AN: Hey my fellow readers! Here's a new story! Let me know what you think! Review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Potter!
Lucius Malfoy was not a happy man. He had just received a letter from Minerva McGonagall stating that Draco had been bullying the Haley Potter all year. Of all the people Draco needed to have a problem with it needed to be the most famous wizard in the world. After the Dark Lord dropped dead beside her crib the entire wizarding world hailed to her every word.
He came up with a decision. He was going to take Draco to Haley's home to apologize. Not only would it look good for them but it was proper wizarding educate. The students had come home for summer holidays three days ago so it he thought it was safe to assume that Haley would be home.
The only problem was that he had no idea where she lived. So he headed over to the human resources department at the ministry. The lady was reluctant to help him when he said he wanted to see Haley but she eventually handed over the address when he told her that she and Draco had gotten off on the wrong foot at school and they wanted to make it right.
Soon he and Draco where walking down Privet Drive looking for number four.
"This place is weird," Draco whispered.
Lucius chuckled, "I actually feel sorry for Haley for living here." It was all neat and perfect. It was unnatural. "Ah! There's number four!" he said pointing to a house that looked identical to the rest.
The pair began to walk up to the door when Draco stopped in his tracks. Lucius looked at where is son was staring and saw a small figure with long black hair covered in mud, dirt, paint, and sweat working in the flower bed.
"Is that her?" Lucius asked in confusion. Draco nodded. He held onto Draco's shoulder and guided him in the direction of Haley.
They just stood silently behind her for a moment but when it became apparent that Haley didn't notice them Draco said, "Um, Potter?"
Haley gave a small shriek and stood up turning around with small garden in her grasp. When she saw Draco she said, "Geez! Malfoy, you nearly gave me a heart attack! I almost stabbed you with my shovel!" Then she gave him a confused look and looked up at his father and back. "What's going on?" Haley asked suspiciously.
Draco cleared his throat and said, "Um, well first of all thank you for not stabbing me with your shovel. Secondly, this is my father."
Haley looked at him oddly, "Um hi, yeah I kinda guessed that much but why are you here?"
"Draco had something he needed to tell you," Mr. Malfoy stated firmly.
Haley tossed her shovel into the garden and looked at Draco expectantly. "I'm sorry for my behavior at school. I shouldn't have treated you like that. I was wrong."
Haley stared at him for a moment in shock before shrugging, "Whatever. I'm used to it. Thanks though. You're the first one to apologize for doing it."
"Um no problem…" Draco said unsurely.
"GIRL!" They heard a bellow coming from inside the house.
"Bloody hell!" Haley muttered before taking one of each of the Malfoy's wrists and pulling them around the corner of the house. "Stay here or disapparate or something! My uncle can't see you!" She then ran back to the garden and got to work.
Lucius and Draco stayed still out of shock. They just listened to her and her uncle.
"Why isn't dinner ready yet?!"
"Because you said I wasn't allowed to come inside until I was done in the garden."
"That's no excuse! You've been out here for hours! Why aren't you done?!"
"Because you said I wasn't allowed to start the garden until I painted the fence. I wasn't allowed to paint the fence until I mowed the lawn."
"Don't back talk to me girl! Get in the house!"
They heard the door slam.
"Dad, what was that?" Draco asked.
Lucius pulled a coin out of his pocket and said, "Porticus." He then told Draco, "This portkey will take you home. Stay there with your mother. Tell her we might have a house guest this summer."
Draco nodded and took the coin.
Lucius put a notice me not charm on himself and watched the house through an open window. The first thing he saw was a fat lard of a kid laughing as he ate a doughnuts. A man dragged Haley into the room by her hair. "You should be a little more grateful you freak. When I ask you to do your chores I expect you to be done them. On time!" He slapped the girl so hard that she went reeling backwards. Lucius fingered his wand as he saw the scene. "No food for a week!"
"Daddy!" the pig called. "Can I hurt her? I had a tail because of her!"
"Of course you can Dinky Duddiums!" a horse like woman said as she entered the room.
The pig stood up and punched Haley in the stomach so hard that she fell to the ground in pain. From that he began kicking her.
