A/N: I AM SO SORRY! I had a super busy week with my internship, and just got quite behind. _ Also, it looks like I will be needing a new Beta Reader, since mine seems to be MIA... If anyone would be interested in getting early access, send me a PM with your background to doing Beta, and a sample of your writing. Thanks! Now for story! :D

Chapter 10: Starting Over

"Shyla! Wake up!" Shyla felt a hand push her gently, she rolled over ignoring it.

"Seriously, Shy!" another voice called. "You're going to miss breakfast if you don't wake up soon!"

Shyla slowly opened her eyes to see her four roommates looming over her. "What time is it?"

Eva sat herself onto Shyla's bed and tucked her feet under her. "8:45. The food stops being placed at 9:15."

"Why are you so tired?" Lydia finally asked, "We all went to bed at the same time."

Shyla sat up and shrugged, "Couldn't sleep I guess."

"Well, we all want to go hang out at the lake today. It's beautiful outside." Eva explained, "Hurry and get dressed so we can go."

Shyla cringed. She wanted to go, she really did. "I can't. I have detention..." She hated having to admit it.

The girls stared at her. "Seriously?" Keelee coughed. Shyla nodded in reply.

"Shy!" Eva yelled, "That's twice in the first week of school! What did you do this time?"

Shyla shook her head as she climbed out of bed. "Don't worry about it. I'll come to the lake if I finish before too long."

Shyla was escorted to the kitchens by Professor Malfoy. Professor Lindbergh was already there with the Weasleys. They looked miserable, and angry. Shyla dreaded it now more than ever. The kitchen was crowded with house elves and mountains of dishes.

"Is that my help?" an old, wrinkled elf asked.

Malfoy nodded as Lindbergh bid goodbye. "They are to obey every order. If there is any problem, you are to notify me, and I will deal with them from there." He turned to the students, "You will obey Sneezles, and if you do not, I will allow Headmistress McGonagall to determine what further punishments shall be taken. You are here until Sneezles says you are through. Is that understood?"

The Weasleys said nothing, and Shyla only nodded.

Malfoy left Sneezles to do as he pleased. Sneezles smiled slyly. "Names!" His voice squeaked.

The Weasley children introduced themselves, and when it came to Shyla she sighed in a way that made her appear uninterested in Sneezle's line of work. "Shyla Granger."

"Granger?" Sneezles questioned.

Shyla rolled her eyes. "Yes, my mum is Hermione Granger." She was growing tired of being known for her mother's smarts and position in the war next to Harry 'Stinkin' Potter.

There was a sudden outburst among the house elves. In particular, a small one, that Shyla could only guess was female, ran up to her and stuck her long, slender finger out and pointed at Shyla with anger, "We don't want your hats!" The elf shouted at the surprised first year.

"Why would I give you a hat?" Shyla shouted back. She was seriously, having a shouting match with a two-foot-tall elf.

"Just don't get any ideas! We like it at Hogwarts! And you can't force us away!" The elf fumed, her big green eyes filling with anger.

"Don't get mad at me for anything my mum and her friends did to you!" Shyla demanded.

"Lovey!" Sneezles ordered, "Leave the girl alone, and get back to work. I will keep a sharp eye on this one. And mark my word, she will not be tricking you into accepting any clothes under my watch!"

Shyla was highly confused. What had her mother done to these creatures?

Sneezles quickly put the children to their tasks. Shyla was scrubbing dishes, and unfortunately working directly next to Ali, who was drying them. Shyla could no longer take the silence. She hated fighting with her cousin. Whether or not they were blood related, Ali was still her cousin, and up until 5 days ago, her best friend.

"Ali?" Shyla whispered. "Can't we talk about this?"

Ali glared at Shyla, "What is there to talk about?"

"Al' I swear to you, I didn't anticipate Professor Malfoy catching us." Shyla pleaded, as she pretended to wash a plate embellished with gold leaves.

"Right! Because you, being a Slytherin, and convincing a bunch of Gryffindors to meet you at the Great Lake, resulting in the SLYTHERIN head of house catching us out after hours, is just a huge coincidence." Ali accused. "Shyla, I talked with the others. And we really don't care if your Weasley blood or not. You've changed since coming to Hogwarts. They don't think I should hang out with you anymore. I've had detention twice already, and both are your fault."

"You were rude to me, and then fought back in Flying Lessons! You came up with the idea to go to the Great Lake to feed the monster." Shyla snapped, "I just played out the idea, because I wanted to make up with my family! But I'm starting to think maybe I'm not a Weasley at all!"

Victor obviously overheard the girls' argument, and decided to interject. "Look, Shyla. I heard my dad talking this summer, and he said that your mum just showed up, after a year, with you in arms! There has never any proof except for your mother's word that you are a Weasley. But now that the adults know that your mum lied about being friends with your dear head of house, Draco Malfoy, they don't know what to believe anymore. You might as well be a complete stranger. Because chances that you are Ron Weasley's daughter are looking pretty slim."

Shyla dropped a dish into the warm, soapy water. She had thought about the possibility of not being a Weasley all her life. The lack of red hair made the other children curious. But Shyla liked that she didn't have red hair. She liked being different. But when Victor said it, it sounded so much more real, and as if they really didn't want her to be related to them. Her eyes began to burn, from the lack of sleep, and the stress that was now looming over her so dauntingly. "If that's how you want it, then fine. I am done being your cousin. And I am certainly done being your friend. I tried to fix things, but obviously you are too stuck on house differences to care about what I think. And you know, I am certainly glad now that I am NOT in Gryffindor. I would rather be in Slytherin, where there aren't any Weasleys!"

