CORDELIA
“Oh dear, you’re doing it again, Cordy” Sienna’s voice made Cordelia Black look up from her ice cream.
“What?” she asked blinking her grey eyes.
“Spacing out” Sienna said crossing her arms showing her black polished nails “You’re doing it an awful lot today, what is going on?”
The Malfoys were acting very strangely lately. They were jumpy and winy, well... more than usual, actually. Apparently, a new Muggle Protection Act was about to be released and that news ignited endless discussions about muggles, and Arthur Weasley and how Pureblood families only should be allowed to study and practice magic.
Cordelia wasn’t new to these discussions, of course, she knew well the stories behind her family and the Malfoy’s. Everyone knew that they had been great supporters of You-Know-Who during the war, but after Harry Potter had defeated him inside the Mansion nobody spoke about it, it was like a secret not well kept, because the Malfoy’s hatred for muggles was well spoken. But the paranoia they were living those days was strange even for their standards. They were selling many things, things that Cordelia had never seen, even because she’d rather be in her chamber than spend time with her relatives. But anyway, there was something strange, something that made her feel uneasy. What were the Malfoys doing?
“Problems with my family” she said at some point looking at her ice cream.
“What are they doing this time?” Sienna asked rolling her eyes.
“I don’t know” Cordelia said quietly and that made Sienna frown, with a bit of worry.
“Why don’t you come to mine for a few days?” she suggested leaning over the table taking Cordelia’s hand in hers “You’ll get away from that hellhole and spend a few good days” Cordelia’s lips moved up in a little smile.
“I know I would” she said “But they are not here now only because Lucius had to go in Nocturn Alley.”
“Where?!” asked Sienna with pitched high voice that made some people turn in their direction, so Cordelia shushed her mouthing her to low her tone.
“What on earth is Lucius Malfoy doing in Nocturn Alley?” Sienna muttered to not let the people around to listen.
“I don’t know” Cordelia answered “They are acting strange and that scares me” Sienna frowned.
“Why?” Cordelia glared in her direction.
“Cordelia Auriga Black, remember?” said Cordelia making Sienna scoff.
“You’re not like that” she argued.
“And how many people believe it?” Cordelia answered but her friend just shook her head stubbornly.
“Sienna, everything they do, everything they are going to do will impact on me” Cordelia continued “Do you remember my first year? You were the only one who would talk to me just because of my surname.”
“If people are stupid that had nothing to do with you” Sienna said “You are not like the Malfoys and you are not like your brother” Cordelia let out a shaky breath at her friend’s words “And if you’ll need it, I’m going to tell this to everyone at school and in the world, alright?” Cordelia couldn’t help but smile at Sienna’s stubbornness, but she knew that her friend would have watched her back, like she had done for three years now.
“Look who is here” Sienna let out a groan hearing Fred Weasley’s words “What a pleasant surprise to meet you here today too” the boy said stopping next to their table as Charm barked and waved his tail happily at him. George was there too and stopped next to his twin. They were both dirty with soot, they probably had traveled there by Floo Powder
“Weasley” Sienna said not even turning to him.
“What a coincidence!” he said “So you’ve read my letter that I’d be here today to buy stuff from school.”
“Really?” asked Cordelia with wide eyes towards her friend that shook her head.
“I don’t even open his letters.” Sienna argued.
“You say that, Sien” Fred said “But still, here you are.”
“Oh, bugger off!” she said making both George and Cordelia chuckle.
Suddenly Ron appeared running towards them, with wide eyes and a slightly worried look.
“Have you seen Harry?” he asked as Charm started to sniff the end of his pans, waving his tail.
“No, we didn’t” Cordelia said before looking up to George.
“Harry is staying at ours” he explained.
“Yeah” Fred said sitting down next to Sienna that rolled her eyes “We went to get him to Surrey, you’re going to love this story-”
“Flirt later!” Ron argued “My best friend is missing?” Sienna’s eyes widened as Cordelia frowned.
“You’ve lost Harry Potter?” Sienna asked turning towards Fred that had took her spoon to taste her ice cream.
