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: PG-13

Title: Friendship First

Summery: Happy Blaise, flyaway spells, loyal Draco, laughter and chocolate frogs.

Author: Dodo

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Chapter 7

Blaise's heart was playing leapfrog with itself inside his chest as he struggled not to start jumping up and down. He had a date with the lovely Miss Rose. He had told her to wait for him by the Great Hall at 8 - she had astronomy later that night, so they couldn't meet too late - and from there he planned to show her the sights and sounds of Hogwarts. He had promised to escort her back to the Hufflepuff Gardens before curfew, as she didn't want to get into any trouble on her first day.

He had decided not to tell his fellow housemates about his date, not unless they asked. It wasn't that he was ashamed of it, simply because he was worried about their reactions if they found out he had fallen for a Hufflepuff. He knew what some of the people in Slytherin were like and he really didn't want to cause any more hassles for her than necessary.

Walking up to the Slytherin table, Blaise was desperately trying to hide the spring in his step and the grin on his face.

"Good afternoon Blaise." He and Draco were not the best of friends but he certainly found the Malfoy heir somewhat more tolerable than most of the other plankton in his house. Subsequently the two had become, well, to be honest he really didn't know what they were. They were closer than mere acquaintances but not quite close enough to be classed as 'friends'.

"Draco." Blaise nodded his head to the blond and took his seat. Before long, food had appeared on his plate and he greedily delved in.

Blaise could tell that his fellow Slytherin was regarding him with a look of amusement crossed with suspicion and wondered how long he would wait before saying something.

He didn't have to wait very long at all.

"I hope I don't sound too out of place here," Draco had now stopped eating and was facing him. "But. how can I put this? You seem, different. Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Blaise smiled. He should have known he wouldn't be able to hide anything from Draco.

"I've got a date." He stated. Draco's inquisitive mind was desperate for all the gossip and he tried as hard as he could to get the other boy to tell him more but in vain. Nothing was going to give.

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On the way back to her dorm room to freshen up before her date later that evening, Crystal noticed that Draco seemed to be having an argument with someone but she couldn't quite see who as a tall oak tree was blocking her view.

Being the ever loyal Hufflepuff that she was, the girl sped up her pace, determined to help her friend. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spied a flash of light flying in roughly her direction.

"Densaugeo"

She quickly dodged the spell but was rather taken aback. She stood there in awe for a few moments. She hadn't seen a real spell before. She briefly wondered what it was, but before her mind could function well enough to recall any Latin she knew from her muggle school, she felt herself being tackled by someone.

"What the.?!" was all she could manage. She looked up at her attacker and was appalled to find a pair of pale blue eyes that she recognised as belonging to a certain Draco Malfoy.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!" she finally managed as she pushed the slightly shorter boy off of her and watched as he landed in a heap on the grass next to her.

"I'm sorry," he stammered, "I didn't mean to, I saw the spell coming at you and." Draco's apology was cut short when he was whacked upside the head by the girl who was now towering over him. She held her hand down to help him get up which he stubbornly declined.

"What on earth is going on here?" She demanded. When she received no answer from her blond friend, she turned her attention to the other witnesses. She recognised them immediately as the trio from Herbology.

Her questioning look penetrated through the girl's - Hermionie if she remembered correctly - defences and she opened her mouth as if about to speak but was abruptly cut off by the red head.

"I don't really see that it's any of your business." He snapped rudely.

"Well pardon me," Crystal was becoming irritated by the obnoxious behaviour of the four people that currently surrounded her. "But when I am almost hit by a stray spell, then what originally may well not have been directly my business, suddenly becomes very much my business!" Her voice had slowly risen as the impatience inside her had built up.

The red head seemed to consider this for a moment. "Well what exactly were you doing out here anyway?"

"For your information, I was on my way back to my dorm room when I heard raised voices and came to see what the fuss was all about."

Red seemed to accept this and retreated beside Hermionie. His girlfriend if she had had to guess.

Harry looked up as though he had been thinking about something for a while. He looked at Draco, then at Crystal then asked, "You mean, you lunged at her, to try and protect her?" His voice was slow and steady, as if taking in the information.

Crystal, who by this time had somewhat calmed down, looked at the speaking boy.

"Yeah." Draco replied impatiently. What this had to do with anything he had no idea.

Harry's eyes had a small glint of amusement in them and Draco wondered if he should be concerned.

"You do realise that she's a Hufflepuff don't you?"

Draco was still lost in a swamp of oblivion, but Crystal was beginning to see where this was headed. She had been at Hogwarts for less than a day and already she knew the ins and outs of inter house relations.

Draco nodded and motioned for the other boy to continue. He was clearly displaying that he didn't have a clue what was going on but at that moment in time didn't seem to care very much either.

"It's just that I've never seen you try and protect anyone before, especially not Hufflepuffs."

This statement was said with no small measure of satisfaction on behalf of the speaker and was accompanied by sniggers from the two at the back.

"I'm sorry, do you find something funny?" Crystal could feel her intolerance begin to rise again and willed it to stay dormant, for the time being at least.

But now she noticed, the two in the back seemed focused on Harry's movements. Whilst Harry and Draco themselves were starring deep into the others hate filled eyes. The atmosphere was so tense that Crystal was sure that a knife would easily slice it.

Instead, the young Hufflepuff laughed.

The group around her all turned to look at her, unsure whether to be amused or horrified. It certainly was not a typical reaction in such a situation.

Crystal walked off, leaving the group standing by the tall oak tree with open mouths. She could hear one of them running up to her and stopped to face him.

"Sorry about that Draco, I really am, but that was just too funny!"

He still didn't have a clue what she was going on about but decided to drop it . . . for now, he knew he'd find out at some point but right now he wasn't even sure he wanted to!

By the time she looked round again, the trio was gone so she made her excuse to Draco and walked towards the greenhouse where most presumed the Hufflepuff house entrance to be.

Once the Slytherin had made his way back to the castle however Crystal walked back over to where the argument had taken place.

She hoped she had remembered the right password.

"Chocolate Frogs" she said.