Thank you to all my readers! Again, I'm very new to this and would love to hear your thoughts on my writing. PS, I love the idea of Draco having a more down-to-earth sibling to balance out his ridiculousness. Much love, Mia.
One month before...
"Ah, you must be Miss Black." A towering old man said as he walked into the lavish sitting room, all white beard and twinkling eyes. He stretched out his hand for the girl in front of him to take in greeting as he continued, "I received the letter from Narcissa on your arrival and our friend Severus here also informed me about your academic prowess. I'm glad you chose Hogwarts for the last stop on your campaign for a broad education my dear."
The girl in question wore the tell-tale blue uniform of Beauxbatons Academy and curtsied to her new headmaster before taking his hand and shaking it firmly.
Interesting, Albus Dumbledore mused as the girl chose to shake his hand rather than have him kiss the back as any other young pureblooded lady would.
"I'm sorry to drag you all the way to Malfoy manor for this meeting Headmaster." Her voice was like honey, warm and sweet with an air of authority and power that told of her upper class breeding. "I am unable to enter your school till the start day where my escort will hand me off to Hogwarts."
"If I may ask, why is that Miss Black?" The headmaster tipped his head forward to look the girl over after greeting Narcissa. She held herself like a proper lady as the four went to sit on the immaculate furniture. With her long dark russet colored hair and piercing eyes the girl was undeniably beautiful. Narcissa sat close to her on the couch clutching her charge's hand in an odd show of affection for her normally poised and aloof way. Accompanied with her school robes he deduced that she had only just arrived at her Godmother's home from spending time abroad. Severus took a seat close to Narcissa in silent support.
"Well sir," she started with a slight flick of her eyes towards her godmother before continuing a tad sheepishly, "While I was in school at Koldovstoretz I created a spell that would charm a galleon from my vault to fuse itself with my skin. The purpose was to create the crests of the schools I attend on my back as a sort of tattoo. So until the headmaster of the school welcomes me on the opening day of a new year, I won't be able to get the next crest. I have all of the schools so far and I would love to be able to finish the line off with the Hogwarts crest." Her voice was strong, with a very subtle undertone of mischief, even as the tension spiked in the room over Mrs. Malfoy's look of disdain, and Albus caught the slight smirk Severus sent her at the admission. "As for the escort, I'm sure you've heard from Madame that the school will sorely miss me, as I will miss them, and thus Madame has insisted I be formally passed on to my new school. Seeing as Durmstrang did the same thing when passing me on to Beauxbatons I understand her interest in following their very courteous and formal lead. Though personally, I think it's a bit much."
Very interesting, Dumbledore's eyebrows rose at the young woman who took pride in her tattoos and forged relationships but scoffed at a formal escort.
"Well Miss Black I'll be sure to remember to welcome you and your escort upon your arrival to Hogwarts." The old wizard's eyes twinkled with merriment at the young girl. "Though this means you will most likely be sorted with the new first years. Are you alright with this?"
"Yes sir, I see no problem with that." She smirked at his approval of her rebellious tendencies. "Oh I almost forgot to mention my familiar. Grim will be at my side at all times, the only reason why he isn't here now is because he wanted to see Draco. Would you mind if I called him so that you can meet him?"
"I daresay I've never been introduced to a familiar in such a way." His eyes filled with mild interest while half of him thought it was unnecessary for him to meet a familiar. He much preferred to learn more about the puzzle of a girl in front of him.
"Headmaster, Miss Black's familiar is somewhat daunting so it'd probably be best for you to meet him early rather than trying to attack or banish him from the school on sight." Severus Snape's familiar drawl broke through Albus's slight inner scoff. He then addressed Caelan with a softer tone accompanying a teasing smirk, "Please call the beast Cael. While we wait it might be best to call for tea seeing as you may fall over from hunger my dear."
