I had never felt more in the spotlight as I sat there, staring at the crowd through dazed eyes. I would've thought I'd imagined it all if the Gryffindor table weren't applauding me. Gryffindor! The hat had put me in Gryffindor! But I'm a Malfoy! I'm a Slytherin…

My eyes drifted to the table where my brother sat, looking just as astounded as I felt. I tried to catch his eye but he wasn't looking at me.

"Miss Malfoy," McGonagall said, reminding me that I was still sitting up there with the hat on my head. Trying hard not to blush hard with embarrassment, I placed the hat on my vacated seat and scurried down to join my fellow Gryffindors.

After the feast, Dumbledore stood up again and was about to inform everyone of the special event happening this year when he was rudely interrupted by a late arrival. The man had one small beady eye and a bright blue magical one that and had limped into the Great Hall on a wooden leg.

Dumbledore briefly introduced him as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody, before going back to informing everyone of the Triwizard Tournament. Of course I already knew, but the majority of the students didn't and I watched their reactions with amusement, in particular one of the Weasley twins whose shout of 'You're joking' was followed by laughter from almost everyone, including myself.

Dumbledore went on to explain the new rules to ensure the safety of the students but I tuned out. My eyes automatically fell on the table across the hall where my brother was talking to his friends. I had such high hopes for them. They were going to be my good friends and now they were supposedly my enemies. Though, honestly, I'm a little relieved on that part. I wasn't sure how much longer I could stand Pansy. The way she talked to Draco made me physically sick!

The scraping of chairs pulled me out of my thoughts and I hastily stood up with everyone else. Except, I didn't follow the other Gryffindors to their— our, common room. Instead, I turned and ran over to the Slytherins, searching the crowd for a familiar face.

"Draco," I panted once I finally caught up to him. But my brother flat out ignored me.

"Draco, please we need to talk-"

"No we don't."

"Yes we do. And we both know who's the more stubborn one, so to save time I suggest you-"

"What do you want Leaena?"

I froze. In all my ranting, I hadn't noticed Draco pull apart from the rest of his house and walk a little way down a neighbouring corridor. I stared at him, unable to hide a small smirk that had crept into my lips. "Wow, you give in easily."

Draco shrugged. "I tend not to waste my time when I can help it."

I smiled at that before hurrying onto my point. "Look, I know I was sorted into Gryffindor but that doesn't mean anything has to change between us. I'm still your sister, and you're still my brother. And if you have any classes with Gryffindor, we should totally sit together. Your friends too, if they want to."

Draco snorted. "Want to? I don't think so…"

"Okay," I said, determined not to let my brother's negative attitude spoil my hopeful idea. "Then it'll just be the two of us…"

Again, Draco snorted and shook his head. "Don't you get it, Leaena? I don't want to."

"But—"

"Come on, Leaena, open your eyes for Merlin's sake! You're a Gryffindor now."

"You're saying that like it's a bad thing…"

"Because it is! Leaena, Malfoy's don't belong in Gryffindor."

"STOPPING CALLING ME THAT!"

There was a long pause in which Draco stared at me, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "You don't want me to call you by your name?"

"No, I mean yes. I mean – you've always called me Lean, not Leaena."

"Wrong," Draco snarled. "I called my sister that."

Then, just like that, my brother stalked off the join the last of the Slytherins disappearing down another corridor. I wanted to chase after him, to beg him to put this sorting past us, but my feet were glued to the ground. I couldn't believe he had just said that. I had no control over the Sorting and he knew that. It's not like a chose Gryffindor. If it was up to me, I'd be walking beside him right now surrounded by his friends who could possibly soon become my friends.

Suddenly, I found myself wishing I was still in New York, surrounded by dull topics and even duller people. It would beat standing alone in the middle of a deserted corridor, having no idea what to do next. I was a First Year really, I didn't know my way around the castle.

Just as I was about to resort to walking around aimlessly, a familiar voice caught me by surprise.

"Hi," Hermione Granger greeted kindly. "Leaena, right? I'm Hermione."

