~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 04- Clash Crash and Turn

August 19, 1992

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 "Where do we go first, father?" asked Empress as she, Draco and their parents walked out of their family car into the streets of Diagon Alley.

"We have to go to Knockturn first," answered her father as he made Draco carry a gold trimmed box. "I have to sell these things at Borgin and Burkes and then we are going to get your wand."

"Oh goody," joked Draco sarcastically as held both the handles of the box with one hand. Empress then took Draco's hand and held the one other handle, sharing the weight of the item, as they entered Knockturn Alley. Lucius then took the box from the both of them and led them towards Borgin and Burkes. When they were near enough, Draco and Empress ran towards the store and peeked through the grimy glass windows. When Lucius and Narcissa caught up to them, Lucius pushed the door open for the whole family before entering himself.

*************************************************************************************

Harry stood up from traveling through the quite unreliable Floo Network. He tapped off the ashes on his upper body and squinted his eyes towards the floor, looking for his glasses. He took a step backwards and heard something crack.

"I think I found my glasses."

Harry lifted his right foot and saw his glasses with the left lens broken and the right side of the frame twisted. He sighed as he placed it back on and tried to focus through the broken lenses. He was certainly in the wrong place. George was not there to meet him and that he definitely got off on the wrong grate. Just as he thought that things couldn't get any worse, he noticed someone he didn't want to see peering through the store window.

"Oh great!" Harry exclaimed to himself as searched for a place to hide. "Malfoy!!!" He spotted a large dresser that seemed big enough for him to hide in. He was lucky enough to close the door before he heard some footstepsthe bell struck by the door.

"Oh everyone! Come in!" Harry heard a voice from an unfamiliar man say. As he peered through a crack in of the dresser door, he noticed that the voice came from a slick dark-haired, hunchbacked man who had some resemblance to his least favorite teacher (Do I need to say which one?). He heard more than four pairs of footsteps so, out of curiosity, he moved his face closer to the crack. He saw the store owner, Draco, his parents and a girl. The girl was a little younger than Harry and by the way she and Draco were looking at each other, Harry assumed they were not siblings.  because tThe girl looked different from Draco and they seem to be familiar with each other. Her face was a lot less elongated compared Draco's and her eyes, her hair and her color weren't as light either. She hasn't any resemblance of Draco's mother but she seemed to have the same nose as Draco. All together, Harry felt that her face seemed all so familiar. No one, not even Ron, mentioned anything about Draco having a sister so he deduced that the girl was Draco's girlfriend. But then he realized what kind of stupid person would want to be with Draco. The girl didn't seem stupid or dull enough to go after Draco. But then, who was he to judge girls.

"I have so many things that I can sell you today," said the hunchback as he fumbled for books on the countertop.

"I am not buying. I am selling today, Borgin," interrupted Lucius as he placed the gold trimmed box on top of the counter.

"Oh," was all Mr. Borgin managed to say as Lucius took out a list of his items and his money bag from his pockets.

"You know all those Ministry raids that had been going on…"  Lucius continued to talk while the two younger Malfoys roamed around the store together.

"I want to get a broom," said Draco. "I hope father gets this over with so we can get your wand, get our textbooks and then over to get me some Quidditch supplies."

"You already have a broom."

"Yeah, but it's a Comet 260."

"So? Daddy gave me a Twigger 90."

"It doesn't matter with you. You don't even like to ride it."

"Hmm. Boys, broomsticks and Quidditch. I never do get it. It's just a game."

"It's not Quidditch, Emme. And it's not just a game! It's a way of life!"

"Well, it's just a game to me."

Draco gave her a defeated sigh before leaving her. "Girls."

Emme shook as she looked over the dresser that Harry has been hiding in. She held on to the door handle, examining the artistry of it. Noticing the crack on the door, she followed the carvings of it with one hand, and held on the handle with another. When she opened the door, she found a somewhat nervous Harry Potter inside.

"What are you doing in there?" she asked quietly.

"Uh… nothing," Harry muttered as he remained inside the dresser, his body rigid and his back leaning on the back of the dresser.

Empress looked into Harry's green eyes. She knew that he was lying since he was looking at her forehead when he answered her. She knew he was up to something except she didn't bother to ask. She was also quite aware that his eyes were almost the same color as hers, even under his cracked glasses. His eyes were almost piercing but also kind and caring at the same time.

