Aria's POV

"W-What?" I couldn't believe what I had just heard. With wide eyes, I glanced over at my sister whose own jaw had dropped open from the shock.

Mione shook her head in what seemed to be disbelief, trying to comfort me by mouthing that we would figure everything out and find out what was wrong with the Sorting Hat. It made no sense for me to be in Slytherin! I'm not 'Pure-blooded', which I honestly thought was a requirement for being one of them. The Great Hall was dead silent as they all watched me slowly make my way down to the Slytherin table. I felt as if I was walking a death march to be honest. Taking my seat at the end of the long table, I stared down at my plate that was before me and took a small comfort in the fact that I was at least still allowed to share a room with my sister. Or at least I hoped so.

"Well our House has certainly lowered its standards it seems, if they're letting a filthy Mudblood like you in." A nasally sounding voice reached me from down the table and I turned my head to see an ugly pug-faced girl turning her nose up at me.

"You know? If you raise your nose up like that too often, people will start to think you're a dog. Wait, that's an insult to dogs. They're much prettier than you are." Smiling innocently, I turned my attention back to the sorting with a sense of dread within my heart. This was going to be a long year…

-After Dinner-

After eating dinner, Dumbledore excused us to our dormitories and I quickly rushed over to the Gryffindor table, despite the dirty looks I was receiving from my fellow Slytherins. "How did this happen Hermione? I'm not a Pure-blood. Sure I'm not filth, like they seem to think, but still! I thought only Pure-bloods could get into that house!" I started to hyperventilate slightly as I grabbed onto Harry's arm for support.

"I-I'm not sure Ari… But whether you like it or not, you're a Slytherin now. There's no changing houses once you've been sorted." Mione explained to me quietly and I silently turned into Harry's chest, a single tear falling down my cheek as he held me tightly in his arms.

I'd been hoping beyond measure that I would've been put into the Gryffindor house with Hermione and Harry. How in the world am I going to get along in this school without my sister and my best friend?

Draco's POV

Gritting my teeth, I watched as the moment dinner was done Aria got up and ran right to Potter. I didn't get it… Why in the world did she run to Potter, and why did it bother me so much? "Everything alright there mate?"

Turning my head, I saw Blaise Zabini, my best mate, walking towards me with a slight smirk on his lips. "Yeah, just fine." I growled, snapping my gaze away from Aria and storming past Blaise who easily caught up and matched stride with me.

"So… New girl's pretty hot isn't she?" He remarked casually and before I could stop myself I snapped at him.

"She's off limits." My own words caught me by surprise and it was confusing to me why I said something like that. She was a mud-blood. She's off limits to everyone with a sane mind, I reasoned.

"Oh really? And why is that? Unlike you, I don't care if she's a Mudblood. She's hot, and looks like she would be a fun time." Blaise retorted and I could see his gaze curving over the fine lines of Aria's body.

"Because I plan on using her to take Potter down a notch. So back off." After scrambling together a response, I smirked at Blaise with confidence. That would get him to back off.

"Alright, I get it mate." Blaise walked away with a slight chuckle and I let my gaze wander as I saw Potter hugging Aria tightly and stroking her hair.

I shook my head to clear it of all thoughts and caught Potters eye. Smirking, I walked over to the group with a somber expression and decided that pulling the gentleman card was my best bet in this case. "Uh… Aria, right? Look, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. It's a bad habit that I've been trying to break… but old habits die hard."

Aria's POV

I quickly pulled myself away from Harry's embrace and turned around with wide eyes. "Um… T-Thank you I guess…." I remarked quietly, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as I met his gaze with a hesitant one of my own. This was the guy who called my sister a Mudblood earlier, and was a total prick when he found out who I was?

I felt Harry's hand on my shoulder, but I quickly squeezed it with my own hand and shrugged it off. Where his hand had rested was a warm sensation, pleasurable by nature. Only Harry had ever been able to do that…

"Mind if I show you to the dorms? They're a bit tricky to find, and the first years are gone already." Draco interjected just when I was about to say something to Harry.

"She can't." Harry's voice was low and protective, and while it brought a flutter to my heart it also brought a tinge of irritation.

"I didn't ask you Potter." Draco's voice had dropped in pitch as well and both boys were glaring openly at each other.

I knew about the past between the two… But something about Draco was interesting to me. I wanted to know more about him. At the same time however, I knew that people didn't change that easily. Maybe…

"It doesn't matter. Aria wouldn't go with you anyways." Harry announced and I arched a brow in his direction. Now he was going to dictate what I would and wouldn't do? Bad move Potter.

"Unfortunately, I'm staying with my sister in her Head Girl dorm for the year. But, if you wanted to show me around tomorrow, I wouldn't object to that." I smiled at Draco, slightly warily. I wanted to give him a chance, see if he really had changed. If he hadn't, then oh well. No harm done. If he had? I could've just met an amazing guy.

Draco nodded at me before turning away and walking towards a guy I recognized as Blaise Zabini, as Ginny had pointed him out the moment we had gotten there. Biting my lip, I turned back to the group behind me and met a bunch of glares.

"What?"