She held out a hand and I took it warily. After the way my brother treated her that night in the woods I'd half expected it to be a trick or something.

But it wasn't.

"We met briefly," I said. "At the Cup?"

Hermione's grin faltered slightly and I mentally face palmed. Great idea Lean, remind her of the time your brother called her the M-word. She'll definitely want to be nice to you now.

"Yes, I remember," Hermione said, smiling politely before hurriedly changing the subject. "Anyway, do you know the way to the Common Room? I'm going there now if you'd like to join me."

"Thanks," I said, shooting the young Gryffindor a grateful smile.

As we walked, we talked. I soon found Hermione was a very easy girl to get along with and I ended up telling her everything. About how I was sort of forced to go to New York, how it messed up mine and Draco's relationship and how I hated it there anyway which made none of it worth it. Then, I turned the conversation around to find out something about her.

So by the time she had come to a stop in front of a portrait of a rather large lady, I had learnt several things about her. For one thing, both Hermione's parents were something called dentists, which Hermione explained were like Healers but for one's teeth. She also talked about her friends a lot, in particular, Harry and Ron. They were very close, much closer it seemed than Draco was with his friends. Draco, that reminded me…

"Hermione, can I ask you something?"

"Balderdash," Hermione said and I looked at her quizzically. "That's the password," she explained quickly. "Sorry, you wanted to ask me something?"

"Why are you being nice to me?" I inquired, as the portrait swung open.

Hermione smile at that. "Did you forget? You stood up for me when your brother called me that word."

I did remember though I wouldn't exactly call it standing up for her. All I did was tell my brother to stop. And he didn't even listen to me. If I'd really stood up for her, I would've insulted Draco back.

We climbed through the portrait hole into a circular room decorated in different shades of red and filled with cosy armchairs. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Hermione mutter "slave labour" under her breath before quickly scanning the room, obviously for Harry and Ron. But the two boys were nowhere around.

"They must've gone up to their dorm room already," Hermione concluded. Then, as if just remembering something, she added. "Oh, this is the Gryffindor common room. It's sort of where we hang out after class and when we're not studying at the library. I can show you that tomorrow if you'd like?"

I couldn't help sigh in relief. "That would be great. I literally have no idea where I'm going. Especially if those staircases keep shifting."

Hermione chuckled. "Yeah, they do that. But you'll get used to it, promise. I'll show you to our dorm room."

She led me through one of the doors and up a spiral staircase to the dorm room at the very top.

When we entered the room, we found the two other girls who'd be sharing our room on their beds already in pyjamas and whispering excited. They asked Hermione about her holidays and she replied with the usual small talk conversation. Then, they turned to stare at me and the whole room descended into an awkward silence.

"This is Leaena," Hermione said quickly. "Leanena, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Leaena just moved from New York and –"

"Why?" asked one of the girls, Lavender I think her name was.

"Err…" I hesitated. I wanted to be completely honest like I had been with Hermione but I wasn't sure where to start…

"It's a long story," I said at last. "But pretty much, my grandfather died and –"

"Oh sorry," Lavender said quickly. "I don't care about that. I meant, why are you here? Aren't Malfoys supposed to be in Slytherin?"

"Well, there's a first time for everything," I said, letting her rude comment slide. If I wanted to make friends, something told me acting equally as rude would not help.

"Right," Lavender said before turning back to Parvati and continuing their conversation from before.

"Ignore Lavender," Hermione told me. "She's just like that sometimes."

Hermione then excused herself to have a quick shower before bed. While she was in the bathroom, I took this opportunity to get changed myself. My trunk was already here but when I opened it, my heart suddenly ached. Right in the middle of the trunk was the green and silver Slytherin banner with a note attached.

Have a great term, my little Slytherin.

Lots of love,

Mum.

"I'm so sorry Mum," I whispered, clutching the banner. Then, I slipped it underneath the rest of my clothes. I couldn't hang it up here, but I couldn't throw it away either.

I might've been sorted into Gryffindor today but I still am, and always will be a Malfoy.