A Star in the Dark: Book 1
Chapter 3; Station
The week passed like water.
Water – sweet and unfavorable.
Cheryl had to admit – since the meetings with Albus and Rose back in Diagon Alley, her mood to go to Hogwarts and have an amazing year had disappeared.
Something about him. Something about her.
Their cold demeanor towards her had pushed her off her rocker. People she barely knew where pissed off or bothered by her presence that they'd turn into fucking gossipers the second she stepped in.
It was in moments like these she could assure herself she was most definitely a Malfoy.
An eleven year old, already planning the death of 2 innocent people, my, would her father's parents be more than pleased by this. Probably throwing one of those fancy balls they liked in hell, Cheryl couldn't help think. She had been angrily stuffing in her clothes in her luggage, which mostly consisted of jeans, Hoodies, and a bunch of clothes that Luna would have most certainly cringed over.
If she would just sit down and consider how stupid she was acting, she would. But, being as stubborn as a Malfoy, she fully avoided it. After practically stuffing all of her wardrobe in her luggage, she shut it tight and stuffed it under her bed. In just about an hour she was to leave to Hogwarts. Happy? Sure. Looking forward to meeting people? Doesn't matter.
As long as she didn't have to see them.
How idiotic she felt. Maybe they just didn't deem her trustworthy because her Father – and siblings – are Slytherins. Then again, that was very stereotypical from their part and sure did not settle well with her. Maybe they thought she'd end up being a Slytherin too – and honestly, she wasn't sure. All she knew is that she didn't want to.
She stood up, hugging herself as she walked towards one of the windows in her room. The mood around the Malfoy Manor had turned from dark and mysterious to cheery and colorful as soon as Hermione had moved in with Draco. Hermione had been determined to make the place more light since Draco's parents had passed away, and took the opportunity as soon as they got married. Her efforts were put to use as Draco had attempted to instead hire people to get the things done to escape doing it himself, but of course, Hermione didn't have much mercy. She basically forced him to work along with her as they turned the gloomy garden into a beautiful and happy one.
"Cherry?"
She turned abruptly to see her father there, a stoic expression etched on both of their faces. "I called Blaise. He says his kids are anxious to meet you – since, you know, you 3 are starting your year."
"Lance and 'Linda?" She asked. He nodded.
"I'm guessing you're already packed up?" He said, amusement in his eyes as he nodded towards her weirdly stuffed luggage bag under her bag. Cheryl rolled her eyes, "Of course."
"Before you leave, I wanted to let you know that we had totally forgot to get you a pet."
Cheryl's eyes widened when she finally realized it. She had completely forgotten about her pet, and turned to her father. He offered her a stoic smile before taking out a small cage where the cutest and smallest owl ever resided in.
"Hope this feeds that bribe." He smirked as Cheryl hugged her father and took the small cage to her bed.
"Thank you, Dad."
"Come on down then, Hermione and I are taking you to the train stop."
The arrival to the train platform 9 was quiet. Cheryl could notice that her mother and father were struggling to come up with a subtle farewell – it always happened when it came to Luna and Jasper. She suddenly felt sad and angry at her siblings for messing up on their last day – creating a mess in the greenhouse, which was the reason they had to leave earlier than usual. They had started their third year with a detention with Professor Longbottom, to Cheryl's embarrassment.
"We're here."
Somehow, during her mixed thoughts, she had managed to make it through the magical barrier that divided platform 9 and 10, her parents not far back. The first thing Cheryl noticed was the loud amount of young wizards and parents in the platform, all happy and sad at the same time.
Farewells were awkward for the Malfoys.
"Well," Cheryl sighed, looking longingly at the other families. "This is it."
Hermione smiled. "Promise us you'll take care of yourself."
"I will." Cheryl smiled at her parents. "Promise."
"I suddenly feel much more relieved," Draco intervened, causing Hermione and Cheryl to laugh before they engulfed each other in a tight hug. The empty spots on her right and left were where Jasper and Luna should have been. She was ruining the moment by pointing out to herself how her siblings were obviously missing. Go figure.
They didn't move until a hand patted Draco on the back, causing them to break the hug as Blaise Zabini and his wife, Luna Lovegood, along with their kids, stood there, Blaise grinning at his best friend. "Sorry to interrupt," Blaise smirked, "But we just came to announce we're here."
"Nice to know." Draco muttered under his breath as he watched his wife hug Luna.
Honestly, Cheryl had never seen the Zabini family. Her father had mentioned them often, and she knew that her mother was close with Luna Lovegood, which was basically why she called her daughter Luna – Cheryl's older sister. She had never actually seen the Zabini family.
On the far right, taunting her father, was the one and only Blaise Zabini. Dark skinned, immensely attractive, and a mischievous grin that was right now on his lips. On his left was his petite wife, Luna Lovegood, her light skin and dirty blond hair adorning her looks. She looked so much like Cheryl's Luna that she almost felt her eyes glaze.
On Luna's left, was a boy. Yes, a boy. He was exotically sun-kissed, his dark brown almost black hair cut short, he seemed like his father's duplicate. It also looked like he was passed on his father's loud and mischievous demeanor. On his left, was a girl who was about a few shades lighter than him, like her mother. She had the same hair as her brother, but there were obvious dirty blonde roots here and there. Her hair was in radiant and lively curls, finishing right on her bust. She had her mother's protuberant gray eyes and the same dreamily distracted look that her mother wore at the moment. The whole family was beautiful.
"Hey," The boy piped up. "I'm Lancelot Zabini, and this is my younger sister-"
"By a month." His sister murmured.
"-Rosalinda Zabini." He concluded. "Cheryl Malfoy?"
"That would be me." Cheryl couldn't help but grin at the siblings. They reminded her so much of her relationship with Luna and herself it was impossible to not like them. "Lance and 'Linda. Nice to finally be able to meet you too."
