I Do Not Own Harry Potter. I would like to borrow Tom Felton, however. This story is complete, but it might take a while to upload all the chapters. I am doing this in between finals at UCLA and work. Please be patient. Thanks. Mattie :o)

She was almost to the staircase that lead to her room when she heard that voice again, "Eva, we need to talk." She shook her head and turned to Draco Malfoy.

"What do you want, Draco?" she asked.

"Privately, if you will." He led the way outside.

She followed him back into the Entrance Hall before she said anything. "Is all this really necessary? I'm sure that by tomorrow morning the whole House will know what we have discussed, seeing as you brought along your lackeys," Eva gestured towards Crabbe and Goyle who had followed them.

Draco turned to the two boys following them at a distance. "You two can go back to the dormitories." They gave confused looks, but complied with the order.

He continued to walk and led her to the greenhouses. He looked around to make sure that there was no one around before turning his attention to Eva. "What exactly do you think you are doing?"

Eva looked quite surprised, but quickly placed a neutral look upon her face. "You're going to have to be a bit more specific."

"Fine, you want specific. Potter. Not to mention that little stunt you pulled in Potions today."

Eva exhaled loudly. "Not this again. What is wrong with Harry Potter?"

"He's Harry Potter," said Draco in frustration.

"Yes, I know who he is. 'What is wrong with him,' was my question."

"Don't get sassy with me, Eva. You don't know him as well as I do. He's bad news and I want you to stay away from him."

"Who are you to tell me to stay away from him? You have no authority over me!"

"I am your friend, Eva, and I want what is best for you." Draco made to touch her face, but Eva slapped his hand away.

"You still have not answered my question. What is wrong with Harry Potter? Why don't you like him?"

"Because he's alive," Draco ground out.

Eva was truly confused at the answer. "You don't like him because he's alive?" Eva shook her head in exasperation. "I truly do not understand you, Draco. I like Harry and I think he likes me; what is wrong with us seeing each other?"

"Because it shouldn't happen. You're a Slytherin and he's a Gryffindor; it's like oil and water, they don't mix."

"I can't believe that you're saying this. Just because he's in Gryffindor, you don't want me to see him. What if I was seeing someone from Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff?" Eva moved towards Draco and looked into his eyes to see his reaction. "Would you be doing the same thing if it was someone from one of those houses? Or is it just him you're against?"

Draco looked away and said, "I'm simply giving you advice as a friend." Eva had not missed a flicker of something on his face, however. She was not sure, but she thought it might be fear.

"You stopped being my friend a long time ago. You have been keeping something from me for over a year and that is not something that a friend would do." Eva moved away and began to walk back to the castle.

Draco grabbed her arm and turned her around. "I did not tell you because I am not at liberty to say anything." He looked down and sighed. Eva could see the boy that she had once cared for so much. He was still in there somewhere; he just needed a little help coming out to the light.

"When have you ever let anyone tell you what to do?" Eva took his face in her hands and made him look her in the eye. "You are Draco Malfoy. You should make your own choices; do not let your father dictate your life to you. It would be a sorry way to live."

A scowl crossed his face and he moved away from her grasp. "That's easy for you to say. You don't live with him. Your mother gives you free reign and you have no problem concerning your father."

"You're right, but even if my mother were not so lenient, I would let no one govern my life but me." She moved toward his turned back and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your choices are what shape who you are, if you let someone else make them for you, how will you know your own strength?"

Draco shook her hand off his shoulder and turned an angry face to her. "Stay away from Potter! This is the last time I will warn you!"

"Warn me?" Eva was shocked. What would he do if she didn't stay away from Harry?

"And don't think that you know me. You have no idea who I am." He turned on his heel and was about to leave when she grabbed his arm.

"You're right. I don't know who you are anymore, but I do know who you used to be." Eva allowed the tears that were in her eyes to freely fall onto her face. "I know that you were once a wonderful person, who cared about me and about making a difference in this world. I know that that person is still in there somewhere and I will wait as long as I must, to see him again."

Draco shook off her hand and stormed back into the castle. Eva was left standing alone in the cold. She looked around and saw that the light in Professor Hagrid's cabin was still on and she made her way there. Knocking, she heard the bark of a dog and Hagrid's footsteps coming to the door.

