While raiding her sister's room, Evelyn finds a family photo album and shares it with Ellie. Shortly after, Evelyn takes Ellie to meet the Sallow family's closest friends, the Malfoys. Ellie is given a tour of the manor by the Malfoy's son and meets the children of a few other of her mother's friends.

It was a particularly quiet autumn day. Ellie sat on her bed, surrounded by new toys, clothing, and trinkets from her eighth birthday just days earlier. Her mother had treated her to a shopping spree – whatever she wanted would be hers. While it was fun, it was short-lived, and now she had grown bored as the newness of her toys wore off.

She stepped out of her room and glanced to the left into the nanny's bedroom. Abigail was taking her usual midday nap and was snoring softly into her pillow. Ellie turned and went down the hall, past her aunt's currently vacant room. But wait. She stopped. Ethel's room was supposed to be vacant, but there was a light rustling from behind the cracked door. She took a few steps back and peered through the opening and found her mother sitting on the edge of the bed with a leatherbound book in her lap.

Ellie pushed open the door, which stopped abruptly when it hit a heavy box behind it. Squeezing through, Ellie entered the room and looked around curiously. It was as if a whirlwind had blown through.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she tiptoed and stepped over notebooks, textbooks, and random odds and ends strewn about the normally tidy room. Her mother looked up at her, then at the floor.

"I was looking for a particular potion ingredient in your aunt's supplies and, well, I've made quite the mess, haven't I? No matter. It'll give Abigail something to do once she wakes up."

"What's that?" Ellie asked again as she made her way over to the bed and took a seat next to her mother. The large book in her mother's lap was an aged photo album full of enchanted photographs. The ones spread across the open face appeared very old and the movement in them was subtle.

"It's the Sallow family photo album. I had wondered where it went. I used to love looking at all the photos when I was a little girl. I supposed your grandmother passed it onto Ethel."

"Who are they?" Ellie pointed to the old photos. In them was a couple that was older than Ellie, but quite a bit younger than her mother. They stood atop a hill with a large castle in the background. They both wore dark clothing, and the woman held up to the camera what looked like a stone necklace with a thick fabric sash instead of a metal chain.

"These are photos of your great-great grandparents, Eleanor Crowfoot and Sebastian Sallow."

"Eleanor…? She's who I'm named after?"

"Yes, that is right. This photo here is when she was given an award for ending the goblin rebellion in 1891." The photographs were just as old as they looked. It was a wonder they had any movement to them at all. Eve flipped through the pages, stopping to give Ellie the backstory of each photo as a sort of illustrated timeline of their family history. The following pages had photos of Eleanor and Sebastian's children, Shadrach Soloman Sallow (since deceased) and Cecily Anne Sallow, who raised Evelyn and Ethelyn in place of their mother who died after giving birth to Eve. There were photos of Cecily when she was betrothed to a man by the name of Morfin Gaunt. Evelyn explained that Sebastian had ties to the Gaunt family and worked out a marriage between his daughter and the son of Marvolo Gaunt to preserve the Gaunt family bloodline.

"What's so special about the Gaunt family?" asked Ellie. "Grandma Cecily doesn't look very happy, and Grandpa Marvolo looks, uhm…" She scrunched up her nose and tilted her head to the side. "…a bit weird." Evelyn tapped on the photo as she pondered her response.

"Well," she began. "The Gaunts were the last descendants of Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts. You'll learn more about him and the other founders later. All you need to know now is that he was one of the greatest wizards of his time, and it is an honour to share blood with him."

"So… we're related to him, too, then?"

"While we are not as closely related as my mother was, being that she was the last true Gaunt – you, your aunt Ethel, and myself are still related to him, yes."

Ellie hummed and nodded in understanding. Eve frowned slightly at the lack of reaction from her daughter but carried on. The next set of photos were that of Evelyn and Ethelyn's parents, Silas Gellert Sallow and Odilia Gaunt.

"Odilia!" squealed Ellie. "I'm named after her, too?"

"Yes, my dear. I was not, therefore it only seemed fair to name you after the last living Gaunt. Eleanor Odilia Sallow… to remember the beginning and continuance of greatness." Ellie giggled and kicked her feet out in front of her, feeling proud of her own name.

