Disclaimer:  I do not own Harry Potter nor will I ever.  I do own Kerenza and her family though.

I'm reposting this part because I made a mistake.  Blaise is male so I had to change it a bit.

Chapter 2

            "Kerenza, wake up." My father said, shaking me gently.

            I let out a groan and rolled over, "Five more minutes papa, please." I said, pulling the blankets over my head.

            "Kerenza." He said warningly, "Get up or I'll make you get up."

            I threw the blankets off, knowing what making me get up would entail, lots and lots of cold water.  With a groan I sat up, glaring at him through my messy hair.  He chuckled softly and laid a robe on the end of my bed before walking out.  Grumbling tiredly to myself I pulled the band out of my hair and began working out the braid, brushing my fingers through the long mess.  Pulling off my nightgown I pulled on the black robe.  It was lined with silver and there was a purple rope belt to go around my waist.  It looked more like a dress then a robe.  Picking up the brush from my bedside table I began to run it though my hair, pulling it back from my face and braiding it tightly.  When I was finished I went out to join my father.  He was waiting, dressed in a pure black robe; his cloak was purple with silver lining.  His skin was now a milky white, his hair still white and pulled back into a tight braid.  He waved his hand and I closed my eyes, my skin taking on the same hue as his.  Dark Elves had a natural proficiency with wandless magic.  We could perform many basic spells without the use of a wand.  My father's wand was pure black, made from ebony; the core was a feather from a Couatl, essentially a large serpent with wings.  They possessed vast quantities of magical power.  I was curious to see what mine would be.  My mother's was basswood with the hair of a Nightmare as a core.  It was odd, my father's wand was black with a core of purity and my mother's was light with a core of darkness.

            "Let's go." He said, smiling at me.

            I smiled back, I was curious about my wand, the rest I wasn't too excited about, but that, I couldn't wait.  It was obvious we were elves as we made our way to Diagon Alley, after all we didn't cover our ears and, oddly enough, an elf can't change the way their ears appear to people, they will always appear the way they are.  I would have to be careful about how I wore my hair at school.  I looked at my father and noticed that his braid was done in such a way to cover his ears; carefully I fixed my hair, covering mine as well.  Our name was as well known as the Malfoy's and my father was just as respected, if not more so, as their patriarch.  I had never met them, which was understandable, but I did know about them.  Together my father and I walked into the alley.  As we collected my books I noticed a pair of nervous looking Muggles and their daughter, she was obviously excited.  She had bushy brown hair and seemed rather bookish.  When she looked over at me she smiled, looked at her parents for a moment, then walked over.

            "Hi, are you going to Hogwarts too?  I'm Hermione Granger." She said, offering her hand.

            I looked at the proffered hand for a moment before taking it, "I am Kerenza DeNan." I replied calmly, "And yes, I am going to Hogwarts." My voice was cool and calm.

            My father looked at me for a moment before taking one more book, "Kerenza, come along." He said calmly.  I let go of her hand and turned, walking back to my father before she could say anything else.  I would keep an eye on her, "Interesting girl."

            "Yes and no.  She's a Mudblood and a human.  They usually are interesting, but her.  There's something about her." I sighed, "She's different from the other Mudbloods I've met, seems more pure." I shook my head, "I doubt that makes any sense."

            "It makes sense.  More then likely one of her parents is a squib but we can't know for sure.  It doesn't matter." He said with a wave of his hand, a dismissing gesture, "Robes next." He said, pushing open the door and walking inside, "Get yours and I'll get some of your other items."

            I sighed and walked in, "Hello dear, may I help you?" The owner asked with a smile.

            "I need Hogwarts robes." I said calmly, looking at her absently.

            "Of course dear, come with me." She said, motioning for me to follow.

            I walked after her into a back room.  Without a word she began to take measurements, well, the tape measure did.  Another girl was standing there looking board.  I ignored her until she spoke up.

            "I take it you're going to Hogwarts as well." She said, "I'm Pansy Parkinson."

            I knew that name, Parkinson was a pureblood family, "I'm Kerenza DeNan." I replied.

            Her eyes grew wide for a moment, "That's a Dark Elf name but you're not one." She scowled, "That makes no sense."

            I raised an eyebrow, "Oh." I said simply, I knew I wasn't supposed to let anyone know what I was.

            It was obvious she was about to speak again when the woman walked in, "Your robes are done Miss Parkinson."

            "I'll see you at Hogwarts." Pansy said before walking out.

            Not long after she left my robes were done as well. I paid her and left, taking them with me. My father was waiting for me with the rest of my supplies, bar my wand, that I had to go get myself. When we walked into the wand store, Olivander's, he greeted us immediately.

"Ahhh, Aramil DeNan, 13 inches, ebony and Coutal, powerful, good for curses and healing." He said with a smile before looking at me, "You must be Kerenza DeNan, yes, yes. Here to get your wand?"

I looked at him for a moment, not saying a word, "Yes." I replied finally.

"Good, good." He said, beginning to pull out long thin boxes, wands for me to try. An hour later and we still hadn't found a wand, or should I say the wand hadn't found me, "Second one today that has been tricky." He looked thoughtful for a moment before pulling out one final box, "Try this one." He said, opening it.

