It was already December, and I was reading in my room. Lucius wanted me to learn the History of Magic so I could skip that "useless class" in my second year. I actually came to know why Salazar Slytherin, one of the Hogwarts founders, grew to despise muggles.

I had finished my works for that day, but Godfather said Dumbledore required me to learn some of Hogwarts History. That's how I came upon Salazar Slytherin's story. Afterwards, while studying History, I came to a conclusion.

Hogwarts was built around the time when witch hunts occurred here and there, when magic wasn't as accepted as today. Imagine three of the greatest wizards saying that they should let muggles, who despised them, for be taught magic.

What kind of nonsense was that?

I understood him perfectly. You can't train the enemy to kill you. It's pure rubbish!

When I told Godfather just what I thought about Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff, he smiled at me from his desk and chuckled. "That is where our house beliefs start, Alya. Other houses, families, think the same as you."

Currently, I sat reading about one of the dwarf wars, when Narcissa came to my room. "Alya, sweetie, will you accompany me tomorrow to the Train Station? I'll be picking up Draco for the holidays. Afterwards, you two can walk through Diagon Alley while I run errands." I nodded, "Ofcourse, Godmother."

The next day, I dressed in a black and white stripped sweater with a black skirt and black wool stockings. I topped it all with a wine red scarf. I took Narcissa's hand and we apparated to the platform.

We stood still in the wave of excited families waiting for the train to arrive with their children for the holidays. After a few minutes, the train arrived, so Godmother and I moved to a more visible spot.

I looked around for him. Surely I had never met him, but after millions of seconds of looking at the family portrait that hung over in Lucius' study every time he tutored me, it was hard to miss him.

After a few minutes, I finally spotted him and tugged on Godmother's hand. "He's over there: by the pillar," I pointed. She smiled and we walked towards him. I didn't realize I was this nervous before about meeting him.

He smiled up at his mother as two of his friends stood behind him. "Hello, mother. This must be Alya, is it not?" He looked at me as Narcissa gave him a reassuring nod. He shook my hand. "I'm Draco. These are my friends: Crabbe and Goyle." I smiled slightly at them and shook their hands. "Alya Gaunt," I presented myself.

After a few minutes, his friends left to their families, and Godmother became busy by speaking to one of her old friends.

There was an uncomfortable silence between me and Draco, which was broken when he asked, "So, what do you want to do?" "Hm?" "What do you want to do in Diagon Alley? You should be bored of it by now, I imagine," Draco smirked and leaned against a pole. I shifted my weight from my left to my right leg and answered, "I've been there two or three times, running errands with Godmother."

Draco looked at me, lifting a brow. "What do you do in your spare time, then?" I bit my bottom lip, thinking slightly. "I don't get much time off. I have to keep up with you and the others so I can attend Hogwarts like you." Draco nodded slightly, and we both headed off with Narcissa to Diagon Alley.

"I won't be long now," Narcissa said as she left us in front of the ice cream shop while she went to run errands. Draco took hold of my hand and led me inside. He ordered for me and we both sat down in a booth.

"So tell me," he began, "do you like living with my family so far?" He looked at me in the eye, waiting for my answer. He looked at me as if I had just discovered magic once I answered. "It's great! They're really loving, and Godfather has taught me so many things!"

We talked for what seemed like ages. He did most of the talking, as I was a bit too shy to start up a conversation all on my own. Draco spoke of his friends, whom he'd known for a long time, and of his house, Slytherin, and his teachers.

While he spoke, I noticed his little mannerisms. Whenever he was exited, his grey eyes would light up and he would raise his eyebrows slightly. When he paused to think, he would trace the lines on the wooden table with his index finger subconsciously. He was, overall, cute.

When it was time to go home, we both took hold of Narcissa's hands and apparated. "Draco, go up stairs and put away your things. Alya, Lucius is waiting for you. You have afternoon practice today," Godmother said and I nodded, going up the stairs eagerly.

After a session of transfiguration and a delightful meal, I went back to my room to write a letter to Filius. "What are you doing?" I turned over my shoulder to see Draco standing by my door. "Just writing a letter to a friend. He lives at Hogwarts, maybe you've seen him-"

"Alya, more than a hundred students live at Hogwarts," Draco rolled his eyes and sat in my daybed. "Yes, however he lives there with a professor named Severus Snape." I continued writing my letter as he began to speak again.

"I think I know who you mean. Some of my friends have seen him wandering the halls during dinner. He's tall with black hair, no?" I looked at him with a smile on my lips, nodding eagerly. I rapidly finished his letter and gave it to the family owl to send away.

I sat aside Draco, clutching a pillow. "His name is Filius. We've been best friends for years." Draco nodded, his hair falling in his face. He had taken a shower and got rid of all the gel on his hair. I had a sudden desire to touch it, but I refrained.

"I'm bored. Want to play hide-and-seek?" He smiled, and I complied. He took hold of my hand and we walked out to the hallway. "Let's play up stairs, in the third floor!" I got scared. I've never been up in the third floor!

"U-um, Draco-" he dragged me up the stairs to an eerily silence. "Alright, Alya! I hide and you seek! Ready? Go!" "W-wait Draco I--!" He was long gone before I was able to yell after him. I decided to comply. This house wasn't that hard to figure out, it should be fine. Right?

I counted until twenty and turned to look for him. I was still standing aside the stairs when I started to walk. The corridors up here were a little different than the rest of the house, and the atmosphere was eerily quiet as the sun was just about to completely set, and hardly any lamp was on.

"D-Draco...?" I called as I peeped my head inside a bedroom. He wasn't there. I kept on walking for a while, until I got lost. I had no idea where I was, nor where I had been walking from. It was a maze up here, and J was scared. "Draco, it isn't funny anymore!" I exclaimed nowhere in particular.

I soon ran around, but couldn't find the stairs or Draco. I started to cry, backing myself against a wall. "Draco! Draco, where are you?!" I covered my eyes with my hands and sobbed. I hated this feeling; being lost. I has no idea where I was, nor where to go.

Then I felt something grab me and I jumped, rapidly seeing it was Draco. "Alya, it's okay! I'm here!" He cupped my face and wiped my tears way with his thumbs, caressing me lightly. "Hey now, don't cry. I'm here," he softly whispered, allowing me to calm down.

He hesitated, but soon enveloped me in his arms for a few seconds. He felt warm and soft, and smelt like mint. In a matter of minutes, we were back in my room, chatting. I decided to forget about the whole incident, and just enjoyed my time with Draco.

He sat in my day bed with a blanket draped over him. After a while, we went to bed, and were woken up early by one of the house elves. "Master Lucius requests your presence," he spoke, and I complied.

Dressed in a short 3/4 sleeve black dress with golden slippers, I hurried to his study in the second hall. I had my wand in hand, as I am always required to, and knocked on his door. "You may enter," he said, and I opened the door to see Draco sitting aside the man who was to take care of my best friend.

Severus Snape.