Lucius was running to the front door and just vaguely heard Haley's uncle proudly say, "That's my boy! He could be a boxer!"
Lucius unlocked the door and took the charm off himself as he entered the living room.
"Who the devil are you?!" Vernon barked.
Lucius pulled out his wand and pointed it at him, "My name is irrelevant but if you ask most of the wizarding world they will tell you that I used to kill people like you for sport. Don't push me muggle!"
Dudley stopped kicking Haley and cowered behind a large chair. Lucius crossed to Haley and said, "Oh, Haley, here, let me help you up." Haley accepted his help and unevenly climbed to her feet.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You aren't staying here Haley. I cannot allow it. Where are your things? You're spending the summer with us," Lucius told her.
"I can't do that…" Haley tried to say.
"Haley, I refuse to leave any child to be abused. You're coming with me. I'm not giving you a choice here."
Haley gave him a cheeky grin, "You're kidnapping me?"
"If that's what it takes, yes, yes I am."
"My school supplies are in the cupboard under the stairs. It's locked. I have a few things in my bedroom as well."
"Alright let's go get them." After they got her trunk and broomstick out of the cupboard they got Hedwig and her clothes from her bedroom.
"You need new clothes," Lucius stated but Haley only shrugged.
"Alright, I'm going to apparate us to the manor. All you need to do is hold onto my arm."
Haley hesitated, "Are you sure this is a good idea? Dumbledore said there was a reason I needed to stay here."
"There is no reason good enough to justify the abuse or allow it to continue," he stated presenting his arm. After another moment Haley finally took it. They were soon in a large green and silver hall that looked homey and scary at the same time. She assumed this was the Malfoys' home.
She stayed very still and Lucius could tell that she was uncomfortable and scared. "This is our home. And for the rest of the summer it will be yours too," he told her in an attempt to calm her down. Haley still stayed still. "You don't need to be shy Haley. I brought you here for a normal life." Haley only nodded.
Lucius sighed and said, "How about we go find Draco and Narcissa? I'm sure she would like to meet you." He started walking in the direction of sitting room and noticed that Haley followed behind him but wouldn't get to close.
He opened the door and heard Narcissa say, "Oh! You're finally back! What is Draco talking about when he says we might have a house guest?"
"Narcissa, I'd like to introduce you to someone," he looked behind him but didn't see her. "She's around here somewhere," Lucius told her before sticking his head out the doorway and seeing Haley standing a few feet away. He hooked his finger in a motion to call her over. She slowly walked up to him and he put a hand gently on her shoulder and guided her into the room so Narcissa was right in front of her.
"Narcissa, this is Haley Potter."
Narcissa stared at Haley for a moment. She was covered in mud, paint, sweat, and what looked suspiciously like blood. She looked back at her husband who just nodded.
She turned her attention back to the girl and said, "Hello Haley. I'm Narcissa Malfoy. I'm Draco's mum."
Haley quietly whispered, "Hello Mrs. Malfoy."
"Haley will be staying here for the rest of the summer. And if Dumbledore tries to send her back to her relatives we will invite her over any other holiday she wants to spend here."
Narcissa gave her husband, "Not that I'm not happy to have another lady around, but may I ask why she's not with her family?"
"Her supposed family has been working her like a house elf, starving, and hurting her," Lucius informed her with a growl.
Narcissa gasped and looked at Haley. "Is this true?"
Haley shrugged and quietly said, "Kinda."
"I only watched the scene for five minutes. In that time I heard her unreasonably long list of chores that she was punished for being unable to complete. Her punishment was that she wasn't allowed food for a week and her uncle hit her and then allowed the boy to continue to hurt her."
"Oh merlin!" Narcissa whispered. She then looked at Haley and asked, "Haley, dear, when was the last time you ate?"
Haley shrugged.
"Haley, we need an answer," Lucius said firmly but not unkindly.
Then came a small whisper, "School."
"That was three days ago," Narcissa whispered to herself.
"I'll have the house elves make supper," Lucius said. "Haley, I need you to stay here with Narcissa." Haley nodded and he left.
