Author's Note : This is where the PG-13 rating begins to kick in. There are some violent parts in this story as well, but that is not until later. Is there an actual point to having Verator and Narm in the story plot-wise? Yes there is, but again that is later. Much later. Anyhow, after this chapter I am hoping to get the plot in gear and ready to move but my mind has a bad habit of lying to me. And on a side note, please forgive any inconsistency between the story and the books. After all, this is a fanfiction. Enjoy this chapter! Rys

Disclaimer : I do not own, I do not own . . . . I wish I did . . .

CHAPTER THREE

It was Saturday. A beautiful Saturday at that. The air was still warm from the retreating Summer, but the leaves were already beginning to turn, leaving the grounds blanketed in a pleasantly warm atmosphere. In fact it was so nice that Darlon had decided that it would be a good idea to go outside to finish her leftover assignments. She had invited Hermione to join her, but she had already planned something else with Harry and Ron. Darlon was disappointed, but she understood. They were her best friends after all.

And so, with Kyla on one shoulder and a book-bag slung over the other, she left the Slytherin's dungeon common room and made her way to the lovely outdoors.

Darlon's wonderful plans took a slight detour the moment she saw a lone Hufflepuff first year. Face pale and traumatized, the moment he spotted her, he dashed into her arms and began babbling incoherently. Th only words she was able to make out were "horrible", "noises", and "closet". Completely baffled, she tried her best to calm the boy down, but to no avail. Kyla tried to calm the kid in her own way, chirping and tapping her wings against his back.

"What did you do to the poor kid?"

Darlon looked up to see a Slytherin prefect walking her way. She recognized the girl as Blair, or Blaise. Something like that anyway. She had seen her with Pansy on more than one occasion.

Darlon gritted her teeth. "What do you mean?" she growled. "I found him like this and I can't get anything out of him!"

Annoyance flickered across Blaise's face. "You don't have to get all-"

A nearby broom closet rattled on it's hinges.

The first year squeaked and both girls looked at each other in question. Blaise pointed to the door, and Darlon nodded in a silent reply, stepping closer and shifting the quaking first year behind her. Kyla shifted to Darlon's back, hiding in her master's robes. Both girls drew their wands. With the utmost caution, Blaise gripped the knob firmly, and looked back to Darlon. Darlon held up her free hand to give a silent countdown.

Three . . .

Two . . .

One . . .

Now!

Blaise flung the door open to reveal . . .

Darlon blinked, lowering her wand. Blaise blushed and turned away.

In a tangle of limbs and loosened clothing were none other than Verator Malfoy and Narmaline Dulacrouge, both looking sated and utterly without shame. Verator was busy smoothing out his robes while Narmaline was in the middle of tying her midriff shirt. How they were able to do this in the position they were in was a complete mystery.

Suddenly, Darlon had a very good idea what the little Hufflepuff had walked in on.

Poor thing.

Darlon swallowed hard. "Couldn't you two go someplace a little more . . . private?"

"We did, but that pesky McGonnagal woman found those quickly enough." Verator stated, as if it was no more than an inconvenience.

Narm grinned, as if remembering. "Oh the look on her face . . ."

Blaise and Darlon exchanged a look, and then burst out laughing.

"So . . . what do you think of Britain so far?"

Darlon turned to Blaise. "So far?"

"Your accent," Blaise said bluntly.

"Oh, right."

The two were sitting by the lake, watching as a pair of Gryffindor seventh years were showing off to a group of giggling girls. Darlon shook her head at the boys' antics before returning to her conversation.

She sighed. "Truth of the matter is that I've been here for over a year now. It's been fine, but the students here are a bit . . . weird."

"How so?"

Darlon lifted her head to the sunlight. "For starters, just yesterday I saw a boy walk around all day with pink feathers and fluffy orange tail because apparently someone had slipped him some sort of hexed candy. I asked Hermione about it. She was upset that someone would do such a thing, but the she turns right around and tells me that its pretty normal around here. Compared to this place, the people at my old school were sane."

"So, it's true then? That you're friends with Granger?"

Darlon's eyes snapped open to eye her companion. "What of it?"

Blaise's nose crinkled slightly in distaste. "She's a Gryffindor."

"And a good person."

"Who's a know-it-all."

"She's quick witted. What do you have against her?"

Blaise looked away. "She's a Gryffindor," she repeated stubbornly.

Darlon gave a slight smirk. "Is that the whole of your argument?"

The dark haired girl gave her an even look. "You'll see soon enough, you are in our house after all."

"What do you mean?"

Blaise got up to leave.

"Wait! What will I see?" Darlon pressed.

Pausing in mid step, Blaise turned back to her. "People describe Gryffindors as being brave and noble. Because of these 'fine' qualities they tend to plow headlong into stupid situations. I'm not saying that we don't get into our own fair share of trouble, but we make it a habit not to get into a situation where we don't have a quick exit. They are rash and love to act without thinking. Be friends with whoever you like, I don't really know you well enough to care what to do, and I don't think you would listen to me anyway."

With that she left the other Slytherin girl alone by the lakeside.

"How are you going to die four times in one month?"

Harry blinked and looked up to see Darlon leaning over his shoulder. He glanced back down at his Divination homework. "Err well . . ."

"Trust me, this will pretty much guarantee him good marks," Ron explained, plopping down next to Harry. "Trelawny wouldn't notice you were faking it even if you said that a pastry will sprout teeth and bite the Minister of Magic."

"Are you serious?" Darlon asked thinking about her own paper.

"Yes," they answered simultaneously.

"And here I was, actually reading the book."

The Gryffindor trio and the lone Slytherin sat together in the library, finishing last minute work for their respective classes before class started. Except for Hermione, she had finished all her work last night.

Darlon started to pack her things when she suddenly stopped. An odd look came over her face, her eyes becoming distant and her head tilted to the side, almost like she was listening to something.

"Darlon?" Hermione asked, concerned.

The look passed. She smiled brightly, her disappointment buried under a recently cultivated mask. She slung her bag over one shoulder. "We have Care of Magical Creatures next, right?"

"Yes," Hermione answered. "We better get going if we don't want to be late."

Author's Note : Wow, has it been THAT long??? I can't believe how old this story is. Oh well, it's not like many people read this anyway. A major character will (eventually) appear in the next chapter, and yes he will have a reason for being there. I was going to make it part of this chapter, but . . . the update would just be longer.

I realize that Kyla kind of disappears at the beginning of the chapter, and to those who noticed I'm sorry. And I need HELP!! Does anyone know HOW the damn school/class schedule works?!?! ANYONE?? (Groan) I'll try do better next time. But I have little enough time as it is . . . .