Eleven years old

I woke up, and stretched – yawning and exercising my jaw before sitting up. I looked out of the window, 'what a good dream...' I chuckled to myself.

In the time between then and now, I had grown to understand the Wizarding society better than before, it wasn't as complicated as I first thought it would be but in reality it all clicked with me.

I got dressed and went downstairs to the dining table, cracking my head, 'dobby!' I snapped my fingers and a small trembling house-elf appeared.

'Y-yes Miss?' He stuttered and my gaze hardened.

'I'm in the mood for pancakes this morning, go make some for me?'

He nodded and scooted off to attend to my request. I was still getting used to having a creature attend to my every whim, but I must admit. It was nice.

It was just me at the table; no-one else was awake yet. Dobby re-appeared with the pancakes and every kind of sauce you could want on pancakes. 'Get me the Daily Prophet,' I demanded, shooing him off once more as I picked up my fork and tucked into the pancakes.

'Someone's up early,' Draco drawled as he came down the stairs, 'what are you eating?'

'Pancakes.'

Dobby returned with the newspaper and attended to Draco's breakfast wishes before leaving again. 'We get our letters soon.'

I put my fork down to look at the paper, 'uh-huh.' I only really read it for the comic section.

'Aren't you excited?'

I shrugged, 'yes, but we both know we'll get the letters, you from an obviously pure-blood family, and myself with my obvious magic qualities. What's there to be excited about if we know it already?'

Draco chuckled, 'good point there.'

Dobby returned yet again with Draco's breakfast, nearly tripping on his way in. I sniggered a bit, Draco reached over for the paper and smacked the house elf across the elf, 'be more careful with my food you stupid elf!' He threw the paper back to me as the elf apologised for his mistake before scooting off again.

'Lucius has gone to work early hasn't he?' I asked Draco.

He shrugged, 'probably,' he muttered mid-munch.

'Urgh, don't talk with your mouth full, it's disgusting.' I wrinkled my nose.

He grinned, 'what? You don't like me talking with my mouth full?' He continued speaking with his mouth full of what seemed to be a waffle.

I faked a puke noise as he finished the waffle then reached for a shiny red apple, he took a large bite, 'I have no idea why.'

'Stop messing about Draco, you'll want to impress our Kaeryn someday rather than annoy her.' Narcissa giggled once.

Draco looked to me then his mother, 'really mother? No offence Kaeryn but I've seen more attractive witches.'

'Unattainable witches, the ones in those wizard magazines you hide under your bed don't count,' I stuck my tongue out at him, he stared open mouthed at me for a minute before putting his mind in the right place.

Narcissa just smiled as she too hailed dobby, her approach to Dobby was the kindest out of the Malfoys, still aggressive but she was kinder with her words – though at first I thought she was patronising the poor house elf.

'If you two say so,' Narcissa sighed sitting down to a healthier breakfast than Draco and I had chosen, 'hmm, the post owl should be here soon...' she muttered this in an absent minded manner before turning to us both, 'say, Kaeryn, it's your birthday tomorrow isn't it?'

I looked to the clock on the wall that told us the date, time, position of the sun and moon, and realised it was indeed tomorrow, I called Dobby to take my plate away then rested my elbows on the dining table, 'yeah...' I glanced to Draco; he sat back and smiled smugly.

'I've been eleven longer than you,' he muttered, grinning.

'So what?' I snapped.

Narcissa gently pushed Draco, 'be nice, you excited?'

'Yeah, of course,' I smiled, but I had never really understood why birthdays were so important – it was just celebrating another year of life...which sounds like a good idea but with the addition of presents it becomes something selfish.

Besides, what would be so great about being eleven? I suppose I'd be going to school... learning about magic and other things but so would other eleven year olds - what can a date proving my turn of age do?

'You could sound a little bit more excited!' Narcissa half snapped, there was a tap at the door so Narcissa sighed and got up to get the mail herself.

'Why couldn't she have just used Dobby? He's here to do what we ask.' Draco snapped.

I sat back, 'the conversation was dying...'

'That's your bloody fault, Kaeryn.' He replied, narrowing his eyes then lifting them, 'hey, we should do some quidditch training – you know, so we're ready for the second year... but if we're... and by we I mean I, good enough they might let us on the team this year! I could be the first, first year to be on the team in years!'

'Sure, whatever.'

Narcissa returned, Dobby was in tow carrying the majority of the post, she put it on the table and started sorting, 'my... ' she sighed, 'you two should go outside, I'll let you know if anything important has come through today.'

Draco jumped up, 'come on Ryn, it's a good morning for flying.'

