Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just the marvelous character named Cassidy Valeska. Wooh. Also, Troy Malfoy (that little devil) and a few insignificant others that make arise when the time calls for it.

-x-x-x-

Chapter Summary: Somehow, hours turn to days, days into weeks, and Cassidy is caught up in a whirlwind of womanly education. Narcissa has been treating her awfully well after that wand fiasco, and has been teaching her how to act properly, and live life in the aristocratic way. Though bemused, Cassidy finds it mildly amusing, and through some jeering, decides to show the Malfoy woman up and perfect the art of being formal and poised and elegant all at once. Her knowledge is tested when she is invited strangely into a legal trial that has her making the biggest decision of her life. Somehow, through the timid and quiet girl Narcissa has started to train her to be … she makes poor judgment, marking the beginning of her long journey ...

I've kept you long enough, so let's get this show on the road!

House of Drawn Shades
By Darkwing731

((--Chapter Four--))
The Beginning

-

Sighing, she trudged up the hallways, already wondering if things were going to get worse. After all… that wand had belonged to a dead girl, and they still kept it…

No, that doesn't sound creepy at all, Cassidy thought with a little roll of her eyes. There was something wrong, and she wanted to get to the bottom of it.

And I will, even if it takes me my life… she mused. I will find out no matter what happens … if it kills me, so be it.

Feeling a sense of forbidding creep over her, she hurried away, unaware of how incredibly correct she had been.

-

Days had gone by, and the raven-haired girl had resorted to wandering about the old manor with curiosity and excitement pouring through her. She was constantly discovering things, places she couldn't go, pictures she hadn't seen, and so many books.

She had practically made the library her bedroom, and she was almost always found pouring over a book, blissfully engrossed and unaware of her surroundings.

Cassidy looked around the other set of huge, arching doors, and she was delighted to find another room, though considerably smaller, with lots and lots of more books. It was almost like a study; desks were placed against the walls, some beside the small fire-grate, and others by the window.

She particularly liked the rug on the floor; it had arabesque designs on it and a uniquely Persian feel. It was soft as velvet, while at the same time rough and jagged if rubbed the wrong way.

But what she loved the most was the second floor. There was an open balcony wrapped around the room with dark wooden shelves filled with books, the soft chestnut railing carved smoothly in a long, twisting serpent. She followed it at once and came upon a set of locked French doors, yet again. She twisted and pried the doorknob, but could not open the stubborn doors.

If she was not to be found in the library, she was exploring the house. There was always, always something new to be discovered. She immediately went to the southeastern tower, in which she found was ominous and alluring when she spotted it from a window in passing.

Cassidy immediately grabbed the map that she had kept with her from the day she'd found it, and headed over to the tower as quickly as she could. Of course, she was bound to get lost, and she did.

Confused and irritated, she stumbled into another hallway. Cursing, she ran down it as fast as she could, only to find a four-way hallway … again. She couldn't count how many times she had been lost and angry, sitting in the middle of four different corridors.

So, now very irate, she got up, turned a corner, and started walking down the hallway. It was very unlike all the others she had passed through; it had no windows, and was getting darker with every step she took. But she could see a light far ahead that was beaming, and the hallway was brighter towards the middle.

Hurrying, she jogged toward the light. She found, gaping with astonishment, that the tunnel was suspended in mid-air above the magnificent courtyard. She pressed her nose against the crystal glass and stared below at the cobblestone pathways and the gardens full of lush flowerbeds. She looked up, and expecting to see the wall that had the two towers attached to it, she found that there was a wall, and then a space.

So, therefore, there must be another courtyard or something… she thought logically. Wanting to see it, she scoured the manor best she could, but only succeeded in getting herself lost.

Again.

She ended up at a high pair of doors; the soft wood was carved with twisting flames and a Latin inscription. The doorknobs were shaped oddly; in fact, they weren't circular in any way whatsoever. It was almost as if they were the seductive curl of a flame, tempting all to touch it to reveal whatever was behind it. Cassidy immediately snatched the doorknob, hoping and praying that it would open, and pushed open the doors.

