Amethyst smiled as the Sorting Hat shouted "Gryffindor" to the Great Hall. The smile lit up her face and made her look even more beautiful. Two tears of joy, like tiny lovely diamonds, sparked in her eyes.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Amethyst Serenity Leithian Silverhill did not notice the wild applause she was getting. The Gryffindors were thrilled to have such a gorgeous and obviously talented witch in their house. Harry, who had been holding his breath, let it out in relief. He realized that he shouldn't have worried. Amethyst was simply too perfect to be in any house but Gryffindor.

Harry smiled and welcomed her to the table. Amethyst sat down next to him and Harry felt awed by the nearness of her. She was so beautiful and talented and tragic, and she was sitting next to him, Harry Potter, a nobody!

Poor Amethyst didn't know what was going on in Harry's mind. If she had, maybe it would have comforted her, but more likely, she wouldn't have believed it. She was sitting next to Harry Potter. He was so smart and good. He had defeated the Dark Lord multiple times! And he was so sexy with his Quidditch-toned muscles. Who was she? Nobody!

Amethyst was just relieved to be sitting down. She was trembling so much out of nervousness that she doubted she could stand. Here she was at Hogwarts. The dream of her life that had sustained her throughout her tortured and abused past had finally come true. She was free of her prison and could study at Hogwarts. The two tears that had been shining in her eyes since her sorting finally overflowed. They fell glimmering down her cheeks and dropped into her pumpkin juice, sending lovely ripples over the surface of the drink. Amethyst looked up. She had never made friends before --- well, except for Harry and her dear mice friends --- but she would have to make friends now. She hoped it wouldn't be too hard.

She was about to start talking to the friendly looking students around her when someone approached the table.

It was Draco Malfoy. He was sneering and smirking as he always did. He had a prominent pure-blood family, plenty of money and Quidditch-toned muscles that competed very nicely with Harry's. The sneer was the natural result of such a superior existence.

Ordinarily Draco Malfoy would not condescend to introduce himself to a new Gryffindor. But this was not an ordinary circumstance. Draco could tell Amethyst had money; her gorgeous, finely tailored robes made that clear. And surely such a beautiful, talented witch had to come from the finest pureblood family. Amethyst would be worthy of him, so he had to speak to her.

"So, Hogwarts' newest student is a Gryffindor," he said suavely, like the Casanova he was. "I'm charmed to make your acquaintance. My name is Draco Malfoy."

Amethyst blushed the prettiest shade of pink. "I'm Amethyst Serenity Leithian Silverhill."

"I'm afraid I don't know any Silverhills," Draco said. "Are they an old family? They must be. You could only be a pureblood."

Amethyst felt immediately flustered. She didn't know who her father was. Was she a pureblood? It was possible, but she didn't know for certain. Her mother, Cordelia, was no Muggle, that was for sure. She had been the most entrancing, beautiful, talented creature. Whoever Amethyst's father had been, he had been a great man worthy of Cordelia's love.

"I … I … am a pureblood," Amethyst said. She felt uncomfortable and unhappy. She was being forced to lie rather than tell the shameful secret of her unknown parentage. She drew herself up proudly and gazed directly at Draco.

Draco looked at Amethyst. Then, very suddenly, he turned pale, gulped nervously and walked quickly away. The Gryffindor students, who had all been watching Draco, turned to Amethyst with confused looks on their faces. What had frightened him?

Amethyst was feeling horribly out-of-place. Being unique was such a burden! She could feel everyone staring at her.

But no one said anything. And eventually the stares softened to admiring gazes again.

Amethyst began to relax. Harry was a perfect gentleman and introduced her to all of his friends. Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville immediately welcomed Amethyst as a friend. Amethyst smiled. In less than a day she had gone from having the friendship of only a few mice friends to having the friendship of several students her own age.

"Let's go to our first class, "Hermione said. "You'll love it, Amethyst." Hermione had immediately liked Amethyst, who was every bit as intelligent and talented as she was.

Amethyst gladly left the Great Hall with her new friends. She was feeling disturbed by the interaction with Draco Malfoy and was trying not to think about it. She must control herself and not let her power get away from her. But what had Draco seen?

Amethyst pushed the thought away and headed to her first class as a Hogwarts student.