“Fred! That’s gross!” Sienna exclaimed making him laugh.
“How did you lose Harry?” Cordelia asked once again looking from Ron to George, since Fred and Sienna were too busy bickering with each other.
“He stammered!” Ron said “And now we don’t know where he is.”
“Mum is freaking out” George said scratching his head.
“I bet” Cordelia said “You’ve lost Harry Potter.”
“Ronnie! Ronnie!” Penny’s voice made them all turn, to see the short girl running to them “Guess who I found!”
“Harry?” Ron asked hopefully.
“Oh wow, no” Penny said shaking her head, making her twin scoff “Hermione! And I’ve told her we lost Harry” she kept saying as she was trying to calm down her brother “She was going to Gringotts, but she said we’ll see her later.” Ron bit his lips.
“That’s great Penny.”
“Oh, here you are” Cordelia looked up to see a man with a funny face and red hair walking towards their direction with a giant, kind smile.
“Oh, Sien” Fred said making the girl groan “This is my dad” then he turned to the man “Dad, this is Sienna Lynox.”
“Nice to meet you” the man said.
“And this is Cordelia Black” George said. Arthur Weasley turned to her and observed her, like it always happened to her when people came to know her last name. But then he smiled a little.
“Hello” he said kindly “Nice to meet you” Cordelia smiled too already used to it. Moreover, she knew what Lucius thought about him, and how their relationship was, she could not blame him if he didn’t jump with joy at the thought of his sons in her company.
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Any news on Harry?” Ron asked but his father shook his head, before turning around and let out a little laugh.
“Here he is” he said “Harry” he called and when they turned Cordelia didn’t see the boy straight away, but she noticed Rubeus Hagrid among the crowd. It was not difficult to spot him, since Hagrid was far taller than all of them.
As Harry got closer with Hermione, the Weasleys asked him where he had come out and couldn’t help but observing him as he said that he had arrived in Nocturn Alley. He was lucky Hagrid had found him, that alley was very dangerous.
After a moment a plump woman with red hair walked towards them with many bags and a relieved expression.
“Oh Harry – oh dear – you could have been anywhere-” she said as she started to clean the soot on Harry. She was so caring with him, looking at him like a Sienna’s mother looked at her children. Like a mum.
“Well, gotta be off” said Hagrid at some point before turning to Cordelia and Sienna and wave in their direction “Hello girls, “See yer all at Hogwarts.” Cordelia waved back her hand as she observed him walk away and she noticed Arthur Weasley observe her discreetly, but she decided to not pay attention to it. Even because something caught her attention.
“Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?” Harry was saying to Ron, Hermione and Penny “Malfoy and his father.”
Cordelia immediately looked over Sienna, that apparently had heard because she turned to meet her eyes, ignoring for the first time Fred.
“Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?” Mr Weasley had gotten closer to the group as Cordelia did her best to not make them realise that she was indeed listen to the conversation.
“No, he was selling.” at Harry response Cordelia took a breath while keep looking at Sienna.
“Yeah Weasley, whatever” Sienna said walking towards Cordelia to mutter “What could he sell in Nocturn Alley?”
“I have no idea” she said. Borgin and Burkes. Cordelia had never been there, in Nocturn Alley, Narcissa didn’t want for her and Draco to go there; but that morning Draco had been such a pain that Lucius brought him along. As for Cordelia, Lucius was never too keen on spending quality time with her; she would scoff and roll her eyes everytime he had to say something about muggles, muggleborns and as he had learnt that at school, she was often with Arthur Weasley’s sons he looked at her rather disgusted. As long as he spoke very little to her, it was fine with Cordelia.
“Where’s Hermione?” Penny’s voice made the girl look at her little dog that had raised up on his hind legs waiting cuddles from the little redhaired girl that was giggling.
“I’m here” Hermione said walking closer to her friend that looked at her with a smile.
“Oh, wow, here you are” Penny said before starting to caress Charm “Look there’s Charm!” Hermione chuckled reaching out her hand to stroke Charm’s head that immediately started to lick her hand happily.
