AN: Sorry if I've confused you by posting two chapters at the same time, it's not like me at all ;) I hope you like it. In this chapter Draco blows Faith's cover, that damn loveable ferret boy.
Disclaimer: Mine: Faith and plot. Everything else: not mine not mine and sadly not mine.
Chapter Nine: Malfoy in the Grass
Faith had managed to survive the awkwardness in the great hall without revealing her last name. Hermione had asked what it was, but fate was on Faith's side that night and Dumbledore had started his welcome speech so all conversation stopped.
The students had just left the hall and were starting to make their ways to the dorms. Faith had separated herself from Hermione et all as soon as Dumbledore dismissed the students. She hadn't even waited to talk to her mother. Faith was beginning to think that her night wasn't going to be a disaster after all, but then fate changed sides.
"Faith, wait a minute." Faith froze, it was Draco's voice. She turned slowly and found herself face to face with the pasty prat.
"The hell do you want?" she asked in an icy voice.
Draco looked at her trying to figure out what to say. He had thought of thousands of nasty things to say during the train ride but he couldn't remember any of them. He probably should have left well enough alone but when he had seen Faith in the hall, he had been compelled to talk to her. "Just thought I'd say 'hello'" he said before turning to leave.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Hang on." She walked over to him. "Why didn't you write?"
"Why didn't you?" he shot back.
"So, I always have to be the mature one even though you're the one who acted like an ass?" she snapped.
"Don't you dare make it sound like I made you feel betrayed." he hissed.
"Yes well, that's one of the unfortunate side effects of betrayal." Faith said loudly.
Draco glanced over his shoulder and noticed that they were starting to get an audience. Several students had stopped to see the first Slytherin vs. Gryffindor fight of the year. "Keep your voice down." he ordered.
Faith almost laughed. "Don't you dare tell me what to do."
"Why I even bothered coming over here, I'll never know." Draco said before turning on his hell. He walked a few paces before heading back towards Faith; no way was he going to leave the fight first. "You have some nerve you know that."
Faith looked him in the eye. She couldn't believe that he was being serious. "Are you insane? Seriously, where do you get off?"
"I'd watch my step if I were you Faith. Wouldn't want to have an accident." Draco said threateningly.
"What are you, drunk?" Faith asked with a laugh.
"That's it, you've asked for it." Draco was about to grab his wand when somebody grabbed his arm.
"Knock it off Malfoy." Draco was surprised to see Harry Potter holding his arm. "Just leave her alone, it's her first night at a new school."
Draco jerked his arm out of Harry's hand. He looked at Faith with a bit of amusement. "In Gryffindor for what, five minutes, and you've already got annoying ponces watching out for you. You never cease to amaze me."
Harry looked confused. "You two know each other?"
Draco smiled sinisterly, realizing Faith hadn't told anyone about her family. "What, you don't see the family resemblance Potter? Just how thick are you, really?" Faith glared at him.
Everybody was shocked. A Malfoy was in Gryffindor? Harry looked at Faith. "You're related to him?" he asked. He wasn't so much asking a question as trying to believe what he had just heard.
"Only by blood." Faith said coldly.
Draco feigned regret. "Oops, sorry Faith, I thought you would have already told them."
"And just why the hell would I want people knowing you are my brother?" she asked. Faith walked away, not looking at anyone as she walked up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. She passed Hermione and Ron on the way; they didn't say anything. They were still trying to figure out what had just happened.
Harry looked at Draco. "I'd keep my eye on her if I were Potter. She's not exactly what I would call stable."
"Well, if you're the point for comparison, then she can't be all bad can she?" Harry remarked before rejoining Hermione and Ron on the stairs. Ron looked at Harry in disbelief.
Malfoy scowled. "Watch yourself this year Potter, sooner or later she'll come around and then you'll be in for a world of misery." Draco stalked away to the dungeons and the Slytherin Common Room.
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione. "I hope that's not true." He said softly. Harry didn't think her could handle two Malfoys trying to ruin his life.
"Two Malfoys for the price of one." Ron said. "This is going to be one hell of a year."
