Disclaimer: I don't own anything, other than Raven and her history. And this story, minus the excerpts from JK Rowlings books; aka: paragraph three of this chapter.

Chapter Notes: This chapter…was fun to write, but it was kind of hard too. Not because of what was going to happen, but because my writing style has changed a little bit since I started the story. I think, eventually, I might have to re-write the first part…just to add a little bit to it, not change the story.

Anyway, LOTS of interesting stuff going on this year…hehehe…most of it's already written…I just need to get there. :D So, I hope you all stay along for the ride…'cause Raven's life isn't getting any easier.


Feelings
I realised by the end of the week that my thoughts from that first night were correct. The first day of classes…at least for all those around me, was hell. Oh, wait, I meant for Draco. That insufferable prat made everyone else's lives hell. (At least, from my point of view.)

First, it was breakfast the next day. I had been seated a little ways away from everyone else, studying my schedule for the new term, when I heard loud laughing coming from down the table. I looked up, watched Draco's impression of someone fainting, and noticed that everyone was not only laughing, but also looking at the direction of the doors, where Harry and his friends were currently walking through. Rolling my eyes, I went back to committing my schedule to memory, until I heard Pansy shriek,

"Hey Potter! Potter! The dementors are coming, Potter! Woooooooo!" I glanced over at Harry, to see him stoically sit down at Gryffindor table. Then Blaise turned to me.

"Raven, Have you seen Draco's impression yet? It's hilarious!" Then he turned back to Draco. "C'mon, Draco, do it again! Raven hasn't seen it yet!"

And again, I watched as Draco impersonated 'Harry fainting,' trying my hardest to laugh right along with the other Slytherins. I think I was laughing more at Draco's sorry excuse at humour and what he looked like doing it than why he was doing it. After all, I had fainted too, and it wasn't a pleasant experience at all. But hey, if I had a chance to laugh at Draco, even if he didn't realise that I was actually laughing at him and not with him, I'd take it.

And it wasn't until nearly dinnertime when I heard of what happened in the third-years' first Care of Magical Creatures class.

I was sitting in the common room, working on some homework before supper when Pansy burst in, nearly in tears. Alarmed, I ran up to her and asked her what was wrong.

"It's Draco!" she almost wailed. "He's been hurt! And all because of that stupid, ugly, giant…"

I patted her on the back. "Who, Pansy? What happened?"

"Hagrid! That giant oaf! He…he made us try to be friendly with hippogriffs! In our first class! And now Draco's hurt, and th-there was blood everywhere!" She was now sobbing on my shoulder, and all I could do was raise my eyebrows.

"Is he…is he alright?" I asked hesitantly. "Draco, I mean?" Not that I was worried about the prat. But one had to make appearances…

Pansy sniffled and pulled away from me. "For now, yes. Madam Pomfrey healed him the best she could, but his arm's in a sling now, and it'll be hard for him to do his homework and such, so we're all going to have to help out."

"I see…" I patted Pansy on the shoulder and looked around for a handkerchief. "So…was it only his arm? I mean…he's not disfigured, or anything, is he?" I asked off-handedly.

Pansy looked at me in horror. "Oh gods, no! But wouldn't that have been awful? Oh poor, Draco…Madam Pomfrey said that she healed it so that it wouldn't scar, but he lost an awful lot of blood, and it hurts something dreadful, Draco said. That ugly hippogriff nearly took Draco's arm off!"

I raised my eyebrows. "Really? Wow…"

"I think I'm going to go see him after dinner, would you like to come?"

"I…er…sure, if you want. Although you know Draco doesn't like me all that much."

But Pansy shrugged. "Oh, it'll be fine. I'd just hate to think of him, all alone in the infirmary…Pomfrey says he'll have to stay for a few days, just to make sure he'll regain proper use of his arm. Do you think we should bring him some dessert? I don't think Madam Pomfrey likes giving her patients too many sweets, and sugar always seems to cheer him up a bit." Pansy leaned towards me conspiratorially. "I'm not sure if you know, but Draco's mum still sends him care packages with all kinds of goodies, although I think he tries to hide it, to make it seem like he's not all that attached to his mother anymore."

"You mean…like a momma's boy?" I whispered back.

"Yes, something like that."

Hmm. This was interesting. So Draco was a momma's boy…I tried not to let the laughter in my head escape my mouth, but couldn't stop a smile at playing at the corners of my lips. Turning to Pansy, I said, "Well, we'd better get going to dinner, if we're going to visit Draco and still have time for homework." Pansy nodded, and dropped her bag off next to my stuff, and then we headed off upstairs to dinner.


