Well this is just fantastic, mused Sheya, I'm lost in a sea of first year midgets. Why the bloody hell do I have to be paraded around in front of the whole school? I'm so much better than that an- HEY! He's taller than me! That's not allowed! Eleven year old boys aren't supposed to be taller than me! That's it I'm going to have to chop his legs off at the knees and feed the bloody stubs to the squid in the lake, no one will ever know. I'll be able to live happily ever after with Malfoy as my sex slave and the happy thought that I will always be taller than that annoying, little, tall kid.

She fixed the offending child with a menacing and somewhat maniacal stare. The boy hastily retreated to the opposite end of the group.

"Hey, there you are! Do you know how hard it was to find you with all the other little people running around?" Sheya now turned her glare on Renee, who stood a good six inches above everyone else in the room.

"Took you long enough. Where were you? Snogging you're new boy toy?" Sheya replied sarcastically, still bitter that she had to spend a whole five minutes alone.

"Whowhahuhhuh?"

"Oh come on, I can't believe you haven't noticed impaired vision boy making googly eyes at you!"

"You're on crack."

"Yea, whatever, but I'm not sharing," Sheya finished, rolling her eyes. Renee opened her mouth to speak but closed it right as Professor McGonagall walked into the room, signaling all of them to follow her into the Great Hall.

"I can't believe we have to do this like a frelling first year," Renee mumbled to Sheya as they walked through the enormous double doors. McGonagall had gone up to the front of the hall and was standing next to a stool in front of the staff table. On the stool was a tattered hat, that looked to Sheya as if it would have been the height of wizarding fashion a thousand years ago. McGonagall pulled out a roll of parchment and began reading off names.

"Renee Mitchell," McGonagall announced as the said girl gave a silent groan, muttered, "Figures," to Sheya, squared her shoulders and walked over to the hat.

That girls confidence is the one thing I really admire, Sheya pondered a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. No matter where she is or what freaky thing is going on in her head she walks like she owns the place, like nothing can touch her. Damn it would be nice to stand out like that. She was broken out of her thoughts to hear the hat shout, "Gryffindor!"

Renee bounced down from the stool and went to join her cousins at the Gryffindor table. Sheya had just enough time to see Harry give her foster sister an awkward hug before her name was called.

"Sheya McKnight." She was silently giggling to herself as she approached the stool.

As soon as the hat was placed on her head (which was slightly too big and therefore tilted over one eye) she heard a voice in her head. Now here's an interesting case, where oh where shall we put you? Ravenclaw perhaps? Or-

Ravenclaw? Are you insane! Have you been stuck on the top shelf of the closet too long? Sheya interrupted. I don't exactly want to be spending all my time with a bunch of know-it-alls that are going to fight over the proper way to translate runes. Blech.

But you have so much potential, and such knowledge to bring to this school.

Put me in Slytherin, Sheya demanded.

Mmmm, Slytherin... yes you would do well there. But why not Gryffindor? You would do equally well there. Sheya glanced over at where Renee was sitting, smiling slightly at her, waiting to see where she would end up and remembered the train trip.

I don't belong there, she told the hat, her own voice seeming quiet and sad. Just put me in Slytherin, it's the best fit.

You say best and not perfect?

Nothing is perfect.

"Slytherin!"


Sheya was unpacking her things in the dormitory she was sharing with four other fifth year girls. As she put up her posters of My Chemical Romance and Panic! At The Disco she recalled sitting next to Draco at dinner, his arm lazily snaked around her. It was odd, she had of course dated before, but she had never been this attracted to anyone, or felt so comfortable, and she wasn't hating it either. She smiled absently to herself as she tossed some clothes into a drawer.

"You'll want to watch you're step around here," said a voice behind her. She turned to see a girl with dark, cropped hair leaning lazily against the door with her arms crossed threateningly.

"Oh, really, and why is that?" Sheya replied in a bored tone. She was already becoming tired of the Slytherins playing mind games, or trying to at any rate.

"You really don't know what you're getting yourself into, hanging all over Malfoy, he'll use you up and toss you away, trust me, you'll get more than you bargained for," The girl replied with an air of superiority, narrowing her dark eyes. At this point Sheya recalled seeing this girl at dinner, slightly down the table from her and Draco, eyeing Draco hungrily and looking at Sheya with the same narrowed eyes as if she was a dangerous insect that needed squashing.

Sheya widened her eyes and asked as innocently as she could, "Really? I had no idea? Wow." Then slightly panicky, "And to think I had sex with him on the train, he even invited me to stay with him over the summer!"

"WHAT!" The girl shrieked outraged.

"Really got you didn't I," Sheya giggled smugly, "You know, Pansy Parkinson, can I all you Pansy? I mean that is who you are isn't it? Draco was saying something about a pansy stalking him, I thought he was describing someone, now I just realize he was talking about you. Ironic that you're name describes you, did you're parents plan that? Anywho for a Slytherin you are way too gullible."