"What happened to your glasses?" she asked as she pointed towards it. "And why are you all covered in soot?"

Harry looked down, almost ashamed of his state at the time. "I got off the wrong fireplace."

"You said 'Diagonally,' didn't you?"

"Yup."

"I did it a couple of time myself. I hope I could help you with your glasses but I can't. I don't have a wand yet."

"Which school are you going to?"

"Hogwarts."

"Empress!" they both heard Draco scream. Empress readily gave Harry a ridiculous smile making him start to blush.

"Well, I got to go then. See ya."

"Bye," said Harry, but Empress has closed the dresser door at his face.

When the dust from the dresser settled away from his glasses, He he then slowly walked out the dresser, scanning the room for peopleany sign of people. He then walked slowly towards the door, trying to not to catch any attention from Mr. Borgin. He didn't want any more questions from strange people.

******

"Can we get Empress' wand now, father?" said Draco as he held on to his two new sets of uniforms into his father's hands. He had grown a full inch during the summer and his uniforms were already small on him. Besides, Malfoys never wear the same set in consecutive years. They are rich anyway.

"Yes, daddy!" exclaimed Empress as she swayed her bag back anand forth. "I want to get my wand."

"Alright you two. Give your mother your purchases and we will go to OllivandersOllivander's."

"Yay," exclaimed Empress as she and Draco handed Narcissa their purchases. Draco had already started to walk towards Ollivander's Wand Shop but Empress turned back to Narcissa, gave her a hug and before following her brother into the shop.

*****

As they entered the store, Empress looked around the whole shop, finding it very interesting that all the boxes were aligned properly and although some boxes are missing, everything seemed to stay intact and in place.

"Welcome Malfoys," greeted a man that had just came come out of the inner room of the shop. "I see we've come for the young lady's wand. Miss Empress Malfoy."

"Good day, Mr. Ollivander," said Empress cheerily.  

"Well, let's find your wand now shall we?"

Mr. Ollivander disappeared into the shop returning a minute later with about a dozen boxes of wands at hand. He opened a box and handed one the wand inside it to her.

"Hmm… Unicorn hair, willow 11 ¾ inches."

"Like I showed you before, Emme," said Draco. "Swish and Flick. Wingardium Leviosa."

Empress took a deep breath before saying the spell and flicking her wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa." Nothing.

"Let's try, Veela hair, cedar 13," said Mr. Ollivander as he handed her a light brown wand.

NNothing again. Empress tried the '"Phoenix feather, maple 10 ½,'" "'Dragon heartstring, Ash, 7," ,' and "'Phoenix, Redwood 8 ¾" ¾' and about five others but none of them seemed to be perfect for Empressher.

"Hmm," motioned Mr. Ollivander as he walked away. "Let's see now. I wonder."

Mr. Ollivander turned towards the and, on his tiptoes, pulled out a wand box out beside a gaping hole in the wand row and headed back towards the counter. He then handed her the wand inside that box.

"Willow and Dragon heartstrings eleven inches. Swishy, perfect for Charms."

Empress swished the wand as she said, "Wingardium Leviosa."

The lamp right beside Mr. Ollivander floated into mid-air and slowly went back down.

"What did I tell you, eh?" teased Mr. Ollivander. "I told you it is good for Charms. I can see this little girl of yours having Charms as her favorite subject."

"I'd rather if both my children learn about the Dark Arts more," commented Lucius. "It's a bit more promising than floating things into mid-air."

Mr. Ollivander nodded his head, unsure about how to react to what Lucius had just said. Again he turned to Empress, revealing a few secrets he about her wand.

"Did you know that the Dragon Heartstrings from your wand your father and your brothers came from the same Dragon family?"

Empress looked at both her father and her brother, smiling. "Really?"

"Yes dear. It's quite uncommon for that to happen but it happens."

"What about the wand itself? Any stories?"

"Well, the wood from your wand came from a willow tree youngling. Since it was young when harvested for wands, it was only able to give out two wands. Yours and Lily Evans. She was great at Charms too you know."

Lucius eyes looked like it was about to pop out of its sockets and his breathing seemed to have stopped. A moment later, He started to hyperventilate as he took out his money bag.  but he was already starting to hyperventilate.