Narcissa was at a loss of what to say. The girl seemed to have more interest in her dirty, holey shoes that looking at her.
"Why don't we sit down?" Narcissa offered.
"I'm dirty," Haley told her softy.
Narcissa gave a small smile and said, "Don't worry about that. I can clean the furniture with magic if I need to. Come sit." Narcissa patted a spot of the sofa beside her and Haley saw no alternative.
"It will be lovely having you here. Usually I'm the only girl around here. I'm going to need to take you shopping. That will be fun!"
Haley just watched the strange lady silently. She thought she could get too really like her. She was really nice.
"Mum?!" Haley heard Draco call.
"In here, Draco," Narcissa called back. When he walked through the door he sent Haley a confused look. "Haley is going to be staying here for a while," Narcissa told him while sending a look that clearly said be nice.
"Uh, hey Potter."
Haley just gave a small wave.
Lucius came back in the room and said, "Ah, good. Everyone's here. Supper is served. So Draco, would you please show Haley to the bathroom and both wash your hands before bringing her to the dining hall?"
Draco nodded and said, "Come on, Potter."
Haley stood up and followed a few feet behind him. "There are seven bathrooms but this one is the closest to the sitting room and dining hall," Draco explained.
After washing their hands Draco led her through the hallway into a large dining room with a table that could fit twenty easily. Lucius was seated at the end of the table and Narcissa sat to his right. Draco headed straight to Lucius' right. Haley figured this was their regular seating arrangement but couldn't figure out where she was supposed to go.
"Come sit, Haley," Lucius invited. "We won't bite."
Haley sat beside Narcissa because that's where she felt safest. Almost immediately food appeared in front of them. Haley saw the others reach for food to put on their plates but wasn't sure if she was allowed.
Narcissa noticed the hesitation and stopped serving herself and grabbed Haley's plate putting a little of everything on it before setting it in front of her sending the bewildered girl a small smile and nodding encouragingly.
Haley looked at the others and began to eat with them. It tasted delicious but then again, after three days so does dry bread. She ate the entire plate. Lucius watched the girl carefully. If he hadn't eaten in three days he wouldn't care about table manners the way she did.
After dinner he led everyone back to the sitting room. When they sat in silence for a few minutes Lucius turned to Haley and said, "Why don't you tell us a little about yourself?"
Haley shrugged and whispered, "There's not much to tell."
"Well," Narcissa tried, "If we ask you questions will you answer them?"
Haley nodded.
Lucius smiled, "Good what Hogwarts house are you in?"
"Gryffindor."
The Malfoys tried to hide their disgust and Narcissa asked, "What's your favorite color?"
"Green, like my eyes." Narcissa smiled.
Draco spoke up, "Alright, my turn. What really happened with Quirrel? One day we wake up to hear that you're unconscious and Quirrel isn't seen again!"
Haley gave a small grin as she said, "He's kinda dead."
Lucius looked at her confused, "What happened?"
"Well, he used to be a death eater and he was angry that I killed Voldemort. He kinda decided to take his place and finish the job. Dumbledore brought something called the Sorcerer's Stone to Hogwarts to protect it. It has the power to make people immortal. Ron, Hermione, and I learned that someone was trying to steal it and that same person was trying to kill me. He hexed my broom to try to make me fall and he released a troll on me. When we figured out someone was trying to steal it we told a teacher but she didn't believe us so we went to get it ourselves. There were a bunch of protections in front of it though. There was a three headed dog but Hagrid told us how to get past that. Then there was devils snare. Hermione set it on fire once she remembered she was a witch. Then we needed to catch a flying key on a broom. Pretty simple actually. After that we came to a giant chess board. Ron's a master at chess and won it but we had to play as the pieces and he had to be taken. He was knocked out and Hermione and I had to move on. Next was a troll but it was already knocked out. Then there was a riddle. You had to drink the right vial. One would let you go forward, one would let you go back, some had poison… Hermione solved it in like three minutes but there was only enough potion for one person to move on. So I went forward and she went back. I found Quirrel there and he was working on the last task. He confessed to trying to kill me and said he was going to do it then but was trying to use me to get the stone first. I got the stone first and he didn't notice. Then it got confusing and I accidently turned him into a pile of ash."
