Mercy was a thin, petite girl. She had long, curly black hair, chocolate brown, bedroom eyes hidden behind thick rimmed glasses, and smooth, pale skin. Some people, including her Aunt Narcissa, said she was a picture of Bellatrix at that age. She was just lovely.

" Ready to go to Diagon Alley? " asked Mercy's cousin, Draco.

" Sure am, cuz. " Mercy replied.

Today was their first day of school, so they had to shop for a few things.

" Ready, kids? " asked Narcissa, who came into the living room, followed by Lucius.

They both shook their heads in response.

The family of four arrived in loud, bustling Diagon Alley by means of the floo network.

" Lucius and I will get your books. Why don't you two go try on some robes? " suggested Narcissa.

" Yes, mother. " droned Draco.

Mercy and Draco made their way down the street and into Madame Malkin's. As they were browsing for robes, they talked about this and that. But, they turned their heads when another boy walked in, with a huge man next to him.

" Go on an' git yer robes, Harry. " bellowed the man.

" Damn, that guy's huge. What is he, a troll? " whispered Draco.

Mercy cracked a smile and desperately tried not to laugh.

" So anyways, back to what I was saying. Slytherin is the only good house at Hogwarts. But I'm sure we'll be in Slytherin without a problem. " Draco said.

" Yeah, we have nothing to worry about. " agreed Mercy.

" I'd leave if I was sorted into Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, wouldn't you? " Draco asked his cousin, who replied by laughing loudly.

Harry listened to this conversation while he tried on a few different styles of robes. So, they were going to Hogwarts, too. But what did they mean by those names... Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor? Harry looked over at the pair, who were still rambling on about making Slytherin. Even though the boy was blonde, and the girl had black hair, they bore a slight resemblance to each other. He assumed they were related somehow. He mainly focused on the girl, who he thought was very pretty. He'd even call her beautiful. Or stunning was more of the right word for her.

" So, you two are going to Hogwarts? " Harry said, to open up a conversation with them.

He wanted to know who this girl was.

" That's right. " replied Mercy, turning to face Harry.

She took a good look at him. He had messy, black hair and emerald green eyes. He wore round glasses. With a small crack on one lens. And he looked eerily familiar, but she couldn't place how or why. She was intrigued.

" Me too. Uh.. pardon my asking but, what's a Hufflepuff? " Harry inquired.

" Well, that's one of the houses at Hogwarts. You see, there's four of them. You get sorted into one of them as a first year, and while your at Hogwarts, your house is like your family. But trust me, you DO NOT want to be a Hufflepuff. " Draco explained.

" Oh, I see. Well, what do I want to be, then? " Harry asked.

" Hope to god that you make Slytherin. " replied Draco.

" Right. " said Harry, not sure if he wanted to take this kid's word for it.

" I'm Draco Malfoy, by the way. And this is my cousin, Mercy Lestrange. " Draco stated.

Cousins. He knew they were related.

" Nice to meet you. I'm Harry. Harry Potter. " Harry responded.

Mercy and Draco exchanged glances.

" You're joking. " suggested Mercy.

" Nope. " Harry said, simply.

" Can we see your scar? " asked Draco, eagerly.

" Um... sure. I guess. " Harry replied.

He pushed back some of his hair away from his forehead. And sure enough, there was the lightning bolt scar. Plain as day. Draco and Mercy just stared in awe for a few seconds.

" 'Ey come on Harry. We 'aven't got all day, now. " urged Hagrid from the other side of the store.

" Sorry guys, but I've got to go. See you at school. " said Harry, as he darted off with a set of robes.

" Mum and dad aren't going to believe this. " Draco said.

" They sure aren't. Who knew we'd actually meet him. It makes me feel so... strange. Afterall, my parents worshiped you-know-who. And that boy stopped him when he was just a baby? He looks like just an ordinary kid to me. What's so special about him? " whispered Mercy.

" I haven't the faintest clue. The whole thing is just... bizarre. " replied Draco.