Chapter Three: Hogwarts

The next book on the pile was dark green, with a silver serpent on the cover. The symbol of Slytherin house. After two years, his sister was finally breaking her silence.

Inside the cover was a picture of her. She was a Malfoy, no doubt about it. Long, straight, white blonde hair. Piercing silver eyes. Pale skin. Yet her features were softer than most Malfoy women, smoothed by their mother's side of the family. In the picture she was in her Hogwarts uniform. She had an angelic look about her; except for her eyes and the black hair ribbon the she wore. The picture almost appeared to be Muggle- made, for the girl very rarely moved. Her hair would sway gently in the breeze, her throat moved with breath, her eyes were watchful. Other than that she was a living statue.

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

Today is my eleventh birthday. Mother bought me this book, to celebrate my acceptance into Hogwarts. And also as a reminder of which house my destiny lies in. Slytherin. The cunning, ambitious serpent that all Malfoys have been a part of.

Father gave me money, as always. This year I was expecting it. And I already know what I'm going to buy. I've been saving for these knee- high, black, leather boots with a 2-inch heel. I've always felt too short. They have this spell on them that causes them to grow as the wearing grows, which means I'll be able to wear them until they wear out.

Not much else happened. Not to me at least. As always, everyone here is just crazy about Draco. Including me, to some degree. I mean, he is a cute kid. As long as the stupid house-elves are around to do the dirty work. But he is a spoiled brat. Like I used to be.

Lucia

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

Well, in a few days I will leave for Hogwarts. Father has decided he will take me to Diagon Alley the day before I have to catch the train. Mother will stay home to look after Draco. I wonder why Father is taking me? He hasn't had almost anything to do with me for so long. Well, I'll know the answers soon.

Lucia

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

Now I know the answer. Father wanted to lecture me on how to behave like a Malfoy at school, as well as make sure I had the best supplies money can buy. Which of course I do. New textbooks in mint condition. Tailored robes. A cherry wand with dragon's heartstring. No owl though, because Father says I don't need one. It doesn't really matter to me though anyways. It's just an animal.

So, we went back to our room after supper tonight, and I got a list of rules to follow. Basically, be perfect. Well Father, I'll do my best.

Lucia

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

I'm on the train to Hogwarts. I'm on my own. Father left the minute I boarded, anxious to return to his precious heir. But I prefer the privacy, having gotten accustomed to it, and nothing else, since my brother was born.

I've got all my books spread out on the seats. Father suggested I read a few chapters of my texts, to start off the year with a good first impression for my teachers. I think I'll read four chapters of the Potions, because if this Professor Snape is anything like Father says he is, anything less will definitely not be impressive.

There's no one else in the compartment, which is how I like it. Some other first-years came, but I scared them off. Two boys, one with bright red hair and the other with light brown. All it took was a glare and they practically ran away. I think I may like Hogwarts.

Some older students also came, who weren't so easy to get rid of. Then I told them my name, and they left me alone. Father wasn't kidding when he told me of Malfoy power. Even if I am just the daughter, not the son.

Well, I have to start reading. I have all these new subjects to learn. Except for the Dark Arts, of course. I've been learning about those for years.

Lucia

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

Well, I've lived up to your cover. I am one of five first-year Slytherin girls. I was really worried for a few seconds, when the hat was on my head. It talked to me, saying I had a mind fit for Ravenclaw. But I told it that I would rather die than not be in Slytherin, so here I am.

I've already started testing my power over the other students. I told my roommates to stay away from my stuff: to not move it, touch it, or even look at it. It was funny to see their faces. I don't think much of any of them. Well, except that Magenta girl.

The boys don't seem much better, but then again I haven't met many people outside the Malfoy family. At least I know they are all purebloods here. No mudbloods, and half-breeds. There is one boy whose name I recognized. Loki Jacobi. Famous family, I believe. Someone Father would approve of.

But, before I try to find allies among the students I must win over the teachers. So, now it's time for me to stop writing, and finish up my reading. I'm almost done them all, except chapter four in the Potions text. I'll finish that before class tomorrow, because I have it last. With the Gryffindors, which should at very least be interesting. Slytherin and Gryffindor have been the only houses to win either the Quidditch Cup or the House Cup for years.

Lucia *~*~*

Dear Diary,

Today was amazing! I haven't felt this happy since before Draco was born. I love Hogwarts! It's so cool.

So, I got up early this morning, as usual. There was almost no one in the Hall until I was done my breakfast. Not even Dumbledore was there yet! The only one at the staff table was Severus Snape. Sitting in the corners, dressed in black. Doing the same thing I did at home, hiding in the shadows. I think I'm going to really enjoy Potions class. He's the Head of Slytherin too, and rumor has it he favours them. Well, I bet all the House Heads do that. Because of that, I wasn't sure what to think about my first class, Transfiguration. We had that class with Gryffindor, and Prof McGonagall is their Head of House. But class went well. I earned 10 points for Slytherin, because I could answer many of her questions. The only other person was a Gryffindor. Actually, he was one of the boys I met on the train, the redhead who I scared away. His name is Bill Weasley. I don't recognize that last name, so either he's a mudblood or from an unimportant wizard family. But, since he's in Gryffindor, I already knew that.

Most of the other classes were much the same. We had them with either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. After seeing the Ravenclaws, I'm glad I wasn't put in that house. All the good purebloods are in Slytherin.

The worst class was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Granted I have been learning the Dark Arts for years, but I was still expecting more. I think Draco already knows more than Prof Quirrel. This class will be difficult to get through, especially since we're with those stupid Hufflepuffs. At least I should get a lot of points. The Professor was giving me some strange looks though. And he had a curious way of saying "Malfoy".