"How much is it again?" he asked with a quivering voice.

"Seven, Mr. Malfoy."

His Lucius' hands were trembling as he picked galleons out of his money bag and handed them to Mr. Ollivander. He was shaking so mso much that the children noticed the galleons clinking against each other. Both his children looked at him, nervously thinking that their father was about to faint.

"Daddy?" said Empress as she held his father's free hand. "Are you alright? You've turned white as sheet."

"I'm alright, children," he reassured them. "I just need a glass of water or something."

*****

After Hermione had fixed Harry's glasses, they walked into Flourish and Blotts where poor Mrs. Weasley was scared out of her wits trying to figure out what happened to Harry. At the sight of him, she gave Harry a hug and asked him to never do whatever he did again. Harry then took his friends aside and whispered his discoveries about Draco Malfoy.

"Ron! Hermione!" exclaimed Harry. "Did you know that Draco has a girlfriend?"

"Ha! Him?" Is she as smug as he?" asked Ron, half-sniggering. "Is she as smug as he then?"

"No. ," assured Harry. "She seems nice actually."

"Really," ?" joked Hermione. "What now, Harry? You're going to have a crush on her because she's with Draco?"

"Hermione!" answered Harry, annoyed. "Leave me alone, I've had a bad day so far."

"You know I am just teasing you."

"She just seems too familiar," Harry added. "And I do admit she's pretty."

"Harry Potter liking Draco's gal?" exclaimed Ron as they went closer to the book counter. "What next?"

"Did someone say Harry Potter?" said a man in front of the store. "Harry Potter!" he exclaimed as he pulled Harry'the poor confused boy from behind s cloak hood and made Harry the poor confused boy stand stand beside him. "Ladies and gentlemen, when Harry Potter entered Flourish and Blotts this morning to purchase my the books written by no other than me, Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart…" He had to pause and wait until the photographer had finished taking his pictures and for the clapping to died down before continuing to feed his own ego.  " heHarry had no idea that he would, in fact, be leaving with my entire collection free of charge!" He shoved the stack of books into Harry's chest, almost knocking the wind out of the poor, confused boy before then pushed Harry ing him back into line before and starting to sign autographs from other book buyers.

"Let me get that for you Harry," said Mrs. Weasley as she took Harry's books. She was trying to balance about three stacks with one hand that Harry refused at first. . "I'll get them signed for all of you. Just wait by the front with the boys, Harryif you like." Mrs. Weasley then pushed them away as tried to find the end of the autograph line.

 While he and his friends work their way through the crowd, someone taps tapped Harry from behind.

"Well, if it isn't Mr. I-got-off-the-wrong-grate-because-I-said-Diagonally-instead-of-Diagon-Alley." Harry turned around and saw the girl he had met minutes ago.

"Hi there." Harry motioned his eyes on Ron and Hermione, trying to signal them that she was Draco's girlfriend. When Harry scratched his forehead, Empress finally noticed it. Here eyes went as round as marblesgolf balls- if only wizards knew what golf was.

"You're Harry Potter! I should've known!"

"Does everybody know my bloody name?"

Ron raised his pointer finger upwards, as if he had an idea (but when does that ever happen?) but Harry pointed at him angrily.

"Don't you even answer that Ron." ," said Harry before turned turning back his head back to the Empress and offered her his hand.

"Don't you just like being famous, eh?" joked Empress. as she smugly crossed her arms.

"Not really," said Harry as he turned back to her, trying not to engage in a conversation with Draco's potential girlfriend.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. ," she said as tapped his shoulder wile taking a few steps in front of Harry, making him stop. "My name is Empress. Emme for short," she said continued as as she offered her hand to Harry. Harry returned backthe favor and shook it.

"Well, … you…  know who I am. These are my friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. And you are Draco's girlfriend aren't you?" This remark made Empress laugh hysterically. This made Ron and Hermione more nervous than they already are.

"Draco's girlfriend? Are you serious?"

"The way you two seem so close, I'd think you were a couple."

"Are you off your rocker? He's my…"

"Her brother. !" stressed Draco from atop the stairs now walking towards them. "Well if it isn't Famous Harry Potter! Can't even go to a book shop without making such a fuss."

