Tracey woke me up for breakfast, if she hadn't done so I probably would have ended up sleeping through breakfast and the introduction to charms which would probably not be a very good first impression.

When we got to the main hall for breakfast, Draco made Crabbe and Goyle move up so I could sit down, 'nice to see you up, I warned Tracey that she might have to kick you to wake you up, join us!'

I looked at the seat available as the other girls in my dormitory scowled at me, 'no thanks, Draco, there's not a enough room for Tracey and I, we'll just sit down the table,' when Draco opened his mouth to complain I pushed Tracey forward to the next empty area on the table, 'those girls really get on my nerves,' I muttered, scowling down the table as they leant towards Draco, giggling.

Tracey got a bowl of porridge, 'you're telling me, Millicent was complaining about how lazy you were this morning, so when she looked in the mirror I did a simple little hex...look at her now,' he nodded towards the chubby girl.

I squinted slightly, but then saw, I covered my mouth and sniggered slightly, Tracey had given Millicent a massive boil on her nose.

'It'll wear off soon, but I didn't think it was right that she's call you lazy when it doesn't affect her, so,' Tracey turned back to me, 'you're really lazy and you should really sort that out otherwise I will kick you to wake you up,' she sneered.

'You're a charming young lady,' I chuckled, glancing down the table again, I noticed Daphne push her food around her plate, but not eating any of it. I decided to ignore it, she was probably just full, I finished my coffee and stood up, swinging my back over my shoulder, 'I'm heading to Charms, coming?'

Tracey shook her head, 'I'm not done yet! Jeez, you really are raring to go aren't you,' she smirked at me, 'I'll catch up, save a seat for me.'

I set off for Charms, weaving in and out of the students hovering in the hallways, I soon got fed up and pushed some out of my way. I was the first to be outside of the class, well, I would have been were some frizzy haired Gryffindor not had been there before me.

I scowled at her, how could she be a Gryffindor? Do any of these houses actually care who goes into them or is everyone else not a Slytherin divided equally between the other three, I thought as I glared at the girl with her nose stuck in a book, I could barely see her forehead she was that swallowed up in reading. She only glanced up to be able to turn the page.

'Do you need glasses or something?' I asked after a few minutes of watching her.

She scowled at me, 'no, actually, the writing in this book is really small.'

I scoffed, 'a microscope then?' I laughed as various other first years started gathering around the door, the girl pursed her lips and opened her mouth before the door opened and a small wizard ushered us all in, she quickly ran in and sat at the very front of class. I shook my head at her and sat down near the back and put my bag down beside me to save a seat for Tracey.

Before I realised Draco had sat down beside me and dumped my bag on the desk in front of me, 'hey!' I pushed my bag onto him, 'I was saving that seat.'

'She sat with the other girls,' he gestured a few rows before them. I didn't believe him, but sure enough she was sat with the other three girls from our dormitory. She turned round and made a mime of hanging herself then pointed at the girls, who then turned around. Millicent's boil had almost disappeared from the look of it; she scowled purposefully at me longer than the others and quickly turned her head.

The tiny professor, called Flitwick, started off by explaining the course and goals for the year, not forgetting the essays he will want us to write about certain spells and their uses, then demonstrated the spell which he wanted us to practice. He passed around some feathers and got us to try and levitate them.

It was a simple enough spell, and soon enough a few of us had got it, including the frizzy haired witch... 'I bet she read that in a book,' I muttered.

'Oh, are you talking about Hermione Granger? The Gryffindor who is always reading,' Draco muttered as he furrowed his brow and attempted the spell again, 'she's one of those muggle born wizards, I can't believe she's in Gryffindor, fairly sure the nerds are supposed to be put into Ravenclaw.'

I laughed as I made the feather float before it dropped to the table; I was having trouble keeping it up, I glanced at Draco's, at least I had gotten further than he had, his was still limply jumping on the table whenever he tried, 'hey, at least you're not the only one struggling, Harry Potter is having trouble too,' I gestured to the dark haired kid close to Hermione.

That just annoyed Draco who started pretty much attacking his feather with his wand, I smirked and sat back.

'That's the end class, homework is to practice, class dismissed. I look forward to our next lesson,' he squeaked.

When we left the room, I made Draco go on ahead so I could talk to Tracey, she walked slowly behind the rest of the girls, and only Daphne looked behind as Tracey stopped besides me, she gestured onwards and Daphne turned to talk to the girls again, 'I told them you did it, the boil, hence the glaring.'

It was my turn to glare, 'why on earth did you tell them that?'