The girl simply touched a black looking shape on the inside of her wrist as she sent Snape a smile back. Narcissa called for tea and an elf came bearing a spread of sandwiches, cookies, cakes, tea and fruit. The girl quietly thanked her Godmother as she filled her plate and relaxed a bit into her cup of tea. Just as Albus was putting the delicate china to his lips for a sip, the door opened and in bounded what the headmaster could only relate to a Hellhound. His eyes widened at the sheer size of the beast as it loped up to its much slighter charge and plopped it's massive head in her lap, looking up at her with silver eyes identical to her own. Draco also walked in after the creature, snagging a cup and a sandwich before sitting down in a chair closer to Caelan, adopting a large smirk upon noticing the disturbed look on his headmaster's face. Severus, and Narcissa were both looking fondly at the girl who quietly called an elf to bring her familiar a few steaks as she scratched her beast between the ears.
"Well now I fully understand why you wished to introduce me to.. What did you call him again?" Albus asked.
"His name is Grim seeing as it is simply easier to call him what he is. He's a full grown church Grim and will cause no harm to anyone in the school unless my protection is compromised." The girl watched with a smile as her beast assumed a goofy looking wolf grin when an elf appeared with his meal, she quietly thanked the elf before returning to address the Headmaster. "Since I've been well trained by many different professors and tutors I am well beyond capable of keeping myself protected, but Grim and I are a package deal. At my other schools many professors and students alike fell in love with his goofiness and the elves practically made him a lapdog with all the food they liked to feed him for taking care of pests in the castles. I can see the same thing happening once we get to your school if you aren't opposed to him staying."
"And what if I was?" Dumbledore asked, specifically trying to catch the girl off guard to see if her controlled mask would slip a little.
The tension in the room spiked again as a consequence, and three looks of mild disgust were shot at him for his attempt. But the girl and her familiar simply looked at him with patience, not taking the bait but instead adopting that glimmer of mischief in their eyes.
"Well then I assume you will have several very unhappy board members on hand as they were joyously expecting my coming home. As I said before, Grim and I are a package deal and will transfer to another school if we aren't allowed to attend together." She replied with a graceful smile. Her eyes glimmered with mirth at him over her tea, knowing exactly what he was up to.
"Ah Miss Black, you and Grim will be very welcome to join us at Hogwarts, it was only a jest. I hope you don't mind me adding him to your introduction before your sorting, I'd rather my students not run and hide at the sight of your familiar." The headmaster replied with a twinkle and a soft smile seeing as the girl was a formidable young woman. Then Dumbledore got up and bowed slightly to the small company "Well I should be off, I have several meetings this afternoon and I should address the staff and castle of your arrival. Miss Black I will leave you with your Hogwarts list and be on my way. Care if I use the floo Lady Malfoy?"
"Not at all, Tink will show you the way." Narcissa replied as gracious as ever.
"Thank you for meeting me Headmaster." Standing and extending her hand to shake in farewell.
"Not a problem, my dear, I cannot wait to see how Hogwarts welcomes you." He patted her hand with a thoughtful expression before turning and following the small house-elf out. Just as the door closed behind him Snape turned to the girl whom he loved as a niece.
"Best be careful Cael, he's tricky."
"Now now Uncle Sev, we both know I'm a whole lot more animalistic than that one." She finished with a wink.
"That particular beast we've agreed will not be unleashed, so it shall stay hidden for now. Yes?" Her godmother prodded her with a falsely steel glance, her amusement winning out at her goddaughter's cheek.
"Ha, mother you know that it's impossible to rope in her kind of crazy," Draco teased as he sent a mild bat-bogey hex at his almost sibling, "This one's completely barmy."
"But alas it runs in the family. Thank you for tea mum" She said as she flicked a wordless and wandless finite back at her brother before suddenly jumping up and racing out the door as she called over her shoulder, "And you are far more batty than I, Drake!"
Draco whooped and charged after her hollering a thanks over his shoulder to his mother as he flew after his god-sibling.
"Oh Severus, can't they stay like this forever?" Narcissa said her smile fond, but sad as she looked at her closest friend and confidant.
"Alas Cissy, everything is about to change, and I have a feeling it's not for the best." His eyes spoke leagues as he absentmindedly pet the head of his niece's beast before it too loped out the door after the children.
Later that night…
"Cay?" Draco's voice murmured from behind the secret door next to her fireplace that connected their rooms. "Can I come in?"
