Chapter One: The Funeral

There are several dialogue quotes taken from JK Rowling's Chamber of Secrets in this book. This is to convey the same story she wrote, but from another character's POV. The quotes taken directly from the book have three quotation marks (instead of two) around them to signify she wrote them and that I am citing them. Because I am transforming pieces of her work into something new this falls under the Fair Use Act. Additionally, JK Rowling has stated that she is okay with noncommercial fan fiction. All direct quotes, the Harry Potter storyline, and the characters all belong to JK Rowling.

The summer started out a bit rocky for Draco Malfoy. When he had returned home from the platform, the first thing his father had asked him was what his rank was. "Father, I tried my absolute best, I studied for months, but I got second. However, Professor Snape told me that he still plans to mentor me," Draco had said, with all the courage he could muster.

"I see," Lucius had replied, turning his back to Draco. However, Draco let out a sigh of relief too soon, because then his father had whipped around and shouted, "Crucio!"

Every time Lucius had ever used the Cruciatus Curse on Draco, Narcissa begged and pleaded for him to stop. "Stop is Cissy!" Lucius would shout, shaking her from his arm, "This is how the boy will learn!"

Draco had screamed and sobbed, thrashing around on the ground. You never got used to the Cruciatus Curse. The pain didn't dull the more you endured it. It surged throughout your body until you were sure you would die. When Lucius had finally decided it was enough, he walked over to Draco and pulled him up by his collar, "I am helping you," he had spat.

The good news was that after a blow up like that, Lucius would usually withdraw, and somewhat ignore Draco, which was the case this time... or was the case this time until Draco had listened in on his father's meeting and was now assigned a job.

The chamber of secrets? A basilisk? Draco had reread half his library trying to figure out what those two things were. However, he couldn't find any information anywhere.

His father's violence, the task, grades, quidditch tryouts, thoughts swam through Draco's head at a million miles per hour, giving him nausea. Draco felt as though he may have another breakdown, so he ran to the gardens with one of the only muggle inventions, pureblood wizards deemed acceptable to use, a small wireless radio.

Draco sat underneath a large oak tree, leaning against the trunk. He quietly sang along to the radio, allowing his mind to forget all his stress. He still had an entire month left before school started, and there was no reason to worry about grades and quidditch now.

Suddenly Niklaus swooped down to Draco delivering a single letter addressed to Draco. It was from Blaise. Draco hadn't really seen or heard much from his friends over break, as they all were quite busy at home with one thing or another. It felt good to have contact with someone his age again, and Draco quickly ripped open the envelope.

Draco,

My stepfather died. I would appreciate it if you came to the funeral on the 5th of August.

Blaise

Draco probably shouldn't have felt any excitement at Blaise's news, but he was dying to see his friends again. Later that day his parents received a more official invitation for their family to attend Avid Spavin's funeral. It was quite customary for prestigious purebloods to attend such events, regardless of how close they were to the family.

A few days later, Draco dressed in his black funeral wear and slicked his hair back into the same hairstyle he wore everyday. Draco had been to four other funerals of Mrs. Zabini's husbands. They had a strange tendency to die rather quickly after marrying her. However, Draco didn't really know Blaise back then. He had just gone along with his parents. Now he had to be there for Blaise, but what was he supposed to say? What do you say to a friend who's new step father dies every few years?

The Malfoy family used Floo Powder to arrive at the Zabini household. It was a grand gothic style mansion filled with warm rich colors, and ornate antiques. They followed the other guests out into the backyard where a large service was being held. Draco could see a small cemetery to the right of the ceremony, and what looked to be his friends standing inside it. "Go find your friend sweetie," Narcissa whispered to Draco, "comfort him."

Draco made his way through the crowds of people, shaking hands and saying hello whenever necessary. Finally, he came upon the iron gate fence that enclosed the Zabinis' private cemetery. Blaise sat motionless atop of one of the graves. Pansy, Daphne, and Astoria stood beside him trying their best to comfort him. Draco felt a great deal of conflict. On one hand he wanted to run to them, to laugh and joke, but on the other hand, this situation was quite heavy and hard for Draco.

Draco unlatched the lock, and opened the door with a loud squeak. "Draco," Daphne called. She rushed over to him and grabbed his arm, pulling him to Blaise.

Pansy looked to Draco with wishful eyes, but continued to keep her arm around Blaise. "Blaise, Draco is here," she said.

"I-I'm sorry about your step-father." Draco spoke.

Blaise sniffed, "It's fine. If I'm being honest I'm not even thinking about him. This whole thing just reminds me of my father," he said bluntly, pointing to the headstone he was sitting in front of. "He was a great man, and the best father. He was just... really sad. Killed himself when I was four. I still remember the funeral, very much like this one. Mom took it really poorly. She had really loved him, but she was pressured to find another husband by her family. They said she needed someone to take care of us. She remarried the next year, but she wasn't truly happy. We've just had bad luck. Everyone she marries seems to get sick and die on us. She doesn't love them though. They're just temporary distractions from my dad's death. Each one tries to be my new dad, but they can't replace him. Besides, they always end up dead anyways. We must be cursed or something."

