Chapter Fourteen - More All The Time

They were a good half way to Hogwarts, and Drucial was starting to get used to the company of the Weasley's. She laughed at their antics and joined in a few conversations. But just as she started to get used to them, six more people joined them. She was amazed to see that there were all very similar in looks. She looked at Angelo with and expression of confusion. "There are a lot of us." Angelo said quietly.

"Everyone, this is Drucial. Dru, these are more of my cousins. That's Karly, she's a third year, and her sister Mandy, she's a fourth year. Then there's Nicholas there, he's a second year. Then Brett and Dean, they are twins and in fifth year. And if you're ever in trouble then seek out Kimmie, she's a seventh year, she looks out for everyone."

Drucial nodded and returned to her quietened state. It was taking far too long to get to the school. She had heard lots about it and now she had new things to think about. All the Weasley's had been placed in Giffindor, but Severus was almost certain she was going to be a Slytherin. She knew of the rivalry between the houses and wondered if Angelo would still be her friend if she were put in Slytherin.

But Angelo had far more to think about. Despite being only eleven, he was something of a ladies man, and had a full scale reputation for it. He wondered what would happen if Drucial found out about it. Would she still want to be friends with him? Or would she assume that she was just another one who had fallen for him and walk away? Such questions terrified him and the thought of loosing his new friend, and he wondered what it would be like to remain in the company of only his family for the rest of his life.

The train pulled up at the station and Drucial couldn't have been more glad. The loudness of the Weasley's was very different to what she was used to and it was giving her quite a serious head ache. Looking across the lake to the school her fears rose in her again, and she began talking with all the other Weasley's in the desperate hope that they would still like her is she became a Slytherin.

/Welcome to the sounds of screaming/

/Welcome to the walls of stone/

Standing outside the great hall, Drucial stared out of a window, lost in her thoughts. Angelo tapped her on the shoulder. "What are you looking at?" he asked softly. For a moment she said nothing, then smiled at him and put her head down.

"It's nothing. Just something that dad said once, I was just thinking about it." She said shyly and tried to hold up a conversation with the others but her attentions drifted back toward the window. Angelo noticed it straight away and grabbed her hand.

"What did he say that makes you think so much?" he asked.

"I'll tell you later. Look, it's Severus!" she said happily, pointing toward her old friend. He glared around at the children and had to fight a smile when he saw her. It wasn't as hard when he saw Angelo grasping her hand, that boy had a reputation that followed him around like a bad smell.

"Follow me." He said in an exasperated voice and led them all into the hall. Much like Drucial, Severus was a man of few words, and he intended to keep it that way unless he was with Draco or Drucial.

The sorting hat began to place people into their houses. The Weasley's one after the other where all placed in Griffindor. "Potter-Malfoy, Drucial." Severus said, trying not to let his tone of voice waver as she stepped forward. She had almost reached the stool when a larger girl ran up and pulled her back.

Drucial span round in surprise and Professor McGonagal stood up. "You're a Malfoy? Draco Malfoy's child?" she asked. Drucial nodded, she was used to this happening, but why did it have to be in front of so many people? The other girl nodded and smiled maliciously at her. "then you're nothing but scum." She punched Drucial and she fell to the floor, cursing at the pain in he bottom lip. She wiped away a streak of blood as the other girl was removed.

/Knock me out and leave me bleeding/

/Eleven years, I feel so old/

Severus ran over and helped her up. "Are you aright?" he asked under his breath, looking at her lip. With a corner of his robe he mopped up the worst of the blood and then cast a small spell to heal it, but it still hurt.

"I'm fine, get off me." She replied angrily. She knew it wasn't Severus' fault, but it did all seem a bit unfair. Her first day at school and the first time she had to live without her parents, in front of a whole schools worth of people she had already managed to take centre stage.

"It won't always be this hard." Severus said reassuringly as she stood up and dusted herself off. She gave him and small smile of gratitude as she proceeded to walk over to the stool. But he was lying. This was never going to be easy. Now she knew how her dad had felt, being known for something that he didn't really do, with one difference. She had never done a thing, she was just the daughter of a famous man.

/And I know it won't get easier/

/They won't know until I'm gone/

She sat down and looked around at the others, her eyes finally resting on Angelo. He stared up at her with an adoring smile that could make any girl's heart melt. She smiled back as the sorting hat was placed on her head. She heard the sorting hat talking to her. 'Hmm, the daughter of a Slytherin and a Griffindor... very difficult, a very rare occurrence. Where to place you? Let me think.'

'I don't want to be a Slytherin, people in Slytherin are snide and horrible. I want to be a Griffindor!' she thought to herself, knowing that the hat would hear her.

'You are rather intolerant aren't you? Not all Slytherin's are so nasty, many become great witches and wizards. The first ever minister of magic was a Slytherin you know and he kept the world in order for a good many years I'll have you know. There is only one thing for it...' the hat trailed off. "SLYTHERIN!" It roared and Drucial felt like she was going to die right there and then. Why did she have to argue!?

She looked over at Angelo and he was still smiling at her. It raised her spirits very much. At least she still had one friend. She walk dejectedly over to the Slytherin table and sat down beside an older girl. "The names Wystra, welcome to Slytherin." She said. "trust me, being in this house is like having a second home and family.

This didn't make her feel any better and her eyes trailed back over to a nearby window. She stared out into the distance, searching for something that she knew she wouldn't see. She had to be mile from the location by now, but it made her feel better just to look. 'This is way to much to handle.' She thought to herself as piles of food appeared around her.

She sat quietly and ate nothing. She felt sick. And when she felt sick she always curled up in her fathers arms. But not today, today she had to live through is by herself and she was far from sure that she would come out the other side a better person.

/I won't make it/

/I won't make it/

/Welcome to this prison called home/

"Prison" by "Four Star Mary"