Away from the spotlight

YEAR 1- The Slytherin prince

Esmeray was still running, taking random turns here and there. She finally stopped after climbing her fifth set of stairs. Out of breath she took a few minutes to herself. After Esmeray caught her breath again she looked around and realised she was on the astronomy tower. It was by far her favourite class and the peaceful scenery calmed her nerves a bit.

She went over to the railing and looked over. Being only eleven years old, the railing came up to her neck, but she could still see the view without bars blocking it. For several minutes Esmeray stood there alone. Tears were dripping on her face and she just couldn't stop them.

Suddenly Esmeray heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She quickly wiped her tears away and was about to leave when she saw the mystery person was none other than

Draco Malfoy

Both of them froze when their eyes met.Esmeray wanted to leave but something was making here stay where she was. "Um hello" he said quietly, Esmeray smiled and turned toward the view again. Draco came and stood beside her. "Are you okay?your eyes....." he trailed away catching a glimpse of her eyes, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.....No one in the Sacred twenty eight had eyes like those, well 27 no one knew anything about the moons.

Esmeray though his reaction would not be kind so she hid her eyes away, remembering how Cho called her a freak with freaky eyes and considering Draco's reputation she doubted he had anything nice to say about them.

But people are full of surprises aren't they? Draco noticing the way Esmeray got uncomfortable got really confused, did she not like her eyes? They were awesome to him. I mean how many people had two different eye colours! "Don't tell me you don't like your eyes" Draco said in an unbelievable tone. 

Esmeray raised her eyebrow "I thought you'd be the first to have something to say about them" yes, a snarky comment, you might think Esmeray isn't one about sarcasm but I'm sure you've heard 'if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything' Esmeray heard that saying a lot and you can say that's why she isn't really a talker well except for the whole Moon situation.

Draco pursed his lips at that, he'd hoped that this mystery girl wouldn't have known about his.....after school hobbies. But it's a well known fact that the quietest are the most observant. "Well I think they're great, but before I got distracted you looked like you were crying"

 "I was not" Esmeray said defensively.

 "Okay I get it you barely know me,you'd don't have to say anything I guess," he took a pause and continued to talk "we met on the boat didn't we, you barely said anything" 

"yeah, to think since I'm doing that now you'd get the message" Esmeray whispered, but he heard it and smirked "guess slytherins are not the only people who don't mind speaking their mind"

Esmeray laughed a little "Well i think the prejudice against slytherin is really unnecessary, it depends on person to person you know" she said in a matter of fact tone, Draco nodded in agreement. 

"You know I asked Pansy but she never told me your name, she kept saying 'go ask her yourself won't you' so here i am asking your name" Esmeray stayed quiet for a while, she didn't know what to focus on, the fact she was actually thinking about giving him her name or the fact that he asked her. 

"Well its good you asked, not many would know that piece of knowledge,I'm Esmeray" she finally replied, 

"I'm Draco Malfoy" he said smiling.

 "I know" Esmeray replied with a smirk.

For several minutes they kept talking, sometimes about classes(especially astronomy) sometimes about teachers, and completely random stuff. It was nice, it wasn't Esmeray's everyday setting, in the library with Annabeth (she enjoyed that very much,mind you) No, it wasnt that. It was a different place with a different person and that was nice.

"Everybody says your not much of a talker, your talking fine right now. A bit to fine I may say" Draco said casually. Esmeray was going to give him a counter remark when she realised he was right. She closed her mouth and looked away, what came over her? Normally she would hate if someone made conversation with her. But with him she didn't really mind, No,don't go all smiley, it wasn't a silly crush it was just that she liked the fact that he was pretty mean to a lot of people but to her he was...decent. Well, right now he was.

"And I ruined it" Draco said in a flat tone, "you're really not going talk anymore?serves me right". Esmeray smiled at him in a goodbye and rushed down the stairs. She was in a pretty foul mood but the few minutes of conversation really helped. Maybe talking does help feel better.......not that she would do that again.

After the small conversation with Draco, they seemed to interact more often. That to in an understanding way. Draco never forced Esmeray to join in a conversation and Esmeray didn't ignore Draco anymore. Even after astronomy Pansy,Draco and Esmeray had small talks about the class. Esmeray talking less than the other two. They didn't get to talk much though because professor Sinistra ushered them away as class was past curfew.

Passing by halls each of them gave acknowledging smiles to each other. Ravenclaw's didn't really have anything against Slytherins because if you think about they were quite similar. So no one really cared, actually no one cared about inter-house friendships with Slytherin except Gryffindor....not that they were friends. Or were they?

Esmeray could sense Draco wanted to know her surname (to make sure she's pure blood maybe) but he never was direct with it and Esmeray respected that. Yes, Esmeray respected Draco not out of fear but willingly, believe me when I say the Slytherin prince went to drastic measures to make sure the mystery girl didn't think badly of him.

Draco was happy he was making a good relation with this girl called Esmeray. He didn't know her blood status and if his dad found out he was talking to a maybe mud blood(Draco pov sooo) he'd never forgive him, but this girl intrigued him. I mean staying hidden that she was only visible when searched for was a talent. He knew that she wasnt going to reveal her family anytime soon and looking at her seemed like she had planned on not talking to anyone this year but was forced on it, he was happy she was.

And that was how The Slytherin prince and The mystery girl became friends, well kind of. That moment when Draco took Esmeray's mind of Cho he was put on the good side of her mind. She loved the Astronomy tower now because that's where she always had small talks with him after class and sometimes they used to 'accidentally' meet up there and just sit there in silence. For Esmeray that was paradise....

If only she knew how many memories she'd have with him there......

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