Eve turned the page and showed Ellie photos of her father – Ellie's grandfather – Silas. She explained how she did not know much about her father or his friends, since he left them under his mother's care after she was born. She hadn't even met her father until she and Ethel were in their third year at Hogwarts, when he came back to England after travelling around Europe for work.

Many photos of Silas also featured a tall dapper man with striking blond hair and pale eyes. His name was Abraxas, and he was a member of the affluent Malfoy family.

"Father's friendship with Abraxas secured a connection between our family and the Malfoy family, which still exists to this day. I became very close with Abraxas's son, Lucius. I knew him long before we all became Dea–" Evelyn cleared her throat. "Deft in the Dark Arts. The Malfoys are not only important people, but they are dear family friends. Someday soon, I will introduce you to them."

Eve pushed forward, nearing the end of the photo album. The final photos were of her and Ethel during their time at Hogwarts and just past their graduation. In one group photo, Ellie noticed a man who she thought must be Abraxas's son. As if her mother could read her thoughts, Eve confirmed her suspicions when she named each person in the photo: Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix and Narcissa Black, Evan Rosier, her aunt Ethelyn, of course, two men simply by the names of Avery and Mulciber, and a younger looking boy by the name of Severus Snape. They were all neatly lined up in front of a grand fireplace that bore a serpent crest above it.

The photos on the next page put a sour look on Evelyn's face. She drew out her wand and touched it to the face of the man standing next to her, her ex-husband, Desmond Dogwood. His face twirled under the tip of her wand until it vanished entirely. Satisfied, she pocketed her wand.

"Who's that?" asked Ellie, pointing to a photo on the next page. It was of her Ethel and a young man laughing and playing in the snow.

"That's Evan Rosier. Your aunt was rather smitten with him."

"Where is he now?"

"Evan, unfortunately, is no longer with us. At the end of the war, he confronted a man by the name of Alastor Moody, a very powerful Auror."

"Was he stronger than Father?" Ellie interrupted. Eve sighed at the mention of Desmond. "Yes. Your father was a mere novice compared to Moody."

"Wow."

"This story is not about him, though, Eleanor, but about Evan. Evan was very skilled, but that alone could not best Moody." Evelyn's voice softened. "We all thought we were done for, but Evan sacrificed himself so we could get away. He was a brave man and is sorely missed."

Ellie fell silent and turned the page for her mother, hoping the next photos would be a bit more cheerful. Indeed, they appeared to be, making Ellie smile again.

"Oh! Is that me?" she asked cheerfully. On the page was a photo of her mother holding a swaddled babe whilst seated on the steps of the Sallow villa. Behind her were faces Ellie recognized – her grandmother Cecily, much older than the earlier photos, and her aunt Ethelyn.

"Yes," answered Eve, smiling. "That's you shortly after you were born." Seated next to her mother was a woman also holding an infant in her arms. Evelyn and the woman smiled at each other, then down at their children.

"Wait, wasn't she in the group photo?" asked Ellie.

"Yes," answered Eve, smiling. "That's Narcissa with her son. She and Lucius got married after we left Hogwarts. Oh, it was a splendid wedding. Their son was born a mere two months before you were. It made playdates easy, until… well… I had to take my leave." Evelyn waved her hand in the air dismissively. "What happened, happened." She gingerly closed the photo album and set it on the bed.

"Remind me the next time we are out to buy a camera and processing potion. Your grandmother would love to see this filled up, I'm sure."

Eve stood up and smoothed out her skirt. She peered around the room, taking in the mess she made one more time. Stepping over everything, she beckoned Ellie to follow her out. Once at the door, she called down the hallway: "Abigail! It is nearly time for dinner. I will be outside with Ellie practising her spells. Come get us when the table is set. After that, tidy up this room." A groggy "yes, ma'am" came from the room down the hall as the two Sallows descended the stairs.

A few weeks later, Ellie found herself walking with her mother down a long gravel driveway towards a stately manor. Her mother had told her she needed to be acquainted with the Malfoys, but she was not expecting it to happen so soon, or so out of the blue. They were having morning treats in the tearoom when her mother told her they had plans that evening.

The gravel crunched under their heels, seeming louder than normal in the still evening. On either side were tall hedges blocking sight of the rest of the property. Strolling atop the yew hedges were a couple of albino peacocks, birds that Ellie had only ever heard about. Their bright, elegant plumage stood out starkly against the incoming darkness of dusk.

