Chapter 8- Draco showed Airykkaa her seat, which was conveniently at his table. Professor Snape burst into the room in his usual dramatic entrance. Snape smiled at Airykkaa, nodded at Draco in approval, and then looked around the rest of the room and sneered. Once again, Pike was not in class. "Draco, I believe Airykkaa has not yet been shown around the school, would you mind?" Snape asked, with a rather approving tone set in his voice. "No problem Professor Snape." Draco said, grinning, he couldn't have asked for better luck. He took Airykkaa's seat from behind her and led her out the door. "No way." Hermione said, almost loud enough for the rest of the class to hear. She was stunned, Snape had stooped to a new level of low, letting students leave his class. "Yeah tell me about it." Estelle said, sitting in the next table over from Hermione. For once Estelle agreed with a Gryffindor, and she was in an extremely foul mood. Lee only looked over and nodded, not wanting to press his luck, he had already gotten himself in deep for storming out of the great hall.

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"So, Beauxbatons huh? What's it like there?" Draco asked, walking down the hallways as he was showing Airykkaa around the school. "Warm, very luxurious, but full of rich girls who think nothing of others, they only care about themselves. But you get used to it I guess." Airykkaa replied. "During the Triwizard Tournament in fourth year I got that impression from the girls too." Draco responded. "They all think that everything should go to the oldest, not the most talented. If you tell them otherwise you become an outcast." Airykkaa said, stopping and taking a seat on the steps. "After Fleur was picked as the champion all the other girls cried." Draco chuckled. Airykkaa looked up and smiled, "Sounds like them. Always thinking that they're better then everyone else and deserving what they want." She thought further, "Pure blood bitches, always think they're better then everyone else." she muttered angrily. "You don't think pure bloods are better?" Draco asked, obviously not getting the hint that she was not a pure blood. "But why? That's what makes a wizard family great." Airykkaa looked up at him, face red with anger, "You think that blood lines are what makes a wizard or a witch great? No way. It's talent. You could have the purest blood and still have no talent, while a half-muggle or one with muggle parentage could be far surpassing." she continued. "Do not think for one second that because you're a pure blood and I'm not makes you better then me. Its the talent that counts." she said, shaking with rage, and obviously hurt. Draco stood motionless, deep in shock that the beautiful woman in front of him was not of pure blood. "Yes, my father went a bit overboard one night. What came out of it? The family's biggest shame. Well I'm not ashamed. I know I have talent that far surpasses a lot of pure blood families, and that is ALL that matters." she hissed, barely able to keep her anger under control. Draco desperately searched for words, he wanted to apologize, but her anger left him unable to speak. She shook her head and laughed, and turned to walk away, unable to do anything else, "I should have known. A Malfoy... appreciate talent over blood? That'll be the day." she said, so angry and upset she was almost in tears. "Airykkaa!" he said, reaching out and grapping her shoulder, desperately trying to stop her, "I'm sorry." he said, his voice quiet and genuine. "Are you?" she said, her voice cracking. For some reason, whether it was his heart talking, or the guilt he felt now, he really was, "Yes." He found it strange, knowing that if it had been anyone else, he would have turned around and walked away, disgusted that he could even find someone who was anything but pure blood attractive. But he couldn't walk away, he wanted Airykkaa's company, 'And after all,' he thought, 'it's not her fault her father dallied with a muggle woman.' It was as if she had bewitched him with her very presence. Airykkaa could not hold back the strain of her emotions any longer, and a few tears streamed how her face as she tried to turn away and hide them, hating herself for not being able to hold them back. He turned her back around, seeing the glint of light that reflected off of the side of her face. He gently engulfed her in his arms, "Forgive me. I'm sorry." Internally, he too was engulfed in turmoil, his heart was telling him that this was right, but his mind was telling him that it was disgusting and that he should walk away. He let his heart take over and gently wiped her tears away with his fingers and pushed her hair out of the way. "We need to finish the tour." he finally said, "By the time we get to Slytherin tower morning classes will be over." he grinned. She couldn't help but smile, "Alright." she said, "Let's get on with it." and they started down the steps, towards Slytherin Dormitory, deep in the dungeons, and deep in conversation once again.

