Chapter 8: Infamous

The first day of term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was always very exciting. Students caught up with their friends about their holidays, everyone had new classes, new levels of expectations and best of all, a clean slate. However, that was not the case for Zara Malfoy. She sat out in the courtyard for the remainder of breakfast. When the bell sounded, she headed down to the paddock for Care of Magical Creatures class.

Whispers followed her wherever she went that morning. If there was one thing Hogwarts students loved, it was good gossip. Narcissa Malfoy had certainly provided that and it took all of Zara's strength not to run away and hide. But then again Zara was never one to run away. At lunch, she barely ate anything at all due her loss of appetite. So she discarded the rest of the food and decided to go up to the library to start her homework.

"Zara?" A familiar voice said as she walked through the corridor toward the library.

She turned and Snape was standing there, "Hello Professor."

"Do you have a moment?"

"Yes, of course."

He led her into an empty classroom, "You handled yourself very well this morning."

"Thank you," Zara replied softly.

"I know that being placed in Gryffindor is not ideal, but it is still a good house. Not as good as my own Slytherin House, but still very good."

"I know that."

"What happened at breakfast was very unfortunate. But your mother will see reason soon enough."

Zara nodded, "Yes."

Snape looked at her, she didn't look at him, "Your mother doesn't hate you."

"It doesn't matter now. The entire school heard that howler and they think that she does hate me."

"They'll forget all about this in a week's time."

She finally looked up at him, "Severus, what about my father. Will he—does he hate me?"

"No Zara, he doesn't."

At this she looked mildly relieved, "Good."

Friday afternoon of the following week brought with it the Gryffindor Quidditch team trials. Slytherin had theirs the previous afternoon and Zara had heard that her brother was Slytherin House's newest seeker. She desperately wanted to congratulate him, but Draco would not even offer her as much as a glance. It hurt her more than she thought it would. But true to form, Zara didn't even show that it bothered her.

After classes were finished for the day, Zara decided to go out to the pitch and watch the trials. For the past two weeks Zara had kept to herself. The whispers and gossip about her had subsided by now. But unlike most of the Gryffindor first years who wasted no time in making friends with each other; she kept her distance, unsure of what to make of the people around her. As she walked Zara saw her brother, along with Crabbe and Goyle, heading back up the lawn from Care of Magical Creatures class. She caught her brother's eye, but he ignored her.

20 minutes later, Zara was in the stands and she watched as various people from Gryffindor took the pitch. Harry, Ron, and Hermione came in a few minutes later.

"I wonder what she's doing here." Ron said as he and Hermione sat on the sidelines.

"Maybe she likes Quidditch Ron," Hermione said.

"I'm surprised she's even here. I hate to say it, but Malfoy's sister may be even worse than him. She won't give anyone the time of day, thinks that she's better than everyone else."

"Ron," Harry said. "You don't know for sure. She's probably just shy."

"A Malfoy shy? Yeah right," Ron scoffed.

Harry sighed and headed off toward the rest of the team. A few minutes later Ginny came in and went up into the stands. She saw Zara and headed straight for her.

"May I sit here?" Ginny asked.

Zara looked up, "Yes, of course," She said and looked Ginny over. "You're Ginny right?"

Ginny smiled, "Yes."

"You look familiar, like I've seen you somewhere before, outside of school that is."

"So do you. I think it was at Flourish and Blotts."

"Flourish and Blotts…oh," Zara said. She had been trying to block out the memory of that day. "I remember now." She paused, "My family wasn't exactly nice to yours."

"Neither was mine, but its okay," Ginny said reassuringly

"So how do you like Hogwarts so far?"

"I love it. My brothers have all gone before me and I'm glad to finally be here. You?"

"I like it," Zara said automatically.

"You don't sound like you believe that."

Zara shrugged, "My brother he—never mind."

"He's still not talking to you?" Ginny supplied.

"How do you know that?"

"The whole school knows."

Zara sighed, "Yes. But it's not so much that. It's the scathing looks that Draco gives me."

"I'm sorry," Ginny said sympathetically. "But he'll get over it. Have you talked to your parents?"

