Harry Potter and the Face of Destiny

By Bronze Eagle

Chapter 3

A/N: Thanks to all reviewers! Bless you! (Victory! My bio updated! It's not all short now.^_^) Thanks, Silver Birch, I'll try to proofread my stuff better! I think you can find my e-mail in my profile.

*****

Puck turned restlessly in her bed. This king size bed was huge compared to the little twin size one she was used to at the orphanage, yet she found herself missing it. Everything was so strange here. She smiled slightly. Draco had given a much better tour to her of Malfoy Manor than she had given him of the orphanage. But, she supposed, she was going to live here, so knowing where things were would be useful, to say the least.

She sighed. "I suppose Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy aren't that bad," she murmured, "but they seem so aloof, Lucius especially. I don't know how well I'm going to adapt to this place. And even Hogwarts won't be much better. Everyone my age will have already spent four years there, and I'll be just beginning. I won't even know the teachers, or what's expected of us in the classes." She sighed again. "I wonder what house I'll be in."

*****

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley all went to Diagon Alley the next day to get their school supplies (and, in the case of the twins, just plain supplies). Unfortunately for Harry, they used Floo powder. Hermione didn't seem to have as bad a time with it as he did, so Harry was the only one disappointed by this decision. He didn't come out at the wrong gate this time, though, nor did he get sick, so Harry was in high spirits as he, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny walked along the street.

Suddenly, Harry noticed something odd. He poked Ron in the ribs. "Ouch! What is it?"

Harry pointed. "Look, it's Malfoy."

Ron groaned. "And I was having a good day, too ... Hey, who's that girl he's with?"

Harry had been wondering the same thing. "She looks a lot like you," Hermione whispered. He had to agree. The same eyes, hair, skin color ... she even wore glasses.

"I'm going to find out who she is," Ginny said. The rest of them followed reluctantly, not sure if they wanted to meet someone who would willingly spend time around Draco Malfoy. Ginny, however, marched right up.

"Well, look who's coming our way," Draco sneered to Puck as a group of people walked towards them.

"Who are they?" she asked.

"It's Potter."

"Really? Harry Potter? Those must be his friends ... I thought you didn't like each other. Why are they coming over here?"

"I bet they're curious so see who would actually *want* to spend time with me. Come on, we still haven't got all your things."

"Wait, I'd like to meet them," she protested.

"Your loss," he muttered. "I'll be waiting in Flourish and Blotts, over there, across the street." He pointed. "I really would rather spend as little time as possible in their vicinity."

"Okay, see you there," she said, and turned as Ginny walked up to her. "Hello."

"Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley, who are you?"

"My name's Robyn Goodfellow, but you can call me Puck. Everyone does."

"Nice to meet you," said a slightly older girl with brown curly hair. "I'm Hermione Granger. These two," she indicated the two boys standing awkwardly behind her, "are Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."

"Pleased to meet you too," said Puck.

*****

From behind the shop window, Draco scowled. I wonder if she'll remember if I exist, he thought acidly. This is just wonderful. Her second day here and she's consorting with mudbloods and do-gooders. He scowl deepened. Well, I do have her money, so I may as well give it to her and tell her where to meet me. She'll probably want to tag along with Potter and his gang.

Draco made his way out of the shop and across the street. "Hey Puck!" he called. She glanced around, then spotted him.

"Hi! What is it?"

Draco noted the startled expressions on her companions' faces and smirked. "I thought you might want to finish getting your things, so I decided to bring your money back to you, before I go wait in the Leaky Cauldron."

"Aren't you going to help me get my stuff?"

He smiled bitterly. "Your *friends* can help you. I'm sure you'll have much more fun with them than you would have had with me." He threw the bag he was holding to her, and spun on his heel and left.

"What was that all about?" Ron wondered out loud.

They tuned to Puck, and were startled to see her looking almost teary-eyed. "That stupid git," she said angrily, using a term she had picked up from Draco. "See you all later, I've got to go find him." She ran in the direction Draco had gone. The rest of them hesitated, and followed.

*****

Draco jogged blindly towards the Leaky Cauldron. How could he have been so stupid as to think she would like him? All it took was one look, and she was off to Potter. Why did Potter do this to him? She was his sister now, for crying out loud, and he barely even knew her. Why couldn't she give him a chance? He was suddenly startled to find that he was almost in tears. That made him angry. Who was she to invade his life like that? He hadn't asked for this! And, worst of all, why did he actually like her? He could practically hear himself making an effort to make her feel at home when he thought back to when he'd given her the tour of the Manor. WHY?

"Draco! Get over here, you stupid git!" To his utter amazement, Puck ran up next to him.

