A/N: Excuse me, I just love Miles. I know you guys don't, but that's just because you haven't read my later chapters. I don't think there are going to be too many more O.C.s, there's already so many coming into the fic.
After making a fool out of herself in front of the entire school, Cory had trudged after her fellow Slytherins to their cold common room in the dungeons. The common room was freezing. After being grilled by Pansy and Millicent, who upon finding that she was really truly Hermione's sister completely rejected her, she trudged up to her dormitory, which, compared to the common room, wasn't so bad. The beds were four-poster, like in the Gryffindor's dorms. The floor had cozy green carpeting, and the furniture had exquisite sliver detailing that was barely noticeable, but added the nicest touch. Her bed was large, and when she pulled down the thick green and silver covers, she felt a rush of warmth float upwards.
'I didn't know that Martha Stewart made enchanted bed sheets.' she thought, as she revealed a tag on the edge of her covers and drifted off to a sleep full of conflicting dreams. There was something about the dream that was disturbing. A distant feeling, something split in half.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had watched Cory and Draco with all very different reactions. Hermione had watched, distress written all over her face as her mouth formed a perfect 'O'. Ron was pleased, for some reason, until Draco and Cory came back in. There was something not right with the way they moved. And Harry, well Harry had had too much shock for that night. Cristin Diggory... he didn't want to think about facing her. Not only that, but Cory in Slytherin? Slytherin wasn't good. Plus, Harry wasn't all that dull. He had noticed the bizarre differences in Ron's behaviour when Cory was around.
'Damn it all. I just want to sleep!!' he yelled mentally. 'I'll give Ron a pep talk tomorrow.'
At that moment, Hermione had just realised what happened.
'My sister is in SLYTHERIN!!' she thought, her mind racing frantically. She sat by herself, hidden from view by her majestic red curtains, and when she finally fell asleep, she dreamt of being stabbed by her twin.
Ron was in the toilet. He was staring in the mirror, trying to see right through his eyes and into his brains. Maybe he was paranoid, maybe he was a true Seer, but for some reason, Ron Weasley was positive that Draco Malfoy was in love with Cory. His Cory.
***Bright and Early The Next Morning***
The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all marched to the Great Hall like zombies. Hermione was haunted by her dreams, Ron had gotten around one hour of sleep, and Harry, well, Harry was actually feeling better.
'I'll just avoid her. That's right, I'll avoid Cristin Diggory if it's the last thing I do.' he thought reassuringly.
Cory woke up, got dressed, popped in her contacts, (two red 'X's") and started to walk towards the common room. Her dreams had been strange. They left a positive aura around her, but she couldn't remember them. She had just rounded a corner when she saw a small figure, sprawled out on the ground. Cory bent down, and turned the person over.
It was a small boy, a first or second year. He looked plain. The only thing that stuck out about him was his fetching chocolate brown hair. His face was dirty and there were streaks where tears had run down and dripped onto his robes.
"Are you okay? What happened?" demanded Cory.
The boy started to rock himself then stopped and asked "Do you ever feel like maybe you're not supposed to be here? And that maybe you should end it all?"
Cory was horrified. She had never, ever lost the will to live. "No." she answered firmly. "Come on, I'll help you get tidied up." Cory helped the boy up and led him to the toilets, where she fetched a fresh green towel and a sweet smelling bar of soap. The boy began to wash his face, pausing to sneeze every so often,
When he was done, he turned to Cory and said "Sorry about that. Next time you see me like that, you don't need to stop. It happens a lot. By the way, I'm Zack. And we're late for breakfast. And what's wrong with your eyes? And- shit, is this the girls toilets? I shouldn't be in here!"
Cory glanced at the magical clock on the wall. "Crap!! We've missed breakfast!!! And there's nothing wrong with my eyes. They're just red 'X's. And this is the same as the boys toilets."
The boy shrugged. They began to walk towards the Great Hall at a very fast pace. They finally got there, seeing that they were just finishing up.
"Zack. If I see you like that, I'll help you. And later you can tell me what happened, but now I have no time." Cory exclaimed breathlessly as she rushed to grab a piece of toast and a schedule. She examined the schedule while chewing her toast.
