Chapter 3

Faye entered the great hall to much muttering and staring. It was to be expected of course, but that didn't make it any better. She looked around anxiously for the one familiar face. Finally she spotted him sitting at the end of one of the four large tables, one of the few people not whispering.

"So he made it into Slytherin." He said as she sat down to his right,

"That's good, would have been a shame to have to hate you by association." He continued, with a smirk that suggested he wasn't joking. Suddenly the impact of her first day hit her and it was all Faye could do to keep her eyes open for the rest of the feast. Following a prefect to her new common room she was vaguely aware of the elaborate tapestries adorning the cold stone walls as they made their through the bowels of the castle to her dungeon bedroom.

Faye awoke to brilliant sunlight streaming through the arched window onto her four poster bed. Sitting up she noticed four other girls asleep in their beds next to her. Not wanting to wake any of them, Faye tiptoed to her trunk to change and then silently padded down the spiral stone staircase to the common room. The room below was cavernous and warm, large armchairs and quaint stools were arranged in a messy semi-circle around the grand fireplace and low tables contained an assortment of wizarding games and books. Taking a seat by the fireplace Faye watched as students gradually trickled in, some introducing themselves to her; some content with just staring.

"You coming down to breakfast?" asked a girl Faye recognised from her dormitory.

"I'm Rosella Pert." She added with a kind smile. Glad to have someone to talk to Faye agreed and accompanied her new friend up to the great hall.

The tables were all laden with masses of delicious food. Sausages, eggs, bacon, kippers, toast, cereals, milk and juice. It all looked absolutely superb. Tucking in whole-heartedly Faye took in her surroundings properly for the first time. The great hall was huge and magnificent; an enchanted ceiling displayed the beautiful summery day up above. Just as the last scraps of food were being scraped off the plates the head of Slytherin house, Professor Snape, strode down the length of the table passing out the new year's timetables.

"And welcome to Hogwarts Ms..."

"Abbeton." Said Faye answering Snape's implied question. Looking down at her timetable Faye saw she had Professor Snape as her first teacher of the day. Double potions were followed by charms, transfiguration then double herbology. Feeling very full and content Faye and Rosella followed the throng of Slytherins traipsing their way down to the dungeons for potions.

The potions room was dimly lit and quite eerie, contrasted by the usual classroom display of tables and a blackboard. Faye spotted Draco already sitting on his own at one of the tables and started towards him. She was stopped by Rosella pulling on her arm.

"What are you doing?" she said with a strange look on her face.

"Going to sit by Draco, we're...friends." she finished rather lamely.

"Friends? You and Malfoy are friends?" Faye didn't know why her friend was making so much of a fuss, pulling her arm away she strode towards Draco Malfoy with a simple

"Yes."

"Is anyone sitting here?" Faye gestured to the empty seat next to Draco. He answered with a small shake of his head. Sure he wasn't the most talkative but Faye could not figure out what made Rosella act so strangely, she had ignored the other empty seat next to Faye and gone to sit on the opposite side of the room. Just as she started thinking of something to say to Draco, Snape swept in through the door and Faye's attention was now turned to the day's lesson.

"Today girls and boys you will be attempting to make the Draft of Euphoria, ten points to the table that make the most...acceptable potion. Instructions are on the board. Supplies are in the cupboard." With two short flicks of his wand the cupboard flew open and Draft of Euphoria appeared on the blackboard.

"So how good are you at potions?" asked Draco speaking finally.

"Not bad." Faye replied smiling to herself as she knew just how good she really was. The potion was very difficult but they worked together well each taking turns at chopping or stirring. As the lesson progressed Draco even seemed to become more willing to talk, questioning her about the school she used to go to and why she moved. Without looking Faye reached for the silver blade to crush the beetles she had just collected, at the same time Draco had out his hand out to grab it and their hands brushed together. Faye's heart performed an unexplainable leap at his touch and she hid behind her hair to mask the blush that was creeping up her face. The conversation petered out after that and the two of them worked silently on the assigned potion.

"I must say I am quite impressed with the latest edition to Slytherin house. You and Mr Malfoy seem to have produced an adequate potion; I think I owe you ten points."

Smiling with pride Faye looked up from her potion and caught Rosella's eye. She looked; if possible, even angrier than she had before Faye simply couldn't work out what she had done. Faye ran to catch up with her after class desperate to know what she had done wrong.

"Ditched Malfoy now have you?" Rosella sneered.

"What's so bad about Draco?"

"He's just...He's just...and evil little boy." She screeched turning almost purple.

"What's he ever done to you?"

"Oh take his side will you." And with that Rosella stormed off out of sight.