"No. I'll be lucky if my mother speaks to me before Christmas."

Ginny didn't say anything. She couldn't imagine her own mother saying anything as horrible as what that howler did to her children, "What about your father?'

"He hasn't said anything at all and that's even worse."

The Quidditch trials ended two hours later and by that time Ginny and Zara were talking animatedly as they went back up to the castle for dinner. Ginny didn't notice the looks Ron was giving her behind her back. When they reached the top of the stairs leading into the entrance courtyard, Zara caught sight of her father coming out of the entrance hall.

"Ginny come on," Ron said seeing Lucius as well. "I want to show you something before dinner."

The four of them went off to the left and Zara continued going straight into the courtyard. Lucius saw her almost immediately and strode toward her with his ever present serpent cane in hand, "Ah Zara I was just coming to find you. You were out at the Quidditch trials, yes?

Zara nodded, "Yes daddy," She said softly.

"I just came from Slytherin House. I gave the Quidditch team new brooms to celebrate your brother's success.

A small smile crept across Zara's face. Her father was always good at grand gestures when it came to his children. He never passed up the opportunity to show others what the benefits were to befriending a Malfoy. Narcissa, however considered this to be overindulgent behavior on his part. She had been raised not to flaunt her own wealth. The Black family name was enough.

"Draco deserves it."

"And what is it that you think you deserve?"

"What do you mean?" Zara asked curiously.

"I've spoken to Severus and he tells me you've been quite the topic of conversation among the teaching staff. Your professors are impressed with your work thus far."

"Really?"

"Yes. However, Severus also told me that you've either skipped meals or if you do decide to eat, it is very little," Lucius said, a note of concern present in his voice. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes daddy, of course."

Lucius examined her for a moment before leading her out of the entrance courtyard, "Come Zara, let us discuss this over dinner," He said.

Zara merely nodded and went along with him. When they got outside of the gates, she took her father's hand and with a loud crack they disapperated. The next minute, they appeared outside of Drake's, a restaurant frequented by well to do wizarding society that was located just off the main street of Diagon Alley. The Malfoys were one of an elite few who had a table reserved for them at times. When they went inside, the host took their coats and escorted them to the table. After they were settled and the food was ordered, Zara sat quietly.

"Zara, I brought you here because you need to know that your mother and I are not angry with you."

"You're not?" Zara asked, shocked.

"Of course not, you cannot control where you are placed."

"What about the howler mummy sent?"

"That," Lucius said with a sigh, "Was a mistake. Your mother was in shock. If I had known about it, I wouldn't have let your mother send it."

"But she said I was a blood traitor."

"That isn't true," Lucius said coolly. "Blood traitors are people like your Aunt Andromeda who married a muggle. Will you be doing that?"

Zara shook her head, "No daddy, never. Even at Zara's age, she knew that doing something like that would never be acceptable.

"Good girl," Lucius said satisfied with her answer.

"But I'll still get blasted off the family tree," Zara said softly.

For an instant, Lucius felt anger rise in him knowing that Narcissa had put that idea into Zara's head. While he believed in teaching Draco and Zara what was expected of them, he did not think it was necessary for them to be frightened all the time about making mistakes. Both of them knew how to behave appropriately and there was no need to scare them so.

"No, Zara you will not. Your mother did not mean that."

"Are you sure?"

"Have I ever lied to you, princess?"

"No daddy," She said with a soft smile.

He pulled out a box, "I have something for you," He said and handed it over. Zara opened it and found a gold lion pendent with a ruby eye in it, "I was too presumptuous in giving you the serpent's necklace. This should be more suitable."

Zara smiled, "Thank you daddy."

After Lucius had returned Zara to school, he returned home. He found Narcissa in the sitting room.

"Narcissa," He greeted coming in.

"Hello Lucius. Did Draco like his new broom?"

"Of course he did. He is guaranteed a spot on the team for as long as he wants it."

Narcissa smiled, "That is wonderful."

"I also took the time to speak with Zara."

"Did you?" She asked stiffening slightly.

"Yes. How can you fill her with such lies?"

R/R please!