Persephone Goldheart is my own original character. All the other characters shown in this story belong to JK Rowling, as does the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

...

Her whole life Persephone Goldheart had been a Slytherin. Her parents both came from highly regarded rich pureblood wizarding families, with their regular dinner companions consisting of the Malfoys, the Lestrange's, and the Parkinson's. The Goldheart family believed as all proper wizarding families believed. Magic should only belong to magical families, not to half-bloods and definitely not to Mudbloods. Ever since she was a young girl, Persephone's parents insisted on trying to set her up with young pureblood boys. 'To keep the family powerful." her father would say. Yes, Persephone had always been a Slytherin until she hadn't been...Until she went to Hogwarts. She remembered feeling numb as she made her way over to the Gryffindor table, her brain not processing what was happening. She remembered her childhood friend, Draco Malfoy glaring at her as she walked passed. She remembered the howler she received from her parents the next day, the disappointment in their eyes when she went home for Christmas that first year. She remembered her parents becoming more and more neglectful as the years went by until they could hardly bear to look at their disappointment of a daughter for a second longer.

In Persephone's first few years at Hogwarts, she had no friends. Her once best friends over at the Slytherin table refused to talk to her once she was sorted into Gryffindor. Her presence was met with rolled eyes, muttered slurs, and rude remarks. The Gryffindors were nice enough, but Persephone's father had warned her that if she wanted to continue to be a part of the Goldheart family it would do her good to stay away from her roommates. It had been such a lonely 3 years. Persephone wasn't a shy person and she craved someone to talk with, someone to gossip with, someone to laugh with. The worst part of it all was that the Gryffindors were so friendly. They would always try to start conversations with her or invite her to the famous common room parties, and she would have to pretend she wasn't interested. She would have to be rude even. Eventually, the Gryffindors learned to leave her alone, which was much much worse. And so her lonesome existence continued...until the fourth year.

It was the night of the Yule Ball when Persephone first spoke to the golden trio. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were sitting by themselves watching the dancers whirling and twirling around the great hall. Ron had a look of complete disgust of his face, while Harry just looked bored out of his brain. Persephone blamed the firewhiskey spiked punch for her forbidden interaction.

"Having Fun?" she asked sarcastically, cocking an eyebrow at the pair.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Ron snapped, his eyes only briefly glancing up at her before resting back on the dances.

"Ron" Harry whispered, "that's Persephone, she's in Gryffindor in our year." Harry smiled up at her in an apology.

"Oh yeah, sorry," Ron said, his cheeks glowing red. Persephone chuckled.

"It's alright if I were you I'd forget about me as well." For a second Harry and Ron looked confused, but then joined in her laughter.

Ever since then Persephone had friends. It was no longer the golden trio, Persephone was part of the group. She had comforted Harry after Cedric Diggory had died in the TriWizard Tournament, she had listened to Hermonie constantly complain about Ron, she had also listened to Hermione come to Ron's defence whenever someone spoke badly of him. She had played countless games of wizard's chess with Ron, and even let him beat her a few times. And in return, they had been there for her. They had offered sympathy when she told them about her situation with her parents, they had stood up for her when Malfoy offered he's at least weekly insults, and they had written to her every holiday that they were apart. Of course, her parents knew nothing about this. They still thought that she had no friends and hated all Gryffindors, but as long as they didn't know, she would be fine. Until eventually and inevitably she was forced to marry some Slytherin death eater.

…..

Persephone stared at her reflection in the large golden mirror that hung next to her vanity. Tanned skin, wavy blonde hair, blue eyes. A mirror image of what her mother looked like at her age. Today was the day she would be back at Hogwarts for her sixth year. Today was the day that she could finally let the cool hating facade slip away, and she could become herself again. The six weeks away from her friends almost caused her to forget who that was. Persephone walked away from the mirror and over to her four-poster bed where her trunk sat open. She double-checked she had everything packed, then made her way over to Shakespeare, her black feathered owl. She had found the name in a muggle book she stumbled across in the Hogwarts library and thought it was a funny name for a man and an even funnier name for a pet.

"Persephone come on!" Helena, Persephone's mother called from downstairs.

Persephone grabbed a trench coat and threw it over her black turtleneck and checkered skirt, then slammed her trunk shut, grabbed Shakespear, and trudged down the stairs to meet her mother.

"Where's Father?" she asked, seeing her mother standing alone. Helena's eyes flickered around the room and she looked embarrassed.

"Oh, he uh he had to go into the Ministry." A lie. Persephone knew when her mother was lying about as easy as knowing what spell to use to unlock a door. Ever since Persephone was sorted into Gryffindor her father seemed to always be at the Ministry.

