The summer after Cornelia's first year at Hogwarts was a slow one. It was a difficult transition from the freedom of Hogwarts to the Malfoy manor where she was consistently under the watchful eyes of Narcissa and Lucius. Narcissa wasted no time in starting their etiquette classes again claiming that Cornelia's manners had taken a nose-dive during her months away from home, although they were reduced to once fortnightly.

Although she was now allowed to roam the grounds with Draco if she wished, if they were caught running or wrestling or anything deemed 'un-ladylike' then she would be forced straight back inside. She was shushed regularly as she attempted to join conversations between Lucius and Draco, reduced to only being allowed to ask polite questions or answer when spoken to. Draco was as sympathetic as always, but it was so routine now that neither of them attempted to rebel, he instead made sure to ask her opinion when the two of them were alone later. But that just lead to Cornelia squirming in her seat when he posed her comments as his own to his father the next day.

Cornelia felt an almost permanent fury at the unfairness of it all simmering just below the surface, and it didn't help that Narcissa would comment on her dark expression and demand she "stop pouting".

On top of this, the conversations between Draco and Lucius became increasingly triggering, often leading her having to physically bite down on her tongue to stop herself from joining in. It seemed that the combination of Draco's account of Dumbledore's favouriting Harry, Ron and Hermione at the end of year feast and a run in at the ministry with Arthur Weasley, Ron's father, had inspired a thirst for revenge in Lucius, both towards the Weasley's and Dumbledore.

Cornelia found watching her Uncle plot fascinating as she recognised the similarities between him and herself. Having discovered her own enjoyment of planning revenge against those who deserved it during her first year, she felt that she had a lot to add to the conversation. Draco on the other hand was too obvious and childish in his suggestions which were always brushed off by Lucius.

Despite not really understanding why Lucius despised the Weasleys' so much, having seen for herself how a muggle born was indistinguishable from a pure-blood most of the time and therefore not really identifying with the term "blood-traitor", she was filled with the child like desire to impress her elders, to cross the bridge between her and Uncle Lucy. However, she wasn't given the opportunity to do so, and so instead watched bitterly as Draco displayed the same desire and held it against him. Suddenly "mud-blood" was his new favourite word and his previously non-existent scorn for muggleborns bloomed in what Cornelia thought was an over-the-top display meant to impress his father.

One evening, after weeks and weeks of sitting through Uncle Lucy's rants about the antics of Arthur Weasley, how disgracefully poor and overpopulated their family was and anything else he could possibly think of to insult them with, he was surprisingly quiet, eating his meal with a practically serene expression.

"Have you had any luck getting the ministry to raid the Weasley house, father?" Draco attempted to start up the usual conversation.

Lucius just smirked and shook his head. "There's no need for such measures any more Draco."

"Why?" Draco looked significantly put out.

"I have other plans for the Weasleys." He and Aunt Cissy shared a conspiratorial smile.

"Well, what is it?" Draco eventually asked.

"That is not for you children to know." Lucius eyed Draco and Cornelia in an almost threatening way, it was a look that would have shut up Cornelia in a second, but of course Draco didn't have as much to fear as she.

"But father-!"

"Enough!" Lucius snapped authoritatively. "All will become apparent in due time I'm sure." He continued in a sly voice, sharing another look with Aunt Cissy.

Draco sulked for the rest of dinner and Cornelia had to put up with an evening of him going on and on about how unfair it was not to be let in on the plan with the Weasley's, he was the one who had to put up with them day in and day out at school after all. Finally, Cornelia had had enough and snapped "Oh yes, it must be terrible to be excluded, I couldn't imagine how that feels!" Draco just glared at her before storming off to his bedroom for the rest of the night.

As the year before, towards the end of the summer holidays two owls arrived clutching Draco and Cornelia's letters of requirements for their second year at Hogwarts. Shortly after this Aunt Cissy and Uncle Lucy decided to take the pair to Diagon Alley to purchase their supplies as well as new robes for the year ahead.

