The Unusual Slytherin

Chapter 1: Mischievous Malfoy

I was sitting in the Slytherin Common Room writing an essay for my Defense Against Dark Arts class, when Draco Malfoy came into the room. We were the only two in there, as it was quite late.

"Astarte." Draco said.

"What do you want, dragon breath?" I responded, looking up from my paper. I knew what was coming next, so I quickly pulled out my wand, pointed it at Draco and said: "Levicorpus!"

"GAH!" Draco yelled and dropped his wand as he was yanked upside down and held in midair. "Astarte, I'll kill you! Let me down!"

I laughed and looked at Draco. "You and what army? Crabbe and Goyle don't hang with you anymore, after what I did to them last time. Or, do you have other little Death Eater buddies?" I rolled up my parchment and put it in my bag. "Or maybe, you think that you're finally good enough to take me on?" I asked with one eyebrow raised.

"Why are you so weird, Greenwood?" Draco spat. He'd given up on being outright mean to me after I put him in a body bind and hid him in the Room Of Requirement for three days. "You run around with other Houses and you hate me! Every girl loves me!"

I scrunched up my nose. "Um, ew. I don't know why every girl loves you. You're obnoxious and think that you're the greatest student to ever step in Hogwarts." I gathered my things and said the counterspell: "Liberacorpus!" Draco fell to the floor in a heap.

"I'm telling Snape!" Draco fumed as he stood up.

I was halfway to the girls dormitories when I turned around and gave Draco my most heated glare. Draco immediately regretted what he said when he saw my look. "Go cry to Snape if you want to, Malfoy. But we both know that Snape's not going to do anything, and, I fear, telling on me will not bode well for you." I smiled brightly. "Goodnight!" Leaving Draco speechless, I continued up the stairs.

x x x

I lay by the lake with my head in my friend Mina's lap, her fingers running through my long hair. "Astarte, you should make your hair white, like mine." Mina was very fond of dyeing her hair, it's current color was snow white.

"I don't know..." I loved my jet black hair, I hardly ever had it any other color. Mina looked at me with her big, blue eyes. "Ugh. You know I can't say no to you..." With a sigh I allowed my hair to turn white. "Happy?" I said sitting up.

"Very." Mina smiled and I bopped her nose with my finger, making her giggle.

"Hot for Hufflepuffs, huh?" Said a voice behind us.

I groaned and turned to see Malfoy walking towards us. I stood and helped Mina up. "And if I am?" I questioned, standing in front of Mina.

"I-I should go." Mina whispered, clutching the back of my sweater.

"No." I responded, never taking my eyes off Draco.

"How noble..." Draco taunted.

"Did you forget last night, dragon breath? Unless you're ready to duel right now, I suggest you leave." I glared at him, stepping forward.

"Astarte! Help!" Mina screamed from behind me. I turned around and saw Davey, a Slytherin in my year, wrap his arms around her, preventing her from reaching her wand.

I quickly pulled out my wand. "Davey, if you value your life, you will let Mina go."

Draco laughed behind me. "Caught in a dilemma, aren't you? If you attack Davey, I'll attack you. If you attack me, Davey will hurt Mina. Make your move, Greenwood."

My eyes darted from Draco to Mina. Davey hadn't said a word and his face was hard like stone. I turned my back on Mina and smiled at Draco. His smile faltered as I raised my wand. "Sectumsempra!" I yelled.

As soon as the words left my mouth I whipped around and turned to Davey and shouted. "Tarantallegra!!" He was forced to let go of Mina as he started to involuntarily dance.

Mina fell to the ground and ran to me. I held her close. "Astarte..thank you. If you weren't such a good Witch, I would've thought I was done for."

Applause erupted around us. I hadn't noticed that a crowd had gathered. Students of all the houses, except Draco's buddies, cheered my name. Draco lay on the ground in pain as two of his dimwit admires, Pearlie and Seelie, comforted him. No one helped Davey, they just laughed at him.

The crowd silenced and parted. Professor Snape marched toward me, anger dripping from his face. "Go on, Mina. I'll catch up later." I said to her. She squeezed my hand before running off. "Afternoon, Professor. What brings you here?" I asked with a smile.

"My office now Greenwood!" Snape snarled at me.

"Sir, yes, sir." I retorted as I headed for the school.

x x x

"Astarte Greenwood. If you think for a second that I'm not going to punish you..." Snape spat.

I cut him off. "I know I'm going to be punished. I expect nothing less. But, Draco and Davey better get punished too. Those assholes attacked my friend."

"Watch your language, Greenwood. You may get top marks in my class but—"

"But what?" I retorted cutting him off once more. "Just give me my punishment so I can go." I folded my arms and stared him down.

"Very well then. You'll clean the Owlery. At 9 tonight. No magic. And you won't leave until it...sparkles." Snape sneered.

I know he expected me to yell and demand a different punishment, but, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. I stood up. "See you at 9, Professor." With a small smile I left the room.