Note: this was typed on an iPod touch so. Forgive me if I don't catch autocorrect... .

Several weeks passed as did Su's birthday. It was the beginning of December and there had been no more experiments with divination so, that Sirena could focus on the final exams that were coming upon the next few days. She was determined to pass. If they didn't pass their exams, they weren't allowed to attend the Winter Ball. Andrusa, however, was going to take some convincing.

She and Andrusa had become the best of friends and studied together at all the group study halls. She spent as much time with him as much as she did with Su.

They both sat in the great hall and most of the time same year students could sit with each other during their lunch hour.

"Andrusa, will you please stop gorging yourself and pay attention?" Sirena sighed from across the table.

"You study too hard. Are you sure you weren't put in Ravenclaw?" he teased.

"Oh? Then why are you in it?"

Andrusa faked a dramatic hurt face. Sirena snickered trying not to laugh.

"Okay the first wizard to train a Chinese fireball was?"

"Gandalf the grey," he said sarcastically with a mouth full of sweets. Andrusa was almost never serious. She could understand how Luna could easily be annoyed with it but most of the time he was very funny. Sirena also wondered how he stayed so thin but assumed he did so by playing Quidditch all the time.

Sirena shook her head. "Sorry there, Frodo. Wrong answer," she said.

"When in doubt always guess Merlin," said a voice behind Sirena. Jeremy sat beside her and smiled happily at her. "It almost always works. Jeremy Perkins," he said extending his hand towards Andrusa.

Andrusa laughed slightly and shook his hand. "Andrusa Mirakov."

"So, how is the patient doing?" asked Jeremy.

Sirena shrugged. "As well as I should be."

He nodded and took a deep breath. "So, you guys need any help?" he asked

Sirena shrugged. "Only if you know how to make an ADD Ravenclaw focus and stop eating."

Jeremy looked at the Russian who was munching on chocolate .

Andrusa finished the bar and looked at his hands. "Oh crap, there's chocolate all over me." His fingers were covered in the delicious treat, so he licked his fingers clean of the chocolate.

The siblings looked at each other and smiled before bursting into laughter.

"What?" he said almost as if he was embarrassed.

"I think you should have been put in Hufflepuff," laughed Jeremy.

Andrusa's smile faded as he stared at the table. Sirena could tell something was up. "Um, Jeremy, you should go see if Su needs help, "said Sirena.

Jeremey could tell in her voice she wanted him to leave. "Right," he said as he pushed up from the table. "It was nice meeting you, Andrusa."

Andrusa nodded with a slight smile. "You too, Jeremy."

When Jeremy sat at the Slytherin table next to Su, a silence fell upon the two.

"Look, he didn't mean anything by it, Andrusa," said Sirena.

"I know but he is not the first to say so," he said and sighed in frustration. "It gets old after a while." he took a gulp of pumpkin juice and set the cup in front of him when he was finished. "Especially when you're the dumbest of the most intellectual house," he sadly.

"Well that sentence sure sounded intelligent," said Sirena with a smile.

"Besides, you should study harder." Sirena meant to the comment to be helpful and optimistic, but Andrusa took it another way.

"Tch," he snickered. "You're just like Luna." with raver in his face, Andrusa stood abruptly from the table and stormed off.

Sirena sat there and watched the Russian boy exit the great hall. She herself was offended. The thought of being compared to someone, especially his ex-girlfriend, made her angry.

When lunch was over it was time for class with the Slytherins. Fortunately, today's lineup was potions so the class would be bearable. Sirena took her seat in her usual spot and waited for Professor Snape.

Sirena pulled out her potion book and flipped through the pages. She often thought of working with Aurors at the Ministry. Sirena skimmed the pages and guessed they would be brewing a higher level sleeping drought by the looks of the ingredients in the chapter supply list.

Snape entered the dungeon room angrier than ever. "There will be a few changes going on here," he said and turned to face the class just before he finished speaking. "There will assigned seating for a select few of you."

The class groaned. "Ms. Bullstrode, will you please move to the front of the class ," he said.

The girl moved to the front and Sirena nudged Emma, her potion mate who was also in Gryffindor. "What's the matter with him?" Emma's brother was in Slytherin and Sirena was sure she would know.

"Michael said someone put a strange concoction in his morning pumpkin juice," said Emma. "See how he twitching?" the girls tried hard to hold in the laugher.

Across the room, Sirena saw Draco and his friends laughing about something and were also trying to keep quiet."Mr. Malfoy if you please take a row back." after Draco was moved, Snape continued moving the others until Draco was left sitting alone.

Sirena kind of liked he was isolated. A faint smile formed on her lips and she glanced back at her book. "Ms. Perkins," said Snape. "Would you please take a seat next to Mr. Malfoy?"