When they arrived Uncle Lucy whisked Draco off towards Knockturn Alley to 'tend to some business' whilst Aunt Cissy dragged Cornelia towards Madam Malkin's to get her fitted for new robes. Cornelia had grown substantially during the previous year, and had had to endure an incredibly awkward coming of age conversation with Aunt Cissy earlier in the holidays. When she was happily fitted with new silk robes, they headed off to reconverge with Uncle Lucy and Draco at Flourish and Blotts.

When they arrived, they found a large line of people stretching out of the door, which was an unusual occurrence. Aunt Cissy took one look at the queue and pushed Draco and Cornelia towards Uncle Lucy before whirling off to do some shopping of her own. Uncle Lucy sighed at the sign that claimed that Gilderoy Lockhart was conducting a book signing inside.

"Isn't he the one who's written most of our books for this year?" Cornelia asked and Draco nodded.

It took some time for them to make their way inside the small shop, and Uncle Lucy ordered them to remain on the stairs out of the way whilst he purchased their books. It was here where the two of them lounged against the bannister, Draco filling in Cornelia about his visit to Borgin and Burkes with his father when a booming voice reached their ears. "It can't be Harry Potter?"

They broke off their conversation and watched as the man who must have been Gilderoy Lockhart pulled Harry from the crowd and held him forcefully to his side whilst a photographer flittered manically around them, his camera clicking and flashing furiously. Cornelia side glanced at Draco and was unsurprised to see the muscles in his jaw clenched as he ground his teeth.

When Harry re-joined what must have been the entire Weasley family and began to make his way towards the exit, Draco shot down the stairs towards him in an entirely predictable move. Cornelia followed behind him wearily, holding her breath.

"Bet you loved that, didn't you Potter?" Draco called and Cornelia cringed internally as Harry and the red-haired young girl he was with turned to look at them. "Famous Harry Potter, can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page!" The jealousy in Draco's words was clear to Cornelia and her hand automatically went to the wand she had slipped through the loops of her belt around her waist. She could see the same look of loathing Draco wore reflected on Potter's face and she didn't like it.

"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" Replied the younger girl, her face almost the same colour as her hair.

"Potter, you've got yourself a girlfriend!" Draco said jeeringly, throwing a mocking grin back at Cornelia who just looked on blankly. She was currently replaying the words Aunt Cissy had told her the year before like a mantra, that she had to show a united front with Draco, even if she disagreed with him.

From the crowd two more familiar faces joined them and Cornelia's grip on her wand tightened. "Oh it's you." Spat Ron Weasley, glaring at them both. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"

She was sure that Draco was as confused by his words as she was, but neither of them showed it. Cornelia took the last step down so that she was beside Draco whilst Draco quipped "Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley. I suppose your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for that lot."

Cornelia immediately knew he had gone too far and quickly stepped in front of him, her wand raising whilst Hermione and Harry dived onto Ron to stop him from lunging at Draco. He froze as Cornelia placed her wand inches from his right eyeball. "Enough." She murmured, channelling Uncle Lucy's tone at the dinner table days earlier.

At that moment a man's voice called out "Ron! What's going on over here?!" Everyone automatically retreated from each other a little at the presence of an adult, Cornelia being the last to lower her wand slightly but still keeping it casually pointed at Ron.

They looked over to see a man who must have been Arthur Weasley, a kindly looking older man wearing clothes that had definitely seen better days and followed by two red haired twins. All of their eyes were on Cornelia's wand.

Luckily at that moment Uncle Lucy appeared from behind Draco and Cornelia, placing a hand on Cornelia's shoulder and saying in a mocking voice "Well, well, well – Arthur Weasley." At his touch Cornelia lowered her wand immediately, tucking it swiftly back into her belt.

