I do not own any characters!

DramaQn610: Thanks for all the support. I'm glad you liked the story.

Hermione21: Thanks—I love it when you review!

Anyway, I thought in this chapter I would let you get to know Ali better!

Chap. 4—Ali, the Sweet Slytherin

"C'mon, Draco, you know you like her!" Ali accused playfully. Draco liked having her around, she was fun to be with, except when she got into talking about Hermione.

"I do not, Ali!" He responded, half-lying.

"I see the way you look at her!" Ali stated.

"Yeah, I look at her as only a friend, like you. Now end of conversation. We have to go to Hogsmeade anyway." He answered.

"I'm going with Hermione and Ginny. I can hang out with you when we're done, okay?" She said, still smiling.

"Fine. See you then." He said and they walked out of the Slytherin common room. Hermione and Ginny were waiting for her at the entrance hall. "Hey Ali."

"Hey guys. So, I was thinking, we got to Madam Malkins, Honeydukes and all those good places and then we can go into Three Broomsticks for a drink!" Ali responded. Hermione and Ginny liked the idea.

After a fun afternoon of buying new robes, make up, sweets and all the stuff girls love, they stepped into Three Broomsticks, exhausted. Ali offered to go get the drinks while Hermione and Ginny found a table. She came back a while later with three butterbeers. They all sat, enjoying the yummy drink and showing each other what they bought. When they finished that, Hermione thought of something.

"Um, Ali? You're so sweet, so why are you in Slytherin? I don't mean to sound rude or anything but I'm just wondering."

Ali hesitated before speaking, "I don't really know, honestly. I think it was because I came from Durmstrang and you know that school has a lot of Dark wizards in it, full of dark magic. I hated it there. Most people were really mean. When my best friend went to Beauxbatons, I thought I was lost. She was the only person who was nice. That's what most people hated me for, I was too nice for a school like that." She answered.

"Why did you come here, I mean, did they do something really bad?" Ginny wondered aloud.

"They never did something to hurt me but they made fun of me constantly. The teachers didn't like me either, 'cause they are dark wizards and witches too. And you know we found out like, 3 years ago that the old Headmaster was a Death Eater! Like I said before, I hated it there. All the girls thought I was stupid, all the boys pushed me around. That was the reason I came here and I love it here. I'm accepted. But I can't believe I was put into Slytherin because the sorting hat knows I hate dark magic and I just, well I don't know, I just hate it." Ali finished, by now having tears in her eyes by remembering her old school.

"I'm sorry, Ali. That is a terrible school. I don't see why people didn't except you there, you are so nice." Hermione comforted.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too." Ginny said quietly. Ali smiled reassuringly at her friends. They finished their drinks and headed back to the castle, happily talking about whatever. Ali departed for her common room where Draco was sitting on the couch. She smiled and joined him in a game of wizard's chess.

------------------------------------------------------

Hermione walked into the Gryffindor common room after bringing her stuff to her room. She found Harry and Ron actually doing their homework. They were consulting each other for help, which wasn't helping. Hermione sat down, answering their questions, having finished that homework already. She was in a good mood so she bug them for doing it late. They went down to dinner after finishing it and sat down, waiting for the plates to fill.

------------------------------------------------------

"Hey, Draco!" Ali called to get his attention. "Notice Hermione yet?" She joked. Draco was looking at her, seriously deciding about his feelings. Draco snapped his attention back to Ali.

"May I help you?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, it's just that you have been ignoring everything I've said because you're in love with Hermione! I so can't wait till you ask her out!" Ali said cheerfully.

"Ali, for the millionth time, Hermione is my friend, nothing more and I am not asking her out." Draco replied.

"Okay, what ever you say!" She said, knowing that he would ask her out someday, or at least admit he likes her!

-----------------------------------------------------

"Hermione, Malfoy likes you." Harry stated at dinner.

"What?" Taking her by surprise.

"I mean look at it, you say he's nice to you, you're on a truce and he keeps looking at you." Harry said, with an emphasis on the last part.

"Not true." Hermione said and rolled her eyes.

"'Mione, it is so true. I can't believe--." Ron started but Hermione cut in.

"Ron! I don't care what you believe, okay! He does not like me, we're just friends!" Hermione said, and walked out, as always.

"Sweet temper, eh Harry?" Ron muttered quietly.

"I heard that!" She said as she walked away.

--------------------------------------------------------

Draco watched Hermione storm out of the Great Hall, probably ticked off at Ron. "You so like her, Draco!" Ali accused.

"Ali, if we go through this one more time, I will uh, I will...I don't know do something." He said.

"Yeah, you'll ask her out!" Ali announced.

"No, I wont."

"Yes, you will."

"No, I wont."

"Yes, you will."

The conversation went for a while before Ali gave up and went back to finish her homework. It can't be true, I am not falling for Hermione, at least I hope not...Draco thought.

Authors Note: Hope you like....please review!