Unsortable

Chapter 1

Unused to the amount of teeming students, the push and pull of the mass of them threw Aerie Matthews into the side of the train. They knew what they were doing. She was so confused and she had lost her parents back at the entrance to the platform.

"Watch where you're walking," she spat at the man who had rudely brushed past her.

He stopped, turned, and proceeded to loom over her. Okay, so he was bigger than she thought. Pulling her shoulders back, she returned the glare inch for inch with a confidence surprising for someone of her short stature.

"Don't get in my way, then," his deep voice thundered, dark hair falling over his eyes. He was not a particularly individual-looking man, but the size and the menacingly dark atmosphere he carried around him like a cloak made him a little more memorable. Aerie instantly hated him. She despised bullies.

"Don't presume you own the path you walk on," she stormed. "I can tell you are used to people folding out of your way. Welcome to a world where some stand up for themselves. I don't tolerate bullies like you. I must ask you to apologize to me; you have upset my cat."

Her cat, Jimmy, was indeed hissing from her cage on top of Aerie's luggage.

The man looked at her incredulously; he had never come across anyone who did not cower away from him. His mind went blank--he was in new territory. He took a step back.

"I--"

"That is no way to treat a lady, Goyle," a slick voice said behind the big man. With a jump, the man--Goyle--leapt to the side where a devastatingly attractive man with white blond hair and an amused smirk on his face stood. "You should apologize to her; that was rather rude of you to shove past her."

Goyle stared in surprise at the handsome boy then quickly turned to Aerie. "Sorry," he muttered.

Aerie raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

Goyle groaned and turned a pleading look to the man, who gestured for him to answer. Goyle sighed and said, "For pushing through and accidentally throwing you into the train."

Aerie considered it a moment. "Forgiven. Thank you for apologizing. Now if you both excuse me, I need to get on this train before it departs."

Goyle walked away as fast as possible.

"Hogwarts student?" the unknown man asked, sauntering with her as she struggled to get her luggage on the train. "You transferred here? What are you? Sixth? Seventh? Younger?"

Aerie huffed, rolled her eyes skyward, and whirled on the irritating follower. "Make yourself useful and I might consider answering your questions. If you intend to just stand there like a stalker then I have nothing further to say to you." She blew a stray black curl out of her face and went back to struggling with her belongings. Jimmy hissed at her.

The train whistle blew. "Dammit!" Aerie seethed, giving her bags a final push before they slipped neatly onto the train. The man followed her quietly.

Dropping into the first empty compartment, the man finally lent her some help with stowing her things in the above chamber. Aerie immediately went and threw open the window. "'Bye, Mum! 'Bye, Dad!"

There was a nervous couple at the end of the platform waving frantically. And then the train was out of sight. Aerie slumped into the chair and breathed a heady sigh of satisfaction. Then her eye caught her handsome companion. "Thank you," she said reluctantly. "You can sit down, you know. I won't bite your head off since you did end up helping me." She took another deep breath and continued, "I'm Aeridia Matthews, prefer to be called Aerie, transfer from America, seventh year. My family is the only pureblood wizard race from that country that originated in England. Blood type: A positive; I like long walks on the beach, full moons, and a good book." She stuck out her hand at his bewildered expression and asked, "Is that enough information for you?"

The man blinked at her for a moment before he threw back his head and roared. Aerie's eyebrows went up; yep, definitely more attractive when he smiles. When he had settled down a little, he reached out and grasped her hand. "Draco Malfoy, seventh year, son of one of the most prominent pureblood families in Great Britain. Blood type: A positive; I prefer intelligent conversations and good glass of chardonnay."

"It's a pleasure." Aerie smiled in response. "I must say, Mr. Malfoy, I find it rather interesting that such a large bully such as Goyle would bow to your wish. What do you have over him? Money? Power? His dad owes your dad, perhaps?"

"Just about all of the above, actually." Malfoy smirked. "He is a close acquaintance of mine. One would almost call us friends. And you, Miss Matthews? Why would you come to Hogwarts in your final year? And may I ask what House you reside? I detect a fair degree of Slytherin in you. A pureblood like yourself should belong there."

"Please call me Aerie. I wanted to come back to England. It was my choice, and I have a few friends here. All of them are in different houses. And I don't know what House I'm in. I will be sorted once we arrive after the first years."

"If I recall correctly, the family in America has gone through several names over the centuries. Did it not start out as Peters?"

Aerie nodded. "You know your old families. It changed to Paul, then to John, then to Luke, and now it is on Matthews. Rather biblical, don't you think?"

