Evanna's roommates quickly grew used to her posh attitudes, while Evanna quickly took to their up-to-date fashions. She quickly figured out the spells to transform one's outfits into something like that week's Witch's Weekly and if she couldn't figure it out, then she used her allowance to place owl orders. Soon, her wardrobe was close to overflowing, but there was luckily two extra in the room that was meant to house a greater number of students.

She, luckily, did not hear any more murderous voices, though she unfortunately had not received a letter back from her mother yet. Her father, however, had sent a missive. Seeing her father's austere handwriting instead of her mother's elegant scrawl, Evanna had quickly dismissed herself from the breakfast table.

"Pardon me," she said to Elin. "I've a letter-I'm going to go read this before Potions begins-"

"Why not read it here?" Eva said, swallowing her sausage quickly. Evanna crinkled her nose, not really sure of how to explain her reluctance to read something from her father around others and not really sure if she wanted to anyway.

"Oh, leave off it," Elin said. "She's allowed some privacy."

Evanna nodded gratefully and took off down the corridor until she came to an out of the way alcove and settled in, heart thumping uncomfortably as though she was facing down one of her father's nastier training sessions.

Evanna,

Draco tells me you were Sorted into Slytherin and I must commend you on that. However, I have also heard some disturbing reports about who you have chosen to befriend-I hope that as you settle into the school you learn to be a little more discerning with your acquaintanceships. Do not make me regret not having you be tutored in the Manor.

I have made certain plans for Hogwarts this school year. I hope for your sake that you are keeping apprised of goings-on. You are well-trained and intelligent-you may be of some use as you come into your powers. Keep your eyes open and you will do well, Evanna.

Your mother has not been feeling well, and is thus unable to answer your letter. You may direct any inquiries to me.

Sincerely,

Your Father

Evanna cursed soundly under her breath, using some new words she had learned from Eva, as she stashed the letter into her bag.

"Oh, dear," a dreamy voice said beside her. Evanna jumped, having thought that she was alone in the little alcove, but Luna Lovegood had come to sit with her. "Have you been bitten?"

"Excuse me?" Evanna demanded, offended. Was the Ravenclaw asking if she was a werewolf or something?

"Well, this corridor is positively teeming with nargles, and now you are frowning and cursing," the blonde explained as though it was the most natural thing in the world.

Evanna blinked. She had now known the other girl for three weeks, and was still getting used to the flights of fancy she seemed to be prone to. Yet, Evanna couldn't help but enjoy her presence. Though she had learned to get along with her roommates, Luna had been the first and only person at Hogwarts to always treat her kindly.

"Oh-er-I don't think so," she said. "I just received a letter from my father. He's saying that my mother is unable to return letters right now, but I had a question for her that I really wanted answered."

"Oh," Luna said. "What about? Ravenclaws are quite good at answering questions, you know."

Evanna smiled. "I'm not sure you would know the answer, unless you're some sort of medi-witch."

Luna frowned, looking at the floor. Evanna followed her gaze. "Hmm, unfortunately, I am not-"

"Where are your shoes?" Evanna asked, blinking in surprise at her friend's stocking covered feet. For the first time since Evanna had met her, Luna seemed to lose that ethereal air about her, her face becoming a sort of blotchy pink.

"Well-I'm sure they just found it a laugh-there's no real harm in it-I like walking barefoot any way," the other girl mumbled. Evanna frowned, feeling anger stirring inside her.

My Housemates don't like me.

"Did your Housemates steal your shoes, Luna?" she asked.

"It was just a joke-"

"Do you know who specifically?"

"Really, Evanna it's not-"

At that moment, students began pouring from the Great Hall and Evanna cursed, knowing she wouldn't get the information from Luna now. Instead, she quickly pulled her magazine out of her bag and flipped to a page where she had giggled at a pair of bright turquoise Mary-Janes, but she couldn't imagine any other shoes suiting Luna Lovegood nearly as well. Narrowing her eyes, Evanna carefully did the incantation that the magazine suggested and performed the wand movements at Luna's feet.

"Stitching is a little wonky," Evanna sighed. That was her constant mistake. "But, those should get you through the day-oof."

Evanna was not expecting it when the other girl launched herself into a tight hug. Evanna sat frozen; the Malfoys were hardly openly affectionate, especially in public.

