First day

TIMETABLE

Emma Dominique Malfoy

MONDAY

9:00 Transfiguration

9:55 History of Magic

10:55 INVERVAL

11:10 Charms

12:05 Charms

1:00LUNCH

2:10 Potions

3:00 Herbology

Professor Flitwick was one of the best teachers ever, Emma decided, after Charms. The very enjoyable lesson she had just had was a lot better than History of Magic. Kirsty, Rachel, Lorna and Janine had all agreed.

'He seems really friendly.' Lorna commented as they made their way to the dungeons.

'And funny,' Kirsty added.

'And he's so small!' Rachel squealed.

Emma laughed, 'I think-oof!' she hit someone while rounding a corner in the dungeon hallways, 'I'm so sorry, I didn't see- Draco!'

Draco's eyes widened as he realized who he bumped into. 'Eminem! Uh, hi, where you off to?'

It was rather a stupid question. There was only one class that took place in the dungeons. Realizing this quickly, he said, 'Potions, right, you doing ok so far?'

Emma nodded. 'Yeah, Flitwick's great, just like Harry said.' As soon as the words left her lips Emma knew she shouldn't have said it.

Draco's eyes darkened. 'Harry?'

Emma shifted uncomfortably, 'Yeah, you know, Harry Potter?'

Draco nodded slowly before walking away without saying goodbye.

'Eminem?' Rachel asked.

'Don't ask…'

'Yes, please don't cause we're gonna be late!' Janine yelled. She liked yelling.

'There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science or exact art that is potion making.'

Emma stared at her brother's godfather in mild shock. She never noticed how eerie he looked. She wasn't afraid or anything but she wasn't surprised to see half the class cower as he spoke. The room was dark due to the lack of any windows. Emma sat at the front beside Rachel. Behind them were Lorna and Kirsty. Janine was across the aisle at Rachel's side, sitting with a small boy with huge blue eyes. Emma remembered his name was Robin because Rachel had went on about how cool Batman and Robin were, Emma had no idea who or what they were but was sure it was made by muggles.

'But for those select few…I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the scenes…I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even…put a stopper in death…'

'Strange…' Emma heard Lorna whisper. 'He can stop himself dying but he can't reduce the size of his nose…'

Emma, Kirsty and Rachel giggled. Janine gave Lorna a dark look. As did Snape.

'Miss Malfoy, What is so funny? Do you not have an interest in life?' He sneered.

'Yes sir, sorry sir,' Emma mumbled, annoyed that Snape picked on her. Of course, she didn't like favouritism but it seemed slightly unfair.

It was a surprising lesson. Snape had docked ten points from Gryffindor and mostly it was either because Emma had sneezed at the wrong moment or she was leaning too hard on her quill. This side of Snape was one Emma had never seen before. He used to be friendly.

After the bell rang everyone practically ran out the classroom. Emma's next and last class was Herbology. She waited for her friends to come out. Lorna was last to come out.

'I can tell you how to bottle fame, and glory,' she said in a scary, low voice, glaring at the rest of the group, 'and put a stopper…in death!' She concluded by throwing her head back and laughing like a maniac. 'MUAH HA HAHA HA!'

Everyone laughed.

'A marvellous performance, Miss Blackmore.' said a cold voice from the doorway.

Snape looked angry and they made a quick escape before he started giving out detentions.

'Do you still like him now?' Kirsty asked.

'Not really…' Emma replied.

They went outside and walked to the greenhouses. Professor Sprout was waiting for them.

'Hurry along, girls, your last to arrive and I want to get a start on rose merchants!'

During the next hour Emma learned about rose merchants. They were tiny little creatures about the size of a thumb. They were a pinkish colour with strange pointy orange hats. Found in-between rose petals, the flying merchants enjoy hiding from each other and are always playing. The lesson was quite pleasant and soon Emma found herself walking back towards the castle.