"Double potions with the Gryffindors first." she said to nobody in particular. A loud groan was heard behind her. She whipped around and smiled.
"Hello, Draco." she managed, gulping down her toast.
"Morning, Granger. What's wrong with your eyes?" he replied.
Cory shuddered. "No one has ever called me that before. Call me Cory. And there's nothing wrong with my eyes."
Draco sneered. "Fine."
Just then, Pansy Parkinson interrupted them. "Don't waste your time
on the mudblood, Draco. Let's just go to potions."
Draco craned his neck to look at Pansy. "Why would I listen to you? At least the mudblood has guts - and personality!"
"Hmph!!" snorted Pansy, and she backed away.
Cory felt her heart beat faster. "Thank you, Draco. But just for the record, I can take care of her myself."
Draco sneered again, but with a trace of a trace of a smile lingering on his pale lips. "We'll see."
They strolled to Potions, Cory becoming used to the cold dungeon atmosphere. She took a seat next to Draco, and out of no where, a large face surrounded by greasy hair appeared in front of her.
"Ack!!!" she shrieked.
"Calm down, Miss Granger. And what have you done with your eyes?" said Snape.
Cory recoiled. "Sorry, sir. And I like my eyes."
"Apology accepted, Miss Granger."
"Don't call my Miss Granger. It'll be too much like Hermione. Call me Miss Cory or something."
Snape's eyes narrowed. "Fine."
Draco had bee watching their exchange with a smirk.
Snape backed off, and Cory saw her sister, Harry and Ron come through the door. Ron and Hermione looked tired. Cory gave them a small smile, which they both ignored.
'I can't believe she's sitting with Draco Malfoy.' thought Ron sadly. 'This means war.'
The potions lesson began with a lecture. Then Snape ridiculed the Gryffindors, and all of the Slytherins laughed along, except of course, Cory.
When the lesson was over, Cory went to talk to Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
She got a wide smile from Harry, saying "Hey, Cory, how are you holding up?"
Ron gave a tight lipped smile that lasted for only three seconds. She searched his eyes, not knowing what could be wrong, as she hadn't known him for that long. They showed only hurt, and sadness. There was another feeling she could she detect, barely, what was it though? Was it- determination?
Hermione looked at Cory, and Cory had no idea what she thought either. You would think that 11 years together wouldn't be cancelled out by 4 years apart, but you would be wrong.
"We've got to get to Charms. Let's go." said Hermione, and the trio shuffled away, four feet leaden with uncontentment.
Cory caught up with the rest of the Slytherins, and tried to stick with them for the rest of the day, so she wouldn't get lost in the great jungle of a castle.
She sighed, as she sat down for supper. She sat next to two empty seats, and thought about her first day of school. Besides Potions, she had Defence with the Hufflepuffs and a free block. She had talked with Draco a bit, but she couldn't hold a conversation while his two brick walls of friends had stood behind him. Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, and the other Slytherin fifth year girl, Tish Grawet, had primarily ignored her. Altough, Cory had seen Tish giving her side glances throughout the day. Tish was really sweet-looking, something not common for a Slytherin. She had shoulder length orange hair, and brown eyes. She was rather tall, probably about 5'7. But, other then her looks, Cory didn't know anything about her.
Millicent and Pansy were extremely close, they gossiped and whispered non-stop. Tish, didn't speak much, she was a loner. She seemed very mysterious.
Cory sighed. She didn't know why Ron and Hermione were cold with her... well Hermione was probably angry with her for not being in Gryffindor. She had no idea what Ron was upset about- they were getting along so well. She would of poured over it in her mind if someone hadn't sat down next to her.
"Hi." said the person beside her.
Cory turned to look. "Oh, hi Zack. How was your first day?"
"Oh, same as last year. No, wait, last year, I don't think everyone hated
me quite as much."
"Oh, yes, I recall that you were going to tell me exactly why you were lying in the corridor in a boneless heap this morning."
Zack looked around to make sure that no one was watching, then whispered. "I don't belong here."
"If that's another suicidal thought, maybe I should make up an anti-depression potion..." said Cory.