She watched her Uncle advance on the Weasleys with baited breath, wondering if she were about the witness his plan of revenge unfolding. Instead, she found herself immediately surprised at Uncle Lucy's apparent lack of tact as he openly goaded Arthur, and she resisted the mad urge to laugh as she realised father and son were both as obviously villainous as eachother. She wasn't completely surprised when Arthur threw himself at Uncle Lucy, although it was shocking to see the man that had always appeared to be so dangerous and untouchable to her being showered with falling books and punches.

Cornelia found that she had retreated back up the staircase by several steps by the time Hagrid waded into the scene and forcefully pulled apart the two men. It was perhaps because of this aerial view that she saw so clearly Uncle Lucy thrust two books where there used to be one back into the young girl's cauldron before he swept her and Draco from the shop.

Uncle Lucy's rage was palpable, and Cornelia and Draco were silent as he stormed towards the nearest floo point, silently gesturing for Cornelia and Draco to go first. They both stumbled into the entrance hall hearth and quickly stepped aside for Lucius to emerge and stride down the hall straight into his study.

After the loud slam of his study door behind him, Cornelia and Draco shared a long look. Draco looked pale and shaken and Cornelia quickly took his hand. They made their way wordlessly into the quiet grounds, the buzz from Flourish and Blotts still echoing around their minds.

"Well that was something." Cornelia broke the silence as they took a seat under their favourite willow tree.

"How dare he touch father?" Draco hissed and Cornelia considered him carefully. She knew that he idolised his father but was he really so blind as to not see how Uncle Lucy deserved exactly what he got? She knew now wasn't the time to bring it up though.

"They really hate each other, don't they?" She said instead.

"I hate them!" Draco suddenly cried. "I want to hurt them! They won't get away with this!"

Cornelia couldn't resist the raspberry that escaped her lips then, it was all so ridiculous. Draco's eyes snapped to hers and she quickly raised her hands in defence. "Don't worry, we'll figure something out."

Draco relaxed a little but still looked furious. Cornelia realised she needed to distract him somehow. "Shall we do a re-enactment?" She grinned mischievously at him and Draco was shocked by her light-heartedness.

"Wha-?"

Cornelia leapt up before he could finish his sentence and thrust her chin in the air, miming placing a hand on an imaginary shoulder whilst saying in her best Uncle Lucy voice "Well, well, well – Arthur Weasley."

Draco gawked up at her from the ground, surprise replacing fury on his face, which egged Cornelia on. She leapt to face the opposite direction and did a mean impression of Arthur Weasley, making him stoop and stare blearily, pushing imaginary glasses up her nose "Lucius?" she quoted in a stupid voice.

She heard the beginnings of a snicker coming from Draco and continued in her charade until it reached the point of Arthur lunging, then she leant down to grab Draco and pulled him up with her. "Come on then!" She goaded, putting her fists up and dancing from side to side, pleased to see Draco was giggling uncontrollably now. They had a quick wrestle and ended up sprawled panting and laughing on the floor, the events from the afternoon suddenly feeling much less troubling.

Finally, the day for their departure to Hogwarts came, and both Draco and Cornelia could barely contain their excitement. As soon as they stepped onto the platform, she saw Blaise Zabini stood with his mother near the entrance, and his dark eyes turned to her immediately, a small smile forming on his perfect features as he made his way over, moving elegantly through the crowd. She wasn't sure what it was, but Cornelia noticed his good looks more than she had before the summer, he really stood out.

As he neared, he held out his hand and she grasped his arm just below the elbow. They both peered intensely into each other's eyes and grinned excitedly. "It's good to see you again." Blaise said and Cornelia agreed earnestly, before they dropped their hold on each other's arms and he turned to Draco, repeating the gesture a little less genuinely.

A woman who must have been his mother followed fluidly towards them, and Cornelia blinked up at her. It was like staring into a too bright light, her beauty was intense. Her ebony skin shone like polished stone, her plump and shapely lips a glossed, deep purple that matched her cat like eyes. She was tall and her long neck dripped with golden, intricate jewellery. Delicate golden snakes were woven through her black braids that were piled high on her head, and she wore robes that seemed fit for royalty, a deep navy colour with a sheer and embroidered cape that slithered along the floor behind her and a skirt that fell like a waterfall from her waist to the floor.