"What is it now? It's really no' the time to be out visitin'" He opened the door and looked surprised to see Eva standing there with her arms around herself and crying. "Eva, I didn' know it was you. What are you doin' out in the cold withou' a cloak? Come on in an' warm up." He opened the door wider to let her in and set about making some tea for them.

"I'm sorry to have disturbed your evening, Professor, but I really needed to talk to someone." Eva couldn't even understand why she thought that Hagrid would be a good person to talk to. She just saw his light and had a strange sense of security when she thought of going into the cabin.

"It's a'right, I don't do much in the evenin's. I'm actually glad for the company." He set down the teacups on the table and pulled up a chair. "Wha's on your mind?"

Eva looked up into Hagrid's warm brown eyes and found herself comparing them to the eyes of her Head of House. The difference in warmth was breathtaking. She looked down at her cup and felt a sob shake her shoulders.

Hagrid patted her shoulder, which made her drop the cup and spill a considerable amount of tea, "Don' worry, you jus' take your time an' talk when you're ready."

Eva composed herself and looked up into Professor Hagrid's warm eyes and found herself confessing to everything. How she hadn't wanted to come to Hogwarts, but her mother had made her come, and how she was scared about what her mother was keeping from her. How she didn't feel comfortable in her house and with the rest of her classmates. How she felt about Harry, though this was only skimmed over because she knew that Professor Hagrid and Harry had a friendship. She even told Professor Hagrid how confused she was about Draco and his attitude, describing him as she had known him from infancy. "I just don't know what to do. I care for both of them and I don't want to hurt either of them, but I don't know how I can do anything without one of them being hurt," she finished.

Hagrid sat in silence for a while before looking down at Eva. "You know, sometimes the only thing you can do is hurt the people you care the mos' abou'." He leaned over and put a hand over hers. "I know you don' wanna hurt anyone, which really surprises me considerin' wha' house you're in, but life isn' always wha we wan' it ter be."

Eva nodded at his insight. "I just wish it were easier, I guess."

"We all wish things was easier, bu' we've gotta do the bes' we can wi' wha' we got."

Eva finished her tea in silence and then stood. "Thank you, Professor Hagrid. I feel a lot better."

Hagrid stood and walked her to the door. "Don' mention it. If you ever need anyone ter talk to, you just come on over."

Eva nodded and waved back to him on her way to the castle. She beat a hasty retreat inside, because it was closing in on the nine o'clock curfew. She found Draco waiting for her at the foot of the stairs that led up to her room.

"What do you want now?" she asked without looking him in the eye.

"I would like to apologize," he whispered.

Eva looked up. "What?"

"I'm sorry about what I said tonight. I just don't want you to be hurt." Draco's eyes showed no deceit and Eva knew he was sincere.

"I appreciate it, Draco, I really do, but there are some things that you cannot save me from. Harry Potter is not a dragon and I am no longer a damsel in distress."

Draco smirked at her reference to their old pastime. "I really wish I could tell you what you want to know, but it's not just my dad that told me to stay quiet, it was your Mum, too. They think that you can't handle it and it's not like anything's definite."

"My Mum and your Dad both told you to keep quiet about this?"

Draco nodded.

"Can you tell me how long you've known?"

"I've only known about it for a little over a year."

Eva nodded and tried to remember whether her mother had hinted at any secrets during the last year, but she couldn't think of anything that could be life shattering. She looked over at Draco and smiled. "Don't suppose you could give me a clue?"

He shook his head. "No way, you know my Dad, he'd murder me. Besides, it's not like it's something that will kill you."

"Well, that's comforting!" Eva laughed and moved towards the stairs.

She turned to bid Draco goodnight and saw that he was staring at her with an appraising look. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering if your defense skills are still as sharp as they used to be."

"Yes they are, better if I say so myself."

"Well then, you wouldn't mind meeting with the Dueling club."

"Time and place."

"Wednesday, eight o'clock sharp."

"Prepare to eat my sparks."

It took an annoyingly short time for Wednesday to roll around. It made Eva wonder whether or not time could tell if someone wanted things to come quickly or slowly. She dressed and went about her day. Trying to ignore Draco was proving to be impossible because he seemed to be going out of his way to remind her about the Dueling Club meeting. She finally got tired when she passed him in the corridor and he whispered, "Eight o'clock."