An ebony wand, seemingly even darker then my father's, if that was possible, lay nestled in the box. Intricate in design, the handle itself was a work of art. Only an elf could have made something like this, I doubted that Olivander did, it was too perfectly done. Reverently I took it, feeling warmth flow through me; I knew that this was mine. He paled a bit was scarlet and silver sparks shot from the end of the wand.

"And what is my wand made from?" I asked, admiring the workmanship.

"Ten inches, ebony and…" He paused, not wanting to say it, "Vampire blood…"

I raised an eyebrow, "How can a liquid be used as a core?" I asked softly.

Aramil scowled, "You know the answer to that already Kerenza. If vampire blood is stored for a few years it hardens."

"Whose blood is it?" I asked, "I also want to know who made it, I can tell by the craftsmanship that it wasn't you."

"The blood came from the ancient vampire Erebus." I smiled; I knew Erebus, he and Aramil were friends, "It was made by the Dark Elf Sistara over three thousand years ago." He said softly, "It's good for curses."

I smiled, "Thank you Mr. Olivander." I said politely as my father paid for the wand.

"Can I tell Uncle Erebus?" I asked as we walked out, I had always called him that; he was around all the time and was like family to me.

He chuckled, "Yes, you may. We have one more stop to make then we can go see him."

I smiled happily, "Thanks papa." I said as we went to Knockturn Alley, "Can we please take the charm off?" I asked, tired of being so pale.

            He laughed softly and removed the charms, "Better Kerenza?"

I nodded, "Yes, thank you." I said, fixing my hair again so my ears showed.

Together we walked into a small shop. I loved the places in Knockturn Alley; there were so many interesting things to see. As I began to look through the various items, just looking, not touching, I felt someone watching me. I looked around, trying to see who it was. A young blonde caught my eye; he was the one who was staring at me. Flipping my braid over my shoulder I walked over to my father.

"Papa, that blonde boy is staring at me." I said softly.

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh?" He glanced over, "That's a Malfoy." He said, looking back at me, "Ignore him unless he comes over to speak with you. I have a few more things to collect here and we'll go see Erebus."

I nodded and went back to looking around. It was unnerving the way he continued to stare at me, I didn't like it. Finally he walked over, "Hello, I'm Draco Malfoy." He said with a smile, offering me his hand.

I took it and he kissed the back of mine, "I'm Kerenza DeNan."

"I should have known that you would be from a family as powerful as DeNan."

"Oh?" I asked softly, "Why is that?"

He smiled, "You just seem to be one who is bred for power."

I smiled, "You do have a way with words Mr. Malfoy. I'm sure I'll see you again." I said, Aramil beckoning for me to come.

I walked out with my father, "Watch him." He said, leading me down the street.

I nodded, "Yes papa. Can we go see Uncle Erebus now?" I asked excitedly.

He laughed and went further down the alley, "That's where we're going Kerenza."

I loved visiting him; he told me once that he watched our family to find one worthy of a great gift. When I asked him what it was he wouldn't tell me. He lived just past Knockturn Alley and it didn't take us long to arrive. Right after Aramil knocked on the door Erebus answered. I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around the ancient vampire. He laughed; his voice was like silk, sweet and low. His long ebony hair was tied back in a pony tail. He usually wore it down. A loose fitting white shirt nearly blended in with his pale flesh and a pair of black pants clung to his legs like a second skin. Piercing blue/black eyes gazed down at me lovingly.

He smiled at me, "Hello to you too Kerenza."

Aramil shook his head, "I'm sorry Erebus, she's wanted to come see you since she got her wand."

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh and why is that Kerenza?"

"Because my wand is very special!" I said happily, pulling it out for him to see.

He blinked for a moment and whispered softly, "The only wand I ever gave my blood for." He smiled at me, "This is very good, I was right." He said cryptically.

I scowled, "What's good?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.

"Kerenza, why don't you go get something to eat, I need to speak with your father." He said with a smile. I pouted but did as he said, going into the kitchen. Pressing my ear to the door I tried to listen, only picking up a few words here and there, "She's…one…gift…" I couldn't hear my father's response to that, "Positive…she's…waiting…"

I scowled, obviously I was to be the recipient of whatever gift he intended to give, but what was it? Sighing I pulled away from the door, going to get myself something to eat. If I didn't then they would know that I had been listening. Fixing myself a quick sandwich I sat at the table to wait for them to finish their talk. Finally they walked in.

"What'd you talk about?" I asked before taking a bite of my food.

Neither one of them answered. Erebus walked over and handed me a small box, "Open it."

Slowly I complied, curious to see what was within. A silver necklace was nestled in the little box, a single blood red teardrop hung from it. I blinked and carefully took it out of the box, examining the teardrop and fine silver chain. Taking it from me, he slipped it around my throat.

"Never take this off Kerenza." He ordered, leaving no room for objection.

"Alright Uncle Erebus." I said, absently fingering the jewel.

He smiled, "That's my girl. Good luck at school." I rolled my eyes and he laughed, "I know you don't want to go but you have to. It will be a good learning experience." He pulled out a book, "I want you to read this in your free time."

I scowled, "You've never given me stuff to read, why the sudden change?"

"That's not important."

I sighed, "Alright, alright, I'll read it." I said, taking the book from him.

"That's my girl. Now I believe that you should go home and get some rest. School starts in a few days."

I sighed, "Thanks Uncle Erebus." I smiled and gave him a hug, "Love you."

"Thank you Erebus." Aramil said wit a smile, "You're welcome to come for Yule as always." He said before we left.