DISCLAIMER: Don't own Harry Potter… Hmm sorry that's like an involuntary reflex now. He he he… =D

*****

'Sonia,

Meet me in the Astronomy Tower tonight at 7.

Love Draco.'

Sonia swung herself out of bed to get ready for her first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She donned the white blouse, grey pleated skirt, tie, grey blazer and her black school robes. All bearing the signature colours of the Gryffindor, Red and Gold. The sorting hat had sorted her into Gryffindor house the previous evening.

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Hermione glanced over at Sonia as they were leaving the Hogsemead Station and moving up the winding road leading to the Hogwarts castle. She looked troubled after she'd said that comment about Draco. Why did she come running back from the bathroom?

Sonia sensed Hermione looking at her so she lifted her head and forced a smile, 'Wow, all these people… It's kind of overwhelming.'

'Yeah, but you'll get used to it. I just hope you get used to the castle. It's a bit unruly at times. You know, trick steps, moving stairs, hidden doors… Harry will help you if you get lost,' he blushed, she continued, 'He has more knowledge of this castle than Filch, the caretaker. Oh yeah that reminds me, you'd better steer clear of Filch's cat Mrs. Norris.'

'Right…' she said looking kind of bewildered.

'Oops, now I've probable worried you. Don't worry about a thing. All seventh year students, no matter which house, have combined lessons, since all the students pick different subjects,' she pointed to herself, Ron and Harry, 'so you'll never get lost,' she added.

The carriage they were in pulled to a halt outside the huge castle that was Hogwarts.

The enormous wooden doors opened slowly so reveal a huge Entrance Hall glowing with light of torches reflecting off the glossy marble floor. In the middle of the hall, stood a tall familiar looking witch with a pointy hat and a stern expression on her face watching as the students moved through the Entrance Hall and through to the right towards the Great Hall.

She cleared her throat as she looked at Sonia. 'Miss. Gordon, please wait here for the first years.'

Sonia glanced around at Harry, Hermione and Ron who all whispered, 'Good luck,' and gave her three enthusiastic smiles complete with a thumbs up from each of them. She grinned as she stood next to Professor McGonagall.

When the Entrance Hall was completely empty, Sonia turned to the Professor.

'Aunt Minerva, you haven't changed a bit in the last five years,' she exclaimed as she pulled her Aunt into a tight hug which was returned.

'Sonia, you've grown up so much. You look like your mother more than ever now.'

'Yeah, everyone says that but I just don't see it,' Sonia said with a laugh.

'Well, you still have that monotonous Australian drawl. One which I hope your mother hasn't picked up.'

'Nah, she still has her English accent.'

'Well, I'm glad you chose to come to Hogwarts. It really is the best.'

'Hmm,' she muttered in agreement, 'Have you heard from Grandmother lately?'

'Yes I did, she is sorry that she hasn't spoken to you or Annette lately but she is still in Brazil with that toy-boy Wizard of hers. She was going to some carnival last I heard.'

'Yeah, that's good old granny for you.'

'Ye…' she was interrupted by three thunderous knocks.

'Ah yes, here's Hagrid with the First years now,' she said while straightening her hat.

After she opened the Doors to reveal the timid looking first years, Professor McGonagall ushered the First years and Sonia up to the front of the Great Hall. Sonia walked behind them while she stared in awe at the magnificent sight that met her eyes. Thousands of candles were hovering meters off the table and the ceiling was showing the sky outside which was a deep blue colour, alight with millions of stars. The four tables which she supposed were the house tables were filled with students. Some whispering behind their hands as she walked past. 'Hmph, you'd think they've never seen a student transfer,' she thought. She glanced around and saw Hermione, Ron and Harry smiling at her encouragingly. Another glance in the opposite direction and she saw Draco looking at her with a look of… she wasn't sure but it wasn't a look she liked on him. He looked sad, like something was troubling him. 'Snap out of it Sonia, he's a dickhead who used you. You don't love him anymore… you can't love him anymore.' 

Still, the feeling she got in her stomach every time she saw him smile, was one that she had gotten quite used to and missed lately. When the students lined up the front of the hall, Professor McGonagall brought in a stool with a ratty looking wizards hat perched on top of it. The hat immediately broke into a song about the four houses.

(A/N It's pretty late while I'm typing this so please insert the words of one of the sorting hats songs.)

The hat finished its song and the hall erupted with cheers.

'When I call your name, please put on the hat and sit on the stool. Once the hat announces your House, go and sit at the appropriate table,' she announced to the first years and Sonia.

The names were called out and one by one the little first years got sorted into their houses. 'Gindal, Luke' had just sat down at the Hufflepuff table and Professor McGonagall called out, 'Gordon, Sonia'. Sonia walked up to the sorting hat and placed it over her head.

