A/N: OMG, I am sooo excited about this story. But of course, I've gotta say it so I don't get in trouble:
the only character so far in this story that is mine is Eleonora Oscuro and her Papa. I don't have any claim to any characters or quotations in Harry Potter. (But I wish I did! XD)
I had always wanted to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My papa, however, wanted to teach me on his own, just as his papa taught him. We visited England often, because Papa was part of the Ministry of Magic; Foreign Affairs, Italian Seats to be specific. He took me to the school once, but "strictly on Ministry business, darling," he said. I marveled at the castle beside the lake as Papa spoke to Professor Dumbledore. He didn't let me roam the castle, however, and my curiosity with the place was always unsatisfied. I watched the students with envy, thinking on how lucky they were to be away from home to study magic.
It was always lonely at home. Papa would not let me out of the house without him, fearing the consequences. I was always to be closely watched if I left the house.
Because of the secret. My mother was a vampire. Which makes me have the dreaded Bloodlust, or Thirst.
He met her in the wilds of Ireland, he did. He was hunting for kelpies, but he wasn't having much luck. She was bathing in a pool of clear water, and at first he thought she was a kelpie herself. Needless to say, he brought her back with him as a wife.
But Papa was in dealings with things worse than vampires, I am ashamed to say…
On a morning in late August, I woke up in my room in Papa's villa. I took a moment to enjoy the light and airy colors of my room; Nero was awake and mewling, and the birds were singing.
"'Tis always beautiful when the uccelli (birds) sing, isn't it?" I sat up and saw Papa. "'Nora, tiamo andando a Londra per ottenere il vostro materiale scolastico (we are going to London again, and this time it's to get your school supplies)."
"I miei articoli per la scuola, papà? (My school supplies, Papa?)" I asked, my eyes widening. Could it be true? Could he be finally letting me go to Hogwarts?
"Si, mia figlia. Your wish has been granted. You are going to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
I got out of bed and started whooping with joy. "Papa, tu sei il miglior padre del mondo!" (You are the best father in the world)
"Si, si. Now get ready! We need to Apparate in no less than a half hour," he says, and I rushed into the bathroom. "Papa, can I still perform magic outside of school?"
"Well, under law, you're still under my tutelage until the first of Settembre (September)…" replied Papa. And with that I started some magic with my wand. He chuckled, and let me get ready.
In twenty minutes, I was ready in a black spaghetti strap dress and a cloak over me, and Nero in my arms. I don't go anywhere without Nero. He's my personal watch-cat. Papa lent his arm to me, saying, "Pronti, figlia?" (Ready, daughter?) I nodded and took his arm. The next moment, we were in London, just outside the Leaky Cauldron. I stared at it in wonder. Soon, I was going to get my own school supplies!
I nearly ran inside, and looked around the pub. I felt Papa's hand on my shoulder as he directed me through the back door. There were so many people!
He took his wand and tapped the wall. I watched in wonder as the bricks pulled back and the wonders of Diagon Alley were shown to me. I saw so many things as I walked through the people, Papa's arm around my shoulders.
"First I must get some gold from Gringotts, 'Nora. Then we'll start shopping. I have your supply list here," said Papa, pulling a piece of parchment from his breast pocket. "We'll need to get you a cauldron, textbooks galore, some new sets of robes…I think we'll get those first, alright?"
I was too focused on Diagon Alley to answer. There were so many colors and wares…but I had not seen anything until I looked at Gringotts. The words engraved on the grand doors gripped me the most:
Enter stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed
For those who take but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn,
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
The my heels clicked on the marble floor as Papa and I moved gracefully to the head desk. My mind wandered as he spoke to the goblins about his gold, watching them closely. I could see their veins through their skin as they worked…I hadn't drank anything for a while now…
All of a sudden Papa's hand turned me around. Nero hissed quietly. I looked straight and deeply into his eyes, trying to tell him that I was thirsty again. He could tell what I needed, because he took out a flask and handed it to me, saying, "Here, 'Nora, drink this and stay here. I'm going down to get our gold, and I'll be back momentarily."
As he left, I put Nero down, popped the top off the flask and sniffed it. It wasn't blood, but I recognized the smell. It was a potion that he had given me before; it kept the Thirst at bay for a while, but if taken too much at once the effects wane and the Thirst comes back even stronger. I sipped some of it, the bitter taste filling my mouth. Nero purred and rubbed on my leg, comforting me. He knew how much I hated the potion because of the effects. I put the flask in my cloak pocket and picked him back up, petting him softly behind the ears. "It's alright, Nero. We are in public, after all…"
Papa came back with a small bag of gold. "Alright, let's go to Madam Malkin's to get you some robes."
