Ash was floating in darkness. She could see nothing except darkness around her. Yet there as an image that started to form around her as she floated.
When the image was fully visible she found herself stuck in a closet. All around her were coats hanging of hangers making it hard for her to move around, also there was only one light source, a small crack in the doors that allowed a small amount of fire light to pass through.
She heard a sudden strange noise from the other side of the closet doors. Somebody had just forcefully opened an door. Alrhough she knew not to, Ash slowly leaned forward hopeing that she could see what was happening out there.
With one eye pressed against to crack she got a small view of a fire lit room with black leather seats set up in front of the chimney. Next to one of the seats she saw a red haired man in his mid 40's stand, wand pointing in front of him, shaking.
Ash started shaking herself...
"What do you want?" he asked with a wavering voice, she could see the sweat running down his face. He was shaking from fear.
A low chuckle sounded from the other end of the room, which she couldn't see. "What I want? I want to invite you into joining our course," answered a cold voice that didn't seem to carry any emotions, Ash shivered listening to it.
"And become a Death Eater? Never!" the red haired man spat out.
"Then you leave me no choice," said the other voice. "Avada Kedavra!" She saw a bright green light flash out of nowhere hitting the red haired man square in the chest.'
"Father!" Ash screamed out, sitting up. She looked around, Where am I? she thought confused, Where's father? What happened? It took her a minute to remember everything that happened.
Biting her lower lip she fought against the tears that threatened to spill. She had promised to not cry ever again and she planned on keeping that promise. After she won the fight she closed her eyes again and let herself fall backwards again.
When she opened her eyes again she was greeted by a dark room with a green glow in it. Making it possible for her to make a picture out of the room. She was lying on an extremely comfortable queen sized bed, which wasn't too hard, nor too soft, with green silk covers and four posts on each edge holding up dark green curtains that she could draw close to get some privacy. Behind her she saw an empty book case. In the room were four beds that look similar to hers arranged in an arch shape around the door. In front of each bed stood a small table on which her trunk sat right now but could also be used to work on or be used as a night stand.
From under these tables the light green glow came from.
Next to her bed, which was one of the middle two was a door leading to another room, the bathroom, she guessed. Thinking about the bathroom she remembered that she was still in her uniform, so she slowly sat up and was surprised how warm it was in the room. She had expected to freeze when the covers slid of her body.
Quietly she crawled over her bed to her trunk and opened it in order to find a change of clothes. Today wasn't a school day and so she expected that she was allowed to wear casual clothing: Now all she had to do was find her clothes. Before she moved from Germany to England to live with her Uncle and Aunt one of her friends had put a spell on the trunk increasing its inner size so that it seemed to be an endless black hole when she looked inside it. It was very useful to have such storage room in such a small space, but her friend had miscalculated the size a bit and therefore it was nearly impossible to find something in it now. With a sigh she stuck her front body into the trunk and looked around. She thought that she had stored it somewhere left of the trunk so she started to pluck at different things that seemed to be floating in bubbles.
She was lucky. After only 3 tries her closet opened in front of her. She chose a black pair of skinny jeans and a long green shirt as well as a studded belt and a pair of Converse. Lastly she grabbed her towel and toiletries as well as her make-up kit. Then she quietly closed her trunks lid and slipped out of her bed onto a soft carpeted floor.
Two steps later she reached the bathroom door and slid inside. Once inside she looked around and started grinning. "Wow" she whispered as she looked at the wonderful bathroom that came to her eyes. It had black marble tiles of the floor and walls. In one corner of the room stood a big shower which you entered by walking into a foggy glasses passage way that led around the shower, reminding Ash of a snail house. In its middle was a rain shower head. Next to it was a big black round bath tub with whirlpool options and many different bubble options. On the adjacent wall were four sinks that were also formed with the black marble. Ash went to one of the middle sinks and started to place her toiletries around it, claiming it hers. Then she looked around some more and discovered the black toilet behind another wall screened from the sight of the bathroom. All of this was lit by a set of green lights that where hidden in the walls and under the sinks and other platforms and ledges, such as the tub rim, as well as a green tainted light rod that was placed on the wall between the toilet and the rest of the bathroom as well as over the sinks. In addition there were white lights around the sink mirrors of to give the girls the possibility to apply their make-up under normal light.
Ash set down her change of clothes and started to undress in order to go into the shower, when she saw another little pleasant surprise, a stereo standing next to the door. Turning it on, the Wizarding radio 'MagicFlash' started playing and filled the room with music, to which Ash sang along while she showered and got dressed. When she finished, she turned off the radio again.
Trying to be as quiet as she could be she opened the door to the bedroom again. She was surprised how light it was in here all of the sudden, she had expected it to still be the same green glow as before, but it had increased dramatically, flooding the room with a warm glow. Then she remembered her friend talk about something like this. Lights that shine like the light of the light outside, they where mainly used in rooms with no windows, like this one. Fascinated Ash tip-toed to the door and slipped out of the room.