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"We'd better get to lunch, if were not there your father will think something funny of it." Draco said reluctantly as he took Airykkaa's hand. "Yeah, I don't think he'd be too happy about it." she replied as they left the Slytherin common room. Realizing it was later then they thought, they broke into a run. Snape would be furious if they weren't at lunch, they both knew that Snape would think Draco would have taken the upper hand. A few feet before the great hall entrance, Airykkaa ran into something hard, and fell to the ground. Struggling to straighten herself out, with Draco helping pull her up, she felt another set of hands helping pull her other arm up. She lifted her eyes and saw to her great surprise Lee, "Lee! I'm sorry! We didn't realize how late it was and..." she tried to speak, but Lee cut her off. A great grin breaking out across his face, "Don't worry about it," he said, smiling at Airykkaa, but then he turned to Draco, "cutting it a bit close though." "Yeah." was all that Draco said, Airykkaa noticed not a shred of friendliness in his voice. "Well we all better get to lunch, unless we all want to go to our next classes on empty bellies." Airykkaa playfully chided the two of them, trying to take some of the tension off. They both smiled, and followed her into the great hall. One thinking about how immensely lucky he was that a girl like this liked him, but one concerned about her innocence. 'I just hope he doesn't try to take advantage of her.' Lee thought as he stared at her, reading her soul, she had lived a sheltered life for a wizard, and he knew that half of the boys that attended Hogwarts would take full advantage of that. He just hoped that Draco would have enough respect to treat her like a lady, and not some fantasy toy. Coming out from a corner and following them into the great hall, Estelle was furiously jealous. The smiles Lee had given, and the help. She felt anger and jealousy burning deep inside her. 'She hasn't even been here one day,' Estelle thought, furious as she strode towards the table, 'and already half of the school is drooling over her.' Pike was already at the table, looking somewhat miserable and sulky, but brightened up as he saw his friends enter, and his sister. His pace paled when he noticed the torrent of rage emanating from not only Estelle's face, but from every fiber of her being. Lunch was awkward, and not only that, Draco and Airykkaa both knew whom the target was of Estelle's flaring rage. After lunch ended, Airykkaa was in such distress that she refused to go to class. She felt overly nauseated, and Draco noticed what seemed to be small puffy bags developing under her eyes. But they were barely visible, and he thought nothing of it, stress. 'Poor girl,' he thought, 'her first day, and that bitch already starts with her. What could make Estelle act like that?' even he could not fathom, 'Airykkaa has done nothing to her, nothing.' "I'm going back to the common room, I need to sit and relax for awhile." she said, but silently she thought, 'Or I'll end up killing myself.' "Okay, I'm going with you, just to see you up there, and then I'll go get Professor Snape, tell him what's going on." Draco said, now sounding somewhat worried, but still managing to brush it off. Airykkaa stared into Draco's eyes, grateful that he would do this for her, "Thank you." She slowly smiled as he lead her Down the stairs toward Slytherin Dormitory. They made it to the Dungeon in amazing speed, despite how tired they both felt halfway down. After giving the password which Airykkaa learned quite quickly, She spoke the password to the bare damp wall that stood before her, and committing it to memory, they entered the common room. They both sat down on the small couch near one of the far walls, and Draco noticed the swelling under hr eyes had increased slightly. "You look as if you could use some sleep. I imagine you didn't get much on the train, not many people could." he said, with a small quirk and his eyes glinting. "Yes, you're right, I could probably use a good bit of sleep after the train ride. I don't think my father intended me to start classes here until tomorrow though anyway." she said, smiling, "But I do think he would want to know where I.. we are." The doors swung open and interrupted them both, Estelle marched into the room. She appeared to have calmed down as she sat in front of the fireplace in a fluffy, well cushioned chair. Airykkaa decided that she wouldn't get a better chance to talk to Estelle for some time, and she wanted to get whatever Estelle was mad about, cleared up. "Estelle?" she asked softly, as she stood up from the couch, "May I have a word?" Estelle's head snapped toward her, her eyes held a very unholy glow to them, forcing Airykkaa to take a step back. What had she done? "Ignore the freak!" Draco said, trying to pull Airykkaa away, but no sooner had he uttered those words, Estelle's mouth twisted into a cruel smile. Draco's eyes grew wide in fear, and immediately he fell to the floor in agony, his mind racing with visions, feeling that his head were going to come off of his shoulders at any given second. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HIM?" Airykkaa screeched, her voice cracking in fear and worry. Estelle turned towards her, and Draco's body twitched on the floor. "He's mine." was all she said, and she concentrated all of her power on Airykkaa. Startled but continuing as she felt someone else block her path, 'Oh well. I'll get them out of the way and then I can continue with her.' she thought. She smiled at the thought, and then, to her total and utter horror, she heard the blood curdling screams of Lee. She opened her eyes and found him twisting on the floor in complete agony, gasping for breath. She stopped her flow of power, and she instantly fell to the floor, desperately trying to revive Lee out of his torment. When he opened his eyes, blood trickled from them, and his red irises seemed to glow. "You'll kill her if you do." was all he said before passing out. Airykkaa lay on the floor, struggling to get up, Lee had not made it in time to completely block Estelle's rage. Pike had heard the screaming, and rushed into the room, Aidan not far behind him. As Pike laid eyes on his sister, tears glistened in his eyes, he could almost feel his sisters body, drained and traumatized from the experience, "What have you done Estelle? What the fuck have you done?!" he screeched, panic obviously woven into every sound of his voice. He lifted his sister into his arms and raced towards the infirmary, a recovering Draco not too far behind him. Within moments, Estelle was left with Lee laying unconscious beside her. Estelle sat silently, bewildered, not fully realizing what she had done. And then, silently the shock dawned on her, and so had Lee's words. Had she truly killed the girl? She grasped Lee in her arms, pleading for him to wake up, rocking him gently. Why had he protected her if she had not been right? Why had Lee knowingly subjected himself to Estelle's torment? Tears glistened in her eyes. Did Lee like her? She realized with a start that Lee had woken back up at his words, "No. I don't. She's just a friend." he said, nearly screaming in pain, struggling to get the words out. "Then why?" Estelle asked, stroking his hair. "Estelle, you don't understand. Not why she's here. Not why such a small exposure overwhelmed her." he said, sighing, and then wincing in pain. "Estelle... she's ill. She always has been. Talk to Pike." he finished, struggling to get his footing, brushing the hair lovingly from Estelle's face, and then turning towards the boy's dormitory to rest.