I before You

Should only be

Found within the alphabet

The students had been allowed off campus for the weekend, to purchase last minute school supplies and prepare for the upcoming Back to School dance.

Sheranaqua had many books to pick up, now that her course schedule had been established. She needed not only the books for the year, but supplementary texts reviewing most of the subjects, and basic magic primers. Getting used to standard 'spells' was going to be difficult.

Once ordering her purchases, she raced to Allastaire's as quickly as she reasonably could. Harry had mentioned he might drop by for new dress robes, as had some of the wealthier students once Draco had promoted the shop. Malkin's was still the standard destination, but Allastaire was quite content that word was spreading and the early school year boom in business among the more prestigious families.

"Good afternoon." Hermione was the one to greet her as she walked in the door. She looked a bit bored. Harry seemed to be struck in conversation with Allastaire, and Ron was nowhere to be seen.

Sheranaqua was a little disappointed that Harry had not come alone, she would have liked to converse with him without so many people around. Still, Hermione wasn't all bad, and at least she was getting to see her brother outside of school.

"Right on time." Allastaire beamed. "Harry, Sheranaqua is my best custom work tailor. If you need a dress robe, she's the girl for you." He leaned down to whisper conspiratorially. "She can make very special orders you know. I have sample pictures if you would like to see-"

"What?" Sheranaqua fought back the urge to hex her boss and marched over to him, taking him aside and grabbing the papers from his hand. Glancing down at them, she blushed crimson before wadding them away. "You took pictures of those?"

"All in the name of business!" Allastaire insisted.

"I did not even know what I was making!" She whispered coarsely, trying not to display her inner shudder. She hadn't then, but Sleeper had explained rather dispassionately what each of the additions she had made for Lucius had been for, and even offered to show her some mageos of similar devices in 'action'. She had declined. "I am not making anything like that ever again."

Allastaire tried to soothe her, seeing future profits go down the drain. He decided not to mention the many copies he had of the photos. "Why don't we just take it case by case? Anyways-" He turned back to Harry. "Are you in need of a robe today?"

Harry looked up. "I was thinking about it, actually. I really like some of the ones on display here."

"Which ones, in particular?" Sheranaqua swept him off around the shop, taking notes on the tailoring he liked and the colors. She had learned from Allastaire that merely 'assuming' a purchase would be made, and being over-accommodating, often led to a purchase with the people who just came in to look. In this case, her motives were not particularly sales related. The things people liked often told a great deal about their personality.

In Harry's case, he actually preferred russets and bronze over red and gold, so she didn't have to worry about making robes in garish Gryffindor boldness. He also liked subtle lines, rich textures, and darker colors – including a brilliant hunter green that matched his eyes.

Delighted, she showed him around quite a bit more than the usual customer before setting to work.

The Back to School dance started excitedly, students anticipating the final announcement of the chosen fifteen students at eleven. Draco entered with Sheranaqua possessively, despite her protests that she was not there as his 'date', and was only accompanying him as a friend. She planned to dance with all her friends. Still, she took the corsage he had given her with more than a light blush.

Draco planned to keep her as much to himself as possible. The pair turned all eyes when they entered. Draco, in his green Slytherin robes, knew he was imposing and would be the envy of his house. The snake hissed at other students on the stairs, until they scrambled to make room for him and Sheranaqua. Her ball gown took up a bit of space of its own, in some robin's egg blue color that his mom was said was popular among younger witches.

His dad was probably going to go ballistic when he found out that he had attended with a Gryffindor. Draco would probably have to find someway to word it to make it seem like he was toying with her, and then it might go over well.

"Simply delightful." Dumbledore pointed to the couple from the teacher's table. "Don't you think so Severus?"

Snape, who had caused quite a few murmurs himself upon entering in his own new dress robes with their strange runes, did not find it delightful in the slightest to see her hanging on the arm of a Malfoy, even if it was Draco. It could have been worse; she could have been with Ron, who was currently showing off his robes and the never ending quidditch game.

"She's lovely." Snape conceded, refusing to comment on the couple themselves. With her hair caught up in a tiara that almost appeared to be set with real sapphires - perhaps it was - the shape of her face could clearly be seen. It had to be the jawline and neck that made her look so much like Lily, and the shape of her eyes, if not the color. The pout of her lips, perhaps, when she smiled. Certainly her nose was all wrong, and Lily's hair had been much more golden when she was young.

Snape noticed that Dumbledore had noticed he was staring, and so shifted his attention to Hermione, who was coming down the stairs with Fred and George. The know-it-all looked rather decent in a shimmering violet, and he held out sudden hopes that she might actually realize she was female and not a walking textbook someday.

