Disclaimer: I do not own the plot, the world, the characters, or any other aspect of the series Harry Potter written by J.K. Rowling. I do copy exact words from "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and I admit I do not own the text.

This plotline was original but it falls in line with the plot line of the sixth book.

Chapter Ten

Unfriendly Encounter

"Hi," Sophia welcomed Draco as he walked by her seat.

"Hey," he smiled back. Sophia's heart fluttered and her stomach did a back flip. Draco still looked as unhealthy as ever, but at least he was a little more hopeful. Sophia just wishes that he won't lose that hope and give up again.

"Alright class," Professor McGonagall announced as she started class. Sophia tried to limit her day dreaming and focus on Transfiguration class, but she couldn't help herself. Every now and then she would think about Draco and contemplate another way to help him.

Class was dismissed and Sophia began gathering up her things as Draco approached her desk. His face scrunched up as he said to her, "I know I promised I wouldn't give up—"

"No!" Draco did not look taken aback, as a matter of fact, he seemed as though he expected this reaction. "Draco, no! You promised! And I'm not letting you give up," Sophia said determinedly.

"Ha ha!" He laughed, but Sophia only stood there baffled. "You're too easy to fool. You're no fun." Her face lit up with joy and she playfully slapped his arm. Ron Weasley walked by eyeing Draco with a look on his face that said 'What the blooming hell is wrong with you?' Draco immediately scowled at him and his face was serious once he turned to face Sophia again.

"People must be wondering why you're being so nice," she said, interrupting the silence. She still had the playful gleam in her eye.

"Yea, well it's none of their business," he muttered.

Sophia giggled at his sudden change in mood, and was no longer afraid of his abrupt temper. She knew that he wanted to come off as a 'tough guy' and couldn't do that if he was laughing with some Ravenclaw girl. She understood his insecurities, and that was her next goal before the end of the year; to abolish them.

"If it's that hard to fix the problem, then I'm going to help you."

"Your help is not needed."

"Well, I'm sick and tired of sitting around and doing nothing."

"You don't do 'nothing'. You help a lot."

"Yes, I help by blabbing constantly about persistence and not surrendering. What a big help that is," Sophia grumbled.

"You may not realize it, but you do help me Sophia," he said as the kindness filled his eyes once more. Sophia couldn't stop gazing into them. They weren't the usual cold, hard, dark gray they usually were. They were a lighter, softer tone of gray, reminding her of winter. The season the year was entering when they first met.

"Okay. As long as you say so, I trust you," a smile spreading across her blushed cheeks.

"That might not be the best thing," Draco mumbled.

"What?" Sophia had heard what he said, but didn't fully understand what he meant by it.

"It's alright. You have nothing to worry about." Sophia grinned. The room was completely empty now with the exception of Professor McGonagall sitting behind her desk. Draco continued on, "Alright I'm going to be late for class." He headed for the exit as Sophia said so that no one could hear but him,

"You're a lot nicer once ya get to know you." He was puzzled at this statement and Sophia couldn't decipher whether her comment made him thankful or regretful for being a good person. He said goodbye and walked out.

"Oh well, it was worth a try. He'll get used to it."

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Sophia's next class was not far from where she was, so she decided she had enough time to stop by the bathroom.

She left the stall and nearly skipped to the sink. Feeling cheerful was so much better than feeling miserable. She rubbed her hands, spreading the foamy soap everywhere, and submerged them underneath the hot water pouring from the spout. She was drying them just as she heard a light footstep on the tile floor. She glanced upwards into the mirror and saw Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode standing at the doorway.

As Sophia's eyes locked in place with Pansy's, she instantly felt as though she was reenacting Draco's encounter with Harry Potter. The only difference was that Harry had no intention of hurting Draco, he had merely been curious. Pansy, on the other hand, looked ready to kill Sophia.

"Oh hey Pansy!" Sophia said in her usual happy-go-lucky voice.

"Oh, shut it Dune." Pansy grimaced as she said Sophia's name.

"What do you want?" Sophia asked, trying with difficulty to stay calm.

"I think you know what I want," Pansy hissed. She reminded Sophia of Draco when he had been angry. Did all Slytherins hiss like that when they got frustrated?

"I'm afraid I don't." It was easier to stay calm all of a sudden. The thought of Draco had given Sophia more confidence. Pansy seemed so small and insignificant to her now.

"Don't be smart with me, Dune."

"My name is Sophia, Pansy." It was almost like a game to Sophia. She was enjoying mocking Pansy.

"Don't you talk to her like that," Millicent butt in. She had grown to be quite tall and still built strong. But Sophia still did not feel the least intimidated.

"I don't think I am talking offensively, Millicent. I am simply using your names." Sophia smirked. Pansy and Millicent were annoyed by Sophia's snide remarks, and looked as though they would kill her any second.

"He doesn't belong to you, Dune, so keep away," Pansy warned.

"May I ask who we are talking about?" Pansy's face turned a bright red.

"You know who the bloody hell we're talking about!" she shrieked.

"There's no need to shout Pansy."

"Quit it!" Millicent bellowed.

"Pansy, you speak of Draco as though he is a piece of property. He is his own person, and he doesn't belong to anyone. Especially to you." The next thing that happened was a blur to Sophia.

Pansy had had her wand in her hand but concealed beneath her cloak. She whipped it out and screamed, "Crucio!" Sophia instinctively dodged and fell to the floor. The spell hit the mirror and it broke into a million pieces.

"Bad luck for seven years!" Sophia howled, ridiculing Pansy. Why the bloody Merlin would Sophia be making sarcastic comments at a moment like this? She couldn't understand it herself.

She then realized that she had dodged Pansy's spell instead of taking out her wand and simply using—

"PROTEGO!" Sophia had shielded herself just in time. That was Pansy's second blast of the Cruciatus Curse, and Sophia had evaded the attack again.

"INCARCEROUS!" Pansy cried, and ropes appeared and were diving towards Sophia as she screamed once again,

"PROTEGO!" The ropes hit an invisible force and rebounded. They flew towards Millicent now, and she attempted to yell the protecting charm but was too slow. The ropes bound her and she crashed to the floor with a thunderous boom. With Pansy's attention now on the newly constrained Millicent, Sophia yelled,

"STUPEFY!" and it hit Pansy square in the face. She fell to the floor with a less deafening explosion, and was unconscious.

"Oops." Sophia stumbled upward and staggered forward to see the damage she had done. Millicent was struggling with the ropes that were in her mouth, preventing her from roaring at Sophia. Pansy lay there on the floor, her eyes frozen and vacant.

"My bad."