Disclaimer: I just bought Harry Potter! YAY! (Wakes up from dream.) Huh? Where's my money? My fame? Oh yeah, I just write fanfiction. Well, I don't own Harry Potter...yet…

The first week was utter chaos for Faith. Her bed in the Slytherin dormitory was incredibly soft compared to her bed at home and she probably would never have gotten up if a certain little fur ball hadn't roused her. This fur ball was actually Faith's pet, a little black cat named Thorn who was barely more than a kitten.

Hogwarts was a wonderful release from home. Although she strives to be accepted by her closed family, the Malfoy finds it pleasant to make her own choices. But it seemed no matter how hard she tried, she was still an outsider, even among the Slytherins. While she was cunning and tricky, she was also very shy. On a normal basis, she wouldn't mind talking to some people, but when everyone she tried to talk to looked at her with disgust, it was hard. By Tuesday, she realized that at 11 years old, she'd become the most hated person in Hogwarts-in her mind at least. Even Draco had the other Slytherins who seemed to admire him, if only because he constantly flaunted their pureblood heritage and wealth.

This meant Faith would usually try to avoid human contact. She stayed in the library when she wasn't in classes and threw herself into her schoolwork. If nothing else, she at least was determined to impress her teachers.

When Friday rolled around, she was looking forward to Potions with Snape-their Head of House. She gathered her things and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She almost made it without incident, but Peeves had taken advantage of one of Faith's wrong turns and given her directions to the boy's bathroom. She'd turned around so fast she could have sworn she nearly broke her neck.

Finally, she showed up and grabbed some bacon and toast on her plate, downing it with pumpkin juice. As she finished a small helping of porridge, mail arrived. Owls of all types fluttered around with letters and parcels that would undoubtedly contain everything from sweets to Howlers.

Draco's owl had a letter for both of them. Draco opened his to reveal a few Galleons for spending money in case "the need should arise." What did that mean? Did he need to buy some more friends? The thought almost made her laugh. The giggles vanished, however, upon reading the letter she had been sent.

Dear Faith,

Your mother and I heard from Draco that you'd made it into Slytherin. I must say this surprised me. I'd been sure you would be in Hufflepuff. I'm glad that I was wrong.

Your brother has also informed me that the other Slytherins have been pushing you around. Are you trying to shame your family in every way possible? Apparently so. I hope you will soon send us an owl that has better news.

It was not signed, but Faith didn't care. The first few words told her to whom she owed the pleasure. Draco had obviously told them she'd been locked in the bathroom for an hour on Tuesday before Professor Flitwick noticed she hadn't made it to Charms. She'd been so angry at Pansy she hadn't slept a wink.

"Faith!" Draco nudged her roughly and stood. "Hurry up!" She stood as fast as she could and followed the other Slytherins out to the dungeons. Once they reached the classroom they entered, followed by the Gryffindor first years.

Faith sat next to Blaise, who was a close ally to Draco and someone who she preferred. The people she knew always seemed to take one of two options around her; they would either be cruel or ignore her. Blaise, along with Draco, usually took the second choice.

Faith listened as Snape rattled off names. When he reached Harry Potter, however, he stopped and looked up at the boy. "Harry Potter, our new celebrity." He said nothing more as he finished roll call and began the class.

Snape spoke in a low voice that demanded to be heard. Faith was watching the other students more than Snape himself, trying to remember their names. She resumed giving her attention to the professor, however, when he suddenly called out, "Potter!"

"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Repeatedly Snape quizzed Harry and repeatedly, the boy failed to answer.

When the Potions Master ordered them to copy down his questions and the right answers, Faith scribbled furiously in her own shorthand. Every other word seemed to be shortened in some way or form. This she delighted in, even if it drove her parents crazy.

Eventually, they went into pairs and began creating a potion to cure boils, which Snape labeled as "Simple enough for even you to understand." Faith helped gather the ingredients and measured them out. She was about to add the porcupine quills when Blaise stopped her.

"Take it off the fire first," he rolled his eyes, as if wondering how he had been stuck with such an idiot. Faith nodded, trying to hide her face that was turning red with shame. She began to mix the potion when there was a cry. The Gryffindor boy Longbottom had messed up his potion and was growing boils. A wave of snickers filled the air as the Slytherins watched him and another boy head off for the hospital wing.

The class continued and Snape ended it by handing each pair a vial and telling them to put a sample of their potion in it for a grade. Zabini took their potion up as Faith left quickly.

Faith spent the afternoon in the library. Madam Pince was against her furry companion at first, but gave permission for Thorn to stay when Faith convinced her that she would not harm any books.

She looked up an hour later to her pages rustling at a table nearby. Hermione sat there, apparently working on the Potion's essay that Faith had been working on before she found a very intresting book and continued re-reading a section about a fellow named Nicolas Flamel. Putting the book aside, she stood up and walked over.

Hermione seemed engrossed in her work and didn't notice the girl come over. She might have never noticed the shy Malfoy if Thorn hadn't leapt up into her lap.

"Hermione, right?" Faith asked, scooping the cat up into her arms carefully.

"Yeah," She was careful talking ot the Slytherin. What was she up to?

"I wanted to say good job, with your potion. It was really good, better than Draco's was anyways. Is there any chance you could help me a little with my essay?"

Hermione looked Faith over, trying to figure out if the comliment and request were genuine. After what seemed like a lifetime, she smiled and nodded. "Sure." Both girls sat down and shared Hermione's copy of Magical Drafts and Potions.

Me: And they said Slytherins were mean! Thank you to all me reviewers and I hope to have the next chapter out by Friday, if I'm not grounded.