It was a sunnier day and the Malfoys were sitting at their long dining table having breakfast together. There was little conversation, but the tidbits of chit-chat were shut-up entirely when an owl swooped in and delivered their mail. There was business letters for Lucius, a letter from Druella Black, Narcissa's mother, for Cissa, a thick, angry-looking letter for Draco from his wife Astoria, a thick envelop with Zyla's name written in green ink on the front. Narcissa pulled Lucius into the sitting room.
"Lucius, Zyla's Hogwarts letter came in the mail today." She held the envelop out to him.
He didn't take the envelop, "So give it to her. It came a little late this year, didn't it? School starts in like, a week."
"Lucius, you give it to her. You haven't been treating her right. I know you're still upset about what happened but—"
He cut her off, "How can I not be? Everyday she's a reminder of my failure to you as your protector."
Narcissa hung her head, "I'm glad you didn't defend me and stand up to him. He would've killed you and I love you too much to let that happen. But it still doesn't change the fact that she lives here and she thinks you're her father. So you need to act like it. You're all she has and if you keep neglecting her like this, she'll grow up to be resentful. She already has the potential to be like her real father, so let's not drive her to it."
Lucius softened and took his wife into his arms. "I love you. And I promise I'll do better. I care for Zyla, I truly do, it's just to see her without remembering…" He trailed off. He hugged Narcissa tighter and kissed the top of her head. He then took the Hogwarts envelop and smiled. He walked back into the dining room and sat down in the chair next to Zyla. The calm child didn't even flinch. "Look what came in the mail, Zyla!" Lucius exclaimed, real excitement in his voice.
The child with dark hair and blond highlights, ash grey eyes that made all other colors look dull, and pale skin looked up from her breakfast. Her knowing eyes searched his face. Her face was stern, but calm when she said, "Why are being nice to me?"
Lucius was caught off guard. He didn't think she would call him out on it, "Because I love you."
She stared at him for a little bit before shrugging the comment off and taking her envelop. As she read the letter, the idle chit-chat continued. Draco commented on how Astoria was getting antsy being cooped up with Scorpius all vacation without him around, so after Zyla goes to Hogwarts, he'll go back home for the remainder of the year. Narcissa remarked about how her mother's life is going well, and that Druella wants them to visit soon. And Lucius just watched Zyla read. When she was done with every page in the stack, she set the letters aside and asked, "Are we going to get to go to Diagon Alley again?" Zyla asked. Even though she remained calm in all situations nowadays, her tone sounded slightly excited. She loved going to Diagon Alley and seeing all the wonderful things to buy and look at. The last time they were there, Narcissa got Zyla a black and purple diary with a black feather quill to write her poetry in.
"Yes, Zyla. We'll go later on today and get your school supplies." Narcissa smiled and kissed Zyla on the top of the head. A rare smile flickered onto Zyla's face. She finished her breakfast and went upstairs to her room. The walls had been painted dark purple, but to add her own touch, Narcissa let Zyla dip a paintbrush in black paint and fling paint all over the walls and right above her bed, Zyla splashed the whole bucket of paint on the wall. It looked pretty good in Zyla's mind. Her black owl, Niigleria, cooed softly in the corner of her room. Zyla picked out an outfit from her closet. She chose a simple black dress with black lace gloves and she put her hair in a pony tail. This outfit was the only hand-me-down in her closet. It had belonged to her Auntie Bellatrix when she had been Zyla's age, so it was handed down to Zyla to keep the memory going.
After she was dressed and looking the way she wanted to, Zyla rushed down the stairs to join her family in the front entryway. She grabbed tight to Draco's arm and Side-Along-Apparated with him to Diagon Alley.
The alley was bustling with activity and last-minute shoppers. The Malfoys walked towards the robe shop, ignoring anyone who tried to sell them something random. Once Zyla had been fitted for her robes and had all her books, quills, and other supplies, Lucius went to Gringotts to take out Zyla's allowance for the year. While he went and Narcissa was looking at broomsticks, Draco took Zyla to get ice cream.
Teddy Lupin was farther up the alley examining a cauldron. "Uncle Harry, please!" He begged for the eighth time.
