Pride and egos kill more dreams than doubt ever will.

- Charlie Farley

When I got my letter from Hogwarts, telling me that I had gotten selected as one of the Slytherin prefects, I was overjoyed. Being a prefect was a great honor, especially in Slytherin house. Students from the best families were selected, and I had become female prefect over Pansy bloody Parkinson, which was quite an achievement.

Pansy had tried to one-up me ever since we were born. The thing was that she lacked some intellectual abilities, causing her to come across as desperate, predictable and tactless. The only thing she had that I didn't was a somewhat friendly relationship with Malfoy.

"Mum, look at this!" I called out, running down the stairs.

"Eleanor, we do not run in the house!" she said and I immediately slowed down my pace. "Besides, behave yourself, we have visitors." I reached the ground floor and was greeted by a pair of silver eyes.

"Narcissa, what nice having you over", I said, averting my eyes from her son and putting up a straight face. I quickly hugged Malfoy's mother. Although I despised Malfoy, I got along with his mother just fine. She was a very lovely lady and always bought me the most beautiful dresses.

"Draco, what a pleasure", I said, not trying to make it sound genuine. At home I was obliged to call him by his first name, but at Hogwarts, he was just Malfoy.

"Likewise", he said, scrunching up his nose.

There were many reasons as to why I hated Malfoy. First of all, we'd been competing ever since we were born. Everything I did was compared to him and the other way around. There was a constant pressure to do better, and failing was infuriating.

Secondly, Malfoy was simply an unpleasant person. He used to shove me down in the garden, call me names when he was with his friends and mock everything I did, just to bring my spirit down. I used to get really sad over it, but as the years passed, all I felt was anger and hatred. I loathed the boy.

"They have some very good news. Draco is going to be a Slytherin prefect next year", my mother said. Although I had expected this, hearing it did not improve my mood. Completing prefect duties with Malfoy, how lovely.

Malfoy looked proud, as if he had just gotten a medal of bravery. He slightly puffed his chest and raised his eyebrows when I looked at him. He was so full of himself. I despised him.

"Well, congratulations, seems like we'll be colleagues then", I said, handing the letter to my mother.

"Oh, that's terrific news, darling. The school made a wise choice." Malfoy's smug look was wiped off his face, which brought me joy. He had hoped to one-up me again, but he had yet again failed.

"We're heading out for Diagon Alley now. I suppose we'll meet again at the train station tomorrow", Narcissa said.

"Most definitely, have a nice day", I said, still glaring at Malfoy. As he and his mother left again through the floo network, my mother sighed.

"What wonderful news. A great batch of prefects for Slytherin this year. How about a celebratory dinner tonight? Daddy will be home in an hour or so." I just nodded.

"I really wished you'd get along better with Draco. Maybe being prefects together will change things."

"I highly doubt it, mother." I rolled my eyes, making sure my mother didn't see.

"I don't understand. He's got a perfect status, is respected, well-raised and very handsome. You could do a lot worse than that", mother continued. She'd never let go of the subject.

"And he's an absolute twat", I mumbled.

"Language!"

I was happy that the school year would start again. Sure, being at home for a couple of months was nice, but I felt so restricted. I always needed to be on my best behaviour, dress properly, talk properly and be friendly to a bunch of adults I didn't care about. At Hogwarts, I could create my own status.

So when I was waiting for the train to arrive the next day, I was overjoyed. I'd be taking my O.W.L's at the end of the year and I was determined to get more than Malfoy.

"Lea!" I heard and since there's only a handful of people who call me Lea, a smile appeared on my face immediately.

"Daphne, how nice to see you! How's your holiday been?" I asked my best friend, quickly hugging her and giving her a polite cheek kiss. Daphne Greengrass and I had been friends since we came out of the womb, as our parents were friends and we were born just days apart. We were forced to like each other, but luckily our personalities matched exceptionally well.

"Marvelous, honestly! We visited Italy this year. You should come next time, it's absolutely wonderful." The train rolled into the station, the loud noise overpowering our conversation.

"I'm sorry, I have to go in. Prefect duties", I said, holding up my shiny new badge.

"Oh Merlin, how great! I'll see you at school then. Save me a seat in the Great Hall." I nodded and soon, Daphne had left to find another companion.

"Mum, dad, I'll see you at Christmas", I said and quickly hugged the pair. They looked like a couple of attorneys. My mum wore a tight, grey dress with a blazer and my dad wore a black suit. The Weasleys stood a couple yards away and the contrast was enormous. Although I'd never admit it, as they were the joke of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, I wished my family was a little more like them. They just radiated warmth and love.

"Have a good school year, darling", mum said. "I'm proud of you." I smiled at her and with that, I left them behind for the next four months.

All prefects were expected to travel in the first compartment to get the necessary updates from the Head Boy and Head Girl. I aspired to be Head Girl in two years.

"Can you get out of the way?" I heard an annoyed voice as I was waiting right outside the first compartment.

"Malfoy, it's been a while", I said sarcastically, moving aside reluctantly. At home we showed each other at least a little bit of respect, but we weren't at home anymore.

"I almost started missing you", he said, mimicking my tone. They were seated per house, so I was forced to take a seat in the same boot as Malfoy. He mumbled something offensive, but I was too distracted by seventh year Adrian Pucey. He was the seventh year prefect, but surprisingly not head boy.

I didn't get involved in anything romantic at Hogwarts, as high school romances had no future and would only distract me from more important things. But I couldn't deny that I thought Adrian was very, very handsome.

