Choices

A/N: So this plot bunny attacked me one day at work and refused to let go until I wrote the story. The pairings as of now are going to be Lucius/Hermione, and Ginny/OFC. This story is kinda, but mostly not, HBP compliant. Please Review..


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Chapter One: Of All the School's in All the World

The Start of Year Feast began as it usually did at Hogwart's, with a bang, literally this year. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched in shock as a very familiar blond man strode to the staff table and sat in the one empty chair. The chair that was always reserved that year's DADA professor. The entire Slytherin table began to cheer; the rest of the school was too shocked to have much of a reaction. When the Slytherin cheers began to die down, Albus Dumbledore stood and raised his hands in the air, indicating his wish for silence.

"Welcome, students, to another year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. First allow me to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Lucius Malfoy." The blond man stood, made a slight bow, and sat down again. "Just few rules to go over. As always the Forbidden Forest is STRICTLY off limits to ALL students." The Golden Trio hid their faces." Mr. Filch would like me to remind you again that all products from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are forbidden, and for a list of the 436 new rules he has come up with for this term you may stop by his office between classes or on break. That's about it I think. Tuck in," and with a clap of his hands all kinds of delicious foods and drinks appeared on the table.

At the Gryffindor table, four heads were bent close together whispering frenetically. These four heads were probably the only four heads in the Great Hall that didn't notice the newest arrival to the Feast, that is until all the talking around them quieted to whispers and everyone started staring in the direction of the staff table. The four looked up to see what all the excitement was about. Ron and Harry nearly fell off the bench when they saw the nervous looking young woman speaking to Professor McGonagall. Only Hermione noticed that Ginny had nearly the same reaction as the boys. She admitted to herself that, yes, the girl was indeed pretty, but she didn't deserve the reaction that she was getting from the males. She saw her Head of House pointing in the direction of the Gryffindor table, or more specifically, straight at Hermione. The girl looked over shyly and waved a tiny nervous wave in Hermione's direction. McGonagall put a gentle and on the girl's shoulder and led her to the Gryffindor table, or more specifically, straight to Hermione. This was about the time that Hermione remembered that she was Head Girl and one of her responsibilities was to help other students.

"Miss Granger, this is Elkara Shidu. Miss Shidu is a very special student-“

"I'll say," Ron whispered to Harry.

""...and I want her treated with care. Please meet me in my office after the Feast so I can explain to you just what this entails. For now make sure that she gets some food before the boys eat it all." With that, McGonagall was gone, back to the staff table.

Hermione studied the girl a little more closely, taking in everything about her, from her hair to her shoes. She had straight black hair that hung to her waist; bright, violet eyes; and a smooth, pale complexion. She was of average height, and rather slender, but it wasn't her appearance that made Hermione agree that this was, indeed, a very special student. Hermione only quit staring when the girl twitched nervously and asked if she could sit down.

"Oh! Of course. How rude of me. Please sit. Ronald, Harry, say hello to Elkara," Hermione ordered.

"Guh!" was about all they managed before their vocal cords quit working.

"Ginny, this is Elkara; I guess she's a Gryffindor now. Elkara, this is my best girl friend, Ginny Weasley." Hermione introduced the two and couldn't help but notice the electric tingle in the air as their eyes met. Hermione, being Hermione, decided it was her place to do something about it. "Elkara, sit between Ginny and me, that way we can both talk to you."

"Ok," she agreed. Smiling slightly she sat down between the two girls. "Oh, and please call me El. It's so much easier than saying Elkara all the time. Wouldn't you agree?" The question was directed at the beautiful redhead that El had so suddenly found herself attracted to.

Ginny, having suddenly discovered that she had lost the ability to speak, merely nodded.

"Well, now that that's settled, let's eat," El said.

Ginny couldn't eat, she couldn't think, she could hardly breathe. El had her knee resting against Ginny's. All the youngest Weasley knew was that she needed to get the other girl alone, preferably somewhere that had a bed, or a bear skin rug in front of a roaring fire (A/N: totally cliché, I know. Please don't beat me). Apparently Elkara was having similar thoughts, as she now had her right hand resting gently on Ginny's thigh. Fortunately for Elkara she was left-handed, so she could continue eating.

The dark-haired girl leaned over to Ginny and whispered, "Do they know about your preference?"

Ginny grinned and nodded, then asked quietly, "Is it your preference, too?"

El smiled and said," You're my preference."

She succeeded in making Ginny blush a brilliant shade of fuchsia and hide behind her hair. El laughed a musical sound that made all who heard it stop what they were doing and stare at her in wonder. It was Elkara's turn to blush, a delicate pink across her cheek bones, and she did a disappearing act very similar to Ginny's.

Finally the Feast was over and it was time for Elkara and Ginny to part ways temporarily. Ginny headed to Gryffindor, followed by Ron and Harry, who were, surprisingly, very quiet. Elkara followed Hermione to Professor McGonagall’s office to find just what the woman had in store for her.

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A/N: Chapter One revised; as I will do to all other chapters in the hopes of making the story flow better.