"I like it," Malfoy replied. "It's going to make it hard for me to decide what to call you. 'Paulie' has appeal, but then again, so does 'Johnny.' Which do you prefer?"

She laughed and shook her head. "'Aerie' will work just fine. Everyone calls me that."

He smoldered at her, his eyes--a dark grey--hardened prettily. "I'm not everyone."

She swallowed. "Ah. I see. Well, then, when you decide on a name, let me know. I'm sure I will be seeing you around school. I'm probably keeping you from your friends and I need to find my old ones." She stood and stuck out her hand again. "As I said, Mr. Malfoy, it was a pleasure making your acquaintance, and I hope that whatever house I'm placed in, you won't feel the need to call me stranger."

He stood as well and took her hand in his, gripping it firmly. "You will be seeing a fair amount of me, Matthews. And call me Draco."

Aerie nodded. "All right, Draco."

He flashed her another smirk. "Excellent. Now who would be your friends? I probably know them."

Her grin became suddenly impish. "Oh, you do. They don't think very highly of you. Be happy that I think differently."

He looked at her with confusion, their hands still clasped in a shake. "Who are they?"

She shrugged. "A couple of them are redheads, one's a genius, and the other has a famous streak." She smiled at his frozen features, leaned forward and up to reach his ear, and whispered, "I hear you make a rather cute ferret. Don't try and weasel a way out of seeing me."

With a giggle, she walked out of the compartment and down the hall, leaving Draco standing there, shocked, but no less impressed by her wit. Bravery of a Gryffindor and the wiles of a Slytherin; he would be interested to see what became of this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aerie wandered through the train, searching in every single compartment for several faces she had not seen in years. Typically, she finally found one, in the last cart of the locomotive.

"Ginny Weasley!" she squealed, causing the redhead to whirl around.

The other girl stared in shock. "Aerie?"

When Aerie nodded to confirm that she was not dreaming, Ginny shrieked and collided with the older girl.

"Bloody hell, Matthews," Ginny chided, pulling away. "You look fantastic. I haven't seen you since, what? Before You-Know-Who finally came back?"

"Nearly." Aerie laughed. "It's good to be here. But I haven't found the Trio. Where's your brother?"

Ginny's grin disappeared. "They're not going to be here this year, 'Dia. They have gone off searching for ways to destroy You-Know-Who. You couldn't have come at a worst time."

"No." Aerie smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I couldn't have come at a better time. We've always known that Hogwarts is the best place to stay safe. And if I've gathered enough from your vague letters, your student army could use a few new tricks I've pick up in America."

Ginny grinned and gave Aerie another hug. Then she remembered her manners. Turning to the others in the compartment, she introduced the other heads of Dumbledore's Army: Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood.

"It's wonderful to meet you," Aerie greeted. "But I should be going. I have to change into my robes. Professor McGonagall wants to talk to me as soon as we get to school. I'm to be Sorted after the first years. I had better change."

"We'll see you at Gryffindor table, Aerie," Ginny laughed confidently.

Aerie winked at them and meandered back down the train to her seat. When she slid the door open, she found a sleeping Draco Malfoy draping rather becomingly on one side of the coach. She watched him for a moment; once the snide look was off his face, he truly was one of the most attractive boys she had seen. She flicked her wrist, now that no one was looking, at her suitcase, and it swiftly lifted itself down from the top and popped open. She pulled out her new uniform. With another flick of the wrist, a blanket stretched across the small space to give her privacy and she quickly changed, using the window as a mirror with its dark reflection.

Tilting her head to the side, Aerie pulled the elastic band out of her hair and let the dark, heavy curls tumble over her shoulder, staring at the tendrils critically. She touched up the eye makeup around her black eyes, and smoothed the wrinkles over her new, rather enhancing uniform. Who knew that a pleated skirt and sweater could bring out nature's gifts? She put the blanket away and slowly pulled on her knee highs and Mary Jane's.

"The uniform suits you, Johnny," a drawl complimented suddenly.

Aerie squeaked and clapped a hand her mouth, glaring at Draco. He chuckled at the sound. "Don't scare me like that, Draco. I thought you were still asleep. And why must you call me Johnny? I happen to like Aerie."

"Did you find your friends?" he asked, ignoring her question, slowly getting up and sitting knee to knee with her.

She sighed and nodded. "One of them, anyway. And it's a good thing you woke up, Oh Prince of Darkness, because we will be arriving soon. I would tell you to go and put on your uniform, but I have the feeling you don't really care, do you?"