"What are you doing here?" he snarled. "Why aren't you with your friends? They care about you, I'm sure. I'm just your brother, after all."

She grabbed his arm and pulled him to a halt. "Is *that* what this is about? Listen, Mr. I'm-Curled-Up-In-A-Little-Ball- 'Cause-I'm-Feeling-Sorry-For-Myself, I just met them about a minute ago. I think they're nice, even if you won't give them a chance, but you're right, you *are* my brother, and I wish you'd start acting like it, because family is supposed to stick together, not bail out at the first sign of trouble. Okay, I'll go shopping with them, but only if you come."

As Puck berated her new brother, Harry and his friends watched in wonder. "She actually cares," Ron muttered.

"Her *brother*?" said Hermione. "I've never seen her before. She wasn't there at the World Cup."

"She must be adopted," said Ginny.

"How would you know?" asked Ron.

"Oh, just think for once, Ron," she said irritably. "She doesn't look anything like the rest of the family, none of us have seen her before, and Draco is questioning her about her friends like she doesn't have any, or if she does, they're not here."

"She's right," said Harry. "Let's go over and see if she's, er, done."

*****

An hour later Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Puck, and Draco were walking to the Leaky Cauldron together. Draco had given up complaining about half an hour before. "I still don't see why you wanted to bring *them* along," he would mutter occasionally. Whenever he did so, however, Puck would shoot him a dark look and mutter something about 'sibling rivalry.'

"You know," she burst out suddenly, "I don't get it with you two. WHY do you hate each other so much?"

Harry and Draco glared at each other. "He started it," they said together. Everyone burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Harry asked defensively.

"Both of you," Puck said. "You're so much alike, but you still hate each other's guts. When did you meet? It sure seems like you've had a long time to build up your dislike."

Then they told Puck the whole story about Harry living with the Dursleys, although it was Draco's first time hearing the full thing as well.

"You mean they actually locked you in the cupboard, Potter?" he said once, then stopped quickly at the look on Puck's face.

"That was awful! How could they do that to you?"

"I guess they just don't like wizards," Harry said quietly.

"You see, *this* is why they shouldn't let Muggle-borns into Hogwarts. They aren't the same ..." Draco trailed off at the sight of the rest of them staring at him, especially Hermione. "Oh, right, present company excused, of course," he said quickly.

Puck sighed. "Draco, most Muggle-borns aren't like that. I knew a lot of people at my old school who were from Muggle families, and they were perfectly nice."

"Where did you go to school before you came here?" Hermione asked, shooting a nasty glance at Draco.

"The New York Academy for Young Witches and Wizards, in the wizarding section of New York City, New York in the US."

"There's a wizarding section of New York?" asked Hermione. "I've been to New York, but I didn't know there was a wizarding section of it. How do you get there?"

"There are entrances in a lot of the subway tunnels, so you can get there from almost anywhere in the city."

"Subway?" asked Ron, puzzled.

"The Muggles here in Britain call it the Underground, I'm sure your father would know all about it," said Draco, much to everyone's surprise.

"How do you know about something that 'Muggle'?" asked Hermione in surprise.

"You're not the only one who's taken Muggle Studies, you know," he replied smugly as the entered the Leaky Cauldron.

Well, well, well, thought a figure watching them from the shadows, I do believe dear little Draco is fraternizing with the enemy. We shall have to teach him a lesson, now, won't we? The cloaked figure grinned cruelly and slipped off into the night.

*****

Fred and George nearly died of shock when they saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Draco Malfoy, and a strange girl walk over to them in the Leaky Cauldron. They both looked up, hearing footsteps, choked on their butterbeer, and spat it out onto the table in perfect synchronization.

"What's *he* doing here?" they said together, wiping their mouths.

Puck burst out laughing, earning a glare from the twins.

"Yeah," said Angelina as she, Katie, Alicia, and Lee Jordan walked over to the group, "aren't you two sworn enemies or something?"

"And who's she?" asked Katie.

Harry sighed. "This is Puck. She's Draco's new adopted sister from the United States."

The older teenagers goggled at them. "Adopted?!"

"Yes," said Draco smoothly. "She just came by Floo powder yesterday, and she'll be a fifth year at Hogwarts at the beginning of the term."

"You know, I can talk for myself, Draco," Puck said. "How do you do?" She held out a hand to Alicia, who took it gingerly. "I only bite on days that end with 'y', don't worry."

At this, everyone laughed and shook Puck's hand, effectively accepting her. However, Harry noticed, no one made any move to talk to Draco. He sighed, and wondered if this peace between them would last.

"Worried about something, Potter?" murmured Draco.

"Well, I can't help noticing that they're not too keen on you, even if they do accept Puck. I just hope you're not too offended."