"Um okay…," Draco said in confusion. Haley just shrugged.
"Where was Dumbledore during all this?" Lucius asked.
"The night we went down he was at the ministry."
"That doesn't make sense no one is at the ministry that late for meetings."
Haley shrugged again. "Honestly I think it was a test."
"A test?" Narcissa parroted.
"Yeah, I mean all we had to do was compliment Hagrid and he told us how to get passed Fluffy – the three headed dog. Hermione is at the top of Herbology. I'm the youngest seeker of the century. Ron is a master at chess. We had already fought and beat a troll earlier that year. Hermione is highly logical so riddles are simple to her. And the last task was called the Mirror of Erised. Dumbledore had told me how it worked earlier that year."
"That's horrible!" Narcissa shouted.
"Albus thought it was a good idea to put three first years in serious danger!" Lucius bellowed. Haley shrugged. "We will need to have words with him."
Haley quietly said, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Well, Dumbledore will be very angry to learn that I'm here."
Narcissa was confused, "Why? Wouldn't he want to protect you from those people?"
Haley looked down and said, "I already told him about my relatives. He said that there was a reason I needed to stay there but he wouldn't tell me what it was."
"He knew?!" Lucius growled.
Haley nodded and said, "He might have been alright if I stayed with the Weasleys for a few weeks or something but he's not going to like that fact that I'm with you."
"What's wrong with us?" Draco questioned.
"Well, um…," Haley hesitated, "After the attack by Quirrel I asked for the names of more death eaters so I could keep an eye out. He gave me three, Crabbe, Goyle… and Malfoy."
"That's why you were so nervous," Lucius sighed. Haley gave a small nod. "Haley, we won't hurt you. Albus was right we were death eaters but not by choice. Narcissa was pregnant when he tried to recruit me. He said I join or he would kill me and Narcissa. I would have rather died than join but I couldn't let him kill my pregnant wife so I joined. I don't like muggles or muggleborns but I don't want to go around murdering them or you."
Haley gave a nod to show she understood.
"Good, however this does complicate things. How are supposed to keep you here when Dumbledore seems to control everything?"
Haley gave a small chuckle. "What?" Lucius asked her.
"Aren't you all Slytherins?"
"Yes."
"I thought you were supposed to be cunning."
Lucius gave out a small bark of laughter and said, "Alright little girl if you can come up with something spit it out."
"Well, my relatives hate me. They would do anything to make sure I'm not around. All we need to do is make a deal with them. Ask them to pretend I've been living there if anyone asks any questions but I can't come to the door because I'm out of town for the day with a friend and to send word if people are getting suspicious. I'm pretty sure they would do it because it would do anything to get me as far away from the house as possible. However I'll be here."
Lucius thought for a moment, "That could work but what about at the end of the school year? How do we pick you up?"
"Polyjuice. Just pick Draco up first in your normal form and come back as the Dursleys."
"How are you not a Slytherin?" Draco asked.
"The hat wanted me to be at first but I asked it not to."
"Why on earth not?" Narcissa asked.
"Because everything I had heard about Slytherin was bad. Voldemort came from it. No witch or wizard that turned bad didn't come from it. I didn't want to be seen as evil so I asked the hat to put me somewhere else. I like Gryffindor though."
"Well, in that case you'll need to hang out with the Slytherins more. They might actually like you," Draco told her.
"I don't know. If we need to keep these living arrangements secret wouldn't it be suspicious if I'm suddenly hanging out with the people that have been tormenting me for a year?"
"Yes. Yes it would. However, in case you forgot, Slytherin is the house for the sly and cunning." Haley gave a small smile. "I know some people in my house we can tell. They wouldn't breathe a word. I also know a place we can meet in secret so if you know anybody that can keep this a secret you can bring them along."
Haley shook her head, "No if I told anyone they would think you did something to me. They would head straight to McGonagall or Dumbledore."
Draco sighed, "That kinda sucks. My friends would never tell a secret if I asked them not to."
"They're just trying to look out for me."
"Well now you're an honorary Slytherin."