Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize, but I would kill for a few of those Weasley boys. A girl can dream, right?
Snapshot: A baby girl with flaming red hair sits in her christening gown, clutching a stuffed dragon with chubby arms. Her name is Alison and her parents are Draco and Ginny Malfoy. Mummy had wanted this to be on their Christmas card. She blinks at the same time her daddy takes the picture, covering almond shaped silver eyes. Daddy sighs as he picks her up, "Not in the mood for a photo, Ali? Well let's go tell that to Mummy."
The baby replies with in a language that is her own.
The young father nods his head as if he understands, "Yes, I do suppose she'll be quite disappointed."
Snapshot: It's the semi-annual Weasley family picnic. Daddy wouldn't have come if he hadn't been promised a decent game of Quidditch. He was searching for the snitch, while the twins fiercely guarded him from bludgers. Suddenly he spotted a flash of gold where Ginny and Molly were playing with the younger children. He dived and Hermione saw it as an opportunity to take a picture.
Minutes later everyone was screaming, it took Draco a moment to realize it was not because of his fantastic catch, but the fact his two year old daughter, Alison, had jumped with wobbly legs onto the back of his broom.
When he lands he assures his hysterical wife and mother-in-law that he didn't mean to and it will never happen again. They seem more upset than Alison, who is babbling happily to her cousin, Becca. With a sense of satisfaction, Draco knows his little girl was born to fly.
Snapshot: Ginny was boiling on the sofa as Draco tried to persuaded their stubborn four year old to hold her brother. Alison was putting up a rather good fight, "I don't like him! He never plays with me!"
Draco kneeled in front of her, "I've told you a million times, love, Bryan is too little to play with you. Just hold him for the picture."
The little girl crossed her arms over her chest, "Bryan doesn't do anything. He just gets carried and fed and played with by everyone. No one plays with me anymore."
"If you sit pretty with Bryan for the photo, I'll have Auntie Hermione brings the twins over this afternoon," Draco bargained, "And you can see if Becca wants to come over."
Alison pouted, "Becca is on holiday and the twins are ill. Mummy fire called this morning."
Draco sent his wife a look. Ginny shrugged weakly. Rolling his eyes, Draco turned back to his daughter, "Listen young lady, you will sit on next to your mother and me and you will hold your brother. No arguments."
"It's not fair! You let Bryan get away with everything!" Silver eyes welled up with tears; "You never make him take icky potions without saying why."
Draco and Ginny were silent. The picture was taken, Bryan in his mother's arms.
Snapshot: Two six-year-old girls grin at the camera; they are best friends and cousins. Becca is taller and a nearly a perfect clone of her mother, Angelina, with dark skin and even darker eyes. Alison skin and eyes look like porcelain and glass in comparison. The only thing the two have in common is their hair. It is the trademark Weasley flame red. But even that is a difference between them, Alison's comes from her mother, Ginny while Becca gets it from her father, Fred.
Alison has a younger brother, while Becca is an only child. Becca despises her full name Alison adores hers. Alison has already ridden a racing broom, though she doesn't actually remember the sensation. Becca has already visited Hogwarts and she remembers the whole trip.
Alison helps her friend to stick with her promises; in return she is taught how to be more outgoing. They balance each other out. Yin and yang. Fire and water. Black and white.
They are cross-your-heart-hope-to-die, good-times-and-bad-times, borrow-anything, tell-you-anything, trust-you-with-you-deepest-darkest-secrets, always-and-forever-friends.
Snapshot: Years have passed and Alison, now nine, tearfully hugs her beloved cousins, Elliot and Emma, before they board the Hogwarts Express for the first time. After promises of coming home for Christmas break and a letter from each of them every week, Alison lets them go.
She begins to chase after the train, crying and waving at the same time. As they leave platform 9¾, Ginny is reminded of herself the day Ron left. Harry was with him. But today Harry wasn't here to see Ron and Hermione's children off. Harry will never be able to see anyone leave for Hogwarts, ever. A few tears fall and Alison hugs her mother, "Don't worry. I miss the twins as well, Mum."
Ginny nods and wipes the remaining tears from her eyes. Though she knows the stories, Alison doesn't know who Harry Potter really was. Alison goes to lunch with Auntie Hermione and her mother that afternoon.