"No! It's true! I shouldn't be telling you this...." Zack looked undecided, reluctant.
Cory's head was spinning. 'He's right, he shouldn't be telling me this... I don't know him, I don't want his damned problems, I've got my own....' To keep Zack from telling her, she made it impersonal.
"Why don't we start over? We'll introduce ourselves over, and pretend we just met. I'll forget about this morning." said Cory, because she really wanted to forget about that morning, it was just one other headache..
Zack looked surprised. "Oh, okay. I'm Zack Crabbe."
"I'm Coral. Coral Granger. Call me Cory. You wouldn't happen to be Vincent Crabbe's little brother, are you?"
"By blood, yes. But he's not much like a brother. He's tried to kill me more times then I can remember."
"Ha ha ha. Yeah, I know what that's like. Hermione has pulled some pranks in our time...." replied Cory laughingly.
"Who's joking?" demanded Zack.
Cory stopped laughing and began to eat, shovelling it in like there was no tomorrow. Zack laughed at her, Pansy and Millicent shot disgusted looks her way, and Draco helplessly gestured at Crabbe and Goyle, who were both eating just like Cory. Cory choked on her food, and began to chuckle at the thought of her eating like two huge guys. It was really funny, but I think that it was one of those 'You had to be there jokes.'
At that moment, Ron was staring at Cory, she was talking and laughing with those- those- Slytherins . Ron sighed. He was..... he was..... heartsick. And he had no idea what to do about it.
Hermione had decided to forget about Cory being put in Slytherin. Hermione was going to get the top marks, and she was going to date Harry, and she was going to hang out with Ron. And THAT was that. But was Hermione lying to herself? Only time will tell........
Harry- well Harry was in a good mood, for Harry. He was having no problems with Hermione, he didn't mind that Cory was in Slytherin, he hadn't heard from Voldemort, he already decided how he would deal with Cristin. Harry was a-okay. Oh-wait!
'Damn, I almost forgot about that talk I have to give to Ron." Harry thought. I'll do it tonight....
~*~Later that Night~*~
Harry was just about to fall asleep when he remembered that he had to talk to Ron.
'Crap, I have to get out of my cozy, warm, bed and go talk to Ron.' he thought.
He jumped out of bed, and looked around for Ron.
'He's probably brushing his teeth.' he thought, and wandered off to go look for Ron in the toilets.
He found him, sure enough, staring into a mirror.
"What are you doing?" asked Harry incrediously.
Ron jumped, and turned his gaze from the mirror to Harry.
"What do you want?" asked Ron.
"Look, Ron, this isn't easy to say. But, you seem to act different around Cory, and I think I know why." Harry said.
"You do?" asked Ron.
'Good, he can help me murder Draco Malfoy." thought Ron.
"Yes. You- er, you fancy her, don't you?" asked Harry.
"Could I be any more obvious? I can't believe that you're the only person that noticed." cried Ron.
"I don't think you're well, Ron. But, I was wondering if... this is very hard to say... but, do you need any... er- pointers?" demanded Harry slowly.
Ron eyes popped out of his skull. He looked mad. Harry was just backing away slowly, getting ready to run for his life, when Ron leaned against the wall, and slowly slid down. He rested his head in his arms, and said in a muffled voice. "I can't believe it's come to this. Alright Harry, you can give me some 'pointers'. But not now... I need to be alone."
Harry left the toilets thinking 'Poor Ron. He seems like such a pathetic loser. Hey, I know!! If Cory won't date him, I'll find someone who will!'
Harry went to sleep while comparing the different girls...
Dear PEEPS,
Hiya! Well, I guess that this chapter leaves you with a question... who
shall Harry fix Ron up with? Reveiw me and tell me your opinion. I will listen.... This letter is going to be short, so ta-ta. Oh, and this chapter is dedicated to my faithful reveiwers, and my beta-reader, Raina L., and J.K. Rowling, and my bud Sarah, oh, and Fallen*Angel, because she read my rambling letter about guy troubles. I got ICQ exactly one week ago. Here's my ICQ #: 119956840. Talk to me whenever you want, and send me your numbers. ^_^
Love,
Katy