A/N: This story stemmed from a dream I had where I was the daughter of Tom Riddle. It was . . . interesting to say the least. I haven't read the books or seen the movies in a while, so this'll probably be a mish-mash of both canons. People's looks for instance, I tend to base off the actor's (minus Harry and Ron, they're eyes will always been green and blue to me, respectively).

For those who are curious, Hydra is a constellation and it means "female water serpent."

Disclaimer: I disagree with Fred's death therefore I am not J.K. Rowling therefore I own none of the Harry Potter characters.

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama/Family

Summary: Slight AU. "So I was crazy. That was nothing new. My mother is insane, my father is a psychopath. It ran in the family." The Harry Potter series through the eyes of Bellatrix's daughter.


A Tangled Web

Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive.

--Sir Walter Scott

Chapter 1/The Malfoys

Narcissa Malfoy looked irritated to say the least when she came to pick me up at the orphanage. I supposed she had every reason to be irritable, me being the product of a one night stand between her sister and her husband eleven years ago. In all fairness to her, I was skeptical of that myself. For one thing, Lucius Malfoy did not seem like the type to cheat on his wife. I blamed it all on my mother, Bellatrix. I had heard she was crazy, and I was inclined to believe the rumors. She was in Azkaban after all.

The tall blonde woman in front of me narrowed her eyes, staring down her nose, observing me. I looked nothing like a Malfoy, I knew. Frizzy black hair (that almost never behaved itself), dark brown eyes, pale skin. Finally, approval flashed in Narcissa's eyes and I knew I had passed her test. I looked nothing like her husband, and everything like her sister. She could pretend I was Rodolphus's child. Personally, I couldn't care less what she thought of me. All I needed from her was food and a place to sleep at night.

"Well, come along then," she said with a sweeping wave of her hand. She turned and strode out of the small room that I shared with one roommate, a girl two years younger. She had been staring at Mrs. Malfoy's magnificent clothing (covered in jewels and gold and finery it was), but now she turned to look at me. I shrugged, picked up my suitcase that held my few belongings, and left. I had no affection for the sniffling crybaby that shared my room. In fact, I was rather glad to be rid of her.

"The instructions your mother left me are simple," Narcissa said as she led the way to a fireplace, pulling out Floo powder from inside one of her voluminous, fur-lined sleeves. "I am to feed you, clothe you, welcome you into my house and otherwise treat you like my niece. You are also to attend Hogwarts this year. We've already purchased the books you will need." We stopped in front of the fireplace, and she turned to look at me as she opened the box of Floo powder and took some in her hand.

"However, this does not mean you will be able to get away with everything you'd like. No matter whose daughter you are, you are not to play up your position in the Black family to get any favors. You are a bastard child and deserve no privileges, is that understood?"

I rolled my eyes. As if it were my fault her husband knocked up her sister. Nevertheless I nodded. I did not need anyone doing me favors anyway. I could take care of myself. I had practically for ten years, hadn't I? Narcissa handed me some powder and took some for herself, stowing away the box again. I wondered where exactly she had stored it in the first place. Before stepping in, she glanced at me one more time.

"One more thing: you are forbidden to tell Draco who your father is. You are his cousin, nothing more."

I saluted sarcastically and stepped into the flames. "Malfoy Manor!" I cried, flinging the powder on the ground. Green flames instantly shot up around me and the next thing I knew, I was stepping out onto an ornate carpet in an expansive drawing-room. I heard a whoosh behind me and the next instant Narcissa was there. She looked around the room and sniffed delicately.

"Draco, darling, come greet our guest," she called as she swept to a large, incredibly comfortable looking chair. Sitting down, she snapped her fingers. Immediately a grubby looking house-elf was there, holding a tea tray. The ugly little thing set down the tray on a small, ornate side table and began to serve his mistress tea. I clutched my suitcase and looked around me, staring in slight awe at the rich surroundings. It practically smelled of Galleons.

A boy around my age entered the room, dressed in a smart looking suit. His hair was slicked back, making his pointed chin more pronounced. Pale blue eyes flashed curiously as he approached his mother, watching me warily. I resisted the urge to cross my eyes at him.

"Draco dear," Narcissa said in a sickly sweet voice, picking up her teacup and waving the house-elf away. "This is your cousin, Hydra. Bellatrix's daughter."