Caelan jumped off her bed yawning into the oversized hoodie she wore before trudging over and opening the small door behind one of the paintings in her room next to the fireplace. Her room was lit with candles that floated around the room, wax dripping out of existence instead of onto the floor. Handy perks came with having magic, and money. Once Draco's eyes adjusted to the dimmer lighting he all but yelped when looking at her attire.
With my pair of black spandex shorts I must look like the classic American teenager, she thought ruefully.
"Aren't you wearing any pants under there?!", He squealed at his almost sibling while throwing his hands up to cover his eyes.
"Awh Dray haven't you seen a girl before?", She teased aloud at his saucer-like eyes as they peaked out from between his fingers to look at her bare legs and naked shoulder.
"Cay put some damn clothes on,'' His tone immediately turned to curiosity and overprotectiveness as he took in the decidedly male sweatshirt his sister wore, "And who's jumper are you wearing? Been holding out on me I see." He grinned at her while still looking fierce.
"Come on Dray I'm technically closer to 18 than to 13 and the only thing that keeps me from looking 18 is that gross deaging potion Mum gave me when I got back."
"Hey time-turner time for extra studying does NOT count in the long run, Cay. And stop reminding me that it's actually been more than six years since we've seen each other, you already look older than 13. Hell you look closer to 16 even with the aging potion Cay. That's too much time apart.."
Draco turned away from his sister to run and flop onto her queen sized bed. The room hadn't changed much since her arrival home. It was more modern than his with soft white colored walls and light chestnut wood flooring. Her bed was on the far left wall, upon hallway entry, and was an ebony wood four poster queen with fluffy white pillows and blankets. To the right of the bed was a matching nightstand and vanity followed by the door to her ensuite bathroom. A desk on the wall to the right of her bathroom, and left of the door, held several pieces of parchment strewn around and what looked like a journal on top. There was a large fireplace on the wall opposite the bed with several different paintings surrounding it and a mantle with pictures of her friends and the Malfoys. In front of it was a white and black fur rug with a white glass coffee table and overstuffed hunter green and light grey colored couches and armchairs. The wall to the right of the fireplace and left of the bed held a large bay window with a built in window seat that could be changed into a hammock style bed with fluffy blankets and pillows. The rest of the wall was completely covered in shelves that held a wide array of books and artifacts that were sent home from her travels. Draco loved her room, as it was so much like her. A bit modern, a bit rustic, but all together cozy and warm. Grim seemed to think so too as he currently occupied his overstuffed pillow bed to the left of her bed.
"I know Dray, I'm sorry." She said padding over to the other side of the bed before climbing up and laying next to him, her eyes downcast. "I missed you." She said quietly reaching her hand out between them.
"I missed you more Cay." Draco replied his hand encircling hers as they laid side by side with small teary smiles on their faces.
"So do I get to meet the boyfriend that gave you that jumper?" Draco asked mischievousness taking over in his eyes as he smirked down at his most loved sister.
"The question you should be asking dear brother of mine, is which boyfriend?" She replied with an even larger smirk at his pained groan. "But for real Dray I need some sleep, let's catch up in the morning?"
"Sounds good, but I hope you know I'm not leaving." He said stubbornly as he burrowed under her covers still holding her hand.
"I wouldn't have it any other way Dray." Caelan said with a sleepy smile on her face as she too slid under her covers.
In the morning Cael woke first and took the time to study her brother. His face was rather beautiful with his high cheekbones and strong jaw. The pale blond trademark Malfoy hair was rather messy with bedhead opposed to his normally perfectly styled ends, and she rather liked it this way. Deep in sleep he looked happy with his hand holding her own. She smiled at him while leaning over to kiss his forehead before she slowly untangled her hand from his and padding to her bathroom door. The bathroom was covered in black veined white marble and silver fixtures. There was a glass shower to her left and a large hunter green clawfoot tub next to a window on the far wall that disillusioned anyone outside from looking in, but let her have a view of the gardens and lake behind the manor while she soaked. Upon entering she walked to the right where a door next to the marble sink held her magically expanded closet. She pulled on a fluffy white robe and a pair of large wool socks before turning back to her room. She affectionately tucked the bedding around her brother and padded out into the hallway in hopes of greeting him with some breakfast when he woke.
