AN: Finally. This was the plot bunny that bit me and wouldn't go away so I had to devise a whole story to go with this first scene. In the first eleven chapters or so, it's been one of my three favorite scenes to write. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 5: The Lake at Dawn

"Good morning," Malfoy settled down next to Seraphim on the hill.

"Good morning," Seraphim replied. "And, thank you," she added as an afterthought.

"You're welcome." He seemed to be ignoring her, focusing on the tinge of pink over the castle.

Seraphim stole a glance at him; he looked different in the early morning with the sun's first rays gracing his features. He looked more carefree. The sharp planes of his face were softened by innocent sunshine.

Mentally chiding herself, Seraphim turned back to the sunrise just in time to see the light hit the water. At just that moment, one could see down to the very bottom of the lake. The merpeople were beginning their day and the giant squid was just waking up.

"It's so…" Seraphim closed her eyes for a moment.

"Magnificent," Malfoy finished.

Seraphim turned to look at him, a hint of a true smile playing on his lips as his eyes followed the movements of the merpeople, "Yes. Magnificent."

He turned his silver-gray eyes on her. "What are you doing out so late? Or so early?"

"I could ask the same of you," Seraphim noticed his voice was softer, more relaxed. She felt she could learn to like that voice, that tone.

"To see the sunrise." His answer was simple, simple and true. "It reminds me that-" he stopped himself.

Seraphim waited, her eyes met his inquisitively.

He sighed, "-that not everything is based on favor and power, anyone can see the sunrise." When Seraphim didn't answer, he turned back to the lake.

"Then why do you act the way you act, as if the be all and end all is power?" Seraphim asked finally.

Malfoy looked at her sharply, then he smiled a wry smile. "You don't know my father."

"I've met him once or twice. Very powerful, very set," Seraphim commented.

"Very commanding. He'd probably be furious that I'm conversing civilly with you right now," Malfoy looked thoughtful.

"Does he not have a high opinion of me?" Seraphim raised an eyebrow.

Malfoy shook his head. "I doubt he knows of you. Just the fact that you're in with Potter, Weasley, and Granger is enough."

"What's wrong with them?"

"My father believes that only purebloods should be allowed to study magic. Also, one who associates themselves with mudbloods and half-bloods are no better than the company they keep."

"And do you believe that?" Seraphim sniffed.

"I-" the blonde shook his head, smiling ruefully, "I'm in no position to answer that question."

"And why not? You have a voice and an opinion."

"My father wouldn't approve. 'I must act the perfect son,'" he recited out of habit. "'My actions must reflect my station. I am a Malfoy. My duty to my family is to serve. I-'"

"Just because you're pureblood and rich to boot," she tut-tutted.

"Get off your soapbox. If I wanted to hear preaching, I'd have gone to Granger," Malfoy replied snappily.

"Then why did you come here? You could have gone somewhere else to see the sunrise. This isn't the only hill where it's breathtaking," Seraphim stood slowly, dropping Malfoy's cloak, and made to head back for the castle.

"I-" he looked over her shoulder and back to her eyes. "You looked cold," he shrugged.

"If you'd stop being such a selfish ass, maybe you'd see that people don't hate you. They just think you hate them," Seraphim retorted. "There are some people who would be your friends, but you push them away because you find them beneath you."

"That isn't true," Malfoy shot back, something burned in his eyes. "They see my father, they see my family; they don't see me. They don't see me so I don't see them. It's a fair deal."

"It doesn't seem very fair to anyone," Seraphim replied softly. "But then, you wouldn't listen to me anyway, we don't see eye-to-eye and we can't convince each other of anything."

Malfoy looked at her, puzzled.

"Harry, Ron, and Hermione think they know you. They think you're selfish and that you hide behind your father and your family. Maybe they're right. But maybe they're not. I don't know because you don't let anyone find out," she sniffed again. "Maybe we're not so different."

"What?" Malfoy had just bent over to pick his cloak up from the ground. "We're as different as…as apples and oranges."

"Which are both fruits. You don't let people in for God knows what reason. I don't let too many people in because I don't trust them. That's just the way I am. But I like Harry and Ron and Hermione. And I like you, for some unknown reason," Seraphim began the walk back to the castle. "I don't know if you seriously dislike us or if you just begrudge us for our friendship, but either way, I'd hoped we could be friends."

Malfoy took a deep breath and caught Seraphim's wrist. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't like to make enemies, and I'd like to fix whatever it is that ensures our aversion to each other. I'm not sure what started the feud between you and the others, but I'm sure it can be mended with time," she looked him in the eye.

He sent her that piercing look again, drawing her closer. "What if I don't want to be friends?" he smirked as an unsaid implication passed between the two. A soft mist formed between his lips and hers.

"Then what do you want?" Seraphim looked up, Malfoy was taller than her by a good six or seven inches, but was still defiant.

Malfoy was taken aback, why couldn't she be properly insulted when he made fun of her? He supposed verbally seducing her insincerely wasn't the best way to insult a girl as it could be taken in the wrong way, but that didn't mean she couldn't go along with it.

Malfoy's confidence wavered. She looked so sure of herself. She knew exactly who she was; she had no one to tell her who to be. Seraphim was an open book in a different language to him. She was different. It was a terrible word to use, but she was different.

Still looking her in the eye, Malfoy sighed, "I don't know."

"Tell me when you do," Seraphim turned and headed back to the castle.

Dragging her feet in for breakfast, Seraphim spotted her friends sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"Hey, we saved you a seat," Ron waved her over. She settled in between Harry and Hermione and yawned.

Hermione passed her the hotcakes, "Where were you this morning? We went to wake you up and you were gone."