"I never knew Uncle Rodolphus and Aunt Bellatrix had a daughter," Draco stated haughtily. As if the world could only know everything he knew and nothing more. I rolled my eyes.

"Draco, she is our guest. Be polite." Even as she said that I almost laughed at the hypocrisy. However Draco stepped stiffly forward and held out his hand to me.

"Hullo cousin," he said, curling his lip slightly.

"Draco," I said, somewhat amused as I grasped his fingers and gave them a slight shake. He instantly wiped his hand on his dress pants.

"Mother, she's filthy," he complained. "Make her wash."

"You make me," I demanded, frowning now. The orphanage was not the nicest place to live, with its somewhat drafty rooms and meager food, and my floor only showered once a week, but I was not "filthy." However now that he mentioned it, I was sure my appearance was less than presentable. My hair, for one, was frizzing out of my braids. And the frock I was wearing was drab and gray and a couple inches too short.

"Now, now children," Narcissa interrupted with a soft frown of her own. "Let's not fight. Draco, she has not had time to see her room. Why don't you show it to her. She can wash up and change in there." She gave me a thin smile. "I purchased only the best outfits for you," she added.

"I hope you didn't spend too much on me, Aunt Cissy," I said with a beguiling smile. This caught her off guard, and she only frowned unpleasantly a moment longer before nodding to Draco. "Off you go."

Draco turned and left the room, taking for granted the idea that I would follow. I waited a moment, then did so. He led me into an enormous front hallway, which magnificent carpet was soft and cushy underneath my thin shoes. I followed Draco down the hall, taking in the dark green tapestries that depicted curling snakes, and the ornate furniture that hugged the wall. Through a door on our left, Draco led me up a wide, curling staircase that I could see went on for a while. We stopped at the second floor however, and he took me down another hallway. This one was not as long, nor as beautiful, but it was still grand.

This hallway had several doors. Draco pointed out their uses as we walked down the hall. "That room is mother and father's and it's absolutely off-limits at all times," he gave me a pointed look, I stared back innocently. He frowned and went on. "That one is mine," he said and then paused before adding, "also off-limits." I rolled my eyes, wondering if the action was going to become a habit while living with this pretentious family.

"This one is yours," he said and stopped. It was across the hall and a little further down then his, and on the same wall as his parent's. I did not bother to thank him, knowing he had not done it willingly, and reached for the doorknob. I noticed with some appreciation that a snake was ornately carved into it, winding its way from the center of the orb all the way around and up the wood of the door.

I turned the knob and began to step inside, when Draco's voice stopped me. "You're going to Hogwarts this year?" he asked curiously. I turned and nodded. He smirked faintly. "Better pray you get into Slytherin then," he said before turning and entering his own room. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again.

Entering my room, I prepared myself for a shock. It was a good thing I had. It was a much nicer room than I had anticipated, what with Narcissa's comment about spending on me. I supposed even the cheapest things to the Malfoys would be wondrously beautiful to me, having been deprived of any fancies myself.

It was incredibly huge, with a king sized bed in the middle of the room, its curtains a deep, dark green velvet. The bed posts were dark mahogany and green painted snakes curled up to the top where their ruby red eyes stared down at whoever would approach the bed. Upon closer inspection, using chair atop the finely made writing desk, I discovered the eyes were real rubies set into the wood.

Straight across the room from where I stood in the doorway, behind the top of the bed, was a large window. Its draperies were also a deep green, as was the carpet, I saw, as I took a step further. The carpet and the drapes matched with swirling patterns of silver leaves. The desk was to my immediate right and the chair was carved beautifully as well. On the wall in front of the desk was a bookshelf, bare but inviting. To the right was the loo, and stepping inside I saw the biggest bathtub I had ever seen. It stood on curving, serpentine legs and the faucets was a snake head. When I turned the knob for hot water, I was immediately rewarded with warm water trickling out of the serpent's mouth. Turning to the sink I saw it was modeled the same way. The mirror was a large oval, framed my snakes.

Apparently the Malfoy's had a thing for snakes. Surprisingly it felt familiar and comforting. I peered at myself in the mirror and then made a face. I suppose next to the finely groomed Mrs. and Master Malfoy, I did look rather . . . uncivilized. Most of my curls had escaped my braids and frizzed wildly in all directions. I promised myself at that moment that the first charm I learned at Hogwarts would be one to tame my hair.

