Slytherin Legacy

The Slytherin Legacy

By A. Bornhorst

Chapter Three:

The Train Ride

Draco paced in his room. What was it about Kate that made him feel so uneasy, so unsure of himself? He had always been Draco Malfoy, bossy, conceited, great at everything... first in his Father's eyes. He had seen that same look his Father gave Kate - the one of pride, utmost respect, but never love. The Malfoy's didn't love, but that look Lucius gave Kate almost made Draco sick. He was number one! He was practically ignored compared to Kate.

"Kate, what a mudblood name," Draco mumbled aloud.

It was obvious they were cousins; they had the same facial structure, only Kate's was more feminine. He hated her.

"If you live with muggles long enough you begin to be one."

His Father had barely listened to him until he shared this small piece of news with him,

"Father did you know Harry Potter is coming to Hogwarts this year?"

"Really Draco? Hmmm... How interesting. The daughter of the heir of Slytherin and the supposed defeater of Slytherin going to be in the same year?" he sneered.

He didn't understand what the heck his Dad was talking about, but he soon found out. It was the night before he left to Hogwarts and he was packing when he heard a shout. He had never heard his parents get into fights before. But they were screaming and yelling at each other. Draco tiptoed across the hall to their chamber and pressed his ears up close.

"I don't give a damn Lucius, you are not going to tell her!" he could here his Mother shrieking.

"She needs to know she's a Slytherin."

"Just gradually tell her. Little by little. She doesn't need to know. She'll be upset when she finds out her mother is in Azkaban."

"Bellatrix wouldn't care. She's so proud of Kate its obvious Kate's her favorite."

"Even though she only held her in her arms for only two years."

Damn! They were talking about Kate, again. But Draco listened on.

"We visited Bellatrix and Rodulphius last month and all she asked was 'Have you seen my Hekate? Does she look like my Lord or I?' She didn't even ask about Alymer, Nathan, or Bella! She should know Narcissa."

My Lord?

"She's just being introduced to our world. Lucius you can't do this to her!"

"The Dark Lord would want me to."

"Lucius, does the Dark Lord even know?"

She wasn't yelling this time. It was a simple question.

"Yes, Narcissa, he does."

"Did Bellatrix tell him?"

"Oh Narcissa, you of all people should know that the Dark Lord doesn't need to be told. He knows all."

Draco was confused. What did Kate have to do with the Dark Lord?

"Lucius, just wait a couple years. We'll tell her about her mother this summer and I will tell Bella not to tell Kate anything about her Father."

"She should be proud of her Father."

"She will be. I'm as much as a Death Eater as you are Lucius. My sister bore his child. I care about Kate as much or maybe even more than Draco. You know that I always put service to the Dark Lord first."

"And I praise you for it."

"Did the Dark Lord say anything when he found out Bellatrix was having his baby?"

"He cared about Bella more than he cared about anyone else. Rodulphius did not like that of course, but they were devoted to each other. Not very much at the meetings, but she did once bring Kate to one. It was the night he disappeared. She was only maybe one and a month, but it was obvious that she knew who her Father was. She was just learning to walk and she took a few steps and fell down and did not make a peep when she busted her lip. He said, 'Now that's my daughter. A strong Slytherin that's for sure!' and he patted her head. I'm sure Severus Snape will give her the respect she needs. He was there. Kate certainly looks like her father though. None of that heavy eye lid riff raff. She has the Black facial structure, just as Draco does. But her hair is black and she has his eyes and their mannerisms are similar."

"Lucius," Narcissa said gently," Promise me you won't tell her. Promise!"

"I won't, Narcissa. I promise," Lucius gave into his wife.

"Good."

He heard the door open, "Damn it Draco!" his Father yelled.

Narcissa walked out pale, "What did you hear?"

"Everything," Draco said glumly.

"You are not to tell anyone! If you do Draco, I will kill you. I am serious about that." Lucius pointed his wand threateningly at Draco.

"Y-yes Father!"

"Go to bed. Now."

Draco didn't need to be told twice. He quickly scurried off to bed, amazed at the news he had found. His cousin was the daughter of the Dark Lord! His cousin! He still couldn't help but hate her. He heard his Mother's words, "I care about Kate as much or maybe even more than Draco," over and over again. He was jealous. And he still hated her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Oh there you are Kate!" Narcissa said.

"Um... where is it?" Kate asked.

"Where is what?"

"The train."

"Oh, you just run through this wall. Don't panic. Just close your eyes and run."

Kate couldn't help, but raise her eyebrows.

