Disclaimer: Draco, Harry, and the gang belong to J.K.R. Oleandera, and the Vienna branch of the Malfoy family are my characters. If you are going to use them, please ask my permission.

Synopsis: A Malfoy by birth, and destined for great things. Named for a flower, as dangerous as it is beautiful. She is timeless, immortal; her name... Oleandera

Prologue: Where It All Began

Vienna, Austria:

She sat by the bed, holding her mother's hand. It had been hours since she'd fallen asleep. Would she ever wake again? She stirred. "Oleandera?"

"I'm here mother." The child tried not to cry. Her mother was so weak. "Would you like some water?"

"No." her mother rasped. She sat up a bit. "The baby... was it a boy?" She asked softly

"Yes... it was." With a sigh, Almeria Malfoy fell back on the pillows; a single tear making it's way down her cheek. "A son after all this time... and he doesn't live to be an hour old."

"It's alright Mother. You'll have many more children. As soon as you're well--"

"I'm not getting better. Not this time. I've born your father eleven children, eight of whom are still living. Girls or not... I'll bare him no more." She began to cough. Blood was at her lips.

Oleandera began to cry. "Don't leave me Mother. I don't want to be alone!"

"You won't be alone child. Help will always come to you, if you need it." With those words, she closed her eyes, and slept.

"Is she dead?" A voice from the doorway inquired. Oleandera glared up at the man who was her father. "No, only sleeping."

"Damn her." He hissed. "After all these years of waiting for son, and the bitch can't even bring him into the world healthy... Go to bed. I'll tend to her."

"I'd rather stay--"

"You will do as I say. Go. Now."

Oleandera rose, and left the room, making her way toward her own quarters in the East Wing. Selena was awake and waiting for her. "Is Mummy going to get better?" The little girl's lips were trembling, and her eyes were full of tears. Oleandera plastered a smile on her face. Of course she is. Just you wait and see."

She climbed into bed with her little sister, and in a very few moments was asleep.

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A house elf came and woke them at six. Her father ran a tight house, and breakfast was served promptly at seven. Her father insisted that they bathe every morning. They must be perfectly groomed before they sat down to breakfast.

Oleandera helped her sister into her dress, and brushed her tangled curls, putting it up into a neat plait. They had just finished when the knock came at the door. "Come!"

The door opened, and her older sister came in, carrying two year old Florence on her hip. Hope was her only older sister still at home. Marietta and Lauralei had both married, and were starting families of their own. "Are you ready to go down?" Hope asked. She sounded tired, and looked old for a girl of seventeen. "Almost." Oleandera replied. "Where are the others?"

"Vivian accidentally spilled a bottle of perfume on the floor. Ameena is helping her clean it up. Let's go down."

They walked out, and down the winding stairs that led to the first floor, and the dining room. Vivian and Ameena were already standing quietly beside their chairs. Hope set Florence down beside her own chair, then proceeded to the end of the table. In her mother's absence, she was expected to serve. Oleandera took her place in between Selena and Vivian. She saw one of Vivian's plaits was coming undone, and hurried to fix it before her father came down.

"Good Morning." His greeting was cold. He stopped at each place, giving each of his daughter's a thorough going-over, before he took his place at the head of the table. He sat first, and his daughters followed. As his nod, the house elves brought in the food. He took a bite, testing it, then nodded. The house elves and the girls looked relieved. On days when the meal wasn't satisfactory, there was hell to pay. "Your mother died early this morning." he said it so quickly, that at first, Oleandera wasn't sure she'd heard correctly. "Mother is--"

"Dead. That's what I said, isn't it?" Hope dropped her cup, and it shattered on the floor. Selena let out a small whimper. Ameena sat, with her hands in her lap, trying not to cry. Five year old Vivian didn't hide her tears. She let out a loud wail, then began sobbing. "I want Mummy! I want Mummy!"

"Silence!" their father had stood and was looking murderous. "That is enough. You will control yourselves. This can not have come as a surprise. Hope," turning to his eldest. "As soon as a respectable period of time has passed, you will be getting married. I arranged a suitable match for you before the death of your mother. Her unfortunate passing is no reason to change plans. In the meantime, you will teach Oleandera how to run a house. Her time is not far off. Now, I have business to attend to." he threw down his napkin, and stalked out of the room.

"Well," Oleandera's voice betrayed no emotion. "I suppose the children should go prepare their lessons. Come along." She picked Florence up from her chair, and taking Vivian's hand, led them upstairs.

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Late that night, in her bed, Oleandera wept. Wept for the Mother who had left her; the sister who was to be sold like an animal; for her little brother who should have lived; but most of all, for herself. She was alone. In that moment, she made herself a promise. She would be strong. She would survive. She would not love; for to love, was to be weak.; and the weak did not survive.

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A/N: ok, here's the first chapter. If you like, review. If you don't like, review anyway. If enough ppl like it, I'll post another chapter.