Draco shrugged. "Not particularly. I will just throw on my robes over this. So what House do you think you will be Sorted?" he asked abruptly.

Now it was Aerie's turn to shrug. "I don't have any preference. I know people in every house. Though I must say that you are the first Slytherin friend I've made in a while. I would be happy anywhere, honestly. And what does it matter anyway?"

He stared at her in surprise. "It matters because that would determine how I will address you in the halls. If you're a Gryffindor I will have to sever all ties. Especially since you're friends with The Boy Who Gloats, the Mudblood, and the Weasels. So how can you not have a preference? You must have some idea."

She ignored his jab at her friends and answered his other questions. "None. I would almost prefer not to be Sorted. I don't like to be labeled, you see."

"The bravery of a Gryffindor, the wiles of a Slytherin, the brains of a Ravenclaw, and now I see that you have the 'friendly neighbor' attitude that is inherent with all Hufflepuffs. You are interesting," he said.

"Thanks, I guess." She laughed, turning and snapping her suitcase shut.

"It's a compliment," Draco confirmed. "Though I think you are wasted on the other Houses."

"My personality is too much for them, I know." Aerie winked at him. "Hogwarts doesn't know what's about to hit it. Expect something big. I'm making an impression."

Draco raised a brow. "You're pulling a prank on the first day? How ambitious."

She scoffed, "Please, Draco, don't think me so petty." She leaned forward and whispered, keeping a coy eye contact with him, "You will find that not everything is as meets the eye with me. Enigmatic doesn't even begin to describe."

Draco seemed dazed for a moment, but a second later his arrogant smirk returned. "We have an onion."

The train at that moment began to slow. Aerie stood and pulled out her wand, a startling blue piece of wood. "How many layers do you think there are, Draco?" She gave him another wink, charmed her trunk to follow her, and left the compartment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Professor McGonagall smiled at the new student. "I'm glad you understand the circumstances, Miss Matthews," she said, leading them to the Great Hall. "Once you are Sorted, we will make the announcement. I'm sorry that this year is such a terrible year for you to come, but I think you will find yourself to be safe. Headmaster Snape will not let anything happen to you, given the circumstances."

"I never had any doubts, Professor." Aerie smiled in return, stopping at a side door. "I will wait for your signal."

McGonagall patted her shoulder before leaving Aerie to wait in anxiousness. The few minutes she had now were probably the only ones she would have by herself for a while, so Aerie made the most of them. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Aerie ran through what she was supposed to say after the Sorting. And then it was time.

Aerie walked in to the Great Hall, where hundreds of pairs of eyes trained their looks toward her.

"Aeridia Matthews is a transfer seventh year from America and we will give her the best Hogwarts welcome," McGonagall said sternly, gesturing for Aerie to take a seat on the stool for Sorting.

When Aerie sat, the Hat dropped on her head and the world plunged into darkness.

"Well, well, well, Miss Matthews," the Hat hissed in her ear, "I never thought I would see the day that your family would return to England. I must say that your head is a full one. I have not Sorted a person of your age in centuries. This is rather difficult. Very intelligent, I see; perfect for Ravenclaw. A kindness and generosity found in many Hufflepuffs. A sinister and sarcastic streak that makes you suitable for Slytherin. And a bravery parallel to a Gryffindor. Yes, very difficult."

"I would rather not have to choose, please," Aerie whispered. "I don't want to be classified and separated from friends."

"Most interesting," the Hat stated. The Hall outside was beginning to become restless. Never had the Hat taken this long. "I can see you greatly in Ravenclaw, though."

"Please, don't," Aerie pleaded. "Don't Sort me."

"Hmm...there is potential in you yet," the Hat muttered, then announced, "UNSORTABLE!"

There was a huge gasp as the Sorting Hat was removed from Aerie's head and she looked to McGonagall who was staring at her in amazement. A quick glance at the four large tables confirmed the moment. And then a buzz started as students muttered to one another, staring at her. Aerie began to get nervous. The greasy new headmaster stood slowly, giving Aerie a penetrating glance. She bowed her head discreetly.

"Very intriguing," McGonagall said, throwing the Hall back into silence. "And rather appropriate as well. Students, let me also introduce to you the Head Girl. With Hermione Granger unable to be here this year, Miss Matthews has agreed to fill in the position. Welcome to Hogwarts, Aeridia."

Aerie turned from Headmaster Snape and smiled in pure happiness. "Thank you, Professor." She turned back to the students, took a deep breath, and began her speech:

"...We are spirits of another sort.

