375Disclaimer: J.K Rowling is a genius and I do not own/take credit for her wonderful work. Any ideas in this story are (most likely) her plots, characters, stories, and etc.
A/N: This was my first ever attempt at fanfiction. I started this about four years ago, and I finally got the guts to publish it. Before you read this story, listen to this IMPORTANT NOTE. THIS STORY WILL NOT FOLLOW THE DIRECT PLOT LINE OF HARRY POTTER. I took some parts of each book (mainly the 6th and 7th) and rearranged them in a way that works for the story. This is AU. BE AWARE. My OC is the fourth member to the 'golden trio', so all ideas will have similarities to the real HP plot line but I will also change many things. Well, you'll see if you choose to read. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Even if you don't have questions and just wanna talk. PM me and I'll be happy to talk. Anyway, I'm rambling now. One last thing to say...ENJOY! Writing this story brings me incredible happiness, and I hope reading it gives you the same feeling.
You know, usually I had a very calm temperament.
Er, well, that may be an exaggeration, but I still always knew how to keep my cool.
However, if you added up all of the unfortunate factors in my life right now, no one could really blame me for the impending freak out I was about to experience.
"Christina, this is your last warning. Your immaturity is absolutely appalling," My wonderful mother's voice floated to the second level of the house, breaching my doorway and unfortunately, my eardrums.
I tried to keep my voice diplomatic and not betray the anger I was feeling, "Mum, I'm sixteen years old, I think I can stay on my own for a month."
There was almost an entire month left of summer, and my, I repeat, wonderful parents decided to take a short vacation to, and I quote, "rekindle that sweet, sweet romance we once had."
Would it be okay if I obliviated myself from ever hearing that?
Instead of letting me stay by myself at our home, they decided to ship me off to Malfoy Manor for the rest of the summer before returning to Hogwarts. My father was close acquaintances with Lucius Malfoy, and he had agreed to let me stay until the school year, albeit reluctantly.
You would think that sounds reasonable, but there was one problem: Draco Malfoy.
I slowly opened my bedroom door enough to peek my head out. "If I said that I didn't want to go, would that have any kind of affect? Maybe sway your decision? Could I do something to persuade you? Clean the house? Cook dinner? Tap dance?"
"You are going whether you like it or not, Christina."
I jumped as I heard my father talk from behind me, after he apparated into my room.
An argument followed, or more precisely, I begged and pleaded on my knees while my father stared at me blankly. After I had finished humiliating myself in a final attempt to save myself from the Malfoys, I resigned to my fate.
There was one thing I knew for certain: this summer was gonna suck.
I met Draco Malfoy my first year at Hogwarts, and we didn't get along, to say the least. He struck me as an insufferable git who thought that the world rightfully owed him everything.
Granted, with my family being part of high class society so did they, but I never took after their views.
And this is where Draco and I differed. He firmly and irrevocably followed his parent's ways, while I deliberately and intentionally did not.
Now that we were in sixth year, we had kind of a war going on, and were always getting detentions together for cursing and hexing each other; basically trying to make each other as miserable as possible.
I glanced at my door in silent contemplation, trying to decide if building a barricade would be beneficial to my dilemma. The Les Amis de l'ABC in my favorite book, Les Miserables, had done it, but it didn't really work out in the end. I seriously needed to thank Hermione for lending me her copy of that book. It was brilliant.
So I gave in, trailing my suitcase down the steps and twisting my face in a mixture of anger and sadness as I reached my parents.
With one look at me, my mother rolled her eyes, "Christina, stop acting like a child. Your sisters are two years younger than you and have more maturity."
"My sisters are also at their friend's house, not heading to the summer house of gloom and doom," I argued.
"That's because your sisters have friends," my father cut in, giving me a pointed glance.
I pursed my lips, insulted, "I have friends!"
"Not the right kind, and mind your tone!" my mother said sharply. "You have that red haired poor boy, what's his name? Weasel?"
"I believe so," my father waved his hand indifferently, like the topic didn't even matter.
"And then that Potter boy...and also that girl... a muggle-born. Disgusting," my mother closed her eyes and sighed deeply, trying to calm down. I opened my mouth to protest, but my mother held up her hand. "I don't want any sass, young lady. You've already shamed us by being sorted in Gryffindor...the first Gryffindor in our family in one hundred and eighty-nine years...one hundred and eighty-nine! I will not tolerate anything less than proper attitude. Miro has always been associated with pureblood Slytherin. And now look what you've done."
"Well, technically it was the sorting hat...I mean, I probably could've voiced an opinion, but then again, that would've meant pleasing you."
"Enough!" my father roared, standing up and glowering at me with reserved anger. "Continue like this, I'll arrange for you to stay at Malfoy Manor during breaks, as well. Now, Linessa," He turned towards my mother. "We really must be going. It's awfully rude to be late."
My parents gathered their things and hurried over to the fireplace used for traveling by floo powder, and stepped inside. I remained where I was, hoping by some miracle that they would give up and just leave without me.
"Stop sulking and get some floo powder," my father instructed, impatiently.
No miracles today, apparently.
I reluctantly grabbed some floo powder before going in front of my parents and yelling, "Malfoy Manor!"
Instantly, I felt like I was falling forward, then backwards, and then my feet hit solid ground. My knees ached from the impact, and wobbled threateningly. Before I knew it, I fell forward, looking like an imperfection next to my parents who stood as still as statues. I hit the ground chest first, and as I peered up, I could see three distinct expressions on each of the Malfoys. Lucius had the same icy stare my father showed me almost constantly, Narcissa looked mildly shocked, and Draco's face was twisted with dark amusement.
