The next morning was less hectic. I arose early, and hopped in the shower first. I put on my school robes, and put some curl enhancer in my hair. I twisted it up in a twist with a banana clip. After a touch of lip gloss and eye liner, I was good to go. I went to breakfast at the great hall, and sat with Ginny, who acted as though nothing out of the ordinary happened last night, and for that I thanked her. I chose some plain old oatmeal for breakfast, as the other choices were eggs and bacon, and cereal and milk. At this point, I asked Ginny to remind me to look up a charm for "de- meating" my meals but, when I explained to her why she laughed at me. "I have heard of those veg-im-a-tar-itans or whatever before. My father told me about them; said that muggles really fancy it and think it is healthy." "Yeah" I said. "It helps me stay in shape for quidditch, and when I am at home on break from school I used to run track for the state team." "Okay, and what is track?" Ginny asked. "It is like running; long distance running." Ginny turned to her almost cold breakfast. I sat mentally readying myself for the day. I felt compelled to look across the room, as though someone's eyes were boring in to the top of my head. I looked across to the Slytherin table, and there was Draco, smiling at me. He mouthed "Good morning.", and winked at me I felt my cheeks flush. Hermione looked up at the same time. "He's a bad seed that one, Emme. Really, I wouldn't let him to close." She said with almost a little more knowledge about it then she seemed to want to let on "Hmm." I said smiling back at him. "I always did have that issue. I love the bad one's, 'Mione. I love 'em, and apparently they love me." Draco blushed this time At the same time Hermione just sucked her bottom lip in disapproval. The morning went by fast; with Divination first period. Professor Trelawney was definitely a couple of muffins short of a dozen, but apparently nice enough. She gave us an assignment the first day back. She wanted a two foot essay on our most emotionally significant moment. Transfiguration with McGonagall then followed. She made me feel very welcome. She asked me, right after class ended, how I was feeling, and how my adjustment was going. She also said that if I have any issues with anything I should ask Ms. Granger for help. Little did she know that I was a wonderful student at my old school, and that I am probably as good as, if not better then "Ms. Granger". The last class of the day was double potions. I hated potions. I always hated potions. As I entered the dungeon, I heard a voice behind me. "Hey, Emerald Greene of Gryffindor, hold on." I turned slowly, already knowing who it was. "Well, if it isn't Draco Malfoy. How was your first day back?" "Wonderful now that your here." he said matter- of - factly. "Can I carry your books to class?" I obliged by handing him my books, and he took my hand in his. I felt faint. We waited outside for Professor Snape to come, and open the door when Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy approached with another girl. Pansy said, "Hello." to me with a sneer. She seemed to have an issue with me holding hands with Draco. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time that I pissed a girl off by being with the best looking guy in her house, if not the school. Goyle was talking about how much work he had, and how terrible this year was going to be. The other girl, who I found out was Millicent Bulstrode, was agreeing and resting against the wall. "Damn." Goyle said. "I could really use a fag." "Fag?" I said. "Are you gay?" With that, Draco laughed. "No my darling." He said. "Remember, guys, she is an American, and doesn't know our lingo. A fag is a cigarette." "Oh." I said, as if a light bulb was going on over my head "Where I am from it is called a stoge." The conversation continued until Professor Snape showed up, and opened the door. We went in, and I slid in to the seat next to Draco. Pansy tried to get in to it first, but Draco made it quite clear that he wanted me sitting next to him. "Pansy, you prat, you know I am saving that seat for Emme. Get up." She obliged, and moved behind me. I felt her eyes burning the back of my head, and I could hear her silently cursing me. She'll get over it I thought. "I hope you are happy with the seat you have chosen." Professor Snape said. "As it will be yours 'till after the Christmas holiday when I swap the room, but regardless, the person next to you, at your lab table, will be your partner for the year, so best get acquainted as you will be doing many class potions together as well as a few homework potions that you will need to brew and put