Everyone else had gone ahead of her. Emma gazed around the grounds and her eyes landed on a small cabin near the trees to the forest. A large man, at least twice the size as a normal human, was walking around the cabin with an equally large dog. Emma couldn't resist.

'Excuse me!' Emma cried. The man looked at her.

'Yeh?'

'Um, could I clap him?'

'Aye aye, you jus' go righ' ahead, e's friendly,' the man smiled.

Emma smiled back and approached the dog. The dog certainly was friendly. It slobbered all over Emma's hand.

'Oh, er, sorry 'bout tha'…'

'It's fine, I love dogs,' Emma replied, 'my dad hates them, he hates all animals, really. Not often I get to see dogs, never mind touch them. What's his name?'

The man scratched the dog's ears. 'Fang, 'ad him since Merlin knows when, and who might' you be?'

'I'm Emma, first year.'

'Are ye now? Well I 'ope there'll be more visits from you, Emma. I'm the grounds keeper and new Care of Magical Creatures teacher, call me Hagrid.'

Emma shook hands with Hagrid and automatically knew she would be coming here more often.

'Don' look like your visits going un-noticed, dun it?' Hagrid said, amused. He nodded towards Rachel and Kirsty, who were running towards them.

'Emma!' Rachel cried. 'Come on, we want to explore before dinner!'

Emma said goodbye to Hagrid, a goodbye pat on the head to Fang and followed her friends inside.

Rachel, who was very organised, made a plan. They would explore each floor starting at the bottom. Each evening they would search one floor so it would only take them about a week to know the whole castle.

Being the first night, they began in the dungeons. After finding Lorna and Janine they went down.

'Kinda creepy down here, isn't it?' Rachel said after five minutes wandering. They were in a dark hall, only a few lit candles showed them a path.

'Yeah, imagine being a Slytherin!' Lorna replied, 'They LIVE here!'

'Imagine a person sleeping in this place,' Janine muttered. 'It's colder than the rest of the castle and it's got such a gloomy atmosphere. You would need to be mad…'

'Funny, that's exactly what WE say about YOU.'

The group stopped. An assembly of kids stepped out from the darkness and into view. There were about three boys, one of which had spoken, and two girls. They were first years as well. They were all wearing green and black ties. Slytherins.

'I am so sorry,' Janine stuttered, clearly angry at herself for saying what she said. 'I didn't mean to offend you, I wasn't being rude or anything-'

'Oh shut up!' snapped the boy who had spoken. He was rather tall with black hair and pale features. His eyes were sharp and dark. He had a menacing look about him. The other boys and one of the girls were both small and fat. The last girl had a very long, thin face and a large forehead and wore small glasses.

'That's impolite, you know,' Rachel stated, 'she was apologising.'

'He knows that!' the fat girl sneered.

'He's not thick!' the other girl added.

Emma folded her arms, showing her annoyance, 'yeah, we can see you two already have that covered, don't you?'

Before they could understand what was said, Janine cried 'Hey, you're in some of our classes!'

'Well done.' The tall boy clapped slowly. 'If I remember correctly…Blythe' he pointed to Kirsty, 'Baird' at Rachel, 'Wilson' Janine, 'Blackmore' Lorna, 'and…Malfoy.' He smirked at Emma. 'It's strange, your family has been in Slytherin for centauries. What a let down you are,'

Emma walked forward a few steps ready to see how far she could put her fist into his face before a sharp voice rang, 'Dominic Minx!'

The boy jumped around to face a very angry Draco.

'What the hell did you just say!' Draco snarled.

'N-n-nothing, Malfoy, we were going, come on guys!' the group of first year Slytherins fled.

'Good thing you came, Drake,' Emma started, but was interrupted.

'And why are you down here, get out!' Draco snapped.

'Excuse me?'

'You're a Gryffindor, you don't belong here!'

Rachel stepped forward, 'there is no law or rule saying that.'