The driveway and hedges went past a pair of wrought-iron gates, where Ellie and Evelyn paused. Ellie watched as her mother motioned to the gate, causing it to shimmer strangely. With gentle encouragement, Evelyn moved Ellie towards the gate, and, to Ellie's surprise, she went through the gate as if she were made of nothing more than smoke.

They continued forward, the manor becoming even more stunning with each step. Ellie gazed up at the spires. It looked like they were piercing the sky. The manor had an odd chill to it. While a few windows were lit up with a warm golden glow, most of them were black and reflected what little remained of the lit sky behind looming rain clouds. It was rather haunting. Ellie stopped abruptly, still staring at the grand structure, and frowned.

"Mother, I really don't want to play with them," she whined. Evelyn had told her that there would be other children her age at the Malfoy manor, as if it were a selling point to get her to come along without fuss.

"Eleanor, dear, it is of upmost importance that you get acquainted with them," said Evelyn calmly.

"But why? Why couldn't I stay with Abigail?" Ellie's whining became more defined. She could think of a hundred things she would rather be doing than meeting a bunch of strange children at a strange home.

They finally arrived at the massive front door. Evelyn grasped the cast iron door knocker and announced their arrival – once, twice, thrice. "Now, remember to be on your absolute best behaviour, and do not forget your manners."

The door swung open to reveal two perfectly put together figures. Ellie recognized them instantly from the photo album. The man had long pale hair and piercing grey eyes. His face was long, sharp, and bore a haughty expression. The woman next to him also had long, blonde hair, which was fixed into an elegant twisted up-do. Her face was softer, more welcoming than that of her husband's, but her icy sapphire eyes were just as piercing.

As Ellie inspected them with wide eyes, her attention fell to the man's walking stick. Her first thought was wondering why he needed a walking stick in the first place, but then she saw it – the silver snake head topper, mouth agape, dazzling with emerald eyes. She had seen that exact snake before, down to the diamonded pattern at the base of the snake's head.

"Ah, Lucius, Cissy, it's a pleasure to see you again." Evelyn leaned in to greet both, cheek to cheek. "Eleanor, these fetching folks are Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Now, be polite and say hello." Ellie's eyes went to the snake head once more before back up to Lucius Malfoy. He wore a knowing smirk on his face.

"Good evening, Mister and Missus Malfoy. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Ellie, strained. Her mother made her practise her most polite greeting the entire way there.

"What a darling little girl she has grown into," said Narcissa Malfoy, a glimmer in her eyes. "Please, do come in." The Malfoys stepped aside and motioned for their guests to enter.

Ellie gazed around in wonderment as they stepped into the entrance hall. The large hallway had elaborately decorated walls and dark stone flooring that was covered with elegant long running carpet. Fancy bronze sconces with lit candles illuminated the area. The chilling feeling the manor gave Ellie from outside had been replaced with warmth in the dim candlelight.

"Son, come down here," called Narcissa into the foyer ahead of them. The lofty room housed two spiral staircases leading up to a singular open landing on the first floor. The room itself was covered with paintings of tranquil fields and vast mountain ranges. Sculptures and artefacts of all sorts lined the walls on marble pedestals. Near the lefthand staircase was a handsome fireplace with a full set of furniture before it.

A moment later, a rather small boy with white-blond hair paused on the open landing. There was no mistaking that he was the Malfoys' son – he was the spitting image of his father with his mother's high cheekbones. Ellie watched as he bounded down the stairs and stopped in front of them with a small grin.

"Yes, mother?"

"Draco, you remember Ms. Sallow? This is Eleanor, her lovely daughter." Narcissa motioned to Ellie, whose cheeks flushed slightly. "If you would, please show her around the manor and introduce her to your playmates."

Ellie grabbed the bottom of her mother's sleeve and tugged at it slightly as she looked up at her with pleading eyes. Her mother frowned.

"Go along now, Eleanor. I have business to attend to with my friends." Eve shook her sleeve free and turned to follow the Malfoys down the hall into a large, long room where other adults were already seated. Ellie watched as they walked away, wondering what business they had to attend to at such a late hour. She couldn't hear what they were talking about, but their expressions led her to believe it was not a casual chat about the weather. Lucius Malfoy turned and, with one last look at Ellie and his son, closed the heavy door behind him.

