Chapter 1

It had been a nice weekend afternoon, when my mother motioned me to go to the store room with her.

"Melody. Dear, come here, I want to tell you something."

I raised my eyebrows."In the storeroom?"

"Yes, well come now. Don't ask any questions."

Well, that was unusual. Most of the time, I pried the secrets out of her. So I followed her without any further question.

She turned on the lights and pulled out two chairs, on one of which she sat, and the other was obviously for me.

I could see, she was somewhat nervous about whatever she was going to tell. This sign was, at the very least, not redeeming. She took a deep breath. "Melody, you're a witch."

"What!" I blinked. "You're also believing this rubbish now...just like them..." Yes, nowadays due to some... coincidence maybe.., like my anger turning into a little fire or my outburst causing a storm around me, my classmates accuse me of being a witch or a monster. And it's so unnerving! "I never expected these words from you, Mum.", I said quietly, suddenly feeling very lonely and cold.

"No dear... It's not that. You know, I'm also a witch."

"What?" The first idea which came to my mind was my mother, wearing a dress and a hat like that Snow White's witch, with a red apple in hand and cackling maniacally.

"Yes, I'm also a witch. But it's not bad. You see, your Dad's a wizard, too." I couldn't understand what was going around me, then. "And-", she stood up and went to open a box which had a stick inside it.

"Mum, what are you doing?"

She waved the stick and floated the boxes up in the air, in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes! So, what Mum was saying was true...she's a witch, Dad's a wizard and I am also a witch! That means, this is a magic wand. But I've never found about magic in any of my Science books. Nonetheless, magic seemed interesting...

"I hope now you've understood, what I'm trying to say." She smiled at me.

I dumbly nodded.

"Well, as you're a witch, you're going to go to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?"

"Yes. Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

"Tell me about it."

She took out a letter, which was addressed to me and gave it to me.

I looked at the letter closely and held my breath just to look at her with wide eyes.

I got to know about my family history and origin, from my mother. Apparently, Mum is a witch of a long bloodline, where even Merlin linked in. Mum told that they were mostly Slytherins, a house for those with determination and cunningness and that Mum was also one. She was, what everyone tends to define as a proud prejudiced pureblood. I disagreed with her at that point. In the wizarding language, my mother has always been a Hufflepuff to me. She told me that Dad was a muggleborn Gryffindor. It's not hard to believe. Then I asked her if she was so proud, then why she chose Dad. Her answer was, I quote, "When you're falling for someone, you don't know until you're too late to pull back. That's what happened to me, too. And about the fact of me being proud... I was really, I understand now. But your Dad changed me."

Mum also told me all about Hogwarts, about the subjects studied there, the magical creatures and the story of a boy, Harry Potter. She also told me that she would take me to Diagon Alley today, for which I was currently making myself ready.

"Are you ready, Melody?" I heard Dad's voice, coming from downstairs.

"Yes, Dad! Coming."

I ran down the stairs quickly to find my parents ready. I walked up to them and went to open the door.

"No need to open the door, dear." My Mum said, from behind.

I turned to her, confused. "...Why?"

"We're going through the floo network."

"Floo?"

"Yes, floo. Now come on."

She walked to the fireplace. Dad was already there. He took some coloured sand from the flower pot and motioned me to come to him. I obeyed him.

"Now, you'll follow me. Do what I do."

I nodded.

Dad spelt the word, "Diagon Alley" clearly and poured the sand. I watched closely. The fire changed to green and engulfed Dad. I was terrified and tried to reach out for him but Mum stopped me.

"Stop, Melody. Your Dad is just fine."

I glanced at her and nodded.

"Now, do what your Dad did."

I took the coloured sand and threw it in the fireplace. It lit up in the same bright green colour so, I muttered clearly, "Diagon Alley".

I landed on the ground as soon I reached our destination. Dad helped me to get up and muttered a few words about my clumsiness. But I ignored him as I was staring at tha Diagon Alley, with wonder.

"Give your list." I heard Mum's voice. I hastily took out the list and handed it to her.

"Hmmm. The list is long..from where do we start?" Mum looked at me.

"How about getting my wand first?" I suggested.

"Good idea. Let's go."

The three of us headed to the Ollivanders', the famous wand shop. Mum told to go inside by myself and that she would wait for me. So, I obeyed her and went inside. But at a last glance, I saw Dad leaving to somewhere else. Mum wouldn't leave, isn't it? Or would she? I tried to calm myself but on seeing the disheveled old man with white hair, smiling eeriely at me, freaked me out even more.

"Welcome Miss Silverstone, I have been waiting for you."

"Oh..?" So this Ollivander fellow was now calling me by my Mum's maiden name, huh?

"I am assuming you are here for your wand."

I nodded. He smiled kindly. So, maybe he wasn't bad, just a bit weird.

After some measurements, Ollivander took down some boxes. "Miss Silverstone, try this one. Ash wood and dragon string hair core. Ten inches. Very flexible. Give it a wave."

I waved it and nothing happened but a vase shattered. I cringed at the scene with a oh-what-have-I-done look, but he didn't seen angry.

"Try it. Birch wood and phoenix hair core. Thirteen inches. Quite whippy."

I tried it but Ollivander snatched it. Three more trials went on.

Ollivander sighed. "Your father has a Cedar wood wand with unicorn hair core. Your mother has a silver lime wood with unicorn hair core. Isn't it?"

He looked at me. I nodded quickly to affirm his question. Ollivander put his finger on his chin and tapped it, as if thinking something. Then suddenly, he went inside and came out with a box and took out the wand.

It was an elegant sleek black wand.

"This wand has a very rare combination. I made it with coral core and blackwood. Try it. It's very flexible."

I waved it. A warm feeling engulfed me and silver sparks came from this wand. I happily paid for the wand and went outside.

"Mum, see what I've got-" But I stopped. An elegant lady with stylish blonde hair was talking to my Mum, well, more like arguing. And Dad was nowhere within sight.

Mum then turned to me, with a forced smile. Now I was sure that this lady was really pissing her off.

"Melody, meet her. Narcissa Malfoy and Narcissa, it's my daughter Melody." Aha...so she was a Malfoy. Mum told me about them. "Way too proud for their own good.", was her exact words.

"It's pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." I said politely.

Mrs Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "So you named your daughter, Melody? How...unnatural name."

"Well, according to me, naming my child after some constellation or mythological creature is more 'unnatural'. By the way, Narcissa, I need to go now. We haven't finished shopping."

Mum took my hand and we started heading into the opposite direction, without waiting for Mrs Malfoy's response.

I asked, "So what is her child's name? Cassiopia or something?"

Mum laughed. "No, he's a boy. His name is Draco."

I couldn't help but giggle and spelt the word, "Draco? Ha ha ha!!"

After a few minutes, I smirked at Mum, "You know what, Mum? Your actions justify your house. You're a true Slytherin."

Mum just laughed at my words and ruffled my hair.