When the bell rang signalling the end of class, I gathered my things quickly, eager to escape what had been one of the worst lesson emotionally. It was the end of my forth day here at Hogwarts and I had just had my first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson of the year.

While Harry, Ron and Hermione had found seats directly in front of Moody's desks, I had made sure to sit as far back as possible. I'm sure Moody hadn't quite forgiven me for turning my wand on him on the very first day even though I hadn't managed to actually do anything.

And I didn't regret my seating choice, but I couldn't say the same for Ron did after the spider swelled up just before Moody cursed it.

It had been horrible watching all those spiders suffering like that. Well, at least the first two did. I doubted the third had been breathing long enough to experience any pain.

But what was perhaps worse was seeing the horrified expression on Neville's face. Over the last couple of days, Neville had been really welcoming and we'd already established a close bond. He was one of the few people who thought of me as Lean the Gryffindor, and not as a Malfoy who was sorted into the wrong house.

And now he was upset and wouldn't tell me why.

I kept a careful eye on him as we silently made our way to the Great Hall. But I was still surprised when he suddenly jerked into a side corridor. I followed, standing opposite my new friend and surveying his pale face with worry. "Neville?" I prompted, hoping he would at least try to explain what was bothering him. I mean, I assumed it was watching Moody use the three Unforgivable Curses but why…?

"Yes Lean?"

He had answered me, at least that was something…

"Do you want to talk about it?" I tried hopefully.

"About what?" Neville said brightly, but in a very unusual high pitched voice. "I'm fine. Oh hello."

I turned around to see that Harry, Ron and Hermione had joined us looking concerned. And to be honest, so was I.

"Interesting lesson, wasn't it?" Neville said in his weird high pitched voice. "I wonder what's for dinner, I'm – I'm starving, aren't you?"

I shared a look with Hermione. "Neville, are you all right?" she asked gently before I could respond.

"Oh, yes, I'm fine," Neville said. "Very interesting dinner – I mean lesson – what's for eating?"

"Neville, what –?"

"It's all right, sonny," said a familiar voice and I spun around once again.

"Why don't you come up to my office? Come on ... we can have a cup of tea ..." Moody said. It was clear from Neville's expression that the prospect of tea with Moody was a thousand more times worse than whatever he was feeling.

Moody stared at Harry with his magical eye. "You all right, are you, Potter?"

"Yes," Harry answered without hesitation.

There was a moment's pause before Moody continued to speak again. "You've got to know. It seems harsh, maybe, but you've got to know. No point pretending ... well ... come on, Longbottom, I've got some books that might interest you."

"What was that about?" Ron said, as Neville and Moody turned the corner.

"I don't know," Hermione said. Then, for some reason all three of them turned to me.

"Hey," I said with indignation. "What makes you think I do?"

"You hang out with him more, therefore you know him better," Ron shrugged.

"I've only known him for three days, Ron. You've known him for three years."

"But you're closer –"

"She's right."

I turned to face the speaker, Harry, a look of bewilderment on my face. While I was obviously right, surely he would have defended his best friend instead of some girl he hardly knew. Swallowing my surprise, I nodded curtly. "I am, thank you Harry."

Smiling slightly, Harry nodded and the four of us set off for the Great Hall for dinner.

"Urgh… this is hopeless…" I groaned, scrunching up yet another piece of parchment.

"I haven't got a clue what this lot's supposed to mean," Harry sighed in agreement.

"You know, I think it's back to the old Divination standby." Ron said.

"What – make it up?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Ron said. 'Next Monday, I am likely to develop a cough, owing to the unlucky conjunction of Mars and Jupiter."

I raised my eyebrows. "Do you seriously think she'll buy that?"

Ron shrugged. "Just put in loads of misery, she'll lap it up."

"Right," said Harry, "Okay... on Monday, I will be in danger of – er – burns."

"Yeah, you will be, we're seeing the Skrewts again on Monday. Okay, Tuesday, I'll... erm..."

