Love, and be Silent

a prologue.

Six Years ago: 

Cordelia Malfoy was quite a shy eleven year old.

It had been easy, though, to be shy. Her shyness had never really bothered her. It made her seem polite, at the dinner parties her parents had thrown, and since she'd known most of the children who attended with their parents since birth, she'd never felt shy around them. And besides, she had her little brother, Draco, for company anyway. He usually spoke for both of them, when it came to greeting new children or playing with the ones they knew.

But today, Cordelia didn't have her little brother. Nor did she see a familiar face, as she ducked frantically through the train to Hogwarts. Her mother had reassured her many times that surely she would know someone, that she needn't worry about having to make new friends, that all the little boys and girls she had grown up with during dinner parties and played with at holidays would definitely be there somewhere. She just had to find them.

So Codelia looked. She rushed down the narrow aisle, peeking into window after window, scanning for a face she at least found somewhat familiar. But she didn't see a single one, and as more and more children crowded into the train, she found herself closer and closer to tears. She felt her chest grow tight as people started to creep up behind her, waiting for her to move so that they could find a seat. She felt her hands grow sweaty, and desperately wished that her brother would be here. He would know what to do- he always knew what to do. But he wasn't here, and so she panicked, and when the boy behind her murmured that she better hurry up, she ducked into the first carriage to her right.

It wasn't empty.

Four boys sat, blinking at her in surprise.

"Oh look," One said in an amused tone, "A firstie thinks she can sit with us."

"Oh, shut it Sparks." Another one said, peering at her. They looked older, Cordelia noted, and were regarding her with disdain. "What's your name, then?"

She froze, twisting her long skirt in her hands. She tried to open her mouth, but the muscles wouldn't move. So she just stood, blinking, trying to hold back tears.

"Looks familiar, doesn't she?" Another one spoke up, moving to pinch at her long white hair, which hung pin straight to down her waist.

"Why, I think she's a Malfoy!" The fourth one exclaimed, putting down his magazine and leaning to look at her closer. "My father works with Lucius, you know. Nasty bastard, he is."

"No he's not!" Cordelia heard herself saying, but her voice was high and squeaky, and the boys erupted into laughter.

"Little Malfoy's found her tongue!" One boy said cheerfully, pinching her cheek hard. "Pity she'll be a Slytherin, could be right fit some day."

Gross. Cordelia thought harshly, tilting out of the boy's tight grasp. Her cheek smarted where he'd pinched it, and she could feel the tears threatening to spill.

"Out you go then, Malfoy. No room for Slytherin here." A different boy was saying, waving her towards the door.

"Yeah, Gryffindor only." The third boy sniffed, going back to his magazine.

"I-I just-" Cordelia stuttered, cheeks flushing as she felt the tears start to fall."I- I don't- I couldn't-"

"Oooout Death Eater!" The fourth boy shoved her a little, and she banged against the carriage door. The thing swung open so suddenly that she jumped violently, and a silent frightened sob shook her shoulders.

"Bullying first years already, are we Wood?" A girl's voice sneered, and the boy who'd pushed her rolled his eyes, sitting back in his seat and glaring at whoever it was that had just come to her rescue. Cordelia glanced up, and found a particularly tall girl peering down at her.