Finally, at the end of the day, there was Potions. I got to class early, before Prof Snape even. I was sitting at my desk, reading the last pages of Chapter Four when he came out of his office. He asked me if I was reading chapter one, in a pathetic attempt to win brownie points. When I told him where I really was reading, I think I did manage to impress him, at least a little bit. I think I earned almost 20 points in that class, much more than that Weasley boy. Snape asked the class some really easy questions, about the Draught of Living Death, bezoars and aconite. But no one except me knew the answer. I'd say that was a pretty good impression on the only teacher at school Father really respects.

So, today was a success. Father will be pleased. I'll write to him about it tomorrow. But now I have to go and read Potions Chapter Five. I LOVE HOGWARTS!!!

Lucia

*~*~*

A piece of parchment fell out of the book as Draco turned the next page. Picking it up he immediately recognized his father's handwriting.

*~*~*

Lucia,

I am satisfied to hear of your academic standing at school, and how you are earning many points for you house. But it displeases me greatly to hear of how you shun you fellow Slytherins.

Slytherin House is a huge power base, and I will not have any daughter of mine letting all the resources go to waste. A true Malfoy is capable of earning the highest marks while also gaining allies among their house. If you are truly worthy of your name, then you will also do this.

Lucius Malfoy

*~*~*

Draco stared at the letter in shock. If he had been Top of his Class, as he knew Lucia had always been, Father would have been extremely pleased. Even if Draco had been a loner, high marks would have been enough. As it was, he was constantly derided for scoring lower than a mudblood, that damned Granger. Despite him having many flunkies within the ranks of Slytherin.

He was just beginning to recognize the double standards that Lucius had forced his daughter to suffer through.

Placing the letter back within the book, he returned to reading the words of Lucia's soul.

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

I can't believe it. That horrible letter Father sent. I've been in the Slytherin bathroom, crying all period. I missed DADA, but I doubt we learned anything anyways.

But I'm better now. And I'm ready to do as Father asks. He's right, I haven't been taking advantage of the resources that are my housemates. This is the place to make alliances with other powerful pureblood houses. I'll start small, with the first-year girls. It should be easy to get them to follow a Malfoy. None of them come close to being in a family as powerful or respected as mine.

Once I've gotten them, then I work on the boys. I'll make Father proud of me, for once.

Lucia

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

I'm sorry I haven't written for so long, but I've been working hard to do what Father ordered. The first-years are now all aligned with me. They all follow my leadership, or that of Loki Jacobi. I think I mentioned him before. He's from a very powerful dynasty, one of the few equal to my own. He has an older brother in 2nd-year, Bartleby. This allegiance with the Jacobi will please Father very much, I hope. It has been so long since anything I have done has seemed to please him.

Lucia

*~*~*

Dear Diary,

I'm all packed up, and ready to go home. This first year at Hogwarts has been so amazing. I now have a group of followers in my own year. Next year, I'll get some 1st year flunkies, and try for some older supporters. We already have Loki's brother, but we need more.

This was a good year for Slytherin. We won the Quidditch Cup, and the House Cup. I helped out with that last one, because I earned many points. Especially in Potions. People say I got one of the highest marks Snape has ever given out. And that's not just because I'm in his house.

I can't wait to show Father my Top of the Class certificate. I easily beat out Bill Weasley for that honour. I can't believe he's a pureblood! Then again, he does hang out with that mudblood Daniels a lot, which probably brings him down a few rungs on the pureblood scale. Anyways, I'm sure Father will be very happy with me. I wonder if Mother and Draco will be there to meet me with him?

I'm going to miss Hogwarts this summer, but I'm sure that now Father will pay more attention to me. After all, I've earned it.

Lucia

*~*~*

Draco closed the book. It was getting late, and he was getting tired. It was so strange, reading his sister's most private thoughts. Seeing the drastic change between the nine-year-old version of Lucia, and the eleven year old she became. Yet they weren't so different, both yearning for Lucius' love. That was something Draco also aspired too, though he would settle for at least a bit of respect. Something he knew his sister had deserved, but never gotten.

(A/N Well, there's the next chapter. Quite a change in her language, I know, but I think it's realistic. Even without such a drastic change in life, people are quite different in grade 7 than in grade 5. I know I was. Also, if you're wondering about the use of language such as mudblood, I think that it would be natural for someone growing up around Lucius to be very negative towards the Muggle-born.

Anyways, I finally have enough reviews to reply to them individually. Hurrah!!!

The penguins must be stopped: I'm glad you like the start, and hope you like how I've continued. Also, what are the penguins doing that they must be stopped?

Guardian of the lost souls: I'll try to update as often as possible. Glad to have you hooked. Also thanks for the two reviews.

Darcel: I feel really bad for Lucia, especially because I know what happens to her.

Aurelia: Where do you suspect I'm going? Actually, don't answer that. If you're right, you wouldn't want to spoil it for the rest of the readers. I am trying to put more Draco in, but this story really isn't about him. It's about Lucia. Glad you like the name. I was feeling rather uncreative when it comes to Malfoy names, so I just made a feminine form of Lucius.

Solitary Cross: I'm glad you like the POV of a child, that was what I was trying to go for. I just wish Lucia could stay that innocent forever, but of course she can't. Thanks for putting me on your favourites list, I'm honored.

Emma: I'm glad you like it, and now I have updated!

Also, for all of those who just scrolled through the thank yous of reviewers because you haven't reviewed, WHY HAVEN'T YOU REVIEWED? Then I could thank you too!)