As we entered Madam Malkin's, I heard voices and spotted three people. A witch in her mid-fifties said, "Now, Draco, we need to get you a new broom-"
"No, mother, I just need to get some new textbooks. I like my broom just fine," interrupted a young man with platinum-blonde hair. I could tell he was being fitted for dress robes.
"Mr. Malfoy, if you could stop moving-" asked the elderly witch fitting the young man.
"The Quidditch matches last year say otherwise, Draco." said the first witch. At this, Nero mewed, drawing the eyes of the witches and the wizard. Papa nodded in acknowledgement, and I rushed to copy him. "Hello," I squeaked. I cleared my throat as Papa chuckled.
"Madam Malkin," he said, nodding to the elderly witch. "My daughter needs four sets of Hogwarts appropriate robes and two set of dress robes."
Madam Malkin seemed to be slightly exasperated. "Well, then, stand on that stool, dearie, and give me a mo'…" I looked up at Papa and he nodded. I put Nero down and stood on the platform, taking off my cloak. All of a sudden, fabric started to measure itself on me, and a pair of scissors nearly nipped off my nose. Papa started speaking to the other witch as if they were old friends.
"So, Narcissa, how have you been lately?"
"I've been better. On a good note, Draco's become Prefect this year," said Narcissa.
Papa turned to me and finally introduced me. "Figlia, this is Narcissa Malfoy, and her figlio Draco. Narcissa, this is my daughter, Eleonora Oscuro."
"Hello," I said, a little more strongly than my first attempt, dodging a needle. Draco was staring at me with an unreadable expression. "I would shake your hands, but I'm trying to not get stabbed by flying needles!" I said with a tinkling laugh.
"I don't blame you," he said. I smiled a little. "What house are you in, Mr. Malfoy?"
"Slytherin, of course. Anyone whose anybody is in Slytherin. What house are you?"
"I don't really know. This is my first year, you see."
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen. I'm going to turn fifteen in December. How about you?"
"Fifteen as of June fifth. You'll be in my year, right?"
"Yes," I replied, and Nero decided at that moment to try and climb me while there were fifty million needles and scissors flying around. I snarled as his claws gripped my leg. "OUCH! Nero! Behave!"
After a lot of fabric, needles, and claws, the four of us exited Madam Malkin's. We all browsed around the shops, getting the things that Draco and I needed for school. Then the only things that I had to get were my schoolbooks. "Draco, why don't you show 'Nora Flourish and Blotts? She needs a full set of fifth year textbooks. Narcissa and I are going to look around in…another part of Diagon Alley. Here," said Papa, handing me a bit of gold. "This should cover both of your textbooks, and a little extra to spend. And here's your list…We'll meet you right outside when you're done. Alright, now off you go!"
He pushed me slightly toward Draco, and I said, "Si, Papa…" but Narcissa and Papa were already gone. I shifted uncomfortably and asked, "So, shall we go?"
"Yeah, right." And so we entered Flourish and Blotts, and the sheer size of people and books in one place. "Alright, so let's just get our books and go," said Draco. I looked at my list.
"Alright, well I need Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5…I'm assuming you need one too…" And so started my day with a reluctant and quiet Draco Malfoy.
This girl was very clingy. Has she ever been out of her own house before? If she hadn't, I wouldn't be very surprised. If it wasn't for Mother whispering in my ear to be nice to her, I would have ditched her a long time ago. And that cat wasn't much help, either. It kept staring at me with its sickening pale green eyes…like it was looking me over. Maybe it just wants to know what its mistress wants with a good-looking pureblood like me.
I've got to admit, she was attractive. Her black hair reminded me of the night, and her deep onyx eyes were dazzling…but she was very clingy.
Draco and I finished shopping, and as promised Papa and Mrs. Malfoy were both waiting outside. I went right to his side, and he put his arm reassuringly around me. "Well, Narcissa, Draco, it was nice seeing you, but we must be getting to the Ministry. I've applied 'Nora for a Time-Turner," he said, shaking each of their hands in turn.
I hurriedly shook Mrs. Malfoy's hand. "It was really nice meeting you, Signora."
Draco's hand was cold as I shook it, but not in a bad way. "Thank you for your company, Mr. Malfoy." He nodded, and said, "It wasn't any trouble at all, Miss Oscuro."
As we walked away, I whispered to Nero, "Well? Do you like him, amico? (friend)" Nero purred, which is a good sign. It means he was being true to me. And that is a good sign to begin a friendship.
A/N: I thought that it would be better to have a story that wasn't a Mary Sue…My last fanfic with Draco was on Mary Sue OVERDRIVE! Anyway, tell me how you like it!
