"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up."

It was the end of class and Harry and Ron were on their way to the Great Hall for dinner but I'd decided to stay back.

It felt a little like Harry and Ron were trying too hard to be nice to me, as if Hermione had told them to or something. But I didn't want them to try to make awkward small talk any longer than necessary. Besides, it was good for me to learn different ways through the castle.

Divination was certainly not my favourite subject. A waste of time to be honest – I didn't blame Hermione for dropping out when she did. If anything, I blame her for not dropping out sooner. But seeing as Divination was my only elective apart from Care of Magical Creatures, I knew I had to keep trying. Besides, it could be worse…

When I turned the next corner, I had to quickly throw myself to the right as a round faced boy flew around the corner.

"Neville?" I said in bewilderment. I had sat next to him in Divination and I had thought he'd followed Harry and Ron down to the Great Hall. But obviously not.

"Neville," I repeated. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you going down to the Great Hall with the others?"

"Why aren't you?" Neville asked.

I frowned slightly. "I'm going there now, is this not the right way?"

Neville stared at me curiously. "It's a way, but not the quickest... You were on the quicker path with Harry and Ron."

I shrugged. "I want the know different ways to get to places in case of an emergency or something."

Neville nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."

Hands on hips I raised a brow at Neville sceptically. "I've told you my reason. Now you tell me why you're here?"

Neville turned a slight shade of pink and he looked way embarrassed. "I – I was looking for you. I'd thought you were lost being new and all…"

I chuckled at his expression. "Thanks, Neville. You're welcome to walk with me there if you'd like."

"Thanks Lean," he smiled weakly. The two of us walked through the corridors, bonding over the insane amount of homework Professor Trelawney had set us.

We were still on that subject when we appeared at the top of the marble staircase leading down into the crowded Entrance Hall where everyone was queuing for dinner.

We were about to start descending when very loud bangs, followed by an even louder roar, caused us to freeze in our tracks. "OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE."

"Is that Professor Moody?" Neville whispered to me but I didn't reply. For I'd just noticed what all the commotion was about.

Moody's wand was out and pointing directly at… a white ferret? I had to blink a couple times to make sure I wasn't seeing things. But judging from the rigid atmosphere and familiar faces of the shocked people standing around the little animal, not only did I know that ferret was a student, but I also knew which student.

"Draco," I breathed quietly.

"Draco?" Neville asked in surprise. "As in your Draco Malfoy? Is he that ferret?"

I didn't answer and instead rushed down the stairs, ignoring the fact that everyone else was standing as still as statues.

I was nearly to the group when Moody suddenly cried, "LEAVE IT!"

It seemed Crabbe had tried to pick up the ferret, though how Moody knew that was beyond me as he was facing the opposite direction. But when the teacher turned and started limping towards them, I was hit with a very possible theory. Could his eye really see through the back of his head?

"I don't think so," Moody growled when the ferret attempted to escape for the dungeon. I clasped my hands over my mouth as I watched my brother bounce up and down.

I just stood there helplessly, until the squeaking of pain brought me back to my senses.

"Hey," I said, putting on a brave face. "You can't do that to him."

But Moody only bounced the helpless little ferret higher and higher. "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned. Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do…"

"I don't care, that's my brother." And before I knew what I was doing, I'd pointed my own wand at my teacher.

I hadn't been at the school long, but I learned quite a few handy spells from my grandfather. "Expelliarm—"

But before I could finish my spell, Moody had turned his wand on me. It flew out of my grasp and Moody caught it in his free hand. With my wand now pointing at me, all I could do was watch in fury as this man turned his wand back to the ferret and continued to throw him against the floor. With his magical eye remaining on the ferret, he stared at me with an expression that made me feel more scared than I'd ever been in my entire life.

"How dare you try to attack a teacher!" He shouted. "Let me make sure you never do that again!"

But before I could face whatever horrible punishment Moody had in store for me, McGonagall's shocked voice came from the staircase. "Professor Moody!"

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said Moody calmly.

"What – what are you doing?"

"Teaching."

"Teach — Moody, is that a student?"

"Yep."

"No!" McGonagall rushed down the rest of the stairs and pointed her own wand at Draco.

Moments later, Draco reappeared, his white-blond hair all over his pink face. He winced as he got to his feet.

"Are you alright," I asked my brother quietly as McGonagall lectured Moody about appropriate punishments. But Draco only ignored me.

I couldn't help feel a little hurt by that. I was the only one who had bothered to try stand up for him, not even his friends cared. I defended him even after what happened earlier today when I'd decided to pretend he didn't exist. I had defended him and he couldn't even acknowledge it!

Furious, I spun around sharply, flicking my long hair behind me, I tried to concentrate on what the professors were saying.

"We give detentions, Moody!" McGonagall was shrieking. "Or speak to the offender's Head of house!"

"I'll do that, then," Moody snarled, staring at Draco with a look of disgust.

"My father will hear about this," Draco muttered, almost indistinguishably.

"Oh yeah?" said Moody quietly. "Well, I know your father of old, boy... you tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son... you tell him that from me... now, your Head of house'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes."

"Another old friend," Moody growled. "I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape... and you!" He spat venomously at me.

"I'll talk to Miss Malfoy," McGonagall interjected before Moody could say anything else.

"Very well," Moody snarled before limping off towards the dungeons with Draco's upper arm seized tightly in his grip.

As everyone else cleared out, I remained behind as McGonagall pointed her wand at her fallen books.

"What happened?" She said once the rest of the students had started up excited conversation.

So I told her the truth as she nodded along thoughtfully.

"Very well," she said once I was done. "You may go now."

I blinked in surprise. Moody was right. I did just attempt to attack a teacher. Surely I was going to receive some punishment. "That's it?"

McGonagall looked at me with a look I'd never seen before. Was it… admiration? "I'm not going to punish you Miss Malfoy," she said. "You were only trying to defend your family – just like a true Gryffindor. However, if you do pull something like that again, I will have no choice but to give you several weeks worth of detention."

"Understood," I said, before walking off towards the Great Hall.

"One last thing," McGonagall called out from behind me. "If Professor Moody asks, tell him I gave you a detention for Friday evening. We don't want any more ferrets on our hands…"

Her voice trailed off as she walked away. I grinned at the thought. Draco's my brother so I had reacted instinctively, but now that I was back to hating Draco more than ever, this whole ferret thing was actually rather amusing...

I couln't wipe off my smile as I walked into the Great Hall with the rest of my peers. It was still my first day and already I'd experienced more excitement than I ever did in all my fourteen years of life.