When Pansy and I arrived at the infirmary after dinner, Madam Pomfrey almost didn't let us in, proclaiming that it was too late and that Draco needed his rest. But Draco seemed to have over heard that someone came by to see him, and told Pomfrey that he could see us, if only for a short while.

"Harrell? What are you doing here?" Draco groaned as we approached his bed.

"Don't sound so happy to see me, Malfoy, people might start to think you like me or something."

"Pfft. Not if I can help it."

Pansy decided it was time to interject. "Draco, darling, how do you feel?"

"Oh…" Draco moaned melodramatically. "Terrible, Pansy. Absolutely terrible. It hurts something awful still."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,' Pansy fretted.

"Can't you just ask Madam Pomfrey for a potion to make the pain go away?" I asked, and Draco shot me a scathing look, before mock wincing while he shifted on his bed.

"Oh, she gave me something like that, but it still hurts."

"Poor Draco," Pansy sighed, and I frowned. Was she blind? Draco was obviously putting on a show! Good lord, Pansy…

"Well…" I said, deciding to play along, "We brought you some treats from dinner."

It was nearly imperceptible, but I believe I saw Draco's eyes light up, just before he said in a tired tone, like our visit was wearing him out, "Really? What kind?"

Pansy quickly pulled out a napkin from her pocket. "I brought you a bit of chocolate cake…I know how much you like chocolate. And I also brought you a few cookies…although I'm sure they're not nearly as good as your mum's…"

"Oh…no, Pansy, I'm sure they're not. But it'll do." Then Draco turned to me expectantly, as Pansy put the cake and cookies in the bedside table drawer.

Blushing under the scrutiny, I dug in my pocket and pulled out my own napkin. "I, er…brought you some éclairs and some truffles…there's not a whole lot, but with Pansy's stuff, it should last you until you get out of here."

"Éclairs? And Truffles? Well, Raven…if you keep treating me like this, I just might have to start treating you like a real Slytherin. I love éclairs and truffles. Especially the milk chocolate ones." He held out his hand, and I gingerly placed the full napkin in his palm. A strange jolt had jumped through my stomach at the revelation that I managed to sneak something that Draco loved into the infirmary, but it was surely dampened by Draco's insinuation that I didn't really belong in Slytherin…as if I had forgotten. And, in a way, I had. It was kind of fun trying to sneak food away from the table and into the hospital, and I had nearly forgotten who it had all been for.

Draco put the napkin in his lap and plucked a truffle out of the pile of treats and popped it in his mouth. "Mmm…yes…these are good…"

"You're welcome, Draco." I muttered when he had seemed to think that his mumblings were his 'thank you' to me. He shot me another look, but went back to enjoying his treats.

"Well, Draco darling, I suppose we should go. I'll try to visit you tomorrow too; I can't bear the thought of you being all alone in here and drinking horrible potions and eating mediocre food…"

"Actually, the food's not all that bad," I interjected. "It's the same as what the rest of the school gets, but you don't get a choice…" My voice trailed off at the cutting looks thrown my way. "Er…nevermind. The food's terrible. Absolutely horrible. I hope you get out soon, Draco."

"Yes. I hope I do too. But then I'll have all that homework to catch up on…and I can't do much with my arm the way it is…"

"Oh, we'll help you Draco! Won't we, Raven?"

"Er…ah, yeah. We'll all help."

"Good," Was all Draco said.

Pansy leaned forward and gave Draco a chaste kiss on the cheek before pulling away. "Goodnight, Dray."

"Goodnight." Draco mumbled as Pansy stepped away and turned to leave. He looked to me and said, "You're not going to kiss me too, are you?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "In your dreams, Dray," I mocked. Then I too stepped away and started to follow Pansy out of the infirmary.

"But we both know what happens to my dreams, Raven!" Draco called.

I stopped, smiling sardonically and turned back around briefly to say, "Yeah…they always come true." And then I left, Draco's smirking face fresh in my mind.

Once we were both outside, Pansy let out a soft little sigh, looking dreamily out into the space ahead of us.

"You alright, Pansy?" I asked as we walked back to our common room.

"Oh…isn't he just…" she trailed off, before saying suddenly, "I mean, he looks gorgeous even when he's in those horrible infirmary clothes and he's all bandaged up!"

Oh. Draco. I should have guessed.

"Er…I guess so…" I mumbled, not quite sure if she was actually talking to me or to herself.

"Don't you think so, Raven?"

"What?"

"That Draco's cute!"

