The Feud

The father of our heroine, Arthur, a direct descendant of Estella Weasley, was known for his affinity towards all things muggle. Throughout the years, it was not uncommon for old wizard families to marry within their own family line, allowing for males to have the same surnames as their female ancestors.

Arthur had been an average student in school, his heart and passion making up for where practicality and reason at times fell short. He like his ancestor's before him had an enemy, Lucius, descended from Darius Malfoy.

Throughout the years, the Malfoy family had become cold and distant. Marrying only for self-preservation, as their capacity for love had died with the young Evan's boy beside the stream, generations ago.

Lucius Malfoy was a brilliant boy. A top student, Lucius was destined for greatness. A talent for deception and manipulation, Lucius thirsted for power. By some odd twist of fate, God had allowed for the marriage of magic and cunning that a young muggle boy had wished for centuries earlier. From the union of witch and muggle, Tom Riddle, descendant of Lawrence Riddle, was born. Unaware of the irony of their fated union, a young Lucius Malfoy allied himself with Tom Riddle in a plot to destroy the muggle world.

Arthur remained true to his inherited of sensitivity to the muggle world. He was appointed a humble and often ridiculed position in the Ministry of Magic overseeing the Department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. An honest and hardworking man, that truly appreciated life, he worked hard to protect his muggle brethren from the likes of Lucius Malfoy, while raising a family of seven children with his wife.

As Riddle grew in power, he discarded all remnants of his muggle identity; stripping himself of his name and consequently his humanity as he sought to purge the world of those that he had once been likened unto. Taking on the identity Voldemort, Riddle formed an army headed by Lucius that was feared more than any in history. Lucius' army of Death Eaters spared not the life of women or children. None were innocent in their eyes. If one had not aligned themselves with the purification of the world, they were sure to fall victim to the hand of Voldemort.

A young witch and young wizard chose to stand against Voldemort. Voldemort and Lucius invaded the young couple's home one evening, having manipulated their protector into divulging their location. The man, James Potter, had actively been raising resistance to the actions of Voldemort and was the first to go. The wife, Lily Evans Potter, in an effort to save her child from Voldemort was next. Lucius stood by watching as his Lord raised his wand to silence the child forever. Although young Harry Potter was spared, by some divine intervention, Lucius did nothing to try and save the child. And so the curse was passed down another generation.

And so the feud continued; passed down from Lucius to his son; Draco Malfoy, and from Arthur, to his seven children; Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. Ron and Ginny, the youngest of Arthur's children were the only ones young enough to repeatedly interact with the young Malfoy and that was where the years of inherited rage were felt most severely. The muggle world, having long forgotten the reality of magic; the Malfoy and Weasley lines appeared to be destined to forever live in hatred towards one another. The story of the destiny of their families had long been forgotten.

Why the fates took a chance on this generation of children we will never know. Perhaps the stars were aligned at all of their births; perhaps God felt the need to finally cease the generations of hate.

What we do know; is the fates did take the chance and put two Weasley's, a Malfoy, and a young boy descended from the Evan's line in Hogwarts' School for Witchcraft and Wizardry all at the same time.

Young Draco was embittered by the family legacy that he had inherited. He looked down upon and berated all those who came from muggle families. He hated and despised all things Weasley, especially the youngest boy Ron.

Draco also held an uncanny amount of hatred towards young Harry Potter. Perhaps it was residual from Darius' disdain as he looked upon the young boy as life slipped away from him, or maybe it was simply because he had spurred the downfall of Voldemort, a Wizard his father had idolized.

Conversely, Ron Weasley had instantly befriended Harry. Their friendship formed and sealed over a cart of candy, Ron would without a doubt do whatever he could to protect Harry.

Alliances such as these, made it easy for the feud spurred by Darius Malfoy's legacy to replay as it had for generations before. Draco passed no opportunity that afforded him belittling Weasley. Ron, as passionate as his ancestor Estella, though not in the same sweet and soft manner, passed no opportunity to try and beat his disdain into Draco's face.

Harry, his purpose serving an even greater destiny than the outcome of an ancient feud, found himself repeatedly in mortal peril. Draco's hatred caused him to rejoice at every life threatening situation Harry was in; while Ron's love and friendship for Harry, fueled the ancient feud.

And thus the feud continued throughout the boys' years at Hogwarts.