The brakes squealed loudly as the train stopped in the station. My father leaned forward and glanced out the window. His graying blond hair was cut short and slicked back away from his forehead.

"Looks like we're here," He said. His voice was deep and I felt myself wanting to run from the compartment and loose myself in the crowd, but I knew I'd never get away. He stood and opened the door, I stood and slung my shoulder bag on and followed him out into the narrow hall.

"Watch your step sir," A plump conductor said as my father stepped down. He looked at me, "And you miss." I smiled my thanks and hopped down after my father. We walked quickly to the baggage cars and waited for my luggage. I'm sure my father had something to do with their quick locating of my luggage. A trolley was loaded up with my large trunk on the bottom, topped with two messenger bags of money my father thought ingenious to bring along, and angled across the front of Zexion's cage was my guitar case.

Zexion ruffled his black feathers and let out a deep hoot as I pushed the trolley along behind my father. He walked quickly, looking from side to side for anyone who was not a muggle and searched for my Uncle. I wasn't concerned, no one would dare attack my father he was too high in the ministry for anything to happen to him, but also he and his brother, my uncle, were protected by another, much more powerful source.

"Donavon!" My father called, snapping me back into attention before I plowed into a long, blond haired boy about my age.

"Demetrius, my brother!" Uncle Donavon called back. They shook hands and pulled each other in for a hug. Donavon looked at me, "Ah Elvira! The last time I saw you, you were only knee high and in diapers." He pushed the blond haired kid forward. "This is your cousin Lucious." Lucious smirked at me until his father smacked him in the back of the head, "Remember your place." Uncle Donavon lectured.

"Hello. Uncle Demetrius, Elvira," He said through clenched teeth. Our dads ignored it and immediately starting walking.

"The car is parked out front," Donavon announced, "Will you be staying for dinner?" He asked hopefully. My father shook his head.

"I'm to see her there and then leave."
"Very well. Though I do wish you could stay," Donavon said, he looked up to my father, "We haven't talked in a long time." And somehow I had a feeling the conversation was going to be about Lucious and myself. We walked quickly through the station and I noticed Lucious examining my luggage.

"What is that?" He asked, pointing at my guitar case.

"It is an extremely powerful magical device that keeps away my enemies," I said, being a smart ass. He stared at me. I heard my father and uncle stifle laughter. "It's an acoustic guitar you twit." Needless to say he did not speak to me again as we loaded my items into the trunk of the car and during the duration of the ride.

The Malfoy Manor was just as amazing as I remember it being. It was located deep in the country, almost as secluded as Hogwarts I was told. The long drive twisted through tall oak and maple trees and came to a stop at a large stone fence. The wrought iron gate was enough to make me get out and act touristy and take fifty pictures. I resisted the urge and sat still in the car, watching the forest go by. I thought at one point I caught sight of a centaur but it could just be my eyes playing tricks.

The Manor itself was at least a half a mile after the gate. The huge stone slabs at the base of the house made me wonder how many people had helped build this house before the muggles became so technologically advanced. As the house went up to the second and third stories the stones became smaller but the house was just as magnificent. The windowpanes were all black and the glass on the western sides reflected the setting sun. The few balconies were surrounded fences made by the same wrought iron as the gate.

The front door was black as well; glass windows were placed carefully along the side of the front door and in a straight line across the top. The compacted stone steps that led up to the front door were a mesh of grays ranging from dark to light. Along the dark roof there were gargoyles sneering down at us.

I carried my one shoulder bag on one shoulder and my guitar on the other and pulled my trunk along behind me. My father carried the two messenger bags. When we came into the house four house elves rushed forward to take my bags. I handed one my shoulder bag and another my trunk.

"Thank you," I said and turned to return to the group.

"Miss," One called in a squeaky voice. I turned around.

"Yes?"

"Your other bag?" She said. I remembered my guitar strapped across my back. I hesitantly took it off and handed it over.

"Be very careful with it," I warned her. She nodded and the house elves went up the stairs.

The foyer was a vast room with the ceiling around the edges at least fourteen feet high. The floor was shining white marble, but in the center of the room the floor took shape of a huge, shining black dragon that coiled up beneath the break in the ceiling that allowed you to see up to the second and third floors. The walls on the first floor foyer were made of the same stone as the outside of the house. The stairway that curved up against the wall to my left was made of the mixture of gray stones with an intricately designed rail.

Donavon and Lucious continued to the next room where I could see my Aunt Victoria waiting for us to enter and I noticed my father's hesitation.

"Elvira," He said before I could follow them, "I'm going to leave now." I looked down at my feet. "I will come to visit for Christmas and I will write to you as often as I can." I nodded, still not looking at him. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. I squeezed my eyes shut tight and fought against the knot in my throat. "I know a lot's happened and I hope you'll be able to forget everything while you're here." He let me go and was out the door before I could protest.

