Around Hogwarts, under the influence of Umbridge, the only class that seemed interesting was potions. Even that was taught by one of the dullest teachers at the school. Krista was sat on the table with Ron, Harry and Hermione and like usual everyone was glancing at the Slytherin with the Gryffindors. She leaned over the table, her elbow resting on the surface and supporting her chin with her hand as she listened to Harry. He was talking about the punishments Umbridge inflicted on students. Dumbledore had done nothing and it was confusing as to why. Even Krista couldn't think of a logical explanation.

"I don't get it. This summer he reinstates the Order," She whispered. "And now he is letting Hogwarts become a prison?" She shook her head while glancing at Snape.

"I wrote to mom and dad." Ron spoke up. "They completely skipped past it." Krista furrowed her eyebrows and winced as her hand burned. She glanced down at her free fist, slowly releasing her fingers to reveal the burnt parchment. While the golden trio talked among themselves, she glanced down.

Library after class.
M

She screwed up the parchment and slipped it into her pocket just as Snape came to their table. He glared at the Gryffindors and they stopped talking. Everyone stood up straight as he looked over their shoulders at the questions on Polyjuice potion. Soon as he left to go Malfoy's table they began to talk again.

"We cant keep on letting this happen. Umbridge is putting everyone in danger." Hermione mumbled as she jotted down the answer. Krista agreed with her, if they weren't going to learn to protect themselves what was the point of even having the class. It was like toad face wanted the blood of students on her hands.

When class finished Krista packed up everything carefully and most of all slowly, so she would be left alone with the other Slytherins. She walked over to Blaise and Draco.

"Lets go. We don't have long til practice." She told them.

"We know that." Draco rolled his eyes and once more Krista questioned to as why Draco was even helping her.

For the past three weeks Draco and his friends, had been investigating ever photo and year book from the past 40 years with Krista looking at every dark haired woman to knock off the list. Surprisingly the group of mismatched Slytherins worked well with each other. Pansy was suddenly a lot less annoying and getting along with Daphne too, while the boys made small talk with Krista about Quidditch as they searched.

Pansy, Daphne and Theo were already on the back table of the library with books scattered around them. Theo spotted the other three first.

"Hey, Krista we have three for you here." He pointed down at the books. Theo was cute with mousey brown hair spiked up and a slightly chubby face which made him look like a muggle hamster. Krista dropped her bag by the chair and peered over their shoulders hopeful. The three faces she gaze on weren't her mother. She slumped.

"This is useless." She groaned leaning against the table as they began turning again.

"Well get there." Pansy attempted to reassure her. Krista gave her a small smile. It was still unreal that she was sitting with four Slytherins that had never gave her more than small talk only because she wore a green tie. She'd lived in the shadow of her large clan of family, never mind the shadow of her brother that was also living in the background of his own best friend.

The next hour of looking was just as useless as previous hours they had wasted. The only good thing that came out of it was the time with Daphne and they were both enjoying the surprising company. Krista carried on socialise as she walked down to the quidditch field with Blaise talking about this season's quidditch matches, not just school either. The pair talked about how the Irish did at the world cup last year.

It was only a month into the school year and already things were changing, good and bad. Krista was learning that she didn't have to be guarded in her house and have that one friend she could trust, or that her family weren't the only ones she could go to for help. And she never ceased to be surprised by her new friends, including the one and only Draco Malfoy. Krista was a popular girl people in her house knew her name and what she had achieved but they weren't her friends and she didn't trust them one bit. They were Slytherins after all.

After practice ended, Krista stayed behind. She flipped open the case of Quidditch balls. She unclasped the crest to release the Snitch. Taking it out and she held the shining metal between two fingers, the wings fluttered. Krista titled her head thinking of the battered and dusty Snitch that she shared with her brothers.

"Didn't know you had you eye on seeker? Do I need to be afraid?" She jumped and looked up to see Malfoy walking towards her in his training uniform.

"You beat me to it in second year." She answered. Draco smirked about it, Ron vomiting slugs was one of his fond memories. "I wouldn't take seeker off you anyway. You're good at what you do." Krista chucked him the snitch. Malfoy caught it perfectly. Harry Potter was the youngest seeker at Hogwarts in a century and he was good at his position, and so was Draco, his skills were a match to Harry's and it came down to luck on the day of the match to which house would win.

"Have you had anymore dreams?" He asked her while tossing the snitch between his hands. Krista shrugged.

"The odd one. I think it helps im doing something about it." Draco had somehow managed to get closer to Krista and the box of balls without her realising. He stretched out his right hand and pulled out the low bun. Krista didn't stop him, she just took the snitch from his other hand. Draco touched the fiery red hair, running his fingers through the curls.

