As Snape and I walked toward the staircase I managed to muster up enough courage to peak up at him. He always had this distant look on his face, as if he were in his own world, and his body was on autopilot. 

"Are you going to expel me, professor?" I whispered, trying not to cry.

"I've not decided." His voice was quite flat and uninterested. 

"I only did it because she taunts me, professor. And until today I've let her, because-" I stopped, and before I could start again Snape interrupts. 

"Because you're a Halfblood and you don't want everyone to know it." He looked down at me as we began to ascend the steps of the dungeons. I gasped loudly, and he whirled around on me. 

"You don't think you can actually hide it from everyone, do you? There is nothing to be ashamed of, if wizards hadn't mixed with muggles our kind would have become extinct hundreds of years ago-" Snape bellowed as he glowered over me. He sounded so cruel, and suddenly I had no control over my mouth. Words spewed forth with fire. I suppose in the moment I wasn't to concerned about being sent home, since he was going to expel me anyway. 

"There is everything to be ashamed of! My father married a muggle as a Pureblood, knowing that his children would be shunned. By everyone. So regardless of being half or not, our blood is still foul. She is the reason my brother and my sisters have to hide."

"You hide because your sister is vain and ashamed and because she told you to be the same. You've no other reason, and if you continue this way all your promise will be wasted. You're letting your future slip away, don't you see?" Snape was right in my face, and to my surprise, he smelled like grass. What an odd smell for a teacher. 

"I'm sorry, professor. I've been afraid to exceed expectation because I don't want attention brought to me." I took a step back as I spoke, nearly tumbling backward down the stairs. I clutched the stone wall for support. 

Snape closed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his hook nose with his thumb and his pointer finger. His black hair hung forward in greasy clumps, and his eyebrows were arched as high as they would go. After a moment he released a huge sigh and dropped his hand. 

"I'm going to let you go, but you will do detention tomorrow evening with Professor Trelawney, and I will deduct twenty house points. Do not expect me to do this for you again, Redd. If this ever happens again you will be on the train home before you can blink. Now go to breakfast." Snape turned, flicked his cape behind him in a swift motion, and descended into the dungeons as soon as his sentence was done. 

"Yes, professor." I whispered, although I was sure he didn't hear me. 

What a revelation. I'd been ashamed of myself for the past four years, all because Fae told me to be. There was nothing wrong with me. I had come from a very respected American wizard family. So my mother was a muggle? My father was a very powerful wizard, and wanted only the best for his nine children. He wouldn't have wanted us hiding, or letting our lives pass by us because my sister was afraid to let her friends know who she was. 

At that moment I decided I wouldn't hide anymore. I was going to make lots of friends, and join school clubs, get all O's in my lessons, and be as social as I possibly could. I was going to let everyone know who I was. 

"Lily! There you are!" Tanya howled as she ran at me and threw her arms around my neck. 

"Oh, he can't send you home! He can't do that!" Azaleea hugged us both so hard I lost all oxygen in my lungs. 

"I'm not going anywhere except to breakfast." I huffed. Tanya took my shoulders in her hands and pushed me away so I was at arms length, a huge smile spread across her face. The sudden movement rattled me. 

Really?" She squealed. "How did you convince him to let you stay?" Tanya sounded like a kid in a candy store.

"I didn't convince Snape of anything, he just decided to let me off this time. But I have to serve a detention with Trelawney. Hey, do you know when they're having cheer tryouts?" I sort of whispered the last bit. Tan's eyes got as big as saucers. 

"You want to try cheer? But, Lily, that's Pansy's sport! She'll never let you on the team!" Tanya wined as we continued up the steps and around a corner. 

"Well she's not the captain. And I'm tired of worrying about Pansy! Aren't you?" We were just approaching the Great Hall when Draco calls to us. 

"Hey, Redd, wait for us!" Draco pushed through the mass of people, I mean literally pushed them out of his way. 

There was something about the way his hips swung and his shoulders slouched ever so slightly that made him look different today. More, relaxed I suppose. Crabb and Goyle followed close behind. 