'You can get the brooms out then.' I retorted, crossing my arms as Draco went to the shed.

I watched him struggle to open the door to get the brooms out for a while, until I walked over and simply pushed it open 'You are so useless' I laughed.

'I knew that, I just didn't want to open it' Draco said, on the defensive.

I got the brooms and handed his to him before mounting and hovering in the air 'Three catch and throws before we go back in, okay?'

'Why only three?' he whined.

I sighed, 'fine, however many you want...'

He got a normal green ball and got on his broom and hovered at my height 'Right, let's go as far as possible from each other, but make sure we can still see, yeah?' He zoomed off before I could answer.

'Yeah. Sure.' I chuckled to myself before mounting my own broom and zooming off into the other direction.

'Let's say ten throws and ten catches each ok? Don't go easy on me,' he shouted out to be from the other end of the large garden.'

I chuckled, 'I'm always going easy on you.'

He threw the ball, I swooped down and caught it before throwing it over to him 'One' I shouted.

He repeated the same action again then when he caught it he shouted 'Two.'

I was already growing weary; it was too much exercise for me in the morning... Draco threw the ball back to me, only I wasn't looking at him or the ball...I looked below him, a bald man was stood on the roof. And he was looking straight at me. Why me?

Smack. The ball hit me in the face, causing me to fall off my broom. I landed on the grass with a heavy thud.

Draco swooped down and looked worried 'Uh… Star… don't faint, yeah? Sorry, I thought you were looking…'

I got up, but my head was killing me. I grabbed it and looked up. The bald man had disappeared.

'Ow.' I muttered, closing my eyes 'Nah, it was my fault, I wasn't looking…'

I must have passed out then because the next bit was a dream.

The first thing to hit me was the smell.

The stench of death…

In the darkness I could barely make out the figures, but even though I knew there were people there, the room felt empty.

Cold.

Abandoned.

It was a room that sent shivers down my spine - because in the room there wasn't a flicker of hope at all.

Not even when the young woman looked at her child...

Her eyes were empty...

Apart from fear, as they flicked around nervously.

And a man was there...

He appeared from this air...

With a stick.

No.

With a wand.

Pointed at her.

'T-tom... please...' The woman muttered, fear in her entire figure, her voice rough, though it contained a hint of innocent tones in it.

Then there was a flash.

A Green flash.

I reach out a hand - to stop him.

But it goes straight through.

'I despise liars...' The hooded figure spoke, his voice cold, smarmy, like a snake...

Then there was nothing.

Darkness…

'Draco, can you be more careful next time?' Narcissa screeched at him.

'Sorry Mother…' he muttered quietly. He was only quiet when he was worried.

'I am alive,' I said as I leant up before grabbing my head again 'Ouch.'

Narcissa let out a sigh of relief 'Someone with an attention span like yours should never play Quidditch'

'S'not my fault a strange bald man was stood on the roof,' I told her.

Her eyes widened 'A bald man? I'm sure you were hallucinating,' she shook her head.

I rolled my eyes 'Kay then.'

Draco looked at me 'I'm really sorry Ryn'

'Its fine you dummy' I laughed 'All I got was a headache and a bit of a sleep' I thought back to my nightmare, it was odd... I had never had nightmares like that before... where they were so vivid...

I almost puked at the thought of it all over again, but who was Tom? Why did he...what did he even do to the woman...?

Narcissa and Draco helped me up the stairs to my room where I was able to put my head on my goose-feather pillow. 'I'll get some potions made...or go and get to pre-made ones... do you feel nauseous at all? Still have a headache?'

'Uh-huh...'

She stood up, 'you look pale...and your eyes look unfocused...' she left then, after muttering something to Draco who nodded then pulled up a chair to my bedside.

'I'm not dying or anything,' I attempted a joke, looking up at Draco, 'it was just a bump.'

He nodded, 'just hope you're ok for tomorrow.'

'My birthday? It's no issue if I'm still feeling like this tomorrow really...' I muttered, closing my eyes, 'anyway...you just want... the acceptance letter...' I yawned and slowly drifted back to sleep, only to be awoken by Narcissa spoon feeding me a foul smelling potion.

She sat back and quickly closed the bottle up, 'sorry to wake you...' she muttered before leaving my room again.

You'd think in a house so big, with such a small family there would be maids to do this kind of stuff, but I guess Narcissa would feel robbed of her job if they had maids to care for the family and clean...I drifted back into a dreamless sleep...

The sound of an owl ... or something tapping at the window woke me up, I must have slept through the night as it was only just becoming light. My head no longer felt like lead so it couldn't have been my head that made me hear the noise.