She nearly fainted on the spot; she had come across the ballroom of the Malfoy Manor. Simply stunning, the huge, cavernous room was colored in pastel and earthy tones, with gold and silver lining each tile on the dark marble floor. The room had arches like all the hallways did, carved in an old-fashion way and knobbed here and there. They glowed as though the rays of the sun had touched them, reaching up towards the cathedral-like ceiling.

But what she really liked the most was the grand, magnificent staircase. It wasn't small and narrow with two thin side rails, but big, flowing out in gigantic waves, the final white marble stair wrapping in a half-circle.

The railings were huge and supported by thick columns, but at the end it seemed as if all the extra stone had pooled together in a little oval, with a delicate swirl.

A beautifully crafted statue was on the oval; often seen in majestic theaters and extremely wealthy places, the statue depicted a golden figure, female, reaching up towards the ceiling with an almost desperate or wanting look on her face. The only clothing on her body was wrapped around her waist, tying at the thigh and revealing normally unseen skin far beneath her navel.

Blushing and trying not to look at the naked chest of the statue, Cassidy turned and ventured to the other side of the room, which took a while. Her shoes clacked on the floor and she heard the echo of her own breathing. It was almost eerie how she caught any sudden sound she might've made by accident, and how each and every sound bounced off the walls to only be thrown right back at her.

There was a raised dais in the farthest corner of the room, and a pit behind it. Curious, she looked into the hollow space; there was a grand piano, glossy and sleek looking, and a few chairs. She guessed it was for any musicians who might play here at one point or another.

She wandered over to the glass doors and pushed them, but they would not open. Frustrated but quietly satisfied (she could see through the window panes), she looked through the glass and saw a balcony big enough to hold twenty or more people, and the dark grey stone winding out of site.

For Cassidy, this had been one interesting day.

-x-x-x-

November 25

Her eyes poured over the text, her fingers poised at the sharp edge of the paper, ready to turn so she could throw herself deeper into the interesting text she was reading. She chewed her lip, her eyes narrowed, before she threw the page over and started speeding over the lines.

There was a sudden clack of heels on the hard, cold floor that brought Cassidy out of her novel, her reverie broken as she was pulled from the story.

Cassidy looked across the library, her hand holding the next page passively, and watched as the handle turned slowly and the door opened.

The tall, slim figure of Narcissa Malfoy entered. As usual, she looked fancy and casual at the same time, something Cassidy had yet to figure out how the woman accomplished.

But then again, all Cassidy owned were those wretched dresses with corset-like tops that had her gasping for breath. She had looked through the shapely closets and found a simple dark grey cloak to throw over the dress; the manor was often cold and the only material she chose to wear out of the other dresses was terribly thin.

"Hello," Cassidy greeted, sounding almost wary.

She hadn't talked to Narcissa since the wand incident, and she felt as if any word she spoke would instigate a malicious fight.

"Hello, dear," Narcissa said, almost too brightly as she pulled up a chair. "What's that you're reading?"

"Erm, The Adventures of Merlin. I found it in the other room."

"Oh," Narcissa answered, her eyes flicking downward to the table for a moment, her face pensive. She looked back up at Cassidy.

"I've wanted to speak with you for quite some time now," she said seriously.

Cassidy couldn't help but raise her eyebrows at this. What could she possibly want with me? She had all this time to confront me about whatever this could be about, she thought suspiciously.

"Yes?" Cassidy asked, waiting for the blonde to continue talking.

Narcissa looked down for a moment before smiling broadly and glancing back at her. "Well, you see, I've been thinking. Since you're going to be living here for quite a while, I thought I could try to… teach you a few things."

"What kind of things?" Cassidy asked slowly.

"Like… how to be a Malfoy. You'll be staying here, and you'll be as good as my daughter. I would be delighted to eventually see you in that light if I can educate you up to my standards."

"Well—"

(new paragraph)

However, Narcissa continued to speak as though she hadn't heard Cassidy interrupt.

"And yet, you see, there have been the girls of my son's courting that I've tried to teach, and others who stayed here for a long while and did not succeed. I simply must have only the elite, and so far no one but myself has reached that height."