I with the morning's love have oft made sport,

And like a forester the groves may tread,

Even till the eastern gate, all fiery-red,

Opening on Neptune with fair blessed beams,

Turns into yellow gold his salt green streams.

But, notwithstanding, haste--make no delay:

We may effect this business yet ere day."

She paused a moment before smiling and continuing, "This year Hogwarts will perform a play by William Shakespeare. Anyone is welcome to audition for the parts. But I must warn you, the four lead roles must be filled by a member from each house. No exceptions."

"Which play is it?" an enthusiastic student asked.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream." Aerie smiled at him. "That little piece was from Act three, scene two. Auditions will be held at the end of next week. I will be directing. Any student wishing to work on sets, costumes, and/or lighting can talk with me during the week. We will perform in Hogsmeade on November first. I look forward to seeing the auditions." Aerie stepped to the side.

"Thank you, Miss Matthews," McGonagall said, coming forward again. "I must encourage everyone to try and participate. Several of the staff will be handling auditions with Aerie and overseeing the entire event. Now that everything has been addressed, let's eat."

As McGonagall made her way back to her seat at the staff table, Aerie stopped her. "Yes, Miss Matthews?"

"Would you mind terribly if I went ahead to my room, Professor? I can't say that I am very hungry and I would like a few moments to try and collect myself."

The professor smiled. "Of course not, dear. You go ahead. The Heads have their own suite on the third floor on the left hand side. The entrance is a picture of The Tree of Knowledge."

"What is the password, please?"

"Intellect."

"Thank you, professor," Aerie sighed happily and slipped out the side door that she came in and bounced down the hall and up the stairs.

She stopped at the painting and gently touched the canvas. Here was her new home; she wondered who the Head Boy, her new roommate, was and whether they would get along. She had a naturally easy-going persuasion, but it would be easier if he was just nice. Or fun.

She said the password, and stepped inside, her breath catching at the beautiful interior. Mahogany and suede blended nicely together in a classic style; the only thing House related was the Hogwarts Crest above the mantle. A large living area with a kitchenette on the left side, Aerie walked past to the hallway that held three doors. The Head Boy's room was on the right; hers was on the left, only one bathroom through the door at the end of the hall and her things already in the closet and her trunks placed at the foot of her bed. This was fantastic. Throwing open her trunk, she pulled out a mini canvas and walked out to the living area again.

"Finite Reducto," she said with a wave of her hand. The canvas blew up to a four by six foot painting of a forest scene. Blues and greens comingled with the red and gold of the sun seeping through the trees. Aerie hung it up on a wall as she heard the portrait door open.

"When you said that you would leave an impression, you weren't kidding," Draco's voice said suddenly and could only be described as amazed.

Aerie turned with a smile. "I don't lie, Draco. Not often anyway." She looked at him strangely as he came in and sat on the couch. "What are you doing here?"

Draco smirked and replied, "I live here."

Aerie's face blossomed with the news. "You're the Head Boy? That's wonderful! I have already looked around the place. There is only one bathroom, I'm afraid."

Draco nodded. "I was made aware. Don't worry; it can be divided with a screen." He got up and went to the fridge for some drinks, came back, handed her one, and motioned for her to sit next to him on the couch. She sank into the seat. "How is it that you were not Sorted?" he asked, getting right to the point. "And Head Girl? And director of the new drama program?"

Aerie smiled at his amazement. "Dumbledore once told me that what makes the difference between wizards are the choices we make. I didn't want to be categorized and stereotyped by the House I was in. I asked the Sorting Hat not to place me in any of them."

"I don't understand."

"I didn't think you really would, Draco," she replied. "Being in Slytherin is all you ever truly thought about, I'm sure, knowing your family heritage."

Draco smirked. "You did a background check on me, how sweet."

Aerie shook her head. "That's information from my friends. And anyway, would you really have gotten along with me if was a Gryffindor?"

He was silent for a moment. "Probably not."

"Exactly!" she praised. "I don't want friendships to be ruined because I am in a particular House. Besides, it doesn't matter anyway, since I'm Head Girl and not staying with them. I'm Switzerland."

"That leads to my second question," Draco continued. "How did you get to be Head Girl?"

"I was going to be Head Girl at my old school," she replied and shrugged. "And since Hermione is not going to be here this year, McGonagall thought it would be appropriate."

"And the drama program? I'm rather surprised that Snape is allowing this to happen."

Aerie's smile became impish. "House camaraderie, of course. The teachers are helping, as I said at dinner. McGonagall talked with Snape for me during the summer and was able to get him to agree to it. And you are going to help, by the way. I'm not the only director."