Tracey shrugged, 'come on, it was easier than saying I did it,' she gently shoved me, 'you're not upset are you?' she hid a slight smile.

I smiled back, 'nah, I get it, each for their own, right?'

She laughed, 'you had me worried for a second, I knew you'd understand.'

After lunch, we started walking to the dungeons where our next class was; little did Tracey know I'd get her back for this, especially if it causes me more trouble than it's worth. Despite being the last out of Charms there were still some good seats available so Tracey and I sat together, she waved at the girls in front of us, Daphne waved but the other two just scowled at me, 'they're so bitter, I don't get their problem.'

'Survival of the fittest, they're weeding out the weak ones... do you not know what girls do?'

I shook my head, 'I mean I do, but that was for a few years living with an adoptive sister, and she was pretty blunt most of the time...' I glanced at the girls again, it did remind me of how her friends used to act when she picked me up from school. I felt a pang of guilt towards Megan... it can't have been easy for her...

Tracey waved a hand infront of me, 'come back to us Kaeryn.'

Quickly after a hook nosed professor flew into the room, 'there will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class,' he quickly spun around, surveying the class carefully, 'as such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However for those select few...who possess the predisposition...I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses, I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death,' he continued. His eyes stopped on Harry Potter, 'Potter!' said the professor suddenly.

'What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?'

Next to Harry, Hermione's hand shot up. Harry muttered something I couldn't hear before Snape snapped, 'Tut, tut-fame clearly isn't everything, let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?'

'I don't know, sir,' said Harry, more clearly this time, Tracey and I were now leaning forward on our desks.

Snape's lips curled into a sneer, 'thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?'

Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.

'What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?'

'I don't know," said Harry quietly. 'I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?'

I quietly sniggered and pointed at Hermione as she was practically jumping out of her seat, Tracey bit her lip to hold in her own laughter before mimicking her slightly, a subtle giggled escaped my lips and I looked up to see Snape now frowning at me, I leant back and rested my arm on my chair before he turned back to Harry and Hermione.

'Sit down,' he snapped at Hermione. 'For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?' He turned his gaze back to the rest of the classroom.

I pulled out my notebook and quickly noted what he had said, 'looks like precious Potter has another enemy,' I heard Draco mutter from the row in front of me, he turned to look at my notes, 'hey, can I borrow your notes?'

I closed the book and went to give it to him but whacked him over the head instead, 'it was only a couple of things, you lazy piece of dung,' I sighed.

Over the noise, Snape said, 'And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter.'

Collectively the Slytherins muttered, 'yes,' into their notebooks as the Gryffindors groaned.

I turned to Tracey after copying down the notes, 'there's more to their actions than just weeding out the weak ones...' I muttered, 'I've never seen women look like Pigeons waiting to leftovers before,' I laughed.

'How do you mean?'

'They circle around Draco and the boys specifically.'

Tracey laughed, 'that's because the Malfoy's are one of the purest families left, and girls are interested in boys.'

I blinked, 'are they? What does that make me if I'm not interested in boys or being with them?'

Tracey chuckled, 'odd, to them, they see you as a threat, so they're planning their move then,' she jerked my shoulders, 'they pounce.'

I wafted Tracey off me, 'that's ridiculous.'

She smiled, 'I grew up with three sisters, I think I know what girls are after.'

Class ended with Snape giving us a full essay on something or other to do for homework, due a fortnight away, after class we made our way to the great hall for dinner, I was still overwhelmed by the amount of food it was possible to eat here, and yet very little of the older students looked fat despite the amount of food making it seem like they were fattening us up for the slaughter. I chuckled as I tucked into another serving of pudding.

'Fancy playing more games of chess when we get to the dormitory?' Tracey suggested.

I swallowed my last bite and shook my head, 'I need to write a letter.'

'Who to, Kaeryn?' The girls smirked, 'your muggle family?'

I laughed once, 'no, to Narcissa actually, I don't have a muggle family, where did you hear-...' I stopped and glared at Tracey, who was smiling sheepishly at me, saving her own arse again. I sighed, 'I mean I did, but I was adopted into the muggle family because I was orphaned, you know dead mother and that,' I cleared my throat and stared at Millicent and Pansy, 'but Draco's family adopted me, they knew my parents and recognised me in them, maybe that's why the oaf Hagrid looks afraid of me, Draco, because I reminded him of them.'

Draco looked up, 'what?'

I rolled my eyes and looked at the girls, 'is that an answer for you? Or do you want to do a test to find out my lineage?'