Narcissa was arrogant, that was for sure. She had boasted, and subtly said that Cassidy wasn't good enough to complete whatever Narcissa put her through to reach this 'high point' she was talking about.

But I am, Cassidy thought silently as she looked at the page of words blankly. She isn't the bloody Queen of England; I can be just as high-class as she if I wanted too.

Although Cassidy found it slightly odd how she had only been there ten days and Narcissa was speaking to her like this, she made up her mind anyway. No, Narcissa wouldn't have an upper hand; Cassidy would be just as good as the Malfoy and hopefully be even better.

From a sudden flash of anger and jealously, Cassidy knew she was going to force herself through whatever Narcissa had in store for her, do it famously and become better than the woman was herself.

No one shows me up, Cassidy thought with a sudden streak of ferocity. If Narcissa wanted to think she was the cream of the crop, let the uptight woman think that. She would never see the clever girl sneaking up on her.

"Well, Narcissa," Cassidy said, shutting her book and folding her hands coolly. "I think I might partake in this thing of yours. Please, what exactly will you be teaching me?"

Narcissa smirked, just a little, before smiling properly and gushing out her words with enthusiasm. "Well, I shall be teaching you to remember to use all proper manners, which I will go over: conversing, dancing, eating, and your overall physical appearance. There are many more categories, but I think I could have you in shape with just a select few teachings."

She sounds like a… a nun or something! Cassidy thought wildly. Honestly, dancing? Conversing and eating? This wasn't the Middle Ages; it was modern 1998! Was this woman living in the past, or what?

Cassidy forced a pleasant smile on her face, hoping to take the horns of this and do it perfectly.

"Well, Narcissa, I think I can do this. When do we start?"

Narcissa smiled, and Cassidy could've sworn she saw triumph in her blue eyes.

"Right now."

-x-x-x-

December 9

Two weeks later

"Sit up straight, girl, or you're never going to get this correct!" Narcissa snapped.

Cassidy, who was sitting very erectly in a chair, tried to snap into a more precise position, but found her back was as straight as it could go.

"Mrs. Malfoy, my back doesn't go backwards. I couldn't possibly sit up any straighter," Cassidy said angrily.

Mrs. Malfoy. The first part of her 'teachings' was conversation, therefore it meant addressing people properly, introducing oneself, and having formal, polite conversations that could be discussed without any trouble lurking in the passing words.

It also meant acting a certain way; for instance, even if she was angry, Cassidy had to always appear calm and collected and politely upset, only touching gently upon the sensitive subject. She could only use certain words, for one wrong move and she was in trouble. Narcissa had already cuffed her a few times for messing up, and however annoying Cassidy found it, she bit back her witty retorts. If she was going to show this woman up, she had to learn to suck it up.

While talking to people, she learned women generally did not partake in the conversation unless the whole group was female associates, friends, relatives, or those of the same social status. However, in a normal everyday conversation where men were most likely ruling the babble, she was not to speak unless addressed to personally.

"Always say 'sir' and 'ma'am' when they speak to you. Do not start your sentence with the formal address, and rarely ever end it with such unless it seems completely necessary," Narcissa had chided, and it had happened more than once.

"Do not speak to me with that tone! As far as you know, I am an upper-class woman who is married to a man who is wealthy, popular among his many colleges, and well known in the Wizarding World. You do not speak to me as if I am your proper mother; you address me formally as you would an important figure of society. Do you understand me, girl?" Narcissa barked at her.

Resisting the very tempting urge to roll her eyes, Cassidy replied in a colorless tone, "Yes."

"Yes, what?"

"Yes, ma'am," Cassidy replied sharply, turning to look at the woman. She was angry and Narcissa wasn't helping very much.

Her cheek earned her another cuff over her head, and grumbling angrily under her breath, she tried her hardest to sit up straighter, ignoring the now sore spot on the side of her head.

Narcissa frowned, but after a moment she had a contemptuous look and she sighed. "You need more practice, girl, you still look like you're slouching."

"I do have a name, you know," Cassidy snapped, feeling annoyed that she had to call Narcissa Mrs. Malfoy, but Cassidy apparently didn't have a name.