He stared at her. "There is no way that I am working with morons."

"Are you calling me a moron?" She grinned. "And you have no choice. If you weren't Head Boy I wouldn't insist, but that's how life is working out for you." She stretched out her hand and silently summoned the scripts. She caught them and threw one into his lap. Sitting back and taking a sip of her drink, she watched his face as he flipped through the manuscript, noting all of her markings in the margins. She smiled as his face slowly began to animate.

"All right, Johnny," he finally said, looking up at her, "Your ideas are good, I'll admit. And auditions are on Friday next week?"

She nodded. "Sign-up sheets are in the Great Hall. This will be fantastic. Did you know that Hogwarts has an auditorium?"

He shook his head. "McGonagall didn't either until we pulled out the floor plans to find a good place to practice," she said, "It's been forgotten about for over one hundred years. I'm going to take a look at it tonight. You should come with me."

His nose automatically went into the air. "Not if it's been abandoned for a century. There is bound to be more dust than is right to breathe."

She stood and laughed. "No sense of adventure, I see. I will be going at midnight when lights are out so that I might be able to work in quiet. I know a good cleaning spell, Draco. I could protect you from the dust bunnies." She snickered.

"You make it sound like I'm afraid of them," he scoffed, standing as well and glaring at her. "I will come with you. If I'm to be a director with you, I need to know about the area I'm dealing with."

Aerie clapped her hands. "Excellent. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to change and walk around the school. I need to know my way around."

"Would you like a tour?" Draco offered, placing his drink on the counter by the sink.

She smiled at him. "If you keep getting any nicer, I'm going to start thinking that the Malfoy my friends have told me about has been cloned with a better personality."

He feigned hurt. "I'm offended; I'm always nice. But I have a reputation to keep. So I would appreciate you not spread around my generous nature."

"Your secret is safe with me. And yes, I would love a tour, Draco. Thank you. And it would be a good thing for the school to see that the Heads are getting along."

"Maybe, maybe not," Draco argued. "They expect me to hate anyone not of Slytherin House, and even then I'm supposed to always be detestable."

She headed to her room. "It's a good thing I don't belong to any House, then. I think I might be the exception to any rule you've created for yourself. I will be out in five minutes."

"I will be ready."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco slammed his head against the wall as soon as his bedroom door closed. What was getting into him? He had not been this nice to anyone since...well, since ever. Why did this girl have to show up and tear down everything he had built over the years? He quickly changed into dark designer jeans and a black polo and made his way back out to the living room. She really was not even his type. He usually went for the blonds with porcelain skin and blue eyes and the figure of a model. She was thin, sure, but she had the curves of an hour glass and dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes. Complete opposite of what he looked for, and yet he was attracted to her. He scowled darkly; at least she was a pureblood.

He stood in front of the painting she had hung up when he had come in. It was really detailed and lovely, but he did not recognize the artist. He was gifted in knowing great art. The scrawl on the bottom along the root of the tree was not distinctive. He lightly fingered the brush strokes along the forest path.

"It's the only one that I've ever liked enough to hang," Aerie's voice came behind him.

He turned towards her voice and nearly choked. He thanked his father (one of the only times he would ever do so) for teaching him how to control his facial expressions. I was not what she was wearing; it was how she wore it. Dark jeans like his and a blue tank top with metallic silver designs etched across the front, she walked up next to him. And her curves! If he had not noticed yet, he certainly did now. Her hair was down and tapered to her breast line, curls so full he had to resist the urge to grab a handful. He swallowed and turned back to the painting.

"Where did you get it?" he managed to sound normal. "It's not a Monet or anyone familiar."

"I painted it," she said. "I hope you don't mind that I put it up."

Draco turned to her again in shock, unable to keep his face blank. "You never stop surprising me. This is exquisite!"

She blushed and walked to the door. "Thank you. Shall we go?"

"Of course," he replied, finding it rather adorable that she was so prone to embarrassment. He gestured for her to leave the suite first and lead her down the corridor.

It surprised him how easy it was to talk to her. He found himself sharing stories from when he was a child, most of which were not that pleasant, but she listened attentively to him, sharing stories of her own. What surprised him more was the fact that he wanted to share and listen to this girl walking next to him down the hall, and never had he wanted or cared to know about anyone in particular. Yet he found he kept asking questions, trying to draw out more about her and her life. She was willing to talk, which pleased him and they passed the next several hours amiably through the school. Occasionally, Aerie and he would run into someone she knew from her years of visiting. Everyone wanted to say hello and she exclaimed like that moment had been the bright point of her day. She was sunshine in the dark halls and Draco was drawn towards it like a man who had been in a cave all of his life.