She closed the book on transfiguration that she was reading and faced him. "Is there a reason you so desperately want me to go to this meeting? Last time I checked, I had beaten you every time we dueled."

Draco's smile turned into a sneer. He couldn't believe she'd said that in front of everyone! He looked around to see who had heard, besides Crabbe and Goyle, and saw Potter, Granger and Weasley standing not too far off with beaming smiles on their faces. Eva had gone too far. No one embarrassed him publicly.

"That's not true and you know it."

"Oh yeah, I forgot. You did beat me once: the first lesson we had together and, if memory serves me, I had the flu at the time."

Draco's face was red with anger. Hermione was openly laughing and Harry and Ron were holding onto the wall so as not to fall on the floor from their mirth. "You go too far, Nocturino."

Eva allowed a slow smile to creep on her face. "Is that a challenge, Malfoy?"

"It's a warning."

"Ooh, I'm shaking."

Draco stepped towards her until they were inches apart. "I'll be on the platform waiting, if you're not too shaken up to show." He brushed past her and continued on his way to class, giving Potter and his friends a scowl as he passed.

Neville had also seen the confrontation and went up to Eva. "You shouldn't go to the meeting today, Eva. Malfoy's the best dueler there is, apart from Harry."

"Don't worry about me, Neville. I can handle my own in a duel." She opened her book where she had left off and continued towards Herbology. She did not notice the look of admiration on Harry's face as she passed him.

Herbology went quickly as well, despite Draco giving Eva the evil eye during the whole of the class. Throughout class and as they walked back from the greenhouses, Neville continued his litany, warning her not to go to the club meeting that night, but to no avail. Eva had been challenged and she had never backed down from Draco.

Eva had a quick dinner, not because she was nervous, but because everyone kept on telling her to eat up since it might be her last meal. Such advice did not bother her, but she did not like to ignore people at the dinner table and her food kept getting cold. So, after losing track of the number of interruptions, she headed towards the East tower staircase, but was intercepted by Harry.

"Are you really going to the meeting tonight?" he asked.

"Not you, too, Harry. Look I do know how to defend myself. Just because I'm a girl doesn't -"

"Eva, I know you can defend yourself. The way you handled Malfoy in the corridor today was proof enough of that. I just wanted to wish you luck."

Eva was quite shocked, but smiled anyway. "Thanks, Harry."

He nodded and headed towards the main staircase that led towards his own room. She watched him go and quickly went up the stairs. She burst into her room and found her owl Horatio waiting for her.

"Hello, old boy. What have you got for me?" She noticed a large wrapped package on her bed. She walked towards it with caution. She had never received packages before and having one arrive in her room was a bit disturbing.

Eva saw a note lying on top of the package. It was written to her from the Headmaster. I received this today. I hope it is something you will enjoy. Professor A. Dumbledore. She looked down at the package and was able to make out the writing: Eva Nocturino, East Tower, Hogwarts. It was in her mother's handwriting.

She quickly jumped on the bed with a squeal and tore at the wrappings. Lying on top was a letter. She read:

Darling Eva,

I hope that you have been adjusting well to your new school. I want you to know that I think of you daily. Your birthday is coming soon and it will be the first time that we will not be together for this joyous occasion. I do, however, want to continue with your grandmother's tradition of giving you a new gown. I made it myself, as I have had a lot of spare time. I know that it will not make up for my absence, but I do hope you know that I am with you always in spirit.

Professor Dumbledore has informed me that you are to be having a Yule Ball this year. I hope that you will wear this gown to it and think of me as you dance the night away.

I will write again before your birthday. Please continue your excellent behavior. Remember that I love you and that I am always thinking of you, my darling baby girl.

Love Always,

Mum

Eva finished removing the wrapping and lifted the fine silk material out of its confines. She gazed in wonder at the mirror in the corner of her room. Her mother was a fine seamstress and had spared no detail in the gown. It was sapphire blue to match her eyes, with fine floral embroidery, done in a muted green, along the sleeves, collar and hem. She twirled around and loved the swish the material made.

