Syringa's Beginning

"Goodbye, Mother… Father," Archimedes whispered, bowing slightly to both his mum and dad. He looked very much like his mother, with her dark hair and pug like face. But he had the eyes of his father and grandfather: gray. "I'll see you at Christmas."

"See you at Christmas," Pansy Malfoy replied, stepping up and giving her son a hug, receiving nothing in return. "And please, Archimedes, take good care of your sister. It is her first year after all, and I don't want her getting into trouble."

"Of course, Mother," Archimedes nodded, and then turned to his father. "And I won't let her mind stray off of… her destiny. Don't worry."

"Good," Draco murmured, looking sideways to make sure no one was watching. "Her mind cannot stray for a moment, or else all hope is lost."

Archimedes nodded his head in response, then turned to his sister. "Syringa, are you ready?" Then, in seeing her hard face, asked, "What are you looking at?"

Her white blonde hair was billowing in the soft breeze as she turned her black eyes away from the black haired boy hugging his mother, father, and sister, to her older brother. She was very pretty, and seemed very mature for an eleven year old, even though her eyes held that spark that can only be described as young, innocent, and adventurous.

"Nothing, Archimedes," she replied, shifting some of her long blonde hair out her eyes. "I was just looking over at that black haired boy over there." And with her finger she pointed to the boy, who was now boarding the train.

Archimedes smiled softly and said, "You are definitely a Malfoy, Syringa." He then walked over to his sister and added, "That's Harry Potter, his wife, Ginny, and his two children… Sirius and Lily. They are the ones, Syringa."

"That's enough!" Draco bellowed, catching the attention of many bystanders. "You two need to get on the train! Go!"

But Syringa jumped into her father's arms and said, "I'll miss you so much, Dad! And you, too, Mum! See you at Christmas!"

Draco was a bit surprised by this sudden show of affection, but hugged his little daughter in return, trying and failing to hold back a smile. "I'll miss you too, Syria," he replied, using her nickname. "And I will definitely see you on Christmas."

"Bye, Mum," Syringa whispered, hugging and kissing her mother goodbye. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too, Syria," Pansy replied, holding back a few tears. "You behave yourself, and listen to everything your brother tells you."

"Alright!" Archimedes grumbled, pulling his little sister away from their mother. "The train will leave us behind if we don't hurry. Don't worry, you guys, I'll take good care of her. I promise."

And with those last words both Syringa and Archimedes rushed onto the departing train. Syringa had never been so excited, yet sad, in her entire life. She was going to miss her mum and dad, but was looking forward to beginning her years at Hogwarts and taking the first steps to fulfilling her destiny. But still, she was very nervous about what she had to do.

Five minutes into the train ride her brother pulled her into the compartment in which their luggage was being held. He plopped down like it was nothing on the seat nearest to the window and let his head fall back, running his hands through his black hair. Syringa sat down quietly in her seat and gazed out the window, thinking wistfully of her destiny.

"Are you nervous?" Archimedes asked about half an hour later, causing the little girl to jump at the sound of his voice.

"Well… all the first years are, right?" she replied. "I mean, what if I don't get into Slytherin? And what if I fail all my classes? Or… or what if--"

"I meant are you nervous about your destiny?" he asked, a note of irritation in his voice. "We have a big task ahead of us, Syria. Are you sure you're cut out for it?"

"Of course I am," she gasped. "I want that blasted Harry Potter dead just like you do. He's done too much damage to the purification of blood. He needs to be stopped!"

"But are you nervous?" he asked, his eyes on her as if he was staring straight through her.

"Er… I guess… I am a little nervous," she whispered, looking down at her feet. "I mean… Harry Potter killed the greatest wizard of all time. How are we supposed to kill him? We're just… kids. What if we fail?"

"We won't," Archimedes replied, shifting his gaze from her at last and looking out the window. "Harry Potter is getting old, and he is not as powerful as he once was. In a few good years, when you are ready, we will strike, and then… and then, my dear sister, the tables will finally turn."

Syringa sighed and said, "I guess you're right. And I guess I shouldn't worry yet, right? I mean, the fight won't be until I'm ready, so I don't have to think about it just yet."

"That's where you're wrong, Syria," Archimedes snapped, causing his little sister to jump again. "You need to think about it all the time. Your mind cannot drift, or else… the plan, whatever it is, will not work. Don't forget… you're still a big part of the shifting of power. Your mind must not wander. Trust me, in a few years we will be more powerful than that of the evil Dark Lord Voldemort."

"I know," she whispered, and banged her head up against the compartment seat. She sat there for a few minutes, then stood up and walked over to the sliding glass door. "I'll be right back. I'm pretty hungry, and I'm going to see if I can find the lunch trolley."

"Alright, Syria," Archimedes replied, not taking his eyes away from the window. "But don't be gone too long. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Okay," she smiled, and walked out the sliding glass door, shutting it behind her. As much as she was looking forward to bringing her family back into the limelight, she didn't like to think about it very much. There were times when… she had to get away from it all.

Finally, the lunch trolley came into view, and she grabbed a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans to share with her brother. She paid the woman with a smile, but when she felt eyes on her she lifted her head to see… that black haired boy staring at her; that blasted Potter boy.

'Oh, what was his name again?" she thought as her smile faltered and she threw a glare his way.

She was furious when his mouth twisted into a kind smile, causing her body to fill with this strange and unknown feeling. Angrily, she turned around and walked away in a huff.

'How dare he smile at me!' she thought, her whole body flooding with that strange and unknown feeling that she assumed was hatred. 'Doesn't he know who I am?'

Her hands slid open the compartment door and she tossed a box of beans to her brother, who accepted them without a thank you and continued to read the book that he had just bought from Flourish and Blotts: 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Lord'. He was very fascinated by the whole topic, and she knew how much he wanted to have more power than that of Voldemort himself.

A few hours passed by in complete silence. Syringa was beginning to fall asleep when her brother slammed his book shut and told her that it was time for them to change into their school robes. Syringa obeyed her brother's wishes and slipped her robes over her muggle clothes, just as her brother did.

They had just finished getting their robes on when the train stopped and students started to hurry out to the dark warmth of the outside. Syringa rushed outside along with all the other first years, but froze when she saw that Potter boy again.

He was running over to a half-breed giant with bushy brown hair and beard, and a pureblooded giant wearing a torn pair of pants and jacket. The half-breed gave the boy a hug and began talking to him excitedly, then gestured him to get in the first boat.

Syringa walked over to the boats as well and got on one of the last ones. It was about fifteen minutes later, when all the first years were on the boat, that the half-breed giant's boat began moving, followed by all the other little boats. The lake on which they were traveling was as dark as the moonless sky above them, and Syringa could have sworn that she saw a tentacle rise out of the water for a few seconds.

"Jus' round the bend!" the half-breed called to the following boats, and sure enough, when they turned around the bend, Syringa gasped in shock to see a castle lit with over a thousand little lights that brightened the creepy darkness.

"Welcome," the half-breed giant called, "to Hogwarts!"