Chapter One

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper - W.B Yeats

Year One

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Throughout my life I always felt like an outcast, a burden among my peers. The older I got, the more I knew I was not like everyone else. It all makes perfect sense now, the taunts from my classmates at being weird didn't bother me too much but it always made me feel like I didn't belong. It had gotten better ever since Professor McGonagall showed up on my doorstep and told me I was a witch, it was as if all my life there was something missing and now I know what that is. Finally after all this time I feel complete, it feels so lonely growing up as an only child at the best of times, however knowing you are so out of place from everyone else makes it feel so much worse.

I have magic, I am a witch. It was something I was born with and I am a part of this whole other world, it took some adjusting but now it was less than two weeks until I was going to Hogwarts. It was the magical school that taught every young witch or wizard how to control their magic and learn everything we need to know about it. I had already received my wand when I turned eleven but wanting to immerse myself in everything I could about my new world I was at the book store practically every week.

I finally figured out the layout of Flourish and Blotts and I spent a long time reading up on the History of my new world. Potions I am going to get to make, plants I am going to use in them. Different magical creatures, spells and even Quidditch, to be perfectly honest I am not entirely sure I like the idea of the sport but I don't particularly like too many sports. My dad however was completely enamoured and fascinated by it and he doesn't even understand it yet. "Football in the air" he called it. Completely baffling but regardless I looked up things like that also. Today I had asked my parents to make another outing to Diagon Alley.

I had seen a few children who looked around my age but couldn't bring myself to talk to anyone, it is hard to start talking to strangers, the mentality that I was weird was forever ingrained into my head and why would it be any different in The Wizarding World. I had found a pretty good distraction and so, every week when my mum and dad gave me my pocket money I went to Diagon Alley to the bookstore and picked up another book. My dad took me today as my mum had appointments.

My parents are dentists, they have had their own practice for as long as I have been alive and although it was hard for them to adjust in the beginning that I was a witch, once Professor McGonagall explained it to them and showed them some spells including her changing into a cat they soon believed her and mellowed slightly.

After everything was explained to them, not once afterward did my parents treat me any different, nor did they try and squash the knowledge that I wanted to absorb, they were proud in their own way, they still didn't fully understand it and that was ok, I didn't mind that. It was nice having something that was my own. My dad told me I was going to be the smartest child in the History of the Wizarding world. I would be happy settling for passing my classes at this present moment in time.

My dad went to Gringotts the Wizarding Bank to exchange some money for me as I walked into Flourish and Blotts to get a jump start on my searching. I think my dad prefers it that way because I have been known to take a long time in a book store, he also struck up a conversation with the goblin that changed our money the first time we went and spent his time talking about teeth, jewels and bank security. They liked my dad, he was amusing for a muggle according to Ragnok.

Truth be told I prefer it this way also, I like to just wander aimlessly through the rows and rows of books and lose myself in it all. It took me twenty minutes and three books floating in a stack behind me before I spotted another title I wanted, just as I reached for it another hand came into contact with my own and I turned to see long, dainty fingers, pale white skin and a set of Black robes with what looked like a crest on it. If I had more time to think about it and pay attention to what had happened I could have sworn there was an electric shock that erupted between our hands.

"Oh I am sorry..." My first though was she was stunning, she looked like a supermodel and had perfect bone structure and the bluest eyes I had ever seen. She had that air of aristocracy and it made me feel slightly intimidated by her whole ensemble. She was looking down at me at this point and seemed slightly pissed off, her features hardened and aimed in my direction, before a look of recognition overcame her.

It was as if a fog lifted and that sneer that had been previously aimed in my direction was now replaced with curiosity. She looked young enough, maybe early twenties and her beauty was that of legends, I had never seen someone who looked like her before, my mothers friend had went to a plastic surgeon to get something done to her face, I could almost guarantee even he couldn't make this kind of perfection. Helen of Troy paled in comparison to the Perfect Woman who stood in front of me.

"It's quite alright,hmm this is a little bit overly ambitious for a first year student is it not little witch?" Her bell like voice almost shook me to my core, however I soon shook my head and got slightly offended at the insult to my intelligence and bristled slightly to which she stepped forward with a smirk that looked like a cross between amused and disbelief that I squared up to her.