Whack. The woman cuffed her again, and Cassidy let out a low hiss and rubbed her head.

"You, my dear, are not the wife of an important and influential person in this magical society. As far as names go, you don't even have one, and I may as well bark orders at you. Be happy I'm calling you 'girl'; I could purposely mistake your gender and call you boy instead. In fact, I may as well. Your appearance isn't very appropriate and you're dressed like a man."

Cassidy had found a pair of comfortable, snug trousers and a long lace-up top that went down to her thighs. Combining the two with the grey, shapeless cloak she often wore, she didn't look like a man, rather a young girl who hadn't given much though to her appearance.

Cassidy looked back at Narcissa rather contemptuously. "Well, excuse me for dressing in comfortable clothing! Would you prefer, Madam, for me to be all laced up in a tight corset where I can't sit or breathe without choking?"

"Yes! If it makes you appear more alluring than you do at the moment, then yes indeed!" Narcissa snapped. Cassidy gaped at her.

Narcissa leaned down, slamming her hands on the table in front of the raven-haired girl. "You do not understand what I'm teaching you! You haven't understood from the moment I began talking to you weeks ago!"

"I have too!" Cassidy protested immediately.

"Then why aren't you portraying yourself to what you have learned? You are acting quite like a scoundrel, and I shall not have that! You are not putting forth any effort!" She cuffed the girl rather suddenly. Cassidy flinched and grabbed her head.

"A fine example!" Narcissa yelled, pulling Cassidy's hand away from her throbbing forehead. "A woman who is married to a man in Lucius' league does not flinch, nor does she show any signs of displeasure or complaint whatsoever. I'm aware that you are not married to him, but you are living under his roof, and you shall be for quite some time! If you are to be shown with Malfoys, you must seem and appear as one, or you shall tarnish the name!"

"I'm not bloody perfect!" Cassidy shrieked. "I can't learn this all so well and be expected to have it down after such a short amount of time!"

"Well, from now on, you will be perfect! You must learn quickly and have everything down to the point and very precise, because if you are living here with Lucius, and myself ignorance is very dangerous. Do you understand me?" Narcissa snapped.

"Am I meant to?" Cassidy spat angrily, earning herself another cuff. After earning a seething look from Narcissa as she went to tend to her head, she slowly put her hand on her lap, ignoring the burning sensation.

Narcissa leaned forward and narrowed her eyes, looking dangerous and almost deadly serious.

"If you cannot keep these teachings in your head, girl, you aren't good enough. I'll have you know that there is a trial coming up soon for your custody, and we have the opportunity to keep you and then throw you out into the streets without anybody knowing!"

"That's a plain lie!" Cassidy said at once.

"You wouldn't know!" Narcissa reminded her sharply. "And even if it was, what would you do about it? You have nowhere else to go, you have nothing to your name, and as far as it appears, you do not exist."

"I do!"

"Go on! Ask someone of whom you have their name and ask them if they've ever seen your face in passing! No one does! No one has even heard your name before, girl!"

"There are plenty!" Although Cassidy wasn't particularly sure, there had to be someone who knew her in the world. Anyone.

"Oh yes? Then who, may I ask?" Narcissa said, sounding sweetly sarcastic.

And her words found Cassidy desperately searching her nearly empty memory for names of someone, anyone at all besides Narcissa Malfoy, or Lucius. Even the deep corners of her mind, though hazy with something she couldn't quite place, were empty as far as she could tell.

She put her hand on her forehead and ran her fingers through her hair, her eyes blank but clouded as she scourged her short memory. There was nothing to be found except the nearly empty blackness that she knew.

She looked up at Narcissa, a very unhappy look on her face, feeling rather defeated. She did not like how this woman constantly had the upper hand and was shoving her around like a school ground bully. Narcissa was taking away all the pleasure Cassidy had and it wasn't very fair at all.

All Cassidy wanted to do was smack Narcissa across the face and tell her to shut her stupid little mouth, because she was having trouble comprehending the actually concept of why on earth anyone would act this way.

When Cassidy finally lowered her eyes in frustration and shame, Narcissa smirked.

"I thought so," Narcissa said.

