Star-Crossed | Draco Malfoy

.01

Natalie

Natalie Potter awoke with a start.

The loud sound of her Aunt Petunia banging on the door of the cupboard under the stairs echoed sharply in her ears.

But it wasn't the ruckus of her Aunt that had startled her awake, it was her dream. Always the same one, darkness, and pain, a scream, and a flash of violent green light. Then nothing. But not this time, this time it had been different--

"Get up!" her Aunt's shrill voice was the reason she was awake now, as she pounded her fist upon the door ever harder, scaring Natalie nearly out of her wits, "Get up, now!"

Natalie surged upright, unfortunately smacking her poor forehead into the low hanging ceiling above her. A sharp bark of pain let her lips as her hand flew to rub at the sore spot that would surely bruise later.

The pained noise startled her older brother, Harry, awake beside her. He stirred, blinking open bleary eyes to find his sister sniffling as she held a hand over her head.

"Hit your head on the ceiling again?" His voice was flat, though a hint of humor lilted his tone.

The girl flashed him a daring look, almost as fiery as her hair, "Morning to you too, Has."

He chuckled as he sat up, feeling about to find his glasses, "I was only teasing, Natie."

She scoffed, though good-naturedly and shoved his shoulder with her own. Her brother chuckled in return, offering her a nudge back.

The moment of peace was shortlived however when a rumbling sounded above the twins, thundering up and down the stairs, until backpeddling to directly above their heads.

Dudley. Natalie thought scathingly as the vicious thumps continued to beat down on their heads.

Their fat, obnoxious cousin was jumping his heavy body up and down, raining dust and debris from the staircase upon their heads, their bed, their everything.

Fury pulsed through Natalie's veins and her fists clenched tight.

"Wake up, Potters! We're going to the Zoo!"

Both brother and sister shared a glance and let out simultaneous groans of irritation until one of them decided to get up.

With a deep sigh, Harry was the first to decide to prepare himself for the day. Natalie followed his lead soon enough after.

She heaved herself up with a disgruntled breath, sluggishly pulling her body up and out of the comfort of their shared matt on the floor of that cramped cupboard.

Both siblings changed without so much as a second glance between one another. After at least five or six years in the cramped space together, neither of them cared much about modesty or privacy.

It wasn't like they were allowed either in the house they lived in anyway.

Natalie scoffed bitterly at the thought under her breath as she dressed in the massive, baggy sweater that hung off her almost like a quilt, and the decade-old pair of denims her aunt had been so kind to give her.