Chapter 1

The word had spread pretty quickly to Draco Malfoy. He should get a gander at what Granger had done to herself; she got hot over the summer holiday. Unlikely, he snorted; bushy hair buck teeth and that know it all attitude made Hermione Granger the most unappealing little bitch he had ever met and that was without her filthy mudblood status. Hot? He would bet his Nimbus that was not the case, especially since it had not been that long since he had seen her. Of course magic could do wonders he knew, make Granger hot though? He doubted it, but boredom and morbid curiosity led him to seek her out anyway. Goyle told him she was in the trophy room and that was where he headed off to, only mildly curious that it was not the library.

It was not like he had anything better to do. Fourth year had started out pretty shite so far. He had it under good authority, his father's, that quidditch would be cancelled this year. The World Cup had been terrifying. He knew people suspected his father had something o do with it, and since he actually had no idea where his father had been at the time he could only hope his father hadn't purposely screwed up the one thing he really enjoyed. Potty and the Weasels had been in full attendance putting a damper on the event and his father wouldn't even let him rub the box seats in their noses.

He strolled off to the trophy room. She was probably trying to see if there was a trophy for the most times someone raised their hand. Or answered a question in an irritating way. Or corrected someone's pronunciation of an incantation.

He only found one girl in the room, her back was to him, but the hair alone said she was definitely not Granger. Raven black, shiny waves that fell to as perfect an ass as he had ever seen and a skirt so short and heels so tall and pointy that they could not possibly be regulation but they did amazing things to her legs and ass. And they definitely did not belong to Granger. He had no idea who this girl was but he was damned determined to find out. He leaned against the door frame and looked at what had her so fascinated. He was surprised to find it was a statue of Salazar Slytherin. This was his way in. "If you are so interested in Slytherin I can help you out there."

The girl turned around and fuck him it WAS Granger! But wait… the eyes, cerulean blue, not Granger's mud brown eyes and a knowing look as she appraised him that he had damned well never seen from Granger before. His breath caught in his chest. He had seen pretty girls before, what in the hell was wrong with him?

"Well hello there, aren't you something, pretty thing, where did YOU come from" she said in a clearly American accent, "what do you know about Salazar Slytherin and how much are you willing to … share?" Her tone was suggestive and predatory in a not entirely unpleasant way.

He pushed away from the door frame and slowly stalked towards her "I am in house Slytherin; we keep all sorts of interesting information in the dungeons… for a price we even share." She ran just the tip of her tongue along her upper lip, "I bet you do, we should definitely negotiate…"

He definitely wanted to know exactly what she had in mind when she said 'negotiate' and was just about to ask her that when he was interrupted, rudely and loudly.

The screech behind him caused the stirring in his trousers to deflate "Nessa! What are you doing in here!"! Turning he saw Granger stalking towards her look alike in all of her Gryffindor protector mode fury as she spared him a nasty look "You can't just wander off there are dangerous things at Hogwarts" he smirked by "things" she clearly meant him. "Dangerous, Mimi? Hmmm" she looked him in the eye and winked "prove it." Granger glared at him again, daring him to do anything dangerous, he just smirked at her.

"Anyway Vanessa, we have to get you sorted into a house, as my cousin you should be a shoe in for Gryffindor or Ravenclaw" the young lady in question looked nauseated, "I already have a house Mimi. I am a Horned Serpent", she tapped a badge on her chest, Draco noted a serpent with horns on her chest and a knot with some interest, not just a serpent, some sort of dragon, and he grinned, so the black haired beauty liked dragons did she? Point in his favor.

"I will be damned if I am going from being a Dragon to being something lesser like a bird or beast now, if anything I will be in my ancestor's house."

Hermione sighed, "That isn't how it works here, Nessa, that is … you need a house here too and you need to be in the right house, one where we can protect you, things are getting dangerous."

Vanessa's eyes Draco noted did not spark with outrage but something colder, he had a feeling he knew what house she belonged in and smiled inwardly. He had a feeling they would be getting to know each other a lot better.

"All houses won't be open to you Vanessa, blood status matters here and lineage and … oh all sorts of things you just don't understand; it is not like it is where you come from, until you understand that…"

Vanessa smiled "I am not worried Mimi, I will be found acceptable by ANY house. I know that and so do you. You just don't LIKE it. That is not your decision; it is up to your walls, or whatever you use here."

Draco watched this interaction with great interest. Hermione took her arm and started to lead her away "Hat, Nessa, Sorting Hat. The sorting will start soon anyway; late on your first day is NOT how you make a good impression."

Draco gave her the same appraising look she had given him earlier "Oh I don't know Granger; I would say she has made a banging first impression." Hermione glared at him, her cheeks blushing and refused to answer.

As they passed Draco, Vanessa ran the backs of her knuckles along his cheek, "we can finish negotiations later, pretty thing." Hermione glared at her "No you certainly CANNOT, he is dangerous Nessa, and stay away from him." Vanessa just smiled and mouthed to Draco "prove it." He ran a hand along her back as he passed her "I will see you later little dragon" and smiled at the outrage in Granger's face.

Best. First. Day. Of. School. Ever.