She was about to set off through the hallway when she remembered that she forgot to check with whom she was sharing her room yesterday evening and so she went back to her door and looked at the placards declaring the names of the people in her room.
Tracy Davis
Ash Weasley
Pansy Parkinson
Daphne Greengrass
Ash smiled and thought to herself, good, only people I actually know.
Satisfied she walked down the hallway and out of the door that joined the girls and boys dorms saying good morning to the two paintings as she passed them and went into the common room.
She thought that she would be the first one up and the only one in the common room and was therefore surprised when Malfoy looked at her from one of the couches in front of the window.
"Morning," she said.
"Morning yourself. Why are you up already? Its only 7 o'clock," Draco asked stifling a yawn.
"Could ask you that myself. I just couldn't sleep any more. What about you?"
"Same."
Ash sat down next to Malfoy and looked out at the waving seaweed.
Together they sat there in silence for a few minutes, with Malfoy glancing over at Ash every now and then. "So," he started, "Ash, why did you transfer to Hogwarts this year?" Ash looked at him as if he had just appeared out of thin air.
"Oh, um, well that was because of family reasons."
"Family reasons? What sort?"
"Eh, you know I'd rather not speak of it right now if that's alright with you."
"If you say so," he shrugged and went back on staring out at the water. All of a sudden a huge tentacle appeared out of nowhere making Ash jump up in surprise and grabbed a hold of Draco's arm.
"What was that?" she asked with a slightly shaking voice.
Malfoy chuckled using the opportunity to sling a arm around her shoulders, "That was our giant squid, love." Ash gave him a sideways glance and then looked at his hand on her shoulder.
"Um, OK. I think I'll be going on a little expedition through the castle." Ash said and hurriedly stood up, making the Malfoy's hand slip of her shoulder. "See you later," she said, not waiting for a reply as she hurried out of the common room, along the passage way and through the stone wall.
Once she stood outside of the Dungeon she sighed and looked left and right. "OK, now where to start?" As if to answer her, her stomach started to grumble. "Alright, that means breakfast first. Now how do I get to the Great Hall?" Ash looked down the corridor again.
When she came to the common room with Blaise, did they come from the left or the right?
Unsure she started to walk down the left end of the Hallway. Then turned around and walked the other way for a few steps.
Biting her lower lip she closed her eyes and turned around to face the wall once again.
"Halloween," she muttered and the wall opened up revealing the passageway once again, with a smirking Malfoy standing in it.
"Need help in finding your way?" he asked slyly.
"How-?" Ash asked confused and then glared at Malfoy as she saw his smirk. "No I don't," she spat and turned left again and began striding down that way with confidence, until she heard him chuckle. She stopped short and slowly turned her head to look at him. "What?" she spat once more.
"I'm guessing you're searching for the Great Hall, am I right?"
"Yes, so?" She asked.
"Oh nothing, but you'll have problems finding it in a dead end," he answered amused. Ash glanced over her shoulder. "Dead end?"
"Yes, if you strain your eyes a bit you might notice the wall at the end of the corridor in about 600 meters."
Ash sighed. Turned around and went to stand in front of Malfoy. "OK, where is it?" she asked defeated.
"Where is what?"
"The Great Hall." she answered a bit agitated. Malfoy leaded against the wall that had closed behind him.
"And what do I get for telling you?"
Ash stared at him, mouth a gap. Then snorted. "Fuck you." With this she started to walk down the right end of the corridor.
She could hear Malfoy following her silently. Knowing that she'd soon be faced with a problem again. Ash increased her pace till she came to a crossing of two corridors. She quickly glanced at Malfoy who was about 20 paces behind her and started walking down the right pathway.
After walking about 40 paces she looked back at Malfoy who was still standing at the crossing looking at her with a bored expression. She took another step while looking at him. He didn't move an inch.
Ash stopped. "It's not this way, am I right?" she suggested.
"Not even close."
Ash took a deep breath and stormed down the way she just came, right past Malfoy and onto the left path. After 20 paces she heard Malfoy starting to follow her once again. Satisfied she continued down the corridor until she came to a fork.
Malfoy came to stand next to her. "And now?"
Ash looked at Malfoy, pissed. "Tell me."
"And what do I get for that?"
"Breakfast."
Malfoy laughed, "oh I can live without it for another hour or so."
Ash glared and let out a frustrated sigh. She looked at the two corridors. Where was her sense of direction when she needed it? She put her hand over her face, trying to remember where she had come from the night before, but she couldn't even remember that there was a fork and she already stood at the second one. On top of that her stomach roared for food. Defeated she let out a sigh. "What do you want?"
Malfoy looked at her. "Not much," he said with a smirk and turned to face her, his hands winding around her body, pulling her close.
"Forget it," she said while watching his face close in on hers. "That will never happen." Shortly before his lips touched hers she turned her head to the side making him give her a peck on the cheek.