Blinking the sleep from her eyes she scampered down the stairs towards the kitchens. Walking down two flights of stairs and through several hallways she opened the solid mahogany door that led to the biggest kitchen in the manor and slipped in quietly hoping to catch the little creatures working their magic without being noticed.
"Missy Cael!" came in a shout from the back of the enormous room stopping all the elves from working to turn and look where she stood.
"Missy Cael!" They all squeaked together before stopping what they were doing and rushing to hug their young female charge as she laughed and hugged them back.
"I got to see Tink for barely a moment yesterday so I wanted to come say hi to all of you as I haven't seen you all in so long!" Caelan smiled warmly at them as they tittered at her, "Where, may I ask is Paavo?" She asked looking through the throng of house elves.
"I am here Miss Cael", came a heavily accented rasp from the back of the group that opened up so he could hobble up to Caelan. His smile was warm as he said, "And may I welcome you home dear."
Paavo and Tink were the oldest elves in the Malfoy residence, with Paavo being much older than even Tink. He came from Italy with a merchant before being bonded to the manor and he held an air of wisdom and authority that could only come with many years of experience. He and Tink were her caretakers when she was a child, they taught her much about magical history and took care of her needs growing up. She had a strong soft spot for the knowledgeable and literate elf, and she felt a pang in her chest to see him struggling with his age.
"Thank you all very much, it's good to be home,'' She smiled at them.
"Back to work everyone, Missy Cael is looking too thin in my eyes. She'll be needing a full breakfast!" Tink exclaimed, firing up the elves as they set back to work. Before heading back to work herself she turned back to Caelan a teary smile on her face as she hugged her young charge around the neck, "It is good to have you home Missy Cay, we missed you."
"Thanks Tink, I missed you too." Caelan squeezed the elf for a moment, "Also, would you mind sending up a breakfast spread to my room? I have a feeling that Draco and I are going to be spending quite a bit of time catching up today."
"This is not a problem Missy Cael." The small but formidable elf smiled at the young girl before turning back to the task of breakfast.
"Thanks everyone", Caelan smiled as they all blushed at her thanks. She turned back to Paavo who had been patiently waiting for her attention to go back to him as he brought them over to a small table in the corner of the kitchen.
"How are things Paavo, really?", She asked, her tone concerned as she cupped the fresh mug of hot cappuccino Tink had slyly put down in front of her with a wink. The elderly elf looked at her with a grave expression and he sighed before addressing her question.
"Not good Miss Cael, the elves of Malfoy Manor have been in contact with the elves bonded at Hogwarts. Whenever we get the time to visit each other all they speak of is a dark magic that is slowly returning to the castle's walls. Remember the stories of the dark wizard I used to warn you about Miss?"
"Wasn't he the terrible dark wizard that my godfather and Lucius supported out of fear? He went on some horrifying 'conquer the world, pureblood only' campaign and killed off many muggles, muggleborns, and muggle sympathizers alike. Right?" Her voice concerned, yet clearly disagreeing with the dark wizards morals and beliefs.
"Yes", Paavo sighed again, "That's the one. Well some of the elves at Hogwarts have alliances with creatures in the dark forest, as we elves like to stay aware of any threats to our bonded homes and occupants. The centaurs of the dark forest have informed the elves that a very dark being just in the last few years had resided in the forest drinking from Unicorns and living in shadows. And the awful chamber Salazar had put in the castle was opened just last year, with the same magical signature of the creature in the forest. Caelan, if you go to Hogwarts this year, you must be careful. Remember all we have taught you as well as your professors, tutors, and family. While we are but a call away, you need to have strength of heart and mind in these troubling days piccola."
Caelan was staring into the mug in her hands by the end of his warning, taking in just how serious matters were getting in England. These are things her godmother or uncle would never tell her, things they felt should not be told to the younger in years. Her forehead creased in concentration as she checked her Occlumency walls to make sure they were strong and stable. She idly reminded herself to ask her godmother and uncle to practice with her before heading to Hogwarts.
"Thank you for informing me Paavo, I'll make sure to be careful and help the elves in any way I can while I'm at Hogwarts,'' She sighed and sipped her coffee before whispering, "The person I worry most for is Draco, I hope he's doing ok."
