"Dad, I was thinking," I said around the end of my spring break, "perhaps I could spend the summer away." My father looked at me, his expression a mixture of surprise and hurt. I honestly couldn't blame him. Both him and my mother worked hard to make the household good and loving, and with Stacy now at Hogwarts this year, I could tell they, Mum especially, were feeling a little lost without us. Now here I was, their eldest daughter, pride and joy, asking to leave the house for an entire summer. "It's not you Dad!" I said, as upset as I was with him for being so afraid of power, I still couldn't stand the thought of seeing him look like that, I never could. "I just- well I don't feel like sitting around here and thinking of Jenny. I mean yeah, I've been feeling better when I have Hogwarts homework and stuff to distract me but just sitting around here..."

"There isn't enough to keep you preoccupied?" he finished dejectedly

"Umm- yeah,"

"Well where do you want to go? I can't just send you off to go backpacking or anything." Just then the apparation alarm that my father had installed for our safety went off, and the hand labeled "Ginny" went from "shopping" to "Home" on our grandfather 'clock.' "I think your mother would shoot me," he said with a nervous laugh.

"I've looked into it actually. The ministry offers exchange programs. That's my first choice. They're relatively inexpensive and if I want to get into the ministry when I'm older it will certainly look good on my résumé. I was thinking I could go to America maybe. I've always wanted to see Salem." The Ministry did in fact offer exchange programs, and I had all the registration forms to be on one to Salem. Of course that was just through Draco Malfoy's connection at the Ministry. I wasn't actually going to be going anywhere outside of Britain. He had even gone so far as to pull a few strings at the Office of Magic in the US to create a family who I would be staying with.

"America? That's a long way Ebby," my father said his brow furrowed. I could tell he was desperately trying to be supportive of me and keep my happy, yet still be the ever-protective father he always was... "Why not go somewhere on the continent?"

"Because I want to go away, go away. Besides I don't speak any other languages. I want to have fun, not deal with a language barrier." My father looked at me. His green eyes filled with worry and hurt.

"I guess I can talk it over with your Mother Ebby. You know we care about you, and want what's best."

"I know," I said.

Yes, want what's best. The best thing for me to do to get over Jenny was to learn about the Dark Arts, to become all-powerful. Someday I wanted to be more powerful than my mentor. My father did in fact talk to my mother that very afternoon, and at dinner he announced that I was allowed to go. By the look my Mum was giving dad I'm pretty sure she was against the idea but my father had persuaded her to le me go. Of course Draco Malfoy's name was never mentioned, even as a contact at the Ministry. When asked, I told them I read about exchange programs in a book and wrote a few letters to the ministry to figure out the details.

***

I apparated into Mr. Malfoy's study that night.

"Hello, Ebony," he said, "I see you have indeed learned to apparate."

"I have," I said trying not to let my pride show through. Mr. Malfoy hated it when I did that. I had been practicing all break after he had casually mentioned that it was a skill I might wish to learn. He sorted through some papers on his desk and finally found a small rolled up peace of parchment. He got up and walked around me like he usually did, appraising me and my performance.

"Very well. I thought you might accomplish that particular task soon. So I took the liberty of getting you this," he held out the small scroll. I looked down to find an apparation license baring the name Elizabeth Cole.

"It doesn't have my name on it," I said.

"Of course not. I couldn't very well go into the Ministry and tell them that I needed a permit for Harry Potter's eldest daughter now could I? You just need to have that slip of paper so that the Ministry won't trace your apparation route all the time."

"Oh," I said, embarrassed that he had to tell me something so painfully obvious. "I have good news," I said in hopes to cover up my earlier blunder, "My Mother and Father have decided that I may in fact go away for the summer."

"Have they?" he mused, "I heard your father talking about you at the Ministry just a week ago. About how proud he was of you for sticking it through and how happy he was that you were at the top of all your classes. I thought he might not let you go."

