Chapter 6: Things My Mother Told Me
The following night, Narcissa Malfoy returned from France where she had been visiting friends for the past week. Dinner was a quiet affair with just Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco. Zara had been in rehearsals since 8am that morning due to a performance that she would be giving in two days time.
Draco adjourned to his room shortly after and Lucius and Narcissa went into the sitting room.
"How were the children while I was gone?" Narcissa asked sipping a glass of brandy.
"Tiresome," Lucius replied pouring his own drink and taking a seat beside his wife. "It rained for three days straight. The nanny said they bickered the entire day. When I returned home, it was much of the same. I had a splitting headache by Friday."
"Poor baby," Narcissa with a laugh.
"Don't mock me darling."
"Mock you? I would never dream of it," Narcissa replied kissing him quickly on the lips.
"Borgin was here this morning."
"All of the things are gone?"
"Yes they are. You need not fear anymore. I met with him yesterday before Zara and I went to Olivanders."
"Draco mentioned that you ran into the Weasleys."
"Yes," Lucius said his lip curling in disgust. "They disgrace the name of pureblood associating with muggles so blatantly in public and being so involved in muggle causes. But one can see where that's gotten them. Second hand robes, rags; absolutely appalling, Weasley could never justify that no matter what he says."
"They are shameful," Narcissa agreed.
A flash of green light prevented the conversation from going any farther. A second later, Zara appeared and stepped out of the fireplace, it was 9:00pm. She was wearing a pink down jacket over her dance attire. She looked tired.
"Have a good rehearsal sweetheart?" Lucius asked.
"It was fine," she replied shortly before leaving the room and going upstairs.
"Something is going on with Zara."
"Lucius, leave it alone. She is probably tired, nothing more."
"No, there is something wrong. She has been acting strangely since we returned from Diagon Alley yesterday. She barely said a word last night at dinner and she spent the entire night in her room. It is like she is avoiding me."
"Did you ask her about it?"
"I never got the chance this morning."
"Well then go ask her now."
Lucius sighed and rose from his place. He went upstairs and found Zara's door closed when he reached her room.
He knocked lightly, "Zara?"
When he received no response, Lucius opened the door and saw Zara lying on her bed, dressed in light blue silk pajamas sound asleep. In her hands was a small book. When he walked toward the bed, he saw that the book was actually a diary. Carefully, he removed the book from her hands and put it on the nightstand. He pulled the comforter over her and tucked her in. Lucius kissed her forehead and then turned out the light and left the room.
Two nights later, Lucius straightened his dress robes and went downstairs to wait with Draco for Narcissa.
"Father, do I really have to go to this thing? What if someone sees me? I'll never be able to face going to the ballet at school."
A small smirk flitted across Lucius face, "Draco this is important to your sister. She has gone to your functions. So it is time that you reciprocate."
"Your father is right darling," Narcissa said coming into the room dressed in a black and white strapless ball gown with crystal beading dotting the bodice. She wore her hair up along with a diamond choker and matching earrings.
"You look beautiful my love," said Lucius kissing her cheek.
Later at the Royal Ballet Theatre in London, Lucius and his family settled into their seats in a private box.
"Lucius," said a voice from behind them.
"Minister," Lucius said in reply turning to Cornelius Fudge in order to greet him.
"Congratulations are in order, I see. I had no idea that your daughter would be participating in this performance. But I'm surprised to see that she is a soloist, at such a young age and dancing with such a great ballerina. You must be very proud."
"We are," Lucius said smoothly. "Very proud."
Meanwhile backstage, Zara dressed and readied herself for the performance of a lifetime. She had been invited to participate in this performance for charity and to dance with some of the best dancers in the world.
As the performance got underway, she wondered vaguely if her family was out there. She knew they were, but something bothered her. Ever since that day at Flourish and Blotts, Zara found herself watching her parents more closely than usual. She knew that she was being silly, that what her father had said that day was just part of the system of beliefs that her mother and brother shared. And soon she would be expected to as well. But why did it feel so wrong?
"Five minutes Ms. Malfoy," said the assistant stage manager poking his head into the dressing room.
