Chapter 8:

"I think perhaps your seating arrangement should be altered Professor Snape" Dumbledore spoke quietly although he had dismissed the class; a few students were listening curiously outside.

"Ah Miss. Granger, Mr. Weasley and Harry" he smiled through the wall at them "Can I help you?" The old wizard never seized to amaze any of them.

"Erm...well professor...we wondered if we could have a word" Harry said wary of Snape.

"When you're finished of course professor" Hermione added politely.

"I'll follow you to my office, but first of all I must finish my business here" Hermione nodded instantly and pulled the two boys away from the dungeon.

"No, headmaster" Snape went back to their conversation previous to the interruption "He isn't in any danger. If he is to fight in the greatest battle of out time, he needs to learn to deal with that pain. If he can't then perhaps it should be your choice of house that should be altered"

"I'm afraid I'll have to agree with Severus on this one Albus" came the wise voice of reason, Minerva McGonagall. Dumbledore noted her opinion; she seemed to him the only teacher in history that didn't favour any pupil in particular.

"Very well, it is a valid point. He shall remain where he is for now, we shall consider this again if there is no improvement"

Snape gave a slight smile at Minerva; she at least could make anyone see sense.

"Well that was a fun first lesson" Becci smiled walking with Draco "I understand how people can dislike him. Is he always such a baby?"

"A lot of the time, yes. Potter is such a waste of space" Draco drawled in reply, he grabbed Becci's shoulder and whispered in her ear "Meet me in the library, I can't talk properly here" she smiled and nodded

"See you then" he said in a more audible tone. She felt a slight pang of jealousy as he rushed to catch up to Pansy.

"Draco that girl is a Gryffindor, why would you want to talk to her?"

"She isn't actually Pansy. She has merely been placed there temporarily. She is a very intelligent witch; I was simply checking her out. She may end up in Slytherin" Draco tried to hide the nausea he felt as she cuddled up to him.

"Oh" she smiled thoughtfully, although Draco knew there was nothing but air filling the space between her ears.

"Gregory" she spoke slimily sweet, turning her charms on Goyle "go get me something to eat"

Becci walked slowly down the corridors. She had seen them all before but it was so surreal to be walking down them freely, without fear of being seen. She walked in a daze remembering the many times she had ducked and dodged down this particular corridor.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood patiently waiting outside the entrance to Dumbledore's office. Harry noticed her first.

"Oh look its Becci" Harry said his lips turning up slightly

"Yeah, she looks kind of puzzled don't you think" Ron scrunched up his nose half-heartedly.

"Oh dear, she'll be lost. We have to show her the common room," Hermione said remembering the girl was new.

"I'll go" Harry had started moving before he finished speaking.

"Harry don't be silly. You have to talk to Dumbledore" Hermione shook her head disapprovingly "Honestly Harry, you'd think you'd never seen a girl before. I'll take her, you and Ron wait for Dumbledore"

And with that she left Ron and a rather disappointed looking Harry to catch up with the new girl.

"Erm, Becci" Hermione whispered, tapping her gently so as not to wake her too suddenly from her daydream "You want me to show you the common room? Meet the girls?"

"Huh?" a slightly fazed Becci took in the questions "Oh yeah that would be nice. Thank you"

As Hermione opened the entrance to the common room, the other 6th year Gryffindor girls jumped from their seats to meet the new girl.

"Hi. I'm Lavender" a girl spoke as an arm reached to pull Becci through the portrait hole.

"I'm Parvati," said another "I'm a twin, just so you don't talk to my sister thinking it's me"

"And you're Ginny Weasley?" Becci asked raising her eyebrows at the small red headed girl who remained seated by the fire, only slightly worried that she could be wrong.

"Yeah" she smiled, her ears turning slightly pink.

"Ginny. Why aren't you in Herbology?" Hermione asked shocked to find her friend out of lesson

"Green house three is flooded. Professor Sprout can't teach us in it and she too busy fixing it to teach anywhere else" Ginny shrugged.

"Oh Hermione, never mind all that" Lavender spoke grabbing Becci's arm and pulling her "Come sit over here and tell us all about you"

Ron and Harry entered the common room about an hour before dinner, to the sound of four giggling girls. Ginny had left to return to her lessons.

