A/N: Okay so i realize that i have not updated this in a loooong time. But i finally got the motivation to finish it as i was sititng her. I think i'm going to to dedicate this chapter to my dear BFF Oasis Blackmore, whom with out her constant bothering this chapter wouldn't have gotten finished. So heres to you ORB. Any way, enjoy and ignore all the technical errors. didn't feel like going into real editing. :D

Disclaimer: I own only that which is my own, which happens to be only my characters.


Chapter Three:

"Claire are you even listening to me?" Hermione was waving a hand in front of her Australian friends face. Claire wasn't listening but she nodded her head anyway. Hermione sighed and turned to Ron and Harry who had engaged them selves in a random game of Tic TAC Toe.

Instead of listening to Hermione, Claire had been watching the Slytherlin table curiously. Draco Malfoy had left a long time ago, leaving his three goons to stare intently at her. Currently they were having a staring contest, the three not bothering to avert their gaze from Claire. Claire shook her head and turned away from her stare and back to Hermione who was waiting for her answer.

"I don't know what Malfoy told those three over there, but as soon as he left the table they've been watching me nonstop. I'm pretty sure he's trying to find a way to embarrass me in front of the school." She leaned forward; making sure no one could hear their conversation.

"That's a wide assumption. But knowing Draco it's probably what he's up to. Though I doubt he'd not play a part in it somehow." Hermione rolled her eyes at the thought and watched as Claire stuffed what she was working on before in her bag and got up, biding goodbye to her friends.

"Wait! You didn't hear my idea!" Hermione called after as Claire began to run out of the great hall.

- - - -

Draco stuffed his hands in his pockets and exhaled a sigh. He had been waiting in the hall way leading to the Gryffindor common room for almost an hour and no sign of Claire at all. He perked up hopefully hearing a voice at the end of the stair case. He started walking towards the star case hopefully.

"-You know? I mean I can't really accuse him of anything. But Em, do you think should say something?" Draco smirked as Claire's voice neared the corridor he was standing it.

"You can't really accuse him of anything, I'm sorry Claire but there's really a fine line and he's not on the wrong side of it," The voices rounded the corner and they appeared shortly after in Draco's line of view. He raised his eyebrows, it was Definatly getting interesting.

Claire and the Granger type girl approached him as he began walking towards them, unaware that he was far from his common room. Claire looked from the girl beside her to him nervously and curiously. They stopped walking; the Granger girl was looking at Draco curiously then to Claire with the same look.

"I don't think this is the Slytherlin common room," Claire pointed out eying Draco with the same curious look she had given him once she saw him.

"I was about to say the same for her," Draco said pointing to Claire's right. The Granger type girl glared and turned to Claire who shrugged in reply.

"She's not going into the common room, Malfoy. In fact, since when is talking to my sister a crime?" She inquired, watching at Draco's spirits lifted noticeably. He smirked and walked around them before turning around again.

"Your sister, eh? How'd you end up in different houses?" He was questioning nicely now, a faux smile appearing on his face.

"I don't think that's any of your business. Emily and I are just two different people is all. What ever house we get put into doesn't matter," Draco's eyes lit up as he turned on his heel towards the staircase. It wasn't really right to say he had found his means of communication and insight to Claire through her sister, but it didn't mean he wasn't going to try.

As he entered the Slytherlin common room, his troupe was waiting for him nervously. Pansy was seated in front of them, tapping her shoe nervously and impatiently. Draco smiled as he sat down next to Blaise and stretched his arms out over his head.

"Draco we need to talk," Pansy began picking at a strand of hair. Draco raised his eyebrows and watched her curiously.

"About what exactly?" He asked, turning to look at the three sitting next to him.

"I think that your pursue of this 'case' isn't worth it and you should stop. You haven't gathered any information and there is no way your going to get her in trouble so, let's face it Darling, this game is over." Draco began to laugh as Pansy finished her statement. She couldn't exactly image that his reply was going to be like this so she frowned in disappointment.

"Oh, Pansy, you're silly. In fact I've gathered much more information than these three over here have even thought about. You see, she has a sister, in our house. Pansy I was kind of hoping you could, take her under your wing and what not. Seeing as you are probably one of the best priers of information I know." Draco wasn't exactly positive when he said this and he watched patiently as Pansy's face lit up and she leaned forward.

"A sister you say? How exciting. What's her name and who is she?" Draco smirked as the common room door opened quickly and Emily emerged carrying her books just like the last time they saw her. Pansy followed his gaze and grinned excitedly.

"Oh Emily," She called happily bounding from her chair to her prey. Emily snapped back cautiously as she looked around her. She narrowed her eyes and watched as Pansy smiled back at her.

"Parkinson, what's the deal?" Emily seemed confused as she took a step back from Pansy's over towering stance. Pansy only swung her arm around her shoulders and steered her towards the couches.

- - - -

"Ugh!! Pansy's taken over my sister!!" Claire cried in frustration as she watched the Slytherlin table closely. Hermione looked up from her plate and peered where Claire was intently staring.

"I'm sure it's nothing, don't worry about it," she replied uninterested, fixing the cards she had just been playing with into a neat pile out of boredom.

"I think you don't understand the situation here. My sister, Emily, the world's shiest person, has been turned into this monster. She-she's never been this close to anybody, not even me!" Hermione glanced over again and examined Emily James thoroughly before nodding her head.

"Pansy's definitely got her wrapped around her finger. She's like a bug to light. She's naturally going to be attracted to it. But again, I'm sure it's nothing to be afraid of, she'll be fine." Claire looked at Hermione as if she had lost her mind, twirling a piece of hair around her finger as she thought.

"This could be all a ploy to get all kinds of secrets out of her. Emily's not good under pressure. She'll never make it…" She trailed standing from the table and running out of the hall.

"How is it this always happens?" Ron curiously asked as the trio played a hand of cards. He was looking at the doors that their Australian friend had just ran out of.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Harry nodded in agreement. Hermione seemed confused as she followed their gaze before looking back questionably.

"Well, she always says something we don't quite understand and then runs off as if we don't matter. It actually quite irritating," Ron nodded, as Hermione shrugged.

"I just want to her to fess up already and tell Draco that she actually enjoyed that kiss they shared the night of the ball…" She quickly shut her mouth and pursed her lips as she looked back at the two boys. They were staring back at her, eyes wide, jaws practically hitting the table.

"You mean she has the hots for Draco? That's just completely wrong…" Ron shuddered, mock gagging as he threw his cards on the table.

"You weren't supposed to find out anything. I fell so horrible, she trusted me with this…"

"Yeah, well, now I know not to tell you any secrets…" Harry mumbled followed by a chuckle of amusement about all of it. Hermione glared and stared back at the doors wondering where her friend was going.