"The young master is not as strong of heart as you are Miss, but I feel that with your return he may learn", Paavo said softly touching his small hand to hers in comfort, "Speaking of the diavoletto, you should probably get back to him, seeing as the elves are finished making your breakfast. Tink was right when she said you are too thin, Miss Cay." He added with a rueful shake of his head, his ears flopping a bit as he motioned for her to head back to her room.
"Thank you again Paavo, and I'll sneak by to see you all again when I can get the chance." She said with a smile at the room full of elves hard at work who squeaked their goodbyes as she opened the door to head back to Draco.
She slipped out the door, cappuccino in hand, as she leisurely made her way through the hallways and up the stairs to her room. Peeking in the door she softly entered and placed her mug on the coffee table that had been magically extended to hold a mountain of their favorite breakfast foods. As quietly as possible she tiptoed over to the end of the bed where she climbed up carefully enjoying the look of a sprawled Draco across her bed. Spreading her arms wide she fell forward letting gravity do the rest.
"AHHH! Bloody hell you're crushing me you blasted hippogriff!", Draco cursed as giggles consumed the girl who had deliberately fallen on top of him in a very abrupt wake up call. He continued his cursing while capturing and tickling his assailant. Her laughter grew and it took no time for Narcissa and Lucius to pop in to see what was making such a ruckus. Narcissa smiled a hand resting on her heart as she saw her two beloved children roll around laughing. She grabbed her husband's hand and tugged him to the couches in Caelan's room where a large breakfast spread was arranged on the magically enlarged coffee table. She maneuvered her way to a spot she could see the kids and the door before strategically making up a plate of food and settling in to show she wasn't about to leave any time soon. Lucius simply smirked at his wife and children as he too fixed himself a coffee and plate. He choked slightly when he caught his almost-daughter shoot a purposefully weak, nonverbal, wandless stinging jinx at Draco's rear and glanced at Narcissa who looked on with a Salazar worthy grin on her face. Draco howled, rubbing his rear and sending a ferocious glare at the source of his pain, who in turn had dissolved into another bout of giggles at his reaction.
"She's quite something isn't she love?" Lucius remarked quietly to his wife whose obvious glee at her goddaughter's rough housing was not at all like his normally well composed witch.
"She really is Lu, she really is.'' Narcissa said, throwing a silent tickling jinx at her son as he dove for her goddaughter again before slipping her wand away and sipping her tea like nothing ever happened. While Draco fell into laughter, Caelan squeezed out from under him and dashed to the overstuffed couch across from her honorary parents. Once she had her hands around her coffee Narcissa released her son from the jinx as the two woman relaxed into the couches faces blank of any emotion. Draco laid on his back catching his breath before he launched up, finger pointed at his mother.
"You helped her!" he accused, his voice breathy and weak from laughing so hard.
"Now Draco do you really think I would join in on your silly little morning games just so that Caelan could win?" Narcissa scoffed her eyes appraising Draco as if he had some sort of mental defect going on.
"Then it was you." He said, voice still full of accusation as he straightened his sleep clothes and made his way over to the spot next to Caelan on the couch. He made himself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly, his eyes never leaving Caelan as she dug into a chocolate chip muffin, "But how? I had both your hands down when I got hit with that tickling jinx."
"Really papa, you should be kinder to your poor son. Look at him, he's completely lost as to what happened even when we both know you were responsible." Caelan remarked her tone slightly chastising, her face perfectly set in a pointed look at Lucius who looked up in bewilderment.
"Honestly Lu, I didn't know you had these childish tendencies in you still." Narcissa chimed in, face also perfectly accusing her husband.
"Wait just one mome-" Lucius started before stopping looking between his wife and daughter, his voice set in muted awe, "Oh you two are good. Too good."
The women kept their cool until they turned to see Draco's utterly befuddled expression to which neither could hold back their laughter any longer. Deciding to leave Draco clueless they moved onto a new topic and soon they all were chatting happily while eating in the cozy confines of Caelans room.
