*DISCLAIMER*: I do not own any of the original HP characters...I only own MY characters that I have made up!!!!

A/N: Read this whole chapter for pivotal information please!

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::: Exchange Students :::

---CHAPTER SIX---

Alisha and Hermione could not help but to keep their mouths hanging a bit open. Mary seemed very uncomfortable now and she took a sudden interest in her shoes, trying not to look up. Tension filled the whole room. Although Mary was very embarassed about this, she was relieved when the two girls did not laugh at her. However, this silence seemed even worse than embarassment, so she decided to change the subject.

"Belldandy is a cute one, isn't she?" she said nervously, concentrating on Belldandy who was now getting into a playful tug of war with Trinkerbell.

Silence.

"I can't believe it, Mary, I just CAN'T," stammered Hermione. Mary turned pink again. "Draco Malfoy....is the biggest prat ever to walk into Hogwarts! I thought you knew better than that....Please tell me this is a joke!" she continued with a little laugh. When Mary didn't say anything the tension grew worse. Alisha gave Hermione a warning look.

"Well, I'll see you two girls tomorrow morning...I gotta go get my stuff ready for Hogsmeade and then I have to study a bit. Good night," Hermione said getting up with Crookshanks following her up the stairs to the girls' dormitory.

"I knew I shouldn't have told you," Mary said right after Hermione was out of view.

"Mary, it's okay that you like him...I guess...maybe he's different once you get to know him?" Alisha said.

"Yeah whatever. I bet you think I'm the most idiotic person on the planet now."

"No I don't!!!!! I thought he was kind of cute too."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Alisha said laughing, "but I still think it's a waste of hottness."

"Haha you're hopeless," Mary said brightening up a bit. "Sooo I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah meet me in the Great Hall during breakfast."

"Okie dokie," said Mary getting up and calling Belldandy to her.

Mary closed the portrait of the Fat Lady behind her as she stepped out into the dark corridor. There was an ominous air about the castle this particular night, and a shiver went down her back. If Belldandy hadn't been there with her, she would probably be too frightened to take another step. As she made her way through all the twists and turns and staircases of the castle, thoughts rushed into her head. She couldn't believe she had told her deepest, darkest secret to her friends. She didn't believe that Alisha was okay with her liking Draco also. She knew Alisha was lying just to make her feel better. It actually made her feel worse. Especially because of what Hermione had said..."I thought you were better than that," Mary heard Hermione say in her mind as she replayed the scene. Mary just sighed and turned the next corner.

BAM! she ran into something.

And as if fate would have had it, the something she ran into was Draco Malfoy.

"Watch where you're going, Mudblood! I see you've been having some late- night girly talks with your friends...typical Mudblood stuff, I guess," he jeered at her. She felt her cheeks go red and was glad it was dark in the hallway.

"I'm really sorry Draco," she said quietly and tried to rush by him but she felt his hand grab hers. Draco pulled her up to his face until she could feel his hot breath on her face. Mary felt her heart beat quicken until it was about to explode right out of her chest. Her hands went cold and she felt dizzy. The two of them remained there for what seemed like an eternity. Draco's ice cold eyes seemed to pierce right through Mary's, examining everything she did. Mary felt her knees weaken below her as she stood as silent and still like a stone statue. Finally, Draco spat to her face, "You better be sorry....and it's MALFOY to YOU." He pushed Mary out of the way and left her shocked. She felt tears coming to her eyes and ran the rest of the way to her dormitory.

How could she have been so dumb? she thought to herself in her bed. Of course Draco wasn't some romantic guy hiding under a sinister costume. But Mary had thought otherwise. She always believed that there was a good side to everyone, a side that needed love and friendship. Surely Draco had a good side! she thought. After all, there were so many things going on behind those eyes...yet they were as cold as ice. And as she thought these things, her stubborn heart still had that same soft spot for Draco Malfoy and she fell asleep on her bed without taking one look at the others in the dormitory.

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