A.N. So I would just like to take this opportunity to say how sorry I am. I won't make any promises this time as I always seem to break them on here. Therefore I would like to simply say that I hope the pace will pick up from now on in. And AmyakaLuke is an amazing beta

Disclaimer: Only Amy is mine, oh, and Luke and any other OCs I might have mentioned. But otherwise not mine. The wonderful JK owns it all.

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Amy

Amy didn't get a chance to see Clark that evening. After the feast ended she was swept off by Blaise and Daphne in a completely different direction to the one Draco and Pansy had taken the first years. When she asked about this the Slytherins around her all laughed and then explained that the first years had been taken the long way and that they would have to figure the short way out themselves. This short way involved passing through tapestries, lots of going down and even little levers that Amy was sure she wouldn't remember the next time she passed through. When finally they did reach the dungeons and their common room it seemed at first to be a simple wall. However when the password of the time – scarlet draconis – was said it shimmered allowing the students to pass through. Amy decided that if one didn't know better they might think that Slytherins could walk through walls.

The inside of the common room was plush and well decorated with a wall of bookshelves and the other walls were painted silver with delicate snakes along the skirting and by the roof. The couches were a deep green that Amy recognised from their house crest and uniform.

Most of the house now sat down on those couches and began to talk amongst each other, waiting for the first years to arrive. Amy watched out of one of the windows as the giant squid she had seen on the boat ride over swam past, tentacles waving lazily. The whole room was tinged with a pale light that made everyone look ill and gave the room a particularly eerie feel. Everyone waited until the first years arrived and headed to bed. Amy was in a room with Pansy and Daphne which seemed to be a relatively small room to her. When she asked about this Pansy explained that each house had a different set up and the way it worked here was the more influence you had, the less people in your room. Draco for example - she explained - had just graduated to having his own room this year and the other boys had been shuffled around to accommodate this.

To Amy this seemed to make sense but also quite difficult to manage. But hey, she wasn't the one looking after it all. With a smile at poor Snape's job of working out how to placate everyone she fell deep into sleep.

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The term started on Monday this year and, after a weekend of trying to learn to navigate her way around the castle, Amy found that her whole day went well. Amy had always enjoyed potions and was good at it so this started the whole day off well. They started the term off straight away with a Befuddlement draught which Amy brewed well and at the end of the lesson Amy saw that only her, Draco and the that Granger girl had the correct colour steam coming off their potions. Snape however only acknowledged the two Slytherins. Draco with a "Competently done as usual Mr Malfoy" and her with a "Good to see someone else in this class can follow instructions Miss Blake, I do hope you continue this level of brewing throughout the year". At Granger her simply sniffed and moved on as though he couldn't bring himself to compliment her. Homework for that class was to write an essay on what was wrong with your potion and why it was wrong. Here he included Granger in saying the three of them had no homework. Draco explained that this often happened.

After that they had History of magic which Amy found to be dreadfully dull. Not only was their teacher a ghost but he also did not seem to care if his students were taking anything in at all. While the Ravenclaws on the other side of the classroom dutifully scribbled down notes throughout the lesson Amy found herself getting more and more tired until she wasn't paying any attention at all. At the end of the lesson Blaise handed her a quick-quotes quill with a murmured "Let this do the work for you". Amy resolved to read through all her books herself and mainly study from those.

At lunch Amy didn't see Clark at all before hurrying off to ancient runes. Here the class was a little different. Students from all four houses were in the same class and the class was set up with four groups of desks. Both Amy and Draco were taking this class but they were the only Slytherin's taking the class so they sat down with a couple of Ravenclaws who ignored them for the most part and instead seemed to be engrossed in a conversation about a "Shididied Theory" or something though Amy wasn't really sure what that was. Ancient runes turned out to be a horribly difficult class and Amy could see why hardly anyone took it. She supposed she would get used to it though.