"What are you four talking about?" Ron didn't really seem even remotely interested he just appeared to want to get away from Harry. Harry stormed off towards the dormitories, looking as though he might start smoking at the ears any second.

"Its girl stuff" Lavender rolled her eyes at Parvati who responded with a knowing look.

"Okay, I get the hint" Ron snapped, "See you later Hermione" he glanced at the dorms then walked quickly towards the portrait hole.

"Hey what about Harry?" Hermione asked standing up so she could see her friend, "You leaving him alone? Ron?"

"He's not in a talkative mood. Feel free to try talking to him if you want though" Ron shook his head at her and left.

"Anyway" Becci spoke cheerfully "Who's the school heart throb, gonna introduce me?" she laughed

"Well" Hermione said slyly "We were hoping you could help us on that one"

"What? Why? Who?" Becci looked confused "I don't know anyone"

"You can't tell any of the lads we said this" Parvati began

"No not one of them" Lavender cut in, "But it's" they all giggled, "It's.... Draco Malfoy"

Becci looked around at them mouth hanging open. Lavender and Parvati giggled together and Hermione a deep shade of pink. A mixture of feelings swam around inside Becci's head, shock and amusement; she never would have thought the majority of the females of Gryffindor house liking Draco Malfoy, especially Granger 'poor Hermione' she thought to 'she's got no chance'. Then there was that other feeling, it was so familiar, stronger this time, she was jealous.

"Well I don't really know him do I" she was thinking of excuses not to have to get him to talk to any of them.

"No but you will do, he'll talk to you" Lavender spoke excitedly

"Who will?" Ginny asked as she clambered through the portrait hole with a tonne of homework.

"Draco Malfoy" the girls replied in unison.

"Merlin, he's gorgeous" Ginny thought out loud "She does know we all like him right?" Ginny asked her cheeks making Hermione's look like snow

"He's not that nice" Becci spoke her cheeks burning as her jealousy flared.

"Oh he is. Just look at him next time you see him" Lavender replied in a distant voice.

"Well what exactly do you want me to do? None of you stand much of a chance do you" Becci responded her jealousy taking over "I mean you're all Gryffindors, he doesn't like them and on top of that, Hermione is muggle born and Ginny from a family his has hated for generations"

The four girls stood staring in shock.

"You know a lot about him for someone who doesn't know him," Hermione said sharply

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that" Becci said mentally kicking herself "I live by him remember. The Malfoy's aren't exactly quiet about their likes and dislikes. I'll see what I can do...but my parents are muggles too he...he's not going to want to know me either is he?" Hermione brightened up slightly at this part.

"Maybe not" she smiled

Hermione was the only one who hadn't taken the outburst to heart. Ginny was being quite cold towards Becci, and Lavender and Parvati had stopped talking to her altogether. Hermione led Becci to a seat facing the Slytherin table at dinner.

"He always sits in the same seat," she whispered in Becci's ear

Becci smiled at her, then at Draco as he waved across the great hall as he sat down.

"He might not mind you're muggle born" Hermione spoke out loud "He seems to like you"

"Who likes who?" Harry said blocking Hermione's view as he sat down. Draco mouthed 'Library' across the hall to Becci knowing that Granger would no longer be able to see him; Draco just about caught the nod before Ronald Weasley blocked her from view.

"I think Malfoy may like Becci" Hermione's cheeks burned with what Becci instantly noticed as jealousy. Harry sneered at the thought.

"Nah" Ron spoke mouth full "she's a Gryffindor"

"No Ronald she is not!" Hermione snapped as her jealousy burned "Dumbledore has temporarily place her with us, although" Hermione smiled slightly cheered up "she won't be in Slytherin being muggle born"

Becci shook her head ever so slightly and then glanced up to see Draco walking away with a sudden realisation in his eyes.

"Hermione I only ever said I have muggle parents" Becci spoke he eyes never leaving the blond haired Slytherin, although he never heard. Hermione looked confused.

"Same, difference" she muttered.

Becci ate silently, watching her childhood friend deep in thought at the Slytherin table 'how could I have forgotten, she wont be in Slytherin'. These thoughts were snatched away from him as two large, important looking owls soared through the hall.