(new paragraph)

Cassidy looked up at her with a miserable look on her face. She now knew that she did not like being the wrong one in an argument.

Narcissa smirked and withdrew her wand from her dress pocket.

"Now, assuming that there shall be no more interruptions on your part, why don't we move on from where we left off?" she said.

(new paragraph)

Cassidy gave her a sour look but said nothing.

The Malfoy was quiet a moment before speaking. "I think I know just how to get your posture straight. Up!" she barked suddenly.

(new paragraph)

Cassidy did not move; in result, a faint blue light shot out of Narcissa's wand, and a shock went through Cassidy.

Cassidy yelped and stood up almost immediately. Narcissa had a smug look on her face, and summoned the stack of books from the other side of the table. If they ran out, there were plenty more; they were in the main library, full to the brim with such wondrous books.

Narcissa placed her wand on the tip of the dark green book and it suddenly lit up very brightly before dimming gradually to the color it firstly was. She picked it up very carefully and handed it to Cassidy.

When Cassidy touched it, it zapped her again like the tip of Narcissa's wand had done. She shrieked and dropped the book as a soft throbbing slowly wound its way up her arms and throughout her body. Narcissa glared at Cassidy as she rubbed her arms, trying to numb the pain and soothe the ache.

Her arms crossed and her face looking as if she had spotted something disgusting, she said, "Pick it up!"

Cassidy reached down reluctantly, hoping it would not shock her again. However, as soon as she lifted a corner it sent screaming shocks through her body that started a pounding migraine behind her eyes.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with this book?" Cassidy cried.

Narcissa smirked. "It must be perfectly even or it will shock whoever is holding it. Once you get it on your head, your practice of posture begins."

Cassidy stared at the woman, who looked triumphant. She felt anger and frustration boil over the invisible brim of her head and wanted to scream out in fury.

"If you're so perfect, why don't you do it?" Cassidy demanded angrily, forgetting all of her manners and nearly shouting at the woman.

There was no way in the name of Merlin that this woman could pick up the book and put it on her head without getting zapped. But, as Narcissa leaned down to retrieve it, an awful sense of weakness overwhelmed Cassidy. She kept getting thrown down on the floor like a dog that had behaved badly, and albeit she kept trying to perfect whatever Narcissa was teaching her, she could not. She felt that, as a failure, she would be miserable. She had to get this down or something would be taken out of her in a chunk with a meat cleaver.

There was a small, sharp intake of breath as Narcissa put her fingertips on the side of the book and gently lifted it in the air, taking her time, both women following the trail of the book with their eyes. Cassidy was hungry for Narcissa's mistake, but she knew it would never come.

When the book was finally balanced on the blonde's head, Narcissa walked around the table in a smooth walk that was noted with confidence, while Cassidy watched in a secret kind of jealously. Narcissa stopped in front of Cassidy, who was breathing quite slowly and thinking how long it would take her to do something as extraordinary as that and not get zapped, when Narcissa took the book with one hand, tilted it to its side and threw it on the table.

"How did you do that without being zapped?" Cassidy demanded instantly, thinking suddenly that the charm was merely set to hurt her and no one else.

"I did get shocked, girl," Narcissa said, folding her arms. "However, I have trained myself not to show the pain. In this house, that trait is just as mandatory as staying alive."

Cassidy looked at her, her thin eyebrows creased and her mind buzzing with confused thoughts. What exactly was Narcissa implying? Was there some point she was trying to desperately tell her before something happened?

Narcissa threw the book at her suddenly, and by reflex, Cassidy caught it, screamed as a shock went threw her body and promptly dropped it. Narcissa picked it up again.

"Posture and pain. Those are our next lessons. You shall be starting them immediately."

And Cassidy knew, somehow, that this woman would put her through Hell, but Cassidy would force herself to become better and rise higher than Narcissa, because beating someone who was seemingly perfect just had to be the ultimate goal.

-x-x-x-

December 19

10 Days later

Cassidy bit her lip, hoping she would get this down pat. After ten tedious and exhausting days with a very strict and easily upset Malfoy, she had practiced this whenever she got a free moment, and it wasn't working.