"Eleanor Sallow, is it? I'm Draco Malfoy," the boy spoke, bringing Ellie's attention from the drawing room door back to the entrance hall. He held his hand out confidently for her to shake. She looked at him apprehensively. His hair was perfectly in place. His attire, which she could tell was worth many Galleons, was crisp and flawless. He wore a self-assured look on his face. She met his eyes, a chilling silver, and a single eyebrow above them raised. Ellie hesitated a moment before she grasped his hand, feigning a kind smile.

"It's lovely to meet you. Please, call me Ellie," she said, giving his hand a slight squeeze as she shook it.

Draco took her around the ground floor of the manor, giving her a tour as his mother requested. They started down the right side of the entrance hall that doubled as an art gallery. At the end of the hall was a parlour reserved for social activities, such as wizard's chess, and an impressive library with shelves that surpassed the first floor. Around the corner was an open room that Draco called his father's "trophy" room, a place with countless artefacts and objects on display like a miniature museum.

Across from the trophy room was the closed door to a bedroom and a tearoom to the right. Ellie poked her head into the darkened tearoom and spotted many different jars on an island counter, each a unique blend of tea. There was also an elevated morning room with a single round table and a chair that looked out into the flower gardens.

The tour continued as Draco droned on and on about the rooms – his favourite, his least favourite, a fond memory that happened there, a not so fond memory there. Ellie listened without much to say, honestly blown away at the grandeur of his home. Down the hall they went, now opposite of the entrance, past a luxurious ballroom that took up much of the rear of the manor.

There were two more small bedrooms at the end of the back hall before it ended and turned back towards the front of the manor. They passed by the kitchen to the right and Lucius Malfoy's study on the left. In front of them was a closed door behind which they could hear muffled voices; they had nearly wrapped around to the front of the manor again, and behind that door was the drawing room their parents disappeared into.

They quietly walked towards the foyer, pausing a moment for Draco to comment, "Ah, and over there is the music room. Mother usually enchants the instruments to play so the manor isn't so quiet." After seeing the entire ground floor, he led her up one of the twisting staircases in the foyer to the first floor where they stopped on the landing overlooking the ballroom.

The first floor was almost entirely made up of bedrooms. They must host many parties, Ellie decided, but still couldn't help but wonder if the manor ever got lonely. Draco pointed one direction and commented that his parents' room was the largest bedroom on the floor, but his – he then pointed in the opposite direction – was a close second. Aside from the guestrooms, there was also a study nearby his room and the upper level of the library. He led her towards his bedroom where there was another pair of stairs; one led up to the second floor and the other down to the ground floor between the kitchen and drawing room.

They ascended the steps to the second floor. Nearest the stairs, there were four small bedrooms holding no more than a chest of drawers and a single bed in each. Next to the rooms was a large aviary which Ellie assumed housed the white peafowl she saw on their way in. Down the corridor, featuring more paintings and hanging shadow boxes, they made their way to an open doorway and stopped. "And here, the lounge, and the observatory tower over there," said Draco at the conclusion of their tour.

Ellie clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her heels. She was not accustomed to being social, as much as her mother emphasized the importance of social connections. She desperately hoped it would be different being around children who were just like herself. And, up to that point, it did feel different. What started as dread and annoyance at having to be social with other children had turned into excitement. To her great relief, it appeared that not all other children her age were brash like Ansel, or filthy like the children running around Diagon Alley with ice cream dripping down their fronts.

Draco walked into the room, gathering the attention of three other boys who all appeared to be around the same age as them. Ellie followed behind him, holding her head high and a broad grin on her face.

"Boys, this is Ellie Sallow," said Draco, holding an arm out towards her. "She's one of us now." Three pairs of eyes locked on her, scrutinizing her, a stranger in their space.

"Charmed," she said with a slight grin. Two of the boys exchanged a look while the third one stared at her sceptically before shrugging and returning to a book in his lap.

"Those two over there are Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle," said Draco, motioning to each as he said their name. He lowered his voice and leaned closer to her to add, "They aren't the smartest, but father insists they're good to keep around." The Goyle boy held some strange old-looking medallion in his hands that he had gone back to messing with; Crabbe was still gawking at her.

"But… she's a girl," Crabbe said slowly.

"Good job, your eyes work," mumbled the third boy who was seated in a chair against the far wall, nose still in his book. "Now if only your brain worked half as well."