Realizing this was little better a train of thought, he refocused his attention on (safely not-jail-bait or hormone inspiring) Dumbledore's eyebrows.

Harry and Ron met Hermione at the foot of the stairs, the group casting nervous glances at Sheranaqua and Draco. Before Sheranaqua could remind Ron of their dance later, Draco knelt before her.

"May I have this dance, milady?"

"Of course." She agreed, and was swept off by him to the dance floor. It was a good thing that Draco led very well, as she had had very few dance lessons with Sleeper, and only Draco's assured steps and guiding hand kept her from making a serious blunder.

Several teachers came out onto the floor to join the waltz, and though Snape danced with no one, Sheranaqua was painfully aware of her father's eyes piercing her back every so often.

The waltz finally ended, and a pop music slow song coming on. Draco would not let her go, so she kept dancing with him.

"You dance beautifully." He murmured near her neck.

"You dance very well, also." Sheranaqua responded shyly. As they did a normal teen dance, which was little more than rocking back and forth, most of the students came back onto the floor. The next song was barely danceable; she wished they would stick to the older music.

"Say, you wanna get some air?" Draco grinned with a twinkle in his eye.

"Not really, I am fine."

Draco hugged closer to her. "All right, maybe later. But don't you find it hot and stuffy in here?" He tried again.

"Only a little, but it is a dance. Oh look, there is Janet." Sheranaqua nudged her head in the direction of the bratty Slytherin girl, who was headed their way.

"Well, isn't this cozy". Janet pursed her lips and stared at the two. "Draco, you've changed." Janet stalked off in her low cut red slinky dress.

"You want to take that fresh air now?" Draco offered.

"I guess." She let him lead her out onto the terrace, away from the crowd. Fortunately, no one followed. The balcony was empty, as it was early in the dance, and Sheranaqua went over to lean against the railing. A flower garden halfheartedly bloomed below them, the flowers wilted with the September heat.

"Refreshio, CLImatae". She absentmindedly caused a bunch of the roses and morning glories to shoot up from below them and trail up to around the rails of the terrace.

Draco whistled. "Do you just do random things like that all the time."

"I am not really supposed to. I just do it to annoy Slee-" She trailed off as one of the roses turned into a very angry face. "Never mind."

Draco stared at her, bemused. "Well, it must be a nice to have all those tricks up your sleeve.

"It can come in handy."

Draco came beside her and placed his hand on her back. He leaned over and whispered into her ear. "I think the flowers are kind of romantic. Full moon, roses, you."

Sheranaqua pulled away, fighting a blush. "Draco, we are just friends."

He grabbed her hand. "But don't you feel it? It's like we're connected somehow. You're not like other girls around here. You're smart, sweet, mysterious – powerful."

"Draco." Sheranaqua looked at him seriously. "I am unsure how to respond."

"I'm just asking you to hear me out. I like you, and I am happy being friends with you, but I feel some how that we are closer than that." He reached out to touch her face.

"Draco, I have never dealt with anything like this before." She fingered her cheek where his fingers had briefly connected, her composure failing. She was not used to being touched in that way.

"Then don't worry about it. You don't deal with love, you accept it."

Sheranaqua shook her head. "I don't think this is love."

"How can you be sure?" He stepped closer to her, trapping her against the railing.

Sheranaqua could smell his cologne, she felt his presence, she even felt her blood heating up. But love? This didn't seem at all what she had thought love was supposed to be like.

"No Draco". She whispered. "I really do like you, but I've only known you a couple of weeks."

"Sheran, Sheran, my heart is telling me that you're the one. I know it is crazy and strange, new and frightening, but please, I just have this feeling burning inside me that tells me you're the one." He reached up both hands to cup her chin.

"No Draco, please stop". She could only stand there, repeating the same words and waiting for time to wrench the situation from her grasp.

He ignored her and leaned forward. "Just relax."

"No!"

He paused. "It will be all right." Draco wrapped his arms around Sheranaqua, holding her until her tension lessened and she began to melt. At the opportune moment, he moved in to kiss her.

A silver flame flashed.

Draco jumped back and placed his hand on his seared mouth. "Gees, what did you do?"

Sheranaqua looked at the wound in shock, "I did tell you no -"

Draco felt the reaches and texture of the burn. "It's like the one Snape had, isn't it?" Draco voiced softly, coming to the exact thought that was running through her mind. "Was Janet right?" He continued, louder, "Does Snape have something for you?"

"Hold still and quit talking." She held her hand up to his lips, healing the burn. "And do not say silly things." She looked over the railing at the flowers.

