Here is the third chapter of the story, enjoy!


Draco huffed, looking out of the window as the train sped by the county. He would finally go back home after another year away, surrounded by filth and idiots.

He almost wished he could have gone to school with her instead of Hogwarts, but his father had stressed the importance of making connections with his peers as Heir of the Family. Plus they needed someone to keep an eye on the old fool in case he suspected something.

It was an hard job to do though. Not only the headmaster was a walking headache with his garish robes and false grandfatherly façade, but the school was full of mudbloods and blood traitors. First on the list were the Golden Trio. Puah! A dirt poor jealous and idiotic blood traitor, a filthy know it all bucktoothed mudblood who couldn't mind her own business and lastly the great boy-who-lived, a stupid halfblood that looked like a street urchin and couldn't tell the difference between his wand and a stick of wood.

Even worse, the three had the uncanny ability to get in all kinds of trouble and only the sight of them was enough to make him want to kill something, preferably slowly and painfully.

The old coot was always giving them points too even though they had probably broken all the rules of the school already. How irritating.

The worst thing though was that he had to act like an idiot too, one that hid behind his father coattails and was only good for bragging. How he yearned to show them how to really use a wand. Not that silly wand waving they taught!

The only ones that knew who he really was were his friends.

He hated it, he hated it all. His head ached just thinking about the fact that this was just the third year and he had another four more to go. But for her he was ready for that and more.

There was only another hour or so of journey before they reached London. This summer would be different from the others though. He would still spent it training and studying real magic of course, but he wouldn't be alone.

This time a few of his friends would spend the summer months at his place, all training together. They had expressed the interest time and time again so he had finally caved and asked his father for permission. It had been easier than he thought, given their circumstances, but Theo, Blaise and Daphne would be allowed to stay.

As the cherry on top, later in the summer that would also attend the Quidditch World Cup too. He couldn't wait!

"Tell me again, Drake. What's there at the manor that gets you so excited every year?" asked Theo "As much as you can miss your parents, surely it can't be them"

"And don't try and claim it's for the training you get. You're not that studious or obsessed with learning" sneered Daphne.

Draco raised an eyebrow "I should feel insulted. I'll have you know that I take my learning very seriously, thank you very much"

"Sure sure. Now spill" Blaise urged him waving his hand.

The blond pursed his lips in thought. He knew he could trust them with his life and they would discover the reason soon enough.

"Fine." He took his wand and erected strong privacy wards around their compartment to make sure no one would overhear them.

"It's because of someone."

"You've got a girlfriend?" screeched Daphne "Why didn't we know about it?"

"What? Now, eww!" He grimaced

"That ugly?" inquired Theo

"Merlin, no. Quite the contrary. But she's my cousin, basically my sister. I'm not into incest or inbreeding" he shuddered

"You're a single child. Everyone knows that Bellatrix Lestrange is sterile, it was a great scandal when it got out after their wedding. Sirius Black is in Azkaban and his brother is dead. The rest of the Malfoy Family is in France and keeps well away from Great Britain. So who is it exactly this cousin of yours?" asked Blaise after his accurate analysis.

"Trust you to know everything about everyone" Draco said "It's complicated and I'm forbidden from divulging her parentage. Just know that she is related to me by blood. She lived with us for the last five years. She's our age too, so I'm pretty close to her, like a sibling as I told you"

"And the reason no one knew about her existence?"

"That, Theo, was for her safety." Draco stressed "No one can know about her until she is strong enough to defend herself from any danger or until the Dark Lord returns"

"Is she that important?" Daphne asked blinking

"Let's just say that given her parentage.. the light would immediately try and.. neutralize the danger she could pose. They already tried once, even though she was just a newborn"

The three students in the carriage gasped horrified by the knowledge. Children were sacred in the wizarding world and to try and harm one was the worst crime in existence. It was considered even worse than the use of unforgivable.

"You can trust us Draco. You know that my family is neutral in the war between light and dark, we do not care for such distinctions, but you can trust me with your secrets."

"Thank you Blaise. I would have probably gone mad in first year if it wasn't for you three"

"Oh, don't worry. You can thank me with new robes and shoes, Drakey dear" Daphne sniffed snobbily tossing her long blond hair behind her shoulder and hitting Theo in the process, who got a mouthful of hair.

"Oi!" the boy complained sputtering making the other two laugh and Daphne blush in embarrassment for her mistake.

Draco was glad he had such good friends and he was looking forward to sharing them with her. He thought she would like them too, after all not only he had spoken about them many times both in letters and during the summer, but they had all things in common with her.

She could use more friends, he thought, since all of hers were overseas.


Lucius met the teenagers at the station and then proceeded to get them all to the manor via porkey.

