Prologue:
It was a warm July afternoon, the sun was beautiful outside, but of course, Hydra, lying in her bed, did not care much about it, not that day, not while she was in that house, that house ...
It was funny how the place where she was born and raised was never really her home, she always felt better in any other corner of the world, except there, she had no idea what was going on in that place and did not want to.
That's why whenever she went home on vacation, she soon left, planning trips with her friends, or something else, her mother did not like, but her father was more than happy not having
her there, at least it was how she felt, the only sad part was her brother, she had always loved her brother very much, but he could not be more different from her in many ways, in fact, worse than that, he could not be more like his father, it bothered her deeply, but it did not diminish her desire to be close to him, after all, he was not to blame, she thought, it was all her father's fault that made him like this, but then, why was she so different?
Chapter 1
THE DIAGON ALLEY
- Master Hydra, Master Hydra, Master Lucius sent Dobby to come and call you.
Hydra opened her eyes and saw the small, poorly dressed house-elf with whom she had always had a great affection, pity and guilt for the way her family treated him, he was standing in the doorway of her room, with the same expression of fear he always had on.
- Dobby, thank you, I'll be right there...- Hydra saw that Dobby did not move - You can go Dobby, I'll be right there – She repeated.
- Master Hydra, Dobby cannot move until Master Hydra leave the room and follow Dobby, Dobby cannot, he cannot.
The Elf looked afraid and desperate, speaking in a voice that showed great agony.
- No, Dobby, no problem, see, I'm getting up already.
One more of her father's tricks, he knew very well that she would not go without it. Hydra stood up from her bed in annoyance; she took a quick look in the mirror next to it.
She looked like someone who spent the whole day sleeping, her mother would surely complain about this, she was sure, but Narcissa did not seem to remember that when she let Lucius send the Elf to force Hydra to do something that she did not want, so, she had it coming.
She fixed her hair a little and followed Dobby down the long, dark corridor and down the stairs to one of the family living rooms.
There, she found her father sitting in a large dark green velvet chair, he was quiet, she only saw the back of his light blond hair, and he did not seem to know she was even there. Facing him in two other green velvet chairs, were her mother, Narcissa, and her brother, Draco, with a fourth empty chair between them.
"You can go, elf," he said without even looking at the poor Dobby, just waving his hand.
Dobby made a reverence and left, always looking desperate to get out of his master's presence.
"Hydra, sit down, I need to have a talk to you," Said Lucius, without turning to look at his daughter.
Hydra moved towards the empty chair, seeing the serious expressions in her mother's face, she understood, who could be happy with that man around? It was not that Hydra did not love her father, she did, at least, she felt something she thought was love, but her displeasure with his actions made this love become cold and distant, just as cold and distant as her father was...
- Well, you did not have to ask the poor Dobby to wait for me, I was coming ..." she said in a polite tone as she sat down.
- No, you wouldn't, you would be the same insolent little girl that you always are, and make me wait," Lucius interrupted in a serious, yet calm, tone.
- What do you want? - Hydra asked, becoming more impatient and disgusted with the conversation.
- Mind your tone; you are not talking to a house elf! - Lucius shrugged his shoulders and looked at her with almost as much contempt as he would look at Dobby.
- No, I would never talk to a house elf like that. – Hydra was used to fight with her father like this, but her mother never seemed to get used to it.
- Hydra, Lucius, please! – Said her mother, after seeing Lucius's angry expression, Narcissa looked nervous and agitated with her hands clenched.
- Sorry, Mom – Said Hydra with a fake (very fake) smile on her face.
Lucius leaned back in his chair and spoke politely, while drinking from his goblet, full of firewhiskey.
- Some of my colleagues came to talk to me, they asked me why my own daughter, me, being a Hogwarts governor, was not studying there, but at a school in France - Lucius continued, with the same serious and calm tone as before.
- And you told them that it was because you preferred that no one knew of my existence? - Her ironic tone always made Narcissa and Draco hold their breath to see Lucius reaction, the accelerated rhythm of her heart did not follow the acidity and freedom of her tongue, she was afraid, but she would never let her father know that, of course...
- Hydra, please, daughter, do not say that, please! – Narcissa asked in a crying voice that made Hydra regret what she did, she always had this weakness, could not bear to see her mother afraid or sad, most of the time, at least...