She had completely forgotten about the Dueling Club until her clock chimed the hour. She quickly set down the gown on her bed and raced back downstairs. She entered the Great Hall and was rather surprised to find that all of the House benches had been removed and in the center of the room was one long, raised platform on top of which stood Draco Malfoy.

Eva saw that his two lackeys were at his side as usual. She found it a good way to egg him on. "Now, Malfoy, I thought it was just going to be me and you. But if you need Crabbe and Goyle, I'm sure I can oblige." She sauntered closer to the platform.

"Nocturino, I see you had the guts to show up. Don't worry, this is going to be between you and me." He nodded his head towards Crabbe and Goyle and they got off the platform.

Neville was quickly at her side. "Eva, please don't do this. As a favor to me."

Eva did not like to see the worried expression of Neville's face, but she had already accepted the challenge; it was too late to turn back. "It's really okay, Neville. I'll be fine, I promise. You might even be surprised at what you see." She smiled at him and squeezed his hand quickly.

Eva walked to the steps of the platform and was soon facing Draco. She watched him from across the platform. She could tell he was nervous, a good sign for her. She figured he was more worried about losing to her in front of half the school and their entire year, than getting an injury. She gave him a little smile and did something she had been dying to do for a while now.

She had once seen a show on the American channels about this girl that fought vampires; really pathetic in truth, but the fight scenes were entertaining. Eva had liked the way the girl would hold out her hand and then a wooden stake would spring out of her sleeve. She had found a way to rig her wand in her sleeve with her scarf and use a silent Accio charm to get it in her hand. It was lightning quick and it would serve the purpose of startling Draco out of his skin.

She advanced towards the center of the platform, a signal that she was ready to begin. Three paces from the center, she paused, held out her arm and whispered "Accio." Her wand seemed to just appear in her hand and she saw Draco give a minute jump of surprise. She smiled again and raised her eyebrow at him.

They reached the middle of the platform and were about to turn after their salute when Professor Snape strode into the Hall.

He looked at the two of them on the platform with a shrewd eye before asking, "Just what do you think you are doing?"

Eva looked at him a bit confused. She looked over at Draco, who seemed to be near panic now. There was something fishy here. She thought it best to find out if she was in trouble or not, since she saw that Draco certainly thought that they were. "Professor Snape, Draco invited me to the Dueling Club on Monday and I accepted the invitation. Is this not what we're supposed to do here?" She thought it best to keep the knowledge of the challenge to herself.

Professor Snape observed Eva for a while before responding. "Miss Nocturino, we do not simply allow students to duel each other whenever they want. It is always done in the presence of a Professor and with strict rules, so as to make sure no one is seriously injured."

"Oh, I didn't know," she said.

"Obviously," replied Professor Snape. He made his way towards the platform and quickly ascended. He looked at Draco. "I assume it simply slipped your mind to tell Miss Nocturino of the guidelines for the Dueling Club?"

"Yes, sir," said Draco.

Professor Snape nodded. "Well, since you are already up here Mr. Malfoy, why don't you help us in seeing how Miss Nocturino's defense skills are."

The look on Draco's face almost made Eva feel sorry for him, but he had egged her on a little too much in the last three days. She looked up to Professor Snape and waited for his instructions.

"Miss Nocturino, I would like to see how well you can block unfriendly spells first and then we shall go from there."

Eva had thought that he would ask her to throw some spell first, but then decided blocking was a good place to start assessing her skills. She nodded and headed to the other end of the platform. She smiled at Neville when she passed him.

Professor Snape had moved to stand behind Draco, who was now in his dueling position. Eva assumed hers, which was slightly different. She turned sideways, so as to present as small a target as possible. She knew this was surprising to most people, but it was logical to her.

Professor Snape counted down and as soon as he reached 'one' Draco sent a Stunning Charm her way. She efficiently blocked it and sent it back his way. Both the Professor and Draco moved out of the deflected spell's path.

They went through this a few times before Professor Snape turned to the class and gave them instructions to continue with their last assignment, which was consecutive spell casting. He walked over to Eva, bringing Draco with him. "I believe you to be sufficiently trained in defense to hold your own with Mr. Malfoy here. Why don't you practice multiple spell casting with him?" He left the platform to walk amongst the students.

"So, you failed to mention that we could have gotten expelled if we had dueled. Just what did you expect to accomplish, Draco?" asked Eva.