Sirena's heart sank. "Sir?"

"Are you deaf?" he said scowling. "Next to Malfoy," he said leaning towards her menacingly. "Now."

Sirena gritted her teeth and took her new seat next to the blonde boy. Never once did she look at her partner. She couldn't believe this. She couldn't believe she was now partners with Draco Malfoy.

At dinner Ginny was shocked to hear what happened. "No way," she said propping up on her wrist. "Draco?" Sirena nodded and took a bite of her chicken and peas.

"I think he knows we hate each other and want to punish us both."

Ginny looked at Sirena in confusion. "That's weird, he loves more brutal punishment, " she said.

Seamus Finnigan laughed and nudged Ginny. "Looks like professor Snape's getting old and can't handle it." the three laughed.

Sirena could feel a pair of eyes. No, more than one, she could feel two. She glanced behind her at the Slytherin table and saw Draco staring at her. Su was talking to him and was convinced he was listening.

Sirena quickly faced forward and saw the Ravenclaw table. Andrusa tried to pull it off as if hadn't been. She rolled her eyes and stabbed at the meat on her plate.

The day of exams finally came. Sirena knew she was prepared. Andrusa hadn't been distracting her all week so she could focus on what she had to do. The week passed quickly, until the day of Magic History came.

Sirena sulked as she approached the dreaded class. Everyone wished her luck as they often did, but she had a bad feeling about this test.

The hall was filled by a sea of students. Then she saw the Ravenclaws. Andrusa and Luna sat at window opening and seemed to be laughing in a playful manner. Sirena's eyes wandered to the massive old book in Luna's lap. She studied the two a moment longer and noticed it was pretty useless considering they hadn't even looked at it.

Ginny appeared next to Sirena. "Looks like those two will be back together soon."

Sirena face began to flush. "I guess so." Before anyone could notice her irritation she hurried to her class and studied the remaining time left before class.

The test was easier that she thought. In fact all the test were surprisingly easy for her. When the grades were posted outside the classrooms the next day, Sirena anxiously looked for her name and then Andrusa's. Sirenas scores were between 80-98 so her average was passing. Andrusa on the other hand, passed all but one. His scores were lower than Sirena's accept in Herbology. But his score in magical history was low enough to destroy his grade. She wouldn't be seeing him at the ball.

A week had passed and Sirena and Andrusa still hadn't spoken to each other. During their joined study halls she always saw him with Luna. So she ignored them. Even the study halls with slytherin were better than watching them.

Sirena was glad today was with the Slytherins. Even more good news was that Draco seemed to be taking a personal day which meant she got Su all to herself.

"Ugh, I feel like freaking crap," said Su.

Sirena laughed lightly. "Don't you think you should take a trip to the infirmary then?" asked Sirena

Su snickered. "And let them make me stay home from the ball? Hell no."

Sirena smiled. "If you say so."

Silence resumed for a short moment. Sirena looked back at her photo album her mother sent her. In her letter she had explained how she and Sirena's father had taken a trip to Greece while she was in school. Her parents traveled a lot. It was one of her mother's favorite things to do.

Su studied the pictures, fantasizing about going places like that. "Oh, that's so unfair," she said. " I would kill to go to a place like this." Su said pointing to a picture of Paris.

"So I noticed you quit hanging out with that mud-blood."

Sirena rolled her eyes. "I'd rather not talk about it, Su ."

"Well, all I can say is that I am glad that's over with and things can get back to the way they should be," said Su.

"Yeah I guess," she said. Once study hall was over the girls started towards the Quidditch field for Sirena's practice. "You know you did really well in the game last week," Su said. "But I can't promise that slytherin will be so easy,"Su teased.

Sirena smiled and rolled her eyes. The girls reached the field. Su took her seat in the stands as Sirena changed.

Sirena hovered on her broom ready to a pass. Ginny urged her to go down field and she did. As she flew by she noticed Su wasn't alone. Draco Malfoy was keeping her company.

Sirena took one look at him an sharp pains on her temples started aching. It was the astronomy tower again a hand was raising his/hers wand.

"Sirena!" yelled Harry.

She was heading straight for the stands. With a swift tilt to the right Sirena missed it. Harry motioned for her to ground.

"Blimey, Sirena what happened. "

"Sorry, Harry," she said and rubbed her head.

"Those visions again huh?"

Sirena nodded.

"Go get your nose check out and call it a day." Harry grabbed her broom in a polite gesture. "Ginny will put it in the common room when we are done okay?"

Sirena nodded again thanked him.

It wasn't long until Su and her friend were by her side. "Sirena what was that? Are you suicidal?"