- I'm sorry, that's not what I meant, I mean, did you say that the reason is because I asked you to study at a school abroad so I could see new cultures? - Hydra now spoke in a calm, polite voice to Lucius.
- Yes, I've said that over and over again, but they insist on saying it's bad for Hogwarts image, as if I somehow thought it is inferior to Beauxbatons, saying that this was a scandal inside the ministry and that Cornelius himself would not like it - Lucius looked highly annoyed at this, as if he could see the people talking, his eyes showing the contempt he felt for them.
- That's ridiculous, why would the Minister of Magic care where I'm studying or not? It doesn't make any sense at all.
- You do not understand how things work, Hydra, if I could I would have sent you and your brother to Durmstrang, there you would have been taught according to your status, but you and your mother insisted differently... But now that has changed, I cannot tolerate these rumors anymore, they are damaging my image, our image and I cannot and will not lose my position in Hogwarts.
- What does that mean? - Hydra now had a look of panic on her face; it could not be what she thought it was...
-That I've talked to your principal and to Dumbledore, that incompetent old man that at least did not piss me off this time, he agreed to have you in Hogwarts this year...
Those last words were like a knife that hurt Hydra from the inside, that could not be true, she would not leave her beloved school in her fourth year to join her brother at Hogwarts, a place where everyone knew her last name and would always look at her as a person who thinks she was superior to others, like her family did, it was the last thing that she wanted, to be recognized as a Malfoy, to leave her friends, that could not be true...
- No, father, please, don't, I do not want to leave my school, please, I give you no problem there, think about that, please, let me stay in my school; I do not want to leave, please...
Hydra cried uncontrollably and was comforted by her mother, who appeared beside her chair hugging her, Draco remained motionless, as if he was afraid to speak.
- Silence, enough crying, I give the orders in this house and everything is already decided, your former director and Dumbledore had been already warned, your trip to Hogwarts is already certain, there is no return - Lucius was extremely irritated as he spoke these words and tapped his fist on the arm of the chair.
- Hydra, my dear, mama studied there, it's a great school, you'll like it, I'm sure - Narcissa spoke in a sweet but at the same time desperate voice.
- You're going to like it, sis, there are some people there that really makes me want to leave that place, that's for sure, but in Slytherin there are some pure blood people, Hydra, I can introduce you to those people, you'll like them - Draco said, speaking for the first time since Hydra had entered the room, in an unsuccessful attempt to console his sister.
- I do not want to go to Slytherin, I do not want to go to Hogwarts, you cannot do this to me! – Hydra screamed angrily at their parents.
- Not only you can, as you will, I am your father; you are underage and will do what I tell you! Here, this is your letter of acceptance - Lucius had a calm voice and a smile on his face, he loved when Hydra felt overpowered, when she had no choice but to obey him, it was a great pleasure that he had. He gave her the envelope with a red seal and the Hogwarts stamp to her, her hands were shaking.
- That's what we're going to see - Hydra ran off towards her room, left her mother and Draco calling for her, flew down the hall without caring about anything or anyone.
She cried for the rest of the day, Dobby went to her room during the day, giving her snacks, sent by Narcissa, but she refused to eat, did not feel hungry, she actually felt nothing, just sadness, how would she leave her school? Her friends? Her home? Her quidditch Team? She was a goalie, her team had been champions the year before, her captain was counting on her, she could not disappoint them all.
She had the Hogwarts letter open on the bed.
Dear Miss Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that. Has a licensed transfer vow at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We are attaching a list of necessary books and equipment. The school year begins on September 1st.
Regards,
Minerva McConagall. Substitute Director.
The next day arrived very fast, Hydra slept all night, having nightmares, in one of them, she arrived at a dark and cold castle where everyone looked at her and laughed, saying that she was not welcome there, that she should go away.
- Enough is enough Hydra, I'm not going to let you just lie on this bed like it's the end of the world anymore, you can be extremely dramatic when you want.
It was Narcissa's voice, irritated, she pointed her wand at Hydra's bed and pulled the sheets off, but Hydra did not move.
- Look at you, such a beautiful young girl, and full of dark circles around your eyes, get up now, we're going to the diagon alley.
- I'm not going anywhere and you cannot force me. - Hydra did not even look at Narcissa, her head was tucked into the pillow.
- I can and I will. - Narcissa used a spell with her wand that Hydra didn't know, and lifted her from the bed, she floated her in the air.