Draco blinked slowly. "I can deal with it. After all, I'm not exactly used to warm a reception from any Gryffindor, much less all of you."

Harry had to agree.

*****

Puck was grinning from ear to ear as she and Draco went to meet Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy at Gringotts.

"It looks as though you had fun, judging from the absurd grin you're wearing," Draco commented.

"Yeah, they were nice," she said. "I'm glad you got along. I was hoping you and Harry wouldn't kill each other, but it worked out well."

"Yeah ... Do you get the feeling we're being watched?"

She glanced around nervously. "Actually, yeah, you see that person over there in the cloak?" she asked in an undertone. Draco looked over to where she had indicated, and turned several shades whiter than his normal pale color.

"Here," he said hoarsely. "Gringotts is right around the corner, make a dash for it, but don't look like you're running from anything. Just walk faster."

"What's the matter?"

"Just GO!"

With a last terrified glance behind him, Draco walked as fast as he could around the corner and out of sight.

"That's right, little ones," hissed a voice from inside the cloak. "Run, run as far and as fast as you can, but I'll catch you in the end."

*****

"Right, we can stop now," Draco said as he swerved around the corner and nearly collided with Puck.

"What was that all about?"

"I, er, thought I knew them, but I guess not," he said.

"Must not get along very well with them. Who did you think it was?"

You *really* don't want to know, he thought to himself. Out loud, he replied, "Okay, here we are, there's mum ... I don't see dad, though." Another chill ran down his spine. Three guesses where he is, he thought, and the first two don't count. "Come on, it's time to go home."

"What about your father?" she asked as they walked up the wide marble steps.

"He will be delayed in coming home, Robyn, and has instructed us to depart without him," said Narcissa, catching Puck's question.

"Oh. Okay. Uh, right, then, let's go," she said trying, and failing, to sound cheerful.

*****

Piling out of the fireplace after Ron, the twins began to immediately berate the four with questions.

"*Why* did you want to talk with Draco Malfoy's sister?"

"Well, we didn't know she was his sister at the time, George," said Ginny.

"Anyway, she was really nice, I'm glad she'll be going to Hogwarts this term," added Hermione. "We could learn a lot about American schools and their ways of life and how it's different from ours ..."

Ron groaned. "Hermione, everything doesn't *have* to be a 'learning experience,' you know."

"She actually got along with Malfoy," Harry muttered, more to himself than anyone else in the room.

"I know," said Ginny, "that surprised me too. Even if she is his sister now."

"Wait a minute, back up," interrupted Fred. "I still don't understand why the Malfoys adopted her in the first place. I mean, you'd think they have their hands full with Draco." Everyone chuckled.

"It's true, though," said Ron thoughtfully. "They must have had a reason, other than the fact that they wanted a different child. Maybe they thought they could switch ..."

Harry stared out the window thoughtfully. He had a hunch, but it didn't make sense. What would Voldemort (he shuddered) want with Puck? She was just a normal kid ...

No one but Ginny noticed the look on Harry's face. She wondered what he was thinking. She'd only seen that look on his face a few times before ... She shivered slightly. In the Chamber of Secrets ... but this doesn't have anything to do with the Dark Lord, does it? she thought. I hope not. I don't think I can face him again. But if Harry goes to fight him, then I go too. He needs someone to protect him, because he can't be lucky every time.

*****

"Are we almost done?" Puck yawned. "I didn't think this would take so long."

"Well, I just want to make sure you know this stuff. It'll be really hard at Hogwarts if you're behind everyone else, and we have the O.W.L.s this year. Besides, I need to do my homework."

"Well you should have done it before, shouldn't you? I'm going to bed ..." she trailed off in a yawn.

"NO! Er, wait, I just have a few more questions." Why don't you just tell her? he asked himself. It's better if she doesn't know about father, he replied silently. He's not even home yet, you shouldn't worry ... But if he saw us with Potter ...

She looked at him suspiciously. "Okay, what is it?" He looked at her innocently. "You're worried about something, aren't you?"

Draco swallowed nervously. "Look, I can't tell you now, all right? Someone might hear, and then I'd get it ... I'll tell you on the Hogwarts Express, when we leave for school. Not before then."

Puck sighed. "Okay, but you'd better tell me then! I won't forget."

"And neither will I," murmured a figure in the shadows outside the door. "Draco Malfoy, you continue do disappoint me. That is *never* a good idea."

*****

Who's the "dark figure" who always seems to be standing in the shadows right where we (well, I) don't want him? Why is Draco scared of him? (Although you can probably figure that out.) Find out ... well, as soon as I get the next chapter up. That may be a while, but I'll try to hurry! ^_^