And for the eighth time Harry Potter said, "No. Your list says pewter. You can have the solid gold one if you get an Outstanding on your O.W.L.s." Harry laughed internally. He had had almost the exact conversation with Hagrid when he was 11, "But," Harry decided to compromise with his godson just a little more, "If you don't beg me to get something after I've already said no for the rest of the day, I'll buy you something devious from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Just don't tell your Aunt Ginny."
Teddy's face lit up as he said, "Deal!" and grabbed his pewter cauldron. Harry laughed and paid for the rest of the potion supplies. He was maneuvering way out of the store when Teddy asked for ice cream. Harry gave him some money and told him to go ahead; he would wait outside for him. As Harry leaned up against a wall, his scar began to prickle. He couldn't tell why, though. It hadn't done that in the years since he defeated Voldemort. And it couldn't be because he was back, because Harry had killed him. So why was his scar prickling?
As he was thinking about it, an eleven year old girl bumped into him. She hadn't been paying attention; she was focused on her ice cream. She slammed into him and fell down. Harry turned and saw a girl with dark brown hair and chilly blond highlights stand up and brush the dirt off her black dress. She then looked up and looked Harry in the eye. His scar prickled even more. She stood with an air of power and intelligence about her and her face was calm and stern. It was almost scary.
Draco Malfoy ran up behind and scolded the girl, "Now apologize to Mr. Potter." The whole time Draco was reprimanding her about paying attention when running, she never broke the eye contact between her and Harry. And as soon as Draco said 'Potter', the ash grey eyes flashed red so quick; Harry almost felt he had imagined it.
"Sorry," The little girl said. Her voice was high and cold. It never wavered once form its calm tone. It gave Harry the chills.
"It's ok. I believe you were headed this way," Harry said as he held open the ice cream shop door. The little girl said a brief thank you in the same chilling voice and skirted inside, leaving Draco and Harry staring face to face. "Is she yours?" Harry asked.
"No, she's my sister, Zyla. Sorry she ran into you." Draco said. The relationship between the two boys was no longer hateful, but more of a mutual understanding.
"It's fine. She seems… interesting." Harry couldn't say creepy; he was sure that most people would find that offensive.
"You don't know the half of it." Draco said, itching his left forearm.
The two boys shifted their weight awkwardly until Teddy came out of the shop and Harry steered him away with a quick good-bye to Draco. "Teddy," Harry asked when they were a safe distance away from the shop, "Did you happen to see a girl in there wearing a black dress? She had pale skin and dark brown hair with blond highlights."
"Yeah," Teddy said absentmindedly. He was very focused on the mountain of ice cream in front of him.
"Keep an eye on her at Hogwarts, will you? I have a funny feeling about her." Harry said as he rubbed his scar and steered them towards the Weasley's joke shop.
When the day arrived to take Zyla to the train, no one could find her. They searched the whole house and couldn't locate her. It got to the point where the train would be leaving in twenty minutes. And she was still missing. Finally, Draco found her in the forest on the edge of the property, staring at a tree. "Zyla!" Draco ran up and hugged her, "What are you doing out here?"
"I don't want to go to school anymore." She whispered delicately, never taking her eyes off the tree.
"Why not?" Draco couldn't believe it. Just yesterday she was as excited as Zyla could get.
"What if I'm not in Slytherin? What if I'm not a good witch?" Draco could tell she was worried, even though the emotion never crossed her face. She just stayed stony and continues to stare at the tree.
"No matter what happens, we will all still love you." Draco said.
Zyla finally looked at him, "Even if I'm in Huffelpuff?"
"Even if you're in Huffelpuff." Draco hugged her and got her to come back to the house.
The family Apparated to the train station five minutes before the train left, so they hurriedly put Zyla's trunk in an empty compartment, then they all said their good-byes. Zyla waved to them as the giant scarlet engine pulled out of the station and headed towards Hogwarts. Zyla smoothed her dark purple tank top and jeans, then curled up with her head against the window and fell asleep. She slept almost the whole way there. She had woken just in time to change into her robes before she stepped off the train. A very large man with a lantern was yelling for the first years to follow him, so Zyla walked along with the crowd until they came to a stop in front of a huge, glossy lake.