Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters.
Note: Although it's not "required" reading the other two HP stories I have posted is a good idea. But feel free to read this by itself. Hopefully as it moves along the chapters will get a bit longer, we'll see into the character a little. I especially thank SiobhanPhelps for encouraging me to post this. So excited to see if it anything happens.
Note 2: The tagged characters are Draco and Fred but nothing happens between those two romantically. I wasn't quite clear on how to include invented characters into the story or even if you could. If anyone knows that please send me a PM. Thanks! Enjoy! If there's any suggestions to make it clearer which parts these are, let me know.
YEAR 3 (Draco Malfoy)
A Cousin, A Hennings and a Hidden Past
"What do you mean, my cousin?" I asked dad as we stood in the living room. "If I had a cousin you would've told me about her a long time ago" I said, my voice still uneven for some reason.
"It's complicated, very complicated and we didn't want—or need—to trouble you with such information" Mum said as I shook my head.
"When can I see her?" I asked deciding to let their dumb reasoning for not telling me sooner go.
"Probably at school, she's not taking the train" dad said as he poured himself a drink. "Bill—Bill Barrass—he'll be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor—he's had an eye on her. Recently found out Hennings was her best friend" dad said giving mum an mysterious 'look.'
"So, how are they getting here?" I asked, feeling a bit lost.
"Portkey" both my parents said in unsion. "Draco, there's going to be some rumors, mummers, we're not proud of our entire past, we've all made mistakes" mum said as she tried to remain looking composed.
"Okay…" I said slowly trying to catch their drift.
"Here" dad said handing me a picture. It was old, slightly torn, but I could make out all the faces, it was a family picture, my dad was in the front, he looked a bit older than I was now, we really did look similar, our matching blond hairstyles, our crocked noses, our thin faces. I scanned the rest of the people, I knew most of them, except the person beside my dad. He was one of the only two black people in the photograph, I rolled my eyes at the thoughts; being a Malfoy could potentially suck if I let it.
"What am I looking for?" I asked dad still scanning the picture.
"That man, next to me, he's my brother" dad said as I looked up at him and then back at the picture.
"Your…brother?" I asked slowly still looking down at the picture, trying to find some similarity. The man had kind eyes, unlike my father whose were narrow, slight silted. The boy looked a little fuller than my dad, the boy didn't hold his chin as high as my dad. He looked, almost humble. For a Malfoy.
"What was his name?" I asked a near whisper.
"Kennedy; we didn't much talk back then, maybe four times a year. He left Hogwarts shortly after that picture. He contacted me earlier this year. Told me about his daughter, your cousin. We may not have agreed or liked each other Draco, but, we've suffered from mistakes your grandfather has made and we were always willing and ready to help each" he explained as I gave him a weird look. I thought they shunned the Malfoys who strayed from the path.
"Some mistakes are too big to simply burn away" mum said as if reading my mind. I nodded, still staring at the picture.
"What's her name?" I asked, my voice low.
"Tammie, Tammie Allen. She was adopted when she was a baby, her father—my brother—died a few months before her birth as well as her mother, she's with kind folks though" he explained.
"Why didn't you adopt her then?" I asked, a little disappointed.
"I didn't know about her, I only just got the letter explaining everything. If had I known sooner…" he trailed off, either not wanting to continue with his feelings or deciding I didn't need to know anymore.
"So, she's black?" I asked as he nodded.
"And she lives in America" he added as I shook my head.
"Wow" was all I could get out as I sat down on the arm of the chair.
"We know this is a lot to take it, and we know you'll need time. But at the end of the day Draco, she's your cousin, she's blood. I expect you to treat as such. I expect you to love her and comfort her and help her. It would be ideal if you told her, if we could get her to visit for Christmas perhaps" mum said as dad nodded.
"We don't expect this to be easy, but, Draco, our family needs to stick together, that's very important right now" dad explained. I nodded, all this information the day before the train.
"I can tell my friends, right?" I asked as dad nodded.
"You can tell anyone you want," mum said gently as she reached out to squeeze my hand. "I think it's time you head to bed, you have a long trip tomorrow" she said kindly. I nodded and headed for the stairs.
"Do, do you have a picture of her? Tammie?" I asked as I paused on the stairs. My parents looked at each but shook their heads. "Okay, I'll be sure to eventually take one" I told them before continuing up the rest of the stairs.