Beyond the Water's Edge

Chapter 1: Grace Aspen Malfoy

I looked at the small, blonde boy by my side. He smiled at me and shouted "On your mark, get set, GO!" We both took off toward the water. Our race was only to the water's edge, but we both continued on and splashed through the ocean waves. When it became too deep for either of us to continue running, we looked at each other and laughed. We began splashing each other, but soon heard our parents calling us back to the shore. As we ran back , I looked ahead to my parents and thought about how happy I was to be their daughter and that we got to have this wonderful day together. When my brother and I reached our parents, my mother opened her mouth to tell us it was time to go home.

"We really need to…" CRASH!

My eyes slowly opened and adjusted to the light. I blinked a few times and pondered whether or not I was ready to get up. As my brain slowly started to wake up, I remembered the crash that had so rudely interrupted my dream. I sat up on my bed and scanned the room. I quickly discovered the culprit. My open window had allowed a gust of wind to knock over a picture frame on my dresser. I heaved myself off the bed and made my way over to pick it up. As I took it in my hands, I saw the same blonde boy from my dream, along with a younger version of myself. We were both laughing as we threw water balloons at each other. I could practically hear my father yelling from inside the house for us to come in and that 'Malfoy's didn't engage in such childish behaviors.' Of course, that never stopped me and my twin brother, Draco, from trying. When we were younger, we were quick to defy our parents or find loopholes in their carefully instructed rules. As we reached school age though, they became stricter and their punishment more violent. Draco and I both sort of fell into place and did as we were told.

I put the picture of Draco and I back on the dresser and pulled open the drawer beneath it to take out a pair of jean cut-offs and a light purple t-shirt. I brought them with me into the bathroom where I began brushing out my long, white-blonde hair. I pulled it back into a low messy bun at the nape of my neck before washing my face. I stared into the mirror at my grey-blue eyes and decided against make-up for the time being. I took a step back from the sink to inspect myself in the mirror. I stood at 5'3" and had a pretty average build. I decided everything was in-check and walked back to my room where I took my iPod out from the drawer in my nightstand. I put it on shuffle, plugged myself in, then stuck it in my back pocket. My father didn't approve of Muggle items such as iPods, but the man could not deprive me of my music, it's what got me through the day. Luckily, my parents were currently out of town, so I could freely use my 'taboo muggle items'. I made my way downstairs and out the back door, where I then walked to the pond just outside the Manor Grounds. Technically I wasn't allowed to do that either, but what my parents didn't know, wouldn't hurt them. I didn't dare to defy their rules openly, but when they were away I gained a rush of confidence in the idea I wouldn't get caught.

As I sat by the water listening to Rolling in the Deep by Adele, I started thinking about my dream. It was more of a memory, really, but I dreamt about it often. It was essentially my only happy, family memory from, well, my whole life. Generally speaking, the whole 'my parents are Death Eaters' thing kinda puts a damper on a girl's childhood. Meaning I had some good memories with Draco, but this was it with my whole family. For some reason, that day we seemed like a normal family. We had fun together. My parents had packed up Draco and I and we took off to the beach. Though completely unexplained and unexpected, it was one of the happiest days of my life.

"Grace," I heard Draco walking up behind me, "You know we're not supposed to be out here."

I pulled my headphones out and looked at him, "Yet here you are."

He smirked at me. "Well you were here first, so I think that makes you the rule-breaker."

"Whatever ya stupid git."

We both laughed.

"So, almost ready to leave tomorrow?" he asked as he laid back on the grass.

Tomorrow morning we were leaving for Hogwarts, which I couldn't be happier about. "Not even close. You know how packing overwhelms me."

"Ohhhh ya I do," Draco chuckled then sighed. He had to help me through a number of irrational mental breakdowns over packing. I never knew why I found it so stressful, but I did.

"I can't wait though," I said, "Anything to get out of this hell-hole."

"Oh come off it, sis," Draco replied, "It's not that bad."

"Maybe not for you," I said, raising my eyebrows at him. Ever since the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor my parents, especially my father, had taken a sort of disliking toward me. They protested the sorting with the school, but were told the Hat had the final say, and it said I belonged in Gryffindor.

Being a Gryffindor, I quickly befriended Ginny and Hermione, along with Harry and Ron, but I never told my parents about that. They mostly believed my lies about hanging around with Draco and his friends, which Draco backed me up on. As long as I didn't seem to 'Gryffindorish', my parents didn't say too much about it. They mostly just ignored me and my, what the considered, 'blood traitor' status. Draco didn't particularly enjoy my friends being who they were either, but he accepted it.

Even though Draco was a complete prat to about 90% of the student body (actually about 90% off the staff aswell), he never acted that way with me. Just because he was my twin didn't mean he had to be nice to me, get along with me, or even like me, but he did. We got along well and were actually pretty close.

"Why don't we head back," he said sitting back up, "I'll help you pack." He jokingly punched me in the shoulder.

I smirked at him. "Ha Ha."

Draco helping me pack essentially meant Draco packing for me. He started by making a list of everything I needed. He then sat on my bed and read it off to me. I would then collect each item and put it out on my floor. Next, he would re-check everything with the list (at my insistence), Only then would I pack away my things in my trunk, only to worry I forgot something. Draco was patient with me and would remind me that if I did somehow forget something, mother and father could just send it to me. He could always calm me down.

The next morning I woke up early, excited to be leaving. I showered and got dressed in my favorite jeans, a black and silver belt, and a black v-neck shirt. I left my hair down and pinned back my bangs. My hair was layered with the longest pieces falling just above my belly-button and the shortest layers hanging at my shoulders. I went with a thin line of black eyeliner to bring out my eyes. For shoes, I decided on my favorite pair of tan Sperry's (another thing my father detested, which is why I had a pair of plain black Toms to wear to the train). When I felt ready to go, I went back to my room and turned on my iPod. I layed on my bed and let the music take me away. Half of my country playlist later, I heard a knock on my door and Draco say "It's time to go." I stole one last glance in the mirror, took my things, and headed downstairs, toward my 4th year at Hogwarts.