"You humiliated me in front of a lot of people, Eva. Did you think that I would just let that slide without doing something?" He looked her up and down. "You said I had changed. I don't remember you doing anything like that before."

"Don't you give me that, Draco. You know perfectly well that there is only so much pushing that I will take. You were asking for that dress down." She saw that Professor Snape was looking at them and quickly moved away. "We'd better start practicing."

She and Draco took turns casting two consecutive spells at each other for about half an hour. Eva felt a bit self-conscious being on the platform, while everyone else was on the floor. She absently wondered if they would ever get to actually duel when Draco's Stinging Charm made her drop her wand. She had been distracted.

She rubbed her wrist and went to pick up her wand, but found that Draco had picked it up. He handed it to her, but not without giving her an I-got-you look. She grabbed her wand and was about to ask him to resume his position when Professor Snape called the Hall to attention.

"Judging by your poor aim and fumbled spells, I see that you have not been practicing." He looked towards the platform. "However, I have seen that one of you has some knowledge of how to cast more than one spell at a time." He was looking directly at Eva and she blushed. "Mr. Malfoy and Miss Nocturino, I would like you to demonstrate how to effectively cast and block consecutive spells." He paused for effect. "In a real duel situation."

You would have thought Christmas had come early for some of the younger students in the Hall. There was a buzz going around the room and Eva was sure she heard someone put ten galleons on Draco wiping the floor with her. She looked over and saw that his confidence from his Stinging Charm had waned.

"Assume your dueling positions," said Professor Snape.

Eva and Draco moved to opposite sides of the platform while the rest of the people in the Hall moved as close to the edge of the platform as they dared. Eva saw that Harry, Ron and Neville had moved towards her end of the platform and she was heartened by their support. She gave them a quick smile before facing Draco again.

"On the count of three you will cast your first spells. One . . . Two . . . Three!"

Draco quickly threw a Stunning Charm, which Eva blocked, followed by a Tickling Charm, which Eva dodged with surprising stealth. Eva then threw a Stunning Charm back at Draco, which he blocked, and then an Impediment Jinx, which he also blocked. Eva smiled, she had found Draco's downfall; he didn't like to dodge spells.

He began to throw more spells at her and she either blocked them or dodged them. Her dodging was rather dangerous for the students gathered on her end of the platform and so many of them moved farther back. She waited for her opening and when Draco took a breath to continue his assault, she pounced on him. She threw two Stunning Charms from different angles and then an Impediment Jinx from yet another. Her assessment of Draco not liking to dodge spells was correct and the second Stunner hit him as well as the Impediment Jinx. He toppled over backwards and she walked over to retrieve his wand.

She handed it to Professor Snape and then knelt by Draco to make sure that he was all right. She knew she had won and it was her time and turn to gloat, but Draco was still her friend and she wanted to make sure that he was conscious when she threw her victory in his face.

Madam Pomfrey moved from her position by the door with some of the Hogwarts professors and tended to him. She looked up to reassure Eva, "He's going to be all right, dear. You did a good job, but he's fine, other than a bruised ego."

Eva smiled and turned back to the room, where many of the younger Gryffindors were cheering for her. True to form, many of the Slytherins in her own year were sending her looks that could kill, including Pansy Parkinson. She ignored them and accepted the handshakes and 'Well done's' that many of her fellow students offered her. Professor Snape could see that the students were too excited to continue, so he dismissed them with an admonition to practice for next week's meeting.

Eva did not leave the Hall for another half an hour. It seemed that Draco had made quite a name for himself as a bully. It surprised her that all these people were so happy to see Draco beaten at something where he always bragged he was best. She couldn't believe that her Draco could be such a different person. She said thank you to yet another Gryffindor and turned to find Harry, Ron and Neville waiting for her.

"Hey, guys," she said.

Neville just walked up to her and shook her hand. She smiled at him. "I told you not to worry about me. I've been dueling with Draco for quite a while and I know his style."

"How did you do that thing with your wand, though?" asked Ron. "That was wicked."

Eva smiled and pulled up her sleeve just enough to show the scarf tied around her forearm. "It's quite simple, really. You just tie your wand to your arm and when you want it you use a simple Summoning Charm." She demonstrated the move again.

