::Disclaimer:: I don't own it… Just the plot and some OCs, but whatever. Don't sue me!

::AN:: Again, sorry for the delay. School is torture. But, here you have the eleventh chapter! Wh-hoo! I hope you like it!

gloomy: I know, cliffhangers… (lol) Well, you find out about the "someone" right away, so I hope that makes you happyish, lol. Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter!

TheManWhoLetTheBoyLive: Sorry, it's not Voldemort. (lol) But I hope you like the chappie anyway! Thanks for reviewing!

sweetiepiepirate: I'm glad you like my fics. That makes me feel all warm inside (no, really, it does). And I'm glad you laughed, as I like laughing and making people laugh and all that good laughy stuff. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter, too!

devilz child: Thanks! That's so nice! I'm glad you like the fic, thanks for reviewing! ps: She's not playing pranks yet, no. But keep in mind that she's been at Hogwarts for… what? A week? Give her time! (lol)

Chapter Eleven

"Lost?" I heard someone say behind me.

I turned around suddenly and blinked a few times. "Um. No?"

"Where ever you're going, you're going the wrong way."

I blinked again. "Oh? Am I? Maybe I wanted to be…" I looked around for a moment. "…A cold, damp corridor that smells like rotting flesh…"

"Right."

I rolled my eyes. "Just what are you doing, Draco? Hunting down poor defenseless Hufflepuffs to pick on?"

He gave me one of his famous 'I-am-so-much-better-than-you' looks. "Did you read the letter I passed on to you?" He asked me.

I nodded slowly. "Um, yes. It was kind of boring, really. I mean, I don't care about half of the stuff Dad was going on about. I almost fainted just looking at it."

He rolled his eyes. "Do you have it?"

"Have what?" I cocked my head to the side. What was he going on about?

"The letter." He said, holding his hand out. "I need it back."

"It was addressed to me." I told him. "You can have it over my dead body."

"Don't push your luck, Lucy." He snarled at me.

Man, is he annoying or what? "Don't push you're luck." Like he would ever cause me physical harm. Not in a million years, kiddo.

I smiled a sweetly as I could. "I don't have it with me. It's in my dorm. And, no, you can't have it. It's not yours."

"I just want to read it." He said, taking a step towards me. "You can have it right back."

I shook my head. "Look, it's not my fault that you're a spoiled little brat and Dad didn't write a letter to you, but-"

"He did." He interrupted me.

Well, then.

"Whatever!" I threw my hands in the air and turned away from him, walking down the corridor.

"Listen, Lucy!" He chased after me. I hate that he's super-tall. Even if I walk really fast, he can still keep up with those long legs of his. How am I short? That is so not fair. "I need that letter." He said. "It's important."

"Believe me." I said. "It's not. It's boring. I mean, I love Dad and everything but, Merlin!"

"Lucy." He grabbed my arm. "I need that letter. Do you want to see Father ever again or not?"

I was about to fling a good punch or something equally violent his way, when I paused, noticing someone behind Draco.

Merlin's. Fluffy. Pink. Legwarmers.

"Drake." I said in a warning tone and he quickly followed my gaze, turning around and dropping my arm.

"If it isn't the Golden Trio and their little friends." He grumbled at them.

I blinked at Ginny, Margie, Colin, Hermione, Ron, and Harry Potter. They must have come looking for me after I ran off to find my Transfiguration book! How long were they listening to Draco and me?!

"Sod off, Malfoy." Ron spat angrily.

Honestly, who is he speaking to? Draco? Me? Both of us? If it's the latter then he better watch his back because no one, and I mean no one, tells me to "sod off." Or, well, my family either, but I can take the fact that he hates my brother into account and sort-of forgive him. Ish.

"Um, hi, Lucy." Ginny said a little too happily (trying to lighten the mood, loosen the tension… I see. Smart one, Gin.) "We were all bored, so we figured we'd come help you look for your Transfiguration book."

I raised my eyebrows at her. I mean, I still wasn't sure whether her own flesh and blood had just told me to sod off or not. "I haven't found it." I told her as icily as possible. (Which, really, wasn't that "icy," considering it was really nice of all of them – excluding The Boy Who Needed to Straighten His Glasses – to come help me look for my book. Who can be mean to that? I think no one.)

"Lucy," Draco grabbed my arm again. "Come with me."

"Ow!" I squeaked as he dragged me in another direction.

He didn't even wait until we were out of earshot to start in on his lecture. I watched as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, clearly exasperated. With me. Oh boy, here it comes.

"What have I told you about these people?" He hissed at me. "Honestly, Lucy! Two mudbloods, two Weasleys, and Harry Bloody Potter?! How can you even -"

I clamped my hand over his mouth and turned to face the people he had just mentioned (and, might I add, he was very rude. I mean, they could hear him!). "Hey, what's your middle name?" I asked, nodding my head towards Harry Potter.

They all blinked at me, so I repeated my question. There was a long moment of silence until Harry Potter finally said, "Um… James…"

I turned back to Draco. "See? I told you. It's not Bloody."

