Half Blood Royalty

Like Father, Like Daughter

The next day felt quite different from the first. I couldn't take my eyes off the Gryffindor table, where Harry sat with his friends. Not that I preferred to be there- I definitely would much rather be sitting with Draco. But I still couldn't help but take my eyes off of them. The four long house tables were laden with tureens of porridge, plates of kippers, mountains of toast, and dishes of eggs and bacon. The enchanted ceiling above all of us was a dull, cloudy grey. I was sat next to Draco, who had been too busy engaging with his friends to really notice me as much. Of course, he said morning, but that was all. I couldn't be too upset. Why would Draco ever want to engage with some first year?

"Post's due any minute now," Draco smirked, leaning over to whisper the next line to just me, "Father might've sent you something this morning, Mel."

"He didn't have to." I answered back. Lucius always managed to have a soft spot in his heart reserved for me - well, Narcissa and I. All of the Wizarding World seem to think he's such a terrifying man, but I never really saw him as anything else besides some big ole softie. Never stopped my father from making sure I never got too close to him though (never worked). Soon enough, almost like clockwork, a rushing sound was heard overhead as hundreds of owls flew into the Great Hall- circling the Hall and dropping letters and packages into the chattering crowd. A small package landed in front of Draco, while an owl dropped a small letter in front of me. Opening it, I read:

"Hey Melody. Was just hoping you were having a good first day at Hogwarts. Narcissa wishes you good luck as well - Oh, tell your father to write to us as soon as he's able. Draco got a parcel of goodies, as well - feel free to help yourself (You probably already have. I know you.). -Lucius Malfoy"

I smiled, tucking the letter into the inside pocket of my robe before grabbing a box of jelly slugs out of Draco's package.

"That's it?" He asked me, pushing the parcel closer to me.

"We're at breakfast." I chuckled, "Yeah, that's it. For now." I nudged his ribs softly, "I'll get some more later." Popping one gummy slug into my mouth before placing the rest into my inside robe pocket, my eyes found their way towards the Gryffindor table as something large and grey fell in front of Hermoine, spraying those around with milk and feathers. Apparently, everyone else's eyes fell onto them as Ron pulled a damp red envelope from the owl's beak.

"Errol!" Ron yelled; his voice sounding throughout the Hall as snickering came from Draco's area of the Slytherin table. Hermoine said something to him I couldn't quite make out, but Ron had been pointing to the red envelope with panic written all over his face. Completely understandable, as what he was holding was a Howler. Considering the entire school were all in the Great Hall, you couldn't help but feel somewhat bad for what Ron was about to have to go through. Draco and his friends were still smiling and snickering, but I couldn't take my eyes off the red envelope that could explode in any second. I couldn't help but notice as Ron fixated on the letter, which had already begun to smoke at the corners. His hand shaking, Ron took the envelope from Errol's beak and slit it open, and in a split second a roar of sound filled the Great Hall, shaking dust from the ceiling:

"...STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY HAD EXPELLED YOU. YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU - I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT HAD GONE."

People all around the Hall were already swivelling around just to see who had received the Howler, which caused Ron to sink so low in his seat that only his bright red forehead could be seen.

"...LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT - I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME. WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS; YOU AND HARRY COULD HAVE BOTH DIED-"