- Mom, get me out of here now! - Hydra screamed, trying to reach for her wand, but it was on the table, out of reach, and even if it wasn't, she knew she would be expelled from Hogwarts or anywhere else if she used magic outside school now, and then she would have to live there forever.
- Do you want me to force you to dress up or will you just do it yourself? Your choice, Hydra... - Narcissa seemed extremely pleased with herself, as if she was too clever to think about it.
- I'll go, okay? Now get me down! - Hydra hated admitting defeat, but she knew she would have to bow to her mother's will for now.
Narcissa gently got Hydra down and set her in her bed.
- You have 40 minutes to be neatly tidied up in the dining room, I want you to look flawless, we're going to meet a lot of your father's acquaintances, probably and I do not want them to see you like this. - Narcissa's petulant look was a characteristic of hers, and she was doing it very well at that moment.
- Wow, because that would really be the end of the world – Said Hydra, while adjusting her hair.
- NOW HYDRA! - Said Narcissa.
Hydra was more afraid when her mother got irritated than when her father did, Lucius was annoyed by her so often that she thought it was normal, but her mother was usually very calm and her tone indicated that it was better for Hydra to do what she was asking, and do it fast.
- I'm going ... - She said, running towards the bathroom.
Narcissa left the room and Hydra started getting ready to go out.
If Hydra inherited a quality from her mother, or was it a defect? She was not sure, was that she was very vain sometimes, she did not need Narcissa to threaten her, she would never leave the house without being less than impeccable.
She chose a black silk robe on the outside and purple on the inside, tighted on her waist. Then, she used her favorite magic object, the "make-up mirror", she only had to look and think clearly, of how she wanted her makeup to be and she was done.
She also tied her hair up, her very long and blond hair, and put on the a hat that tied up with the outfit, when she looked in the mirror, she was extremely satisfied with what she saw, even smiled a little.
Hydra was a beautiful girl, very beautiful indeed, perhaps one of the prettiest in her entire school, she inherited this from her mother, she knew that despite the bitter expression she always wore, her mother was very fair.
Hydra had a very light blond hair, so long, that if reached her waist, and gray eyes, both characteristics of the Malfoys, but she was prettier than any Malfoy she had ever met, her face was long, she was a tall girl for her fourteen years, her skin was very white and soft. This was a great contribution to her vanity, not that she thought she was better than other people were, as did her family, for having pure blood, Hydra was a good girl, very different from her whole family.
- Master Hydra, Dobby came to fetch Master Hydra into the dining room, the master told Dobby to bang his head against the wall until Master Hydra came with him.
- DO NOT DO THIS DOBBY! I'm going with you, come on - said Hydra in a hurry.
Hydra took her wand, put it in the pocket of her robe, and followed with the house elf, she hated when her father used poor Dobby to do what he wanted her to do, he knew of her compassion with Elf and loved to explore that in an evil way.
Arriving in the large dining room, her family was already waiting for her, her father at the end of the table facing the door, Narcissa on his right and Draco on his left.
- Good morning Hydra, glad you decided to join us - Lucius said with an even falser smile than Hydra's had the day before and she knew very well when her father was being ironic.
- Yes, Daddy, you and mom made such a sweet invitation, I could not resist - Hydra replied with the same irony.
She sat in her seat next to her mother, and seeing all the food and drink flying across the table, remembered how hungry she had been, she had not eaten since the morning before.
After breakfast was over, Lucius announced that everyone should prepare to leave, so the whole family went into the living room, where, in the night before, Hydra had the saddest news of her life.
They stopped in front of the fireplace.
- I really hate traveling by flu powder - Said Narcissa, rolling her eyes.
- Unfortunately they still cannot apparate, Narcissa – Said Lucius in a slightly ironic tone.
- I know, I know, but I always get dust all over my robes...
- Mom, use this potion, it will prevent any kind of dust or dirt in your robes - Hydra said as she took out a small potion from her robes.
- Where did you get that from? - Draco asked, his eyes wide and surprised.
- I made it, actually I perfected a cleansing potion - Hydra replied.
- That your natural gift for potions, see? You'll make a great Slytherin. - Narcissa looked very proud as she spoke.
- Yes, Slytherin ... - Now Hydra rolled her eyes.
The idea of going to the same house as her whole family made Hydra tremble, she'd never liked what she'd hear about the house, though she knew it was not the house that made the wizard, but the wizard himself, and that there were good people in Slytherin, unfortunately, so far, she had not known any, in fact, in the company of Lucius and his friends, she had known almost no good person, she only met nice people when she went to Beauxbatons.