"Shut up," Leave me alone Malfoy," said Harry as he stood face to face with Draco. "Leave me alone Malfoy."

"Then leave my sister alone, Potty."

"Draco," said Empress as she pulled Draco's arm. "Shut up."

"Just wait until father hears about this! He's going to…"  

All of a sudden, someone tapped Draco on the back. He readily knew who it was so he moved away, still giving a dismissive look at Empress.

"Draco, play nicely," ordered Lucius, his face had finally gained back it usual color. His eyes, also glared towards Empress. The poor girl nervously just looked down at her own feet instead of meeting his eyes. She looked up again when her father walked closer to Harry.

"Lucius Malfoy," he continued, offering his hand to Harry. He then pulled him closer and examined his scar by moving his hair with his cane. "Forgive me. Your scar is legendary as of course the wizard who gave it to you." Harry readily flinched away.

"Voldemort killed my parents. He is nothing more than a murderer."

"Very brave of you to mention his name. Or very foolish."

"Fear of the name only increases the fear of the thing itself," said Hermione proudly, a look of contempt glinted across her face.

"And you must be Miss Granger. ," Lucius said disgustingly. "Draco's told me about you. You parents are Muggles aren't they? Disgusting." Lucius stressed the last word before turning towards Ron. "

Let me see. Red hair, vacant expressions." He then turned towards Ginny, looking at the cauldron in her hands. "Tatty second hand books. Ah! You must be the Weasleys."

Arthur Weasley appeared from behind the twins "Let's get…"

"Well, well, well. ," interrupted Lucius. "Weasley Senior. Is it that time in the Ministry again, Arthur? With All all those extra raids. , I do hope they pay you overtime." Lucius then picked up a book from Ginny's cauldron. " Judging the state of this, I guess not." Clearly," he muttered as he stuck Ginny's book back into her cauldron. "What's the use of being a disgrace to the name of wizard if they don't even pay you well? And associating with Muggles? To think your family could sink no lower."

"With Well, whe have a different view of what disgraces the name of wizardMuggle, Malfoy. ." After Arthur spoke,

Lucius turned towards Arthur's children, looking at them as if they are the most disgusting things he had ever seen in his life.

"So, Weasleys... I hope your father didn't lease your house just to pay for your books. Clearly. Associating with Muggles. And to think your family could sink no lower.

I'll see you at work, Arthur." Only then did Lucius finally leave. And Draco trailed behind him, not planning to leave without insulting Harry and his gang.

"I'll see you at school losers."

When the male Malfoys had left the door, Empress got closer to Mr. Weasley and the other children, looking apologetic. "I am so sorry about those two…. They're nice really when…"

"Empress!" she heard Draco scream from outside.

"Coming daddy,!" she shouted before she looked back at Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys. "Sorry about them again." Again she gave them another nervous smile before running out of the door.

"Told you she seems nice," said Harry.

"Uh yeah, Harry. Sure she is," Hermione said sarcastically but Harry obviously paid no attention to her.

"I can't believe she's related to Malfoy. I can't believe she's a Malfoy."

"An apple never rots far from the tree, Harry. I bet that girl is just as rotten to the core as those two."

Harry turned towards the door, still thinking about Emme. That girl can't be evil, he said to himself. She had the gentlest looking eyes and face. She was angel-like and not very Malfoy. She looks nothing like her father or Draco. She can't be a Malfoy! She just can't.

"I hope not Ron," said Harry as Ron led them into Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. "I hope not."

*****

It was late at night when Empress, shivering and quivering in her pajamas, decided to go to her brother's room only a turn away from the corner down the hall. She trudged towards Draco's room, blankets [in] one hand, a pillow and a stuffed cat [in] the other, trying not to make a noise that might set alarm in their mansion.

Draco always left his door unlocked, knowing that Emme might try to get in his room. Still, Emme knocked before she entered, as a sign of courtesy.

"Draco? Are you awake?" she asked as she twisted the doorknob.

"Come in," she heard him say. Draco clapped his hands to turn [on] the candles for her safety. She walked in and saw her brother lying on his bed. His eyes were half-closed but he his head was still lifted up to look at her. Even though Draco had a king-sized bed, he still moved a little to his right to give her better sleeping room. She placed her sleeping items on the bed with her and began to get comfortable. Draco then placed an arm around her, noticing that she was shivering.

