Aribella's point of view. Sunday July 31, 1991. Malfoy Manor, London, England.
I run my hand over my black diary with my name is written in gold. Mother bought it for me last year on my tenth birthday. I pick up my glass of lemonade and take a sip. My brother is somewhere in the backyard with father practicing Quidditch. Father says that I'm better then him when he was in school and mother agrees. I however prefer not to get on a broom and mother says that's fine. Draco sometimes convinces me to play with him sometimes when father is busy with work. Today is mine and Draco's birthday. We are supposed to get out Hogwarts letter. Mother has been slightly worried lately. I guess it's because her and father had an argument over where we were going to school. Father wanted to send us to Durmstrang. Mother wanted to send us to Hogwarts so we're closer to home. Mother won of course. Finally, my brother and father walk towards me hot and sweaty. I turn my nose up at my brother when he comes to stand next to me. "Can you stand somewhere else?" I ask moving slightly away from him.
"What has you upset?" Draco askes grabbing his bottle of water and taking a drink and he sits next to me.
"The sun. It's too bright" I say sarcastically.
"I'm sorry, baby sister" Draco says nudging my knee with his knee.
"No you're not, Draco" I say whacking my brothers arm. Mother comes outside carrying two letters. One is addressed to Draco and the other is addressed to me. I take the letter and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOLofWITCHCRAFTandWIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwumb, International Confed. of wizards)
Dear, Miss Malfoy,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted atHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed alistof all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on1 September. We await your owl by no later than31 July.
Yours sincerely,
I place the letter on the table then read the second page with my supplies. It reads:
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain uniforms(black blazer)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragonhide 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) byMiranda Goshawk
A History of Magic byBathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory byAdalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration byEmeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi byPhyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions byArsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them byNewt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection byQuentin Trimble
OTHER EQUIPMENT
1wand
1cauldron(pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystalphials
1telescope
1 setbrass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, anowlOR acatOR atoad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWNBROOMSTICK
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
I then look up at my mother. "Mother, where are we going to find this stuff?" I ask her.
"Diagon alley. Come children. We must go eat lunch." Mother says patting my back and walking into the manor. I look over at Draco who just looks ahead towards the gardens.
"Dragon?" Ever since I was little, I've always called my older brother Dragon. Mother started calling him little dragon since Draco means Dragon in Latin.
"Yes?" Draco responds looking at me.
"What's the matter?" I ask standing up from my seat getting ready to head back inside.
"Nothing" says my blonde brother kissing my temple and heading inside the Manor. I look over the garden scared that this is going to be a tough year. I just pray to Merlin we both get sorted into Slytherin.
Thursday, August 5th, 1980. Diagon Alley. Aribella's point of view
I walk next to mother as we make our way to Madam Malkin's where Draco is getting robes. "Go on inside, darling. I'm going to go look at wands. Tell your brother where I am. Ok?" My mother says kissing my forehead.
"Ok, mother" I walk into madam Malkin's and am greeted with a woman who I assume is Madam Malkin.
"Hogwarts, dear?" She asks me obviously not looking to see who I am.
"Correct." I say with confidence causing the women to look up at me.
"Another Malfoy?" She asks rounding her desk. "My, my. Aren't you gorgeous?"
I've always loved people complimenting me. I may not have my fathers blonde hair and pale features but I'm very grateful I inherited The Black Family's beaty and grace. "Thank you. My father says I look like my mother." I respond as she takes me to the back where my brother is being pinned up. Mother and father said that next year they'll order our uniforms from a shop mother loves in Paris. I step onto the footstool and let the witch pin me up for the robes.
"Draco?" I ask turning my head to my blonde brother.
"Hm?" He hums obviously lost in thought.
"We'll get Slytherin. Right?" I ask looking down at my bitten nails and thinking about all the times mother has told me to stop biting my nails. I'll eventually stop doing it. Just not now.
"Of course we'll get Slytherin, sis. Our parents were Slytherin royalty." Draco responds. I step off the step stool and stand off to the side while Draco is still being pinned. A boy with black hair and green eyes walks into the backroom by a beaming madam Malkin. I look at my brother and we give each other a knowing look. I look the boy up and down as Draco speaks. "Hello. Hogwarts, too?" It's surprising that my brother isn't being a cocky bastard.
"Yes" responds the boy.
Draco gives me a look. "Our fathers next door buying brooms and our mother is up the street looking at wands," said my brother as the boy with black hair looks at me. Draco glares at the boy thinking he's been looking at me to long. "Then we're going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don't see why first years can's have their own broom. I think I'll bully father into getting me one and I'll smuggle it in somehow." I silently giggle knowing my brother won't bully daddy into buying him a broom. "Have you got your own broom?"