Hermione "humph-ed" "Will you two stop jumping to conclusions?" she asked as they made their way up stairs with the rest of the Gryffindors. "Don't be so hasty to condemn her yet, at least get to know her first."
"Get to know her!" Ron repeated in horror. "She's a Malfoy, Hermione! You don't get to know a Malfoy!"
"Honestly Ronald. There are some people that would say the same thing about a Weasley or a Potter." Hermione said in disgust.
"Apples and oranges, Hermione." Ron said.
Harry decided to stay out of the debate this time. He was trying to figure out what it all meant.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Ron, why do you think she never told us her last name at dinner?"
"Because she's a Malfoy and therefore evil and manipulative." he said matter of factly.
"No, because she's a Malfoy and therefore thought we'd jump to conclusions, and frankly I see her point. And you're forgetting two important things." Hermione told him knowingly.
"And what they be?" Ron asked annoyed.
"One: she's in Gryffindor, which means she would have had to be sorted be the Sorting Hat and it never makes a mistake. Two: we just saw her fighting with Draco, which means they don't get along. Take these into consideration and add the fact that she was civil at dinner and the conclusion is very interesting. Not all Malfoys are the same."
"I'm afraid I agree with Hermione at the moment." Harry said. "Until there's proof of evil manipulation I say give her a chance." Ron's jaw almost hit the floor. "I'm not saying we have to be mates" Harry continued "but we don't have to hate her yet either."
Yet! You said yet!" Ron pointed out loudly. "So we can hate her in a little while." Harry laughed a little. "I mean, you think there's a chance she's just another Malfoy."
"I didn't say that." Harry said. "But if it turns out we can't get past what differences there are or Faith wants nothing to do with any of us, which I think actually might be the best thing for the time being, then hate her all you want Ron."
They had just reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and entered the Gryffindor Common Room. Some students were telling their friends who hadn't been downstairs moments ago what had happened. Some laughed, thinking it was a joke, Dean Thomas almost choked on his water when Seamus Finnigan told him, and Neville Longbottom went pale when he heard.
"A Malfoy here? In Gryffindor Tower?" Neville stammered. "I don't think I'm going to make it through the year. As if I didn't have enough trouble when there was just one of them. Now I have to worry about one being in here while I'm asleep?" he muttered as he made his way towards his dorm room.
Seamus and Dean laughed as they watched Neville leave. "Better keep a close eye on Trevor this year Neville!" Seamus called after him, still laughing.
Fred and George Weasley walked over to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Well, what do you three think of this lovely mess?" Fred asked.
"Not exactly the best new we could have gotten eh?" George added.
"That's one way of putting it." Ron answered.
Hermione exhaled in annoyance. "If you four will excuse me, I'm going to unpack." Hermione walked up the stairs to the girls' dorm. When she entered she saw faith sitting in the windowsill, looking out at the grounds.
Faith turned when Hermione walked in. "Come to throw me out?" Faith asked sarcastically.
Hermione shook her head. "I just came to unpack some of my things." She opened on of her trunks and started to take all her books out. Faith looked out the window again. Hermione unpacked in silence for a few minutes before she walked over to Faith. "I know that you probably don't want me saying this, but I know what it's like to have people judge you before they really know you. And the past thing you probably want to hear is me saying that I'll be your friend, so I won't. But if you ever want to talk, or study or anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Faith looked at her shrewdly. "Well, forgive me if I don't jump for joy and come running when I have a problem."
"You don't have to do that Faith." Hermione said crossly.
"Write off kindness. I'm not saying I'll be able to help you in way-"
"Good because I don't need you help."
Hermione could tell that was Faith's way of telling her the conversation was over so Hermione went back to arranging her books.
Faith just kept looking out the window. She wasn't sure if she could trust Hermione, or was it that she didn't want to trust her. Either way, she knew that she wouldn't need Hermione Granger or Draco Malfoy or anyone else on her side. She was going to show everyone that she belonged at Hogwarts and in Gryffindor, and she was going to do it on her own terms.
