Chapter Four |Year Three|

***

The next day, Amelie Briar Santerre rose up and early, to see that her roommates were all still fast asleep. She yawned, and dressed, slipping on the new green-and-silver sweater she had been gifted the day before, paired with black capri leggings. Admiring herself in the mirror, Amelie had to admit she liked the Slytherin colors.

And the Sorting Hat really was honest! Amelie did take pride in many things.

The young student brought a book into the common room, and checked the time. About thirty minutes were left until breakfast started, as it was about quarter 'til six in the morning. She settled down with one of her favorite muggle books, a book called Where the Red Fern Grows. Sure, it was pretty gruesome, in a ruggedy woods kind of way, but Amelie enjoyed it.

Amelie's solution to every mishap, every misdeed, every troublesome act, was to impoverish herself with books. Books were amazing; she could sink into a good book and not worry about life around her.

Unless Draco Malfoy suddenly invaded your privacy in the common room.

"What're you reading?" a voice came curiously from around the boys' dorms. Amelie looked up irritably, barely tearing her eyes away from the engrossing novel.

"Where the Red Fern Grows," she stated impatiently, and set her nose back into her book. Draco frowned. He wanted to get her attention; only how would he, with Amelie acting like this?

"I've never heard of it,"

Amelie's head whipped back up, and she looked extremely aggravated. "I'm trying to lire here!" she snapped crossly. She contemplated responding or not, then turned her head slowly towards Malfoy again. "Of course you haven't. It's a muggle livre," she said matter-of-factly.

Draco was intrigued. No Sytherin girl had ever treated him like this. Pansy was his regrettable arm candy, Astoria and Daphne Greengrass were two total ho's, Tracey admired his attractiveness silently, Millicent Bulstrode was like an overexcited fangirl everytime she saw him. Alexandria Pucey played "hard-to-get" with him, (although Draco really didn't care) and Hayley Flint was a sassy weirdo, who was loud, boisterous and really needed a bra.

"What's a livre?" was all Draco could think of to say.

Amelie scowled. When would he shut up? "A, um, book. Now please leave me alone!"

Draco retreated silently, defeated in his fight for attention from the mysterious new girl. Amelie was a puzzle to him; however, she was a blood traitor, like the Weaselbees, and he would certainly not fraternize with one of those filthy pure bloods.

Amelie, later, when there were only ten more minutes left until breakfast, Amelie walked to her dorm groggily. She hadn't gotten enough sleep, and was extremely tired. Pansy was already awake in the room, and she snarled at Amelie as she entered the room. Amelie met her gaze warily and headed over to her area in the room.

She grabbed her cloak, and raced downstairs to exit the common room and head to the Great Hall for breakfast. Although Amelie wished to taste her mum's delicious frog legs again, for now, croissants, bagels, and assortments of candy would have to do.

When she got into the Great Hall, she took a plate of breakfast goods, then did something a Slytherin would never have dreamed of doing. But then again, this was Amelie. She was obviously different. Amelie gathered her things, then led herself to the Gryffindor table.

"Bonjour, Hermione!" said Amelie pleasantly and sat down next to her new friend. A boy sitting across from Hermione looked shocked.

"Slytherin, are you lost?" asked the boy politely, but under that pleasant veneer she could sense hostility. "The Slytherin table is over there," he said, gesturing towards the Slytherin table.

"Non, I'm not lost, but merci beaucoup for telling me," she said ardently, and took a bite from the blueberry muffin she had grabbed. She took her fork and flicked off some crumbs, then sliced it in half. It was very dry, and Amelie decided subconsciously that it would be better as a cheesecake.

"Bonjour, Amelie!" greeted Hermione enthusiastically. "What are you doing here? I though maybe you would've - " she signaled at the Slytherin girls who were chatting amiably among themselves. " - um, became friends with them."

Amelie contorted her face to exhibit her disgust. "Non, they détester me," she said ruefully. "And I them."

Hermione shrugged. "Well, you have me."

Harry and Ron made their way towards the two girls, as Dean had left Hermione's company, muttering "Slytherin, warning, caution, Slytherin."

"Oi! Hermione, hullo! And - " Ron caught sight of Amelie and frowned. "Oh, hello Amelie, I s'pose."

Amelie gave him a friendly smile at him. "And bonjour to you too, Ron,"

"And me!" butted in Harry playfully.

"Oui, and you, Harry," said Amelie happily. "Have you two gotten past your, um, how to say it - "

"Prejudices? Yeah, blimey, we kinda had to, 'Mione here gave us a lecture on overcoming our prejudices," said Ron, rolling his eyes but the side of his mouth was quirked up all the same.

"Well, I'm glad you did," said Amelie quietly. She nibbled a corner of her peach turnover, and an awkward silence occupied the air.

Amelie hadn't realized it, but a girl from Slytherin was waving her over. Hermione, however, caught sight of the girl and slightly prodded Amelie in the rib. Amelie looked over at Hermione, who nodded at the Slytherin girl.

Reluctantly and curiously, Amelie left the Gryffindor table and sat across from the Slytherin girl. She said her farewells to the Golden Trio, and sat down in the seat that was facing the girl.

"Bonjour. My name is Alexandria Pucey, but you can call me Lexi," she said smugly, as if she was extremely satisfied with her own ability to speak French.

Amelie smiled widely. "Oh! Tu parle français?" (Oh! You speak French?)

Lexi coughed. "Uh, no, English is more my thing, I've heard French people are really snobby and stuff, but I don't think you are, not really, are you? Did you live in like, a mansion in France? Ooh, did you live in Paris?"

"Um, non, I lived in Toulon, but of course, went to Beauxbatons for my schooling." replied Amelie, her giddiness fading to sheer politeness.

"Oh, shame, I just thought, y'know, since you're the mysterious, new French part-veela animagi Slytherin girl, I might befriend you. Y'know?"

"Uh, oui. I know....?"

"Oi! New girl! Shut up! Draco Malfoy is coming our way, and he's like, the hottest boy in school. Probably in the whole world, if y'know what I mean,"

Amelie fidgeted uncomfortably. "Um, suuuure,"

"Hello, ladies," drawled Draco, casually checking his sleeves as he sat down a few seats down from them. Immediately seven other girls filled the seats that had remained untouched only a few minutes ago.

"Bonjour," greeted Amelie awkwardly, then turned back to Lexi. "What were you saying?"

"He's even dreamier in person," Amelie heard a young first-year Slytherin whisper a few seats up. Amelie smiled nervously.

"Hello, Amelie," he said with a smirk. It was probably classic, Amelie thought inwardly, as it seemed he had practiced that smile many, many times. "Daphne, how's your sister?"

"Oh, Astoria? Eh, she's fine. But I'm fine, if you wanted to know," said Daphne quickly, ogling Draco. Amelie gagged.

"Hopefully she's still looking good," he said, winking at her saucily. None of the girls but Amelie noticed how cheesy that wink was, as apparently they were all mesmerized by Draco's "supreme hotness."

"Au revoir, Lexi. See you later." said Amelie quickly, and left the table. Sinking into a wall around the corner, she put a hand to her chest. She was sweaty all over, and her heart beat fast. She had never felt so uneasy in her life. Amelie didn't flirt. Flirting was for Camille, and Amelie could spy Camille flirting with an older Slytherin at the table.

One way or another, class would be starting soon. And hopefully, no one would flirt with her there. How wrong she was, she didn't know until class started.