The people they came across would be genial and happy towards her, but once they caught sight of Draco, they would close down and quickly leave. Aerie never acted like it affected her; in fact she thought it was funny.

"I'm starting to see this reputation you've built, Draco," she commented and giggled, as a fourth year acquaintance skirted off. "Which is good, because I would hate to only see just one side of you."

Draco's mood shifted slowly after that statement. Though he kept talking and guiding, as the hours grew later and fewer people moved through the halls, he began to regret being so friendly. As soon as she finds out what he attempted the spring before, her smile would disappear. Even though he had failed to kill Dumbledore and Snape had done it, Draco was still guilty. He had hated having to do it, and was beyond thrilled that he couldn't, but Draco knew attempted murder (however unwanted) was a kink in his armor. She would hate him. That fact darkened his mood further. All he wanted to do now was go back to his room and break a few things. There was never a time where he hated his family and heritage more.

"Draco?" Aerie stopped him, it was nearly eleven thirty now and the school had been on quiet hours for more than thirty minutes. "Are you alright? You haven't spoken a word in twenty minutes. Did I say something wrong earlier?"

He forced a smile on his face. "Of course not, Johnny. I don't offend that easily. I've just had a lot on my mind."

The look on her face showed him that she did not believe him, but she let it go to his relief. "If you say so. I want to show you the auditorium now, if you don't mind."

Grateful that she had changed the subject, he followed her as she led him to the dungeons, passed Slughorn's Potions classroom and around a corner he had no idea existed where huge double doors stood of the darkest wood.

"I thought this was a dead end," he breathed softly.

Aerie grinned, a flash of white teeth in the darkness and pulled out her wand. "Apparently, this auditorium only shows when it wants to be found. Lumos."

"Like the Room of Requirement almost," Draco muttered darkly, pushing the doors open.

The darkness was absolute in the room, the light from Aerie's wand only penetrating a foot past the tip. He couldn't even see her feet. She went to the left.

"Let's find the lights, Draco," she said, her voice echoing vastly. "You go ri--Eeh!" There was a grinding, a thud and Aerie's wand flew from her hand and went out.

"Aeridia!" Draco shouted, lighting his wand and cautiously moving forward.

"Shit. Hippogriff dick. Son of a bitch. Merde, shies, Zut, maledizione. Bloody hell," she cursed in the darkness as Draco approached her. She was sitting on the dusty floor next to an overturned chair, a sharp piece sticking out of it, covered in blood. Her blood, apparently. She had a huge gash torn through her jeans on her thigh.

"Are you all right?" Draco asked in concern, throwing himself next to her, heedless of his clothes, and hissed at the sight of the cut. "We need to get you to the hospital wing, immediately."

She grabbed his arm in a vice-like grip. "No. I refuse to go. Find my wand and I will summon my healing kit, this is starting to burn."

He stared at her. "Are you insane? I see bone! I am taking you to the infirmary now."

Aerie glared at him, stretched out her hand. "Accio healing kit." Draco's eyes narrowed. "I won't let some scratch stop me from having my fun. Get used to it, Malfoy. You're not the only one who can be stubborn. Besides, I'm a very clumsy person. This isn't the worst that's happened to me due to being a klutz."

A whoosh sounded before a small wooden chest settled between the two. Aerie went to reach for it and gasped.

"So, the pain is setting in, is it?" Draco drawled sarcastically. "Serves you right, not listening to me."

"Smug bastard," Aerie muttered, attempting to grab the chest again. Draco pulled it out of reach.

"What do you need from it?"

"Phoenix tears," she snapped and groaned; she was starting to lose a lot of blood as it pooled in a rather large puddle beneath her.

Draco refrained from his rebuttal and grabbed what she needed. Knowing the potency of the tears, he only allowed three drops to touch her skin. It immediately stitched back together.

"Iron tablet and water, please," she instructed next.

He gave them to her; she downed the tablet and coughed. Draco gave her a hand up, checking discreetly for any other damage. She summoned her wand and waved it over the blood on the chair and her pants; it cleared. She touched it to her pants and the tear in the fabric laced back together. He kept the awe from his face; not many people knew the blood-removal spell.

"There, all done," she said and smiled weakly. She turned around and touched a button on the wall. The auditorium lit up. "And I found the lights."