I decided to get up and check the mysterious tapping noise – I opened the window and let the cold air blow into my face. 'Nothing is here...' I muttered angrily, 'for Merlin's sake...' I left the window open and went to bed.

Just before I dropped back to sleep an owl flew into my room and perched on my desk chair, a letter and parcel tied to its foot.

'whoo whoo,' it tapped it's foot impatiently.

'Fine, Mr Owl, I'll take the stuff,' I grumbled, getting back up and untying the parcel and letter, 'there, you can go now.'

'whoo,'

It shook its head then nodded towards the parcel.

'Fine...what the flying frog...' I sat down and ripped open the packaging on the parcel, inside there was a small music box, I wound it up and listened, the music it played was indescribably beautiful, I played it through a couple of times before the owl impatiently hooted at me to get the next thing out of the parcel. I pulled out a heavy book with what seemed to be runes on the front. 'Who on earth sent this?'

The owl seemed to roll it eyes at me as I pondered the question whilst reaching for the letter. I opened it carefully, 'ah.'

It was another letter from my father.

My Child,

You must have received this from what I call the worlds wisest owl who has been with me for years, I told him this would be my last request before I let him free.

You're eleven now, soon you'll receive your acceptance letter for Hogwarts as I know you will, being my child.

Happy Birthday, enclosed is a music box that was handed down to your mother when she turned 11 from her own mother, a tradition that goes down her side for centuries. I hope you treasure it as much as she treasured it in her youth.

As for the item from me, a book of runes – or so it might seem, when you learn the ancient art of reading runes you will understand more than you could have ever known and that's all I can say about it for now my dear child.

I hope these gifts, this letter and my owl find you well.

Lots of adoration, your father.

I folded the letter back up and put it in the envelope. 'Thank you for bringing me these...' I muttered to the owl, suddenly feeling melancholic.

The owl still hadn't left so I looked to him, 'why...why didn't he tell me that mother was killed...?' I frowned, 'assuming the dream is true...which... it feels as if it were...vaguely...it could be.'

The owl hooted suddenly, stretching his wings wide, as if to tell me he was leaving, 'sorry... thank you...tell father hello from me...' It then left.

I closed the window and placed the book and letter on my desk before winding up the music box as I took it to my bedside table. I got into bed and drifted back to sleep.

'Happy Birthday!'

I awoke to Narcissa and Draco greeting me with a pile of wrapped gifts. I pushed myself against the wall, 'what...'

Draco shrugged, 'mother realised you probably don't have many clothes and you definitely wouldn't have any form of wizarding gear so she went all out on your birthday presents...'

She smiled at me, 'come on, open them!' She said, moving the pile onto my bed. I sat on my knees and carefully chose a parcel to open, I unwrapped the parcel, and inside of the first there was a long black velvet skirt.

'Great material, it can be worn in all weathers and you won't get ill,' she nodded.

I opened another couple, the majority of the presents were clothes however some of them were books, one of which was a children's book from what I could gather: Tales of Beadle the Bard

'Every witch or wizard has been read this as a child, I had to get it as you hadn't been brought up on it – I suppose muggle children are brought up on tales like these with morals, but you should know ours.'

I looked up to Narcissa after opening the presents, 'thank you so much...' I smiled at her, trying to disguise the fact I was about to cry.

In my eleven years prior to meeting the Malfoy's, I had felt miserable and I grew to hate the world because it felt like the world hated me. Birthdays had never been important in the orphanage because there were so many children, and with the Bakers I realised after a couple of years that they didn't want to keep me but were bound by some law as I hadn't done anything bad... they just didn't like me. The acceptance I felt right now was overwhelming.

'I...really, thank you.'

Narcissa took my hand, 'you're welcome.'

She turned to leave but noticed the book on my desk, 'when did you get this?' She asked, picking it up.

'An owl came last night to deliver that, a music box and a letter... from my dad. It was a very persistent owl.'

'You can't read runes yet...' she muttered, probably intending it not to be heard.

Draco coughed, 'uh... mother?'

Narcissa turned around, 'sorry,' she smiled, 'but yes, you're very welcome, it's a shame we did not find you sooner, I'm going out for a bit.'

She left suddenly.

Draco pulled out a small parcel from behind his back, 'you didn't think I wouldn't get you anything, did you?'

I took the parcel and again, carefully unwrapped it. There was a box, which I opened slowly, inside there was a silver chain.

'It's for the ring...the one you have on your bedside table... I noticed it and thought a chain would be nice, so you could wear it around your neck.' He explained slowly, trying to sound arrogant even when he was being nice, 'it won't break, even if you pull it off, fixes itself.'