"I-er…sure. If you like that sort of thing…"

"It's not even that he has a whole lot of money," she kept rambling, "he's just…perfect…"

"Pansy…" I started, "Do you like Draco?"

Pansy let out a little squeak and blush spread across her cheeks. "Yeah…I think I do."

"Oh. Well, good luck with that."

Suddenly, Pansy whirled on me and pleaded, "You'll help me Raven, right? You'll help me get Draco?"

"Get…Draco…?" Oh please don't let her mean what I think she means…

"Yeah, you know…get him to be my boyfriend?"

Oh hell, it is what I think she meant. Great. "I…uh…if-if you need me, I'll try…" But I could feel a rock sink heavily to the bottom of my stomach. I just wanted to avoid the git, for Christ sakes…

Pansy squealed in delight. "Oh thank you, Raven. I know you probably don't like him much…but just you wait, you'll find someone too, and then I'll help you get a boyfriend!"

I blushed. "Oh, er…th-that's alright, Pansy…I'm not really ready to have a boyfriend…"

"Do you not like boys yet?" Her pixyish face marred with a puzzled look.

"What? No-no, it's not that, I just…don't really want a boyfriend right now…or at least, I don't really have anyone I like…" Except, my mind decided to remind me with a flash of memory, maybe Harry…

"Oh, that's fine. I'm sure someone will come along. How do you get along with your year-mates?" She asked suddenly.

"Who? You mean…Donnie, Jesse, Ashley and Jack?" and she nodded. "Erm…well, I get along with them fine, I suppose. I don't really talk to them much outside of class. They're kind of…silly…for boys, I mean."

"You mean that they don't seem to like girls much?"

"Yeah. They either ignore me, or try and annoy me, but in a good-hearted way. It's kind of weird. It's more like I'm their little sister or something, even though we're the same age."

"Do any of them already have sisters?" Pansy asked as we approached the common room.

"I think Donnie has an older one…but I think she's much older. Already graduated from Hogwarts. And Jesse has an older brother…he's a fourth year." I turned to the wall and muttered, 'anguigena' and waited for it to slide completely open.

As we walked in, Pansy asked, "You mean Glenn? Glenn Jameson?"

"Yeah, I think that's his name."

As we entered the common room, Ashley called out from the study table in the corner, "Hey, Raven! Professor Snape wants to see you."

"Right now?" I asked, and the blonde nodded.

I turned to Pansy. "Well, I'd better go see what he wants. I'll be back in a minute." And so I exited the common room again, and quickly made my way to Snape's classroom. I knocked on the door and when I was granted entrance, I stepped inside to see my head of house at his desk, looking at some papers.

"Miss Harrell. I have finished the potion. I assume you remember the proper procedure?"

"Yes, sir."

"Alright, here it is then," and he beckoned me forward to hand me a large vial filled with the metallic purple liquid.

"Thank you again, Professor," I said, and turned to leave, and just before I got to the door, he called me back.

"Yes, sir?"

"Ashley Harmon told me that you and Miss Parkinson visited Mr. Malfoy this evening. I trust that he's not giving you any problems this year?"

I smirked a little before replying, "Other than being expectedly annoying, sir, no. At least, not yet. I think his first day had put a little damper in his usual routine."

Snape regarded me with smiling eyes and a small upturn of his lips. "I believe that you are the only in-house opposition Mr. Malfoy has, which normally would put strain on most situations, but I think it's rather good. For the both of you."

I'll mention now, that at the time, I had no clue what he meant by that statement. "Sir? I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

He turned back to his papers. "In time, Raven. In time you will." It was obvious that he was dismissing me, so I left.

I walked back to the common room, quite puzzled by the man's words. I mean, didn't the opposition between Draco and I put strain on the whole situation? Wasn't that half the reason he was giving me the vial I now held in my hand? How could that be good? Shaking my head, I slipped the corked vial in my pocket before repeating the password and entering the common room for the second time that evening.

Pansy greeted me from the couch, where her and Theo sat. "So, what did Snape want?"

I took my bag from the chair I had left it in, and sat down, pulling out my unfinished homework. "Oh, nothing," I replied. "I had dropped something in potions this afternoon, and he wanted to return it."

Pansy nodded, and we set to task of finishing our homework. The common room seemed unnaturally quiet without Draco there to liven things up. Not that he was overly rambunctious, but more like obnoxious. To me at least. And when I heard another quiet sigh escape Pansy's lips as she sat on the couch, I finally looked up.

"Is there something wrong, Pansy?" I asked, and the blonde looked startled for a moment.

"No," she said wistfully.

