Thanks to Amnestria (i feel i should know that name from somewhere)
and to everyone else that commented :) heres several chapters in a
row because im lazy and dont want to do it later !




She had been so tired last night that moving into the dormitory
that Hermoine had indicated had been almost beyond her comprehension.
It had a wide window showing the moon in its final quarter, a day or so
before fullness and a view into the forest.

That forest had called to her like a song. She pushed it down and got up.
She had slept nude, night things would be a priority. Today she had free,
her education had been extensive they weren't all that sure what she'd
want to study.

She slipped on the robe that had been cleaned for her over night and
looked over at the other bed. The brown haired girl, Hermoine, was
sleeping there, she looked out of the window. Today it showed the
forest as a layer of green deepening towards the centre. She slipped
the window open and sat looking out, wondering at the daylight. The
sheer safety of being able to sit there and wonder.

Time passed and she was startled enough to jump when a hand touched her
shoulder.

"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump, it's just I've got potions now, and
I wondered if you were coming"

She looked into the girls quiet eyes and let the half smile form on her
face.

"Of course, lead on"

Looking out she noticed that the sun was almost two fingers away from
the horizon, seven am.

"Before breakfast?"

Hermoine nodded.

"Some of the stuff we work on is disgusting, that and having to share
with the Slytherins, some of them would make you sick for fun"

Her smile deepened at the edges and she slid from the window ledge,
these Slytherins sounded interested, the girls tone sounded almost
confounded, as if she couldn't understand meanness of spirit. That sealed
it.

"Call me Ama"

The girls head went to one side, it was a birdlike movement and
surprisingly sweet.

"Thank you"

Her own startlement must have showed because Hermoine spoke again.

"I heard you speak to Harry last night"

There was friendship in the other boys name but nothing else, which was
a relief because his voice had held the same for her, heartbreak was
painful to be around.

She moved towards the door and slid her arm into the crook of Hermoines

"Come on then, lets move, I'd hate to make you late, wouldn't do to upset
teacher now would it?"

***

The sound of combined laughter echoed into the dungeon potions class
and caused just about everybody's heads to turn. Hermoine being late
for anything was enough to start whispers to hear her laughing while
Snape's face was like that was almost to hear the points disappearing
from Gryffindor in tens.

She walked in accompanied by Ama, seeing Snape's face, Hermoine went
silent and stopped dead. The silver haired girl didn't seem to notice
until the silence almost echoed and then she looked up.

And smiled.

It was a stunning display, she made an odd little half bow and then
spoke.

"I must apologise for our lateness, Miss Granger was showing me the
way here, i also overslept"

Snape's face stayed almost rigid but Harry was almost sure her saw a
smile in his eyes.

"Very well, Miss Granger to your seat, A..Miss Draconis sit with her,
I'm sure you'll be of some help to each other"

Another short bow and she slid into a seat between him and Hermoine,
she was either brave or crazy, or she knew something her didn't. Ah well
too late to worry about it now, today was assignments day.

"I want a 10 yard parchment essay on poisons uses and distillations by
next lesson, you may have today's lesson in the library"

He felt his eyes widen and saw his dismay mirrored on every face, except
Ama's she seemed almost calm. Hermoines eyes were a little wide but she
was gathering her things to go.

Something was puzzling him, then it struck him as if he'd been given a
little push.

"You don't have a bag"

Ama looked up at him, those dark eyes sparked a laugh as they waited for
Ron.

"No when running for ones life one tends not to pack these things"

He rolled his eyes as she waved a hand in mock regret, when Ron joined
them they made quick tracks to the library.

Ama had stopped in the doorway and was looking around, she was
impressed it was obvious and it sent a little glow shooting through
him. Hogwarts was the best place going, it was good that other people
recognised it as much as he did.

"Didn't your school have a big library then?"

He winced at Ron's question from the desk near one of the windows,
sometimes he really reminded him of Fred and George, no tact. She'd
moved with a quick flowing motion to the window and perched herself on
the edge of it for a moment before turning to answer.

"No"

Seeing Ron's mouth open to question further he butted in with a
question of his own.

"What books are you going to use to do the essay?"

Her eyes were away from him still looking out of the window.

"I'm not"

He saw Hermoines eyes widen in shocked surprise before she spoke
in a hushed whisper.

"You're not going to do the essay"

A wry chuckle but it sounded rusty as if laughter hadn't been part of
her life for a long time.

"Of course, but I'll do it out of my head, potions of this kind tend
to stick in my memory."

Potions of this kind, that was an odd phrase what did she mean.... He
heard a shifting on the wood floor beside him and turned. Draco Malfoy
was standing there, watching Ama's back, his eyes held the oddest
expression of mingled pain, and, it couldn't be longing. He opened his
mouth to speak but Malfoy beat him to it.

"Amaris"

That one word betrayed that final emotion, it softened his voice from its
normal hauteur and made it ever so slightly husky. He saw Hermoine jump
and Ron was glaring, but it was Ama who drew his attention, a shiver had
run up her spine and then she turned.

The first real smile he had seen was on her face, softening all of the
harsh angles of her face and lightening those bruised eyes.

"Draco, it's been a long time"

He felt the startlement that must have flashed across his face as she
extended both hands to Malfoy who crossed the space in three wolf
quick strides and bending at the waist raised them to his lips.

After that he took one step back and smiled, an oddly confused half
smile

"Only nine years Amaris, what's that between friends"

She laughed an easy laugh and her eyes were soft enough to say that she
meant it.

"Nothing, nothing at all"

As if she'd answered a question he nodded and was gone again, it was
uncanny how quietly Malfoy could move but he could see the questions
written on his friends faces and decided to ask the pertinent one for
all of them

"You know Draco Malfoy?"