"Thank you! I can't believe all the other Ravenclaws say you Slytherins are mean-you've been the nicest person to me all year," Luna said. Evanna blinked. 'Nice' was also not an adjective used to describe Malfoys.

"Do me a favor, Luna," she said slowly.

"Whatever you need!"

"Don't tell your Housemates that," she said. "In fact, tell them that I am as mean as they come."

Luna blinked. "Well alright, but-"

"I've got to go, I've Potions first thing," Evanna said, quickly losing herself in the crowds of students. She would have to figure out who had stolen her friend's shoes some other way.

Evanna marched right up to Ginny Weasley as soon as she reached the Potions classroom, walking as though she owned the school. The Weasley girl jerked in surprise as Evanna plopped into the seat beside her just as Colin Creevey was pulling it out for himself.

"Why, thank you, Creevey," Evanna said with a sneer. "Now, move along. I believe some of your kind are on the other side of the room."

Creevey looked mildly terrified as he scurried off to the rest of the Gryffindors. Weasley was fuming.

"What did you do that for? He's my friend!"

"I thought I was, too, on the train," Evanna said, carefully pulling out her potions kit and setting out the ingredients she would need for the day.

"Well-you said that you-but now you're-and what do mean, some of Colin's kind?"

Weasley had a look of righteous indignation on her face. Evanna blinked.

"Don't you think he's more comfortable over there with the half bloods and muggle borns?" Evanna asked, pitching her voice low.

"No, I don't! I think he was perfectly fine sitting by me and it's no bloody wonder that you ended up in Sly-"

"Look, I didn't sit here to argue about Creevey," Evanna said dismissively. "Someone has been stealing Luna's things. I assume you're still friends with her?"

Weasley's face darkened. "Stealing her things-but why? How?"

Evanna quickly described what had gone down in front of the Great Hall. Weasley was fuming as well by the end of it, and Evanna knew she had succeeded in her mission. But, it was then that Professor Snape swept into the room, the door slamming behind him, causing all the Gryffindors to immediately silence their conversations and sit up while the Slytherins smirked at the effect their Head of House had on the brave lions.

As the professor called role, his eyes narrowed ever so briefly at Evanna's new choice of seat before he waved his wand at the blackboard and instructions appeared.

"Begin," he intoned. There was a rush for ingredients and cauldrons that hid any voices for a moment."

"Whatever you're planning to do to them," Weasley said. "I'm in."

Evanna grinned. "Firstly, we need to figure out who the scoundrels are."

"Scoundrels?"

Professor Snape prowled past them then and the girls were quiet for the rest of the period. The professor held Evanna back at the end of class.

"Interesting seat mate you chose today, Ms. Malfoy," he said nonchalantly. Evanna narrowed her eyes. Had her Head of House been making reports to her father? "Ms. Weasley is not quite the potioneer I'd expect you would want to partner with."

"Well, I like a challenge," Evanna replied loftily.

"Hmm," Professor Snape responded. "And what happened over the weekend, that was not challenging enough?"

Evanna's heart thumped a little harder. "What happened over the weekend was-was-just stress of starting a new school, I'm sure. Have you heard anything about my mother?"

The professor blinked eyes going wide before they quickly shuttered.

What does she know?

"Your mother?" he said slowly.

"Yes, my mother," Evanna replied. "Only she was supposed to write me after dropping me off at the train station-there was an incident-but only Father has written me since I arrived and he's saying that she's not feeling well."

Her Head of House looked troubled. "I've not heard anything of Mrs. Malfoy being ill, certainly not ill enough to-" he cleared his throat. "I am sure your father is perhaps being a little overzealous. It is time for your Herbology lesson, is it not?"

Evanna bit her lip, looking at the open door. The hallway looked empty. "My father usually allows the House Elves to take care of my mother-even when she had dragon pox. I've not heard from her in a week and-and I'm a bit worried, sir."

Something seemed to go a little soft in Professor Snape's eyes, something that was a rare occurrence, Evanna was sure. "I am unsure-"

"Could you check in on her?" Evanna said before she lost her nerve. "Please?"

The professor seemed to swallow. "Yes-I of course. Now get on to class."