Draco rolled his eyes; stubborn did not begin to describe this girl. "If this happens all the time, how is it that you are able to keep using phoenix tears? That small bottle must have cost a village. And to keep having to replenish it..."

"There is a bottomless spell on it," she said, packing everything away and placing the kit by the door. "It only cost a small village when we bought the spell for it. The bottle was a gift from Professor Dumbledore when I was a child." She came back to stand next to him, and they both surveyed the room.

There was dust everywhere. The stage was of massive proportions and the lighting was run by magic. Pretty advanced for a hundred-year-old auditorium. They both walked forward and up on the stage.

"It's perfect," Aerie breathed. She flicked her wand over the stage and the dust disappeared. She sat down. "I think we should change the venue. What do you say?"

"If we can get this cleared and usable by next week, then sure," Draco replied, sitting with her. They sat in silence.

"You called me Aeridia," she said a few minutes later.

Draco winced slightly. He had hoped she hadn't heard that. He had hoped that he had not said it; that would mean that he was getting attached. "Yeah, I did. What of it?"

"Nothing." She shrugged casually. "You just haven't called me by name yet, that's all."

So she noticed? She was more observant than he gave her credit for.

"I don't think badly of you, if that's what you're wondering," she continued softly. Draco stiffened. "You became silent on our tour when I said that it was good for me to see the many sides of you. I know about some of them, Draco. How you were ordered to get the Death Eaters into Hogwarts last spring. You were ordered to kill Dumbledore. I know that none of this was anything that you wanted to do. Your mother's life was threatened and you were forced. Just because you did these things, that doesn't make you a bad person, or a Death Eater."

Draco stood swiftly. "Yeah, well, it doesn't make me a good person either, alright?"

Aerie sighed in exasperation and stood as well. "Everyone is a little bit of good and evil. That's what makes us human. I don't think less of you because of it."

"You will eventually," he muttered.

She flicked him in the nose. "What the hell was that for?"

"I'm friends with you, am I not?" She ignored his exclamation and continued, "And in case you didn't notice, I was friends with you even after I learned of your doings. Which happened to be before I even met you. Quit acting like such a victim. Help me clean up in here and stop being so depressing. It's ruining my fun."

Draco's heart stirred at the word friend. Never had anyone been truly friends with him. Once they learned of who he was, they usually left. Yet here this girl stood, had the audacity to flick him in the nose and called him a friend. He smiled in relief. "Teach me this spell."

They spent the following hour cleaning and repairing the entire auditorium. When they were done, Aerie stood at the head of the stage, turned with her back to the audience, surveying their work. Draco stood in the aisle of the house, watching her; she was so happy and looked very comfortable up on the stage.

She turned to him. "Have you ever read Shakespeare's plays, Draco?"

Draco smirked, sensing a challenge, and leapt up on stage, coming straight to her side and placing a hand on her cheek. "'How now, my love? Why is your cheek so pale? How chance the roses there do fade so fast?'"

Aerie's eyes widened and Draco's smile grew. He had her; he took a step back.

"'Belike for want of rain, which I could well

Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes'," she quote back, one eyebrow raised. She went through with the performance all right. Here she came towards him and placed her hands on his chest. Will you move? her eyes asked laughingly.

Not likely. The glove was thrown and he would go through the scene. "'Ay me!'" He wrapped both arms around her. "'For aught that I could ever read,

Could ever hear by tale or history,

The course of true love never did run smooth;

But, either it was different in blood--'"

"O cross! Too high to be enthralled to low."

"Or else misgraffed in respect of years--"

"O spite! Too old to be engaged to young."

"Or else it stood upon the choice of friends--"

"O hell! To choose love by another's eyes!"

Draco swept her up bridal style and sat on bench with her in his lap. "Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,

War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it--

Making it momentany as a sound,

Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, brief as the lightning in the collied night

That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth;

And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!'

The jaws of darkness do devour it up:

So quick bright things come to confusion."

Aerie stood and walked behind him, trailing her hands down his chest, wrapped her arms around him and continued, "If then true lovers have been ever crossed,

It stands as an edict in destiny:

Then let us teach our trial patience,

Because it is a customary cross,

As due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs,

Wishes and tears, poor Fancy's followers."

He nearly shivered at the last whispered lines in his ears. "'A good persuasion:'" he started, forcing her to sit next to him, facing the opposite side of the bench and slowly forcing her to slide back as he spoke, "therefore here me, Hermia:

I have a widow aunt, a dowager

Of great revenue, and she hath no child:

From Athens is her house remote seven leagues:

And she respects me as her only son.