Not one to stay down forever, I heaved myself up in a quick movement. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Draco make a quick leg movement, but thought nothing of it as I took another step to come further into the room. But right when I raised my leg it caught on something bulky, and for the second time today in a matter of seconds (really luck wasn't on my side) I fell onto the ground with a hard thud.
Feeling around me, I noticed that my suitcase was the culprit, and it had somehow managed to slide into my line of stride. And then I realized...Malfoy had kicked the case.
Git git git git git git git git git git stupid bloody GIT.
Throwing politeness out the window, I shot up and pulled my wand out of my pocket. I knew fully well that I wouldn't be able to perform spells outside of Hogwarts, but I also knew that I looked a bit more intimidating with my wand out. I was rather good at spell work and dueling, much to Draco's displeasure.
"I'm gonna kick your arse, Malfoy!" I shouted, narrowing my eyes slightly.
"You're no match for me, Miro, no matter how deluded you may be," Draco remarked coldly, his own wand already in his hand.
I was about to toss my wand and start a full on muggle fight before a strong blast of something powerful separated Draco and I, causing us to fly to opposite ends of the room and land roughly.
"There will be no dueling or inappropriate behavior in this household," Lucius spoke slowly and carefully, locking my gaze and not backing down. Lucius scared me slightly, so I wasn't able to argue with him. I watched as he held my gaze for a few seconds longer before going to the fireplace and calmly greeting my parents, who hadn't even batted an eyelash.
"Christina, dear," Narcissa's false cheerful voice caught my attention. "It's very...nice to see you. Our house elf Gerda will take your bags. Dinner will be ready in one hour. Don't be late." She gave me a reluctant smile and turned back to my parents.
After getting up and dusting myself off, I followed Gerda out of the room, but not before slamming into Draco with my shoulder and stumbling a bit as he tried to trip me in return.
I knew the Malfoys were fairly wealthy, but once I strolled into my room, I realized just how wealthy. The room was a simple off-white color, but the walls had gold trimmings, as did the windows. It almost gave off an ethereal glow. The bed was in the east corner of the room, and had a silky transparent canopy, also donning gold attachments. It seemed like everything had that color pair, and with all the white, I suddenly felt like I was in a psych ward. Might as well be, I suppose.
Before I had a chance to unpack, I heard a voice sneer from the doorway, "I guess since your parents basically disowned you, you're not used to the good life." Draco's tone was patronizing, and while I didn't necessarily feel insulted, it made me think for a moment.
While I did live in a fairly large house, and while my family did have money...ever since I went to Hogwarts and was sorted into Gryffindor my parents never spoiled me or praised me with attention. I was lucky to get a minimal allowance every week, and whatever I got, I saved. My parent's usually spent all the funds on my sisters. It reminded me of a muggle fairy tale Hermione once showed me, Cinderella. I know it would be cliché to think of myself as Cinderella, but sometimes, when I wanted to make fun of my own situation to make myself feel better, I would.
"I may not get my family's riches, but I can almost positively say that my family is richer than yours," I snorted, knowing that would set him off.
I turned around to face him, and realized in shock that in his anger Draco had marched up to me, but he didn't think I'd turn around. Our chests grazed for a moment, but I didn't really care. All I was focused on was his icy blue stare that was going straight through me.
"Take that back," he commanded, and his breath washed over my face. It smelled like mint, surprisingly.
Wait, surprisingly? What did I expect it to smell like? Sunshine?
"Make me," I challenged, but almost immediately regretted those words.
Great, I just had to pick a phrase with implied sexual tension. Cool Christina. Why couldn't I have just said something witty and devious like 'No'?
I focused back onto Draco's face, and discovered that while I was having a mental debate with myself, he hadn't moved and looked very confused.
"Sorry ferret," I teased, using his acquired nickname that drove him crazy. (And not in a good way). "I was just talking."
Draco furrowed his brows, "To?"
"Myself. Now, if you would be so kind as to get out of my room, that would be great," I said.
"It's my house," he said coldly, his anger flaring.
"Yeah, and this is my fist...leave now or you're gonna have a solid greeting."
Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at me for a moment. "I don't appreciate you giving me threats, however empty," he snarled, before pushing himself off of my bedroom wall and leaving the room.
After I had unpacked my belongings I noticed the clock and saw that it was dinner time already. I quickly changed into a proper dress and slipped on some heels while I hopped out of the doorway.
I unexpected slammed into a solid body, and looked up and caught Draco's awaiting gaze. "Do you intend on hopping to dinner, bunny rabbit?" His tone was patronizing, and I highly disliked that.
"I was just putting on my shoes, thank you," I replied, and found myself looking him over briefly.
He donned a simple dress suit, and for a moment, I was actually winded by how attractive he looked. I mean, he's an attractive guy, I'll admit, but his personality could use some work...definitely some that involved a bulldozer and other heavy machinery. It was a shame too, if his attitude matched his looks he'd be someone I'd go for.
I snapped myself out of my thoughts before he could notice I was staring, but it was too late.
"Like something you see, Miro?"
I laughed, a kind of high-pitched squeak that only rarely happened. "Yeah, okay Malfoy," I nodded in false agreement, and walked passed him into the dining room without looking back. But before I made it three feet, Draco latched onto my wrist and tugged me back.
Before I could inquire his intentions, I felt him lean next to my ear, and shivered slightly as his breath ghosted over my neck...
Well this is new.
"That's a nice dress you have on...you almost look pretty tonight."
And before I could make sense of his words, he brushed passed me with infuriating nonchalance and entered the dining room.
What the hell? I scrunched up my nose, refusing to give it a second thought. He's just playing games with me, and if he sees that I'm flustered, that means he wins.
With that mindset, I joined him in the dining room, refusing to lose.