"Thank you," Zara said rising from her chair. With one final look into the mirror, Zara left the room and went to the stage.
After the performance, Zara returned to her dressing room feeling exhilarated. The performance had gone extremely well.
She had just finished changing when there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Zara said as she finished hanging up her costume.
The door opened and Lucius came in, "You were wonderful sweetheart."
"Thanks," Zara said as he closed the door. Her exhilaration had dissipated immensely upon her father's arrival. She proceeded to gather her things.
"I've received many complements about you tonight."
"Good," Zara replied as she put her makeup in her bag.
Lucius studied his daughter carefully before he spoke again, "Is there something wrong?"
"No, why would you say that?"
"Zara, look at me when I am speaking to you!" Lucius commanded a little more sharply than he had intended.
She looked up at him, "Nothing is wrong."
"I beg to differ. Ever since our return from Diagon Alley, you've been avoiding me. Why?"
"I haven't---"
"Do not lie to me Zara."
"I'm not lying!" Zara said as she zipped up her bag. "Can we not talk about this?"
"I cannot fix this until you tell me what is troubling you."
"Why did you say those things at Flourish and Blotts?"
"What are you talking about?"
"When we saw the Weasleys and Harry Potter, what you said about he-who-must-not-be-named."
"What about it?"
"Did you mean it?" Zara asked him, looking into her father's eyes searching for some kind of sign.
"Yes Zara I did."
"But why? Why would you say something like that?"
"I prefer not to be questioned by a child. Soon Zara you will come to have your own beliefs about our world. But until then you will not question mine."
"Yes father," she said quietly.
The next morning at King's Cross, Draco and Zara stood on platform 9 ¾ saying goodbye to their parents. While Draco assured his mother that he would write, Zara stood by quietly. Lucius knew that she was hurt by last night's discussion. But it had to be that way. He was confident that she would come to believe in the same ideals eventually. A year in Slytherin would see to that.
"Zara, I have something for you," Lucius said quietly as the trunks were taken away by porters. He pulled out a small box and handed it to her.
Zara opened it to reveal a silver serpent on a thin platinum chain with an emerald eye.
"This is a congratulatory present."
"But I haven't made it into Slytherin yet."
"It is only a matter of time," Lucius said putting the necklace on her. Then he kissed her head. "700 years of tradition assures your place darling."
"I hope so."
The whistle blew.
"Time to go," Narcissa said kissing Zara and Draco one last time.
Lucius pulled Zara into a brief embrace, "I love you."
"I love you too daddy."
And with that both children walked onto the train and took their seats. On the platform, Narcissa and Lucius watched the train pull away and before it had completely left the station they were gone. Nothing would be the same again.
As the train pulled away from King's Cross, Draco led his sister into one of the Slytherin compartments where Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson were awaiting his arrival. He kept Zara close to him, really assuming his role as big brother for the first time. Zara sat down by the window.
"Draco, you look smashing!" Pansy cooed giving him a kiss on the cheek. Zara resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Thanks. Zara, this is Pansy Parkinson. Pansy, my sister Zara."
"A pleasure," Zara said politely
"So you're starting at Hogwarts? Are you excited?" Pansy asked in a manner one would usually reserve for a small child.
"Yes," Zara replied in a bored tone.
"And of course you've already met Crabbe and Goyle," Draco said sensing his sister's irritation and tried to change the subject.
"Yes," Zara said with a polite smile having met them both over the summer at a few parties that they had all been forced to attend. They were nice to her, not exactly the cleverest of boys, but she could see why Draco had recruited them. They would do what ever he asked of them without question.
For the remainder of the journey, the rest of the group went into "Draco Worship Mode," to which Zara fought the urge to smirk. So Zara pulled out a book and proceeded to read. After what seemed only like a few minutes later, Draco was shaking her awake.
"Zara, it's time to change into robes," he whispered in her ear.
Zara sat up, brushing several silvery blonde strands out of her pale blue eyes. When she came back into the compartment twenty minutes later, the train began to slow. Draco gave his sister a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder as the train came to a stop in Hogsmeade Station. The students began to trickle out toward the horseless carriages and Hagrid could be heard calling the first years to him.
