Accidental Changes
Tuesday, October 4th, 1994
[Header: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]
To: Mr. Draco Malfoy
House: Slytherin
Subject: Warning for Poor Performance in Potions
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
It has come to my attention that your recent performance in Potions class has been far below the standard expected of a student at Hogwarts. The art of potion-making requires precision, dedication, and a keen understanding of the subject matter – qualities that seem to be lacking in your recent endeavors.
Your lackluster efforts in class have not gone unnoticed, and I must remind you that excellence is not a suggestion but a requirement. Hogwarts holds its students to the highest standards, and it is expected that you rise to meet them.
Consider this warning as a wake-up call. The cauldron of academic expectations is not one to be taken lightly, and your current trajectory may lead to consequences that I assure you, you would not wish to face.
I trust that you will take this matter seriously and make the necessary improvements promptly.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Severus Snape
Head of Slytherin House
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Well, it was undeniable. Delfina was failing. She felt relieved that Snape hadn't yet informed her parents, but the sensation was akin to being struck by one of Potter's Stupefies. Folding the parchment discreetly and slipping it under her plate, she paid no heed to the curious glances directed her way. She treated her owl to a chocolate frog (although she had initially dreaded the chocolate's effects, her mother had explained that it was 'the creator's original idea to treat them like those filthy dogs'), and observed as her feathered companion soared out the window.
Delfina blinked, took a sharp breath, exhaled heavily, slouched her shoulders, and pushed herself up from her seat. Remaining idle and indulging in food wouldn't resolve her academic shortcomings. That was Crabbe and Goyle's modus operandi, not hers. She aspired to be better, better than them, better than anyone.
Yet, if that were indeed the case, why was she failing Potions?
-/-/-
Useless book , Delfina muttered inwardly as she returned the book to Pince. Despite its advice to 'stay relaxed' and 'study in advance,' she found herself already adhering to most of its suggestions, to no avail. If anything, it exacerbated her normal frustrations. She longed to release a primal scream, but instead, she took a shaky breath and made her way to one of her few sanctuaries: the Room of Requirement.
Could she spare a few moments to relax? The appearance of the door as she passed by seemed to signal affirmation. However, upon opening it, she was greeted by an unwelcome sight.
"So that's why— Malfoy ?" Weasley's grim and unwelcoming voice reverberated through the air, eliciting a grimace from Delfina.
"Weasley, Granger, Potter, Lovegood. I wasn't expecting to see you here," she began to close the door, but Lovegood interjected.
"You can stay, Dolphin," Luna's inviting voice echoed. Despite her distaste for the nickname, Delfina sighed. Luna had an uncanny intuition. She couldn't fathom how, but Luna seemed to sense everything. Despite Luna's warm smile, Delfina surveyed the rest of the group.
Ronald looked as though he might vomit five times over merely by breathing the same air as her. He appeared more ill than when he was spitting out slugs. Because of her... foolishness.
Glancing at the catalyst of the entire situation, Harry seemed... inscrutable, as always. She could never decipher his emotions well. He seemed composed, though he likely preferred her absence, given their history.
And then there was Hermione. Bloody Hermione with her scrutinizing eyes, attempting to dissect her a dozen times over. Delfina couldn't help but shudder.
"T-thanks Luna, b-but I'll be on my way," she hastily shut the door, feeling her lungs constrict. How could they? How could they invade her space like this? It was hers, and they stole it.
"In and out. In and out," she muttered huskily, her voice trembling. Dropping her books with a loud thud, Delfina trembled, letting her hands shake freely by her sides. She didn't understand why, but it felt instinctual, so she allowed her trembling hands to hang limp.
She collapsed against the wall as the door vanished, though she scarcely noticed, too preoccupied with maintaining her facade. Or perhaps, failing to maintain it.
Her ragged breaths.
Her swollen, red eyes.
Her gaping mouth.
Her trembling hands.
Her uncontrollable quiver.
She tried to mask her disarray, but it was futile. Who was she to unravel like this? The other students were likely observing her, so she needed to compose herself. With one final deep breath, she gathered her books and trudged back to the Slytherin dormitories.
Delfina Malfoy was unraveling, tearing herself apart at the seams.
-/-/-
Thursday, October 6th, 1994
Delfina's hand rose.
