Brigitte-Thanks for the review!

Mirandak-Thanks for the hints! I was going to elaborate on other things and you'll find out why she came off as so perfect later on....if all goes to plan....

A/N: I made a slight year error, Estella would be in her sixth year not fifth.....same for Wood, if I said differently...and Fred and George in fourth and Harry in second.....

Chapter 3-Family Ties

Estella was finished with her dinner and was about to leave the table with Fred (so as not to get lost) when a hand grabbed her shoulder.

"Well, well, who do we have here?" a voice said.

"Oh, bloody hell," Estella muttered to herself, "Draco Malfoy," she said turning to face the boy behind her, "I was wondering when I'd see your, erm, smiling face."

"Didn't think you could avoid me, did you, Estella?" Draco asked, smirking.

"That would be too sweet a dream," Estella said as she stood to leave.

"Estella!" Fred called, "Come with us or you'll get lost!"

"Coming!" Estella called after him and made to leave but then felt an arm grab hers.

"Associating yourself with Weasleys? I thought you were above that, Estella," said Draco with yet another trademark smirk, "I guess surrounding yourself with those French people really screwed up your mind, eh?"

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Estella said, scoffing.

"Best comeback you have?"

"I don't think you're worthy of me using my brain to think of an intelligent insult" Estella then turned to leave and quickly found Fred and George who were walking with Oliver.

"Well, I see you've met the school git," Fred said looking around for nothing in particular.

"Met? I've known him my whole life, slimy little git that Malfoy," Estella said as she thought back to those times at Malfoy Manor.

"You've known him your whole life?" George asked with a look of concern on his face.

"Yeah, he's my cousin," Estella said wondering why they found her knowing Draco so bewildering.

"Cousin? He is your cousin?" Fred asked gaping.

"Erm, yeah, the bane of my blood. Now, if you'd kindly stop gaping I'd really like to know where we're going," Estella said.

"Don't mind them," Wood said, grabbing hold of Estella's shoulder to steer her in the direction of the stairs, "It will take them a bit to get over the fact you have Malfoy blood in you. They hate the Malfoys with a deep passion."

"Well, I don't blame them." Suddenly a voice called out, "Estella!" Estella and Wood both stopped and turned around and saw a fourth year Ravenclaw girl coming towards them. "Oh, crap," Estella muttered.

"Who is it?" Wood asked.

"My sister," Estella replied, turning to the girl, "Claire, how wonderful to see you."

"You just have to ruin everything don't you?!?" Claire screamed at Estella.

"Um, ruin everything how?" Estella asked puzzled.

"How will father ever be able to judge the schools with you getting thrown out?" Claire asked.

"What?"

"Oh, don't tell me you didn't know why you were sent to Beauxbatons," Claire asked Estella while Estella shook her head no, "You were sent there because father was gauging schools for the Ministry. He is the only one who had three children to send to the most prominent European magic schools, that's why Sean went to Durmstang, you went to Beauxbatons, and I go to Hogwarts."

"Really? Fascinating. Now, I'm sure you don't care that much about father's work, how did I ruin everything?" Estella asked.

"Because, you're intruding on my territory and as always will get favored over me and-"

"What? I am not nor was I ever favored over you! It was always 'Claire this, Claire that, oh look! Claire's in Ravenclaw, the smart house, blah blah blah'"

"Um, hate to interrupt the sibling bickering but Estella, we really need to go if you don't want the stairs to change on you," Wood said, seeming to come out of nowhere. Claire noticing his presence got a little weak in the knees and said simply, "Oh, hi, Wood," while flashing a toothy smile.

"Oh, I see what I'm ruining, Claire. You fancy Oliver here, I get it now. You think I'll be competition in your, most definitely, futile attempts to charm this lovely boy." Estella said matter-of-factly.

"WHAT? HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY SAY THAT? UGH!" Claire screamed and ran up the stairs leading to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Well, that was, erm, interesting," Wood said following Claire up the stairs with his eyes.

"That little brat deserved the embarrassment," Estella said starting to walk up the stairs and turning right when reaching the landing.

"Um, Estella, left," Wood said.

"Oh, right, left."

"You'd be lost without me," Wood said wrapping an arm around her shoulder and leading her in the direction of the common room.