Later that afternoon…
"Hold up, you're telling me that your plan was to get BOTH of us inked? You're insane Cay, absolutely insane. You told mom that this was to just be a shopping trip, I say we stick to that plan." Draco shook his head as they traipsed around muggle London on the way to the tattoo parlor Caelan had booked appointments at.
"Oh don't be a wuss Drake, you're in dire need of something to go with your 'bad boy' look. You've already got the scowl, now all you need is some tight black jeans, combat boots, a leather jacket and some ink." Caelan patted his hand as they walked arm in arm down the sidewalk. "Better to rip the Band-Aid off first, and thus Ink." She said with a gesture to the door they'd stopped in front of.
"Cay if I knew what that phrase meant, or what a band-aid was, I might take your words a bit more seriously...but I don't." He said back, folding his arms and glaring at the door beyond his sister. It was a simple black metal door with a small tinted glass window to see out onto the street. Draco looked at it with disgust.
"Oh wipe that face off you todger, just give it a chance. Who knows... you may even like it so much you'll get more." She said tugging his arm and rapping on the door loudly.
"I highly doubt that." Draco grumbled sticking his tongue out when Caelan shot him a mock glare over her shoulder.
Seconds later the door swung open and a petite young woman with electric blue hair, lots piercings, and almost black eyes smirked at them.
"Well if it isn't trouble." She said with a slight French accent as her smirk spread into a wide grin. "Mon Dieu C, I was wondering when you'd come by and see the new place."
Draco's eyes almost fell out of his head as the petite girl snatched Caelan off the sidewalk like she weighed nothing, and into her heavily inked arms. They kissed cheeks and stepped back from each other still grasping hands as Caelan smirked back.
"Two months isn't that long B, but you are right, I'm itching to get a look. Draco this is Brei, Brei that's Draco. I all but dragged this one here to sponsor his first dose of ink." She sniggered gesturing with her thumb in Draco's direction. They both zoned in on him with evil little smiles that didn't much help Draco's already very wary disposition.
"Better not keep you both waiting, come on up before the crew comes down to rescue me or something stupid." Brei said turning around and marching up a set of black metal stairs. "So, did you tell anyone you were coming? Or is it a surprise for everyone?" She called over her shoulder as they followed her up.
"Uh I didn't tell anyone but Clare, who knows everything anyways. He apparently had our appointments in the books the day I left!" Caelan scoffed. Draco's questions kept stacking up but said nothing, deciding to wait for his sister to explain.
"Of course he did, and yet he cannot find the time to tell his staff that our favorite business partner was popping in." Her blue hair jostling with the shake of her head. "Well at least you finally get to see the new shop, its actually fucking gorgeous. Here we are."
After climbing to the second level she opened the door on the left and slipped inside with a, "Come on in."
Inside was a large grey stone room with vaulted ceilings and crown molding not unlike in a muggle church. From the streets point of view it simply looked like the flat floors above the shops, but magic disguised the steepled structure. The ceiling had black beams with silver chandeliers hanging down over each artists' station. To the left some stations were outfitted with black metal, and leather furniture that looked comfy for both artist and client. Others had screens to hide for privacy and to the back was a sort of hallway that led to private rooms. Draco stopped behind his sister when he caught sight of the staff all lined up behind the biggest person he'd ever seen. At first he thought to label him off as the most beautiful man in the world, but then quickly realized that was wholly inaccurate as the man-beasts' eyes clashed with his and Draco started to sense the other thing in the man. Whatever it was scared the shit out of Draco as the powerful magic emanating from the man finally reached him. He reached out and tapped his sister's shoulder while maintaining eye contact with the monster like man in front of him.
"Oh my goodness, those windows guys!" Caelan let out as her line of sight landed on the huge floor to ceiling clear windows that steepled at the top all without noticing the huge man whose mouth curled slightly at the ends.
"Aren't they something?", came in a low rumble that made the hairs on Draco's arms raise. At the sound Caelan whirled around, a grin full blast on her face as she jumped. Draco watched as his sister seemingly sailed through the air in slow motion towards the big, scary man whose arms looked like they could snap her in half like a toothpick. Draco's eyes got huge and he made to grab her to stop her from getting herself wiped off the face of the earth but it was too late. Those huge arms came up at the last second and snatched her out of the air and into his chest in what looked like a massive bear hug. As his sister got squished in an affectionate tangle Draco's mouth was busy hanging open, eyes like saucers while the breath he seemed to have been holding left him in a whoosh. Then he felt a slight pressure on the bottom of his jaw and he looked over at Brei as she softly closed his mouth for him with a wink. He shook his head of the ringing in his ears when he realized she was talking to him.