She and Narcissa were standing in the Main foyer, waiting for the door to open. Lucius was coming home, just for today, and along with him he was bringing a social worker who had dealt with cases like Cassidy's before.

What Cassidy did not know was that although the Malfoys were technically her Godparents, she had living relatives who were going to fight for her in hopes of raising her until she could remember everything about the Wizarding World and become her old self again (not that she knew her old self—this was just how she acted because it was how she depicted herself to be). These people were kind-hearted, loving and a large, joyful family, though incredibly poor: the Weasleys.

Straight-backed and holding her head up with confidence that she really did not possess, Cassidy snuck a glace at Narcissa, who seemed cool and collected but was simply staring at the door. Cassidy was standing a little behind the woman, and hoped that when she met this 'incredible' husband of Narcissa's, he was nicer than she was.

Ten days. Cassidy had learned a lot in ten days. A lot of things that she was constantly reprimanded for forgetting when they reviewed the previous lesson, and things she left out that could greatly improve her first impression, but were not mandatory. Narcissa wanted her to be perfect, but Cassidy wasn't exactly sure she could be.

She had chosen her attire meticulously, and experimented with the make-up she had found while poking through drawers in the lavatory. She tried to cover up the scars she had found randomly on her body, as if she had been in some vicious fight; there was the cut on her lip that was nearly healed, the fading bruise underneath her eye that she covered easily with make-up (since it was already light), and moreover cuts and scratches.

Narcissa had approved, not by words, but by smiling in agreement on her choice of clothing. Cassidy had picked a dark blue dress that wasn't too fancy, but it matched her eyes perfectly. And furthermore, she liked it a lot because it didn't restrict her breathing like all the other clothing did. Her hair was left down, but she cleverly pulled back a sliver of hair behind each ear and tied it on the crown of her ebony head. Frankly, she thought she looked all right. She hoped she would impress.

Suddenly, Narcissa let out something around a low whine, almost as if a dog was asking to be let out. She turned to Cassidy quickly.

"They're coming up the steps now, Lucius and the gentleman that is accompanying him. Remember everything I taught you; be calm and quiet, and do not speak or—" She stopped suddenly when the doorknob turned and light poured into the cavernous room.

In walked Lucius Malfoy, followed by a shrewd-looking man with thin brown hair and a slightly stooped figure, who was scribbling furiously on the clipboard he was holding, ink splashing his cheeks.

At the sight of Lucius, Cassidy nearly burst out in hysterical laughter. He had a long, narrow face and cruel-looking eyes, but that wasn't what amused her. It was his long, silky blonde hair that could rival Narcissa's, tied back into a bow

Cassidy could barely contain herself; she slammed her hand over her mouth and tried desperately to contain the giggles in her throat. Narcissa shot her a dangerous look as she and Lucius embraced for a moment, and Cassidy quickly lowered her hand, but the smirk lingered on her face like the musty smell after rainfall.

Lucius and Narcissa parted and he lead Narcissa and the social worker across the room, leaving Cassidy standing there stupidly.

Mr. Wears-his-hair-in-a-bow is quite rude, Cassidy thought, her grin widening, and she couldn't suppress a snort. She stifled the sound quickly and hurried after the almost silent group.

Lucius opened the door for Narcissa and the social worker before entering the room himself, pulling the door closed with a slam behind him. Cassidy stopped abruptly where she was, nearly five feet from the door.

She stood for a moment, unsure of what to do; she ultimately decided that she would wait outside the room (she was sure they were greeting each other over cups of steaming coffee). She walked to the nearest set of chairs; the main foyer was littered with tables and seats, couches to lounge on and things that were interesting to look at.

She was there for about ten minutes when there was a rumble from somewhere in another room nearby, before a crash was heard, followed by silence. Cassidy sprung up, ready to investigate, when she heard cries of angry accusations. Footsteps followed and Cassidy heard them enter the other set of doors inside the room.

Sullen that she was left out of the excitement, Cassidy sat down slowly.

She had been sitting for a minute or two, staring at the pillar across the hall, when there was an odd noise to the right of her. She turned and looked over; there was a long hall with a set of tall doors at the end. They looked tiny as they were engulfed by the invisible vanishing point.

