Christmas:

When Christmas came around she realised Hermione had gone home for the holiday's and decided to owl the girl. She sat down at a desk in the library with her favourite quill and fresh parchment in front of her. She wrote an apology for how she had been acting since school started, and how she didn't like how Ronald was treating her. She also apologised for not making time to swap book reports, so included hers in the envelope when she sent the letter.

Hermione was sitting on her bed reading the book Draco's sister had gotten her before they started school, that's what she had become since they started school. The sister to the boy who called her mudblood any chance he got. She was now 12 and the rest of her classmates were 11, because she was born after September 1st. Her fingers were gently gliding over the pages in the book when she heard a tapping on her window and smiled seeing an owl. Putting her book aside she opened the window and gently took the letter from it's leg and thanked it, giving it some treats she had picked up after coming home for Christmas in case she got an owl. She noticed the owl didn't fly off straight away, so she opened the letter and smiled a little when she saw who it was from.

Dear Hermione,

I apologise for how I have been since we walked into the halls of Hogwarts, I just couldn't sit back and watch how Weasley was treating you. Being smart and wanting to know things isn't a bad thing, it can come in handy in moments of need.

I am also sorry that I never made time to swap reports with you on the Beginners Guide to Transfiguration that I got you during the summer, mine will be found in the envelope with this letter.

I'm not like my brother who always wants to impress our father, but it's hard to be friends with who you want when your family believes in blood purity…

You being a muggle-born doesn't change that I think you awesome and would like to be friends if I could.

Athena will be waiting for a reply, maybe the report as well?

See you after the new year.

Aquila D. Malfoy.

Hermione read the letter and part of her was starting to understand having been at Hogwarts for three months. She saw the divide between the houses and those who believed in blood purity and those who didn't. She smiled at the mention of the book report and quickly found her own report and folded it into the now empty envelope Aquila had sent her letter in, with a short note that simply said. 'I understand. We can talk at some point. H.G'

The first few months back at school Aquila would offer Hermione small smiles across the hall or in the corridors but would never actually get to speak to her. She had read the girls report and was so impressed she gave it to her aunt to look at, and she was impressed as well and admitted Hermione had given her a copy of the report, she had been given that Aquila had written. Apparently, they were similar with a few differences, but both understand the basics and principle behind the spells.

Aquila was slightly embarrassed that her report had been given to her aunt but she was glad to hear that Hermione and herself thought alike when it came to the subject they both excelled in. She had also backed off Ron slightly after the break but there was on day in Transfiguration where she couldn't hold it in any longer, and walked straight up to Ron with her wand pointed at him. "You better learn to keep your mouth shut, Weasley. Unless you wish to lose your tongue." Aquila threatened after she hear him talking about Hermione to another student about how annoying the girl was. She never threw a jix or a hex at the boy but he looked terrified and so she put her wand away, gave an apologetic look to Hermione and her aunt before grabbing her things and leaving.

That evening her aunt had invited her to her chambers for dinner instead of eating the great hall as she wanted to talk about what was going on as she knew Aquila wasn't one to get into trouble. The honey blonde girl knocked on her aunt's door and waited for the invitation to come in, once she did she entered with an apologetic smile. "Evening, Aunt 'Erva." She greeted softly as she hung up her cloak.

"Aquila, dear." Minerva smiled as she greeted the girl with a hug. "It's good to see you, now." She spoke slipping back into Professor McGonagall and Aquila knew she was in trouble. "What is this war going on between you and Mr Weasley?" She questioned with a raised brow.

The first year sighed and moved to sit down before she started to explain herself. "Ronald is always making fun of Hermione, calling her a know-it-all and the likes." She spoke calmly knowing how much of an idiot the youngest Weasley boy was. "All because she wants to know as much as she can." She sighed and pulled the slightly warn copy of her beginner guide to Transfiguration out of her bag. "I met her in Flourish & Blotts while doing school shopping." She smiled as she remembered knocking Hermione to the ground. "I got two copies of this one for her and one for I… I may have jokingly said we'd compare book reports on it when we start school but haven't had a moment to talk." She sighed now looking up at her aunt. "And with her being one of your lions, it doesn't help… And imagine what father would say or do if I became friends with a muggle-born."