Shyla stayed silent the remainder of the detention. Even through her break, where she was allowed to eat a bit of lunch, she said nothing. It was a long five hours.

At three in the afternoon, Sneezles released the children from their duties. "That's enough. I am annoyed with you being here. I'll report to Professor Malfoy that you fulfilled your duties."

Shyla quickly took off the wet apron that hung from her slender neck. She placed it on a hook, where she then took her school robe and put it on. It was a long in the sleeves, because Hermione thought it would be best to allow room for growing. Right now, Shyla didn't care about growing room. In spite of everything, she was glad to be done in time to go hang out with Eva and Keelee, even if they did find it amusing to get her worked up and upset about her family prospects.

Shyla's eyes were assaulted by beams of light as she pushed past the large wooden doors. The air was warm against her face, and she wished briefly that she didn't have to wear a black robe.

As she neared the Great Lake, she began to become overly aware of a growing stench. A stench so vile, it would make a troll's breath smell like daffodils and daisies. Eva and Keelee ran up to her, holding their noses.

"Granger, you do NOT want to go that way!" Keelee announced. Her voice was distorted from the desire to not remove her hand from plugging her nose.

"Why? What is that smell?" Shyla was beginning to wish she hadn't been able to go outside today.

Eva scrunched her face in discontent. "Something died at the lake. Well, maybe not died, but it should be dead with that sort of stench coming from it. That giant oaf, whatever his name is, and Professor Lovegood are cleaning it up now. I dare say they better get a hurry on it. Malfoys have been attending Hogwarts for generations, and we should not be tormented with such smells."

Shyla smirked, "Yeah... about that... You know how I had detention today?"

Eva stared at Shyla with disbelief.

"What?" Keelee shouted, forgetting about her nose. "You caused this?"

Shyla smiled softly, "Well... yeah... The lake monster can't have dairy..."

"Why did you not invite us?" Eva accused.

Shyla shrugged. "I was trying to get the Weasleys to like me again." Before Eva could interrupt she continued, "But I am done with them! For good! I am completely ready to accept that I am not a Weasley, never was, and never will be."

Keelee hugged Shyla excitedly. "Yay! I am so glad you are over that! I like you too much to wish that upon you!"

The hug surprised Shyla, but she accepted it and smiled. She was happy to have made new friends, yet overwhelmingly sad that it took losing her best friend, and cousin, to get to be friends with Eva and Keelee. Plus, Eva was a Malfoy. Malfoys had power in their name throughout the wizarding world. It could prove to be handy. "So, what should we do now?" Shyla asked once Keelee released her from the hug.

Eva shrugged, "Quidditch tryouts for Slytherin are going on. We could go watch those?"

"Boys?" Keelee exclaimed, "Let's go!" Shyla nodded in agreement to the idea. Anything to get them away from the lake. A part of her thought she should go to the lake, and see if Hagrid and Luna needed any help. But a bigger part of her feared that they too would hate her.

At the Quidditch pitch, the girls sat in the stands and watched their housemates. They weren't the only girls watching the boys race on their brooms.

"I wish I could try out." Shyla said in passing. Not really meaning anyone else to hear. Growing up as an only child, she often said things aloud, which she only meant to think.

"You should." Eva said firmly.

"No! I'm a first year! Do they even allow first years to try out?" Shyla protested.

"Shyla, dear, you seem to forget who my father is. He is not only head of house, but also, a Malfoy. If I were to talk to him, he would be sure to give you a chance." Eva explained.

"Shy, you really should try out. Maybe it will help you figure out who your father is." Keelee encouraged.

Shyla didn't reply as she watched the young wizards flying on their brooms. 'It would be cool to play as a first year...' Shyla thought to herself.

"Professor Malfoy?" Shyla asked as she entered her head-of-house's office.

"Miss Granger, what can I do for you?" Malfoy replied, setting down his quill.

"I wanted to talk to you about playing Quidditch." Shyla stated firmly.

Malfoy eyed her carefully, "Typically first years don't make the team, or their head-of-house won't allow it."

"I watched the tryouts today, and I'm telling you, I am better than half of them! I know I can do well for the Slytherin team!" She argued.

Malfoy sighed, "I'm not sure. You've had a rough start this year. I think you should focus on staying out of trouble."

Shyla smirked, "That's just it." She explained as she sat across from his desk. "Being on the Quidditch team WILL keep me out of trouble. It will allow me to bond with my fellow Slytherins. I'll stop trying to hang out with Gryffindors. Plus, I will be so busy with practice and homework, that I won't have time to get in trouble!"

Malfoy laughed lightly and looked around his dimly lit office. "Look, I can't make any guarantees, but I will talk to Payton Jones. If he agrees to give a first year a try out, then you're on your own."

Shyla beamed. "Thank you! You won't regret this!" She stood up and headed for the door leading to the dungeon halls.

"Shyla?" Malfoy added, "Are you SURE you're even a Granger?"

She smiled and laughed a little, "That I know, at the very least, is true. Why?"

He shook his head, "You're just a lot different from your mother as a first year."

"I can only imagine."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review! (Please?) Oh, and if you missed it up top, I am looking for a new Beta Reader. PM me if you're interested! :D Thanks again!

~PurplePygmypuff