"Maybe we should talk about it to her later," I heard my aunt say quietly. I sighed, fighting back my sobs. The click of her shoes on the floor told me she was approaching. I swallowed one more time and turned to face her. "Let me show you to your room Elvira," She said. We walked up the high flight of stairs and onto the second floor balcony.

This level had a deep cherry wood floor and bright, almost unnaturally red walls. The doors were made of the same cherry wood color, but there were only two doors I could see before the hallways split and began to stretch around the sides of the house. The next set of stairs weren't as ominous as the stone set. They were simple cherry wood stairs leading to the third floor.

Aunt Victoria walked right past them and down the right hall. My room was at the end of the hall across from a private bathroom that would only open for me.

"Dinner will be served promptly at seven so please be dressed," She informed me. I nodded politely. She tried to smile, which wasn't helping me feel any better, "It will be alright." I nodded again, not trusting myself to speak. She turned to leave and I stepped through the door.

My room was very neat. Nothing was out of place. The walls were green and the floor was dark brown hardwood. The bed was in the center of two bay windows that looked out over the forest. The blankets were all black and green and looked so comfortable I could loose myself in the folds of down feathers and fabric.

There was a desk with a computer with high-speed Internet hookup, cleverly hidden behind the desk. My bags were placed carefully on the sofa at the foot of my bed and my guitar was lying on my bed with the tip of it on the pillow. I shall find that house elf and thank her personally. There were bookshelves filled with books on any subject and a few empty picture frames stood between the subjects. I turned away from that and decided it best to flop on my bed and test my hypothesis.

If this bed is as comfortable as it looks, I shall never leave it.

My hypothesis was correct.

I was plucking the strings on my guitar, not really carrying a tune, but just listening to the notes. I looked up at the clock. 6:50. I sighed and put my guitar on the bed with the tip on the pillows. I glanced at myself in the mirror by the door and decided to change my shirt; it was rumpled from the train ride. I put on a black tank top with fabric cross crossing on and under my chest. My jeans were a bit faded and my black high tops were scuffed up but I decided I looked fine.

I had my father's bright blue eyes. He told me they were the Malfoy eyes and I should always be proud of them. My long, black hair fell to the middle of my back and was cut in layers for bangs in the front. I had my mother's face and hair.

I sighed and started down the hallway towards the first floor dining room. I saw My Aunt wearing the knee length green dress she had on earlier and her long blond hair was pulled up in a tight bun. Lucious was wearing nice pants and a suit jacket like Uncle Donavon.

"Elvira!" My aunt said. She put her hand on my arm and seated me in the seat across from Lucious on the left side of the table next to hers. While the house elves brought out our dinner she placed her napkin on her lap and smiled, "How was the train ride?" She asked.

"Very muggle infested," I said. Uncle Donavon smiled.

"I still do not understand why your father wouldn't let you come by floo powder or have him apparate you here," She complained lightly. I knew deep down she really did not care, and that my being here meant nothing more than she had one more child to be responsible for. I wasn't sure about my Uncle though. He seemed to actually care whether I survived or not.

"So Lucious have you received your letter from Hogwarts yet?" He asked, changing the subject. I scooped up some potatoes and dropped them on my plate.

"Yes. It arrived by owl today along with Elvira's letter. I gave her letter to Herma so it would go to her room," He said. I seriously doubted that. "I was appointed prefect and have all the classes I signed up for."

"Excellent," Aunt Victoria said, taking a very small amount of roast beef and placing it in her mouth. "Now we have to go shopping for both of your supplies and I think Diagon Alley is just the place." Lucious made a face and Aunt Victoria ignored it.

I ate my dinner in silence while Uncle Donavon talked about work at he ministry. Lucious asked to be excused so he could go play a game of Quidditch with two of his friends before it became completely dark.

"Stick to the yard," Uncle Donavon warned. Lucious just nodded and it was then I heard the fireplace in the foyer whoosh and after a spurt of green flame a tall, slightly beefy guy appeared. After he stepped out another slightly shorter beefy guy followed him. They talked to Lucious for a moment and then they disappeared out of view. Aunt Victoria was still taking small bites of food and Uncle Donavon was becoming interested in the Daily Prophet that he hadn't read yet that day.

"May I be excused?" I asked, wiping my face with my napkin. Aunt Victoria pretended not to hear me.

"Yes," Uncle Donavon said, not looking up from his paper. I stood up and walked quickly out of the room.

"She's such an odd child," My Aunt said, thinking I was out of hearing distance. I rolled my eyes and walked up the flight of stairs.