The two women exchange sad looks, remembering Septembers passed. The red haired girl mistakes the nostalgia for missing the twins.
Snapshot: Two years later and Alison is finally joining the twins at Hogwarts. Earlier that day she had confessed to Dad that she was horribly nervous about getting sorted. He had assured her that everyone was. "Even you?"
Chuckling the blonde man answered, "Even me. I didn't know what I would do if I didn't get into Slytherin, that's the only house, my father would allow. But you can go into any house and I'll still be proud."
Despite his words, Alison feels her stomach knot as her name is called. Sitting on the stool, Professor Lupin slips the patched hat on her head. It's so big it grazes her chin.
'Interesting. Very interesting. I haven't had one like you in quite a few years. But you'll learn of that later. You've got quite a fiery temper, like your mother. But you are extremely forgiving, as was your father. Clever and loyal to your family, as big as they are. Yes, there is only one place for you and it's GRYFFINDOR!'
Walking to her new table, Alison smiled as her once gray tie turned scarlet and gold.
Snapshot: A snake is wrapped around Alison's arm. She got it as a birthday gift from Uncle Charlie. He said it was native to Romania and was supposed to have magical properties. Nana had nearly fainted when she first saw it. Becca had screamed quite loudly.
When the snake hissed angrily at the noise, no one expected the now fifteen-year-old to hiss back. But she did. Mum and Dad gave each other a worried glance. Grandma Molly looks disapprovingly at Uncle Charlie, who returns with an apologetic look.
Alison notices none of this, because she is translating everything the snake, whose name is apparently Nassau, to the other children. They are all fascinated at this newfound ability. They don't understand that it's just another thing that may cause problems in the future.
At the end of the party, they all have to swear never to let Alison's 'talent' leave the family. Mum looks drained that evening and talks late into the night with Dad. There is no yelling, so the two Malfoy children sleep soundly, having no idea of the problems that are beginning to arise.
Snapshot: During the Christmas break, Grandma Molly knitted all of her grandchildren jumpers with their initials and house color on them. Inside was a tag that read Stitched with Love by Grandma.
Auntie Hermione convinced them all to wear them for a picture. No one dared to argue; lately her mood swings were unpredictable and quite frightening. It was a sea of red and gold, with occasional touches of blue and yellow. Bryan was the only one dressed in green. Alison often worries that her brown-eyed brother feels alone.
Becca throws a gold clad arm around her shoulder, "Why so blue? You're a Gryffindor!"
She laughs at her own joke and Alison feels a smile tug at her lips. Becca put on a serious face, "So who upset you and how badly should I hurt them? My dad gave me a couple Ton Tongue Toffees earlier, I wouldn't mind using them."
Alison shakes her head and replies, "It's Bryan. Do you reckon he gets picked on in Slytherin, with no one else there with him?"
"Nah. He's tough stuff, for a first year that is. 'Sides, I've trained him well," Suddenly her eyes widen and she pulls on Alison's arm, "Hurry! Grandma Molly just set out more Christmas pudding, we've got to get to it before Auntie Hermione!"
"It's not her fault she's five months pregnant," Alison replies but begins to run as well.
Snapshot: One year later, they are at platform 9¾. Mum is close to bawling as she traps Alison and Bryan in bone-cracking ribs. When she finally let's go, Bryan pants, "Takes for remembering my love of air, Mum."
Dad laughs and gives them both tight hugs and soft kisses on the forehead. He reminds Alison to take her potion twice a day and wishes Bryan good luck.
The boy plans to try out for the place of Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team. When he first mentioned it, Becca sighed and told Alison, "We'll be able to hit things at him and not get in trouble. It's a dream come true."
The two girls, who are the Gryffindor Beaters, helped Bryan prepare for tryouts. Finally, towards the end of August, they sincerely told him that they had taught him all they knew.
"Smile you lot!" Auntie Angelina called as she the camera flashed. The picture is a wizarding one and shows three heads snapping up to get into the frame.
The train whistle blows and Alison and Becca rushed aboard. Waving franticly from a window, they say their farewells. When the platform disappears into the distance, they start their hunt of a vacant compartment.
Alison doesn't realize that she will learn secrets that will test her trust, loyalty, and love for her family. It is here our story begins.
A/N: Love it? Hate it? Want more? Drop me a review with your critism, thoughts, and encouragement. Ta until the next chapter.
M.