"You'll pay for that," Pansy retorted in an enraged whisper. "Draco is mine and always will be, nothing can come between us, especially not a height challenged American. I'll get you when you're least expecting it, so I'd-"

"Babe, let me set you straight here and now, just so we're clear," Sheya interrupted becoming annoyed. "You can vaguely threaten me all you want but I'm not going anywhere. Also since when did Draco 'belong' to you? I didn't see a hot pink, flashing, neon sign that exploded with glitter and had 'PROPERTY OF PANSY PARKINSON' written on it around his neck, so I figure he's free game," Sheya finished smugly, confident she had pushed the other girl over the edge. Pansy made an odd sort of sputtering noise, while Sheya tried to suppress the urge to giggle. She almost succeeded.

"Pansy what are you even doing in here?" Inquired one of the other girls in the dorm. Akiko had long chocolate brown hair that reached to the middle of her back. She was short but not as short as Sheya, standing at about 5'2". They had only chatted briefly but in that time Sheya had realized this girl was wacked three ways to the moon.

"These are the fifth year dorms," Akiko continued, a malevolent grin playing on her face. "Had you forgotten or did you like last year so much you wanted to repeat it?"

"Shut up Levin!" Pansy snapped.

"Oh but why would I want to do that?" She continued clearly amused, "You can't tell me you didn't have fun crawling after a man who doesn't even want you? That doesn't even acknowledge your existence?" Then coldly without a hint of amusement in either expression or tone, " It must be torture chasing a man who wouldn't care if you were thrown out with yesterdays garbage, but I guess some of us are just a glutton for punishment, wouldn't you agree?" With that Pansy turned and exited, Sheya couldn't help but notice the look of anguish and...self contempt? That was sprawled over the girls face as she left.


School had been in session for a week now and things were starting to fall into a rhythmic format. Everyone would meet in the Great Hall for breakfast, Renee would groggily poke at her food glaring at anyone who was very obviously a morning person. Harry would chat good-naturedly with Hermione and Ron, making a dumb joke every so often to see if he could get a glimpse of one of Renee's I'm-tired-and-its-morning-but-I'm-smiling-anyway-cuz-I-can't-help-it smiles. Ginny would sit with Seamus, Neville, and Luna. Neville and Luna were now dating, and rumors had spread that Luna wore the pants in the relationship. Ron would stuff his face full of food, and when it was called for, open his mouth to say something, most times with food still in it. Sometimes he would choke, and Hermione would slap him soundly on the back, and continue watching her friends and reading her paper, just as she was doing now.

"Hmmmm it looks like Fred and George are doing very well, stocks for their company are skyrocketing," Hermione announced, "It also says they are looking into a new line of products, making muggle conveniences wizard friendly."

"You mean like dads car?" Ron asked between mouthfuls of eggs.

"Yes one would assume so," Hermione mumbled continuing to browse the newspaper.

"Well it makes enough sense, I'm just surprised its taken this long for anyone to try to mix magic and technology," Harry stated.

"It's not that surprising," Renee yawned one elbow on the table, her head in her hand, "Wizards are scared of what they don't understand, just like muggles. Technology is complex, and most wizards don't think that way, they're content with magic," She finished in a sleepy mumble. Harry, Hermione, and Ron goggled at her.

"What? I'm not allowed to surprise you with a coherent thought at the ass-crack of dawn?"

"Absolutely not," replied Harry seriously, "and while you're at it stop using big words, you're confusing Ron." Several things happened at once. Renee playfully hit Harry in the arm as he took a swig of pumpkin juice, Hermione snarfed her tea, and Ron sent a mutinous look in Harry's direction.

"You okay Hermione?" Renee asked amused.

"Yes, I just...need more tea," She answered searching the table. Renee passed her the pot.

"Here, I've had about as much as I can stand."

"You don't like tea?" Harry questioned.

"No, I do, it just isn't the same as coffee and I'm going through withdrawals."

"Withdrawals?"

"Yea, caffeine withdrawals. I'm exhausted, I have a headache, its 7:30 am, and there is only frelling tea," She finished, letting her head bang on the table, masses of curly, red hair spilling everywhere.

"So you need coffee?" A whimper and a head nod was Harry's only response. Hermione knew what Harry was going to say next.

"We can get you coffee you know."

Renee's head shot up, "You can!" She asked excitedly, her forget-me-not blue eyes sparkling.

"Yea down in the kitchens, I know a house elf, we can get you coffee no problem."

"You're serious? You can get me my fix," Harry nodded happily, if not surprised at the extremely excited response he was getting over something so trivial.

"Dude, you're my freakin' hero! I totally less than three you!" And then she glomped him. Unsure of what to do and rather shocked, Harry froze, but only momentarily. He regained himself long enough to chuckle and hug her back, however, awkwardly. Hermione hid her smile behind her cup of tea, she glanced at Ron to see that he was busily helping himself to more sausages.

"Come on," Renee said releasing Harry and getting up from the table.