Minerva listened to her niece speak and picked up the book with a smile, she had noticed Miss Granger with the same book, looking equally as worn as her nieces copy. It was the book Hermione reached for when her class work was complete, and her niece was the same. "You can always study together, being the top two students in my first years, I have a feeling only you two can keep each other on your toes in my subject." She suggested softly, it wouldn't completely keep Lucius silent on his daughter talking to someone lesser in his eyes, but Minerva would help where she could "And you cannot punish Mr Weasley for his actions, that duty lies with the teachers." She reminded before pulling her niece into a hug once more. "Just because you are a Slytherin does not mean you cannot be friends with a Gryffindor." She whispered placing a kiss to the girl's crown before pulling back. "I will talk to Miss Granger and Mr Weasley." She promised with a small smile.

Aquila smiled at her aunt and agreed with her evaluation of the situation, she would try to at least be able to study with Hermione, even if she couldn't become friends with the girl because of her family. "Thank you, Aunt 'Erva." She hugged her aunt back before putting her book back in her bag. "We should probably eat; I have a flying lesson tomorrow." Aquila cringed, as much as her aunt tried to get her on a broom, it was never easy.

"You will be a great flyer, if you relax." Minerva promised her niece softly. "I have a feeling Miss Granger share's your fear of your feet leaving the ground." She had noticed the cub's reaction when everyone was told when their first flying lesson would be.

That night Aquila ended up staying in the spare room in her aunt's chambers, she knew her brother knew where she was if he needed her, or he would go to Professor Snape and he would find her. The next morning Minerva had her elf retrieve fresh school robes and undergarments for her niece, along with the books she knew the girl would need for the day.

After making sure everything her niece needed was there, Minerva headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast, she would let Aquila sleep in a little longer. As she approached the hall she saw Severus and moved quickly towards him. "Severus, may I speak with you for a moment?" It wasn't really a question so he followed her into an empty room near by.

"What is this about, Minerva?" Severus questioned knowing it must be about one of his snakes, otherwise she would've gone to Dumbledore.

"Aquila slept in my chambers last night after I spoke to her about her reactions to Mr Weasley's actions." Minerva explained calmly. "If she had the tools to put him in the hospital wing, he would've been there by the end of my class." She clarified when he seemed to look confused.

Severus didn't really care that his goddaughter was picking on the youngest Weasley, and he didn't really care to know why, but as he stood there he had a feeling Minerva was going to tell him.

"She has been fighting with him every time he makes fun of Miss Granger." Minerva watched him closely as she said the name, wondering how he would react to Aquila defending a muggle-born. When she saw no reaction, she continued. "I have promised her I will talk to her, but I think it's time Mr Weasley ends up with detention for bullying." By this point she had a small smirk on her features. "Perhaps scrubbing cauldrons?" She offered.

"Why are you suddenly for me punishing one of your lions?" Severus questioned though he wouldn't mind supervising Mr Weasley's detentions. "You can't save Aquila at every turn, Minerva."

At this the head of Gryffindor house sighed. "It's not about saving my niece, Severus." She clipped. "It is about protecting the two smartest people in my class, one only trying to protect the other from someone who refuses to pick up a book and actually read it." She knew she shouldn't be talking about a student in such a way, but if Mr Weasley didn't pull up soon, he would fail his first year.

At this reason Severus just nodded and walked back towards the hall and sat down in his chair.

Aquila woke up and got ready for the day ahead, she had overheard Hermione and they boys and she called them in the library after the break talking about the Philosopher's stone, but she didn't tell anyone. She was tired of her brother going on and on about Potter like he had a crush on him or something, but she would never say that in front of anyone, it could end her brother and she didn't want that.

Instead she kept to herself, saying hello to Hermione here and there but not often enough that it became questionable. She had been to scared to ask if they could study together and as the year was coming to a close she hoped she would find some Gryffindor in her before it was too late.