- Come on, Hydra, you first, - Lucius said with an authoritative tone.
- Use the potion - Narcissa said.
Hydra used the potion as well as everyone else in the family and then, positioned herself inside the living room fireplace, got some flu powder from her mother, spilled the powder on the fireplace floor which made her be shrouded In a sort of green fire, and said the words "diagon alley," after feeling all her body and everything else around her turn for a while, she found herself inside the fireplace of one of the shops in the diagon alley, she stood outside the fireplace and waited for her family to arrive.
- Oh, young Miss Malfoy, in my shop, what an honor - Said a wizard with a rather frightening appearance, with white hair and greenish eyes.
- Oh, yes, hello, my parents are coming right after me, - Hydra announced, the man shivered.
- No problem, Miss Malfoy, look for anything you want in the store, I am at your disposal - Announced the wizard.
Lucius was the first one to appear in the fireplace after Hydra.
- Oh, Alfred, - De said, looking at him like he did to almost everyone, especially those in a position inferior to him, with contempt, as if they were only there to serve him and nothing else.
- Mister Malfoy, it's such pleasure, such a pleasure - The wizard was saying, bowing slightly to Lucius, - what can I do for you today?
- Mind your own business, that's all you can do for me - Lucius replied angrily.
The wizard immediately bowed again and backed away.
Narcissa came just after Draco and, together, the four of them left the store to the bustling diagon alley, what a beautiful view it was, it was full of students and their parents, going up and down the street, coming in and out of the stores, all talking animatedly and with many bags in their hands.
After a little time walking down the street and seeing the shops, Lucius informed that they should separate Narcissa and Hydra went to the store "Madam Malkin - Clothes for all occasions", where Narcissa would buy a school robe for Hydra and Draco and Lucius would solve some issues, and then buy the books that he two of them would need for this school year.
- Madam Malfoy, what a surprise to you here today! - A witch was happily walking toward them; the other shop guests looked at both of them with curiosity.
- Madam Malkin, I came here today to buy school robes for my daughter, - Narcissa said, pleasing the witch.
- Yes, your daughter, she is getting prettier and prettier!
- Thank you Madam Malkin, it's a pleasure to see you too, - Said Hydra, this was the only store she visited regularly, she always went straight to this shop and did not go into the other stores in the Diagon Alley.
- And always so polite! -She said with joy, - But your school robes are not always bought in France? I thought you had a specialist who made the uniforms for your school, Beauxboton, isn't it?"
- Beauxbatons. – Corrected Hydra with a certain sadness, she would not go back there that year...
- No, Madam Malkin, this year Hydra will go to Hogwarts with her brother, so we need new robes - Narcissa said in a slightly loud tone, making everyone in the shop listen.
- But is it, really? Good, Hogwarts is a great school! I never understood why Miss Malfoy studied so far away from here.
- To Know a new culture and meet new people, of course, - Narcissa said, interrupting Madam Malkin's thought.
This was the official excuse, opening horizons, meeting new cultures, but Hydra knew that her father had a reason to leave her in Beauxbatons and she had another. He wanted her daughter far away, where her behavior could not embarrass him, and Hydra wanted to stay away from where her surname was well known, even though, even in France, the fame of the Malfoys was known.
- Come on, Miss Malfoy, let's take your measurements, you seem to have grown so much since you made your last party outfit.
- Half an inch, I'm actually 5'6 now - Hydra said quickly.
- If you continue to grow like that, you'll be as big as a giant, - Madam Malkin said with a laugh, Narcissa seemed not to like the comment, did not like her daughter to be compared to what she considered "inferior creatures." But she did not say anything about it, Just added a request.
- On second thought, perhaps we should make a new party garment for you too, after all your birthday is coming and you have to be beautiful for your party."- Narcissa was always eager to buy clothes.
- Yes, I have new models that will look beautiful! Although with a girl like that any garment looks wonderful - Hydra did not care if the compliment was fake or not, she liked it the same way.
This kind of commentary also made Narcissa happy, Hydra's beauty was her pride, a proof of the superiority of her "Black family" blood with the noble blood of the Malfoys, an indisputable proof of what pure magical blood can do, at least it was that kind of idiocy that she always says to herself and to others, Hydra thought.