"Where is she Father?" Draco asked as soon as it was safe to talk freely.

"Probably in the library, I've been at the ministry all day preparing for the Quidditch Cup, so I wouldn't know." The man replied "Go and find her. Or she'll read past dinner time again"

"Yes, Father"

Just as he was about to lead his friends towards the library a petite figure emerged from the glass doors of the terrace

"No need, Uncle. I'm right here" she spoke with a soft and melodious voice "Welcome back Dray. How was the train ride?"

"Boring as usual and it's good to be back. I missed you"

The girl giggled, reminding them of twinkling bells "I missed you too. But you are being increbibly rude. Who are your guests?"

"Oh… oh! Yes, come over here so I can introduce you properly" he asked motioning her over with a wave of his hand.

As she stepped away from the glass doors, what could only be seen as a shadowy figure became clear features.

The three teenagers observed her curiously. She was of average height, with long wavy black hair and cobalt blue eyes. If one were to look at her really closely would be able to see the violet tints in them. Her skin was the palest of tones, making her resemble a porcelain doll.

While they continued with their studying, Draco kept talking "Those are my friends. Daphne Greengrass, Heiress of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Greengrass, Theodore Nott,Heir of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Nott and"

"Blaise Zabini, Miss" the Italian wizard introduced himself smoothly, taking hold of her delicate hand and bowing to drop a kiss on her knuckles "Heir of the Most Noble and Most Ancient House of Zabini, Prince of the Ombra Family"

"Pleasure to meet you" she answered shyly with a gentle blush coloring her cheeks.

Draco was stunned. Never, never had he seen her so… shy or blushing! In what world had he stepped into? Where was the stubborn, strong and independent girl he considered a sister? The same one who had broken the nose of a boy at school because he asked her on a date?

"May I know your name, bellissima?"

'Smooth bastard' thought Draco. He didn't speak Italian but he was pretty sure that it meant beautiful. The git was flirting with his sister!

Blaise smirked when the blush instead of going away, intensified at his words. 'So this pretty fae knows what it means' he would have to keep it in mind.

"Now, wait a moment here" Draco huffed red in the face

"Uh uh. He's gonna kill Blaise" Theo commented in a low voice "It was good to know you mate"

"Oh shut up." Daphne elbowed him

"That's my sister here, how dare you try and flirt with her!"

Blaise blinked slowly, the girl's hand still in his own "I don't see the problem. I just introduced myself"

"Bollocks!" the other snapped "You were totally flirting and trying to attract her with your Italian charm! I will have none of it!"

"You, Draco?" the girl asked with a calm and yet chilling voice making shivers go everyone's back

"I.."

"I was not aware that I needed your permission to interact with someone, Draco." She narrowed her eyes taking a step forward towards her cousin, and unconsciously closer to the Italian wizard, her hand still held in his larger and tanner one.

"I didn't mean.."

"You didn't mean to act as if you have a claim on how I behave or live my life?

"No, I.."

"You were totally out of bounds. Intruding where there was no reason or need for it"

Draco gulped realizing he made a terrible mistake.

"Accusing your friend only out of unreasonable protectiveness"

"Wait, that was not.."

"Do you think I'm unable to deal with the low lives who think can take advantage of me?"

"No, you definitely.."

"I can take care of myself, I can judge people better than you and I take my own decisions, Draco. Do not try and order me what to do or not do, either directly or indirectly, do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal" the blond gulped.

"Splendid" she smiled brilliantly.

Theo and Daphne looked at each other mentally agreeing on the same thing. Draco's cousin was bloody scary!

Blaise on the other hand could not help but feel even more intrigued by the dark haired witch who seemed to have captured him with her unique allure.

When she went to move a lock of hair from her eyes she realized that her hand was still captured and blushed again "Oh!"

"Now, that Draco looks calmer" Blaise said whispered close to her ear "May I know your name?"

"Oh! Of course" she battled down the urge to stutter at the close proximity with the handsome wizard. She had seen many good looking boys at her school, but this one had something different. Something that made her feel all giggly and made butterflies flutter in her stomach.

His whiskey colored eyes stared right at her odd tinted ones, neither of them could break this connection started.

That is until Draco coughed rather loudly. He did not need to see his sister making googly eyes with his friend.

She looked quickly away, clearing her voice and trying to will down the blush that was erupting on her face, making her feel on fire.

As soon as she felt more composed she looked at the three guests and smiled.

"I apologize for my rudeness. My name is.."


I know I'm an evil author who leaves with with a cliff hanger.. I couldn't resist though.

Why don't you try and guess her name? Let's see if someone gets it right before tomorrow's update!

Thanks to everyone who added the story to their favorite or alert lists and those who left a review, they are always much appreciated.