"Lily, are you sure you want to do this?" Azaleea asked, unsure. That was the, "I think you should reconsider" voice. I'd only heard it a couple of times. Draco came behind me and threw his arms around my waist when I replied. 

"Absolutely." I grinned widely, wrapping my arms around Draco's. He rocked us back and forth a moment before leading me toward the Great Hall.

"Well I'm not sure yet. The date hasn't been posted, but it will be soon."  Tanya's eyebrows pushed together for a moment before she heaved a large sigh.

"What hasn't been posted yet?" Draco asked as we approach our table, which was conveniently right next to Gryffindor's. 

Draco shoved several first and second years out of our way so the six of us could sit together. Draco and I sat on the side of the table closest to the wall, facing the other tables. Goyle and Tanya sat close together across from us. Crabb sat on Goyle's left side, and Azaleea sat beside Tanya. Draco began stacking his plate with eggs and sausages as I answered his question. 

"I want to try cheer." I said as I took a piece of toast and an egg. 

"For what?" Draco looked exceptionally stumped. 

"Well as I understand it, they cheer for Quidditch. Of course, I may be wrong-" 

"Well aren't you just a horse's arse this morning? I know what they cheer for, Redd. I meant what do you want to try cheer for?" He sneered. I couldn't help but giggle slightly. 

"Just to get out and socialize a bit. Is there something wrong with cheer?" I asked as I took a nibble off my freshly buttered toast. 

"No, not a thing. Besides the fact that it's a filthy muggle sport. I can't believe Dumbledore allows it." Draco spat the sentence. I cringed. 

"Don't worry, dear. It was only a thought. I probably wouldn't make the team anyway. Perhaps I'll try something else." Tanya glowered at me. 

"I've no doubt in your ability to make the team, but just because those filthy mudbloods are allowed here doesn't mean the better portion of us should have to see or hear them on the Quidditch pitch." Draco finished his last sausage and quickly loaded his plate once more. I pushed mine away, suddenly feeling sick to my stomach. 

"Lily!" Suddenly thin arms were wrapped around my shoulders. "You weren't sent home!" Tevon exclaimed. I wrapped my left arm behind me awkwardly to embrace him back. 

"I'm happy to see you too, Tevon." I smiled. Draco watched me with an odd expression, but said nothing. 

"Lily, where do we get our timetables?" Tevon leaned down between Draco and I. Draco's expression changed, and suddenly he looked exceptionally annoyed, but he still remained silent. 

"Here I'll show you. Anyone else want me to pick theirs up while I'm there?" I asked as I looked around at my small group of friends. Tanya nodded with a smile, as did Goyle. Crabbe shook his head and stood, but Draco still remained quiet. 

"Would you like us to get yours as well, Malfoy?" Tevon asked in his manliest voice. I glanced at Draco, who's eyes locked with mine for a moment. 

"Sure." Draco's eyes never left mine as he replied to Tevon. We sat like this for several moments before Draco returned to his breakfast. 

I took Tevon's hand by instinct, and he quickly whipped it away. I stared at him for a minute before he ever so slightly shifted towards a few first years sitting near the back of the Great Hall watching us. Oh, his friends. I'd forgotten. 

"See Tevon, what you do at the first breakfast is you go to your Head of House, which of course is Snape, and he'll give you your course list. He'll also give you anyone else's you ask for. As long as they're in your house." I tried to sound calm, but I was freaking out. What if Snape decided to change his mind and send me home? 

I quickly pushed Tevon ahead of me, but when I looked up at the staff table Snape was nowhere to be seen. Instead the Head Master stood to greet us. 

"Yes, Mr. Redd?" Dumbledore looked down at Tevon. His hands were clasped together in front of him. 

"I'd like my timetables, Head Master." Tevon tried to sound older. I giggled slightly, and he gave me a look that made me stop abruptly. Dumbledore turned with a smile, and when he turned back he has a neat stack of parchment. 