"Up yours, Theo," snapped Crabbe as he grabbed the medallion from Goyle and started flipping it between his fingers.

"And over there," Draco pointed to the third boy, "is Theodore Nott." He was tall and thin, quite the opposite of the other two, and appeared perfectly content being in his own world away from the others. Draco turned to face Ellie. "Our fathers are all longtime friends. I suppose they are with your mother, too."

Draco snatched the medallion out of Crabbe's hands and flopped backward onto a nearby loveseat. Ellie remained standing awkwardly in the doorway, taking in all the sights.

"You can sit down, y'know," said Draco, as he flicked the object in the air and caught it. Ellie carefully walked into the room and looked around at the boys. Nott's eyes shot up from his book and he gave her a look as to say, 'not over here,' so she took a seat near Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle instead.

"So, what do you think about the manor? Fantastic, isn't it?" asked Draco, looking proud.

From the far side of the room, Nott snorted and shook his head. As if he could feel Draco's scowl, he looked over his shoulder at Draco and quickly held up his book.

"Ah… funny part," he commented quickly before going back to his book. Draco shrugged and turned his focus back to flinging the amulet in the air and catching it.

"What's that you're playing with?" Ellie asked.

"This? Dunno really. Father said it belonged to Nicholas Malfoy when he owned this place. He pocketed it from a tenant who died from the Black Death."

"It's actually a muggle plague amulet," said Nott, calling over his shoulder. "They were made by muggles to draw in the Black Death so they wouldn't get sick. They were made with mashed toads, human blood, and were covered in metal with pictures of scorpions and snakes on them. This was when muggles still believed magic existed, long before the Statue of Secrecy."

The room drifted into silence. Draco sat up and inspected the discoloured object in his hand which, indeed, had illustrations of scorpions and snakes etched into it. He stared at Nott incredulously. "How'd you know all that?"

Nott held his book up again. "It's called a book. I picked one up and did this thing with it called reading."

Ellie couldn't help but giggle, earning a sneer from Draco. His pale eyes shot back over to Nott, who was smirking at them.

"Go back to your stupid book then, you swot," grumbled Draco as he chucked the muggle artefact at Goyle, who fumbled and nearly dropped it. Goyle groaned about not wanting to touch something made from toad guts and blood and tossed it to Crabbe as if it were hot iron. Nott snapped his book shut and set it on the end table next to his chair.

"Nah, don't think I will." He smiled broadly for the first time since Ellie had joined them. He swung his legs out of the chair and walked over to the others, sitting down cross-legged directly in front of Ellie and stared at her expectantly. Draco stared at him unimpressed.

"Now what are you doing?" asked Draco. Judging by his tone, Ellie guessed that he and Nott had been going back and forth all evening before her arrival and that he was getting tired of Nott's antics.

"Learning about our new friend here," responded Nott with a tilt of his head. "Her mother has been here loads of times, but her? Never her. It's curious, really."

Ellie's cheeks flushed as they all stared at her again.

Draco snorted. "I know why," he said as if it were common knowledge. No one else said anything, waiting for Draco to continue, but he never did.

"Well…?" pushed Nott.

"What?" he asked back.

"That it? Not going to tell us?"

Draco grinned as he looked at Nott. "Nah, don't think I will." Nott's expression flattened at his own words being used on him. Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

"I really don't like you," said Nott as he scowled at the three boys, now all laughing. A small voice cut through the laughter as Ellie finally spoke.

"I can tell you. I don't mind." The laughter slowly came to a stop. She tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked down at her hands in her lap, away from their curious gazes. "I've never been here because, well, I only just started living with my mother a couple years ago. I had been with my father since I was about a year old or so."

"Your dad dead?" asked Crabbe, who had just set the amulet on a table, putting all his focus on her. Ellie opened her mouth to respond, but the voice that answered was not hers.

"He might as well be. Her father is a blood-traitor. He married a muggle, lived amongst muggles." They all turned to look at Draco who was smiling smugly. "My father told me all about it." Draco got to his feet and walked over to Ellie. "Her mother asked my father to help get her back. You should know this already," he said as he turned to Crabbe, "your father went with them."

Crabbe's brows furrowed as he tried to recall knowing such a thing. He shrugged. "Nah, mate. I don't keep up with what my dad does." On the floor, Nott shifted and sighed.

