Sorry it's taken so long to update this. I've just been doing other stuff and not had time. I'm currently working on my next chapter. It's not gonna be very long, but with any luck it'll be on by tonight, as compensation for my slow updating. So there jane! lol o/m.

Leonora- eek! v. grateful 4 ur last review, made me realise what my summary looked like 2 sum1 who doesn't know the eventual plot, i.e me and my beta (jane, this means you!!). varina's not gonna b with pansy, cos ur right that wudnt work. By DMOCPP I meant it was gonna b a love triangle between draco, pansy and varina. Oops. That was stupid of me. So thanks for bringin that 2 my attention. Hope you like this next chapter.

Rosie xxx

After her disastrous first day, Varina found life at Hogwarts was improving. She had taken to Care of Magical Creatures well and, despite finding it, as Draco had said, the most boring lesson yet, she found History of Magic was quite easy. Pansy had left her alone for a while. Varina couldn't help wondering if Draco had something to do with that. She told herself she was just being stupid and she was just fantasising. Varina was looking forward to today. She had Charms, Herbology and Potions followed by a free period, easily the best day of the week.
Charms went smoothly and within a few attempts Varina was able to do the spell successfully. Then came Herbology. Professor Sprout told Varina she was a natural, as she successfully pruned and re-potted her Mimbulus mimbletonia without getting Stinksap all over herself, unlike, to Varina's delight, Pansy. Varina was on a high by the time it was lunch. She grabbed a quick bite to eat before going to the library to finish her Transfiguration essay for McGonagall.
When she was done, she put her quill away and read over it to check for mistakes. She was halfway through it when she heard someone approaching her desk. She looked up; it was Harry.

Varina smiled broadly, "Hi, Harry!"

"Hi. You seem to have cheered up a bit since Monday," he said returning her smile and sitting in the seat opposite her.

"Oh, yeah. I've just had a really good day today. And this afternoon I've got Potions and then a free."

"Me too! Hey, and believe me, you'll need that free to recover from Potions."

"Are you serious? I love Potions!" said Varina incredulously. Harry just looked at her. She couldn't help laughing at the expression on his face.

"Moving on," he said, making her laugh again, "How're you doing in general? Why aren't you hanging out in your common room?"

"I was doing my homework," she said, pointing to her essay.

"Is that the only reason?" he asked, clearly not believing her. Once again, Varina was amazed by his insight.

"Well, actually, I suppose I was trying to keep out of Pansy's way."

"Pansy Parkinson?"

"Yeah. She really doesn't like me. You know how my bag broke the other day? Well I think she made it split."

"I wouldn't put it past her. Just ignore her, she always been a cow. She's probably just jealous of you."

"Jealous?"

"Yeah. You look absolutely gorgeous without trying and even after a few hours grooming herself, Pansy still looks like a pug."

"She really does, doesn't she?" said Varina, her smile returning. Just then, the bushy-haired girl Varina had seen by Harry in the feast came over.

"There you are, Harry! I got the book I was looking for, it was- Oh, hello," she said, only just noticing Varina.

"Hi. I'm Varina Black."

"Hermione Granger. Nice to meet you."

"Varina, Hermione knows about how Siri- your dad, is innocent as well," said Harry, adding hastily, "But I didn't tell her you were his daughter." Hermione sat down too.

"You're Sirius' daughter? Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss. Sirius was a wonderful man."

"Thank you," said Varina quietly. She jumped when the bell rang. They all got up from the table and walked to the library entrance.

"Oh, shit, I've left my bag in the common room," said Harry, "I'll have to go back for it."

"I'll go with you," said Hermione.

"Well, it was nice meeting you, Hermione. See you both in Potions," Varina said, before making her way to the dungeons for Potions. Varina felt a bit let down by Harry for telling Hermione she was Sirius' daughter like that, without even checking. It wasn't that bad, she supposed, after all, Hermione knew Sirius was innocent too. She decided it was a simple mistake on Harry's part and that she wouldn't hold it against him.
Varina had been hoping that Harry might sit by her in Potions, but when they entered, it became apparent that the Gryffindors and Slytherins did not mix. Harry sat next to Hermione and the red-haired boy, whose name, Varina had found out, was Ron. Varina, once again, sat on her own. Draco sat on the bench in front of her, next to Crabbe and Goyle. Professor Snape swept into the room, causing everyone to fall silent.
"Good afternoon, class," said Professor Snape, "Today we will be making a fairly complex potion; hopefully, it will not prove so complex that even the more thick-skulled among you should not be able to produce a decent batch. This potion is called the Silencing Draught, and is used to keep people who have overheard important information, quiet. Instructions are on the board. Let's have two to a bench shall we? And anyone who feels the need to communicate with their neighbour, will be administered a few drops of my own sample of the draught, as a demonstration of the desired effect of your potions. You may begin."