I was speechless, I threw my arms around Draco, 'thank you, its perfect... must have cost a lot too...'

He shrugged, 'yeah well, I expect a great present off you now.'

I put the ring on the chain and got Draco to do the fastening. 'I'll get dressed then we can go do something.'

'Play quidditch? Oh wait...'

I laughed, 'I'm fine after yesterday, and it was just a shock.'

He left me so I could get dressed, I looked at myself in the long mirror that was on the front of the wardrobe, 'this is my home now...' I muttered to myself, 'this is my family now...'

My bright green eyes flashed at me, as if to affirm that it wasn't all a dream. I brushed my long, dark hair, tied it back with a ribbon from one of the parcels and went downstairs.

The hours passed as Draco taught me how to play wizards chess, as Narcissa started preparing a feast of sorts for a birthday lunch with Dobby doing what she didn't have time to do with her want.

We were waiting for the sound of the post owl to come flying into the room but no such sound came for quite some time. Draco and I lost count of the amount of times we had now played, and how many times who had won against the other, all I could remember was that Draco had won more than I had.

Then it came, Narcissa came back into the room at the same time as an owl started tapping at the window, she opened the window and the owl flew in, dropped the post on the table and then flew out again.

Draco immediately grabbed the post and went through, 'Mum, Dad, Dad... ME!' he took his out of the small pile, 'and Kaeryn,' he chucked mine over to me.

The fact that we had them in our hands was proof enough that we would be going to Hogwarts but Draco broke the seal in a haste and pulled out the letter, he read through quickly then threw his arms up in the air, 'I knew it! Open yours Kaeryn,' he urged.

Narcissa had already disappeared off somewhere else within the house.

I looked at the script on the front of the envelope;

Miss Kaeryn Riddle

Second Bedroom

Malfoy Manor

Wiltshire

I turned it over and on the back there was a seal in red, with the Hogwarts crest stamped upon it.

'Great Gandalf, open it don't pet it,' Draco laughed as I was tracing the seal with my forefinger.

Carefully, I broke the seal and pulled the letter out, reading it and re-reading it, I already knew from the sight of the letter that I was able to go but I wanted to remind myself it was real.

Dear Miss Kaeryn Riddle,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely, Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM

First-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)

Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS

All students should have a copy of each of the following:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)

by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic

by Bathilda Bagshot

Magical Theory

by Adalbert Waffling

A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration

by Emeric Switch

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi

by Phyllida Spore

Magical Drafts and Potions

by Arsenius Jigger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by Newt Scamander

The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection

by Quentin Trimble

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS

ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK

This letter, which I held in my hands was my key to finding out more about my parents, it had never bothered me that much when I was living with the Bakers, but then again I had no idea I had magical heritage, I knew nothing about my parents, but now... I did, and I could find out more.

Draco was watching me carefully, 'you are in, right?'

I grinned at him, 'naturally.'

'Gee, you could, you know, look happy about it,' he joked.

I rolled my eyes, 'I'm more than happy, do you know what this means?'

'...we have the freedom to actually learn magic now?'

'That but I get to find out about my parents,' I clapped my hands together, 'should we send the reply owl now? We're like, half-way through the month.'

Draco wafted a hand and put his letter on the table, rocking back on his chair, 'Nah, let mum or dad deal with that, they can probably send both our replies in the same letter or something.'

'We'll send off a reply later today,' Narcissa took our letters of us to quickly read through them, 'they haven't even changed the way they write them since Lucius and I were there...' she chuckled, 'lunch is ready, but I'll hold it off for a few minutes, Lucius will be coming – after all – we want this to be a birthday for you to remember Kaeryn.'

I looked at the table sheepishly, 'thank you... it really means a lot to me right now,' I looked to her and smiled, Narcissa paused for a minute her face fell.

'You look like...' she shook her head, 'it's to be expected.'

'What, mother? What?' Draco asked looking between us now.

Narcissa looked at me, 'you look like your mother when you smile,' she nodded before walking off to re-check the food. It seemed to me that she was saddened by what she had seen.

I jumped out of my seat and went to the kitchen, 'Do you need any help?' Narcissa shook her head but that wasn't the question I really wanted to ask. I leant against the side, 'were you close to my mother?'

'You're too young for me to tell you now, unfortunately... well, all the details at the very least, but yes, your mother and I... we were very close.'

The sound of a door opening and closing filled the room, 'I'm home.'

Narcissa jumped up at the sound of her husbands voice, 'Dobby! Start serving the meals!'

That was all I got from Narcissa about my mother.