Chapter 1:

I stared out the window of my home, the Malfoy Manor and felt slightly dizzy. Nothing seemed the same anymore. Ever since my aunt Narcissa told me. It all made sense, I just was never brave enough to own myself to it.

"Maybe you shouldn't go to school just yet," my cousin Draco told me as he walked into my room. I quickly wiped away a tear. Draco stood in the doorway of my room, his arms crossed, his jaws set. I frowned at him pointedly.

"Everyone knew before me, if it was in the Daily Prophet, Draco." I told him angrily. "If I don't go, they will know why. They'll call me a coward." I told him in a tone that said he was utterly stupid.

Draco sighed deeply. "And when have you ever been a coward, Crucia?" he asked me. "How could a girl named Crucia Black ever be called a coward? You've been through more than enough this summer. Don't you think you should wait a while? Being McGonagall's favorite student, I don't think it will matter much."

I turned around, not wanting to face Draco anymore. "I should have graduated from Hogwarts a year ago," I said in a hurt tone. "What happened in between those five years, Draco? I was just trapped in time?" I asked him desperately.

Draco looked at me in sincere apology. "I don't know anything, Crucia. Only my mother and father do. And they've told you everything they know. Your mother put you under the spell for your own safety. Yes, you were a baby for five years, and only after that did you start growing and aging. Your mother figured by that time, the heat of the war would die down." Draco told me gently.

My lip trembled slightly. "What will they say? I have a dead Death Eater mother, Draco! What if they try to k-" Draco cut me off immediately.

"Crucia, listen to me now. No one will let that happen. Look at Mortimer Yaxley's children. Roffley Yaxley and Astrid Yaxley. They're at Hogwarts, safe and unharmed. No one will touch you, Cruc. I've made arrangements. Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn have both agreed to keep you under their care." Draco told me.

I felt so grateful to have him there, so at ease. "Thank you, Draco." He smiled a bit, something he rarely did anymore ever since Astoria died. "It…it really means a lot. I'll write to you. Everyday." I told him in a promising tone. Draco only smiled and closed the door.

I looked down at my chest, where I held my necklace. A dark purple stone, a half of an inch long and stunningly beautiful.

That night at dinner, it was just Aunt Narcissa and I. Uncle Lucius, Draco, and little Scorpius were at the Quidditch World Cup. I wasn't a huge fan of Quidditch, considering I had broken my arm three times trying to play a simple game.

Aunt Narcissa looked at me with those annoying, worried eyes. "Crucia…dear, please. Don't do this. Just tell me. I am here to help you, I always have been. Don't push me out like this." she told me in a hurt tone and I instantly felt terrible.

"It's not your fault, Aunt Narcissa," I told her very helplessly. I still felt terrible for myself. She touched my hand and I felt a few tears slipping down my cheeks. "She was the most vile, evil woman ever head of, or so it says in the textbooks. Nothing can compare to that much. And…and then…she killed Nymphadora Tonks. She killed Teddy's mum, her own niece." I cried.

Aunt Narcissa looked at me helplessly. "She wasn't right in her head, Cruc. She wasn't herself. The Dark Lord made her like that. She was not a saint but she would have loved you."

"Would have?" I asked as I wiped away a few of my tears. "Aunt Narcissa, who is my father?"

Aunt Narcissa closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. I prepared for the worst. "Rodolphus, of course. He was your father, her husband. Nymphadora, don't let anyone disturb you about this."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Everyone has always called me Crucia. Why did you just call me 'Nymphadora?'" I asked my aunt in a strange tone. She quickly smiled and sipped her wine. I decided to let it slip past me.

"Do…do I look like her?" I asked my Aunt who froze and looked at me intensely. Her eyes watered and I held my breath.

"You have Bella's hair. And her eyes. Your hair is just slightly more on the wavy side. Bella's was curlier and a bit darker. You look like a LeStrange but the Black family features are definitely prominent. Crucia, I love you very much. And that is something that will never change. I will always be here for you, nothing can ever change that. I promised your mother and I am now promising you."

"Remember what I said, Crucia," Draco told me. It was Scorpius' fourth year and I was excited for him but I needed to focus on Draco now. "Don't allow anyone to interrogate you about this. Be brave and be strong. After all, you are the first Black to be sorted into Gryffindor that's still alive."

Aunt Narcissa hugged me tightly and kissed my head. "Enjoy this year. To the best of your ability, dear." she told me as I boarded onto the train. Uncle Lucius smiled and waved, as did Draco. Aunt Narcissa blew Scorpius and I kisses. I blushed.

I walked into the Gryffindor section of the train to find everyone staring at me. Some with glares, some with looks of worry. Scorpius looked at me in question. "Are they looking at us, Crucia?" he asked me.

I sighed. "I heard there's a massive herd of highly ferocious Hypogriffs on the loose. Best if you stay close, Scorp." I rolled my eyes and walked into my best friends Molly and Dominique Weasley's compartment.

"Well, if it isn't the little Death Eater," Dominique grinned at me. I couldn't help but smile at her pathetic jokes. Molly laughed and hugged me, telling my I had gotten taller.

"Try to keep that down," I muttered as I walked into the compartment and sat down. "Well, let's just say it will be a miracle if I make it home by Christmas. I've always known, I suppose, that she was connected to me but I never figured she was my actual mum." I said quietly.

Molly smiled. "You'll always be our friend, Crucia. No matter what."

I smiled. "I know that much. The rest, I'll just have to figure out in due time…"