Black and White

2

I hadn't known Uncle Lucius would be coming with us to get our school supplies. I hold my hands behind my back and bow my head slightly as he stares down his nose at me. He smirks when I break eye contact.

"Let's go," Aunt Narcissa snaps. She's never quite forgiven me for setting Draco's hair on fire.

Draco sighs and takes my arm in one hand and a fistful of Floo Powder in the other. I've never travelled via fireplace before, so he just hangs on to me tightly as we spin away. As soon as we reach Diagon Alley, he pushes me away as we wait for his parents. He acts like he hates me when family is around.

First we go to Flourish and Blott's to get our books, then to Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius wandered off before we reached Madam Malkin's, however, and I don't know where they went.

"Oh, great," Draco mutters as Madam Malkin goes to find me some robes that will fit.

I look towards the door as six kids walk in. Four boys and two girls. One is a boy with messy hair and green eyes. The other three boys, two of them obviously twins, and the younger girl have bright red hair, and the other girl has a mass of frizzy brown curls. Actually, her hair looks like mine would if I let it grow out, except my hair is black.

"What are you doing here, Potter?" Draco asks the boy with the green eyes.

No way. He's Harry Potter? Draco hates him! Actually, my whole family hates him.

"Believe it or not, Malfoy, but I still go to Hogwarts, too," Harry replies.

"Draco," I say before he can get us in trouble, "aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

Draco snorts. "We're not friends. And if you want to keep your mother happy, you had better stay away from them."

I hop off the pedestal that Madam Malkin had measured me on and push my way around Draco, holding out my hand to Harry. Now looking up at him, I can see the famed lightning scar on his forehead.

"Hi, my name is Zubeneschamali, but you guys can call me Zuben. I'm going to be a first year." I smile at them and the girls smile back, but Harry and the redhead boys just stare at me.

The brown-haired girl shakes my hand when Harry doesn't make any moves. "I'm Hermione Granger," she says, "and this is Harry Potter, and Ron, Fred and George, and Ginny Weasley. Nice to meet you, Zuben. Are you Draco's sister?"

"She's my cousin," Draco snaps, yanking me away from the others. "If any of you touch her, you will be dealing with me."

"I can handle myself, Dra," I sigh, pulling my arm out of his grasp. "I don't need a bodyguard. I'm just being nice and making friends. Maybe you should try it?"

I hear the redheaded twins snickering, and I can't help but feel somewhat victorious. That is, until Aunt Narcissa and Uncle Lucius walk in. My uncle uses his cane to roughly push me behind Draco, causing me to stumble.

"These are not the kind of people you want to be friends with, Zuben," he sneers. "Besides, a Lestrange could hardly befriend people such as the Weasleys, or a Potter, much less a muggleborn."

I lower my gaze. "Yes, Uncle Lucius," I say. "I meant nothing by it. I was only... kidding."

I knew what he was doing. He had revealed my last name, scaring off any potential friends. All six of them now look at me as though I shouldn't exist. Well, Hermione is looking at my uncle.

My aunt and uncle go to leave, and Draco pulls me along by my sleeve. I keep my eyes trained on the ground, trying not to cry as we head to Ollivander's.