"Are you ready?" Professor Snape asked me. I nodded. "Are you sure?" Professor Snape asked yet again.

"As I'll ever be sir, but... I would very much appreciate an escort it the dining room... I-I'm not sure I know the way" I stated. Snape smiled. Then placed a hand on my back.

"You only had to ask, Corrine" Snape announced. I smiled. I'm really starting to like it here. We walked to the dining room and I gasped. It was Huge. Snape laughed at me. "Quite a sight, is it not?" Snape asked. I nodded, my lower lip unhinged from my upper lip. "Just wait till students start arriving, then it will be something to marvel at" Snape stated, gingerly and softly, bringing my lower lip back up to my upper lip. I shook my head then nodded. This was going to be fun.

Around 5:30 the train arrived. I waited patiently, but wiggled in my seat. The anticipation was killing me. I needed to know if I was really in the same year as Harry Potter. I smiled. I may not have been here when he first arrived, but I'm here now, and I need to put my thoughts to rest. I NEED to know if he was really here. I looked out the window. The students were arriving. I squealed. I couldn't wait to make new friends. I jumped up out of my chair by the window, but tripped over my robes. These things are going to take a while to get used to. I got up and ran to the main door. But all hopeful moments came to an end when you are under supervision.

"Corrine" called Snape as I placed a hand on the door handle. I cringed and sighed.

"Sir..." I replied, inching closer to the door.

"A little anxious are we?" Snape asked.

"I've never had friends outside of my family, sir... I just... I've been waiting all summer, can't you just make this one exception?" I reasoned, dropping my hand from the handle, but smiling at Snape. Snape shook his head.

"You know why you're kept inside"

"But Professor, I-"

"To keep you from getting teased and picked on for not being with everyone else in their first four years of Hogwarts. I promise you'll make some friends, but for now, please go back to the Slytherin table and be patient." Snape finished. I lost my smile and slumped all the way to the table. I was surprised at how quickly the tables were set. I sat down and waited what seemed like hours. Then the students started coming in. I smiled. Finally. I took a deep breath and sat patiently for Slytherin's to sit at my table. It looked like 7th and 6th years came in first, followed by 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and lastly 1st years. I sighed as I got suspicious looks from the older students. I was very happy when the other fifth years, finally, started pouring into the dining room. I was almost to excited to contain myself. I was finally surrounded by Slytherin's of my age. I was about to introduce myself to the girls who sat next to me, but Dumbledoor called attention.

"Welcome all, back to, and to Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast, I have an announcement to the fifth years in particular. You will notice a student in your year that hasn't been seen before, but I will assure you she is in the correct year. In fact, why don't we give her a warm Hogwarts welcome right now?"

I gulped.

"Corrine? Would you please join me?" Dumbledoor asked. I slowly nodded, stood up, and walked to Dumbledoor. There were many looks and mummers as I walked by. I looked down at my shoes until I approached Dumbledoor. He smiled.

"Fifth  years, I am proud to announce your new classmate, and Slytherin houses newest fifth year, Corrine Snaproot." Dumbledoor announced. I cringed at my own name. How I hated my last name. Snaproot. Ugg. I looked at all the fifth years, scanning the tables for Harry Potter. I didn't see him. Anywhere.

"Thank you Corrine, you may go back to your seat now." Dumbledoor stated. I nodded and walked back. I was stared at until I got back to my seat. I put my arms on the table then hid my head in my arms to protect from farther embarrassment. Soon the house sorting was finished and the feast began. I picked at my plate, moving around the peas and carrots. I wasn't hungry. I looked up from my plate to find a boy, smiling friendly, right at me. I smiled back.

"So, you're the prize pupal that the ministry couldn't bare to see homeschooled?" He asked. I nodded.

"Something like that..." I stated.

"Was it hard? Being homeschooled I mean" he asked. I shrugged.

"Depends on how the ministry grades your tests. The lowest I got was 90%" I stated, picking up a carrot and nibbling on it.

"Wow. You must be really good at magic then." He commented. I flicked my wrist.

"Something like that..." I stated again.

"I'm Draco Malfoy" he commented.

"Corrine Snaproot, as you probably heard" I stated, putting my hand out to shake. Draco shook it.

"So how did you come to be a Slytherin? No offense but you look like a Hufflepuff" Draco laughed. I laughed too.

"The sorting hat... He said I possessed many Slytherin qualities... Though I honestly thought I'd be a Ravenclaw..." I commented. He nodded.

"Well if you're a Slytherin, you're a Slytherin... Hey after the feast how would you like to-"

"I think I'd like that" I blurted like an idiot. I slapped my forehead, mentally.

"Alright... Guess we are walking to the common room together..." Draco replied. I blushed and hid my face.

"Sorry... I'm just really excited... I really wanted to make friends this year..." I stated, after I quit blushing. He laughed.

"It's alright, I know many people who would die to be my friend, I even have a list" he commented. I smiled.

"Well if there's an opening on your list... Would you put me on?" I asked. He coughed up pumpkin juice. I laughed.

"You want to be my friend?" He asked after he cleared his throat. I nodded and bit my lip.

"But only if I'm not taking someone else's place." I stated.

"It's a... Small list... I could do a little rearranging and-"

"I don't need special treatment, Draco, I'll be your friend when you can accept my friendship, whenever that may be" I stated.

"It's a really small list... Like maybe 2 or 3... I mean..." Draco trailed off. He was blushing and rubbing the back of his neck.

"Is there not actually a list, Draco?" I asked. I expected this from the beginning, but wanted to see how this played out.

"No... There's not actually a list... You'd be the first..." Draco blushed some more. I laughed.

"Don't lie to try impress girls, Draco, that's a friendly tip from me to you" I stated. He nodded. "Do you normally blush in front of girls, Draco?" I asked. He widened his eyes.

"I'm blushing?" Draco whispered. I nodded.

"You may want to cool off... Here's some more pumpkin juice..." I stated pouring him some more in his glass, then handing him his glass. He gulped it down and eventually the redness faded from his face. He smiled at me.

"Thanks" Draco stated. I nodded.

"My pleasure" I laughed. I then stood up from the table and walked to the staff table and walked over to Professor  Snape. "Professor Snape... You see that blonde... I was sitting across from him..." I asked. Snape nodded.

"You mean Draco? Draco Malfoy?" Snape asked. I nodded.

"Is... Er... Is Draco a hard worker?" I asked. Snape smiled.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy is a hard worker, Ms. Snaproot, why?" Snape asked.

"Oh... No reason... Just curious..." I stated. Snape laughed, and ruffled my hair.

"If your looking for a study buddy, Ms. Snaproot, Mr. Malfoy is okay. Now if you want an excellent study buddy, might I suggest Hermione Granger?" Snape replied. I nodded. Then stopped.

"Isn't she a Gryffindor?!" I asked. Snape laughed at my reaction. The last thing I wanted was an enemy right off the bat of the school year.

"Don't worry, with your grades, she can't possibly turn down a chance to work with you." Snape smirked. I nodded and stepped down from the staff table, getting friendly waves from Professor McGonagall and Dumbledoor. I waved back and continued to walk to the common room but stopped abruptly when I remembered that Draco wanted to walk with me. I looked back at where he was sitting... But he wasn't there. I looked all around the Slytherin table for him but didn't see him. Then, suddenly I couldn't see.

"Thought you'd leave without Draco Malfoy, did you, Corrine?" Draco asked. I smiled and pulled his hands off my eyes.

"You sure know how to frighten a girl" I stated, looking to Draco. Draco offered his arm to me. I politely accepted his offer and together we walked to the Slytherin Common room.