The noise grew louder, and Cassidy was positive that there was something down there. She stood, still grasping the claw of the arm of her chair, staring down the hall, her heart rate picking up suddenly. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears, and how loud and ragged her breathing was.

The hallway was dark as a cloud passed over the sun, the rays pouring through the windows suddenly dissolved into the darkness. Then, there was an odd flicker of light near a window pane, then another above it, and suddenly an unnaturally bright light came in splintering sheets. An eerie, echoing and haunting voice sounded.

Cassidy stared forward, terrified of what was happening.

The splintered sheets suddenly gave way, a burst of light following, and when she blinked there was someone in the hall.

To be precise, that someone was Cassidy herself, though looking much older and translucent, as if she were a ghost. Her body was splintered in light, running and screaming something, though the voice came in dull, low tones. Quite suddenly, she heard her own voice clearly, sounding scared and desperate.

"—WEASLEYS, NO—"

And her voice was gone again as it faded into the shadows, the image of her body falling apart in sheets and splinters as it was wiped away from the sunlight pouring through the windows again.

The haunting voice that had been ringing in the hall was gone, though it lingered in her head, raising the hair all over her body.

Cassidy slowly sat down, her body shaking, her breath shallow. She stared down the hall, grasping the arm of the chair tightly as she tried to calm herself.

She tried to focus on anything but the scene that had just happened before her very eyes, but there was nothing except the deafening silence that was pounding against her head. She closed her eyes, acutely aware that she could hear the fight taking place in the other room, but she couldn't focus. She needed to clear her mind.

She took a deep breath; focus on the fight, she told herself sternly. Don't think about anything else but the fight. Don't let your damn mind wander.

She tried as hard as she could, and listened with concentration, noting the detailed thoughts streaming through her head as she sat in the silence.

There was silence in the sitting room. She could hear the brief silences and then the rapid pickup of talking, occasionally an angry yell and a demand for someone (she couldn't quite pick up the name without walking in there and asking), and the smooth, prompt response from Narcissa. Her cold voice, however polite and controlled it was, quieted the visitors immediately and she started talking again. A new voice, however familiar it sounded, started speaking. It was low, though smooth and silky and well enunciated, and took control and kept speaking for several minutes.

There was silence again, and then the distinctive, high voice of one of the visitors before Narcissa interrupted, and then the social worker yelled at all of them. Monotonous tones followed before there was a pregnant pause.

Again came the low noise, almost as if it were a murmur, and then footsteps followed. The door opened, and Cassidy was aware that she was leaning forward, trying to hear every word of the conversation from her seat nearly twenty feet from the door, despite the fact she had been terrified of some apparition almost ten minutes earlier.

It was the social worker gentleman. "Come on in here for a moment, please," he said, his voice coldly professional. He turned and went back in, but left the door slightly open. Cassidy cautiously approached it, and taking a deep breath to rid her of her suddenly shot nerves, she opened it fully and took a step in.

She was right, she noted, taking a glance at the glasses in both Narcissa's and Lucius' hands. They both had teacups, along with the social worker, and two for the two visitors, though they remained untouched.

The two new people were redheaded and weary looking, both looking at Cassidy in awe and fear. They wore ragged clothing, patches covering random spots on their cloaks, and soot staining their faces. Cassidy thought immediately they looked extremely out of place and awkward in the elegant Malfoy Manor.

"Now," the social worker said, breaking her out of her reverie. Cassidy looked over at him. "Miss—" He looked down at his sheet in hand– "Valeska, I know you were excluded from the majority of this, er, meeting, but to end it ultimately, we need an answer from you.

"These people here are the Weasleys. They have come to argue for your custody for a few years until you have possessed enough knowledge to live on your own. They have a nice, um, house out in the country, with seven children."

(new paragraph)

The woman went to interrupt him, but the social worker kept speaking, glancing at Narcissa and Lucius, who both looked very pleased.

"You have been living here for quite a while so therefore you know about the Malfoys and their way of living." The social worker picked up his papers and stacked them neatly on the table in front of him before taking a solitary paper and holding an ink-dipped quill over it.