"Can you change it?" Draco asked. "I like the black hair." Krista nodded. She didn't really use her gene to the full advantage, she stayed the same unless her emotions got the best of her. With a small thought and a little shimmer her ginger hair faded to black and grew over twice the length. She smiled at her and Draco stepped closer to her. His hand still brushing through her hair. Malfoy bit his lip, he'd kissed a lot of girls during the yeas he had been studying and yet he never thought about Krista until this year. She had fallen asleep on his shoulder and she looked so peaceful. He was jealous of her peaceful sleep and he couldn't bare to wake her until they arrived.

Draco leaned forward, holding the back of her head with her hair wrapped in his fingers. Krista met him halfway, their lips touched. They moved against each other, no one trying to take control they were equals. Krista had sometime imagined her first kiss, how it would be, with who and where? Never did she think about Draco Malfoy. Her arms wrapped arounds his neck and his spare hand pulled her close enough for their torsos to touch. Their kissing turned to slow pecks and came to a halt. They stared at each other taking power over their breathing again. Draco stare Krista and for the first time seeing her in a light that he saw other girls. Something he wanted. Krista was seeing something new and that scared her. Malfoy had been an ass to her family in the past and taunted her about her position in the house. Draco was always seen kissing girls from other houses all over the castle. He walked with pride and power, most of the time being a complete ass. He was clever in the top of three of every class achieving outstanding in almost every class. He was an under dog while seeming to be an idiot and a pompous asshole, he got prefect, good grades and the most house points in his year.

"I told you this year, you have power as long as I let you. Krista, you have power even over me." He leaned in again and kissed her softly leaving her in a daze.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Kissing you." He answered leaning in again. Krista pushed him away.

"Stop. I don't want to be another of those girls in the corner of the castle." Draco rolled his eyes.

"I'll see you at dinner. Don't stay out too long you'll catch a cold." Malfoy pulled his hand from her hair with a smile on his face and kissed her cheek. Krista was left stunned, she crossed her arms and shook her head. She was confused. The Slytherin girl could barely put her mind back together after the moments she had just spent with Malfoy, never mind practice Quidditch.

Krista returned the Quidditch balls to the store room after waiting five minutes to know that Draco was out of the way. She walked towards the great hall with her head down.

"Krista!" She turned around to see her flaming haired little sister running to her with a stack of books in her hand. Her fair was in frazzled mess and she looked like she hadn't slept in days.

"Hey Gin. Whats wrong?" Krista reached out to flatten her little sister's hair. Ginny let a large sigh.

"I have this huge paper for Snape that is due the end of the week and no matter what I try and write nothing seems to be coming out the way I want. Please help me?" She begged her older sister.

"Come on, I'll sit with you at dinner." Krista took three of the books from Ginny's arms and the fourth year had a look of relief on her face. The two sisters walked towards the great hall to eat.

The table was full of cooked meats and potatoes and veg, the same as every midweek. Krista sat down next to Ginny and Percy, her green tie blending away with the power of their bright red hair. Krista opened up three of Ginny's book and began to help her map out her essay, Potions wasn't her best subject that had always been Charms but exceeded expectations was all Ginny needed to be able to progress from where she was. The two girls picked at food while their brother opposite them stuffed his face.

Multi-tasking was one of the things that Krista was good at, she was eating, studying and making small talk with the Gryffindor table. The peaceful conversations were disturbed by a small tap on Krista's shoulder. Her brother, Ron, and his friends stopped talking to and had their eyes on the Slytherin girl behind her. If it was Daphne the reception from the table would have been a lot kinder.

The student behind her, was growing out a short bob, with her full fringe held back by a headband and her uniform immaculate. Pansy Parkinson had out her civilship with Krista in front of her family. Krista turned around and gave an nervous smile, not knowing how her family were going to receive the information.

"Hey, Blaise and Draco want to talk to you about the Quidditch game next week." Krista didn't know at that moment if it was true of if Pansy was using it as a cover up about their investigation. Krista nodded.

"I'll see you later guys." Krista spoke to the table and then turned to Ginny. "You feeling better now?" Her younger sister nodded and Krista got up. She followed Pansy to the Slytherin table and awkwardly sat next to her. Draco was sitting opposite her next to Theo, who was munching away at a piece of pumpkin pie. The source of the awkwardness could be that she had only sat with them once before or the fact that less than two hours ago Draco Malfoy had kissed her on the Quidditch pitch.

"So…" Krista trailed off.

"We didn't need to talk to you about Quidditch really. We just wanted you sit with us." Blaise told her from her right. Krista rolled her eyes and laughed lightly to her self. White lies were the nature of her house. Draco didn't speak a word as he poured her a glass of orange juice then one himself. Their eyes locked for a moment, Draco smirked at her. Krista felt a smile creeping up on her face and felt betrayed by her own body because she couldn't get her head around Draco's actions.

The moment between the two Slytherins was broken by a second year giving Draco a small pile of books. Krista was left rattling her head about what the hell was she going to do with Draco Malfoy.