"Might I suggest a different title...Garratts Guide to Plants, not only does it cover a wide range of plants you will be studying in your first year but also their uses in Potions." She reached two shelves up and handed me a thick enough book which looked interesting enough.

"Thank you..." She didn't say anything else and just walked away without another word and I stood looking after her unsure of what just happened. She was cold but tolerant and even helpful but seemed so standoffish. I have never met anyone like her before.

The whole way home I couldn't get the woman out of my mind, she intrigued me and frightened me all at once, I have never met anyone so intimidating before and yet I really wanted to meet her again. I knew I was staying quiet the whole way home and I think my dad just attributed that to my two new books and how engrossed I was in them. I had the book she gave me lying open in my lap and yet I couldn't read it, I couldn't focus. I couldn't read and that irked me so much.

I am aware I am getting older and hitting puberty, I have also been vaguely aware of my classmates talking about boys in the past, I never thought I would be getting distracted by a woman. It's insane, I am eleven...maybe this is what everyone meant by the fact that I was becoming a young woman. Regardless I don't think I liked it.

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Two weeks passed relatively quickly, I put the woman to the back of my mind apart from a few dreams here and there which was another worry onto itself. I had met a lot of people in my short time already and had never dreamed of them. It didn't bother me too much and to be perfectly honest I didn't give it much more thought. My new adventure starts now, it is the morning I am due to leave for Hogwarts I had my trunk with me and my mum and dad were taking me to Kings Cross Station. During the drive I was brimming with excitement and I was almost bouncing on my seat, my mother actually had to reprimand me because the whole car was almost shaking.

As we pulled up to the station my father pulled my brand new Mahogany trunk out of the boot of the car, as we got closer and closer to the entrance to the platform I knew they were wary of it but soon they took each other's hand before all at once we ran through the barrier and what I seen was nothing short of glorious. They would not be able to get through without me once I went home for Christmas but for now they were in as much shock and awe as a I was.

A red steam train stood and hooted as children and parents rushed around as I walked to the trunk drop off point I turned and seen my parents in complete shock of what was happening around them. Without warning I turned and bumped into a solid blonde figure as we both fell to the ground. He stood quickly and sneered down at me as my mother and father helped me back up onto my feet. I instantly recognised the sneer and thought about the woman who I had tried to forget about.

"Watch where you are going you filthy..." Before he could say anything a small dainty hand that I could swear I had seen before came to his shoulder and pulled him back in a warning. He was a prat, that much was true and I knew instantly who she was to the idiotic boy in front of me.

"Draco that's enough...I taught you better than that. You are not your father." He looked sheepishly up at her and at least looked apologetic enough. When I glanced up I and finally saw the face of someone that had haunted my dreams my breath caught in my throat. There was a part of me that didn't believe she was here in the flesh in front of me, as she looked down at me before glancing at my parents in that aristocratic way. Her son just huffed at his mother before saying he was going to find his friends leaving my parents openly gaping at the woman in front of them.

"I do apologise for my son, unfortunately he got his fathers manners and his lack of tact, are you alright little witch? Not bumped and bruised too much?" I shook my head at her and she smiled, her teeth were perfect and I had to stop myself from shaking my head to clear it. Her dazzling smile was now aimed in my parents direction whom were a little bit shocked.

"I believe his clumsiness is a family trait on my side. Thankfully it skipped a generation with me." I smiled up at her and she just returned the sentiment before looking at the skinned palm I didn't even realise a I had. Within seconds she placed her hand over my own and muttered something before letting go of me. The place where I had skinned my hand was gone and my parents were shocked.

"Narcissa Malfoy, pleased to meet you? Sorry for overstepping but I am fully qualified in Healing. I hope you don't mind?" She held out her hand and shook their own before she looked down at me and my parents introduced themselves and she took her leave and gave me a knowing look.

"Not at all...umm it seems there is much we don't know." Narcissa, I now know her name was Narcissa, she then offered to answer any questions they had, apparently they just had to write a letter and call for Effie. She turned and looked at me before smiling.

"Have a good first year at Hogwarts Little Witch...soak up all of that magical knowledge...be careful. Listen to your teachers." Before I could say anything else she practically floated away from us and my mother and father were confused.