"No it- Su are you okay you look green?"

Su chuckled " Of course I'm green I'm Slytherin!"

Sirena shook her head. " No, I mean your really green," she placed her hand on Su's forehead and Su was starting to feel the sickness by the reaction to Sirena's touch. "You feel like you on fire! We're taking you to the nurse. Now" when Sirena removed her hand from her friends face Su merely collapsed. Thankfully Draco caught her. "I've got her. He said and picked her and started to carry her to the infirmary. "You too Perkins what with that nose of yours."

Looks like Ms. Lyu will not be attending the ball tomorrow," said the nurse.

"Ugh, I hate you guys," Su groaned.

Sirena smiled. "You'll thank us later."

"Now as for you Ms. Perkins- ugh oh dear!" another student with the same thing Su has walked into the infirmary puking into a bucket. "Draco you can handle a bloody nose," she said handing him a small towel. ". Would you?"

Draco took the towel in hand and smirked. "Of course, lie down Perkins," he said with a menacing look in his eye.

"Would it kill you to say please?" was her only reply. Sirena laid on the hospital bed while Draco sat next to her and dipped the cloth into a bowl of water. "Hold this," he put the towel in her hand and propped her head up. Sirena held the cloth to her nose while the blonde boy stared down at her. She wondered if she was blushing.

"Thanks, for helping with Su."

"You're welcome ," he said.

When the awkward silence persisted she felt it best to leave. "well I better be going," she said and got up quickly. The after effect hit her when she was half way around the bed. Before she knew it Draco had his arms wrapped around her catching her from falling. Now she knew she was blushing. " Thanks, again." she was half way outside the door when he called after her. Once he caught up with her he pulled her aside and took a deep breath. "Are you going to the winter ball with Andrusa?"

The thought of Andrusa made her a little sad. She wasn't mad anymore and did want to go as friends. "No, he didn't pass one exam. "

Draco laughed. "I'm surprised he passed even one!" Sirena's eyes narrowed. "because he'd rather get a bad grade than cheat, unlike some people," she said coldly.

"Ouch," he said and leaned against the wall. Sirena stared to walk off. "Look I'm sorry, we just don't get along," he said. "So who are you going with then?"

"Well, as it turns out no one has asked me," she said and folded her arms across her chest.

"Care to do me a favor then?"

Sirena sighed "What?"

"Wear something pretty," he said with a wink and walked away.

Sirena stood there for a moment in utter confusion. Did Draco Malfoy just ask a Gryffindor to a public affair? Sirena walked the great hall in silence pondering in the matter.

Jeremy waved to his sister and motioned for her to sit with him. "So, how's my baby sister?"

She shrugged. "Fine, had a stupid nose bleed. Jeremy who are you taking to the ball?"

He smiled. "I'm glad you asked! Where's Su?"

She felt so bad for her brother sometimes. "She's got some weird bug going around so she can't go. Sorry, Jere." he seemed worried then refocused. "So, who is the lucky chap your taking?"

"Uh, it's a surprise." her brother would flip if he knew.

Worry came over his face again when slithering house came in to the great hall. "She's in the infirmary, Jeremy."

He smiled. " Thanks, Sirena." within scores Jeremy was on his way to see Su.

Sirena saw Andrusa sitting alone this time and she decided enough was enough.

"Andrusa?"

He looked up at her with a mouth full of food. He hurried to swallow. "Sirena? Hi. What are-"

"I'm sorry I got on to you about studying it want my place. Can you forgive me?"

The Russian started to laugh. "Ahaha! Sirena I'm not mad!"

She raised an eyebrow. "Then why have you been ignoring me?"

"Nyet! Sirena I was taking your advice. I mean yeah I was a little mad but I was fine an hour later."

"Oh," she said feeling embarrassed.

"And I didn't want to bother you with helping me, so I asked Luna."

She smiled and sat next to him. "Well you think your girlfriend will care if I talk to you again then?"

A playful smirked formed on his lips. "You need to ask yourself permission?"

Sirena blushed and he laughed. "I was only teasing Sirena."

"Right," she said and laughed before standing. " Well I'm gonna check in with my friends so see you later, Andrusa!" with that's he took a seat next to Ginny and ate her dinner.

"Ginny how do I look?" Sirena asked.

"Wow Sirena you look perfect!" she was wearing the green silk dress her mother sent her and her long red hair was curled and draped over her right shoulder. "Your date is a lucky guy, who is it anyway?"

"You'll find out," she said.

Sirena was nervous. Not only because she had to spend the evening with Malfoy, but also she was worried what others would say. Slytherin and Gryffindor we're rival houses and everyone knew it.