Draco just growled at me (seriously, he growled. Talk about a weirdo.). "I won't tell you again, Lucy. And get me that letter. Or else." He stalked off, his robes billowing behind him fashionably (I ask again, how does he do that?! Why can't I do that?! What is wrong with this world?!)

"You've forgotten that I don't take orders from you, you – you – you – GAH!" I yelled after him. "And you can forget seeing that letter! You don't need it! It's not going to change anything!" I folded my arms over my chest and stood there, facing the direction he had walked off in.

Honestly, whoever invented siblings needs to have a good smack in the back of the head. I'd say that would mean my mom would get a good smack in the back of the head.

I'm good with that.

"Lucy?" I heard Margie echo my name quietly.

"What?" I snapped a little angrier than I had intended.

"Um." She walked up next to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Do you… need anything?"

I shrugged her hand off. "I'm fine." I said and she nodded.

I tell a lie. I'm not "fine."

"He's just so stupid!" I exclaimed. "It's like… GAH! Never mind!"

"Okay." She said hesitantly.

I hate being grumpy. I hate people knowing that I'm grumpy. Actually, I don't even like people knowing when I'm genuinely happy or sad or anything. Emotion isn't something people should just go around, showing off to everyone like a new wand or something.

I clapped my hands together suddenly. "Trelawney!" I said excitedly.

"Er, what?" Margie stared at me like I was crazy.

I don't blame you, deary.

"My Transfiguration book!" I jumped up and down for a second. "I left it in Divination!" I shook her by her shoulders. "Margie, you're a genius!"

"I am?" She questioned.

I paused. "Well, there's room for improvement but –"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She rolled her eyes. "Do you want to go get your book now or just wait until we have Divination tomorrow? We have it just before Transfiguration."

"Oh, why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?" I waved my hand in the air lethargically.

"I don't think that's how it –" She started, but I shushed her with a look.

Should I tag along with Margie and her friends like usual, or go get my book? Hmm… don't know.

"Well, we were just going to the library to –" Margie began hesitantly.

Go get my book, it is!

"I need my Transfiguration book for that essay." I said suddenly, walking slowly backwards. "Sorry! I guess I'll just have to pass out in – I mean, visit – the library some other time."

000000000

I skipped down the corridor, hugging my Transfiguration book to my chest. What a glorious day.

Well, sort of.

The point is, Professor Trelawney totally complimented my hair. She said it was very pretty. Well, she didn't use those exact words, but, really, I wasn't paying that much attention to her. I suppose it's habit. I mean, I ignore her in class, so why listen to her any other time?

Because she compliments my hair, that's why.

And who, tell me now, who, doesn't like a nice compliment? Especially one about their hair, which they themselves happen to despise?

What's that? Oh? You can't think of anyone?

Told you so.

When I finally reached the Great Hall for dinner, I couldn't see Margie anywhere. Not even at our regular spot. (You know, where we sit in the morning while Ginny fixes her hair, Margie agonizes over my schedule (she never shuts up, by the way), and I bang my head on the table, trying to wake myself up in time for my classes.) I glanced around for a few seconds and saw Ginny sitting at the Gryffindor table with Hermione, Ron, and Harry Potter, but decided not to bother them. After all, they only put up with me because I follow Margie everywhere.

Do you think I'm clingy? Oh, Merlin, I hope I'm not clingy.

Worse, do you think Margie and them are just putting up with me because I'm the pathetic little new girl who doesn't know anyone?

Involuntary shudder, anyone? I hate when people do that. Put up with me out of pity, I mean. Not involuntary shudder. Although that's annoying as well.

I sat down at my regular spot at the Hufflepuff table and looked around at the food hesitantly. This school is trying to make me fat, I swear. It's like I'm a pig. Not a pig in the "Ohmigod, Lucy, you're such a pig" fashion, but, like, the "oink oink" fashion, you know? They're fattening up for some feast, seriously. Then they'll all go cannibalistic on me and chow down on, like, my esophagus.

But, I mean, it's not like I'm paranoid or anything.

"Malfoy." Someone next to me said.

I rolled my eyes without even turning to see who it was. "Honestly, people." I mumbled. "It's Lucy. You don't see me going around and calling you –" I turned then. "Oh. Hi… Justin." It took me a second or so to remember his name (oops?).

He just raised his eyebrows at me and let out a low chuckle (what, might I ask, is so funny, huh? TELL ME!). "So, how are your classes, Ma – Lucy?"

Ma Lucy? What are you? French? I don't have anything against the French, don't get me wrong. But… "ma"? Can you stick to one language please? It's not like I'm bilingual here.

I shrugged and scooped a large spoonful of spinach onto my plate. I hope Draco's eating this right now. Jerk. "Oh, they're okay." I lied. Of course that's not true… My classes are going to be the life of me! But he doesn't need to know that.

He nodded and sipped out of his goblet. "You know, you're the only transfer student this year." He said.

Dear Merlin.

I put on a surprised expression. "Wow! Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah. We usually have about two or three. It evens out with the amount of students that transfer out versus transfer in."

I blinked and nodded like I understood what he was saying.

"So why did you transfer here anyway?" He asked.

Didn't someone already ask me that?