Two to a bench. Varina had been quite happy with the situation until Snape had said that. Perhaps Harry would come over...but no, he had stayed with Ron and Hermione had moved next to a round-faced Gryffindor boy, who looked thoroughly terrified at the prospect of making the Silencing Draught. Varina was too busy looking over at the Gryffindors to notice someone had already taken the seat next to hers.
"Don't mind me sitting here, do you?" asked Draco; though Varina got the feeling it was more of a statement than a question.

"No. Go ahead," she replied. She began getting out her ingredients and setting them out. This doesn't look too bad at all, she thought as she read over Snape's instructions.

"How are you? I haven't really spoken to you since the feast," he said.

"I'm fine." She thought maybe if she seemed reluctant to talk he might leave her to get on with her potion. Evidently this was not so.

"How are you finding lessons?"

"Okay."

"Good. So, have you made any new, er, friends?" he asked, not looking at her. Did he know something about hers and Harry's friendship?

"Erm, I've talked to a few people, but I haven't really made any friends."

"Oh, right." She's lying to me, he thought. She doesn't want me to know about Potter. There must be something going on. Varina began grinding her scarab beetles. She re-read the instructions: Add the ground beetles to the cauldron and pour in a cup of armadillo bile and a dash of snake venom.

"You looked a bit upset in Transfiguration on Monday. McGonagall was really harsh on you," said Draco. Varina simply nodded acquiescence.

"Are you sure you're alright? You seem a bit quiet."

"I'm just trying to concentrate."

"If your worried about what Snape said, don't be. He's all talk. He wouldn't really give any of us that potion. Except maybe Potter. Or Granger; shut her up for a while. Insufferable know-it-all."

"Draco, can we talk later? I'm really finding it hard to concentrate."

"Fine. Whatever."

It's because I mentioned Potter, she wants to get off the subject, he thought.

Oh great, now I've offended him, she thought. Twenty minutes later, Varina was done. Everyone else was still making their potion. Varina looked back over the instructions checking to see she hadn't missed anything out. Confident she hadn't, Varina raised her hand.

"Is their a problem, Miss Black?" asked Snape, making his way over to her bench.

"No, sir. It's just, well, I've finished."

"Finished?" he asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir."

"I shall be the judge of that," he said. He leant over her cauldron, regarding its contents. He stirred it once, checking the consistency, before looking back at Varina.

"Class, may I have your attention please." Varina's heart was pounding. Have I done something wrong? Is he going to embarrass me in front of everyone?

"Miss Black here, has managed to complete this potion with the precision I would expect from a seventh year student, and in half the time. This is the type of high standard I hope you will all aspire to achieve in the future. Ten points to Slytherin, Miss Black." Varina couldn't help smiling. Finally, some real praise. Draco, tried to catch Varina's eye, to congratulate her. Varina's gaze however, was directed over to the other side of the classroom. She was smiling at Harry, who had looked over to give her the thumbs up. Draco felt his blood boil. He cut his asphodel roots very aggressively, wishing he could do the same to Harry.

When the lesson was over, Draco pulled Varina aside.

"What's the deal with you and Potty?"

"What?" said Varina taken aback.

"Potter. I saw you two the other day, after Transfiguration. He was all over you!"

"All over me? He was hugging me, because I was upset. It's what nice, caring people do," she spat him. She couldn't believe his impudence.

"Oh, yeah? Well, don't say I didn't warn you when he ignores you completely after you've been stupid enough to sleep with the little shithead."

Varina was trembling with rage at Draco's words.

"How dare you? How dare you? Is that really what you think of me? Some sad little girl, who goes to bed with the first person who shows her a bit of empathy?" She was furious.

"That's not what I said."

"Yeah? Well it sure as hell sounded that way to me. Excuse me," she said, pushing past him.

She walked down the corridor and kept going until she was outside. Her face was burning with indignation. She threw her bag down on the grass, sat down under the beech tree by the Great Lake and cried.