Narcissa Malfoy tried hard to smile as she waved goodbye to her young son as the Hogwarts Express departed. Draco was her pride and joy; it pained her to let him leave. Narcissa could barely stand the train station filled with happy parents bidding their children adieu. Train stations always brought back bad memories for her.

Three years ago, she had lost her eight-year-old daughter. At a train station.

As Narcissa left Kings Cross, she didn't bother to stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks. If anyone asked, she could just say that she was going to miss her beloved son. But she was crying for Harmony.

They had searched for months. The Malfoys had been a prominent family until they had been forced into hiding. They were currently living underground. They issued a missing-persons report to the Wizarding community to look for Harmony, but it was never responded to.

Draco had been inconsolable, Narcissa remembered. Harmony had been his best friend, they had done everything together. Even as small children, they would race around and play Quidditch on toy brooms, or try to brew potions without much success, or talk endlessly about Hogwarts and how much fun it would be.

Back at the Malfoy home, Narcissa ignored her husband's questioning look as she ascended to their room. She opened her chest of drawers and drew out a small leather box. The box was dusty and hadn't been touched in ages, but the lock was still intact. Narcissa picked the tiny key from her necklace and opened the box. Inside lay a light blue hair ribbon. Harmony's.

It was the only sign in the entire Malfoy house that they had once had a daughter.

Narcissa sighed before tying back her own hair with the frayed ribbon. Blue wasn't her color, but today, she needed to keep a piece of her daughter close to her. Draco would be writing a letter tonight. They would receive it the following morning. Until that time, Narcissa decided to block out all thoughts involving her children.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Draco Malfoy sat down with a quill. He had promised his mother several dozen times that he would write to her, and he was doing just that. Hogwarts was incredible; the feast was scrumptious, he was Sorted into the very honorable Slytherin (his parents would be so proud), and the dorms were spacious and comfortable.

Draco thought of Harmony. She would have loved it here, he thought painfully, recalling the hours they had spent together, talking and speculating about it, planning what classes they would take and which spells they would learn.

A tear ran down Draco's face as he dug into the bottom of his trunk and pulled out a weathered, crumpled bit of parchment. The ink had long since worn, but the design was still there; a drawing of the two of them, both wearing crudely-drawn Slytherin crests, walking up the steps to Hogwarts. Harmony had loved to doodle, Draco remembered. He traced the outline of the roughly sketched face with the tip of his quill, wishing so badly that she had been here with him today. That had been their plan. That had always been the plan.

Sighing, Draco tacked the drawing onto the inside of his bedpost. All of the other boys were still down in the common room, leaving Draco time to be alone. The drawing would stay his little secret.

He sat down at the bedside desk and began to write.

Dear Mama and Father,

Hogwarts is impressive. I know that the two of you went here as well, and I am pleased to tell you that I have been Sorted into Slytherin. The dorms are fantastic, the food is delicious. I am hoping to try out for the Quidditch team as soon as I can get my hands on a broomstick and an application. I know those flying lessons will pay off!

It is late and I am tired. I will write more to you when I have time. Just letting you know that I am safe and well-fed. Missing Harmony but otherwise happy. I love you guys.

Draco

Draco signed the letter with a flourish and gave it to his silvery owl, Wesley. The owl flew out of his window and into the night.

A/N: I like Draco's letter-writing style. And that he has an owl named after the main character in The Princess Bride. Little things like taht make me happy.