Malfoy smiled. "Alright if you want to play it this way," he said and let go of her.
Then he went backwards and looked at Ash as he leaned back against the wall "I have time."
"Don't you have enough girls falling all over you?"
"There's never enough," he said emphasizing the enough.
"What about Pansy?"
"What about her?"
"She seems to like you, a lot."
"She's liked me since even before we started school together."
"So wouldn't she be hurt?"
"Why should I care about that?"
"Ass," she said and started to walk towards him. When she stood in front of him she looked at his lips, took his face into her hands and gave him a soft kiss. His lips were soft against hers and made a shiver run through her spine. After a second he tried to sneak his hands around her again but she slapped his hands away and stopped the kiss stepping back a step, taking a deep breath and opening her eyes once again.
Malfoy stood against the wall with his eyes closed for a second letting electricity flow out of his body again. He licked his lips, tasting the remaining sweetness of her lips against his once more.
When Malfoy opened his eyes he saw her standing in front of him with an emotionless expression. "Now, show me the way," she said just as emotionless.
"Seem that wasn't so hard, was it?" He asked smirking his infamous smirk and then nodded to the right hand corridor. "This way," he showed her the way pathway for pathway so she would be able to remember the way later on as well.
After about 15 minutes later they were sitting opposite each other in the Great Hall, not talking, and ate their breakfast. Malfoy was eating eggs and bacon while Ash was eating some waffles with powdered sugar and chocolate sauce.
Annoyed by the silence Malfoy opened his mouth to say something when a harsh voice behind them interrupted.
Surprised Ash looked up at the source of the voice, seeing a red faced Ron Weasley.
"Oh bugger," Malfoy heard her mutter. "Mommy found me." Out loud she said "Morning Ron, how can I help you this beautiful morning?"
"Why are you sitting with him?" he spat out the him looking at Malfoy. Draco glared at Ron but then shrugged and went back eating his eggs.
"Ron, that's because he's the only one of my age that is already awake and eating his breakfast and I don't really enjoy sitting around alone," Ash answered softly whilst rolling her eyes. "But don't piss your pants Ron, I still think he's an ass."
"How is it even possible that you became a Slytherin? A Weasley in Slytherin is just wrong!" he said furious.
"Chill Ron."
Ron looked down at her and let out a defeated sigh. "So, how are you? Are they treating you alright?"
Ash smiled at him warmly, "I'm alright, a bit confused and totally lost when it comes to finding places around here, but other than that I'm alright. And yes they're treating me good. Don't worry, I can defend myself without a problem if I would need to" Somewhere behind them Harry called Ron's name. "Now go to the others, send them my greetings and don't worry about me."
Reluctantly Ron turned around and slowly went away to join his friends.
Ash sat back down in front of Malfoy and went back eating her food. "Weaselbe seems to be concerned."
"Don't call him that. And yeah, but that's nothing new now, is it?"
"Ha, nah not really."
Again silence fell around them.
"Are he and Granger actually going out yet?" Ash looked up at Malfoy surprised.
"Nope, not that I know of and I don't think that changed last night."
"Oh Merlin, how long will they keep shoving it up? It's annoying!"
Ash laughed. "Wow... I didn't think you were so concerned for their well being."
"I'm not but after 7 years of seeing them goggling at each other nearly every day like love sick puppies, only saved by the occasional holidays, it's just plainly annoying." Malfoy replied rolling his eyes.
In that moment Pansy slung her arms around Malfoy's shoulders hugging him. "Morning Dracie."
Ash burst out laughing, "Dracie?" she giggled.
Malfoy glared at her. "I told you not to call me that Pansy."
"But, Dracie! -"
"No, Pansy."
"OK OK, touchy much," she said rolling her eyes, but Ash could see that she was hurt. She felt guilty for kissing Malfoy earlier that morning, although it was her stomach to blame. But she felt even more guilty because she had enjoyed that electrifying kiss, even if it was only for a few seconds. No, no, I did not enjoy it she told herself.
All of a sudden she felt another presence next to her. Blaise had sat down and started to put some of the food on his table. On her other side Tracy sat down and wished her a good morning.
"Where were you all of a sudden this morning? When we came into the room you were already passed out on your bed and when we woke this morning you were already gone! We couldn't even really get to know you! It's as if you were running away from us all the time," she accused her.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Yesterday I was a bit pissed at Bull face and therefore wanted to get away before I got to angry and spoil all the evening and when I got to the room I found that I was way more tired than I had noticed. And today I woke up early in the morning and didn't want to wake you. When I saw that Malfoy was up as well we went to grab some breakfast"
"It's alright, don't worry! I mean we have a whole year!"
"Hey Weasley," Ash heard Malfoy say. She turned her head to look at him. "Call me Draco, alright?"
Ash pulled up her eyebrows, "Only if you call me Ash." Malfoy smiled at her, not his infamous smirk that seems to have been plastered on his face, but actually a real smile. Ash smiled back.