"I think you'll find they're all there." Dumbledore said as he winked at us. I took the stack from Dumbledore and quickly thumbed through it, seeing everyone's schedule ordered alphabetically by first name. Except, Atlas Malfoy? 

As I understood it, Atlas Malfoy was Draco's fifth year cousin. I looked up at Dumbledore quizzically a moment. He gestured back to our table, where a boy with a rather large build and pale blond hair sitting on the table next to Azaleea, chatting with a rather flirtatious look about him. Zay looked quite flirty herself, as she brushed her hand up his forearm. Oh jeez.

 I created a new stack with Tevon's and his friend's and handed them to him. 

"Thank you, professor." I said as I turned back toward our table. 

"I'm so glad you weren't sent home, Lily. I'd have been lost in Slytherin if you weren't here." Tevon whispered as we made our way back to our seats. 

"You would have had Zay." I said. Tevon gave me an empty look. "Well anyway, I'm not going anywhere. Now take those to your friends and eat your breakfast." I said. I quickly took my seat beside Draco and handed each schedule to their owners. 

"Who is that?" I whispered to Draco, pointing at the blonde boy in front of me.

"Cousin Atlas. He's my Uncle Marcellus's son." Draco said as he shoved Atlas's timetable toward him.

"Our fathers are brothers." Atlas muttered as he turned and sat facing me. He scooted close to Azaleea and she blushed crimson. We each give one another a look of excitement.

"Oh, so Lucius and Marcellus are brothers? I didn't know your dad had a brother." They both gave a simultaneous nod but said nothing more.

Atlas had Draco's pale blonde hair and gray eyes, but his lips were fuller. He had a chiseled jaw line and large biceps. His hair was messy and hung in loose waves to his chin, the complete opposite of Draco's perfectly placed locks. 

"Let's see. Transfiguration with the Ravenclaws, and then-" Draco scowled at the page. 

"And then Care of Magical Creatures with the Gryffindors." I finished his sentence in a whisper. It seemed today was destined to be the worst day ever. Azaleea and I both hung our heads in defeat.

"And then Double Potions with Snape, Yes!" Goyle exclaimed. Draco's expression lightened suddenly. 

"Not for us. We're taking Double Divination." I announced. A low rustling sounded above us, and then a hundred owls came swooping in with the mail. 

A small burrowing owl dove down and dropped a letter into my lap. A letter from Aunt Willow! I could only imagine what this could be about. Draco's owl was perched on his shoulder holding a medium sized white box wrapped in twine. 

Draco took the box from his bird and quickly opened the left upper corner. He removed a small square of white cake covered in white frosting, and to my surprise he hands it to me. 

"Want one?" Draco's smile was genuine now, and I couldn't help but nod. 

I took a small nibble from a corner of the cake and reveled in it's deliciousness. I was hungry now, and I wished I'd ate more than a piece of toast. Draco took another piece out for himself and handed the box back to his owl. 

"Take this to my dormitory." He commanded, and no sooner was the bird in the air. 

When I finished my cake Tanya looked up at the clock, and quickly scrambled to her feet. 

"We're going to be late! Professor McGonagall will surely turn us into mice if we're late, Lily!" Tanya cried as she messily gathered her belongings to bolt to class. 

"She only said that because you had to take that extra ten minutes in the bathroom last year!" I hollered to her, remembering the anger on McGonagall's face last year. 

"Bye, Atlas. See you at lunch." Azaleea whispered, and to my utter shock he planted a breif kiss on her lips.

Draco stood and brushed himself off, saying nothing about Atlas's kiss, and quickly helped me stand. He kept a firm grip on my hand as we rushed to class, and thankfully we arrived with only a minute to spare. 

"Sit with me?" Draco whispered to me. 

Conveniently there were two tables open, and for a moment I considered taking my usual place beside Tanya, but I decided instead to take Draco's offer and sit with him. Tanya and Goyle take to the other available table across the room, and Azaleea takes her usual place beside Alice. Draco clasped my hand under the table, and I squeezed his fingers lightly as we waited for class to begin.