'Slytherins live in the dungeons and unless you didn't know Gryffindor's especially are not welcome in Slytherin territory. That's how it works.'

Emma felt herself flare up. 'Oh so I suppose you would be fine with me being friends with Harry Potter and, what is it you call them, Weasels and Mudbloods?'

Lorna, Rachel and Kirsty gasped. 'If you dare…You know what father would do if he knew you were with the enemy, you stay well way-' Draco said.

'Draco, face it, I'm in Gryffindor and there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it. You can't stop me being friends with people I like and you certainly can't stop me being different from the way you and dad want me to be!'

Emma stopped herself from saying anymore once she saw the look on Draco's face. Apart from being hurt and shocked, he also looked as if he was agreeing.

'Your right…I can't.'

With that he walked past them and out of sight.

'You were totally right to say that,' Kirsty said later. 'I'm not surprised he never retorted because there is nothing sensible to say.'

'Thanks…'Emma said. 'I just hope he still talks to me…'

'Course he will!' Rachel said. 'Just give him time.'

It was after dinner. They had arrived at the common room where everyone had pretty much gathered to talk before bed. Emma squeezed through the dozens of people to the window. She sat herself up on the ledge and watched the grounds for a while. Her roommates had gone up to the dormitory for some quiet. Emma sat alone for a long time until she was tapped on the shoulder.

'Harry, Ron! What you doing?'

Harry looked funny. Beside him was Ron, who looked a lot friendlier than usual. Hermione wasn't present.

'Er, looking for you, actually.' Harry answered. 'Draco and I had a discussion about you tonight and I think you ought to know about it…'

Ron added, 'I wasn't there but I wish I was.'

'What happened?' Emma asked eagerly.

'Well, he owled me just before dinner. He asked me to go to the Charms classroom during dinner, alone. I wasn't going to but it mentioned he wanted to talk about you so I did.'

/Harry flashback/

'Evening Malfoy'

'Potter.'

'What's all this about then?'

'Well if Emma hadn't explained her views an hour ago I would be telling you to stay the hell away from my sister.'

'Buuuuuut?'

'But she did, so instead I want to ask you a favour.'

'A favour? The all mighty Draco Malfoy is requesting a favour from low Harry-'

'Yes or no, Potter?'

'What favour?'

Sigh 'I want you to look after her…'

'Sorry you're speaking too quietly, what?'

'Look after her!'

'Emma?'

'Yes!'

'Sure,'

'Good. You can go now.'

'Fine…hey, Malfoy, are-are you crying?'

'No, course not' turns away.

Unsure. 'I can see fine well you are…why did you ask me anyway? Aren't you doing a good enough job?'

'Bloody hell, Potter, are you that stupid? I can't do anything. She doesn't respect me like she used to. I can't see where she is all the time!'

'But neither can I-'

'But she respects you, hell, I'll bet she likes you as well. She's in your house and you seem to have some mental problem where you just HAVE to help people. And Potter?' calmer now.

'Yeah?'

'She's gonna need all the help she can get when my father finds out.'

'Finds out what?'

'Promise me you'll look after her.'

'But what-'

'Please Harry!'

'Promise.'

'Thank you.' Leaves.

/End Flashback/

'He…he was crying?'

'Yeah.'

'Oh no,'

Emma let her head fall into her hands. Ron put an arm round her shoulder. 'He'll be fine, Emma,' he said. 'To me it sounds like he still wants to look after you, he just wants you to have more protection. Even he isn't worried about himself, and to tell the truth, that IS a first.'

Emma looked up. 'You think so?'

The boys nodded.

'Thanks…I suppose I better get to bed.' A smile appeared on her face, 'I can sleep easy to night.'

'How's that?' Harry asked, smiling as well.

'Isn't it obvious?' Emma began walking away, 'I got Harry Potter looking after me!'

AN. Sorry for taking so long in updating lately, there's a lot of stuff going on and hopefully it'll die down a bit so I can write more often.