Her eyes were upon Lucius and Narcissa, and Narcissa held herself stiffly, stepping closer to Lucius. "Good morning." Her voice was deep and rich, with a melodic accent.

"Good morning Rosalind, how are you?" Answered Lucius in his silkiest voice.

"I am well, thank you. Blaise dear, will you introduce us?" She paid no more heed to Aunt Cissy and Uncle Lucy, instead turning her bright gaze to Cornelia and Draco. Cornelia felt like she was rooted to the spot by that gaze.

"Of course, mother. This here is Draco Malfoy, and this is Cornelia Lestrange." He said with an intonation that suggested that they had discussed Cornelia previously. "This is my mother, Rosalind Zabini." Rosalind's eyes did glitter as she directed them upon Cornelia, and her lips turned upwards in a knowing smile.

"Delighted to meet you." She seemed to say just to Cornelia and Cornelia struggled to find her voice.

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" She eventually squeaked in a voice very unlike her usual, and she was surprised to feel a hot flush flooding her face as she fumbled her way into a curtsey.

Rosalind looked very amused at Cornelia's formalities and she gestured for Cornelia to rise. "Rise child. Blaise had told me much about you, of course." Her hand rested on Blaise's shoulder who was smirking at Cornelia.

"Oh." Was all Cornelia could think to say and Rosalind laughed, a rumbling laugh that seemed to start from the tips of her toes.

"Well, we must be getting them on the train." Came Aunt Cissy's sharp voice rang from behind Cornelia, and Rosalind turned much cooler eyes towards her, inclining her head slightly.

"Certainly." She agreed and turned away with Blaise.

Cornelia felt a little shellshocked as Aunt Cissy steered them all towards the train and away from Rosalind. "You didn't tell me you were friends with the Zabini child, Cornelia." She said in an accusatory voice to Cornelia.

"He seems a charming boy." Lucius intercepted and Aunt Cissy grimaced.

"Oh yes, charming, just like his mother I suppose?" She snapped at Lucius, her tone dripping with sarcasm, and Cornelia and Draco stared in surprise. They had never heard her talk in that way to Lucius.

Lucius also seemed to notice, and his eyes flashed a metallic blue. "Quite so." He said in a voice that always made Cornelia want to run in the opposite direction.

And so she did just that, grabbing her luggage and yanking it towards the train whilst saying quickly "Well, goodbye Aunt Cissy, Uncle Lucy! Come on Draco, we need to get a seat on the train before they're all gone!"

Narcissa tore herself away from the glaring match that her and Lucius seemed to be having to stoop down and lay a tight-lipped kiss on Draco's cheek and throw another angry look in Cornelia's direction. Cornelia took that as her cue to leave and hauled her trunk towards the train.

She was quickly joined by Blaise again who leant down to give her a hand with the other end of her trunk, grinning mischievously. "So you like my mother then?" He joked and Cornelia felt the tickle of the blush threatening to climb her throat again.

"Shut up." She muttered but then nodded her head towards his hands and added "Thanks."

They found Theodore already sat in an empty compartment, hands neatly folded in his lap as he watched the clamouring on the platform outside the window. Cornelia felt another swoop of affection when she laid eyes on him and had to resist from dragging him into a hug, something she and Theodore had never done before. In fact, they had as little physical contact as possible, and she was sure Theodore preferred it that way. Instead, she gave him a large smile as she sat down opposite him. "Theodore! How was your summer?" She asked warmly, and she saw the same warmth in his returning smile.

"Lonely." He said meaningfully and she laughed lightly. "How was yours?"

"Long." She imitated his one-word answer and felt a swoop of contentedness. She already felt like she was back home.

