The Usual Suspects

Sure, I'd seen him before 6th year. Who hadn't? He was loud, pushy, and devastatingly good-looking. But maybe I was just too busy to notice him before then. I mean, Hogwarts wasn't exactly a mellow place. Even for a Hufflepuff, life at Hogwarts moved fast.
I'd had a while to get over Cedric. We only dated for about a week when I was in 4th year, but a week was enough. You couldn't know Cedric without loving him. I admit I never loved Cedric the way Cho does. She'll never get over him.

But back to the man at hand. That's Draco, by the way. Yes, Draco Malfoy, heir to the Malfoy fortunes and several stones' worth of bad reputation, most of it earned the old-fashioned way. It's easy to overlook someone when there's so much between you. Well, until you notice all of it.

Did I forget to introduce myself? Sorry, I tend to get ahead of myself once I get going on something. My name is Mary. I'm on the tall side of average, a bit too skinny in my opinion. Black hair, curly and a bit long. My eyes are green. Not jade or yellow-green, just spring green, like grass.

Did I mention I was in Hufflepuff? I suppose I ought to read as I write and then I won't need to repeat myself, but like I said, once I get going...Anyway, on with the story.

I first saw Draco on the platform at the Hogwarts Express. He was hard not to notice. Pale, rather thin, but with an air of power about him. Imagine, an 11-year-old boy giving off an air of power. He had just bid his farewells to a couple which must have been his parents, tall, blond people seemingly oblivious to the movement around them.

It's funny that I remember all this, actually. I didn't see him at all on the train, though everything through sorting is such a blur anyway. I know Hufflepuff has a reputation for being, well, not much, but I for one was glad. I could attend the best wizarding school in the world and not have to worry overmuch about being noticed. I've always preferred to observe life from the safety of a comfortable sofa.
I'll run you through the next few years. Wouldn't want you to start off behind, you know. First year I made a few tentative connections in Hufflepuff. The other first years were so sweet that it would have been impossible not to like every last one of them. Near the end of first year, I met Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw and a second year at that, through a mutual acquaintance. We hit it off immediately.

Second year, we were inseparable. Third was the same. I developed an interest in potions, despite Professor Snape. Truth be told, he was a great teacher, as long as you weren't his mark. I wasn't.

Third year Cho and I got really close. We were best friends by then. The fear that surrounded that year and the escape of Sirius Black drew all our friendships closer. We had to stick together for support.

Then, of course, fourth year. I hadn't noticed boys before at all. The first day, though, it was like a different world. I left for summer break oblivious and came back highly aware. I ran into Cedric in the Common Room. He had just come in from Quidditch practice. We spent the next two weeks tiptoeing around one another before he finally asked me out.

But Cedric was older, and I really wasn't ready to pursue anything then. Amicable breakup, and all.

Fifth year, then. My parents, both purebloods, had always been staunch supporters of Albus Dumbledore. When he said that He-Who-Must-Not-be-Named was back, my parents listened. They decided that Hogwarts was the safest place to be, and I returned.

Yeah, I had a couple relationships that year, but nothing serious. I did a lot of consoling Cho. She was torn up about Cedric, and try as I would to convince her otherwise, she felt guilty about her crush on the famous Harry Potter. Fifth year was pretty much stagnant on the social front. But I had my friendship with Cho, and that was enough.