"Okay, here goes nothing!" she said.

The closed her eyes and ran and didn't stop.

"Watch where you're going!"

She didn't run into a wall she ran into someone.

"Oh sorry," she muttered, not looking up. Soon Draco came in followed by Narcissa and Lucius.

"There you made it," Narcissa said.

"Mum I need to get on the train."

"Of course you do now give mumsy a kiss."

He quickly gave his mother a peck on the cheek when nobody was looking and hurried on to the train.

"Draco come here!" his Father barked.

"Now I don't want to receive any owls from Kate stating what you found out last night. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Father."

"Good. Now get on that train and make the Slytherin house proud."

"C'mon Kate," Draco muttered.

She followed slowly with her trunk and Arjumund and waved a quick good-bye to Lucius and Narcissa.

"So where are we sitting?" Kate asked.

"What do you mean we?" Draco said sneering.

"Oh there you are Kate! Come on we saved a spot for you in our compartment. Hi Draco," said Pansy.

"Hey Pansy," said Draco actually genuinely smiling.

"Um Draco? You're in my way," Pansy said.

"Oh, sorry," said Draco nonchalantly.

"Yeah, well, see you Draco," said Pansy, casting a flirtatious smile in his general direction.

"Here we are," Pansy said in a singsong voice, "Girls, meet Kate Riddle. Draco Malfoy's cousin."

Inside there were about three girls, one Kate recognized as Eve McNair. The others she did not recognize.

"This is Diedra Dolohov."

"Hi," Kate said shyly.

Diedra had a mini bob style hair cut with dangling pearl earrings and a pearl necklace. Her hands were beautifully French manicured and her make-up done perfectly.

"She's our Beauty Queen. She's obsessed about her looks," Pansy smirked.

"No I'm not!" Diedra protested.

"This is Blaise Zabini, our Drama Queen."

Blaise had curly blonde hair that went down to her neck and green eyes.

"Hi," Kate again said shyly.

She felt like an idiot when she asked, "So how do you all know each other?"

"Our parents are friends. We've known each other for years."

"Years and years," Eve said.

"Well, sit down. We aren't going to bite you Kate."

She sat shyly down.

"I brought my make-up," Diedra said.

Eve groaned.

"Come on, let's play chess. Kate, do you play?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah, I have. They taught us at the orphanage."

"You live at an orphanage?" Diedra said incredulously.

"Is it horrible?" Blaise asked.

"Well the matron, Aunt Pam, is a little crazy. She wouldn't let me come here at first!"

"Wait. Are you a mudblood?" Blaize asked.

Kate squinted her eyes, her blood boiling, "No I am not," she snapped, "Both of my parents are magic. My father disappeared and my mother... well ,Lucius wouldn't tell me where she was, but I'm positive she's alive."

"Oh, I'm sorry," said Blaise, who was truly sorry.

"Forget about it."

"Come on let's talk about something interesting, like what houses we're going to be in. Slytherin rules!" Pansy yelled.

"My whole family has been in Slytherin," Diedra said.

"Mine too!" Blaise cheered.

"Well mine hasn't. My stupid Father was a Gryffindor. My older brothers are too, but Mum tells me all the time of the great times she had when she was in Slytherin. So thus I want to be in Slytherin," Pansy whispered.

"It's more than that, Pansy. It's because Draco is probably going to be in Slytherin, right?" Eve smiled.

Kate grinned and Pansy blushed.

"Yeah that's part of it!"

Knock! Knock!

A bushy brown haired girl with buck teeth was at the door to their compartment,

"Hello, have you seen Neville Longbottom's toad Trevor anywhere? He can't find it."

"Nope," Eve laughed, "Why does he have a toad? That was so 70's!"

The bushy brown-haired girl rolled her eyes.

"Well if you see it, I'm a couple of compartments down."

It was then Kate heard a name.

"They say Harry Potter's in this compartment," it was Draco's drawling voice a few compartments down.

"Hey, Harry Potter's here," Kate said.

"Harry Potter!" Blaise almost shrieked.

"C'mon, let's go talk to him!" Diedra said and motioned toward the door.

"You three go, Eve and I will stay here," Pansy said, rolling her eyes saucily.

Kate followed Diedra out and to where they knocked on a compartment door.

"Is this Harry Potter's compartment?" Diedra asked.

"Yeah," said a red haired boy.

"Hey, I know who you are! You're a Weasley, aren't you?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah, I'm Ron. Harry's over there."

"I see his scar!" Diedra squealed.

