Adrianna shifted uncomfortably once again in her housemistresses office.
'You have not done yourself any favours, Miss Malfoy,' Minerva McGonagall said in clipped tones. 'Professor Dumbledore very kindly agreed to allow you to attend Hogwarts – against protocol I might add – and this is how you repay him? Detention? Interrupting a grand ceremony? Transfiguring your cousin?'
Adrianna hung her head. She didn't really regret transfiguring Draco – he thoroughly had deserved it in her opinion – but she regretted letting Professor McGonagall down, again.
'I'm sorry,' Adrianna said.
'I'm sure you are dear, but that doesn't excuse the fact that you have been nothing but trouble since you arrived here. I'm beginning to wonder if Professor Dumbledore has made the right decision. Perhaps, as your Uncle had suggested to Professor Snape, you would have been better off being privately tutored back at home under his and your Aunt's supervision.'
Adrianna snapped her head up in panic, 'No!' she said, before she could stop herself.
Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow. 'Excuse me?'
Adrianna felt like she had been punched in the stomach. Lucius had really suggested that she should spend all her time at the Manor? Was he mad? She would run away with her wand and take her chances with the ministry before she would agree to that.
'I won't go,' she said bluntly. 'I'll run away …'
'That's enough,' said McGonagall, but her tone was more gentle. She could see from Adrianna's face that she was panic-stricken at the thought of spending more time at the Malfoy's. She got the feeling that Lucius Malfoy was not kind with the girl he had had forced into his family all those years ago. It didn't surprise her. The fact that Adrianna was the daughter of traitors to Voldemort would be enough to seal Lucius' hatred. She deduced wisely that he wished her at home to protect his own interests. A niece of his suddenly transferring to Hogwarts was bound to raise a few eyebrows, and reach the ears of Voldemort, particularly given who her mother was thought to be – the notorious killer, Victoria Malfoy.
Minerva had known Adrianna's – or rather Grace's - true parents very well. Algernon had been slightly misguided by his father's wishes, though in the end he had been an able and willing spy for the original Order of the Phoenix. Lila, however, had been one of the bravest witches Minerva had ever known, not to mention a close friend. She had been devastated when she found out that her husband had enrolled as a death eater, but she had stood by him and persuaded him to the side of right, even sacrificing herself to receive the Dark Mark so that she could feed information to the Order about the strikes Voldermort planned.
Lila was the daughter of Alphard Black who had been disowned by the Black's (and blasted from the Black family tapestry forever) for giving some gold to Sirius when he ran away from home at the age of sixteen. As such, Minerva knew Sirius had also spent a lot of time at his Uncles, and with Lila. There were only five years between the cousins, and from what Lila had later told Minerva, Sirius taught her everything she needed to know about Hogwarts, patiently practicing spells and flying. Not that Lila had really needed the practice. She had been a very competent witch from a young age. Minerva had been Lila's Professor before she became her friend, and remembered that silent spells had come as easily to Lila as breathing – just like with Adrianna now.
Minerva always thought that there had been more to Sirius' feelings for Lila than he had let on. His anger had been a thing to behold when he had found out that her husband Algernon had enrolled as a death eater. It had taken all of James' powers of persuasion - not to mention a stern word from Dumbledore - to prevent him from challenging Algernon to a public wizards' duel. His anger had not even slightly abated when Algernon had turned spy for the Order, so devastated was he that his younger cousin had been placed into such a dangerous position. Minerva remembered once, very clearly, seeing Sirius reach affectionately for Lila's hand at one of the more merry meetings of the Order; he snatched it away in horror as a flowing sleeve fell back from the forearm to reveal a Dark Mark branded for eternity onto the delicate, pale wrist.
Sirius seemed to distance himself from Lila from that moment, as though somehow preparing himself for what was to follow. The feelings must have remained though; Minerva knew he hadn't hesitated when Dumbledore had asked him to take care of the newly orphaned Grace days before his committal to Azkaban.
Minerva sat back and regarded Adrianna for a few long moments. Her dark eyes were flashing; stubborn and determined. She reminded Minerva so strongly of Sirius at that moment that it made her wonder at the fact that Harry and the others hadn't picked up on the resemblance. She had to prevent herself from smiling outwardly as she remembered the amount of times that Sirius had also been stood in front of her, being told off for misbehaving.
'I am afraid I will have to inform your Aunt and Uncle of your behaviour,' she said at last. 'I will be writing to them tonight.'
Adrianna grimaced. 'I think Professor Snape will probably do that,' she said. 'Lucius asked him to keep an eye on me.'
'Professor Snape is well within his rights to do so, Miss Malfoy. You are lucky that he hasn't taken this matter further. You realise of course that human-to-plant transfiguration is strictly forbidden by the ministry?'
'Yes Professor,' Adrianna said.
'Under the circumstances I think that the amount of detention that Professor Snape has planned is fair.' Adrianna looked sceptical at that but said nothing. 'Have you apologised to Mr Malfoy?'
'No.' And I'm not going to, Adrianna wanted to add.
'Well I suggest that you do so. I know that Draco can be difficult, but you are family and family should stick together – in any case they certainly should not curse each other. By the way, dear, how long have you been able to perform silent spells?'
Adrianna relaxed slightly, pleased that the Professor had changed the subject.
'Ever since I can remember,' she said.
'And who was your teacher?' Minerva could not believe that Lucius would have spared the time needed for his niece, but perhaps Narcissa, her Aunt, was more accommodating.
Adrianna gave a shrug. 'I sort of taught myself I suppose. I don't find it difficult, …'
'I see.' McGonagall again looked at Adrianna carefully. 'You realise of course, that such a gift is unusual.'
'I suppose,' Adrianna said. 'I don't find magic difficult. I never have really.'
McGonagall smiled. 'Well then you are very lucky. And, when you learn to behave yourself, I will expect great things from you.' She got to her feet. 'Now run along dear. And be sure not to keep Professor Snape waiting tonight.'
Adrianna's face soured. 'Yes Professor,' she said sighing.