By the time Double transfiguration rolled around Amy was dead tired and didn't think that she could last another 90 minutes but transfiguration turned out to be really good, they were with Ravenclaws in this class. After a lecture about what they were NOT to use this for they started on Vanishing spells. Today they were working on matchsticks but apparently they would work their way up to small animals.

That night was their night for astronomy though Amy didn't know if she would last. However that night they were just to observe so Amy aimlessly stared out into the night sky.

That night she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

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The next morning Amy had a letter from her parents asking how she was going and all about her new school. They let her know that they had decided that Amy's younger sister Megan was able to attend Hogwarts the next year. Amy decided to reply during her free period after Defence Against the Dark Arts. DADA was with the Hufflepuffs but unfortunately she didn't have any chance to talk to Clark during the lesson as due to the teacher. Professor Umbridge was a pudgy toad like woman who seemed to want to scare as many people as possible. She instructed them to get out their books and only read. It seemed that this year they weren't going to get any practice with the spells. Privately Amy decided to try many of them on her own. The class was very boring as they read before copying out notes. Amy wasn't sure why they needed a double period for that but guessed it had been necessary for the timetable. Amy quickly scribbled on a piece of parchment

'Hey Blaise, are all DADA lessons usually like this? It seems unusual.' Blaise was quick to reply:

'Na this is new. Ministry is scared of teaching us too much or something. Best get on her good side though, she's powerful in the ministry. Go over actual spells later?' After scribbling an affirmative Amy quickly finished reading then started on her notes.

Clark had hurried off to his next class before Amy could speak to him. So with a heavy heart moved off to her free period. She had decided to use this time to write her letters and maybe do some of her homework. She wanted to get started on her essay on when Vanishing spells were not to be used.

Her first letter though was to her parents.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm here and safe at Hogwarts. Mrs Zabini was very kind when we stayed with her and I know that she will continue to be lovely. I have already told you about meeting some of Blaise's friends and it's really good that I'm in their "group" now. Hogwarts has four houses – Slytherin (the house I'm in – pretty good but quite stuck up), Gryffindor (our "enemies" apparently, don't know why though. Probably a hundreds of year old feud or something), Ravenclaw (the necessary nerd house) and Hufflepuff. Clark is in Hufflepuff. I don't know much about that house actually.

I haven't seen much of Clark since we arrived. Blaise doesn't like him for some reason and this seems to be the same for all of my house mates. Then again Clark hasn't been very tactful lately – you know how he is.

My house mates, well there's Pansy, a great girl who will probably become one of my close friends; Daphne and Millicent are nice too. Then there's Crabbe and Goyle. It says a lot that I don't even know their first names. Everyone just calls them by their last names and they just seem to be Draco's henchmen. Draco Malfoy. That boy is strange. Did you know a Cruoris Gyrfalcon brought him a message? By the way, what do you know about England's Dark Lord Voldemort? He seems to influence heaps here. Any information would be great.

Hope you and Megan are well. Give my love to her. How is the project coming along? I know you can't say much but I still want to know. Have you heard how long it will last? Hope all the family is well – including Great-Aunt Ada, mum – you know I get on with her.

Write soon,

Amy xxoo

Amy's seconded letter was much easier and faster. It was just a quick message to Mrs Zabini to let her know that all was well and no she didn't need anything.

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Draco

Draco wished he had a letter to send. A progress report sort of letter to be exact. But so far, a day in, he had nothing. Draco supposed it was only to be expected really, it's not like he could complete his mission within the week. Could he? No, he supposed not but it was a tempting idea.

So instead Draco was sitting in the library reading up on everything he could about Dolores Umbridge. He could have gone to his father for the information but that took all the fun out of it. Or that was what he had thought at the start of his study, now he just wished he could drop his damn pride and ask for help. This woman was boring. But he had to finish it on his own. Just then the bell for next period rang so Draco packed up his stuff and headed off to History of Magic.

