Prue left the note in front of Severus' door and made her way back to her room. On her way, she saw two boys talking. One had messy black hair and green eyes, and the other had blue eyes and red hair. She recognized them as Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.

"I heard another kid has to come to hogwarts. His parents got killed by deatheaters." said Ron

Harry shrugged.

"How old is he?"

"Just turned 8 last week. He's Emeralda Simpsons' brother."

"Emeralda from Slytherin?"

"Yep. Sucks, right? If we're going to have brats running around they might as well be Gryffindor brats."

Harry just sighed.

"Well, Malfoy's sister isn't too bad-"

"Are you bonkers?!" asked Ron, stopping in his tracks. " She isn't bad now but give her a few years. Trust me, she'll be just like her ferret brother."

Prue glared and took a deep breath, calming herself and fixing her face into a cool mask. She walked up, right next to Ron. He stared down at her.

"I think ferrets are cute. Especially snow-white ones." she said matter-a-factly "Are you implying that my brother is cute? Wouldn't that be a little...gender confused?"

Grinning, she walked away before he could reply, remembering to ask her brother about the boy they were talking about. Knowledge was power, after all.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Emeralda's brother arrived the next morning and took a seat with his sister, directly across from Draco and Prue. He had short, messy black hair, blue eyes and nerdy square glasses that were too big for his face. When he saw Prue he smiled and extended a hand.

"Hi, I'm Julian Simpson." he said.

Prue smiled and shook his hand.

"Prue Malfoy."

"I knew that," he replied. "My sister told me all about you."

Prue raised her eyebrows.

"Did she now? I've heard some interesting things about you too."

She watched, amused, as he gulped nervously and adjusted his glasses, eyes wide.

"What kinds of things? Anything-um-bad?"

"Oh, just the normal, 'the new kid's a half-vampire' stuff." she said casually "Why isn't your sister one?"

He eyed her suspiciously and adjusted his glasses again before speaking.

"We have different fathers. My father-the vampire-didn't want me. Half vampires aren't

like real one's. I can live without blood, but sometimes I crave it, like you might crave chocolate. Real vampires have to have human blood. .I guess I wasn't good enough for him. "

Prue offered him a sad smile.

"I can relate."

He returned the smile-the beginning of a brilliant friendship.

§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§

Draco turned to find his sister conversing with the new kid. After wondering briefly if she had any questionable motives,he reached for a chocolate muffin and bit in, feeling nervous. This was the day that he would ask Hermione out, and nothing would stop him. Not Pansy with her annoying obsession with him, not Crabbe and Goyle with their idiotic rambling -not the shameful fear

of rejection that he skillfully shoved into the dark corners of his mind. Nothing. His eyes wandered over to her and he was disgusted to find the Weasel's hands pulling on her shoulders for some reason. Rons' lips puckered and he realized, with a sneer, that the boy was trying to kiss her. The muffin dropped from his hand to his plate and he watched intently. So intently, in fact, that if everyone in the great hall was not looking at Hermione and Ron, they would have surely seen the obvious jealousy in the Malfoy's stormy grey eyes. Hermione shoved Ron away and Draco let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. A slight smirk graced his features as Hermione stood up, shoving her plate aside.

"How dare you!"

Her voice was dangerously quiet but everyone heard anyway.

"Mione," began Ron, standing up as well. "I broke up with Lavender. Isn't that what you wanted?

We can be together now."

Ron grabbed Hermione's hand but she snatched it away.

" Did you actually think that I was waiting for you? We are friends and I never want that to change!"

Rons' face was becoming as red as his hair.

"You fancy me, and it's obvious, so don't try to hide it."

Hermione rolled his eyes.

"No Ron, I fancied you. In 1st year, when I was eleven. By the beginning of 2nd year I couldn't even think about being more than friends."

"Well," said Ron through clenched teeth, "Think about it now because I wont just be your friend."

Hermione blinked at him.

'"Dating or nothing, is that it?"

"Yes, it is, so make your choice."

His blue eyes where burning with embarrassment and anger.

Hermione crossed her arms across her chest.

"Well then, Ronald, I guess this is goodbye."

With that she left the hall, leaving Ron gaping after her.

A/N: I''m sorry for not updating for so long. I hope you can forgive me! I can't decide something and I figured I'd ask your advice so...

Should Julian help Prue with

The 'baggage' that she has from being rejected by her parents

Helping Snape with his baby

Setting up Draco/Hermione

or

Nothing at all. Get him out of the story.