"Well her son is a prat but she seems nice, young and slightly scary but nice." She didn't look any older that twentyish and she looked even better than that of my dreams. What is it about her that calls to me so much.

"Not to mention very pretty..." My father gaped at my mother who just laughed at his expression, not wanting to get into that particular conversation I said goodbye to my parents. As I made my way onto the train I took a seat in an empty compartment, it didn't take long for a young, plump boy to come and ask to sit with me.

We got to talking and with one final wave to my parents the train moved from the platform and I was on my way to Hogwarts, before we were totally away from the platform my eyes met blue ones almost at the end of the walkway and she smiled at me and winked to which I smiled. She was standing next to a tall blonde man which I am assuming was her husband, they looked like a couple of models and I couldn't help but be intimidated by him. Regardless of anything else It was going to be a good year.

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Hogwarts was amazing, I even made friends with two boys, Harry and Ron, albeit took some time. Christmas rolled around pretty quickly and I was going home to see my parents and we were almost at the platform and I was secretly holding out hope to see a flash of blonde hair, she didn't disappoint and was standing there alone this time, her husband was nowhere to be found. Quite quickly I got off the train and almost stumbled but was caught by strong yet small arms and as I looked up the bluest eyes were looking down at me. She looked even better every time I seen her.

"Hello Little Witch...what's this I hear of mountain trolls?" I just looked down at my shoes and she placed one hand under my chin to bring my eyes up to look at her.

"Please be careful Little Witch, now I am sure your parents are looking for you. Have a nice Christmas." She walked away but not before throwing a smile over her shoulder and going to hug her son. I too walked through the barrier and over to my own parents and threw my arms around them and we made our way home for the holidays.

Christmas holidays passed relatively quickly, I spend time with my parents, and on Boxing Day went to my grandparents house. Before I knew it the new year had came and I was on my way back to Hogwarts. I did not see Narcissa at the platform this time and tried my best not to be disappointed and sat with Neville again exchanging a small gift for one another and sat in comfortable silence. Soon my mission came back to me and spent the whole ride obsessing about where the hell I can find Nicholas Flamel.

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The school year was over, Harry had fought Voldemort and won, we kept him from getting the Philosophers Stone and the whole thing was pretty terrifying and I for one am glad it's over. Sitting on the train with my friends made me feel proud of the year passed. I had friends, actual friends and I was happy. Neville was the first friend I had made but Harry and Ron had become my brothers. As we pulled into the station I saw Ron run to his mum and dad and Harry left the platform in search of his Aunt and Uncle who were absolutely horrid from what I hear.

"Hello Little Witch..." I was startled by Narcissa behind me and as I turned around my breath caught in my throat, she looked even better than usual, her hair was up tightly at the bottom of her neck. Her lips were bright red, her teeth were pure white and I felt horrendously unkempt standing in front of her.

"Hi..." That was all I could say to her, I am usually quite coherent and well spoken, I don't know why I am so reluctant to talk to her. I also don't know why she is talking to me, her son is a prat but she is kind and she seems to care for me. Why. The pessimist in me thought it was strange but tried not to show it.

"A mountain troll was not enough it seems, you had to go after the Dark Lord also...your Gryffindor tendencies are rather confusing for me. Us Slytherin don't usually go diving headfirst into a situation. Sometimes being impulsive is not always a good thing do you understand?" I nodded in understanding before she placed a small hand on my shoulder and leant down to crouch in front of me.

"Please be careful Little Witch, my allegiances were made the day I got married. You do not understand it but you will, I cannot be seen to be taking a vested interest in you, it would paint a target on both your back and mine but please be careful." She went to walk away and I grabbed her by the wrist to stop her, she seemed shocked and the physical contact but all I could think in that moment was her skin was so soft.

"Why do you care? I'm sorry but your son is a pure blooded bigot as is your husband, I hear things about him. Why do you care? You are not like them and yet everyone in the Wizarding world calls you the Ice Queen...so why do you care?" She shook her head at me and confessed she didn't know, she took her wrist from my arm and cancelled a charm which I am assuming kept everyone from seeing us and walked away to find her son. The enigma of Narcissa Malloy was something I feared I would never understand. Our small amount of interaction was not a friendship and yet I enjoyed speaking to her, she was beautiful and intelligent and I don't know why but I need to know her.