"Oh, I was watching the, um, sunrise," Seraphim saw the doors of the hall open again. In walked Malfoy, looking slightly disheveled but none the worse for wear.

"Was it nice?" asked Harry.

"Hm? Yes, it was," she glanced discreetly at Malfoy who was walking across the room to the Slytherin table. The familiar cocky air had reformed about his person.

"Are you all right?" Hermione tapped Seraphim's elbow.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep last night. Walked around the castle and went out to see the sunrise. Thank goodness I don't have any classes today," she smiled.

Her eyes met Malfoy's as he passed their table. An unspoken, indecipherable debate raged between them, he scowled. Blinking, Seraphim turned back to Ron who had asked her if she wanted a scone.

"Yes please," she replied, taking the proffered pastry.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"Mmhmm, yeah, fine," Seraphim smiled. "Just tired I guess, I'll go up and sleep after breakfast." Her gaze wavered again, Malfoy had just settled in between Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini.

Hermione gave Harry and Ron an I-think-I-know-something-you-don't-know look. "If you say so."

At the Slytherin table, it was much the same story.

"Where were you all night, Draco?" Pansy passed him a muffin.

"Walking," he answered in his usual tone.

Blaise picked up the cloak Draco had dragged in with him. "You went out?"

"Yes," he nodded tersely.

"Where?" Blaise inspected the coat, "This has grass stains on it."

"None of your business," he replied, reaching for some pumpkin juice. He kept glancing over to the Gryffindor table.

"Wonder Trio give you a hard time on the rounds last night?" asked Pansy, noticing where Draco's gaze went.

"Nothing I couldn't handle," he sneered half-heartedly, which was the truth. His brief encounter with them the previous evening left him no worse for wear. It was the meeting with their seeming guardian angel that had left him ruffled.

"If you're sure," she shrugged, buttering some toast and turning to participate in a gossip.

"Are you sure you're all right?" asked Hermione after she caught Seraphim staring aimlessly across the room.

"Hm? Yes, I'm sure," Seraphim quickly focused her eyes on the head table. "I was just, um, daydreaming."

"Sure," Ron wiggled his eyebrows comically. "We all know about your secret love affair with Malfoy over there." He chuckled, gesturing at the Slytherin table.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly Ron, I know what Fleur sees in you but I can't see how," she sighed.

"She thinks he's devilishly handsome," Harry stated, grinning.

"And she loves his sparkling wit," Hermione added airily.

"And, of course," Seraphim said seriously, "he's quite funny."

Ron thanked Seraphim for the compliment and mock-glared at Harry and Hermione. "She does think I'm devilishly handsome, she does love my sparkling wit, and, yes, she likes me most because I'm comical," he ran a hand through his hair sheepishly.

"What are they laughing about?" Malfoy muttered to himself, idly picking out a scone.

"What are who laughing about, Draco?" asked Blaise.

"No one," he scowled, rising from the table. "I'm not very hungry. I'll see you all in Charms."

After snatching his cloak from the spot next to him, Malfoy headed for the doors of the hall. On his way out, he sent Seraphim another piercing look, like a half-hearted glare.

"What was that for?" asked Harry, leaning over the table.

"What?" Seraphim tried to appear oblivious.

"The look Malfoy just gave you," Hermione pointed out briskly.

Seraphim looked down at her hands. "I really have no clue," she said finally.

Ron and Harry looked somewhat puzzled; Hermione, however, smirked rather smugly and looked from where Malfoy had exited and back to Seraphim.

After following Hermione's gaze, Seraphim, Ron, and Harry looked at the other girl as if she'd lost a few marbles.

"What is it?" asked Harry finally.

Hermione shook her head and smiled. "Nothing, nothing."

"Oh, now you're being impossible to read," Ron feigned resentment and whispered to Harry on the side, "What is it with girls, mate?"

Hermione shook her head while Seraphim waited for her opinion.

None of them got what they wanted, however, as the bell to begin classes rang. Hermione tapped Seraphim on the shoulder and told her, "I'd like a word with you about this later, all right?"

Seraphim sighed helplessly, trapped, and said, "If you insist."

Seemingly satisfied, Hermione dragged Harry and Ron off before they could ask either girl what 'this' was.

Seraphim gathered her thoughts and bid her friends goodbye, making for the Gryffindor tower and some sleep.

Upon exiting the hall, she was surprised to find Malfoy muttering to himself near the doors. She walked over casually and tapped him on the shoulder.

"You should get to class, you're going to be late," she pointed out.

Malfoy's jaw twitched, "I'll be fine."

Seraphim assumed Girly Pose #3, one hand on the corresponding hip, legs locked at shoulder width, and head cocked to the side, "You'll be late for class."

"Do you think I care?" he asked hotly. "I'm trying to think here."

"Excuse me for, what was it? Oh yes, 'looking out for a student's well-being'," she quoted for him.

Malfoy rolled his eyes, "Flitwick won't notice if I'm late. I'm in the middle of the list for roll."

"All the more reasons for me to insist you get there."

Malfoy opened his mouth; then shut it. "You know what? Fine." He turned to leave.

Seraphim stood, bewildered. "What is wrong with you?" she followed him along the hallway.

"Nothing," he picked up his pace. Seraphim jogged to keep up.

"I'm just trying to-"

"Well you're not," he replied icily. "Just because we conversed politely does not make us friends. Or unmake us enemies. Understand?"

Seraphim glared at him, "If that's how you want it." Then, in a huff, she turned on her heels and walked away.

Malfoy stared at her retreating figure, "That's exactly how I want it."

Aah, almost my favorite chapter so far. Ho hum. As always, please leave a review and tell me what you thought. Good night!