Sirena walked herself to the great hall were a very patient Malfoy was waiting for her. And he was staring. She approached him with caution.

"Well, Perkins," he began. "I underestimated your wardrobe."

Siena blushed. "Thanks, I think?"

Draco held out his arm for her to take. She could tell he was trying to be charming. " you know this 'Prince Charming' act doesn't seem to fit your personality. "

He Smirked. They reader the doors of the great hall and entered the room. Everyone was staring.

"You'd think the queen herself had walked through the door," said Draco.

Sirena rolled her eyes. The Slythein girls were the least happy she was there with Draco. Her housemates seemed to be in shock but Ginny and Hermione gave that ' what are you crazy' face. Sirena shrugged with a I had no choice face.

The ball resumed. "Well, that was," he tailed off looking for the word.

"Annoying?"

"I guess you're not used to the pure blood treatment."

"I just don't like staring is all."

Draco chuckled lightly to himself. "Well I hate to break it to you, Sirena" he said and grabbed her by the waist and be gab to dance. "Be prepared for a lot of staring."

He was right they did continue to stare.

"So, what provoked you to ask a rival house member to this?"

Draco took in a deep breath. "There is something about you," he said pulling her closer. "I think your quite fascinating. You don't act like most pure bloods."

"I was taught a person's worth is valued by their heart not their blood."

Draco huffed and studied Sirena's face. He had a look of longing and sorrow in his eyes. "Impossible."

Sirena pursed her lips. "No, it's not." Sirena got free of his hold and made a graceful exit.

Draco followed her into the hall and grabbed her arm. "Is that how you deal with things you don't like? Run a way?" Draco's eyes were filled with anger.

"Let go of me!" she said struggling against his grip.

"Not until you quit over reacting to a small statement!" He said and released her. "I wasn't raised in a happy family like you," the sorrow in his eyes returned. "I have expectations they expect me to uphold."

Sirena leaned against the wall and folded her arms. "Then why don't you just talk to someone about it? Just talking takes the stress off of any situation."

Draco looked up at her in surprise. He studied her face again and looked like he was searching for something. "Unfortunately, I can't talk about it."

"I think one person should know the real Malfoy, instead of 'Slytherin Bad boy'."

A smirk firmed upon his lips like the Draco she knew. "I could give that person a look," he said trapping her against the wall again like he did in detention. Sirena didn't move. She knew this wouldn't end well. "I'm sure they would appreciate the effort," she said and closed her eyes preparing for anything.

Draco slowly ran his nose Alongside hers. The blonde boy gently pressed his stiff lips to hers.

Sirena was caught off guard by this. Even more so when she realized she liked it.

Draco placed his right hand on the side of her face while the other slithered around her waist pulling her closer. Guilt fell upon her and the first person to come to her mind was Su. Sirena knew the betrayal she would feel if she found out.

She pulled away and looked down. The guilt was written all over her face. "This isn't right. " she said and looked up at him. "Su is the one who fancies you, not me,"

There was no emotion in his eyes . " I think the way you kissed me back says otherwise."

She looked into his eyes mowing he wasn't lying. " Draco, " tears stared to form on the waterlines on her eyes. "Just leave me alone."

Sirena pushed the boy away and hurried out the front doors of the castle.

Luckily the courtyard was empty. Sirena pulled a mirror from her small beaded bag. She looked like a mess. "Sirena you're so stupid," she said to herself. "You'll only hurt other," she sniffled. "And yourself."

As Sirena sobbed a peculiar creature appears beside her. "Well what are you doing here?" she said as she stroked the animals head. It was a white to that had been roaming the grounds all night, or at least that's what Sirena assumed.

"I don't have any food you know," she said with a smile. However, the animal seemed content with her petting its head.

"I don't suppose you have any idea how to get out of a mess like mine do you?" Sirena smiled lightly. "Oh," she said and took a deep breath. "You don't have to worry a out thing like kissing some you hate, or thought you hated at least."

The animals blue eyes looked up at her and it almost looked like it understood her. It even seemed confused and angry. She imagined this is what Andrusa would look like if he found out.

Moments later Draco crept out the castle doors. "Sirena," he said taking a seat beside her. She turned away from him in fear of crying again. "I'm sorry about the kiss, I thought you were implying..." he trailed off. The wolf reacted to Draco with a sound of defense and ran off. "Stupid animal," he said.

Sirena rolled her eyes. "Look, Draco." she said facing him. "Let's pretend this never happened. Besides," she said placing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Su is my best friend. And I'm not going to betray her like this."

"But, I don't feel anything but friendship towards her."

"Then tell her that." She stood and bowed her head. "I'm tired," she and started to walk off. "Goodnight, Malfoy."