It did not take Harry long to find a new, empty compartment and when he did, he fell heavily onto the cushioned seat. He sighed and began to rub his face, suddenly wary of the year to come.

'The female lied, she cares not,' a voice said, seemingly coming from a corner filled with shadows.

'Must people be so vile?' Harry muttered through his fingers.

'Would you know the good ones if other were not?'

Harry clicked his tongue. A clawed hand moved to rest at his shoulder.

'What do you wish for?' the voice asked.

Harry looked up and into slitted white eyes surrounded by shadow. 'What do you wish for?' as voice asked again, the shadows in the cabin became darker, more defined in anticipation.

'I wish for-' Harry was cut off by the sudden opening of the door. The shadows went back to normal, the eyes disappeared.

"Potty, where are your friends?" a voice sneered.

Harry smiled and turned to the cabin entrance. "Draco," he purred, tilted his head to the right and pulling his hair back to uncover his neck.

The blonde's eyes widened before darting to the dark skinned boy to his left and the short haired girl to his right.

Harry narrowed his eyes and straightened out. "Only this time will I excuse your rudeness, next time I expect the same." Harry gestured to the seat across from himself. "Would you like to sit?"

The blond nodded, saying to the people on either side of him, "leave us." He entered and, closing the door behind him, sat in the available seat, eyes never ceasing in their flit about the cabin.

They sat in silence for a short while before Draco spoke. "Well, do you have one?" he asked.

"One of what?" Harry asked innocently

Draco glared. "You know what," he said.

"Oh, but I'm afraid I don't, please clarify of what you're talking."

The Slytherin almost growled in annoyance, but he did not; Malfoys do not growl. "Cut it out, this isn't funny."

"I think it is," Harry said, raising his brows high, "Come on, Draco, have some fun."

"Stop-" Draco took a deep breath, "Stop calling me that!"

"But I like your first name," Harry said leaning forward. "Draco," he purred.

That one word did wonders to the blond, made him want to say the other's name just as darkly, as sinfully. He shivered. "Stop," he said, breathy.

Harry smirked. "Why say that when you know you like it, Draco?"

Said boy shivered again and quickly got up to leave. He paused at the door. "Goodbye, Harry."

Harry shuddered in pleasure, a sleepy smile on his face.

'Must I have been subjected to that?'

The boy shrugged, saying simply, 'you could have left.'

'I am to guard you, I must not leave your side.'

'Hush, someone is coming.'

Ron threw open the compartment door. "Harry!" he shouted, "Harry, Hermione - she - and Ginny too - they - they're!"

"Ron, relax, they're not my real friends. Sit."

He sat, confusion coloring his face. "How'd you know about them?"

Harry smiled. "My friend told me," he said then paused, "well, she told me about Hermione, but thank you for telling me about Ginny, I'll be sure to remember."

Ron nodded, then furrowed his brows. "When did your friend meet Hermione?" he asked.

Harry smiled again and patted Ron's shoulder. "All in good time, Ron. Now, how was your summer?"

Ron smiled brightly and began telling Harry of the happenings of his break. Harry told various, vague things about his summer. The trip passed quickly like that and soon the train was pulling into the station.

The carriage ride was quiet and, in Harry's opinion, boring. "What do you know about Demons?" he asked suddenly.

"Um, supernatural beasts that never were, or ever will be, human?" Ron said, "They exist, ya know. Not many people talk 'bout them, though. Superstitions and all."

Harry nodded, turning to look out the window. It was dark outside.

"Hey, Harry, why'd you ask 'bout demons anyway?"

Said boy smiled. "Let's just say that over the summer, I've become a bit more intersted in them."

They arrived at Hogwarts then and quickly exited the carriage, headed with the rest of the masses to the Great Hall. The first years were sorted and the Headmaster stood to give his welcome speech.

"Welcome back fellow students, before I continue, I must give a special welcome to out new American friend, Asher Carver."

The Great Hall doors opened to reveal a small boy with light brown hair and fare skin. He smiled at the many questioning stares and walked purposefully to the Hat. As he passed, Harry noticed strange bindings on his left hand.

'Powerful grip,' the voice whispered.

'Hush!'

Asher sat in the chair and the Hat was placed on his head. A large smirk grew on his face.

"Slytherin," someone hissed and then it was all over the Hall.

"Slytherin, Slytherin, Slytherin, Slyth-"

"GRYFFINDORE!" the Hat called, shocking the Hall into silence.

Asher giggled and slipped off the chair, walked to Ron and Harry. Smiling wickedly at the two, he sat next to Harry.

Dumbledore began his speech, but they paid no mind.

"I'm Ash," the boy said in a gruff voice that seemed only a little odd coming from such a small body.

Harry turned his head to the side, exposed his neck to the other.

Asher followed suit.

"Oi, what's on your hand?" Ron asked.

The food appeared, dinner had started. Everyone began placing food on their plates.

"It's my Conductor," Ash said holding out his left hand for Ron to see. It was a smooth, clear stone with deep yellow tint, held on by gold chains. Asher's brows furrowed. "Don't you guys have one?" he asked.

"We've wands," Ron said showing his.

"That's hot," Asher said then burst into a fit of giggles. "Nice wood. The spells come out the tip I presume?"

"Well, yea, where else?" Ron said making Asher laugh harder. "What is it?" Ron asked.

"Never you mind - Ah! Rude, I don't know your names!"

"Oh, I'm Ron and this is my best mate Harry."

"Pleasure," Harry said.

"Indeed," Ash replied.

"So, how'd you end up in Gryffindore? Everyone was sure you'd be in Slytherin," Harry asked as he nibbled on a biscuit.

"Same way you did Harry," Asher answered vaguely, looking sideways at the raven, a sly smirk on his face.

Harry had gotten into Gryffindore by convincing the Hat. He had to wonder if that was what the other meant.

They ate in silence after that until dinner was over and Asher mentioned something.

"Hey, Harry, there was this red-headed female that kept staring at you from down the table, you know about it? She was kind of glaring actually," he said.

"Sounds like Ginny," Ron said.

"She's just a girl with a petty crush, but don't worry, I no longer affiliate myself with her." They passed by the Slytherins then and Harry said, slightly louder, "Plus, I'm into blonds." One blond in particular blushed.

Asher laughed loudly and raised his hand. "I like me my red-heads! Yummy!" He began giggling as they made their way to the tower. Ron blushed darkly.

"This one's crazy," Harry chuckled.