I shrugged. "Oh, you know. My mom wanted me closer to home."

He nodded then and I had a sudden déja vous moment. Is that how I looked when I nodded. Oh, kill me now. "So, do you like Hogwarts so far?"

No.

"Yes." I shrugged. "It's very big, though. I keep getting lost."

Liar… I only got lost once… Big deal. What am I doing?

"Really?" He smiled. "Well, maybe I can give you a tour, so you won't get lost again."

I smiled then. "You would do that? Oh, that's so nice!"

"Sure." He nodded and grinned at me. "How about we have a look around after dinner?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that'd be cool. Thanks."

"No problem." He nodded.

After a few moments, our conversation turned to Quidditch, which seems to be the main topic of conversation at this school. Honestly. As if I didn't get enough of it at Durmstrang, what with that big-nosed guy attending for awhile.

Once dinner was over, I followed Justin around the halls for awhile and half-listened to him go on and on about the paintings and classrooms and such. It was so boring I wanted to scream, but I managed to hold back my urge to run away by counting how many times he said things like "fascinating" or "wondrous sight."

So far… forty-five.

After suffering through what seemed like hours of torture, we walked outside and he pointed out the Whomping Willow to me in the distance and advised me to stay away from it.

Is he stupid or what?

That's like changing your clothes in front of someone while they're preoccupied with brushing their hair or something and then you say, "Don't look." They always look up from whatever they're doing, only to be met by fits of rage. But still. It's curiosity. You just have to look – especially when someone tells you not to.

I muttered something about how my feet were staring to hurt and so he suggested we sit down for awhile. I decided to sit close to the lake, so that I could always stare out at it if he decided to talk again. After awhile, I heard his voice, but I tuned it out on instinct, mumbling an "uh-huh" and "yeah" every once in awhile.

"There must be something wrong with my eyes." He was saying. I furrowed my brow and finally turned to look at him. He had a funny expression on his face. "I just can't take them off of you."

Um. What?

I blinked at him. Maybe it had something to do with what he was talking about before? Why wasn't I paying attention? Why was I just staring off, ignoring him? Now I have no idea what he's talking about! He's going to figure out that I wasn't paying attention! Oh, oh no! Crap!

I must have stopped paying attention again, too preoccupied with my own thoughts, because the next thing I knew his mouth was on mine and his hands were cupping my face and

Um. What? WhatwhatWHAT?!

000000000000

I ran down the hall, looking every which way. WHERE THE HELL WAS MARGIE?! I'd tried looking for her in our dorm room, but she wasn't there, and now I was obviously out past curfew and lost AGAIN (some "tour" that was) and confused and…

I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. Breathe, Lucy, before you have some kind of attack. I replayed the day's events in my mind. Leaving the Quidditch pitch. Getting lost. Draco being annoying. Fleeing to the Divination tower to recover my Transfiguration book. Margie not being at dinner, so having to eat with Justin. The tour. The… kiss?

This is all Margie's fault. If she had just been at dinner this wouldn't have happened! I wouldn't have even spoken to him! I wouldn't have accepted his tour-offer or sat with him by the lake! And I wouldn't have not payed attention to him and then been too confused and such to realize what was going on!

I slid down the wall and tapped my fingernails on the floor, my eyes still closed.

I wasn't going to find Margie anywhere. She was probably off having a good old time with Ginny and Hermione and Ron and Harry Bloody Potter.

Excuse me, it's James, not Bloody.

Like I even care.

"Miss Malfoy!" Someone above me exclaimed.

I opened my eyes and stood up quickly. "Professor McGonagall!" I breathed. "Oh, thank Merlin! I'm so lost, you have no idea! You know where the Hufflepuff common room is, right?" Please, please, please.

She gave me a reproachful look. "Miss Malfoy, are you aware that it is two hours past curfew?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Well, sort of. I figured that it was past curfew, but I didn't know it was two hours." I clasped my hands at her in a begging-fashion. "Professor, please, I've been walking around here for what seems like a million years and I don't even know where I am!"

"It is against the rules to be out of your house common room past curfew." She informed me as if I hadn't already known. (I hadn't, really, but that's beside the point.)

"I know." I nodded. "But –"

"No buts." She held her hand up. "Follow me." I followed her down a few corridors quietly, focusing my gaze mostly on the bun in the back of her head. She's so mean for someone with such a similar hairstyle as me, honestly.

When we reached what I recognized as the portrait of a skinny old man, I sighed. McGonagall turned to me. "Try to learn your way around quickly." She said. "You don't want this to happen again." I waited for her to say something along the lines of, "Five points from Hufflepuff" or whatever, but she just nodded her head at me and walked briskly down the hall.

Cool. Sort of.

I shrugged and turned to the skinny old man in the portrait, watching him sleep quietly with the hint of an occasional snore.

Oh crap.

Okay, so, what's the password again?

::AN:: Aw, poor Lucy. I can't help but feel bad that I make her life so semi-miserable. (lol) So… what will she do now that she doesn't know what the password is? Any suggestions? (lol) You can only find out if you review, so you know what to do! (That's not blackmail, is it? Gads, I hope not, lol.)