As promised, this chapter is a bit longer. Sorry I didn't manage to do a pre-holiday update, but I did put this up for you tonight, even though I'm wearing false nails for my prom (did you know that it's incredibly hard to type in false nails?)

Thanks for reviewing - pstibbons, me (great name :D), Astoria Malfoy, Tabbycat1220, Arlath's Daughter, SuzieGeorge, Dusty Brown and talapdame. How do you all feel about free flapjacks?

Hope this lives up to your expectations.


As Eva entered the Hall and walked towards the Gryffindor table, heads turned and voices whispered. Her heart sank as she saw the flickers of pictures and headlines on the tables.

Time to find out what they can say about me. She thought, trying to steel her nerves. Worst thing is, I'll have to deal with all this again in a few weeks when the full story comes out. This is just a pale shadow of what it'll be like then.

She saw Ginny ahead of her. The other girl glanced up and waved her over. Despite Hermione's acceptance, she was unsure of her reception from the male members of the Trio. So Eva chose to sit between Ginny and an older black boy, opposite Hermione rather than sitting on the other side flanked by Harry and Ginny and opposite Ron.

Not trusting her voice, Eva held out a hand for the paper. The headline screamed at her. Ridiculous title, part of her thought dispassionately. Couldn't all those 'amazing' reporters come up with anything better than some weak alliteration? The rest of her was too busy worrying about what the article was going to say.

MYSTERY MALFOY MAIDEN AT HOGWARTS!

Yesterday, students of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry were stunned to see another Malfoy child be Sorted. Not to enter 1st year either, but 5th! Even more shocking, she was Sorted into Gryffindor, the opposite of the Slytherin house that all previous Malfoys have been sorted into.

The Malfoys have endured a truly unusual year. From being the most respected advisors in the magical community, it was quite a fall for Lucius Malfoy, who was recently arrested for Death Eater involvement and sent to Azkaban. Malfoy Manor was searched. The Malfoys have long been suspected as Death Eaters, due to their Slytherin affiliations.

Some say this girl is a Death Eater in disguise, sent to spy on the Gryffindors, including the Chosen One himself. Others believe her to be a secret love child of Lucius Malfoy. Yet more say she is not a Malfoy at all. This last opinion could be borne out by her un-Malfoy looks. Black hair, blue eyes – not a Malfoy appearance.

If she is a Malfoy, her placement in Gryffindor is the biggest revolution since Sirius Black, the recently pardoned, posthumous Order of Merlin receiver. Black was also Sorted into Gryffindor, despite the whole of his family being dyed-in-the-wool Slytherin, an event also covered by your Daily Prophet.

This Black connection has sparked another theory: that she is the reincarnation of Sirius Black! She has black hair like notorious Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black. But blue eyes like Druella Rosier, her alleged maternal grandmother.

Whatever the truth, rest assured the Daily Prophet will discover it!

She looked up. The girls were watching her with worried faces. "Well, it could be worse. Nothing but a load of rumour, speculation and ridiculous ideas."

Hermione frowned. "But they're rumours which aren't exactly flattering to you. Trust me, I know how it feels. Rita Skeeter wrote a couple of articles about me in our 4th year."

Harry looked surprised. "Rita Skeeter wrote the article? Didn't you… isn't she no longer writing unkind articles about people."

Hermione sighed. "I only told her not to lie. Technically it's not lying. She's just…presenting what some people think. She hasn't backed any of the opinions up."

Ginny snorted. "It's still wrong."

"Yeah, well." Eva looked irritated. "It's what everyone's gonna believe, at least until someone finds out the truth."

"What was all that about Sirius being mentioned in the Daily Prophet?" Harry wondered.

"Well, everyone was more than a bit shocked, not to mention some who were angry that some prejudiced pureblood had been Sorted into Gryffindor. There were quite a few articles about it, until everyone forgot about his last name when he made his own name for himself." Eva hadn't meant to be so forthcoming; her mouth just opened before her brain engaged. It had a habit of doing that, especially at the worst times.

Harry turned to her. "Really?"

"Sure. I bet the library still has the paper cuttings." Shut up, shut up, she mentally cursed.

Thankfully, McGonagall arrived at their section of the table at that moment, handing out timetables.

"Miss Malfoy, Miss Weasley."

The two of them studied their timetables.

They had Charms first, then Potions, Care of Magical Creatures and DADA.

"Not too bad, I guess." Ginny muttered. "Would be better if we didn't have that git Snape for DADA."

As they left the Hall towards their first lessons, Ginny found that she had to ask a question that had been annoying her since breakfast.

"What do you mean, until someone finds out the truth?"

"The truth about my life. There are people who know it, mainly Death-Eaters. One day, one of them will tell their kid and that kid will tell everyone. Or the kids will tell their Death-Eater parents I'm a Gryffindor and they'll decide that embarrassing a Lion is worth betraying the confidences of a fellow Death-Eater."

"And being friends with me and Hermione is only going to speed that up." Ginny realised shrewdly. "After all, what upsets you upsets your friends, so anything that hurts a friend of Harry Potter will make its way straight to the newspapers."

"True. I can only pray that the day comes after people have gotten to know me for who I am a bit better."

Ginny gave her an enquiring look.

"Is it really that bad?"

"Probably not. It's...unusual, but - I don't really have any frame of reference. I promise you, I will tell you before everyone else finds out. Just not yet, okay? I'll know when it's about to come out. Draco has a source and he has promised to warn me so I know not to go to breakfast that day."

Ginny slipped her arm round Eva's shoulders.

"Come on. Even when that day comes, you won't be alone. You'll have me and Hermione and Harry. Malfoy clearly loves you, so you'll have him too, no matter what he thinks of the rest of us."

Eva glanced at Ginny. This was a perfect time to defend her brother, explain why he seemed to hate them all. But she didn't dare. She seemed pretty outspoken, the typical Gryffindor, but her brother had taught her how to be as calculating as the best Slytherin. Explanations can wait. When I'm surer of our friendship. When she knows me better. Then I can risk it by supporting an enemy.


Review! Please!

An all-you-can-eat buffet of your favourite foods if you do (and not horrible food like I'm going to get tonight at my prom.)

x