Summer break passed far too quickly; perhaps it was the summer heat or the cicadas' monotonous crying that violated my sense of time, but honestly, at this point in time; I can hardly care.

"And I'll be ready to serve them food and dessert." I smiled modestly before adding a snarky remark purely to annoy Harry. "Here is your food, Mr. and Mrs. Mason. It was a pleasure to serve you."

I put on my most charming smile, clasping my pale hands behind my back before dipping into a graceful bow, ignoring the disgusted look Harry gave me.

"Excellent, Shade!" Uncle Vernon rumbled, clapping a hand on my shoulder and almost sending me toppling onto the floor. Shaking it off, I smiled and turned around to face Harry.

"And you?" His voice suddenly turned nasty as he turned to Harry. I giggled, shooting him a small smirk before blowing a kiss.

"I'll be in my room making no noise and pretending I'm not here," Harry said on cue, dully, sulking almost as if he wanted to do otherwise.

Poor Harry, always rejected and outcasted from everyone else.

Serves him right for always being a glory hog; even an idiot could figure out that he didn't have any solo achievements under his name. It was all with the help of his stupid little sidekicks, Granger, and the Weasel Bee, that he managed to not get expelled at every corner.

It was unfair.

Karma is a b*tch.

"Be sure that you do."

We shot looks at each other, my haughty smirk that I had no doubt picked up from Draco clashing with his look of slight anger.

But honestly, what can he do?

SMASH!

I jumped up and screamed as an ugly creature, wrinkled and small, darted out of my sight, hurling a few words at me before leaving.

"Shade Potter must not go to Hogwarts!"

What did he say?

Why? Why must I not go to Hogwarts?

Also, what was that?

"What- Eh...? What was that-!" I stand up from the floor, brushing off my skirt as I frantically search for that ugly dwarf.

"Whatever is the matter, Shade dear?"

I looked around, sure that the elf was not just of my imagination. Not that I could ever imagine something that hideous or anything, but-

"No... Nothing. Pardon me." Shade coughed before her emerald eyes adhered to the cake that was slowly levitating itself through the air towards Mrs. Mason's head, Harry following.

I thought we agreed he'd be up in his room making no noise and pretending he didn't exist!

That little rat-

With a small shriek from Mrs. Mason, the cake fell onto her head, exploding in a cloud of white icing and yellow cake. I cringed as some landed on my leg and slid down slowly onto the floor.

"You little-"

I screamed as the ugly creature appeared again, this time just around the corner. From her shocked expression and small scream, I could gather that Aunt Petunia had seen the creature too.

"Get that thing out of here!"

I scrambled out of her way, drawing my legs up onto the couch as she leaped over the coffee table and ran past Mrs. and Mr. Mason, leaving Uncle Vernon staring after her. My eyes followed her into the kitchen and out with a frying pan, chasing after the ugly creature with the pan held high up in the air.

"Jesus..." I sighed, shaking my head as chaos broke out around me, Mr. and Mrs. Mason yelling furiously at Uncle Vernon, who was chasing after Petunia, no doubt trying to stop her. The peaceful silence just moments ago had been broken by Harry, my stupid twin. Or cousin, as I had just found out.

My eyes itched with tiredness from the antics of the people around me, and I face-palmed, realizing that I was once again, sitting alone with a mess around me.

At least I didn't have to clean the mess.

"Christ." I sighed as Mr. Mason chased after Uncle Vernon, yelling expletives about how he would be fired, while Mrs. Mason ran off to the bathroom, in tears over her 'new dress which cost more than Vernon's entire life's savings.'.

Sighing, I stand up as a hand brushes over my mouth, clamping down.

"Don't move."

I scream and react to my gut instinct, which is to plummet this stranger with my famous flying, roundhouse kick.

Turning around, I knock the figure back and almost into the fire before realizing it's-

"Draco?"

I stare down at my- Well actually, I'm not sure what we are.- Before breaking into laughter.

"How did you get into my house? Also, why was your first instinct to pretend you were a rapist?" I laughed, reaching down to help him up.

"You live with these people? How do you do it?" He scowled, surveying the small house and wrinkling his nose at the mess, the destroyed cake piled atop the coffee table and couch.

"Do what?" I flushed, thinking how this house would look like a pigsty compared to wherever Draco lived.

"Of course he lives in a manor or something. He's Draco."

"Shut up, mom."

"Not blow your brains out by living with Saint Potter." He spat the name out, sneering at the thought of Harry before turning back to me. "So how are you, Shade? Good? I hope all of your brain cells are still in place because I do not want you saying something dumb in front of my parents."

"Wait, what?" I barely had time to react before Draco grabbed the scruff of my neck and pulled me into the fire, and at the right moment too: as I disappeared, my almond-shaped eyes caught Aunt Petunia walking down the stairs accompanied by a furious Vernon and a steaming Mr. Mason.

For some reason, as I felt my insides twisting into a knot as if I were being dragged through a tight tube and squeezed out. My mind wandered to the house elf's shrill voice, echoing in my ear like some sort of demented horror movie with cheesy special effects.

"Shade Potter must not go to Hogwarts!"

As if I wouldn't go to Hogwarts.

Where else would I stay?

My house with the Dursleys was hardly a fun place to be, now that I had seen Draco's Malfoy Manor. And staying alone in Malfoy Manor?

F*ck that.

Draco's parents were scary; well, at least his dad was.

I heard that Lucius Malfoy was one of the first to revert back to the 'good' side after the fall of Lord Voldemort and that he claimed he was 'imperioused'.

Pretty believable lie, I guess.

"The ministry these days," My mother sighed, crooning into my ear almost as if she were right there, sitting in my room with me. "they need to determine what's right and what's wrong."

"Good point." I thought. For once my mother's remarks were more helpful than destructive. I remember what happened last year with Victoria Eaglet, or whatever her name was.

Part of me felt guilty for forgetting her name. How could I ever forget such an important name?

Why was that important anyways?

For a second, I considered asking Draco what her name was. But now I just felt stupid, why would I want to know that?

"Poor baby. Remembering that now? Think of how BAD you were, how everyone hated you. You can't keep this up for long..." She droned.

"Mom, we've been over this. Please don't talk to me."

There was too much noise, or was there? It was too bright, but it was the night. It was too hot, but it was September. This manor felt too empty, although I wasn't alone in here.

For a second, I wondered how anyone could stand to be in such a large mansion alone.

Or maybe it was just the horror movies I watched last night, alone.

"And when they reach their final achievement-"

"What final achievement?"

I don't get it; what was she saying? Who were they? What achievement?

"You'll be the first they find."

Who?

Why would they find me?

"Smoke out the liar, dear Shade."

"What liar?"

"And always remember who you are."