Once the trio had gotten back to the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione had come out of her state of shock and was steadily berating Harry for his stupidity.
" Harry, what were you thinking! Lucius Malfoy could have killed you! You're lucky he didn't."
" He wouldn't have killed Harry out in the open like that Hermione."
" Oh, really, Ronald? And how would you know?"
" Because it'd be a lot stupider than anything else he's ever done and even he's not that thick."
" Would you guys stop fighting? Tomorrow morning we'll run into them again on the platform. Let's just stay out of their way, alright?"
Both Ron and Hermione nodded. The rest of the day went by without more than three words between them. At dinner, their end of the table was unusually silent until they said goodnights before heading off to their bedrooms.
The next morning was chaotic as usual. Weasleys were rushing about in a panic. Fred and George had come to see them off at King's Cross. Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked ahead of everyone into the station. As they reached the barrier, Harry nodded and went through first, alone. A few seconds later, Hermione and Ron followed after him.
They pushed their carts across the platform and stopped before one of the many entrances on the train as they waited for the rest of the Weasleys. Harry and Ron were talking to Dean Thomas when Hermione elbowed them both extremely hard in the ribs. Wincing, they said goodbye to Dean and turned to Hermione, rubbing their sides.
" Geez, Hermione." Ron gave an exasperated sigh. " What was that for?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and pointed across the platform. " Look." Harry and Ron did. The sight that greeted them was the Malfoy family and another person they didn't know. Narcissa was talking to Draco a few yards away from Lucius and the other person. Lucius seemed to be explaining something as the girl kept nodding. Ron and Harry looked at each other and then to Hermione who was still staring intently across the platform.
" Who is she?" Harry assumed that Hermione might know, but was shocked when she turned to him with a determined expression.
" I don't know. Let's find out." With a show of courage that neither boy had ever seen in her before, Hermione took off across the platform at a brisk pace heading straight for the Malfoy's, in particular, Lucius and the girl.
Harry and Ron jogged a few feet to catch up with her. As determined as ever, Hermione stopped directly in front of the two. The girl was the first to notice them and nodded at them, causing Lucius to turn and look. An unmistakable smirk crossed his face, but Hermione, seemingly undeterred, spoke.
" Who are you?"
The girl seemed somewhat surprised by the directness of this question, but answered with a smug grin anyway.
" Lucienna Malfoy." She extended her hand to Hermione, which she surprisingly took. " And you are?"
" Hermione Granger."
" Ah." A never changing Malfoy air of superiority took over her face upon hearing the name, making Harry and Ron almost certain that she had been told of them. Harry returned the gaze that Lucienna passed over him and Ron before her eyes went back to Hermione. " Your parents are muggles, aren't they?"
" Your point being?" Harry had finally spoken, the spiteful hate he felt towards all Malfoys taking over his better judgment.
Lucienna smirked. " My, my, my, Harry Potter. A pleasure, I assure you." She extended her hand, clasping Harry's briefly. " I have heard a lot about you. From my cousin…and I've also read about you…in almost every book that was ever written. I must say, I expected better from you."
" Meaning?" Harry's voice betrayed his anger, causing a smug grin to cross Lucienna's face, matching Lucius's current expression completely.
" Well, I mean, really. Look at who you've resorted to being friends with. A mudblood." Lucienna's eyes turned to Hermione. " And a Weasley. Not exactly the sort of friends I would expect the Boy-Who-Lived to have."
" They're a lot better than some."
His point clearly intended Harry was unsurprised when Lucius Malfoy spoke for the first time. " And what 'some' might you be referring to, Potter?"
" I think you know, Mr. Malfoy."
" I'd be careful if I were you, Potter. You have no idea what you're dealing with." Lucienna's eyes were flashing and she took a step forward, causing Lucius to put a firm, restraining hand on her shoulder.
" Oh, no? I thought I knew pretty well."
" Mr. Potter, might I suggest you get on the train before an accident happens." The grip on Lucienna's shoulder tightened as she made a lunge at Harry.
Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione whispered, " Harry", making him stop, glare one last time, and turn away.
Harry boarded the train with Hermione and Ron in tow. They went into the compartment, where their trunks were put by the twins, and sat down.
" Harry, I don't know what you were thinking, but I have to tell you I think it's extremely stupid to pick a fight with a Malfoy at this point in time."
" Hermione, it's not like Lucius Malfoy is going to fight me in the middle of a platform."
" Harry, that's not my point. Have you considered why Lucienna Malfoy is suddenly transferring to our school? I've read about her and her parents in a book on the Dark Arts and she is not the sort of person you want to mess with."
" Who is she?"
" I didn't know until she told me her name. Lucienna Malfoy is the daughter of Lucius Malfoy's brother and sister-in-law. The two of them were the most notorious Death Eaters of their time, that is, before Lucienna was born. After she was born an argument started between them and Voldemort. A lot of people believe, or at least it was theorized in my book, that they wanted to break it off. They wanted to get out of the Death Eaters. Of course, since they were in such a high rank, they knew far too much to break it off completely and survive. Voldemort himself murdered them. Lucius Malfoy, having nothing against his niece, took her in. For the past thirteen years, the Malfoy's have raised her. Instead of Hogwarts, she went to Durmstrang. See, however much Narcissa cared for Draco, she didn't care hardly as much for Lucienna. And however much Lucius cared for Lucienna, he didn't care hardly as much for Draco. The reason is because he saw in Lucienna a light that he saw in himself. She has the ability to be far more powerful than Draco could ever be."
" So is she powerful now?" Ron was leaning on the edge of his seat.
" Yes, she's gone to Durmstrang. Not to mention the fact that Lucius has probably educated her in the Dark Arts from a very young age. I'd say she could probably take on at least Snape and win."
Harry had been listening intently and voiced a question as he watched Lucius and Lucienna talking outside his window as he handed her something and bent down to whisper. " So, is she a Death Eater?"
" Most definitely."
Harry continued to watch as Narcissa nodded to Lucienna and Lucius did the same to Draco before the two boarded the train.
" And Harry," Harry turned to look at her, " I think the reason that Lucius has decided to send her to Hogwarts this year is so that she can watch you. Undoubtedly, she will report to Lucius and then he'll report to Voldemort."
Harry turned back to the window in time to see the platform disappear as they rounded the corner. " I kind of figured that already."