Moving out of the loo and back into the room, I saw a tall, imposing wardrobe in the corner down the wall. I made my way to it and, after studying the intricate pattern on the doors, opened it up. It was larger on the inside than the outside, with actual room enough to step into. I saw Mrs. Malfoy wasted no time in buying me all the nicest gowns and dresses she could. I wondered if any of theses were from her childhood as they all looked rather dated. Rummaging deep within the wardrobe, I discovered jeans, pants, skirts, blouses, and shirts. I pulled out a skirt and a blouse, changing into them quickly. As I struggled with my hair, a loud chime sounded, making me jump. I had failed to notice the grandfather clock in the other corner, it being partially hidden by the bed from my former view in the loo.

Peering around the bed posts I saw that it was six o' clock. A bell began to sound and I quickly deduced that it must be suppertime. Kicking my ugly shoes off and replacing them with some nicer ones from the wardrobe, I went to the door. For a moment I hesitated briefly, wondering if I would be playing into Narcissa's hands if I obeyed calls instantly. But then my stomach rumbled and I supposed things like meals could be exceptions.

I met Draco at the stair, which was fortunate as I had no idea where the dining room was. He smirked when he saw me. "I should refer you to my barber," he commented as we went down the steps together. I eyed his slicked-back look with distaste.

"I don't believe I want your barber," I stated flatly. He touched his hair self-consciously and scowled.

We reached the end of the stair and entered into the grand hallway once more. Instead of heading up the hall toward the drawing room, we took a left and headed down to where there were double doors. Opening these, Draco led the way into a room that held an extremely long wooden table, framed by high-backed wooden chairs. The walls were lined with fine wallpaper, and a gigantic china cabinet sat against one of them, stretching across the entire wall. It was filled with hundreds of tea sets and silverware and dish sets, all of them looking delicate and expensive. The wall across from it was blank except for a fire place. At the head of the table, above the top of the large chair, hung a massive portrait of the three Malfoys, all of them looking imperious and bored to tears.

Lucius Malfoy was already sitting in that large chair underneath that massive portrait, and he rose from his seat as we entered the room. Narcissa was already seated as his left and she remained there.

"I see this is my niece," he said with a smile that was neither warm nor friendly. "I heard you were coming today. I hope you are doing well?"

I doubted that. "I'm doing fantastic," I said with another charming smile. He blinked and then smiled back, this time a tad warmer.

"Come, our guest should have a place of honor. Sit here beside me." He indicated the chair to his right. I felt Draco stiffen beside me and turned to see him frowning at me. Obviously I had taken his spot at the table. I knew it would be dangerous living in the same house as an archenemy, so I shook my head.

"Thank you, Uncle," I said politely. "But I must decline. That place should be reserved for the firstborn son," here I indicated Draco with a wave of my hand, "and it would dishonor him if I took it. I shall sit beside him."

Lucius looked surprised, Narcissa curled her lip, and Draco stared at me in shock and then some confusion. Lucius recovered first and nodded his head. "Very well, as you wish. Draco!" The boy beside me jumped. "Sit."

Draco strode over and then, with some slight hesitation, sat down. Suddenly I wondered if I had miscalculated and Draco had actually never sat there before, only coveted that spot. Oh well, what was done was done, and perhaps I had just gained an ally.

I took my place beside Draco and Lucius sat. Instantly food appeared on our plates. I started to dig in when I noticed Draco and Narcissa had not touched their food. I put down my loaded fork and glanced over at Lucius. He raised an eyebrow at me and put his own full fork into his mouth. Once he had chewed, swallowed, and nodded approval, Draco and his mother began to eat. I did so as well, taking smaller bites than I had intended to, even though my stomach was practically running on empty.

"Are you looking forward to attending Hogwarts, Hydra?" Lucius asked during the second course. (I wondered how many courses were there.)

I swallowed my mouthful of pheasant and nodded. "I hear it is a very illustrious school," I said.

"It is indeed," Lucius said with a humorless smile. "I assume you know about the four houses then?"

"Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin," I recited, having read books about it at the orphanage.