'Hmm, Sonia, it's been a long while since I've had a Gordon here. You seem to be troubled though. I was thinking about putting you in Slytherin but this problem you have, has gotten me into a bit of a muddle. Gryffindor would be good because of your emotional side but your attachment to one particular Slytherin confuses me.'

'Don't you even think of putting me in that house with him,' she sneered quietly.

'Hmm, alright then… GRYFFINDOR!' the hat exclaimed proudly.

The Gryffindor house erupted into cheers once more for the new member. She went to sit down and glanced at the Slytherin table. Draco looked at her and she turned away with a cold look.

Harry and Ron both beamed at her. 'Congratulations!' they cried out in unison. Hermione hugged her as Sonia sat down next to her.

The sorting finished and the tables were filled with copious amounts of food. Sonia forgot all her troubles as she ate, drank and made friends with all the other seventh year Gryffindors.

Sonia was soon full and sleepy. The headmaster, who she recognised as the one and only Albus Dumbledoor, excused them all and wished them goodnight.

Sonia wandered out of the hall with Hermione, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil who were all having a heated conversation about the new teachers this year. Sonia looked around just as Draco was coming up behind her. 'Draco,' she muttered and all the girls turned around.

He cleared his throat, 'Umm, it's alright Sonia I just wanted to talk to Granger about Head duties.'

He took her aside and talked to Hermione for a while and she came back to the group with an odd expression on her face. She turned to Sonia.

'Wow, I don't know what you did to him, but he didn't say anything about my heritage once.'

'Yeah, he's changed alright,' she said with a sigh. She felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned once more.

Draco was looking her straight in the eye. 'Sonia, talk to me… just for a minute. I have to explain.'

She was about to say no when he looked at her and her stomach produced that all too familiar feeling. Hermione whispered in her ear, 'Go, I'll wait for you at the top of the stairs.'

Sonia silently smiled at Hermione and felt a smooth, warm, muscled hand entwine itself with hers and pulled her along towards a more private part of the Entrance Hall.

Draco stopped and turned to look at her.

'Sonia, hear me out okay.' She nodded mutely, he continued. 'OK, what you heard Pansy say was right. I was in Hervey Bay for one reason – The bet that Blaise gave me. I was to make an Australian girl fall in love with me, then break her heart.' He looked at her again and saw the tears, silently streaming down her smooth cheeks. He softened his voice as he wiped the tears away with his thumb, 'I didn't plan on falling for her as well though.' She looked at him through her wet lashes, making her eyes glisten in the candlelight. He couldn't help himself as he slowly bent his head down to meet hers and enveloped her in a gentle kiss. His hand brushed her hair out of her eyes and stroked her cheek. She pulled away from the kiss still crying.

'Draco, I… I can't do this. I love you. Even though I do love you, I hate you for hurting me like this. You say I wasn't just a bet, but you still did it, why?'

'Babe,' she shot him a look, 'Sonia, you have no idea what it is like to be in Slytherin. I am the leader OK. We Slytherins don't function without one. If I didn't finish this bet, I would have had to start from scratch, work my way up from the bottom. And as little as this bet may seem to you, my father holds great respect for Slytherin bets, so it would have meant turmoil for my father as well. A bet isn't just a bet when you're in Slytherin House.'

'Draco,' she choked, 'Your father is in Azkaban.'

'He has his sources, don't you worry. He would have found out and made it hell for me, possibly my mother as well. If I fail, he fails.'

She looked at him, it was the first time he ever really spoken about his father to her, well since she found out he was a wizard anyway.

'Draco, you're strong, stronger than me. Maybe if you were in my position, you would handle it better but I need time. You really hurt me with this. I was in despair for the last few days of the holidays. I thought I couldn't go on.'

'Babe, I mean, Sonia, I was too. Don't think it was an easy decision for me to make. Plus you weren't alone. You had Snow. Where is he by the way?'

'Umm, up in the dorm I think. I'll let you see him on the weekend.'

He smiled, the first one she'd seen that day. 'Okay,' he kissed her again, 'Bye, I'll see you in class. If you decide you don't want to pick up the relationship again, I hope we can still be friends. I might be able to cope with only being your friend but if you never talked to me again… I just don't want to think about it.'

'Okay Draco, Night…' she turned and walked back to Hermione at the top of the stairs.

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REVIEWS:

Harrypotter1993: Thank you! I will keep trying! That's 3!!

Milkshake-Minx: Thank you for your review! That brings the grand total up to 4!!

A/N Wow it's a long one this one. But it's kind of late so I hope it all makes sense. I'm hoping to finish the story in a few more chapters but I just don't want to end it after all this. I suppose the story just starts to get a bit monotonous after awile… Oh well. Please Read and Review!!!

~Lockeness~