"What? where?" Harry sputtered, confused.

"Coffee. Kitchens. Going. Now. You. Me." She explained pointing to him and then her.

"But...I..."

"Harry you as good as promised her coffee, now you have to deliver," Hermione interrupted him mid sputter, giving him a quick wink.

"Oh yea, right, well then...I guess we should go then...umm...yea." Harry managed catching on as quickly as he could.

"Eloquent," Renee said sarcastically, giving him a measuring look.

"You better hurry or you'll be late for class," Hermione warned.

"Right lets go," Harry said, impetuously grabbing Renee's hand, and walked toward the exit.

"Yay, finally I get coffee!" Renee exclaimed. As she walked slightly behind Harry she turned her head at Hermione as they passes through the large double doors and mouthed a silent "Thank You" at Hermione. Hermione just shook her head and went back to her paper.


"Oh, I need coffee sooooooooo bad!" Sheya whined at breakfast, banging her head on the table.

"Don't whine to me," Draco replied while perusing his copy of The Daily Prophet. "If you want it so badly, then go get it, but don't complain to me."

"You don't understand!" Sheya exploded, as she grabbed the newspaper away from him and sat on it. "All you have is weak, motor oil, swill and tea and that's not gunna cut it! I'm going through caffeine withdrawals, and I have a headache, and I'm uber tired and I need a latte or a mocha or a caffeine injection right into my bloody veins or I'll go psycho bitch and die!" She finished collapsing on the table.

"If this is you tired then I'm not sure I want to see you with caffeine," Draco sighed warily. Sheya's green eyes became very wide in a wild sort of desperate way, then melted as she gave a heavy sigh and crawled neatly into Draco's lap. She put her arms around him and nuzzled into his neck, taking in the scent of him, enjoying the feel of his arms as they wrapped around her middle, his head on her shoulder. He smelled of citrus, peppermint, rain, and...coffee?

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she murmured, "You smell like coffee," She brought her face up to meet his to see an amused smirk on his face.

"And? I think you just miss it so much, you're smelling it everywhere."

"Mmmmm possibly," She mumbled setting her head back on his shoulder. She grinned again and bit him hard on his well muscled arm.

"OWW!" Draco yelled out loud, "What the bloody hell was that for?" He demanded looking at the spot where she had bitten him. She was fairly sure there would be a bite mark.

"That's for hoarding coffee while I have a migraine, jackass," She replied crossing her arms and glaring at him. "My head hurts, you're arm hurts, we're even."

Draco sighed, "Not quite." Deftly, he wrapped his arms around her, lifted her, stood, then set her back on her feet as easily as if she was a feather. Of course she only weighed 85 lbs. "Come on," he called walking away from her.

"What? Where?"

"We're going to go get you coffee, I have an espresso machine in my room."

And at that she happily trotted after him, making sure to jump on his back and kiss his arm where she had bitten it as they left the Great Hall.


"Come on, we have to go, we're gunna be late, " Harry told Renee as she finished the last dregs of her latte.

"Ugh, I think I burned my tongue, remind me to never drink hot fluids that quickly again," she replied making a face. She made to move towards him and had to spin around several house elves who were removing trays and cleaning up from breakfast in the Great Hall. As she was maneuvering her way over to him she hopped past Dobby who had been kind enough to get her coffee, and who was presently carrying the remains of the scalding hot liquid. Harry thought for a moment the two were going to collide, but she gracefully slid past him landing right in front of Harry.

"Well done, thought you weren't going to make it through the maze for a minute there."

"Well I've had practice, working in a café will do that to you."

"You worked in a café? "

"Yea, over the summer. You know saving money for college and all that."

"Oh right, well we really should go," he finished lamely grabbing her hand, "We really don't want to be late for potions."

"No, I expect Professor Snape would take points from you both, not to mention give you extra homework," said a rather amused voice next to the door. Renee and Harry simultaneously turned to see Dumbledore studying them with interest. Knowing students weren't supposed to be in the kitchens, Harry knew he had to come up with something to say.

"Professor we were just-"

"Leaving," Renee interrupted moving slightly toward Dumbledore, Harry in tow, "We came down to get coffee, and well we did that, so now we're going to class like good students, cuz that's what we are, students." Dumbledore gave her a measuring look, "Students, who are desperately hoping you'll find not only our rule breaking cause to be a sympathetic one, but also that you find nervous, student, rambling amusing." She finished, a hopeful and nervous smile on her face.

At that moment Dobby appeared at Dumbledore's side proffering a coffee tray. Dumbledore smiled, took a cup, thanked Dobby, had a sip, winked and said, "As I said before it would be a shame if you were late to class, Severus is in a foul mood this morning, I would suggest running." Harry and Renee stared at Dumbledore as if he was mad, then looked at each other, Harry was amazed, and Renee was beaming. As they exited the kitchen they heard Dumbledore call after them, "Do watch you're timing tomorrow Miss Mitchell, it would be a shame to receive detention on the account of a beverage."