Narcissa ordered two party robes for Hydra and one for her, as well as the Hogwarts robes for Hydra.
- The Beauxbatons robes are much prettier. - Said Hydra, watching her new school robes, simple black robes, without many details and a hat, plus a winter cape.
- Yeah, you're right about that, but there is nothing I can do about that, Hydra, - Narcissa said sympathetically.
- Mother, maybe if you talked to Dad ...
- No, Hydra, he's already settled, and it's all settled now, that's enough about that, ok?
Narcissa was getting impatient and Hydra knew that, so she decided not to talk about it any longer at that moment, she asked Narcissa if she could visit some stores while she was buying new feathers and parchments for Hydra and Draco.
- Okay, but meet me in 20 minutes at Gringotts door, I need to make a withdrawal with your father, - She said, checking the bags and not paying much attention to her.
- Okay, 20 minutes without delay,- Hydra repeated cheerfully, smiling and walking out quickly before Narcissa changed her mind.
It had been a long time since Hydra had explored the diagon alley, all her school purchases were made in a very similar place in France, her books were all in French and were not easy to find in London.
She decided to go to her favorite childhood store, the ice cream parlor "Florean Fortescue", her tutor used to take her there, to talk freely about everything that Hydra wanted to know, things that would be considered forbidden in her home, such as the Muggle world, Hydra always had a great fascination with their world, especially with their music, but her parents could never know it.
Her tutor was the person who taught Hydra all about how to be good and act right, she was very grateful to her and always visited her in France, where she now lived and where she came first.
After eating her favorite ice cream, she decided to enter the store "Gambol & Japes - Magic Games".
While watching the love potions and trying to mentally remember all the ingredients that it had, she noticed that three boys looked at her, she observed them and saw that they were a pair of ginger twins with a friend, the two twins were wearing second-handed robes and the other boy had a black skin with equally black hair, she saw when one of the twins came towards her and disguised, looking to the potions again.
- Do you like love potions? - Asked the redheaded boy, the twin of the other boy behind him.
Hydra blushed instantly.
- I ... I do, I mean, not love potions, potions in general, - She replied.
- I do not like them, they're boring to make, - the boy replied, stroking his hair.
- They are not, you just have to know how to prepare them carefully,- Hydra said without looking into the boy's eyes.
- If you say so...
Hydra noticed that it was time to find Narcissa and knew she could not be late.
- I have to go,"- she said as she left without waiting for the answer, leaving the boy standing still and startled by her attitude. As his friends laughed.
Hydra was feeling a bit disappointed, she wanted to know a little more about them, they would probably be colleagues in Hogwarts, after all, they seemed to have the same age as her and probably attended Hogwarts, like almost all the young wizards of England.
- You're five minutes late, - Narcissa said, checking her watch.
- Sorry, Mom, I get distracted in some stores, - Hydra said, disguising her smile, still in the euphoria of what she had just done.
- Come on, I need to get money in our safe.
Hydra and her mother entered Gringotts and were promptly taken to the Malfoy's family safe, which was, as usual, full of galleons, sickles and knuts, her mother took what she needed, Hydra had always found the trips to the safes amusing, although the goblins are not that fun, not at all.
When they got to Gringotts entrance, Hydra and Narcissa let out a cry of exclamation, they were both shocked at what was coming at her, her father, filthy, with blood on his forehead and tousled hair.
- Merlin's beard, what happened to you, Lucius? - Narcissa looked shocked at her husband, who was adjusting his robes.
- WEASLEY, that shame for the witch blood, that damn blood traitor! - Lucius looked furious.
- Dad and he fought with the Weasley Senior... - Draco said quickly, receiving an ugly look from Lucius.
- LUCIUS! I do not believe what if any of your friends had seen it? Think about what they would say about that! - Narcissa said in a completely irritated tone.
- I'm not interested in knowing what might or might not have happened, Narcissa, I've already bought all the books and I've seen enough, we're going home, now! - Lucius replied, trying to keep control of his voice tone and not cause a scene.
Hydra knew better than to upset her father at that moment, though she was dying to laugh and congratulate Mr. Weasley, she had heard of him, her father despised him, and his family, even more than he despised Muggles. That made them extremely interesting in Hydra's eyes.
"Maybe I can meet some Weasley at Hogwarts," thought Hydra as she walked towards the same shop she'd came to on the diagon alley, the trip was not as bad as she'd imagined after all."