"Better close that D, ya don't want any of the pixie's getting ideas." She said while chuckling and pointing up. All around the shop pixies of all sorts buzzed around playfully in the air, sitting on the chandeliers, and the more daring even weaved through the hair of the artists...or antlers, or horns, or to simply sit on a shoulder.
Draco shook himself out of his shock to tune into his surroundings better and saw his sister get passed down the line of artists, many ranging from sentient creatures to half creatures, for more hugs and many other odd displays of affection. He watched her face shine and arms flail around animatedly as she talked up the group about their new location. The last in line was a group of pixies that had floated down to her eye level, and that's when her warmth faded. Caelan cocked a hip at the pixies and gave them all a look Draco only saw on his mother whenever he got into trouble.
"Now last time I was with you, I do believe I thought I'd heard an end of our little prank war.. Until not too long ago I was told there was an odd phrase on the bottom of my foot in black ink.." Caelan started eyeing the dainty creatures with distaste. "Any chance you'd know where that came from?"
The pixies immediately began buzzing, and jabbering in what seemed like defense to which Caelan simply raised her hand to hush them and grinned, "I love it."
The pixies that were watching from above cheered and dove for Caelan twirling through her hair, and chirping in happiness at the praise. It was then that Draco realized just how safe his sister was with these people. He'd met cornish pixies his second year and knew just how much power they actually had when they flew together as a group. Not to mention the artists and owner of the shop, all in all the group was a bit terrifying but not a single person, pixie, or thing looked at his sister with dislike. She was loved.
"Alright, alright you flying rascals let's get down to why I'm really here. Ink time!" She exclaimed with a full blown grin twirling to Draco with wild eyes. "And I've brought my first-time brother to join in on the joys of magical ink."
"Calm down there Cay, I'm not even sure what I got myself into but you aren't making this any less daunting." Draco replied hands up in a display of surrender, eyes trying to find the escape routes.
"Oh no you don't. Brei is going to take great care of you, since I already showed her in my mind the idea for our matching tatts. Take a deep breath, and I'll come check on you in a bit? I'm going to catch up with Clarence, the big guy back there, before I join ya." Caelan said all while pushing him down a hallway into a room with another large circular window wall that was a bit like they were looking out of a clock tower. She sat him down on a black velvet chaise lounge and patted him on the shoulder, eyes full of humor.
"Now I'm not going to lie little bro, magical tattoos are extremely painful and they only stick on the truly strong magicals. So sit tight, and enjoy the ride!" She winked before dashing out of the door and leaving him to Brei who was twirling a curved blade between her fingers. He gulped.
"Caelan, I'm sure I'm not the first to tell you this, but tread carefully this year." Clarence rumbled after setting his teacup down.
Once she had dropped Draco off, Caelan was immediately shown to Clarence's new office where perfectly made tea sat waiting for them between two couches. Clarence was 'other'. That's all that Caelan truly knew about him, and as he was an obviously private person, she didn't pry. She remembered the first day they met back in France when Madame Maxime had suggested Caelan and her friends Brei, Ari, and Dante all head to the parlor to see if they could join their businesses. At the time they had all been enrolled in Beauxbatons Academy together and had started a little rebellion against suffocating pureblood stereotypes in the form of a tattoo and piercing business. The four had become friends earlier in the year when Caelan joined a rock band the other three had followed for a time. They quickly started up their small business when they found Brei had a knack for ink, and Ari and Dante were great at stabbing things. As it turned out the Beauxbatons attendants were more than happy to join in on this form of rebellion as it was still the rising hype of muggle fashion, which was very popular with wizarding culture in France at the time. The four soon had a steady stream of clients waiting for their new source of pride, and by the following summer they found it hard to keep up.
