Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the following characters, locations and stories which they are based on. They all belong to J.K Rowling and I don't make any profit out of this. Now that that's all cleared up, shall we get on with the story?

A/N: Hope you guys have enjoyed the story so far. We get to see a few more characters appear in this chapter. Let me know what you think. Also, I hope it won't get too confusing, with Lily and James using fake names, as at some points in the story I'll be alternating between using their real and fake names.

Going Forward

Chapter 5 – Tactful

"Weaslette!"

Ginny groaned as she arrived outside The Great Hall with her new friend. She'd been dreading this moment since the following evening when Harry had jumped in to defend her. She hated it when he did that. It made her look weak.

"Malfoy. I see you're finally conscious. What a shame." She noticed there was a new member in his group. The new boy was staring at her. She returned his look with a glare, then turned to face Malfoy again.

"No bodyguards today then? Tell me, what are you going to do without your brother and his friends to protect you?"

"I'm perfectly capable of defending myself, thank you. You, on the other hand, got yourself in quite a mess yesterday when you didnb't have your goons to step in for you." She smirked at him, knowing last nights events were quite embarrassing for him.

"You know her?" 'Jacob' mumbled to Draco, "She's not new then, like me?"

Draco frowned, confused by his friends question. "No, mate, she's not new." He paused, noticing the girl stood beside Ginny for the first time. "This one, however, is." He eyed Julia up and down, before winking at her. "Bit of advice, love. You don't want to be hanging around with her sort. You'll get yourself a bad reputation."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Malfoy?"

"It means that your family's name is dirt and people get a bad name for themselves just by associating with your lot."

SMACK!

Ginny's fist shot out and struck him across the face before he had time to react. Jacob let out a loud laugh and Draco turned to glare at him. "Sorry mate, but you had it coming. She was right when she said she could handle herself." He glanced at Ginny appreciatively and smiled. "I've got to say, I'm a little impressed. I've never met a girl who can punch like you can."

"Keep talking and you'll feel how hard my punch is. Bloody snakes."

"Malfoy!" The 4 students turned to face the shouting boy, Draco and Ginny both groaning as they realised who it was.

Ron, Hermion and Harry were walking through the crowd of people that had formed around them, making their way towards them. Upon spotting Harry, Jacob and Julia's expressions turned to shock.

"Potter. Weasley. Mudblood." Draco acknowledged each of them as they approached. Ron was rapidly turning purple in anger.

"I would've thought you'd learnt your lesson after what happened yesterday."

Draco scoffed. "And what lesson was that? As I recall, I wasn't the only student to end up in the infirmary. And I assure you, Potter, if it'd been a fair fight, rather than the two of you bumbling idiots tag-teaming me, I would have won."

"Umm… Did you just say his name is Potter?" Julia chimed in, speaking to them for the first time.

Harry looked a little agitated. "Yes. I'm the boy who lived. For Christ's sake, can you stop staring at me?"

"Excuse me? I was not staring at you!" Ron and Draco continued their bickering, as Harry's attention turned to this new girl.

"Who the hell are you anyway?"

"I'm Julia, I'm Ginny's exchange student."

"Oh great. I'd forgotten about all the new students." He turned to mumble to Hermione, too quietly for Julia to make out what he'd said. "I guess I should get used to the staring."

"Huh?" Julia was confused, though his comment made her think that he was probably just very vain, expecting everyone to be looking at him when they arrived. She'd been so sure it was James Potter when they'd come over. The eyes were different though, so it must be his son. They were far too familiar for her liking, but she couldn't figure out whose eyes they reminded her of. Probably some silly bint in her year who'd married James for his money and good looks.

"You're awfully vain, aren't you? Why would anyone want to stare at you? You think you're something special just because you've got your fathers looks?"

Immediately, she knew that she'd said something wrong. Even the Slytherin's were looking at her like she'd done something totally taboo. Frank's son, and now James'. Maybe she shouldn't talk about anyone's parents. She'd have to find a more tactful way to find out what her classmates are up to in the future.

"Harry, I'm sorry. I don't think she knows. Julia, come on, we're leaving." Ginny quickly grabbed her by the arm and dragged her off before anyone had a chance to respond. "What did you say that for? Do you even know anything about him or his parents?"

"No. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, he was just making me so angry! What happened to his father?" She held her breath, hoping another of her classmates didn't get into Voldemort's clutches. As much as she disliked him, they were housemates and she didn't want anything bad to happen to him.

Ginny sighed. "He's dead."