Phaet* Malfoy grew up with a secret in her heart, and forbidden words on her wrist.
In the wizarding world, many witches and wizards were born with the name of their soul mate on their wrist.
Many found their other halves quickly and easily, telling their childern in later years of the day they met, in Gringotts, on the Hogwarts Express, after the sorting ceremony.
For other's it was more difficult, an age gap, a different house, a rivalry coming between them. They always sorted it out in the end, looking back and laughing at their own pettiness.
For a select few, the name's were impossibilities, things that could have been, but never will.
Phaet fell into the final category.
Her father, Lucius Malfoy couldn't have cared less what the name of his daughter's soul mate was, no, he was far too busy stewing over the fact that his son had 'That Insolent Potter Boy', for a soul mate.
So Narcissa Malfoy, Phaet's mother, took some concealer, dabbed on her daughter's wrist and pretended it didn't exist.
When Phaet was seven, her mother sat her down and told her the secret she would keep for years to come.
She had removed the makeup from her daughter's hand with a flick of her wand and Phaet, who was quite the reader, began to spell out the name.
"G-"
"Don't ever say that name."
Phaet's Malfoy grey eyes shot up from her wrist. She knows the soul mate lore, she knows her big brother has one, and she knows that daddy doesn't like whoever it is. She knows she has one, but her mother has covered the name. She doesn't have a clue.
"The family is full of blood trader's and muggle lover's. Darling, I'm sorry. In another time, perhaps, you could have been together. But this is not that time."
Phaet nods her head, and locks up her heart. As much as she knows she ought to, she couldn't bring herself to throw away the key.
The first time Phaet see's her, she and her family are shopping for Hogwarts supplies. Narcissa had warned her before they let, not to even look at her if she could help it.
Pheat very well could have looked away. She didn't.
Instead she watch from the staircase in Flourish and Blots, watching her brother and his soul mate squable, fists clenching when her pretty little other half put's herself in the line of fire.
Her heart clenches as she watches the only person who will ever command her heart defend the boy who lived.
She watches as her father verbally slanders the girl, and her family. She has an urge to hit him. She doesn't.
It's over as quickly as it starts
Her soul mate isn't hurt, no one is, not really.
Phaet's father and brother guide her out of the store, heads held high, in the Malfoy way.
Bit hours later, alone in her room, in the late hours of the night, the name slips over her tongue, and glides across her lips.
"Ginny"
Phaet's heart comes unlocked with ease.
And, perhaps prematurely, and most likely unrequited, Phaet Malfoy falls in love.
A/N. Installment one of a six part series.
*Phaet's name is pronounced Fate.
Phaet is a bit of a drama queen, and overly emotional, I'll be the first to admit. She's young and passionate about things, and a forbidden romance is right up her alley.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, I just own Phaet.
This is femslash, so if you don't like that, too bad.