"So it will just be me today." Helena continued, offering her daughter a sympathetic smile.

Persephone took a final look around the grand house, then back at her mother.

"Alright let's go."

…..

They arrived at the Hogwarts Express five minutes before the train departed. Out of the corner of her eye, Persephone saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione glance at her before entering the train. They knew they couldn't seem all that interested in her, their greetings would be saved for the train. The Malfoy's were also on the platform, fussing over their 16-year-old son like he was only 10 years old. Draco looked different since Persephone had last seen him. He was taller and broader, his face seemed to be more angular. However, he also had an air of sadness around him. He was handsome that was certain, she thought, but his asshole personality made his features far less attractive. Helena dragged Persephone over to the Malfoys despite her physical protests.

"Narcissa" Helena cried, hugging the striking blonde woman.

As the two women talked Persephone and Draco glared at each other. God she loathed him, she didn't know how they were ever friends.

"Hello, Goldheart," Draco said in a low sarcastic drawl. Persephone rolled her eyes, then tugged on Helena's arm.

"Mother I need to go, the train's about to leave."

"Oh of course, well goodbye darling have a nice year," Helena said dismissively, then turned back to Narcissa, continuing their conversation. Persephone felt a familiar sting in her chest as she walked away toward the train. She was used to her father ignoring her, but she at least expected her mother to offer a proper goodbye. As she boarded the train she heard Malfoy's stupid voice.

"Looks like Mummy and Daddy are finally treating you how they should after you've become such an embarrassment to the family," Malfoy said, walking closely behind her as she marched down the corridor of the train.

"Malfoy I can't help that I was sorted into Gryffindor, the hat made that decision, not me."

Persephone stopped outside a compartment. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting inside looking at her through the window.

"No, you can't. But you can help who you spend all your time with." Malfoy snuck round in front of her and put his hands on either side of the small corridor, stopping Persephone from being able to get into the compartment. He learnt in close to her, his breath smelt like mint and there was the smell of some expensive cologne that hung in the air.

"How do you think Mummy and Daddy would feel if I let it slip that your best friends are Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and that filthy mudblood." he snarled, a smirk forming on his lips.

"Don't call her that!" Persephone exclaimed, shoving Draco in the chest and entering the stall and slamming the door shut.

"God I hate him!" she yelled, throwing herself down next to Hermione. They all stared at her looking slightly surprised by her presences. It was just then that she realised it had been almost 7 weeks since she had seen her best friends. Hermione was the first to jump on Persephone, wrapping her arms tightly around her slender frame, then Ron joined, then Harry. They finally let go when Persephone complained about not being able to breathe.

"We've missed you so much!" Hermione said breathlessly. Sitting back down on the seat.

"How was your summer? Were your parents still completely awful?"

Persephone explained that her parent's behaviour had only worsened through the summertime. She told them about the way they treated her like she wasn't there most of the time, and when they did acknowledge her it was only to complain about something she was doing or to tell her about what a disappointment she was.

"My father also threatened me." Persephone continued, "he told me that if he found out I'd been talking to you, he would bring me straight home from Hogwarts, and never let me go back."

"What!" Harry yelled, "he can't do that."

Persephone smiled softly at Harry's anger.

"I mean he can, but it's fine, there's no way my parents could find out. We've been fine the past two years haven't we?" Persephone asked, looking around. The group all slowly nodded their heads in agreement. Harry looked around at Ron and Hermione as if asking them permission to say something. Hermione shrugged and looked uncomfortable, while Ron just looked oblivious.

"Well, we actually have something we want...I want to ask you about." Harry stammered, "I think Malfoy may be a death eater. We saw him in Borgin and Burkes the other day, he was asking Borgin how to fix something. When he said that it wasn't possible Malfoy showed him something that scared him into agreeing to help him. I think it may have been the Dark Mark. Since you know his family I was wondering if you think this could be possible?." Harry finished the last sentence quickly before Hermione or Ron had time to interject. Persephone thought this over. Malfoys parents were so protective over their darling boy and would never let him become a death eater if they had a say about it. But maybe they didn't have a say. Voldermort would've been disgusted with Lucius for losing the prophecy last year. Maybe this was his form of revenge?

"I guess it may be possible.." Persephone said slowly, "but I have no idea what he may have been looking at in Borgin and Burkes." Harry looked satisfied and glanced smugly at Ron and Hermione and then stood up.

"I'm going to get changed," he said and left the room.

"Wait Harry you forgot your...robes," Ron called but Harry was already gone.