"That's all fine and dandy, but two years is a long time. Her mother has been here lots since then," said Nott. His chin was rested in his palm. He appeared bored.

"Well," said Ellie before Draco could say anything else for her. "I suppose she wanted to make sure I had time to get used to things. Learn more about magic, my real family, that sort of thing."

Nott hummed from the floor. "Guess that makes sense."

"Yeah, especially coming from a muggle home," mumbled Goyle, who simply could not comprehend what that would have been like. A lull followed.

"So… What are your stories, then?" asked Ellie, feeling rather awkward and hoping to displace the attention. Once again, Draco began to speak on behalf of the others but was interrupted by a loud crack at the door that made Ellie jolt.

She spun around in her chair and peered around the back. Standing in the doorway was an odd creature the size of a human toddler. It was scrawny, seemingly hairless, and wore a dirty pillowcase as a robe of sorts. It had a long, thin nose and even longer and thinner bat-like ears. Massive green eyes bulged from its head and were nervously darting between the children.

"Master is wishing for young Master Malfoy and his guests to meet Master downstairs," squeaked the creature in a voice higher than Ellie had expected.

"What– what is that?" Ellie asked, turning back to face the boys with eyes almost as wide as the creature's. Draco looked at her with equal confusion.

"What do you mean 'what is that'? He's our house-elf. You don't have a house-elf?" he asked, perplexed. Ellie shook her head. "Then, who cleans your house? Cooks your food?"

"Abigail does. She's my nanny. She lives with us."

Draco looked past Ellie at the creature with disdain. "I bet a nanny would be better than this thing. Why are you still here, elf?"

"Dobby is making sure young Master Malfoy is doing what Master is wishing." The creature wrung his hands in front of himself and shifted uncomfortably in place. "Dobby is not wanting to be punished. Dobby is doing his job, sir. Dobby is being a good elf."

"We're going, we're going," groaned Draco, and they all began to stand. As soon as they were all on their feet, Dobby the house-elf left with another crack. Ellie stared at the empty space where he stood, hardly able to grasp what she just saw – her very first magical being other than human, and in someone's home, no less.

The children made their way down to the ground floor, Draco leading the way with Crabbe and Goyle, as they talked excitedly about spells they had been practicing. Crabbe had accidentally blown up his mother's tea kettle trying to heat some water, Goyle had yet to attempt casting fire spells, and Draco bragged how he learned how to do all that 'ages' ago. At the rear was Ellie and Nott, walking in silence. As the group made it to the spiral stairs, the voices of their parents and the other adults bounced around the foyer.

"Ah, there they are!" said an aged man with a long beard and bushy eyebrows standing near Evelyn. He was the oldest one there and had to be twice the age of the other adults. He held an arm out and welcomed a reluctant Nott to his side. The rest of them wandered to their respective parents as they prepared to leave the manor. Farewells were exchanged, as well as reminders for future meetings, upcoming public events, and other such subjects that meant very little to Ellie.

Gradually, the others left the manor, but Evelyn and Ellie hung back until it was only the two of them left with Narcissa and Draco Malfoy – Lucius had withdrawn to his study after wishing everyone a good night. Evelyn and Narcissa chatted lightly about needing to visit more often, like they used to.

"Why don't you and Draco here stop in for a visit next week?" suggested Evelyn. Ellie, who had been admiring all the different paintings and elaborate wallpaper and flooring of the entrance hall, snapped to attention. She very much enjoyed her time alone and entertaining someone she had just met – a boy, at that – did not sound like something she was up for. Draco apparently felt the same way, as he was making a very similar face at his mother. Both tried to object to the plan but were hushed by their mothers.

"That is a fantastic idea," said Narcissa with a warm smile. "Draco and I would love to visit for breakfast tea. I will be sure to bring my latest blend."

"It's settled then. I will write to you with the day and time tomorrow. Come along, Eleanor. Let's get going." The two Sallows stepped through the grand doors and into the brisk night. The last noise Ellie heard before the doors closed was Draco's incessant whining – something she would later become all too familiar with.

Thank you for reading!

In Chapter 4, The Gift, Ellie learns she has a unique genetic ability that skipped over her aunt, which causes further strain between the Sallow women. To make matters worse, an unwelcome, unannounced visitor makes an appearance at the Sallow household.