I never paid much attention to Draco Malfoy, what with him being two years ahead of me and being a somewhat friend of my sister Daphne. Our paths only crossed occasionally in the Slytherin common room, every once in a while we sat near each other at dinner, but I really had no intentions or needs to associate myself with him or his family. It wasn't until my fourth year when he acknowledged my existence and that's when everything changed.

I had always been older than most of my classmates, and I always looked older than I was. Over the course of the summer break, it became clear I had changed a lot. I grew out my hair, gave makeup a try, lost the last remains of my baby fat, and was starting to look even more like my sister every day.

Waiting on platform 9 ¾ with Daphne, as the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, Pansy Parkinson made her way over to where we were standing, she was one of Daphne's friends who was also a sixth year.

"Daphne!" Pansy said with fake enthusiasm, quickly giving her a hug. I rolled my eyes and kept a lookout for some of my own friends who hadn't arrived yet. They continued talking and I tuned them out. Blaise Zabini and more came until almost the whole sixth year Slytherin class was standing around in one area. My friends oddly nowhere in sight I gave up and retorted to standing quietly next to Daphne.

"Draco!" Pansy called and waved over at the platinum-haired boy with a disgusted scowl on his face, he strode over looking like he would rather be anywhere than here. Pansy grabbed his arm and attempted to pull him close, he shrugged her off, clearly not impressed by her or excited to see her. After giving too much of an effort to get his attention she eventually gave up.

Just as the last signal to board the train was let out and everyone started making their way over to the car with all the other Slytherins Daphne turned to me with an annoyed look on her face, "Why are you still here? Go find your friends or something; I don't want my little sister hanging around."

I felt my cheeks grow warm with embarrassment, I weaved through the crowd of sixth year Slytherins, wondering where my friends were, let alone my year was, lost in my thoughts I accidentally bumped into Draco Malfoy, tripping over my own feet and on my way into a free fall onto the platform, but before I fully hit the wooden panels a hand caught me and pulled me back before I really landed on my face. I felt my cheeks grow even redder from the embarrassment of the fall, anticipating the irritating glare and nasty snarl I was sure to get from him when I looked up I was surprised to hear "looks like little baby Greengrass has grown up" and a smirk to follow. I instantly felt my face turn even redder than it had been and hurried onto the train as quickly as I could.

I was glad when I saw Bridget and Harper sitting across from each, ducking my head past the bench full of sixth years who undoubtedly saw my fall. I sluncked next to Bridget.

"Well what happened to you?" Bridget asked. "Your face is as bright as a tomato."

"I don't want to talk about it," I mumbled.

"Fine. We were just talking about how Justin Winters switched to Ravenclaw and broke up with Arabella. She is furious with him. I can't wait for the Quidditch game we play against them, she just might beat him with one of the bloody bludgers. Wouldn't that be a show!"

"Play in quidditch?" I questioned. Wondering how our former chaser landed another position on the Ravenclaws team.

"Turns out one of Ravenclaws Chasers graduated and when he switched houses they offered him the position. Arabella's still a beater, bet you fifty quid, she stays on just to try and knock him off the broom."

It's very rare, but not uncommon that someone switches houses. It's always been people I didn't know. No one ever switches into Slytherin… and no one usually switches out. It was strange because I knew Justin, he was my partner in divinations. It made me wonder what it would be like to switch houses. I had always wondered what it would be like if I hadn't been sorted into Slytherin… if I hadn't chosen it.

I remember my first year sorting ceremony, the hat talking to you. I remember it saying it always takes into account what you want. I think the hat was right that I would have fit into Ravenclaw just fine. In fact, I often wondered how different it would have been if I had chosen the hat's recommendation. I have always been sort of the outcast, the friend off to the side, I get along with everyone but I never quite fit just right, or just as well as everyone seems too. Everyone here is so cold and focused on other things that don't interest me as much. I hate the arrogance that the reputation of Slytherin has surrounded it, that people from other houses look at me and think because if my family and house I think I am better. The truth is quite the opposite, the truth is I think I would fit in just about any other house better than my own.

I chose it because I was afraid of my family. They would never disown me for being a Ravenclaw, in fact, they would say it better than the two other houses left, but I have already been the outcast of my family and I was afraid it would be the breaking point. Daphne was and is the golden child. She fits the part perfectly. My sister is cold and cruel. She never cried, she never lost and she was always one to make her appearance known. I, on the other hand, was sensitive and shy and curious. I always cried when I got hurt, I was scared to talk to new people and I asked 'why?' too many times. Daphne is the golden child and I am the other child.

As the train slowly pulled into the station I knew the school year had come. I was determined to make this different one way or another.