Once he was there and Binns had started droning on Draco set his quill into motion taking notes. Then he pulled out another quill, not automated this time, and started to make a list. He headed it up: 'Things To Know About Dolores Umbridge.' after that Draco wasn't really sure where to start. He decided bullet points would be tacky and went with the obvious first.

She is Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic.

She works for the ministry so is a spy

She works for the ministry so therefore works for father.

At this point Blaise had seen what he was doing and started adding his own notes

She likes pink. You don't say?

She likes kittens. Do you suppose she could find a pink kitten? And does she keep the kittens when they grow up? Why should I know? Does she even have her own cats? Hehe, she's a batty old cat lady!

Has a short wand. "wand"

Was a Slytherin and a prefect. Sounds more and more like you…Shut up!

Is on Wizengamot. Only know thought to mention that? It's a pretty big point if you ask me. I'm not.

Hates "half-breeds". Including werewolves (legislation) and merpeople.

Is teaching DADA.

No spells allowed. Ministry orders. You want to get your Dad to get us special permission? No.

She used to dance around the top of the astronomy tower in only her robes and the boys would try to sneak a look. Pansy! What? Everyone knows that. WE don't… Fine every GIRL knows that.

Do you reckon she still would? I don't want to know and don't know why you want to know…

At that point Draco firmly took his parchment away and fixed them with a glare. Amy on the other hand with muffling her giggles into her robe while the Ravenclaws fixed them with suspicious looks.

"No one sees this list you hear?" Draco whispered angrily, "No one!" His attempt at being threatening was slightly ruined by the whisper and the noise of everyone else getting up but they took it seriously, nodded, and walked out. Draco followed slightly behind at his now ruined list. He did wonder about his friends sometimes. No one that immature could possibly be a proper bred Slytherin pureblood. Maybe it was the inbreeding.

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Draco would have liked to say that the rest of that day flew past quickly but with double Care of Magical Creatures and then Herbology both with the Gryffindors the afternoon seemed to resemble a torture session more than school. At least the oaf wasn't teaching Care of Magical Creatures though. Apparently he was off somewhere and had forgotten to come back to school. With a brain like his he had probably been distracted by a giant spider or something.

He had decided to mess with Potter so started to insinuate more than he really knew because that was all politics really was - bluffing. He lent across Potter to grab a...bowtrucked? Whatever it was he made sure to get the biggest one as he said

"Maybe the stupid oaf's got himself badly injured." He was rewarded by a flash of anger.

"Maybe you will if you don't shut up." Was the short reply as Draco moved his arm away.

"Maybe he's been messing with stuff that's too big for him, if you get my drift." Draco had meant it as a lewd comment but by the look on Potter's face he had thought it meant something more. With a smirk over his shoulder Draco walked away, promising to find out more. He decided to strategically start a loud conversation and see what response he got.

"Yes," he drawled "Father was talking to the Minister just a couple of days ago, you know, and it sounds as though the Ministry's really determined to crack down on substandard teaching in this place. So even if that overgrown moron does show up again, he'll probably be sent packing straight away."

His efforts were rewarded from a loud yell from Potter's direction as his bowtrickle or whatever bit him and hurried away into the forest. Draco laughed along with the others before shooting a smirk at the Mudblood and packing away his belongings. A class well spent even if he did have to put up with the Gryffindors. They were good for amusement at least.

Unfortunately Draco was across the greenhouse from the trio during Herbology so there was no hilarity there. It was only after class when walking to the hall for dinner that Draco realised he had prefect duty that night. And that was how Draco found himself sitting there at the table staring forlornly at his food as he realised that now he had patrols with Granger he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do.

Maybe this whole spy/bad guy thing wasn't as easy as it had seemed the other day. Draco scooped some mashed potatoes into his mouth and, ignoring the others, started to think.

A.N. Thanks for reading this. If you've got this far you might as well review it Also please check out my blog : darksidecookies-wisdomeyes . blogspot . co . nz (take out the spaces) where I will also be psting the story as well as hints for upcoming chapters. Thanks