"No." responds the boy.
"Play Quidditch at all?" Asks my brother. I scoff and roll my eyes. My brother has never been interested in anyone unless its me, mother, daddy or he gets something from it.
"No" says the boy looking at me again. "I don't think he knows what Quidditch is." I think to myself.
"We do – Father said it's a crime if me or my sister aren't picked for our house, and I must say, I agree. Father says my sister plays better then him when he was in Hogwarts. Know what house you'll be in yet?" Asks my older brother.
"No." Said the boy.
"well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but we know we'll be in Slytherin, all of our family has been – imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" I shudder as my brother finishes his sentence and my brother gives me a concerned look.
"Mmm." The boy hums.
"I say, look at that man!" My brother says pointing out the window I'm leaning against. I turn and look out the window and my face twists in disgust. The man (Hagrid. I think? Daddy mentioned him once.) is waving at the black-haired boy insinuating he can't come in because he has ice cream.
"I think he's brilliant." The boy with black hair says and I gasp.
Draco looks at me with concern before speaking up as a sneer comes on his face. "Do you? Why is he with you? Where are your parents?"
"They're dead." The boy says. I just stare at him with a cold blank look.
"Oh. Sorry." My brother says with fake sympathy that only I can see through. "But They were our kind, weren't they?"
"They were a witch and wizard, if that's what you mean." The boy with black hair says and I look him up and down like something is off with him.
"I really don't think they should let the other sort in, do you? They're just not the same, they've never been brought up to know our ways. Some of them have never heard of Hogwarts until they got their letter, imagine." Draco says looking a me as I let out a hum of agreement. "I think they should keep it in the old wizarding families. What's your sur name, anyway?"
Then before the boy could answer, Madam Malkin said, "That's you done, my dear," and then the boy leaves.
I look at my brother. "He's odd, Draco."
"I know, Aribella." Draco responds as Madam Malkin finished up with Draco. "Come on." My brother makes his way to the entrance of the store where our parents are talking.
"Are you two done?" Mother asks.
"Yeah. There was this boy with Black hair. He was weird." I say running my hands together.
"Come, children. We need to get your books." Father says leaving the store.
"Ok, father." Draco says following daddy leaving the school. Mother comes up to me and wraps her arm around me.
"Mother, what if I don't get placed in Slytherin with Draco?" I say worrying I may be separated from my older brother.
"My darling, you have a 25 percent chance of getting any house but remember that the sorting hat takes your choice in consideration. If you get put in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff I'll be upset but I will also understand. I have a feeling you won't be in either to be honest." Mother says walking us out of the store.
"Why?" I ask looking up at her.
"Your father says it's because you're like me. Cunning and independent. I think it's because you know what you want and nothing or no one will stop you." Mother says as she kisses my head. "She might be right". I think to myself.
"Can daddy and Draco get my books?" I ask looking into the crowded book shop.
"Sure. Crowd to much?" My mother asks looking around for my father and Draco.
"Mhm." I say coming back to stand next to my mother as she wraps her arm around me again.
"How about we go get ice cream while we wait?" Mother asks.
"Ok." I answer.
After getting Ice cream we're sitting down in the shade when the boy with black hair and Hagrid passes me and my mother. Hagrid stops and turns to my mother.
"Ms. Black?" Hagrid asks. My mother turns her head and puts on a cold face.
"Its Mrs. Malfoy, Hagrid. I stopped going by Ms. Black a long time ago." My mother responds as she takes a sip of tea.
"It's lovely to see you again. And who might this be?" Hagrid says looking at me. I've learned to be quite and observe people and that's what I do.
"This is my daughter." Mother says keeping my identity vague. Mother says that people can't know who I am until I'm introduced to society. I find it odd, but daddy and mother say its best and it's to keep me safe.
"What's her name?" Hagrid asks again and I just stare back.
"That's not important, Hagrid. I must ask you to step away from her before Lucius comes back. He won't be too happy you're so close to his daughter." Mother says standing up getting ready to intervene if necessary.
"How old is she?" Hagrid asks trying to get around my mother to get to me and mother moves closer to me grabbing my wrist.
"Move away from her. Now." My mother says.
Hagrid moves closer until my he hears my fathers voice say, "Hagrid. To what do I owe the pleasure?" My father comes into view and Draco moves to stand at my side as my mother relaxes. I've never seen my mother get that tense before.