"Professor McGonagall? I understand the concept of veiling large objects and buildings with a simple spell. However, you haven't clarified whether it relies on magical capacity or prowess or-"
"Yes, Mister Malfoy, thank you for your observation. Veiling objects with the spell depends on various factors. Form, how you cast the spell, is one. You mentioned magical capacity? That's another consideration. Experience is also crucial. The more one uses the spell and studies its mechanics, the more naturally it can be wielded. two points to Slytherin," Professor McGonagall acknowledged, her tone indicating approval.
While she acknowledged her student's intellectual acumen, it was one of the rare occasions Delfina had actively participated in class. McGonagall had observed her ability to reprimand fellow students and deduct points from her house, juxtaposed with her academic excellence.
Yet, there seemed to be a shift.
Despite the persistent wand issues, the confrontational demeanor had dissipated, replaced by a newfound humility or, at least, a reluctance to engage in conflicts. McGonagall couldn't discern the cause of this change, but she didn't find fault in it. She couldn't help but feel a hint of disappointment, perhaps because Miss Parkinson seemed to be the only one in her corner.
Nonetheless, McGonagall welcomed the academic competition presented by Hermione. Even with impartiality, it was evident that Hermione possessed a superior intellect, though Delfina's rise from 30th to 12th in her class's rankings compared to the previous year intrigued her. She resolved to keep a watchful eye on the girl.
'Especially when he looks so miserable'
-/-/-
Delfina's brow furrowed as she realized she had overlooked one of her history textbooks, a frustrating oversight given the ghost's insistence on assigning two textbooks. She found solace in the third one she borrowed from the library, appreciating its more empathetic perspective toward non-human creatures. Learning about humans' role in inciting the Goblin War during her second year had left Delfina seething, especially after overhearing Granger discussing it in the library. Ever since then, she made it a yearly ritual to acquire books by the author "Jective R. Porter."
And of course, it was precisely the book she needed at that moment.
Ordinarily, this minor hiccup wouldn't have bothered her, but this situation was anything but ordinary. Just ten minutes earlier, Delfina had ingested her Chromaswitch, rendering her unable to discreetly leave the boys' bedroom.
Then, an idea struck her. Unsure if it would pan out, she resolved to give it a shot.
"Winky?" She whispered, cringing at the sound of her voice. "Winky?"
Silence. It seemed house elves couldn't simply bypass the wards through teleportation. Curious, indeed. Undeterred, rather than succumbing to defeat, Delfina attempted one last strategy before resorting to more forceful measures. She doubted its efficacy but as a Slytherin, she was compelled to try.
"Dobby?" She squeaked from beneath her covers. Suddenly, she felt a weight settle on her bed. Pulling the covers over her head, she found him there.
"Mister Malfoy? Did you summon Dobby?" he inquired, taking note of her appearance. "Mister Malfoy seems different. Why do you resemble a-"
"I am one. Please, call me Delfina. How... no, why did you apparate to me? I don't command you anymore... wait, where exactly are you?" Delfina queried the elf.
"Dobby works in the cafeteria, Mis-Miss Malfoy. Despite Dobby's reluctance, Headmaster Dumbledore assigned Dobby a paying job," Dobby grimaced, recalling the memory, causing Delfina to avert her gaze, "Dobby finds fulfillment in the work, Miss Malfoy. As for why Dobby is here before Miss Malfoy, Dobby mistook Miss Malfoy for Master Potter."
Her shoulders slumped. At least he was candid, she supposed. She couldn't fault him; Delfina was the one in error.
"Thank you for your candor, Dobby. May I request two favors?" Dobby, she sadly realized, awaited her requests. "Dobby, you have the right to decline if you choose."
She thought she detected tears in Dobby's eyes, though it might have been the flicker of candlelight in the room.
"Miss Malfoy, what are the favors?" Dobby inquired, prompting a vein to throb on Delfina's forehead.
"Dobby, I appreciate your willingness to assist, but I require your consent first. I won't ask if you're unwilling to help."
"But-"
"Dobby, do you consent or not?"
"Yes, Dobby agrees to aid Miss Malfoy. Now, what does Miss Malfoy need?" Dobby pleaded. Delfina offered a faint smile after a sigh.