"Lose a treasured possession," suggested Harry, who was scanning the pages in 'Unfogging the Future'.

"Good one," said Ron. "Because of... erm... Mercury. Why don't you get stabbed in the back by someone you thought was a friend?"

I snorted. There was no way the professor was going to buy this…

"Yeah... cool..." said Harry ignoring me completely. "Because... Venus is in the twelfth house."

"And on Wednesday, I think I'll come off worst in a fight," Ron said, scribbling furiously.

"Aaah, I was going to have a fight," Harry sighed.

"Why don't you loose a bet," I suggested, earning surprised glances from both the boys. I shrugged in response to their looks. While I was still sure Trelawney wouldn't buy any of this, admittedly it was kind of fun... "You could be betting Ron will win his fight."

Harry wrote it down eagerly. "Thanks Lean, and you could…"

"I'm going to be chased by an angry group of Cornish Pixies," I said, now scribbling furiously. "And then the next day I'll be kidnapped by the angry group of Cornish Pixies."

Both boys gave me a look and Ron asked, "What is it with you and Cornish Pixies?"

"Hey," I said with indignation. "It's not like I get to choose my own fate…"

Hermione joined us much later, carrying with her a sheet of parchment and box, and after commenting on our homework, she finally explained its contents.

"What's spew?" I asked, wrinkling my nose at the name.

"Not spew," Hermione said irritably. "It's S-P-E-W. Stands for Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."

"Never heard of it," Ron said.

"Well, of course you haven't, I've only just started it."

Ron then looked mildly surprised as he asked. "How many members have you got?"

"Well – if you two join – three," Hermione told the two boys. "And if Lean wants to join, she would be four."

"How come she gets a choice?" Ron complained moodily.

"Because she likes me better," I joked.

Ron stared at me annoyedly, but directed his words at Hermione. "You think we want to walk around wearing badges saying, 'spew', do you?"

"S-P-E-W!" Hermione cried out. "I was going to put Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status – but it wouldn't fit. So that's the heading of our manifesto. I've been researching it thoroughly in the library…"

Hermione continued but I zoned out. While I respected my friend, I was not in the mood to be lectured on the importance of elf rights. As far as I was concerned, house elves liked serving their wizarding family – my old elf, Dobby, being the exception though after seeing what my parents were capable of, I really didn't blame him.

When Hermione finished speaking, there was an awkward silence.

"So…" I said, finally breaking it. "How much for a badge again?"

Hermione looked delighted at my reaction. "Two sickles, but for your enthusiasm, nothing."

"Thank 'Mione," I grinned, ignoring Ron's incredulous look as I happily pinned the badge to my shirt. "But I will pay, it's for a good cause…"

My voice trailed off as the sound of tapping against glass caught my attention and we all turned to see a snowy owl perched on the windowsill.

"Hedwig!" Harry shouted, running to the window eagerly. "About time."

"She's got an answer!" Ron said excitedly.

"What does it say?" Hermione asked. Then, all three of them suddenly turned to me with an expression that told me everything I needed to know.

"I'm getting kind of tired," I lied, gathering all my Divination work hurriedly. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

I could faintly hear them murmuring 'goodnight', as I scampered up the stairs towards my dorm. I don't know why I felt this way. They shouldn't feel complied to share all their secrets with me, a girl they've only known a few days. And of course, it didn't help that I was a Malfoy, a Slytherin by blood.

But as I lay in bed that night, I couldn't help picture what my life would be like if I wasn't a Malfoy. For starters, I would never have been sent to New York, meaning I could've experienced Hogwarts like the rest of my classmates. I could've become friends with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville from the first day. Neville might've confided in me today. Harry and the others could've let me in on their little secret, or better yet, I was so in their group, I already knew what was going on.

I let out a deep sigh as I realised that that would never be possible.

They might act nice, but really, I'll always just be a Malfoy.

And a Malfoy could never be part of a group of Gryffindors.