As much as I love the books, I regret to say that all of Harry Potter belongs to J K Rowling. This includes all of the characters except for Ryua (who's mine) most of the places, and an awful lot of the spells. Oh, and if you see something that looks like one of your stories, I'm really, really sorry. I don't mean to plagiarize. I've just read a lot of really cool fanfics, and they melt into my brain, but I'll try not to use any of it.

Night Before Hogwarts

Both the Malfoy twins were vibrating. Their first day of their first year at Hogwarts was starting tomorrow, and their mother had told them to get a good night's sleep. Narcissa realized, of course, that neither one was at all likely to stay in their beds, but decided to allow them their one night of excited chatter. Sure enough, a shadow slipped into Draco's room fifteen minutes after they were sent to bed. The shadow shimmered, and Ryua stood there, poking the last of the declawed lethifold into a jar (although lethifolds are normally fatal when they touch you, the twins found this in one of their Father's secret stashes, made harmless by removing it's claws). "So, Hogwarts, eh? Can you believe it? We're finally getting away from here!" Ryua whispered excitedly.

"It should be interesting, I suppose," Draco said, attempting (and failing) to act calm about the whole thing. His eyes glittered as he said, "Who d'you think we'll get for teachers? I mean, I know about Severus Snape already, and Dumbledore of course, but, what about the rest of them? You know, Transfiguration, and Charms, and all that."

"Well, back in Father's day, Dumbledore taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, and some harsh professor named McGonnagal taught Transfiguration, but that's probably changed now. I mean, that was ages ago." Ryua replied thoughtfully.

"At least the food should be good"

"What are you complaining about? We have cooks, maids, two manservents, and a gaggle of house elves. What exactly don't you enjoy?"

Draco snorted. "Oh, come on, doesn't the thought of Dobby touching your food revolt you? He's so disgusting."

"Come off of it. There's house elves at Hogwarts too, you know..."

"Eww, really? I'll have to get mother to send me food. At least the sweets and things. She wouldn't want me to get house-elf-indigestion, would she?" Draco grinned wickedly.

Ryua grinned back. "Sometimes, you are so... so... evil! You know there's filter spells in place. It's mostly illusion dirt anyways, to try and coax compassion. Not that you have any." Actually, she could never tell why her Father and brother were always so cruel to the house elves. Just because they weren't human and enjoyed slavery didn't mean they had no feelings.

"Ah, it's too much work. They obey anyways, so why bother coddling them? Not that it matters, Hogwarts elves have no contact with the students, it's part of their contract or something." Draco got his mischievous look again, "So, we'll finally get to meet other people. I doubt many of them will be worth the effort, but I suppose we might find one or two half-decent wizards there."

"Oh, please. What have you got to complain about? You're the 'pride of the family', or whatever Father's always talking about. You get to talk with all sorts of people." Ryua said with a snort, "I, on the other hand, have to act all noble and ladylike all the time. For some reason, Father thinks I'll disgrace myself if I'm seen in public. Don't know why. He should be more worried about you."

"Well, for whatever reason, Father thinks that I am a charming, talented wizard, while you are a socially inept witch," Draco scoffed.

"Watch it Draco," Ryua warned with a sweetly dangerous face, "You don't want to go insulting the firstborn child, now do you, little brother."

"I'd say you should watch it Ryua. Just because you were born 30 seconds earlier doesn't mean anything. I'm the heir, and Father says so. It doesn't matter what you and mother think." Unfortunately, and unfairly, this was true in the Malfoy house. Too tied up in ancient bloodlines, Lucius had refused to advance with the freethinking times, and was very much lord of the manor. Narcissa was too petrified to stand up to her tyrannical husband, and although Ryua remembered every curse she heard, she had no idea how to use them. Not to mention that she was likely to get disowned and cast out of the house if she stood up to Father. Her mother was quietly supportive of her, however, and had often explained things to her, including why Draco was the public firstborn, and why Lucius wanted it that way.

"You are the absolute most, you know that?" Ryua snapped, "When we get to school, you had better watch your step. Once I learn some spells, it would be so tragic for you to get hit by an accidental curse. And Draco," she said in an even lower whisper, "don't push me. The people at Hogwarts are supposed to be very open-minded. Imagine Dumbledore's reaction if a rumor reached him that Draco Malfoy wasn't the true heir."

Actually, she doubted much would happen, but the thought of what Father would say if his family honor was tarnished by such a rumor was sufficient to shut Draco's mouth, eyes flashing furiously. "You wouldn't!"

"Oh, yes I would, dear little brother. So watch your step." Later in her room, Ryua regretted having to manipulate her brother like that. Granted, he deserved cutting down to size, but all the books she read had siblings who supported and cared for each other, regardless of anything else. It seemed so wrong, that she should have so much, and yet be unable to form a decent bond with even the one she should be closest to.