No one said anything for a long time. They just allowed the moment to sit. A few meters away from them two house elves were digging a new hole for Mr. Spavin's body. Pansy shifted and fidgeted, uncomfortable with both the silence and the death that surrounded her.

"Anyways," Blaise finally said in a much lighter tone. "That was a long time ago. There is really no reason to comfort me. Let's go find my mother."

The service was just about to start, when Blaise led them to a row of seats right behind where his mother sat. Several members of Mr. Spavin's family spoke on his behalf. Draco tried his best to pay attention, but relaxed when he noticed Blaise was completely bored by what was happening as well.

Mrs. Zabini cried into the shoulder of some rich man that Draco had seen, but did not know by name. When he wrapped his arm around her and kissed the top of her head, Pansy could not help but let out a surprised gasp. She tried to play it off as a yawn, but Blaise caught on. "I guess that's soon to be husband number six," he mumbled under his breath, and chuckled.

"I'm sure it's just a friend trying to comfort her," said Daphne. She elbowed Astoria in the ribs, as she was struggling not to laugh at the sight.

"It's okay guys," Blaise muttered sincerely. "Whatever makes her happy."

Draco heard a small clicking noise coming from behind him. He turned around to see several reporters with cameras sneaking around the yard. Draco tugged on Blaise's sleeve and pointed to them. "Bloody hell," Blaise whispered. "This is not going to go down well with mom."

At this point, many of the other guests had noticed what was happening. As people murmured and turned around to catch a look, the reporters came out of their hiding places hurrying towards the ceremony.

"Mrs. Zabini! Mrs. Zabini! Is it true that you murdered your husband?" Shouted one reporter.

"Mrs. Zabini! The doctors can't determine what sort of illness killed him, is this because you poisoned him?" Another reporter called.

"Mrs. Zabini! Is it true that this is the fifth husband who has died on you?" Said another.

At this point, chaos had broken out. The man who had been comforting Mrs. Zabini tried to block her from view with his coat, and led her into the house. Several men confronted the press, threatening them that they needed to leave. The other guests made their way back into the mansion, away from the prying eyes of the press.

Draco and his friends were separated in the mess, but he noticed Pansy, Daphne, and Astoria standing in a corner, when he made his way back into the house. "Where's Blaise?" Daphne asked.

"I thought he was with you," Draco answered.

The four of them could see Mrs. Zabini crying into Narcissa's arms. "I'm so sorry Yemaya," said Narcissa, comforting her.

"Someone at the Daily Prophet will be out of a job by the end of the day," Lucius sneered threateningly. Many of the men who attended the funeral stood around Mrs. Zabini, trying to comfort her.

"It's... odd isn't it?" Asked Astoria quietly. "That men keep wanting to marry her even though they keep dying. It's like she is cursed, and I wouldn't want to mess with that."

"I have no idea," said Daphne, "but-"

Pansy cut her off, "You guys really don't know?" she asked.

"Know what?" asked Draco.

"Mrs. Zabini is one fourth Veela. Her grandmother was a Veela." Pansy answered.

"How on earth do you know this?" Asked Daphne incredulously.

"Blaise told me," said Pansy.

"I guess that explains why she is so beautiful," said Draco, to Pansy's utter dismay.

"Okay is someone gonna explain what a Veela is?" asked Astoria, annoyed to be the only one who didn't know.

"Oh, right, sorry Tori," answered Daphne. "I forgot you haven't gone to school yet. A Veela is a semi-human magical being who can attract practically any man with their looks. However, when they are angry they turn into quite frightening creatures. They are typically described to be super pale and as having white blonde hair, but that's actually not always the case.

"Now that you mention it, it makes a lot of sense," said Draco. Mrs. Zabini's unblemished, dark skin practically glowed when the light hit it. Her hair cascaded down her back in beautiful curls. Even as she sobbed, there was nothing unappealing about her.

"Let's go find Blaise," said Daphne, snapping her fingers in front of Draco's face to get his attention. "Tori you stay here."

"Why?" Astoria protested, annoyed to be left out.

"Because clearly he is upset, and you aren't really his friend," Daphne shot back a bit more harshly than she meant to.

"Fine," Astoria spit back and went to find her parents.

The three Slytherins wandered upstairs, trying to stumble upon Blaise's room. "End of the hall, on the right," a small female house elf squeaked.

"Thank you," said Daphne, and they made their way down the hall.

Draco knocked, and slowly opened the door. Blaise was laying on his bed, blankly staring at the ceiling. The three Slytherins sat down next to him on his bed without waiting for an invitation. Draco started talking before anyone else had the chance. He chatted light heartedly about happy things, and the others followed suit. Soon they were all laughing together, truly enjoying the afternoon.

"They think she kills them," Blaise blurted out without warning, a couple hours later.

"Does she?" Asked Pansy, trying to sound sympathetic.

Daphne pinched her hard, and he let out a loud "Ouch!"

Blaise sat up and looked at her. "What do you think?" He asked.