She had to re read the letter at least four times before she could finally understand the words in it.
Malfoy?
The boy that even though she had never said a single word to him, had tried so hard to make it hard for her to enjoy herself at school. The boy who was constantly a pain to her and her friends, and who would rather hang her up and torture her with every curse imaginable, than listen to her instructions.
Dumbledore had to be out of his mind. So far mental that she didn't even laugh at his mention of the summer home. He knew how well they got along, and even though she trusted his judgment more than anyone else's, was absolutely terrified to be receiving an owl from the Malfoy residence.
"Serella! Dinner is ready!" She heard her grandmother call from in the kitchen.
"Coming." But she wasn't exactly in a hurry. Instead of trying to look presentable and change out of her sweatpants, baggy black T shirt and sneakers, she took out a piece of parchment and quill.
Harry,
I know
summer break has only begun, but you will never believe what just
happened. You remember that idea me and Hermione had about tutoring?
Well Dumbledore thought it was a great idea, and sent out letters on
who we're tutoring. Mine just happens to be our favorite slithering
friend. I hate to be so vague, but again, you are well aware of the
strange circumstances going on. I think I might make a visit to Rons
earlier than expected due to having an unwelcome guest in the house.
I don't know if it's because of recent events that my hidden family
is starting to come out or what, but it's strange. Something doesn't
feel right about it. I'll be thinking about you until I hear back,
and give my love to your aunt and uncle.
Love
Serella
"Spike!" She called my midnight black owl from her perch on the small roof ledge outside of her window.
She tied it to him after addressing it to Harry Potter and sent him off, promising owl treats on his return.
Taking the time to write that letter only made her precisely three minutes late for dinner, and it was well worth it.
"You didn't even have the decency to change into something normal?" Scolded Sible from the kitchen table.
"I was busy." She muttered, taking her seat and glancing at the stranger who was seated opposite her.
"Serella. Long time no see. I don't think you'll remember me, but I'm your fathers brother, Owen Gyles."
She could honestly say that he wasn't what she had suspected. The pictures of her father and grandfather when he was younger where all of handsome men that looked as though they could take on the world all by themselves. But this guy scared her. He was disheveled, a little dumpy, and smelled terrible of fire whiskey.
"Did you get a chance to read your letter dear?" Asked Jetta, setting a pot roast in the center of the table.
"Yes mama and it seems that I might have to visit another student sometime this summer to tutor him."
"That's excellent, who is it?" Questioned Simon, her grandfathers preferred name.
"Draco Malfoy."
Sara almost spit out the juice that she had been drinking, making a quick cover pretending that it was a violent cough.
"You have got to be joking. You tutor Draco? Can't they find someone more his league?" She asked, clearly angry at her younger sisters new job.
"Sarah, that's enough. Your sister is a very intelligent young lady and if this boy needs help than he is going to be getting it from the best." Jetta ended the argument and silenced the twins from their on going rants about perfect blood.
Sometimes she wondered how they could be related, Sere didn't care about pureblood wizards or mudbloods, it didn't matter to her. But that was all that her sisters cared about. In their minds eye that was the only good thing that their parents ever gave them, and was the only thing that gave her heart the power to never fully love them.
Serella couldn't get excused from dinner quick enough, and almost chocked on her food several times before making her departure. There was just something about that man that repulsed her, and even made her feel dirty.
Before her sisters could even start an argument over it, she ran up the stairs, once out of sight, and grabbed her bath things to claim the shower.
That was all she needed, just to think things over in the hot water. She had wished on every star in the sky that a Gryffindor would need help and slightly resented the fact that she was pureblood. That was of course, the only reason why the Malfoys requested her to be Dracos tutor.
She could only imagine what Harry would say, and was pleased that she decided to send a letter instead of waiting to tell him in person. His reaction would have been closely matched to the one in her head the first time she read the letter. There had to be something good that could come out of this horrible situation.
She normally wasn't a manipulative sort of person, but within minutes of really putting her mind to work, she thought of something that could possibly make her friends life's just a bit better next term.
Yes! It was almost too perfect, but it just had to work.
She was finished with her shower in fifteen minutes and ignored her sisters ranting about time and beauty sleep. All that was on her mind how was receiving a letter from Harry.
