Disclaimer: Surprisingly enough I do not own Harry Potter, I own none of the Characters except those who do not feature in the books (duh). Mostly, that's just the new girl . . .

Warning: This will contain slash in later chapters, here's a hint, if you don't like it . . . don't read it!

Rating: G

Title: A World Apart

Summery: A new girl arrives at Hogwarts. Who is she? Where is she from? And why does she have a smile that can make even the coldest of hearts melt? Will she be the friend that Draco needs?

Author: Dodo

"What!" The horrified cries around her were not so encouraging. "You actually spoke to him? Of your own free will?" Crystal surmised that her house wasn't particularly fond of a certain blond haired Slytherin.

"Well, he seemed ok to me!" she defended herself. When she had casually asked one of her classmates their opinion on Draco Malfoy she had not excepted the third degree.

"Ok? What do you mean ok? Christ! You must have known some awfully strange people back in your old school! Where were you? Durmstrang?"

She felt a bit lost now. Where was Durmstrang? These people seem to keep forgetting that she was relatively new to the wizarding world. She focused her attention on her thoughts and let the cried that were surrounding her wash over and waited for the conversation to turn away from her.

Eventually it did, although not from the topic of Draco Malfoy.

"I heard his father's a Death Eater!" This came from a voice she didn't recognise, one of the younger students. A Death Eater? What on earth what that? It certainly didn't sound pleasant.

She tuned out again, not really wanting to be part of what she could only assume to be quite damaging gossip, and carried on eating her lunch. By the time she had finished, the conversation had changed again. This time they were talking about Quidditch.

She thought she remembered her mum telling her something about that. A sport played on broomsticks was about all she could remember though. She was a big sports fan. Nor did it seem, were a large number of her housemates. So whilst the boy talked about Quidditch and house points, Crystal turned to Nicola, who she was sitting next to and asked her what exactly they were going on about. Being new to Hogwarts really did have its disadvantages.

"Sorry, I keep forgetting you've come from a muggle school. Quidditch is game we play here." Nicola set about explaining the rule of Quidditch to the new girl who listened interestedly.

"And what about house points?" she asked. After the girl had started explaining about Quidditch her memory had jogged and she remembered what her mum had told her.

Her mum had been the Slytherin seeker. That must be where she got her 'Slytherinesque nature'. She had not however inherited her mum's keen sports sense. She preferred the Arts to the sports. Singing and dancing were her favourites.

"House points are magically counted up by the castle," she explained, "if a person does well in class then they get given house points. If they do something wrong - or in Professor Snape's case, at all, then house points are taken away. The best way of getting house points is inter house competitions, but none of us are very competitive and so we don't tend to win that often. We don't have any great sportsmen in this house either which doesn't hold too well for us."

"Are sports the only inter house this school does?" Crystal was a little surprised by the bias on that.

"Well," Nicola thought about hat for a moment, "not all. I think there was a talent show a few years ago."

"Is that all?"

"Yup, that's all."

Well, Crystal thought, that's appalling! What about people like me who aren't sporty? Where's their chance to compete?

Although she wasn't fiercely competitive, Crystal Rose liked to win. She had already started forming a plan in her mind. Once her mind was made up, she decided to go and speak to Dumbledor. She smiled at Nicola and laughed and joked with her. She was a really nice girl. Probably one of her best friends so far in the school. Not that she'd been there for long yet though!

She looked at her watch. She still had half an hour before class started. On her way to Dumbledor's office she bumped into a young boy. She recognised the scruffy black hair immediately and stopped to talk to him.

"Hey, Harry, where are you off to in such a hurry?" her voice showed such genuine concern that Harry decided to let down his guard a little and talk to this girl.

"Oh, nothing," he lied. He paused for a moment. Looking up into her eyes he could see that she wouldn't go around telling everyone about their conversation so he told her the truth, well, part of it.

"I just got a letter is all. Someone I know, they're in trouble." He faltered, "I don't know, I just worry." He looked up at her with a half smile. His eyes however showed a different story. He wasn't just worried, he was terrified.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she offered helpfully.

"Thanks," this time his smile was genuine. "But I'm ok for now."

"Ok, but if you ever need anyone to talk to then I'm here, I mean it."

She hoped it would be enough for the young boy and for now, it seemed it was. He said goodbye and walked off. Still visibly anxious, but he looked, a little happier. Talking really does help. She smiled to herself and carried on to the headmaster's office.

Stood outside the stone gargoyle she waited for a teacher to come by. She was stood there for less than a minute when the stone gargoyle opened all by it's self. She was a little surprised but went up anyway.

"Ah, Miss Rose." Came the Headteacher's friendly voice. "A pleasure as always. Tell me dear, how are you settling in on your first day here at Hogwarts?"

"Quite well thank you headmaster." Her smile showed that what she was saying was indeed the truth.

The old man regarded her for a short while before offering her a sherbet lemon. She politely refused and the conversation steered towards her reason for being there.

"I know that, being new here, it's not really my place but I wanted to share with you an idea I've had."

"My dear. You are as much a student of this school as any other. Please, continue."

"Ok then." She smiled warmly at him, thanking him for his understanding, before carrying on with her plan. "I was listening to some of my housemates as they were talking about house points and Qudditch, when an idea occurred to me."

Hufflepuff talking about house points and Quidditch? He was surprised only for a moment and let the young lady continue.

"I noticed that the majority of inter house competitions seem mostly sports related."

He nodded in acknowledgement of her statement. He understood where this was going.

"So I was wondering if perhaps I could organise something like a talent competition. That way, people who are less adept at sports, would have a greater chance at gaining house points and winning competitions. It seems only fair to me."

Ah yes. The stereotypical Hufflepuff reasoning, fairness in all things. Although he had to admit that her reasoning was impeccable. Without another moments thought he agreed.

"Why of course! That sounds like an absolutely fabulous idea. I do believe we haven't had a talent show since the Marauders were here."

"The who?" Why did everyone keep using strange words that she had no idea of the meaning of!

She had expected a slight apology followed by a quick explanation. Instead, the old wizard simply smiled knowingly at her.