'Your breakfast, miss.' The voice of the servant sounded quietly as he rested the large silver plate on the table beside her chair and placed the newspaper in her lifted hand. She took "The Daily Prophet" without turning her head to face the servant and uttered a single phrase: 'Thank you."

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Catherine Darcy came from an old and wealthy foreign family. She had been brought up as an aristocrat witch, her parents having been pureblooded, though it had been up to her mother to raise her since her father had died when she was just one month old. The name Darcy held the same prestige both in the muggle and the wizarding world.

Her character was one that intrigued most people. Although she'd been brought up like royalty, having had everything she'd wished for, she lacked the snobbism of other youngsters such as herself. The noble rank could be easily observed in her way of clothing and manner of walking, in her air and speech, but it was only the requested etiquette everyone expected from a person of high birth and fortune. When in the company of friends, however, she was nothing more than normal; "a very pleasant girl" as most people described her.

Despite the countless advantages that her position had offered her over the years, Catherine had had a difficult childhood. Her mother loved her more than anything, and had tried her best at mothering the young girl, but, distressed with the loss of her husband so early in life and left with the responsibilities of the handling both the family name and affaires, she was seldom around and thus, Catherine was basically left in the care of her older brother, Phillip.

She was taught the basic spells and charms when she was no more than 5 years old, and the magical talent inherited from both her mother and father didn't delay in showing. She soon became able to study on her own in any branch of magic known to the wizarding world, so that when she first set foot into Hogwarts six years ago, she already had more knowledge in all areas than most seven year students.

However, life had not been easy for young Catherine Darcy. More or less alone for all her life, Catherine was used to standing on her own two feet and relying solely on herself. It was ultimately what set her apart from other rich kids: whenever she needed help she did not run to her parents, she worked for it and succeeded in achieving her goals by solely using her own resources and influence. A series of events followed her entrance at Hogwarts, all of them triggered by the acknowledgment that there will always be a mortal peril lurking in the shadows waiting for her; a mortal peril named Voldemort.

The news of the powerful and evil wizard being after her life came as no surprise to Catherine that day during the first year when Dumbledore had asked her to join him in the office with the intention of warning her against the fate she was to come across. She had always known the background information of her father's death and the true reason she was still alive; she had always been all too aware of the inevitable that was once due to happen. The difference between her and Harry Potter was that she didn't seem the least concerned with what was going to happen and what she was to do the day of the encounter. Catherine had always stricken everybody as a laid-back, confident and unconcerned girl.

Kind, friendly, always joyful and often ironic towards those who stepped on her nerves, she was adored by many people and many struggled to find a fault in her. Truth is that faults she had many but they only added to her charm and disturbed no one who called themselves her friends. Truly selfless, she always put her friends first and was ready to give them anything. Yet there was one thing Catherine had never been keen on giving up and that thing was power. Power she had always had and known to use since infancy. Probably the biggest fault in her was her determination to achieve her goals; she'd stop at nothing to get what she wanted.

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She listened as the servant left the room, then lowered her hand and unfolded the morning newspaper. She always read "The Daily Prophet", especially since Voldemort's return two years ago. Little did she know that that morning she was to find an interesting reading in Rita Skeeter's column. As she read the headlines, her eyes fell upon a small title written in bold gothic letters: "Darcy and love-child shocker".

Her mouth fell slightly opened and she quickly turned to page five. Her name was no stranger to the headlines nowadays, however the specific use of words arose her interest in the article. She folded the paper so that she could better see the column and proceeded to read. An expression of shock and disgust slowly made its way across her face.

"Darcy and love-child shocker

We have recently had the immense pleasure of getting the opportunity to talk to Caitlin Langley, Gryffindor seventh-year student, who was kind enough to answer some of our questions regarding her recent publication regarding teenage sex. "

'What's happening to this world?' Catherine mumbled to herself. She had never taken to Caitlin and the girl always seemed keen to make some sly, indirect observation to her. As she read forward, her left brow started to make its way up in an expression of sheer disbelief and slight anger.

" 'So, Caitlin, we have all read your impressive essay expressing your views concerning sex at an early age. What gave you the idea of writing about such an odd subject, given teen's attitude towards the matter nowadays?'

'Well, it all started one day when my boyfriend suggested making the big move. That is when I first spoke my thoughts out loud. I told him one should wait till they are really in love. And true love always results in marriage so however archaic people may think my conceptions to be, I wish to wait until I get married to have sex. It is the right thing to do.'

'But how did you get these ideas? I mean, what made you embrace the idea of chastity until marriage?'

'Well I suppose it has to do with what I see around me every day, but it is primarily because of my mother's situation. You see, my mother was very young when she fell madly in love with this older man in France. She didn't know much about him, but she was swept away and gave herself to him. And that is how she got pregnant and had me. Only it turned out the man, a certain David Darcy was married. What is more, he even expected a child from his wife. The risks of having sex out of wedlock I understood immediately, but what ultimately made me adopt this attitude was seeing how this man's daughter, Catherine Darcy, a fellow student of mine, turned out to be. Promiscuity obviously runs in the family. I would not like to pass such a gene to my children. Maybe if I have the right attitude, there is a chance my children will escape the terrible urges that one can observe in specimens such as Catherine Darcy.' "

'Are you saying you are the illegitimate daughter of the Duke of Darcy? And Catherine's sister?'

'Half sister.' "

And the article went on for another page but all Catherine did was cast it aside in disgust.

'Mother fucker.'

Author's Note: merely the beginning, it'll get more interesting as the story unfolds