"You know, I don't get you, Sheran. You would have to be the wierdest person I have ever met." Draco curled his fists. Every girl at the school wanted him, but right now, he wanted her. How would he explain this to his dad? Actually rejected by a Gryffindor? Was there really something between her and Snape? "I've had enough." Draco stalked off angrily, the snake on his robe hissing in agreement with him.

Sheranaqua turned to look back over the balcony. She stared at the flowers she had grown. "Is this what you sent me here for, Sleeper? To make a fool of myself? So you could laugh at me?" The morning glories had no answer.

"I wouldn't judge yourself that harshly. You handled yourself well." Sheranaqua froze to the second hand on her shoulder that day.

"Mr. Snape". She said without turning.

"Draco overstepped his bounds." He looked at the moonlight glancing against the nape of her neck, highlighting little curls that rebelliously clung to her smooth skin.

Severus was quite aware of his proximity to the girl, and it was only his professional dignity that allowed him to walk away without trying to accomplish what Draco had failed to do.

Sheranaqua felt the heavy silence. "Sleeper. You could at least give me some feedback." A face appeared in one of the roses.

"This is your dilemma." The Sleeper's face vanished.

Sheranaqua stood silent. One way or another, she was going to have major problems.

Sheranaqua came shakily back to the dance ten minutes later. Allowing herself to be swept off by one boy after another, she tried to assimilate the frenzied emotions rushing through her head. She had seen no one but Sleeper for five years, and then she had come to Diagon Alley and Hogwarts. She had much to learn.

A frenzied hush fell over the hall. Dumbledore walked happily up to the podium.

"Welcome. I hope you're all enjoying Hogwarts so far this year." A few cheers rang out in the crowd.

"Now I am sure all you fifth years and above are quite anxious to hear the lucky chosen fifteen." This time the cheers went up to the magical roof.

"Now we need to keep this short. Those chosen will go to Beauxbatons next week for the Goblet of Fire ritual. I would like the floor cleared, and when I call your name step forward."

Everyone scrambled to the sidelines, anticipating the announcement.

"It was very hard to decide, but we have chosen four fifth years, five sixth years, and six seventh years. I would like these students to now come forward, and please hold your applause:

Frida Anders, Hufflepuff, seventh year

Grund Hoffmen, Slytherin, seventh year

Amanda Jackson, Ravenclaw, seventh year

Ronald Paladin, Ravenclaw, seventh year

Percy Weasley, Gryffindor, seventh year

Savannah Xenith, Slytherin, seventh year

Chi Bellings, Ravenclaw, sixth year

Emmet Burns, Hufflepuff, sixth year

Tina Platte, Ravenclaw, sixth year

Fiona Vixen, Slytherin, sixth year

Fred Weasley, Gryffindor, sixth year

Hermione Granger, Gryffindor, fifth year

Draco Malfoy, Slytherin, fifth year

Harry Potter, Gryffindor, fifth year

Sheranaqua Smith, Gryffindor, fifth year

The lucky students stepped forward, chatting anxiously. The unlucky ones muttered. No one had any clue as to how Fred had managed to get onto the list, and the sixth years were muttering about his appointment.

Sheranaqua found herself standing near Draco, with only Harry between them.

"Congratulations you guys."

"Thanks." Hermione and Harry said in unison.

"Whatever". Draco snubbed her off, still mad.

Fred squeezed near them. "Can you believe I got in?"

"Not really, but it's neat that you did." Hermione teased him.

The teachers handed the chosen students details on the trip to Beauxbatons and the ceremony, and then the dance resumed in a flurry of well-wishing.

George came up, both awe struck and annoyed. "Fred, how did you get in when I didn't?"

"Just lucky I guess. So, next week we all get to go to Beauxbatons."

"Seems that way. Wow. I bet one of us will get picked." Harry excitedly predicted.

"Don't count on it, Potter." Draco walked by the group and sneered, avoiding Sheranaqua's gaze. "I intend to make sure that Slytherin reclaims its rightful place this year, and the name of Gryffindor is forgotten."

"Go away Malfoy. You only got picked because you are Snape's favorite. Teacher's pet!" George shot back.

"What is with this last name thing?" Sheranaqua interjected. "Quit trying to goad each other. You will not know who is chosen until next week." She touched her necklace, but doubted it's influence could cut through the negative feelings in the room.

"No one asked you." Fred humphed.

Draco looked the group over and smiled evilly. "I am not Snape's pet, Fred, didn't you realize Sheran is? No matter, may the best wizard win."

Sheranaqua really wanted to slap him. Why was his behavior so different around the group? Why were people so strange?