"They- let me," I said hesitantly thinking of how much I had hurt them.

"Yes..." he said

"Nothing. Just that they let me,"

"No, you hesitated. There is something you are not telling me. I demand to know what it is."

Stupid I thought you know not to keep things from him! He always finds out.

"I just, well, they weren't happy about it."

"That is a given," he said as he walked towards his desk and motioned for me to follow, "I think what you are meaning to say is that it hurt them, and that upsets you."

"I..."

"Oh no," he said, "I'm very proud of you. It hurt them and yet you still came here and told me that you were going. You even seemed a bit excited about going despite their pain."

"Oh." was all I could say to that, "So what are our lessons going to be tonight?" He smiled, that wicked smile. I cocked my head to look at it, actually that delicious evil smile.

"The Unforgivables," he said.

"Umm sir?" I questioned, "I know you said I'm moving fast but aren't those very advanced for me."

"You should be able to do them by now. I can give you easy dark spells that you've never heard of before and you can do them successfully on the first try. I have full confidence in you to complete each cruse well. Once I'm sure you can do them, I'll teach you how to block the Imperious Curse. Mind you not everyone can do it. I can just subdue it a little, not fight it completely."

"My father," I said, "can block the Imperious Curse."

"So I've heard, but all in due time. For now, we'll just work on casting them." He waved his wand and a tank of huge white rats appeared. "I trust you know the incantations?" I nodded. "Good, no use starting small. Let's begin with the killing curse." He reached into the tank and pulled out a squealing white rat. He placed it on his desk and the rat tried to scurry away but Mr. Malfoy waved his wand and put up what I assumed was an invisible cage of sorts. I paused and just watched the rat scurry around. "Well what are you waiting for girl? Use the killing curse."

I raised my wand. This was it, my first unforgivable. Of course it wasn't on another human bean so I wouldn't be sent to Azkaban but this was a turning point, and I knew it. Finally I aimed my wand at the small creature. "AVADA KEDAVRA," I bellowed and watched as my wand let out a green light and the sound of rushing death filled the room, stealing the very life out of the pitiful white rat. I felt a surge of power unlike any I had ever known. It was as if all the magic surrounding us was suddenly cursing through my veins, pounding in me, transforming me for a brief time; it was like a thousand drug highs all at once. Once the rushing green light was gone and the sound had died down, I lowed my wand to my side and sank into a chair. Draco Malfoy came and put his hands on the arms of my chair, lowering his face until it was inches from mine.

"It's wonderful isn't it?" I nodded to overwhelmed to speak. "That was remarkable for your first try. Most time rats just get a burnt paw or something of the like. I think we can expect great things from you Miss. Potter." I looked up at him again, shock and awe obvious in my green eyes.

"Dumbledore, said that to my father." I stuttered.

"I know, I heard him bragging about it once." he said quietly, "You should spend the night here and let that feeling wear off. Maybe even-" he paused and lifted one of his hands to my cheek, "put it to good use?"

"You're not very loyal to the memory of your late wife." I stated my defenses kicking in to quell the power high.

"Your father killed her."

"I know." I answered, my head held high. That was one of my father's best moments, at the height of his career, killing Dark Witches and Wizards at every turn. I was immensely proud of my father's death toll.

"His daughter should repay me for that death."

"No Mr. Malfoy," I said and rose, the situation draining the remarkable feeling from my body completely. It's not that I didn't find Mr. Malfoy attractive, au contraire, I found him very appealing. He moved like a hawk, each movement swift and precise. Often during our lessons I found myself longing after him wondering what those pale and thin fingers would feel like caressing my skin. Yet I knew that to let him have his way would always put me second to him. Someday I would be more powerful than him. Then I would have him. "I am going home now Mr. Malfoy."

"Same time tomorrow for your last lesson before returning to school for the rest of term," he called as I neared the fireplace to go home, not wanting to set off the apparation alarm inside my house.

"I know," I replied and left.