They looked at each other awkwardly, I stood up and left the table. I was annoyed; I found it difficult making friends and the one I make is a backstabber, I got that it's each for their own, but this was just going to be a nasty theme... and I'll be the butt of the joke, I thought darkly. If it happened again, I would not be held back from getting my own back.

There was a new note on the notice board in the common room, 'Flying lessons start Thursday, Slytherins and Gryffindors together, lower field at 3.30pm,' and various other Slytherins were lazing around the common room.

I got out my ink and paper and tried to think of how to start the letter... I didn't want to moan about the people in my dormitory already but that was all that was on my mind, as I sat back and thought about it, I thought it odd that Tracey would hex Millicent just for a throw-away comment about not waking up on time.

'They're not here,' Tracey said sitting down opposite me, I scowled at her and pulled the table towards me and pretended to start writing, 'whats wrong with you?'

'I find it odd that you'd hex Millicent for one comment about me, then blame it on me, it seems questionable to me,' I didn't look up.

She chuckled, 'Come on, I didn't want the blame, you'd have done the same, I want an easy time in school.'

'I would have stuck up for my friends, we're supposed to be together against the other houses but you and them seem to act like I'm the enemy, and the longer this goes on the bigger my pay back is going to be.'

Tracey looked down, 'I-'

I sighed, 'forget it, I understand you're looking out for yourself but I still don't get all this friend stuff.'

She nodded, 'just talk to them normally in the Dormitory, gush about boys, talk smack about girls in other houses – they'll warm up to you.'

I scowled at her, 'I don't think I should be taking advice from someone who framed me. And I don't gush.'

'Who else would give it to you, Draco?'

She had a point, I relaxed and sat back putting the quill back on the parchment, 'you could have just told me this from the start.'

Tracey shrugged, 'meh.'

'I'll get you back for this,' I smiled, 'everything will add up, and it'll come to you.'

She snorted, 'I look forward to it,' she smiled and walked off.

'This is a pain...' I sighed, running my hands through my hair, it wasn't what had happened just the fact she wasn't making it easy...

'Hey, that letter looks great.' Draco slid into the chair opposite.

'Hush your mouth,' I grunted, taking up my quill and staring at the parchment again. Resisting the urge to suck the end.

Draco began fidgeting. He never seemed to like sitting still in silence, whereas I took comfort in the silence. I began scratching down some lies about how well I'm settling in and how amazing the place is.

It was odd but I felt like I should feel more excited about being in Hogwarts, but I wasn't. Sure, it was a beautiful place, and so many things were new. It just felt right to be here, as if I was in the right place. I had never felt that when living with my adopted muggle parents. I decided to put that in the letter, not the part about feeling more excited, but feeling like it was the right place to be. I folded the letter and got an envelope, dripping hot wax to seal it.

'Can I use your owl?' I asked Draco, looking up and seeing him look intensely at his nails.

He looked up, 'what?'

I rolled my eyes at him, 'I know you're bored but please, pay attention, may I use your owl? I want to send this letter.'

'Oh, so you actually wrote one? Or are you sending my mother a blank piece of paper?' He smirked.

I scowled at him, 'I'll go to the owlery tomorrow then.'

'He's probably there to be honest, go to the owlery,' he dismissed me with a wave of his hand, 'I'm off to bed I think then, since you're being so boorish.'

'I'm fond of you too,' I replied, 'If the owl is in your room, tell him to come to my dorm,' I packed up my writing equipment and shoved it into my bag, 'shall we at least play some chess? It's not even late yet.'

Draco yawned, 'fine,' and got the chess set out, 'one round?'

I shrugged, 'anything to waste time.'

We played chess late into the night. The girls in my dorm came and went about twice, making comments on how amazing Draco was at chess. All apart from Tracey who mocked his technique then whispered tips to me.

We finished our last game – I won, he lost – and made our way to our dorms, whilst changing the entire dorm was silent. Pansy and Millicent weren't even whispering to each other but I knew they were awake. I wondered if Tracey had said something else that made my life just that extra bit difficult.

Daphne looked over me as I climbed into bed and went to pull my curtains closed, she smiled, and nodded over to Pansy and Millicent who were also looking at me, 'is there something on my face? Or do I smell?' I asked.

Tracey glanced over to the girls and yawned.

'Well?'

'So, are you like, Draco's sister?' Millicent asked.

I frowned, 'you didn't - …yeah, kinda.'

Their eyes lit up, they turned to each other and whispered something.

'But I can't tell you anything of interest, other than he's family, and I'm not a threat, goodnight.' I closed the curtains and listened to the whispers.