Disclaimer: I wish it was mine, but it's not, sorry.

A/N: I'd just want to say thank you to everyone who responded to this story. I was glad to hear from a lot of you. Sorry it took me so long to update. I hope you enjoy this story. Oh and by the way, there will often be flashbacks of Draco and Cree's years in Hogwarts to give you more input on their previous relationship. Thanks for your reviews!

Third Year

I was finally at my prime, I realized as I walked down the hallways of Hogwarts, people glancing at me as I passed. Thirteen and already an outstanding reputation as head Slytherin. The Slytherin Prince, I've heard people say. Handsome, suave, and all around bad boy. I had my loyal subjects and one girl who just couldn't get enough of me. Life was good.

"Excuse me." I felt a slight tug on the sleeve of my robe and I turned, a scowl in place. A little girl stood behind me, her presence slightly alarming for her size. She stared up at me with large dark eyes set in a blank expression. Her velvety black hair was braided into two French braids, the braids falling halfway down her back.

I raised an eyebrow at her, still surprised of this presence she had about her. It was calm . . . almost deadly calm. I looked at the emblem on her robes. Slytherin. "What do you want kid?" I said.

Her eyebrows shot up slightly, a look of anger passing through her eyes. "Well, if you're going to be rude about it, I'll find someone else more civil to help me find the Transfiguration room," she said, her voice drawling over the words.

I caught her arm as she turned away from me. "Do you know who you are talking to?"

She looked to be considering my question. "Well, you don't look like my father, so I know I'm not talking to him."

Once again I was surprised by her confidence. I suppose I was used to first years who cowered in the presence of any person older than them. But this kid didn't seem to care that she was at the disadvantage.

I smirked at her. "What's your name kid?"

"Who's asking?"

"Draco Malfoy." Why was I answering to this girl?

Her eyebrows lifted appreciatively. "Cree Cranton."

" Cranton," I said, recognizing her last name. "All right, I'll take you to your class. But you know you're going to have to learn the way sooner or later."

She scoffed. "Oh really, I hadn't thought of that."

I chuckled slightly. I think I was going to like this kid.

I stared at the door that led to Cree's room. She hadn't locked it, seeing as how that would be incredibly pointless. But she hadn't come out of the room either. I could practically feel her presence throughout the house and it had been bugging me to no end.

I knocked on the door, taking a deep breath. "You haven't eaten in a week, Cree. Starving yourself isn't going to get you out of this house. . . . My house-elves will be serving dinner in a couple of minutes, if you're interested."

I went back downstairs, where the house-elves Twinkles and Binky (my mother named them) were placing two plates on the dining room table.

"Dinner is ready, Draco Malfoy, sir," Binky said in his squeaky voice.

"Thank you, Twinkles, Binky," I said, sitting down at the table.

"Will Miss Cranton be joining you, sir?" Twinkles asked, her eyes glancing back towards where the stairs were.

As she asked, I felt Cree's presence coming closer. I smirked. "I do believe so."

"You'll never stop being cocky, will you Draco," she said from behind me.

I waited patiently for her to sit down across from me. She looked no different from when I had found her seven days ago if not slightly skinnier, though she had always been pretty tiny. Her hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, her dark eyes never straying from mine.

We ate quietly like that, our eyes on each other as if we were both planning murder. Her eyes stayed calm while I'm sure mine looked incredibly amused.

"So tell me, Cree," I said, setting my fork down. "What have you been up the last couple of years? Well, besides hiding like a coward, that is."

"Oh, you know, this and that," she said, also putting down her fork. "What about you Draco? Besides, rotting away in prison, of course."

I smirked at her, chuckling softly. "You are a clever girl, Cree."

"That's what they tell me. . . . Why are you doing this?"

"I'm doing you a favor, Shadow. You should be grateful."

"You pretty much kidnapped me. Why should I be grateful for that?"

"It's hard to be considered kidnapped when people think you're dead."

Cree wiped her mouth off with a napkin and got to her feet. She turned towards the house-elves, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you both. Dinner was lovely."

"It is our pleasure, miss," Twinkles said, curtsying while Binky bowed.

I turned to her as she walked past, back towards the stairs. "You're probably going to be here a while, Cree. Might as well make yourself comfortable."

She stopped, her shoulders rigid. "What makes you think I'm staying here?"

"What makes you think you have anywhere else to go?"

I watched her back as she took a deep breath, continuing to the stairs. I turned back to my dinner plate, my appetite suddenly gone. I used to get so much enjoyment from criticizing and torturing Goody-Two Shoes Potter and his Goody-Two Shoes friends.

Technically, she was one of those Goody-Two Shoes too now, right? And yet, there was no pleasure in my torture.