We never really talked much until last year. The Yule Ball had been a lot less exciting for me as I couldn't even pick my own date. Since the Minister of Magic was invited to the ball, I needed to present myself well with a proper date. As I was not going with Malfoy under any circumstance, my mother arranged for Adrian to go with me, even though I barely knew him.

Although I wasn't looking forward to going to the ball with a stranger, I ended up having a really good time. Adrian wasn't as stuck-up as some other Slytherin boys, even though he came from a pure bloodline. I had talked to him regularly over the next couple of months and if I had let myself, I probably would've caught feelings for him, but I wasn't going to let that happen. I had an image to uphold.

"Wipe the drool of your chin, will you?" Malfoy sneered. "Pathetic", he added under his breath.

"Can you mind your own bloody business? I have no need for your unrequested remarks." Malfoy just rolled his eyes and looked out the window.

"Is this seat taken?" Adrian asked.

"No, have a seat", I said, glad to have a distraction from Malfoy.

"Had a nice holiday?"

We talked for a while about how our summer had been, Malfoy staring out the window the entire time, until Graham, the Head Boy gave us a quick briefing. We were to bring the first years to the common room and show them around, we'd have to patrol the hallways twice a week, per duo unfortunately, and we'd have to make sure order was being sustained in the hallways.

"Merlin, maybe summarize it, ask for a test", Malfoy critiqued my attentive look.

"Do you mind?" I said annoyed, about ready to hex his arse into oblivion. Malfoy was even more infuriating than previous years. He scoffed.

The rest of the train ride consisted of small talk and some peace and quiet, before we had to direct all students except the first-years to their carriage.

"We have to wait and take the last carriage, Malfoy", I sneered as Malfoy got onto one.

"And be stuck in a carriage with you? I'd rather not." His friends snickered, so I threw them my worst death glare, making them shut up. He would regret talking to me like this. Although I was nice to people, I demanded to be respected. I didn't take crap from anyone, definitely not from Malfoy and his goons. Be respectful and I'll be respectful to you as well, but fail to do so and you'd regret it.

I sat with a couple of Ravenclaw prefects, talking about the upcoming school year. Last year had been exciting to say the least, so I was hoping for a little peace and quiet this time around.

But soon, I realised there would not be any of that.

I had met Dolores Umbridge before, unfortunately. The woman was a desperate suck-up, trying to fit into the higher pure-blood social ranks, but failing miserably. She had always punched above her weight, which resulted in a complete lack of respect by pretty much everyone.

She'd always been a liability to my family, as the woman claimed she was related to the Selwyn family. These accusations were completely false, but she kept pushing it.

When Dumbledore announced her to be the next Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, I rolled my eyes. It would probably play in Slytherin's favor, but Dolores Umbridge was exactly the kind of person that gave their house such a poor name.

"She sure is going to bring some trouble", Daphne mumbled.

"Give her a finger and she'll take an arm. I'm telling you, she'll be headmistress by the end of the year", I scoffed. I had to admit that Umbridge was sly. Now that she had the Ministry's support, she'd get whatever she wanted.

"Why would that be a bad thing, Selwyn? Didn't take you for a Dumbledore supporter", Malfoy spat. Although I would never admit it, I looked up to Dumbledore. I had never met a wizard more powerful and Hogwarts would be at loss without him.

"Of course not, but this toad is hardly an improvement", I said, before standing up. "All first-years, follow me to the dormitories please", I called out and a bunch of eleven-year-olds stood up. Malfoy stood up as well, clearly annoyed that he hadn't been the one to stand up first. If there was anything he loved, it was showing he had power.

"Aren't you Eleanor Selwyn?" a young Slytherin girl asked her on the way to the dungeons.

"Yes, I am", I said briefly.

"Wow, you're really pretty. I hope to be as powerful as you one day." I wasn't powerful, not at all, my family was. But at Hogwarts, I was representing her family, so that came with certain expectations.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Scarlett Lympsham", she said proudly. I had never heard of that last name before.

"Well, Scarlett, let this be lesson number one then. Always ask permission before speaking to an upperclassman."

"Oh - I, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude", the girl stammered and I realised I might have been a little too blunt. It wasn't a lie though.

"Don't be, just remember it. You came to Hogwarts to learn, didn't you? You seem like a bright witch." The girl smiled brightly at my compliment. This had always been my way of talking to others. Be kind, but let them know where they stand.

I turned around at the entrance of our common room to speak to the entire group.

As soon as I opened my mouth, Malfoy cut me off, causing me to send him a nasty look.

"This is our common room. This year's password is "snakeskin"." At the mention of the password, the passageway to their common room revealed itself.

"Don't forget it, as you can not enter without it", I added. I pushed Malfoy aside and motioned the first-years to follow me.

"The door on your left leads to the girls's dormitories", I continued, but again, Malfoy cut me off, causing me to really get annoyed.

"Boys on the right. First door down the hallway is for first-years, second door for second-years and so on. Your trunks should already be there."

As the kids scattered to discover their dorms, I made my way over to Malfoy.

"How dare you interrupt me like that", I hissed, pricking my finger in his chest. I was smaller than him, but definitely just as intimidating.

"Then don't try to steal the show", he replied, pushing my hand away.

"Oh Merlin, get over yourself!" I rolled her eyes. "You got upset that not all attention was on you? Get yourself a cage in a zoo." I was about to leave, but Malfoy grabbed my wrist, pulling me back roughly. In a reflex, I got out my wand and pointed it under his chin, furious by the way he was treating me.

"Let go of my wrist or I'll hex you", I threatened, to which he let go. "Don't bloody touch me ever again."

Students of other years started to file in, so I grabbed my bag and made my way down to my dormitory. This was going to be a very, very long year.