I frowned slightly, and I rolled my eyes when Theo said, looking at Pansy's parchment, "D.M. + P.P., huh? You got a thing for Draco, Panse?"

Pansy blushed, and I said, "Don't get her started, Theo. It was all she could talk about on the way back form the infirmary."

But Theo laughed. "Oooh, Draco and Pansy, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g…"

"Theo!" Pansy squealed in embarrassment. "Oh, please don't tell him, Theo, please?"

"But why not? It's funny."

"What's funny?" Blaise said, as he and Jesse walked over to where we were sitting.

And before Pansy could slap a hand over his mouth, Theo exclaimed, "Pansy likes Draco!" And then he was tackled by the girl next to him, and he only laughed, as he fended her off. But eventually Pansy sat back, folding her arms across her chest and slouching down, looking quite flustered.

"Really?" Blaise said, and he and Jesse shared a look.

"How do you feel about it, Raven?" Jesse asked, looking faintly uneasy.

I gave him a puzzled look. "How should I feel about it? It's not like I like him. If Pansy likes him, all the more luck to her. He's a pain-in-the-arse." Blaise and Theo both burst out laughing at my last statement, and I noticed that both Blaise and Jesse seemed to relax somewhat. Pansy looked even more harassed, and so I said, "Why don't we just leave it alone, eh? And if they get together, they get together. No interfering, alright?" And I have the three boys hard looks.

Blaise grinned. "Sure, whatever you say." I gave him another stern look, but went back to my homework none the less.

"Hey Raven?"

I looked up. "Yeah, Jesse?"

"I was wondering…if you could help me with my transfiguration homework. I don't think I understood what McGonagall was saying today."

I nodded. "Alright," I said and got up to go help him. And although I was leaning over Jesse at the table, trying to help him, as well as the other second-years, the only thing that I could really think about was how suddenly crushes, feelings, and dating were getting thrown into the mix of stuff to deal with at Hogwarts. I sighed. And it was only the first day.


A/N: I hope the last section to this chapter wasn't too drawn out…but there was just so much to say! Anyways, this chapter was more of an interlude…a set up for the 'theme' of the year (hint hint) and I can tell you that the next chapter will be much more interesting. Much more.

Also, I wanted to let you all know that, if you couldn't figure it out yet, that updates are obviously coming slower. I don't even have a beta for this story either…although I should. But it's due to the fact that school and work are demanding most of my time. So, while this story is not on the back-burner any more…updates will still be slow…at least for a while. Even more so because I need to beta it myself…which is kind of hard to do, actually. I'm not sure how fast this next chapter will come out…I'm having problems with the ending…and I've kinda skipped over the beginning…god, that makes no sense.

Anyway…

Review Responses:

DarkKestrelArwenSilkeQueen: Oh, yes…she does sort of like Harry…but why wouldn't she? He's offered her more than she could hope for in a friend. And as for Blaise…I think she's still confused as to her feelings for anyone…including Harry. So, only time will tell if she figures out who she really likes. The heart is a fickle thing sometimes, especially at that age. And those are some pretty good guesses. And yes, I did kinda say that would happen, didn't I? But why, and how will it develop are the real questions… As for Malfoy…we'll see. Maybe, maybe not. But it'll take a while, on anyone's part. And yes, of course she'll learn about Sirius Black. But only because Harry will tell her…I'm basically going off of the canon, here. While Raven interacts with the characters, I'm not re-writing what happened in the books. This is more like…seeing what really goes on in Slytherin…from Raven's point of view, not being just another Slytherin of course. The Slytherin House has it's own shit to deal with…it's not all insulting Harry and being obnoxious. The Slytherin kids are human beings, just like the rest of us…they just hide it better is all. ;P Thank you for your review!

SmileyFace3: As to your first review…yes, Raven does have a questionable past…but it's not necessarily dark, and she doesn't necessarily know about it either. If she did, the story wouldn't make sense being written in first person, huh? It'll take time to reveal all that encompasses the reason Raven was put into Slytherin. There's actually three parts to it…do you think you could figure them out? (That was a little personal challenge from me…) :D

And as to your second review…you're guesses are good! I like that part about poking Draco's arm and making him yelp! I'm still laughing at the mental picture… And as for her adventurous side…let's just say that you've sparked a few ideas…I had never seen Raven as the adventurous type, like the Gryffindor Trio are…she's just having a hard enough time surviving living in her own house! But you should be happy to learn that you've sparked some creative juices…I may just have to see where that thought takes me…

You're one of my favourite reviewers…and you always review, too! I hope you liked this chapter!

Thank you all, and please review!