen again, this animosity must perish. House unity must be established and practiced in order for this castle to remain strong."

A strange feeling of foreboding formed inside of Lizzie at these words. She glanced at the Slytherin table. Surprisingly, all of them were listening intently. Even Malfoy.

This talk of House unity was clearly being taken seriously by the most unruly House of this castle.

Lizzie turned her attention back to Dumbledore; taking note of the seriousness on his face.

"Hogwarts has seen many things; has survived many battles; and has sheltered many beings. Muggle and Magical alike."

A quiet snort came from the Slytherin table.

"Listen!" Dumbledore boomed. Apparently he has as good hearing as he has speaking. "In order for Hogwarts to survive the upcoming hardships, we as wizards and witches must unite! We must unite with each other and unite with the good in the world!"

Dumbledore paused, scanning the crowd through hard eagle eyes. This matter was of the utmost seriousness and Dumbledore would make sure everyone realized that.

He coughed and continued, his gaze unwavering. "Before we can unite with out fellow beings, we must unite ourselves. We must look at one another and see not enemies, but friends. Friends are the strongest allies a person can have.

'Now, in order to unite Hogwarts as a whole, we teachers have decided…" Dumbledore paused dramatically, closing his eyes and pressing his lips in a thin line. After a moment in that position, a smile crept on his face, relaxing his features and the students. He lowered his hands and opened his eyes, the mischievous glint back in them. "… to integrate the four Houses."

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[1] Quote from the movie Ratatouille.