"Mum! I don't want to go to Teddy's birthday party!" Exasperated, Astoria tried desperately to put a bow on her six-year-old daughter's hair, and she squirmed away.
Annabelle, who was the spitting image of her mother, had dark green eyes, a splattering of freckles across her nose, and a halo of strawberry blonde curls. Unfortunately, she had gotten Draco's personality-and pride.
"And why is that Annabelle? Teddy came to your party." Astoria asked. Annabelle shrugged. "I don't wanna go 'cause James is gonna be there, and he's a pain in my arse."
Draco, who had materialized in Annabelle's doorway, laughed.
She finally managed to tie Annabelle's hair back in a ponytail, and picked up her five-year-old son, Scorpius. They Flooed to the Potters' house, where Harry and Ginny were hosting their godson's 13th birthday party.
Annabelle stubbornly clung to Draco's hand, glaring at anyone who thought of approaching her. "Sweetheart, are you sure you don't want anything to drink?" Draco asked. Realizing she was thirsty, Annabelle followed her father to the food table.
Draco handed his daughter a bottle of pumpkin juice. Annabelle gulped it down, and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. She felt a tap on her shoulder.
Scowling, she snarled, "Go away Potter." James Potter smirked at her. It was no secret that Annabelle disliked him, mainly because he took every opportunity to torment her.
Draco dropped Annabelle's hand and strode off to talk to Ron and Harry, who were debating about Quidditch. James pulled a flower out from behind his back.
"Here," he said, holding it out to Annabelle. "I got you this." Annabelle's expression softened, and she took the flower from him. Annabelle pressed it against her nose, taking a large sniff. Suddenly, a jet of clear water shot out and sprayed her in the face.
James laughed. "I got you," he said, smirking again. Annabelle saw red. She reached out and grabbed him by his shirt collar. James wiggled away. Picking up the hem of her dress, Annabelle chased him across the grass.
"POTTER!" Annabelle cried, stretching her arms out in front of her. Her fingers clutched air, and she clenched and unclenched them, over and over, until…
"Ow!" James yelled. Annabelle had grabbed a hunk of his hair, and was currently tugging with all of her might. "Let go of me!"
So Annabelle did. She gave James a shove, sending him toppling to the ground. Then, she jumped on top of him, pinning his arms down.
"Gerroff," James murmured, squirming and wriggling under her grasp. Annabelle smiled evilly. "Fine, but you have to apologize first."
James shook his head. "No way!" Annabelle began to bounce up and down, up and down.
"Okay, I'll apologize," James grumbled. "I'm sorry I sprayed you with a flower." Annabelle smiled triumphantly, then climbed off James, reaching out a hand to help him up.
James smiled, in an, 'I-know-a-secret-that-you-don't-know,' sort of way. He pulled his hand from behind his back. James's index and middle fingers were crossed.
"Crossies!" he yelled happily. Annabelle grabbed James, whirled him around, and pushed him down- headfirst into Teddy's cake. Everyone gasped.
Annabelle yanked James up and thrust out her fist, which connected with James's nose. Blood spurted out, mixing with the cake on his face. James began to cry.
"My nose!" James wailed. "She broke my nose!" He began to cough, as the blood flavored cake went in his mouth. Astoria was there in a second, whisking her daughter up.
"Young lady, you are in so much trouble!" Astoria scolded. "I can't believe you pushed him into Teddy's cake and punched him in the face!"
Meanwhile, Ginny was mending James's nose. "Episkey!" She began to wipe up the blood, while Hermione went inside to begin making a fresh cake.
Astoria hands Annabelle over to Draco, and picks up Scorpius. "We're going home now," she hisses. They walked into the Potters' house to Floo home again. Annabelle was sent straight to her room. Astoria followed her.
"You are grounded for a month, Annabelle Carina Malfoy! And, I want you to write Teddy an apology letter for ruining his party," Astoria added to her daughter.
Annabelle rolls her eyes. "I didn't ruin it, so to speak," she replied. "I just lightened it up!" Astoria glared at her daughter. "All right two months!"
Downstairs, Draco was playing chess with Scorpius. "Why did Annabelle do that?"Astoria cried, appearing in front of them.
Draco shrugged. "I don't know," he said. "But I hope that Annabelle understands that what she did was wrong. Very, very wrong."
And Annabelle did understand. But after that, something had changed. On the occasions when she saw James, they played a new game. It was called Prank-Annabelle-until-she-gets-angry, followed by Pound-James-until-he-cries.