together a lab report for me." I glanced over to Draco, and he gave me a quick smirk. I smiled back, and looked back to Professor Snape. He went on about the different uses of the muggle plant poison ivy in the wizarding world. I sat quietly listening to him talk, and say things that I had learned two years before. I felt Draco put his hand on my thigh, and my body tensed. I looked back and forth from his hand to his face. I slapped the top of his hand, and he quickly pulled away. Class ended, and everyone filed quickly out of the room. I walked with Draco. We saw Hermione walking with Ron and Harry, and Draco made some rude comments to them as we passed. "You need to be quiet." I said taking his hand in mine, and leading him a head of the queue of students walking up the stairs. I heard Ron and Harry snigger as we passed them; Draco doing as I had told him. Draco walked me to the base of the stairs leading from the entrance hall. He handed me my books, and said, "I will see you around." He leaned in to kiss me, and I turned my head quickly to the side. He ended up kissing my cheek as I said, "Not so fast Mister Malfoy." He smirked and headed back down to the dungeons; aparently where the Slytherin common room was. I headed up the stairs with Ginny, and she began talking to me. "You know Malfoy is seriously bad news. His father is a death eater, and his mother is a self righteous pain." "He doesn't seem so bad to me." I replied. "Well he wouldn't now would he. He likes you, Emme." Ginny told me. "I know." I told her. "Just be careful, okay? His father is completely against him dating anyone, but a pure blood witch." Ginny requested. "I will." I promised as we reached the portrait of the fat lady. "Lacarnum inflamare." I told her the password. She swung herself forward, and Ginny and I scrambled through the portrait hole. We met up with Ron, Hermione, and Harry in the common room. "Hey, Ginny. How was your first day?" Ron asked his sister. "Alright. Snape gave us a 1 1/2 foot essay on the root of a mandrake, and its uses. Like we don't already know all about it after my first year." Ginny giggled. "What happened in your first year?" I questioned. "Oh, um..." Ginny began. "Well Vol-... He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named posessed me, and a Basilisk went around the school petrifying people, and it was just a big fiasco. If it wasn't for Harry, I'd be dead right now." she kissed Harry's cheek, and he smiled at her. "Oh. You guys have a lot of problems in this school don't you?" I asked quietly. "Not really. It's just that Harry is a prime target for most evil wizards, so we are always in the middle of everything." Hermione explained. "Well, then." I said as I opened my school bag, and unloaded my potions homework. I sat down, and wrote a blurb about an assignment that Draco and I had to do together. "I don't mean to sound rude. It's just that... nothing ever happened at Stalefree." "We don't take any offense to it. Don't worry about it." Harry told me. "Thank you." I said tucking my parchment back into my bag. "I have to meet up with Draco to do the potions assignment, so if you'll excuse me..." I stood up, and walked up to my dormitory. I wrote a letter to him, and put a spell on it that would make it fly right into his dormitory window, and land on his pillow. A few minutes later, as i sat and stared at my pictures, I got a return letter from Draco. Dear Emme,
I will meet you tomorrow after dinner, 8:00, in the astronomy tower. I will see you tomorrow.
Sincerely Yours,
The Dragon I smiled as I read the note. I pointed my wand at the parchment, and deleted everything written on it, so I could use it another time. Another thing I was big on was preserving trees. I went to dinner that evening in a completely light hearted mood. Knowing that I was going to see Draco again made the entire trip down to the great hall and the terrible meal, at least salvageable. God, what I wouldn't give for a good old muggle made ceaser salad with no chicken and french fries. All through dinner I would look over to Draco, and find him engaged in conversation with his friends, but every so often he would glance at me, and beam a smile in every direction. After dinner, I left the great hall, and went to the library to start on my essay for Trelawney. I didn't get very far as I was beat. I climbed in to bed early that night. I was tired with all of the work that had to be done, and the emotional exhaustion from the prior evening. The last thing I remember is holding Brownie, my beat up old teddy bear, and thinking, "Good night, Draco." As I drifted to sleep, I swore I heard him say to me, "Good night, my darling."