There, gentle Hermia, may I marry thee:

And to that place the sharp Athenian law

Cannot pursue us. If thou lovest me then,

Steal forth thy father's house tomorrow night;

And in the wood, a league without the town,

Where I did meet thee once with Helena,

To do observance to a morn of May,

There will I stay for thee." He smiled seductively at her dazed expression.

She slid forward, forcing him back down the bench, her hooded eyes glinting with dare. "My good Lysander,

I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow,

By his best arrow with the golden head,

By the simplicity of Venus' doves,

By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves,

And by that fire which burned the Carthage queen,

When the false Troyan under sail was seen,

By all the vows that ever men have broke--

In number more than ever women spoke--

In that same place thou hast appointed me,

Tomorrow truly will I meet with thee."

He looked at her lips, their faces a few inches apart, and was drawn in. She did not move as he slowly came closer. "Keep promise, love," he finished.

A clapping of hands pulled the two apart faster than a bullet from a gun. They turned to see Professor McGonagall standing at the back of the hall.

"Professor," Aerie gasped, her breath knocked out of her from the shock. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough, Miss Matthews," she replied. "I must say that the little performance you both gave was exceptional. You put more feeling into it than you do with the rest of things you do here, Mr. Malfoy."

Aerie watched his entire demeanor change in the presence of the Transfiguration professor. He stood gracefully. "Acting doesn't take much skill, professor," he drawled. "I have to do it every day, pretending I tolerate the student body."

"You seem to get along fairly well with Miss Matthews," she stated wryly, folding her hands in front of her. She did not give him a chance to respond and continued, "I was looking for you both actually."

Aerie replied before Draco could be snide, "I'm sorry, professor, I wanted to see the school before classes tomorrow so that I might be familiar with the territory. Draco was kind enough to show me around."

"'Draco', is it?" McGonagall smiled slightly, while Draco stared at the wall. "That was rather kind of him. At any rate, I needed to lay down a few rules with the both of you." She came forward and sat in the front row.

Draco and Aerie sat at the edge of the stage. Draco, none too pleased about it.

"Now, Aerie, I'm aware that you are at least a little familiar with the rules of the Heads, but Draco is not. So let me explain." The professor cleared her throat. "Every year two Heads are determined from those with exceptional grades and academic standing with the school. You both were chosen and given the privilege over all students to take on the responsibility of monitoring other students' progress. You reside in separate quarters to represent a higher social standing, but that does not make you better than the other students."

"Technically it does," Draco retorted and smirked.

"Watch your mouth, boy," McGonagall snapped, "Or I can just as easily strip your title and move you back into Slytherin House. You may have the power to take points from students, but that does not mean that you can abuse the power. We do not need another Dolores Umbridge at this school when it's already headed by a Death Eater."

"That devil woman?" Aerie asked in surprise. "I've heard about her."

The old woman smiled at Aerie and turned an ironic eye to Draco. "Seems so. Your rooms are not meant for parties and the like. House rules still apply to your suite. Remember, though you both have the power over your classmates, you can still lose points for your House."

"You forget that Johnny doesn't have a House," Draco commented. "Where do her points go and come from? Or does the Golden Girl have exception to these rules, receiving slaps on the wrist and community service for bad behavior and little stars for a job well done?"

"Her points will be evenly distributed betwixt the Houses and also evenly taken. Any other questions?"

Aerie surprisingly raised her hand. "Is there any way that we might be able to get a piano in our suite, professor? I would like to be able to practice."

McGonagall stood. "I will see what I can come up with. In the meantime, I suggest you both abandon this project for the evening and get some rest. Class schedules will be handed out in the morning. Good night."

"'Night," the two simultaneously responded, watching in silence as she left the auditorium.

Draco glared at the door. "Bossy old bitch," he muttered darkly.

Aerie rounded on him and smacked him in the arm. "Watch your tongue, Draco Malfoy! Professor McGonagall has done nothing to deserve your attitude. She happens to be the one who is doing the most for me in this current situation, so I would appreciate it if you kept your opinions to yourself." She hopped off the stage and headed towards the door.

Conflicted with a strange feeling of shame, Draco followed her to their suite. She bounced inside with a smile and ran to her room. He barely reached the couch when she ran out again with a bundle of clothes.

"I get the bathroom first," she announced. "You can have it when I'm done. I should be asleep by the time you get out and I'm going to forewarn you now: I am not a morning person."

Draco raised a brow.

"I will be ugly if you like mornings," she clarified. "You'll see." And she turned and walked into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

Draco smirked. This was going to be fun.