"Mr. Malfoy." Hagrid bows his head to daddy as he moves away from me and mother. Daddy doesn't see the boy with Black hair, and I can tell from the way his knuckles are white from gripping his cane that he doesn't like Hagrid coming close to me. Daddy doesn't like it when anyone that isn't family or friends gets close to me actually.
"I'm going to have to ask you to step away from my wife and daughter." My father says moving to stand in between my mother and Hagrid almost likes he's shielding me from the larger man.
"Of course." Hagrid says backing away from me and mother. "I'll see you at school, little Malfoys." At that my brother moves completely in front of me like he never wants Hagrid to see me again.
September 1, 1980, Hogwarts Castle.
Me and Draco are standing in between Crabb and Goyole as McGonigal explains the sorting ceremony. Draco then looks at something and looks slightly distracted. "Draco?" I whisper getting her distracted.
"Look. It's the boy from the store." My brother says pointing to the black-haired boy. I then hear kids start to whisper about him being Harry Potter and I shoot my brother an evil grin only he understands. My brother makes his way to Harry Potter and I follow behind him with Grabbe and Goyole behind me. "Is it true? They're saying everywhere that Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. So, it's you?" My brother says stopping in front of Harry Potter. I stand next to him as Crabbe and Goyole bring up the rear. Draco lectured them on how I am to not be alone at all at Hogwarts. It was a lengthy speech and daddy would be proud.
"Yes" Said Harry Potter looking up from the red headed boy (I think it's a Weasley. Daddy doesn't like the Weasleys that much. He says they are to poor and all sleep in one room.)
"Oh, this is Grabbe and Goyole," my brother says pointing to the two boys behind him. "This is my sister Aribella Malfoy," he wraps an arm around me protectively. "And I'm Malfoy. Draco"
The red headed boy laughs and I look him up and down then look at Draco. "No need to guess your name." I say.
"Red hair and a hand me down robe." My brother says.
"Must be a Weasley." We say in sync.
My brother then turns back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better then others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." My brother says holding his hand out to shake. I look between my brother and Harry.
Harry, however, doesn't take my brothers hand. Instead he says, "I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks." I stare at the boy in shock as Draco's cheeks turn a little red.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter." My brothers says before I chime in.
"Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good, either. You hang around with riff-rafft like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll run off on you" I say to Harry. Moving to stand closer to the boy with Black hair.
"Say that again." The boy with red hair says stepping closer to me. Draco then takes a step forward ready to defend me.
"oh, you're going to fight us, are you" My brother sneers.
A rat then bites my ankle and I let out a sharp yelp that causes Draco to grab the rat and throw it as I turn to my brother and cry into his shoulder about the pain. McGonagall, who I think heard my yelp, rushes over as I look at my ankle with a small line of blood going down it. I bury my head back into Draco's shoulder and cry even harder. "What happened here?" McGonagall says when she reaches us. Harry is the first to answer.
"They started talking about my parents." McGonagall doesn't even look at me and Draco. Just shrugs it off.
"Come now, children." The older women says as she enters the huge double doors entering the Great Hall.
The hat sings the song as we enter and I don't even care enough to look a the ceiling. Instead I look forward with my chin tilted like mother instructed me to do multiple times to show my importance. "Everyone should bow to you, darling." My mothers voice rings through my head. I look at my brother who has a cold and blank expression that would rival fathers. Then the sorting starts.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted" McGonagall says. "Abbott, Hannah!" A girl with blonde hair goes forward and sits down.
"HUFFLEPUFF" The hat yells.
A table with yellow banners cheered with excitement.
"Bones, Susan" Said McGonagall.
"HUFFLEPUFF" The girl sits next to Bones.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!" I at some point drown out the names being called until one gets my attention.
"Thompson, Charlotte" McGonagall says and I look up at a girl with brown hair curled to perfection. I nudge Draco.
"Draco?" I drop my voice to a whisper. "Pureblood?"
My brother nods his head still watching the girl.
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouts.
Then, "Malfoy, Draco" My brother stands up and actually swagers to the seat trying to obviously cheer me up.
The hat doesn't touch his head at all as it shouts, "SLYTHERIN!" my brother gives me a cocky grin as he makes his way to sit between Theodore and Blaise.
The, "Malfoy, Aribella" Everyone (Purebloods and Halfbloods) look at me and the whispers start. No one to the outside public knew about me until now. I sit at the stool and beg the hat to put me in Slytherin.
"Slytherin eh?" I hear the second Voice in my head.
Then, "SLYTHERIN!" And everyone gasps.