Chapter 2

Ryann had been slightly afraid, walking into that room full of her fellow students. She had never really had to deal with other children – her parents had always had a separate tutor for her. The only person of her own age that she could ever remember having dealt with was Draco Malfoy. And who knew what had happened to him…not that she cared. Of course not. She was aloof, detached, and kind only to those that were kind to her. And fiercely loyal to those that had accepted her.

Even from the first, she had known Harry Potter was someone she would get along with. Who hadn't heard of him? Poor kid, she had always thought. Who would possibly want that much publicity because you lost your family and happened to be as brave as the parents you can't remember. It was a bit of a shock, however, when Hagrid had come to save her and Ms. Emanon, Harry had been with him. It seemed that the Dark Lord Voldemort had been keeping a watch on Harry while his minions had been at her house, killing her parents. Ryan quickly shoved this thought from her head, and fought the tears that threatened to show the world that she, Ryann West, actually showed her feelings.

The library was nearly empty as she walked in and sat down next to Hermione. Yes Hermione was such a comforting person, always ready with a practical answer. But obviously had a huge crush on Ron, although Ryann wasn't about to be rude and air this observation to the group of the eternally oblivious.

This thought made her smile a bit as she pulled out her Potions homework. According to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, it wasn't normal for classes like Potions, or any class in general, to be solely one house. But scheduling had been a bit off due to someone hacking into the teacher's grading system. Soon, all too soon claimed everyone, the classes would be inter-house.

Presently Harry and Ron joined the two girls and they got down to studying. Ryann remembered that she had left a book on one of the bookshelves, so she got up to get it. Secretly, Ryann hoped that Ron would get the message and take the seat next to Hermione, but that was probably too much to ask.

As Ryann walked back to the table, absorbed in her book, she heard escalating voices, and as she got closer, she heard exactly what they were saying:

"Just leave her alone you great prat!" exclaimed Ron.

"I think Granger can speak for herself, don't you?" said a deep, manly, arrogant voice full of malice and some sort of deep-seated hatred. "Now, Granger, tell me. Is it true that even a Mudblood would turn up her nose at the Weasley abode? I hear it's quite a sight to behold – gnomes all over the place, dirt everywhere…"

Obviously, this speaker intended to continue this list of imagined problems with Ron's home. But Ryann would not stand for anyone treating her friends like this.

"Excuse me, you great ass, but you happen to be in my way. Move unless you would like your face rearranged." Ryann said quite calmly, not looking this intruder in the face. To Hermione and Ron she said "Are you guys alright? And who is this prick?"

"O dear," said that ever present and obnoxious voice. "Has Potter donated more money to the Weasley cause? We all know all of your winnings went to their clothes, but now hiring a bodyguard? And a pintsized one at that. Shame…shame. Figures, stupid Mud blood…"

At that name, Ryann began to quite honestly see red.

"And just who do you think you are, you filthy…Draco?"

O god, its Draco Malfoy. At Hogwarts. Ryann's thoughts a jumble, she was completely panicked. And he really did end up exactly like his father. O god. What do I do now?

"Ryann"

All Draco could say was Ryann. O god, what she must think of him. Wait a minute. This is just another girl. So what if we grew up together. Malfoys don't care what women think of them. Any woman. Not even if he had known her most of his life. Not even if she had great, accusing, beautiful green eyes. 

"And what do you want, o protector of all that is good and bashful and can't stand up for themselves?"

Damn you Malfoy, she thought. What has your father done to you?

"Draco," she said, looking so lost and confused. " What are you doing? What has happened to you?"

"If I had the faintest idea of what you are talking about, I would be able to answer."

Draco had a way of saying things that made whomever it was directed at feel absolutely ridiculous. But he had neglected to remember that this girl was not one to back down at a challenge. Draco saw that glint in her eye, and the memory of that look just before she knocked him down to wrestle him for the last Chocolate Frog made him catch his breath.

"Well Draco, I can see that you have ended up just like your father. Congratulations."

"Why thank you."

       Ryann could not believe this was the little boy she had grown up with. Her disappointment was so much that she could feel her eyes fill. She tried to turn away from Draco, but not quite in time. Those tear-filled eyes simply made Draco want to grab her and hug her, as the old – Draco would have. But he had a reputation to protect now

Ryann ran away to hide in the comfort of her dormitory, away from the prying eyes of her new friends, and those dreadful gray holes, that once had been great pools of light, which now occupied Draco's eyes.

Later, although still too soon for that ache in her heart, Hermione came in to find out the answers to the questions that everyone had been waiting to ask.

"Ryann, are you alright honey?"

"I'm as fine as can be expected at the moment. How are you?"

This biting sarcasm didn't bother Hermione a whit. She knew that this cynicism was only Ryann's way of avoiding her feelings, and Hermione was determined to find out exactly what had been going on behind the scenes.

"So, you are probably here hoping to gracefully glide into making me give you an explanation" Ryann said, not as a question, but as a statement of fact.

Hermione was just nice enough to look down and blush a little, but she really did want to know the story.

"Well, Ry, you have to admit that it IS quite confusing, you and Draco having a conversation and all that. I mean, how do YOU know Lucius Malfoy? I thought you were from America."

"Well," Ryann said. " You had better get comfortable, because this will almost certainly take a little while."

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