Chapter 1

Dear Karen,

It's going to be a pleasure having you attending Hogwarts. When I heard the news, I nearly jumped out my skin! I never thought Father would agree to this, but I'm so glad he did. With your witchcraft in the classes, you'll be able to excel!

So begin to pack your bags because the big day will come sooner than you think!

Love,

Draco, your dearest brother

Karen Melanie Malfoy carefully traced her brother's name with the tip of her pale finger. She had always loved the look of Draco's writing. It curled and curved in the most elegant way. She remembered when she was little she had bugged the poor boy in spending all his free time teaching her how to write like that. And at night, she would practice with a flashlight under her sheets so her mother wouldn't realize she hadn't gone to sleep yet. Even though the determined girl tried so hard her fingers would be sore in the morning, her lettering would not be nearly as beautiful. Karen smiled at the thought. Somehow, the appearance of this mere ink scratch could bring her so much comfort. It had been so long since she had last seen her brother.

FLASHBACK

"Daddy, may I please go say good-bye to Draco?" an 11 year-old girl with dark auburn asked sheepishly. It was amazing how a girl almost 12 would act so shy and anxious in front of her own father.

"I am not your Daddy, Karen," a man replied in a tone that could bring chills down anyone's back, his sliver eyes narrowed and boring into the already frightened girl, "You should remember that by now. It is Mr. Malfoy. That is my name."

"But..." a hurt expression embraced the young girl's pretty features.

"I do not have a daughter like you. You are just a useless slave girl we hired to keep the fire burning…"

"That's not true!" the girl suddenly screamed.

Without a farther word, the man slapped her across the face. Then turned around to leave, leaving the girl in tears.

FLASHBACK ENDED

The same girl with the same dark auburn hair and the same cloudy blue eyes touched her left cheek as if it had been burnt. 'That was where he slapped me,' she whispered to herself, her voice crackled as if she was going to cry, 'It still hurts.' Her eyes immediately squeezed shut as they began to blur with unwanted tears. Her father was right. She was useless. She was weak and unintelligent. She didn't belong in the Malfoy family at all. Even her appearance didn't match the rest of her family. They all had silky blonde hair that stay straight at anytime, whereas her own which was wild and abnormal looking.

FLASHBACK

"Luscious, we need to something about Karen's hair," a woman with a wrinkled up nose announced. Her voice tainted with disgust, as if her own daughter's hairstyle was a disgrace.

"We can cut it short and bleach it blonde," her husband suggested.

"No," the woman said, "No girl in this family has short hair."

"Well, you have to admit, this crazy red clown hat she has on her head doesn't exactly cut it either."

"I know! That's why I want to change it."

"Do whatever you like with her. Nothing can be worse than this mess."

"But we need to discuss this thoroughly. Her appearance means a lot to the posture of the name Malfoy."

"She is the one cursed with this problem. Why do we have to worry about it?"

"Because she is our daughter."

"She doesn't look like us at all. Why don't we just throw her away into some orphanage?"

"No, she is our daughter and Draco's twin sister! The Malfoy blood runs through her veins!"

"Well let's cut it and be done with it all."

There was a pause.

A cough was heard from the nearby couch. The couple had obviously so caught up in their conversation to realize that their daughter was awake and could not help but hearing every word they had spit out of their foul mouths.

FLASHBACK ENDED

Her father had suggested killing his own daughter. It was true. Karen had heard every single symbol with her own two ears, though she would give anything to not have heard it at all. She was a waste of their precious time. They should have just killed her from the moment they saw her, rather than murdering her then or now, it would have hurt less. She remembered her younger self sprinting up the stairs, wanting nothing more but to get away. Her parents could only stare as she stormed away with fright and anger. It was then that the young Karen ran to her brother, for the first time. Actually he was the only person in the Malfoy family she could have gone to at that moment. Her brother held her tight. He never knew what happened, but he was there for her. He wrapped his strong arms around the quivering girl and told her again and again that it was all okay. Karen felt strong, as if she was not a scared little kid, not anymore. She believed that no one could harm her if she was in her brother's arms. And that feeling felt great, no, more than just great, it felt wonderful. It was a feeling no one could put a price on, the feeling of never wanting to let go.

FLASHBACK

"Draco, why do you have to go?" the 11-year-old Karen asked the night before her brother left for Hogwarts.

"I'm going to a school, you know, where you learn stuff," he explained gently.

"Then, why don't you come back after each day? I've seen Muggle children do that," I asked, pouting, "I don't want you to leave me for a whole year!"

"It's a special school, Karen," Draco said, annoyed with his sister's attitude. She was a big girl now. She should be able to handle herself.

"I know, but…" the auburn haired Malfoy looked down at her feet. She was not sure if she should tell her brother about the night where her father threatened to kill her. She knew she couldn't be all alone with her parents. They would treat her like dirt and she would have no one to talk to.

"Karen, I love you and I would never hurt you," Draco said, suddenly sounding serious, "But I have to go to this school, or I may never by a Malfoy."

At that statement, Karen knew she had to let go. She wasn't a Malfoy, but she couldn't drag her brother along with her as well. She knew what it felt like to be excluded. So she never wanted her dear brother to feel the same way as her.

"You're right, Draco," Karen smiled weakly, though her voice was soaked with sorrow.

But her brother was too excited to notice. He smiled back and pulled the girl into a tight embrace. Karen allowed herself to sink into his arms for one last time. She had memorized the exact smell of his shampoo, the exact facial expression he wore and the exact feeling of his heart thumping against hers, in a soft, tender rhythm. And to Karen, it sounded like the sweetest music she had ever heard.

FLASHBACK ENDED

A/N: So what do ya'll think? This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, so send me some reviews plzz D!