"Correct," Lucius said, stirring his mashed potatoes with what I was sure was a real silver fork. "The Hufflepuff house is full of idiots really. Loyal but stupid. Ravenclaws are intelligent, but lack ambition, willingly letting others walk over them. Gryffindor," here he sneered, "is a house full of self-righteous, arrogant fools, who would rather be brave and good then clever and quick. That is what Slytherin is made of." His blue eyes suddenly gleamed.

"The Slytherin house is the most noble of the houses. Made up entirely of purebloods, they are the quickest, most ambitious, and ruthless of the houses. Every single Black family member has been in Slytherin, and it is our hope that you both shall join in that legacy." He nodded at Draco who swelled his chest in pride. I, however, was not convinced. Obviously he was biased toward the Slytherin house, if every single Black in the family had been sorted into it. I wondered vaguely what the other houses' opinion of the system was.

Nevertheless, the Slytherin house appealed to me more. A contributing factor, I was sure, was the fact that their mascot was a snake. I gave Lucius a thin smile of my own.

"I hope so too, Uncle," I said respectfully, and took another bite, conscious of the three satisfied faces watching me.

0000

As I exited the loo that night, having taken a bath and wrestled my hair into a nightcap (figuring it was better than braiding it and waking up to my braids being completely undone), I was surprised to see Draco sitting on my bed, smoothing the light green and silver coverlet with his hand. He was dressed in his pajamas, over which was a light green dressing gown. On his feet were green slippers.

"Draco?" I said quizzically, moving to put my clothes away.

"I-I wanted to apologize," he said, grimacing slightly. I realized this was not something he did often, if at all. "When you first arrived, I was afraid you would be like my aunt Andromeda. She's a muggle-loving blood-traitor." The hate that filled his words when describing said aunt startled me. "I'm glad you're not," he added then with a smile. Slipping off the bed he strode towards me.

"My father is friends with many of the Hogwarts student's fathers. I can make sure you fit in perfectly. I can get you in to exclusive clubs and show you who to be friends with. Keep you away from the other, less desirable students. We could be allies, you and me. Friends maybe. If you let me, you know, show you the ropes." He stuck out his hand.

This time I smiled and shook it firmly. "I'd like that," I said, wondering if we could ever be friends. Technically he was my half-brother . . . would we ever get to be as close as brother and sister? A part of me recoiled from that thought (who would want to be a sibling to this stuck-up arrogant git?), but another part, a larger part, yearned for that kind of companionship. I had never had a real friend before.

He smiled back and turned to the door. I got into the large bed, lying down. Suddenly I sat up. "Draco," I called. He paused at the door, halfway out of it. He turned back.

"Yes?"

"You mentioned your aunt, Andromeda? That she was a blood-traitor. Was she in a different house? I thought all the Blacks were in Slytherin."

"Oh she was in Slytherin," Draco said, slipping his hand off the doorknob and walking over to the bed. "She just married a Muggle."

"Really," I said, wondering if that was a crime in this family.

"In order to keep the pureblood race," Draco said importantly, sounding as though he was reciting from something. "Pureblooded wizards and witches must not marry Muggles or half-bloods. This is a disgrace to our kind. Treason. Therefore any purebloods marrying outside the pureblood race shall be cast out of the Black family tree."

I blinked. "Seems rather harsh," I commented idly.

Draco narrowed his eyes slightly. "If we want to keep the purebloods pure we must keep away from Muggles and Mudbloods."

I nodded slowly. "I never realized how prejudiced the wizarding world is," I mused aloud.

Draco shrugged. "You get used to it." He grinned suddenly. "It'll be especially fun at school when you get to rub our heritage in the Mudbloods' faces. And you'll like Professor Snape. My father said he's the Potions Professor and our, I mean Slytherin's, head professor. My father says he'll treat us the way purebloods are supposed to be treated. He's close personal friends with him."

I wondered if that meant Draco would be trying to get out of homework on the basis of his father being "close personal friends" with Professor Snape.

"Sounds exciting," I said, feeling it was rather the opposite. Still, I was looking forward to going to school, and meeting new people, learning new spells. Perhaps even find out more about my mother. I'm sure Draco could have told me all about the infamous Bellatrix, but I wanted a less biased opinion. I wanted to know the absolute truth about her.


So that's the first chapter of a new story that I really shouldn't start . . . oh well. Review and tell me what you think! =D