"Same here." Rosalinda answered, a smile tugging her dazed expression. "I heard that a student that is going to board the train to Hogwarts likes to talk calmly and then burst out yelling profanities."
"Can't wait to see that." Cheryl grinned as Lance smirked alongside. "What type of profanities?"
"She's here."
"I noticed."
"She's the one you guys are being all prick-ish about?" Fred grumbled as they looked at a laughing pale blond girl not far. "She's cute."
"She's evil." Rose immediately retorted, glaring at her cousin. "And you know it."
"Why, exactly?" Fred retorted. "'Cause she's the granddaughter of that dude in the Daily Prophet you both saw the other day?"
"Basically, you trio sound like idiots." James scoffed. "Seriously, she seems… stoic."
"She's laughing her head off." Albus pointed out bluntly.
"I noticed." James repeated.
"And she's with Rosalinda and Lancelot." Rose sighed dramatically. "And they're laughing. No good signs, not at all."
"For eleven year olds, you idiots are some bloody-" James began before he felt his mother's eyes fall on his head, immediately shutting up.
"They're coming!" Rose yelled quietly. "Quick, act normal!"
Out of the corner of his eyes, Albus trained his eyes on the waterfall of white blond curls that were facing him before they twirled to expose their owner, Cheryl. She was walking towards them, oblivious, and laughing with her new friends, their parents following. Chaos will most certainly ensue, Albus couldn't help but point out to himself quietly.
"Ron, Harry, Girls!" Luna said, smiling serenely. "Such a coincidence to catch all of you here!"
Silence. Everyone was looking at every other person, mixed emotions about.
"Weasel." Draco finally muttered. "Potter."
"Ferret." Ron shot back angrily.
"Malfoy." Harry said quietly. "'Mione."
"Harry, Ron!" Hermione hugged her distant best friends, and Draco didn't hesitate to notice that look Ron had shot Hermione. He gave a hard glare to Ron, warning him quietly as Hermione gave a hug to Ginny and Lavender.
"I'll figure you haven't met my daughter," Hermione smiled at everyone. "Cheryl, say hi."
"Wow, is that the train coming?" She said instead. "Oh my, it is! Well, super nice meeting all of you-"
"Cherry," Draco sighed. "I would happily follow if it weren't for the fact that your mom would murder me, you alongside."
Sure enough, Hermione gave a look to her daughter. Sighing loudly, Cheryl finally said, "I met the dwarfs."
"Cherry!"
"Ahem." Cheryl said. "I mean, the… kids."
Albus and Rose gave her a seething glare. "You mean Albus and Rose?" Lavender asked.
"So that's their names," Cheryl said, a look of understanding falling on her face. Truth be told, she had memorized their pathetic names to herself, ready to feed them weeks of unsupportable torture whenever she could. "Sure."
"I approve." James smirked, looking at Cheryl who simply rolled her shoulder, an unreadable expression on her face. Yes, most definitely a Malfoy.
"There's more, right?" Ron asked, an obvious look of sadness or heartbreak on his face. It hurt him to see the spawn of Draco and Hermione right in front of him, looking at him with a distaste expression.
"Yes," Draco stepped in, happy to shove it in his face. "Luna and Jasper, and there's another one in the way."
Cheryl had tried her uttermost best to not show any expression – she'd kill her parents later for not telling her. Ron looked destroyed and angry while Ginny and Harry looked happy for them, Lavender confused. Blaise had patted his friend on the back as Luna smiled at Hermione, who was blushing heavily.
"Girl or boy?" Lance asked Cheryl, patting her shoulder.
"Most probable another pra – boy." Cheryl said, giving him her most forced smile.
"Aren't you happy?" Rosalinda asked. "Having a baby in the house is always the best, it lightens the mood."
"Of course." Cheryl said, throwing Rosalinda another faked smile. "A bloody blessing."
"You most certainly know how to control yourself." James said, with obvious amusement. "Two times have you slipped a few inappropriate words."
"Stuff it, Potter."
"Come at me, Malfoy."
"Is that really the best you got?"
"Man, are you tiny. Easy to aim at, for sure."
"I'm offended."
"Should be, receiving those words from the great James Sirius Potter," He said sarcastically before throwing a smirk her direction. She rolled her eyes and gave a scoff in disbelief as the Hogwarts train arrived, stopping in front of them.
"Cherry," Hermione said, hugging her daughter as the parents returned their attention to their children. "I love you. Take care of yourself, honey."
"I love you too. You need to take care yourself." Cheryl huffed as Draco gave his daughter a tight hug.
"I'll miss you, Cherry."
"I'll miss you both." She responded against his chest. "The train's about to leave."
"Then you should hurry," Draco said, handing her the bags and her small cage. "Be careful."
"You too!" She yelled out of a window as soon as she mounted. "Love you both!"
They waved at her as the train made a ruckus, her parents disappearing. She sighed as she felt someone poke her, and turned around to see Rosalinda. "Come sit with me and Lance."
Another chapter done!
Please review and tell me your thoughts, I'd love to know it. This chapter seems pretty rushed, so forgive me. Plus, I just wanted to point out that I made a typo on the last chapter; Hugo is actually a year younger than Rose, just to point it out. Below is a list of the introduced kids so far.
Children/Next Generation
*Ordered by Age*
Malfoy's
Jasper Malfoy
Luna Malfoy
Cheryl Malfoy
Potter's
James Sirius Potter
Albus Potter
Weasley's (Ron)
Rose Weasley
Hugo Weasley
Weasley's (George)
Fred II Weasley
Zabini's
Lancelot Zabini
Rosalinda Zabini
Next chapter will be up soon (:
~KatTheGreat/Kat