When Draco managed to locate Croyle, he joined the three of them, and they spent the journey catching up and joking. Theodore had heard of Lucius's scuffle with Arthur Weasley through his father and asked Cornelia and Draco what had happened, triggering a rant about the Weasley's from Draco and rolled eyes from Cornelia. She would let Theodore know her true opinion about what had happened some other time. Blaise spoke of his summer of travelling through India with his mother and who he suspected was to be his next stepfather. When Draco asked Blaise how he felt about his mother's line of suitors he simply shrugged before saying "I don't get attached" causing another outbreak of laughter from the group.

The sky outside darkened as they zoomed through countryside, coming closer and closer to Hogwarts with every passing hour. Eventually the train began to slow and they took it in turns to change into their robes. As they spilled onto the platform with the rest of the students, they began to catch the odd sentence from different students.

"Did you hear?"

"Potter and Weasley-"

"Missed the train!"

"-weren't on the train!"

Cornelia and Draco looked at each other, and she saw his previous good mood slip off his features. Sighing, she followed Blaise and Theodore and the rest of the students towards a long line of carriages that didn't appear to be attached to anything. However, when they climbed in and settled, the carriage pulled away with a sensation that was identical to a horse drawn carriage.

"I hope something awful has happened to Potter and Weasley." Draco muttered darkly and Cornelia ignored him, turning to Theodore and Blaise who sat opposite her.

"Has anyone ever missed the train before?"

Blaise shrugged and Theodore shook his head slowly. "Not that I know of. I saw the other Weasleys' on the platform though, they didn't look worried."

Draco made a disappointed noise and lapsed into brooding silence for the rest of the journey.

It wasn't until after the feast did the insane rumours reach them that Harry and Ron had, for some reason, made their way to school in a flying car and botched the landing, ending up being almost beaten to death by the whomping willow in the grounds. Draco was beside himself and took himself straight off to bed whilst Cornelia forced herself to stay up with Theodore and Blaise in the common room, looking forward to talking with them away from Draco.

"It seems like Draco's vendetta against Potter has grown quite a bit over the summer." Theodore observed quietly and Cornelia sighed.

"Tell me about it. He's been insufferable all summer. Like father like son if you ask me."

"What do you mean by that?" Blaise asked, stretching his long legs in front of him towards the fire.

"They're both obsessed with the Weasleys! If I have to listen to another word about how poor they are, I'm going to go over there myself with a leprechaun." Blaise and Theodore both chuckled.

"Where on earth would you find one of them?" Theodore laughed softly.

"Whatever the opposite direction to the Weasley's garden is, I'm guessing." She retorted.

"But seriously, what happened between Lucius and Arthur in Flourish and Blotts?" Theodore asked after a moment.

Cornelia sighed, her eyes were growing heavy, she was exhausted after their long journey and feasting, but she had been saving what she had seen Lucius do in Flourish and Blotts for Theodore and Blaise, so she forced herself to retell the scenario right up to the point where Lucius dropped two books instead of one back into the younger Weasley girl's cauldron.

"I was wondering if it had something to do with the revenge he'd been planning all summer, or if that just boiled down to some sarcy comments in a bookshop." She finished. They spent a little time wondering what possible decriminalising properties the book may have held before Theodore yawned widely.

"Time for bed I think." Cornelia commented, and they all wished each other goodnight before parting for the evening.

Yay, we've started year 2! I got a tiny bit of writers block before I started this chapter, thinking about starting on a whole other book, but once I started on her summer at the manor, I got back into the swing of it pretty easily. The manor parts are actually some of my favourite bits to write I think! I love seeing how strict and old school Narcissa and Lucius are. Also, new favourite character alert - Rosalind?! I didn't even think we'd ever meet her tbh, but as she made her way over on the platform, I was suddenly awash with idolisation myself, and now I'm convinced we'll be seeing quite a bit more of her. I think Cornelia might have a bit of a girl-crush on her too.

I've realised that the entire first year and chapters up until this one have focussed quite a lot on the darker, more brooding side of Cornelia - I'm looking forward to seeing a bit of a more of her relaxed and happy side this year. After all, what could go wrong?!

Until next time.