When hearing about the chance to merge their small business with an already founded one, they jumped on the opportunity. Stepping into the shop had obviously been like coming home for Brei, who recently graduated way ahead of her younger friends. The boys were in awe and soon found themselves with internships for the summers and plans for fulltime piercing work in the future. Caelan had been the only one who was utter tosh at both tattoo art and piercing, but was much better with business management and customer service. She helped the three join the new team with a smooth transition and once seeing her friends so happily invested she easily handed over the bookings, client information, and invested all the money she made with the other four into the new shop. For her it was one less thing to worry over when she headed back to England at the end of the summer. While she watched the three get integrated into the shop, she met Clarence. The moment he stepped into the room she felt all the fine hairs on her body stand up before releasing as if having been chilled and then hugged by a ray of sunlight. Eyes met, and that was that. Like kindred spirits from past lifetimes reuniting in a new life the two simply knew and fully acknowledged they would be in each other's lives, and it was for them to figure out just how.
For the rest of her time in France Caelan spent most of it working in the shop and getting to know the ever so wise Clarence who seemed to know everything, just as he was proving today.
"We specifically moved the shop to England after you left to better be near if trouble comes around, and I have no doubt it will." He said, his eyes edged with worry as he addressed her. "So far the future is getting progressively darker, and I'm worried about you attending Hogwarts this year. I can never get a good read on that place with all the protective enchantments surrounding it."
"Clarence, how bad is it? I don't want details, you know I don't, but I do want to get a feel for what I'm about to be up against. The danger I've encountered in my life so far has all been something I've chased into. But this? The head of the Malfoy elves said something similar, and the anxiety on my uncle and godmothers faces is obvious. It's like the wizarding world is about to go to war." The worry on her face making her look much older than her supposed thirteen year old form.
"You're not far from the truth dear." He said, sighing as he ran a huge hand through his hair. He got up from his side of the table and sat next to her, "It feels the same as last time, and that doesn't bode well for anyone. But know this, you have made yourself an ally to many lands, peoples, and creatures alike. This is no easy feat for a person of your age. Help will always be there for those who ask for it. If there is anyone I have faith in to get through these times, and help others as well. It's you."
He curled a huge arm around her small form before the two fell into a comfortable silence both lost in thought.
"So on to happier thoughts," Caelan drawled after a short time of two friends comforting each other. "Wanna give me a tattoo?" She finished, eyes twinkling up at his warm ones.
Present time…
"You ok?" Draco asked after his sister returned to their compartment with Grim. His friends had left them alone after seeing Caelan's familiar and quickly greeting Draco. Not that he was complaining, as the two boys from Beauxbatons who were to escort Cael into Hogwarts had decided to experience the Hogwarts Express alongside his sister and himself. They were an energetic couple full of stories about Caelan in France, and the business that they started together. Company he much preferred to his regularly stuffy friends, and Pansy. Ari and Dante in their light blue robes were little hard for Draco to picture next to the heavily inked Brei, but as he looked closer the boys had shiny pierced ears beneath their purposely shaggier locks. He wondered if they also had tattoos, but quickly pushed away his prior judgey feelings since he could still feel the slightly itchy skin of his newly inked ribs.
"I'm fine Draco, just wondering if seeing Dementors is going to be a regular thing while attending Hogwarts." She said teasingly but still in wonder at what she just witnessed.
"I seriously hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised with Black on the loose." Draco replied a tad darkly making Caelan shoot him a look of worry. He sighed, "It'll be a good year no matter what. You're home."
Caelan smiled. Before arriving at the platform today Draco and Cael had spent most of the time leading up to school sitting around the manor catching up on everything they'd done since last seeing each other. Her tattoos, piercings, and scars would have sent him into an early stroke if he hadn't been so interested in them himself especially since he now continually marveled at the new ink on his pale skin. In his eyes, Caelan was his sister in everything but Malfoy blood and he valued her above all of his friends combined. Being separated for more than six years of their childhood made him want to cling to her all the more as they neared Hogwarts. He settled into the seat next to her now, enjoying the sound of her endless chatter and the boy's enthusiasm to tell all about his previously rocker sister.
Thank you so much for reading! Comment and review if you'd like, I would love feedback. xxoo, Mia
Piccola - Little One
Diavoletto - Imp