Kate could almost feel Harry's embarrassment, and tried to look away.

"Well, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Diedra Dolohov and that's Blaise Zabini and this is Kate Riddle."

"Uh... hi," Harry mumbled.

"Well, nice meeting you," Blaise said.

"Well, we'll see you around, maybe," Diedra smiled.

"Bye," Kate whispered.

"Uh... bye." The Potter boy looked rather embarrassed at so much attention.

Kate shut the compartment door and said in a matter of fact voice, "Well, that was pointless."

"Yeah, but he's so cute. Even cuter than Draco," Diedra squealed.

"I hope he's in Slytherin," Blaise said dreamily.

"Yeah..." Diedra said, "So. what do you think of him, Kate?"

"There is no attraction whatsoever."

Kate was telling the truth. She only felt sorry for him and was more worried about what was to come at Hogwarts than what boys were going to be in her house.

"Oh come on, Kate. We know you like him."

"Um, no I don't."

They argued about this in their compartment until there was another knock on the door.

"Hey, we're almost here," Draco said to them, "So, did you meet the great and wonderful Harry Potter?" he asked sarcastically.

"Yes we did, and we think he's dreamy," sighed Diedra.

"Well if he hangs out with muggle lovers like Weasley he's bound to have some problems. See you later."

"Bye, Draco," Pansy sighed.

"Girl, you are hopelessly in love," Eve said to Pansy exasperatedly.

The five girls quickly got their robes on and got their first view of Hogwarts. Kate took a deep breath and Pansy whispered, "It's beautiful."

"It looks like-"Diedra started but couldn't finish.

"Home," Kate whispered.

"Yeah," they said in unison, and then Pansy spoke up.

"Hogwarts is our home, girls, and we will be sisters forever, promise?"

"Yeah," they again said in unison.

"No matter what happens, we will always be there for each other and will always have each other's well-being in mind. Okay?"

"Okay."

"We are the Slytherin Quintet!" Pansy declared.

It had a magical feel to it and it made Kate want to laugh, cry, and sing all at the same time and she said it over and over in her mind as they rowed their boats to Hogwarts.

They walked into a large hall soaked to their skins, and Diedra pointed out a girl.

"Look at her! What a pig!"

It was a heavy set girl with short dirty blonde hair and thick glasses. Her face was covered in acne and Eve and Blaise pretended to hurl.

"Eeeewwww."

"That's Millicent Bullstrode," Pansy whispered.

"It's just one of those times when the name fits the person," Diedra laughed.

"Students! Students! You will line up and when we call your name you will sit on the stool. The hat will be placed on your head and it will sort you into the house you belong," a beady eyed woman said, "Now, follow me."

They followed her into the Great Hall and the names were soon called. After awhile she called:

"Bullstrode, Millicent!"

The Slytherin Quartet giggled.

"Hope she's not in-"Blaise started.

"Slytherin!"

"Dang!" Blaise said.

And later "Dolohov, Diedra!" was called.

Diedra sat nervously, but the hat promptly called out, "Slytherin!"

Diedra smiled and Kate could see that she whispered, "Yes!"

And later the hat was placed upon Malfoy's head.

"Slytherin!"

Eve McNair later walked up and was put into Slytherin, as well as Pansy Parkinson.

Then Harry Potter walked up. A gasp in unison arose from the crowd.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Diedra's face was crestfallen from where Kate could see it.

Soon it was Kate's turn.

"Riddle, Kate!"

Several teachers looked up and frowned including what seemed to be the headmaster, a scared looking man in a turban and the witch who led them into the great hall.

"Why are they all glaring at me?" Kate thought as the hat was placed on her head.

Ah... another Riddle. There's really no question of your ambition, is there? I place you in "Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table cheered and Kate took a seat next to Pansy.

Lastly the sorting ended with Blaise Zabini who ended up in Slytherin.

"So we have two other girls with us, Millicent Bullstrode and Lilith Gormder," Pansy said, "They seem to already be friends so we won't have to make nice with them."

The Slytherin Quartet nodded and ate their meals.

"Hey Bella! Kate, this is Bella Lestrange, another one of Draco's cousins. Probably yours too," Blaise said, "She's a fifth year prefect."

"So you're Draco's cousin too. Poor us, I suppose," she laughed." I guess we're cousins then, too."

"Yeah, I suppose so."

"We even sort of look alike. Hey, I'll see you around, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess."

That night, full from all her eating Kate slept peacefully and dreamed of nothing, for all was right her own little world.