Chapter 1: Seneca

For a long time, we were normal. Nor. Mal. Well, okay, at least as normal as a family of witches and wizards can be. Not only that, but we were rich. I'll be the first to admit I was spoiled. Not rotten, but definitely spoiled. One of the oldest magical families in the U.S., we could trace our lineage back to the first known American Indian tribes on this land. We are true Americans, thank you.
So, we led fairly uneventful lives. Until Voldemort came back to his full power. That was when my father decided that, as purebloods, we were above muggle-borns and all that. I never accepted that and never will. Unfortunately, I was only thirteen and so without much say in the matter. My father became the first American to join the Dark Lord's ranks.
The summer after my third year at the Midwest Institute for Magical Children ("Gifted" Children to the outside world), my father planned a trip for us overseas to Lord V.'s home base. We'd be staying at some family's manor – the Malsomethingorothers. Yippy skippy and all that crap.
We arrived at the manor (I won't bore you with all the little details of the trip) in fairly silent conditions. I had accused my father of ruining my life and wouldn't even look at him; my step-mother and brother refused to take sides. Mr. Malfoy (I learned the name on the way over. My father thought it was important. Whatever.) met us at the gates. The boy standing next to him looked to be about my brother's age, seventeen.
The adults exchanged pleasantries then introduced the sons. My father ignored my existence, not that I cared. I would have gotten away from all presentations unscathed if it hadn't been for that damn Draco kid. "Who's that?" He nodded his head in my direction while I just glared at him.
"That," my father said, glancing at me quickly, "is my daughter Seneca." Draco's eyes flashed with surprise for a milli-second before settling back into their emotionless state. He knew something I didn't, and that bugged me. I mulled this over while we walked up to the house. By the time we got into the entrance hall, I was highly irritated.
We were shown to our rooms by two adorable little house-elves. Yes, I do happen to think house-elves are cute. Does that make me strange? Probably. Anyway, I checked out my brother Lucan's room first. It was striking, done up in shades of black and gray. My room was next.
The room was probably big enough to house three full-grown elephants with room to spare. Midnight blue curtains hung on three of the walls to hide the brick that the whole house was made of. A four-poster bed—large enough to get lost in with silvery curtains on every side—stood tall in one corner of the room. The plush carpet was an icy, dark blue; I didn't understand that, but there it was. A small table sat next to the bed with a giant dresser on the opposite wall, both done in a dark red-tinted wood to match the bed's frame. The entire wall opposite the door was a single, long window seat. The seat itself was upholstered in the same flowing silver as the bed's curtains; the curtains for the windows matched the midnight hangings on the walls. All in all, I fell in love at first sight.
"Wow, Sen, I think someone likes you." Lucan was standing just behind me in the doorway. "Did you see Karly and Dad's place? They've got a whole freakin' suite! Bedroom, bathroom, living room, and all done in maroon and ivory. It's amazing!"
These statements struck a chord in me. What exactly were we doing here? "But we had all this at home, Luke." I wondered quietly to myself if Lucan knew the same secret Draco did. When I faced him, there was a definite glint of almost-guilt in his eyes. "What are you guys hiding from me?"
He sighed in defeat. "I never can hide anything from you, can I? I wish I could tell you Sen, but I can't. Dad will tell you when he's ready."
"Oh, of course. Can't do anything without dear Father's permission," I replied scornfully. "Shit, Luke, when did he become the stupid freakin' dictator? Why do we have to be here? I wish he would just, like, go die or something and leave us alone!" I turned and stalked to the other side of the room, so I didn't see Lucan's reaction to my statement.
Flopping down on the window seat, I hastily wiped the tears threatening to spill from my eyes. "Sen, I know you're upset." Lucan sighed as he sat next to me and slipped his arm around my shoulders. "But there's no denying that Father has changed. I don't know what he'd do if he found out I told you."
"You're right, Luke. I'm not really mad at you, y'know. This whole situation just kinda sucks." I wiped my eyes one more time and settled into Luke. Before I even thought twice about it, I was sound asleep.