"First, I need you to procure a book titled '5th Years Guide to Magical History' by 'Jective Porter'." And then he was gone. She hadn't even informed him of its location! Delfina chuckled wryly; he used to do this all the time at the Manor, a sly fellow if ever there was one. With another pop, Dobby reappeared, holding the book.
"Thank you, Dobby. And for the last favor... I need you to keep this entire incident confidential from Potter. I know it's a bit much-"
"Dobby understands, Miss Malfoy. Dobby will not respond to any further summons from Miss Malfoy," and with that, the elf vanished. Delfina's eyes welled up momentarily, a sniffle escaping her.
She opened the book and resumed where she left off.
-/-/-
Friday, October 7th, 1994
You'd think Hermione had honed her skills in Occlumency given the intensity of her gaze into Delfina's eyes. At Delfina's request, Hermione agreed to hold their meetings in her quarters. Hermione nodded in response to Delfina's insistence on entering first but refrained from commenting, much to Delfina's relief.
"Is there something amiss?" Delfina inquired, attempting to divert attention away from herself. Hermione gave her a final scrutinizing glance before returning her focus to their potions textbook and the cauldron positioned between them.
"So, Professor Snape requires me to assist you with potions? I must inquire, what transpired with Dra- Malfoy?" Delfina tensed at the mention of the name and tensed further when Hermione inquired about her grades. Avoiding Hermione's gaze, Delfina found herself staring fixedly at the girl's face.
"Lately, my wand has been acting up. I plan to address it over the weekend with Weasley and Griselda. Apart from that, I'm clueless-" she paused as Granger rolled her eyes, "What's your issue, Granger? I'm attempting to provide an explanation."
"Oh, come on. I..." Hermione took a deep breath and rubbed her nose, "I won't press further, but it's evident to anyone observant ( Or perhaps overly observant in your case ) that it extends beyond wand issues. Now, let's delve into potions, shall we?"
Delfina departed the meeting, her emotions tangled between relief and anxiety. Hermione's eyes pierced with accusation during her comments or quips, yet softened with sympathy when she pored over her books or stirred. The inconsistency was nothing new to Delfina.
She wiped her brow, dampening her sleeve absentmindedly. She hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings when she collided with someone turning into the library from her left. A quick gasp escaped her lips.
"I apologize for that. Did you drop something?" Delfina spoke hurriedly, glancing at the ground before meeting the girl's gaze. Then her expression faltered. Her?
"I'm afraid I did not, Dolphin," the girl murmured airily. With that, she continued into the library, barely sparing Delfina another glance. Delfina released a sigh. If she truly aimed to change, she figured she should start by apologizing to people. Hermione's glare was one obstacle, Ron's stern demeanor was unapproachable, and she felt remorseful for her treatment of Gregory and Vincent, making it difficult to approach them this year. That left the Lunar-bound girl as her only viable option, perhaps the easiest one.
Approaching Luna as she arranged her books on one of the elongated tables in Ravenclaw, Delfina positioned herself nearby, noticing her heart rate increasing. Luna seemed to narrow her eyes, or so Delfina thought, until she blinked and her expression became neutral. "I-I felt that I s-should apologize to you. Right now. I'm sorry for how I've treated you in the past. You aren't Looney or weird or-"
"I am weird, Dolphin," Luna giggled.
"R-right. B-but I used that as... as..."
"An insult? A derogatory term?"
"Yes, I... I understand that words carry weight. But I will endeavor to rectify those wrongs. I don't expect forgiveness-"
"No, but you desire it, Dolphin. I don't forgive you. I appreciate the apology, as do the Furophantoms in your veins, but it'll take more than a rushed sorry for me to forgive you, if that's truly what you want, Dolphin. Now, I need to research wands and cores for Ronald. Cheers, Dolphin."
Leaving the library, Delfina Malfoy felt like a tangled mess, yet in truth, she had begun to unravel the knots just ever so slightly.
-/-/-
Saturday, October 8th, 1994
Delfina opened her eyes in the morning, exhausted from her research of potion techniques. Hermione wanted her to start trying to figure out what her sudden issue could be. So far? Nothing. All of it seemed to be the same to her. The heiress didn't know how she managed to do so well for two and a half years.
Nonetheless, Delfina prepared for her meeting with Griselda and Weasley.