"Are you cold?" he asked sweetly as he looked at Empress' face.

"No," she answered, looking back at him in fear. "I just had a nightmare."

"What did you dream about now, Emme?"

Empress snuggled closer to Draco, hugging her stuffed cat as if to suffocate it, as she burst into tears.

"He's going to hurt me," Draco managed to hear her say under muffled cries.
"He's going to hurt me." Draco looked at her, concerned and confused.

"Who's going to hurt you Emme?"

"Him," she sobbed. "The Dark Lord! He's going to hurt me."

"Emme, He wouldn't hurt us. Father is a Death Eater and one of the Dark Lord's strongest supporters. Why would he want to hurt you?"

"He didn't just hurt me, Draco. He tried to kill me."

"Oh Emme. That's a good sign that what you dreamed of is never going to happen." Draco touched her face with his palm and rubbed her chin. "The Dark Lord loves our family and he's not going to hurt any of us unless we betray him. Alright?"

Empress sniffled, somewhat feeling reassured. "Yeah."

"So, what's gonna happen if you get nightmares in school? You're still going to come into my room?"

"Is it alright if I do?"

"Yeah, well, there are going to be other people there. Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and I share a room. I think they'll mind. I'll just warn them then. Besides, [they're] my bodyguards. They'll follow everything I say."

Draco noticed that Empress felt a bit more relieved and calmer.

"I'll wait until you fall asleep before I go to sleep. Is that alright?" he asked.

"Thank you Dwyer," she said as she kissed her brother's cheek and closed her eyes. "You're the bestest brother in the world."

"Just don't you dare mention my middle name to anyone," he ordered as he placed an arm around Empress and snapped his fingers, making the candles around him die out.It was late night when Empress, already in her pajamas, decided to go to her brother's room only a few feet down the hall. She trudged towards Draco's room, blankets on one hand, a pillow and a toy cat on the other, trying not to make a noise that might set alarm in their house.

Draco always leaves his door unlocked, knowing that Emme might try to get in his room. Still, Emme knocks before she enters, as a sign of croutesy.

"Draco? Are you awake?" she said as she twisted the doorknob.

"Come in," she heard him say. She walked in and saw his brother lying on his bed, probably already sleeping. His eyes were half-closed but he his head was still lifted up to look at Empress. Even though Draco had a king-sized bed, he still moved a little off the middle to give her better sleeping room. She placed her sleeping items on the bed with her and started to get comfortable. Draco then placed an arm around her, noticing that she was shivering.

"Are you cold?"

"No. I just had a nightmare."

"What did you dream about now, Emme?"

Empress snuggled closer to Draco as she burst into tears.

"He's going to hurt me," Draco managed to hear her say under muffled cries. "He's going to hurt me." Draco looked at her, concerned and confused.

"Who's going to hurt you Emme?"

"Him, The Dark Lord. He's going to hurt me."

"Emme, He wouldn't hurt us. Father is a Death Eater and one of his strongest supporters. Why is he going to hurt you?"

"He didn't just hurt me, Draco. He tried to kill me."

"That's a good sign that what you had is never going to happen. The Dark Lord loves our family and he's not going to hurt any of us unless we betray him. Alright?"

Empress sniffled but still didn't feel reassured. "Yeah."

"So, what's gonna happen if you get nightmares in school? You're still going to go to my room?"

"Is it alright if I do?"

"Yeah, well, there are going to be other people there. Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and I share a room. I think they'll mind." (AUTHOR NOTE: I do not know if Blaise is a guy or gal. I tried every source but I always get different answers. So I'll have guy!Blaise in this ffic!)

"I don't know."

"I'll just warn them then. I'll wait until you fall asleep before I go to sleep, is that alright?"

"Thank you Dwyer," she said as she kissed her brhter's check and closed her eyes. "You're the best brother in the world."

"Just don't you dare mention my middle name to anyone," he ordered as he placed an arm around Empress and snapped his fingers, making the candles around him die out.

NEXT CHAPTER:

Hogwarts Express, Sorting Hat… Oh you know the deal.

PLEASE VISIT MY OTHER FANFICS AT:

Unusual Beginnings:

The Blossom, the Bud, the Brother and the Beast & Fighting for Honor (My Father, An Auror):

To Roar at a Hiss: