Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 13

The summer begins awful, and continues to be awful right up until the last day. Father and mum sit me down, where Father says, "You have disappointed me."
"Oh really?" I scoff, "Sorry, thought you forgot I was your daughter or even here over the summer. I must've missed the memo where it said you were going to speak to me again."
My father turns to mum and just points, glaring. Mum smiles at me sadly and Father says, "I don't understand where I went wrong. I raised you by giving you everything. I had such high hopes for you and now look. My daughter, a Gryffindor. My daughter, a freak. And after what you did last year, I swear, letting you go back to Hogwarts is generous. I'm only doing it so you are out the house. I don't understand why you aren't like Draco."
I snap, "Maybe I'm not like Draco because we are two different people. You had high hopes for me. You did so much for me. You wanted me to have a job at the ministry. I am the one doing my O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's early. What is Draco doing? Draco is a walking snitch, who bullies anyone who isn't pure blood. Wait till my father hears about this, wait till my father hears about that. He knows that now, you aren't going to drop everything for me. He has finally got you to pay attention to him. Maybe the fact you hardly looked at him some days is the reason he is a Slytherin. Have you ever thought that maybe the lack of love you showed him is the reason he is a Slytherin who can't go a day without bringing you up? Or do you not think?"
My Father walks out and mum says, "Atlas, darling."
"Mum? This isn't fair."
"Atlas," She says, raising her eyebrows, "You are very lucky I convinced your father to keep you in Hogwarts."
"Mama, das ist verrückt." I sulk. She replies, "Go to bed Atlas. Honestly, Ich liebe du aber du bist sehr schwierig. Good night."
"Night mum."

The next morning, I'm on the train before I can even really process the fact that its the first day of school. Hermione has saved me a seat, and again, we are alone in the compartment. I yawn and look round as the train chugs alone. There is nothing on the shelve things and Hermione is hugging her robes to her stomach. I've got my robs on early, as its too much hassle to even bother getting changed on the train. Hermione suddenly looks confused and I say, "You alright? You look like a muggle who has seen a ghost!"
She shakes her head and says, "Have you actually seen the boys at all today?"
"Nope," I shrug and say, "And to be fair, I didn't really see Dobby at all not too long ago... all night I was searching for him. Nowhere to be seen. Anyway, why are the boys important right now? They've probably gone and sat with someone else."
"Did Harry send you any letters over the summer?"
I think for a second before saying, "No... no, he didn't. I dunno though. His muggle family might be a little odd. You know how muggles are."
Hermione raises her eyebrows and I say, "Oh, wait, no no no. I meant like, the stereotypes. You know, like how you're all a little odd and all hate us. You all know we exist and have said if we contact you, you'll kill us all."
"You what?" Hermione wrinkles her nose and says, "No. We actually don't know about you. Wait, sorry, you think we have chosen to not use magic? Honestly, Atti, are you serious? If we knew you existed, we would all love you. Well, I think so? Actually, it'd probably cause more bad than good. But you understand my point."
"You... muggles.... muggles don't know we exist?"
"No!" Hermione shakes her head again and continues, "You father told you that I assume."
"Les non-magiques ruinent le monde. Sans eux, le monde serait meilleur, or according to him anyway."
"I don't speak French, Atti." She groans and I say, "Oh, right, I forgot. The non-magique are ruining the world. Without them, the world would be a better place."
Hermione's jaw drops and I say, "My Father is a little... how would I say this... he doesn't like muggles. It runs in my family really. At least he isn't in Azkaban for it."
Hermione leans forwards and says, "Let me just set this straight. Azkaban is prison, right?"
"Yeah, just happens to be the worst one there is," I say, stretching out, "Teeming with dementors. Every single one wants to suck out your soul. They make you miserable, like all the happiness has been sucked out the world. Anyway, Aunt Bella is in there and I recon she is proper mental. If she ever got out, it'd be the end of us. Thank god this year will be a little easier."

Hermione nods as we jump off the train. We are able to get cart kind of things that take us to the castle. Hermione and I try to wait around for Harry, but alas, he doesn't come. Neither does Ron, which is odd. The sorting takes place, and as Ginny sits next to me, she hisses, "Look! It's Gilderoy Lockhart! Look at him."
I wrinkle my nose and turn to Hermione, who is equally melting over him. She sees me glaring and says, "Oh please, you've never looked at him and felt your heart flutter. Look, he's the Dark Art's teacher."
Hermione shoves her timetable in my face, and it is littered with pink hearts. I realise she drew them on every lesson with Lockheart. She shoves me away, and compares her timetable to Ginny's. Fred says, "How many girls do you recon are going to pay more attention in Dark Arts now than ever?"
George says, "Three galleons says nobody will learn anything but how much of a so called 'great man' Lockheart is."
"I'd be willing to bet you ten than I learn more than Hermione." I say, laughing. Hermione's elbow narrowly misses my side and I say, "But I wont! God, Hermione. Anyway, where is Harry and Ron?"
"Who knows?"