"I'll see you at school," Draco said before they split off in different directions. "Good luck," and then he went with the others toward the carriages.
The night brought with it a mild post summer chill as a fleet of tiny boats crossed the Black Lake. Zara breathed in deeply inhaling the scent of the night. The great castle that was Hogwarts illuminated the lake. From this distance it looked very intimidating.
As the castle got closer, Zara felt butterflies flutter in her stomach. And that's when it hit her. Seven hundred years of tradition, seven hundred years in the house of Slytherin and now it was upon her to continue the legacy of her family. As the boats continued their journey across the lake, Zara wondered if her brother had felt this same pressure. It was quite daunting really, this pressure to uphold family tradition.
Zara could not explain her worry over this matter. Why all of a sudden did she feel the family name bearing down on her?
Five year-old Zara stood in the sitting room of Black Manor gazing at the Black family tapestry.
"Mummy? What is this?" She asked her mother.
Narcissa crossed the room, "That is our family tree," she said standing next to her. She pointed to where her own name was inscribed, "There I am. The double line means marriage and your father's name is after that. Below our names are yours and Draco's because you are our children."
"Why are there so many holes?"
"There were names in the place of those holes. But they were blasted off of the tapestry."
"Why?"
"Those family members were expelled for actions that were not suitable to the Black family name.
"Who was here between you and Aunt Bellatrix?"
"My sister Andromeda, she married a muggle. But she had it coming having been in Gryffindor. The Blacks have been in Slytherin for generations with the exception of Andromeda and Sirius."
"Like Daddy's family?"
Narcissa nodded, "Just like your father's family. It is a great family tradition on both sides that cannot be broken. Only Slytherins are worthy to bear the name of Black or Malfoy, remember that Zara and do not let anyone persuade you otherwise."
"Yes Mummy."
Minerva McGonagall was waiting for the new class of first years as the ascended the stairs leading to the Great Hall. Her eyes discreetly sought Zara Malfoy almost immediately. The child was still as pretty as when Minerva had seen her at the Governor's meeting in June. The fates had certainly conspired to create this flawless beauty who was a perfect blend of both parents. She wondered if the family resemblance was similar on the inside as well
Zara only half listened to Professor McGonagall as she named the four houses of Hogwarts. She was too busy thinking about the expectations that were being placed in front of her. Moments later, Zara found herself walking into the Great Hall and directly in front of her was her destiny; the sorting hat.
"What makes Slytherin so special?"
"Almost all of the pureblood witches and wizards have been in Slytherin. After they have left Hogwarts, they marry other purebloods in order to keep our race going."
"So if you are in Slytherin, you are a pureblood?" Zara asked trying to sort this all out.
"For the most part yes."
"And the other houses have half-bloods and muggle born witches and wizards?"
"Yes."
"So if you are in Gryffindor, you are a blood traitor?"
"Not technically. But in my eyes one may as well be. Gryffindors who are purebloods sully the name of wizard. Slytherins are the only ones worthy to carry the title of wizard or witch," Narcissa said with a near sneer.
"Only Slytherins are worthy to bear the name of Black or Malfoy, remember that Zara and do not let anyone persuade you otherwise."
Narcissa Malfoy's words to her daughter floated through Zara's head as she waited for her name to be called. The atmosphere was almost electric in the Great Hall as the children were sorted. Zara could feel the pressure build in the pit of her stomach as McGonagall read out each name. She felt like her stomach was going to burst by the time Zara heard her own name.
"Malfoy, Zara!" McGonagall called out.
Zara stepped forward and walked toward the sorting hat. She touched her neck where the serpent pendant her father had given her lay nestled against her chest under her robes. She sat on the stool and the hat was placed on her head.
Lucius' words on the platform replayed in her mind, "700 years of tradition assures your place darling."
Seven hundred years of tradition and now it was Zara's turn. But not even the seven generations of Slytherins before her could prepare Zara for what was about to be said.
"Gryffindor!" shouted the sorting hat.