"Where do you learn all this stuff?" asked Harry.

Eva's smile faded a bit. "It's a lot easier to learn when you're being taught by three people and you have their undivided attention. But that particular move I saw on the telley."

"It must be hard for you here, huh?" said Neville.

"It was, at first, but I have friends now." Eva smiled at the three men standing in front of her. She saw the silly smile on Ron's face and remembered that she had meant to ask Neville about Ron and Hermione.

"Say, Neville? Could I have a word with you?"

"Sure."

"If you'll excuse us, gentlemen," Eva said to Harry and Ron. She hooked her hand through Neville's arm and they exited the Great Hall.

She steered him behind a statue of a medieval wizard in the Entrance hall and made sure no one was watching before asking for information.

"I just wanted to know if there is anything between Ron and Hermione."

Neville looked a bit surprised at her request. "Well, not that I know of, but everyone thinks that it's just a matter of time before they get together."

"Really? I thought they couldn't stand each other. I mean, they're constantly arguing; it's like their friendship is one long row."

"That's just what they use to hide their feelings, if you ask me." Neville moved closer as if afraid the statue might overhear. "Like on Monday, when Draco gave you those flowers, Harry and Ron were talking about giving you a better bouquet. Well, Hermione said that Harry shouldn't try to compete with Malfoy because she thought you weren't good enough for Harry - she's just jealous, Eva," he interjected when she frowned. "Anyway, Ron said that if you weren't good enough for Harry, then he would gladly take you off his hands. I could tell Hermione didn't like it. She got up and yelled that she hoped he was happy and stormed out of the Hall."

Eva thought about what Neville had said. It was true that Harry should not try to complete with Draco, but only because he had no competition. The information about Ron and Hermione, though, was enlightening.

"You said everyone thinks it's only a matter of time before they get together?"

"Yeah, it's been getting worse since Hermione got petrified in our second year."

Eva raised an eyebrow at that bit of information; she would have to ask Neville for that story later, but right now she had an egg of an idea in her mind and she wanted to let it incubate for a while.

"Thanks, Neville. I really appreciate all the information."

"Do you fancy Ron?" he asked.

"Heavens no!" she said. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with him, and he is kind of cute, but I don't fancy him."

"You do fancy Harry, though." It was more of a statement than a question. Eva had hoped she was not that transparent, but she guessed there was nothing she could do about it if the whole school knew she liked Harry Potter.

"Do you think he likes me?" she asked Neville.

"I think he does. I've seen him watch you when you're not looking. In Potions he'll just stare at the back of your head. He'll watch you when you come into a classroom and if you're walking down a corridor he'll stop and stare. I think he fancies you a great deal."

Eva got progressively pinker as Neville spoke. She had never imagined that Harry was watching her. She'd never be able to do anything now, knowing that he might be watching. She couldn't help but wonder what her mother might advise her to do.

"I really wish I could write to my Mum; she'd know what to do," she said absently.

"I know what you mean," said Neville.

Eva was about to ask him what he meant by that, but Professor McGonagall came up to them. "It's close to nine o'clock. Time for you two to be going to your dormitories."

"Yes, Professor," they chorused.

Just as Eva was halfway to her stairway, she remembered the note she had written that day at lunch, telling Harry the time she had worked for their first meeting. She ran back to the main staircase. "Neville! Come back! Could you give this to Harry, please? It's important." She shoved the sealed parchment into his hands.

"Sure," he said looking at it with curiosity.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't open it," said Eva.

"I wasn't planning to," he said.

She bid him goodnight and was on her way back up to her room. She felt a sensation of being followed again, halfway up the stairs. She waited at the top of the stairs for whoever it was to reach the top as well. When no one came after five minutes, she continued on her way to her room. Again, the sensation came when she was halfway down the corridor. She ran the rest of the way to her room and slammed the door shut behind her.

She locked the door with an Imperturbable Charm and slowly walked towards the bed. Her dress was just as she left it on the bed, so that meant probably the person had not yet entered her room. That was reasonable since only she, the Headmaster and Professor Snape knew the password. She knew that there was only one thing to do; in the morning she would go to Professor Snape and tell him what had been happening. He would know what to do; he was her Head of House and Dumbledore had told her that if she needed anything she should go to Professor Snape.