"Now, Miss Valeska, I am here to ask you which family you would prefer to stay with. Be aware that you must live with them for about five years, unless I have given permission otherwise for you to leave. It is essential that you are raised to learn about the world and have your own views, knowledge and conscience, and living with either family will help you to that ultimate goal."

The social worker put his quill to the paper and looked back at her, waiting for the answer from her lips. "Well?" he asked expectantly.

Cassidy looked from the Malfoys—a rich, fancy and prestigious family—and then to the Weasleys—poor, many children and a house out on the country. Cassidy knew virtually nothing about the Weasleys; for all she knew, they could be an abusive family who neglected their children and didn't have enough money for clothes or heat or food.

But then again, so could the Malfoys.

Sure, they had the money; she wasn't worried about that. But it was the crueler part she thought about for a brief moment. Suppose she was abused? Would she ever be able to move in with the Weasley family?

She opened her mouth to ask that exact question, but she caught the dangerous, irate look that Narcissa sent her. The gaping hole that had been her parted lips shut abruptly, leaving Cassidy with her grumbling thoughts. Never ask questions, just do as you're told. Another lesson nailed into her as she was punished many times for being curious.

"I'll stay with the Malfoys," she said, after another hesitant moment.

She knew she would stay alive, be fed and have nice clothing with them. She would have Narcissa driving her up the wall with her annoying education. But then, if she had gone with the Weasleys, she would've given up the lessons and let Narcissa win. It wasn't a completely fair deal, but she guessed, in the end, staying with the Malfoys would be better.

Her statement was followed by several long, awkward moments of silence that were thick, with tension flowing in waves around her as everyone looked at her. She was suddenly aware that the two Weasleys, the man and his wife, were staring wide-eyed at, almost as if they were shocked that she would make such a decision.

The social worker slowly lowered his quill back to the paper and started writing. Cassidy looked over at Narcissa and Lucius; Narcissa's husband had his arm draped over her shoulders on the back of the cushion, her legs crossed, her body erect despite the fact she was sitting. There was no smile on her face, no smirk of triumph. She looked calm and quite impassive.

But Lucius… There was no emotion on his face either, no. There was just a look; something so odd she could not describe. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched his casual, superlative smile that was tossed at the Weasleys. No, it was not a smile, but it was not a smirk either. The corners of his lips were upturned, but it wasn't a gesture of acknowledgement, or politeness, or kindness. It was the silky, dominant look that was just… there.

"Well then, Mr. Malfoy, you shall receive her certificate in the post promptly a week from now. Please, try to teach her a few things about the world she'll be living in. Hire a tutor, if you wish. I know financial aid is not a problem for you," the social worker said. Cassidy saw him smirk faintly before packing his papers away.

She stole a glance at the Weasleys; they looked furious.

"Well, you know where the fireplace is," Narcissa said arrogantly to the redheaded adults, giving them a contemptuous look. She stood and walked over to Cassidy and grabbed her upper arm tightly.

The Weasleys stood, threw ugly looks at the two Malfoys, and walked out of the room. "Don't let the fire singe you on the way through," Lucius said very softly as the door shut, his eyes gleaming with dark triumph.

Narcissa pulled her through the doors, and Cassidy was afraid that she would stop all circulation by her vice grip.

"That was an excellent performance, you remembered all that I have taught you," Narcissa said, her voice low as she pulled Cassidy into a hallway and up the corridor. "I am pleased with your decision; from now on, you'll be living with the supreme family of the Wizarding world: the Malfoys."

An odd chill suddenly drifted up her spine as she listened to that statement.

Living with the Malfoys…

She swallowed the scared lump that was in her throat quite suddenly. All at once, she could think of nothing besides the phrase.

Oh no, she thought suddenly, as the apparition of herself came to mind again. What have I done?

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Author's Notes: Yay! Successful chapter! Next time, the fun starts. More excitement will definitely be coming because I think half the chapter is Narcissa teaching her some more, and then the Hogwarts holidays, which means Draco!

Thank you to Kels , miss Laughable Black Storm, for betaing this for me! You're a doll! xD

And don't forget to review!!