Lucius would have been stroke down by a heart attack if he saw her surrounded by Weasleys, Harry Potter and a muggleborn.
“What are you ladies doing?” George asked walking closer with his hands in his pockets.
“Same as you, I suppose” answered Cordelia “Buying stuff for school.”
“That’s great” Fred exclaimed appearing next Sienna that glared at him as he looked at her with a cocky smile “We could go together.”
“Blimey, this really sounds like an incredibly terrible idea, Weasley” Sienna answered.
“How so, Sien?” Fred asked, making Sienna cross her arms facing the redhead.
“We’ve done” she said “The only things left out are the books.”
“Alright everyone, let’s go at Flourish and Blotts” at Arthur Weasley’s words an almost malicious smirk appeared on Fred’s face as Sienna clenched her jaw.
“Oh bugger” she said, as Cordelia hid a chuckle. That was not Sienna’s day. The both of them had decided to go buy the books last because they had to buy all Gilderoy Lockheart’s books, which were a lot and heavy.
As she turned Cordelia noticed Mrs Weasley look in their direction and she couldn’t help but feel surprised when for once she was not the one to be observed. The woman’s eyes were fixed on Sienna as she kept talking with Fred. Of course, Sienna was a girl that made people turn their heads twice; she was tall, pitch-black hair and diaphanous skin. She always wore black dresses and clothes, in a gothic style. As it was her make up, heavy dark eyeshadow and lipstick. Probably not the type of girl Mrs Weasley had thought for his son.
“Fred, George” she called them “We have to go”
“Alright, mum” said George as the woman got closer, still looking at Sienna as Fred came forward.
“Our friends are tagging along” he said “Mum, meet Sienna Lynox and Cordelia Black” the woman looked between the two girls as Sienna said that it was a pleasure to meet her. Mrs Weasley forced a smile, still observing the girl.
“Likewise,” she said “You all in the same year”
“We are, ma’am” said Cordelia earning a surprised look from Molly Weasley, like she didn’t expect for her to speak directly at her.
As they arrived at Flourish and Blotts it was difficult not to notice how many people were there. There was almost no space to move at all, but Cordelia tried her best to squish herself away from the crowd and take refuge among the shelves.
“Gilderoy Lockheart is giving the books himself” said George following her, frowning at the people.
“He sure has a lot of fans” Cordelia said noticing how many women were there clapping and whispering with one another.
“Tell me about it” George said “My mum is one of them” that made Cordelia chuckle.
“No way”
“I swear” he said nodding his head “It’s worst then my sister on Harry.”
“Or your twin on my friend” Cordelia stated looking up at him, that laughed.
“It must run in the family” that made the girl nod her head, before turning to see Mr Weasley look in the direction where she was.
“I don’t think your father likes me very much” George frowned a bit looking from her to where his father was standing.
“No, my father likes everyone” he said, but that made her glare playfully at him.
“Everyone but my family”
“Can you blame him?” he asked as the girl took a breath. He got a point. No one but rich pureblood families liked the Malfoys or the Blacks.
“Give him time” he said nudging her shoulder “Like you did with all of us” Cordelia smiled sadly looking down at Charm that had his brown eyes fix on her as he was ready to make her feel better.
“Hi, George” a light voice made them turn to see the petite Hufflepuff girl from Hogwarts.
“Fay, hi!” George exclaimed with a little blush “What a coincidence to meet you here!” she smiled at him.
“My mum had seen a picture of Gilderoy Lockheart and wanted to see him in person.”
“He is known even among muggles?” he asked half surprised, half annoyed causing the girl to giggle again.
“No” she said “But one of my friends from Hogwarts is his fan too, she met him this summer and had a picture signed up for me too”
“Oh... so you’re...”
“No, no” Fay said shaking her head “I didn’t even know who he was, honestly” as the two looked at each other with puppy eyes, Cordelia smiled took in her arms Charm to start looking for Sienna. She didn’t have to search much since she spot her next to Fred, but for once they weren’t arguing; their eyes were fixed on something else and Cordelia couldn’t help but groan when she saw Draco’s unmistakable blond hair arguing with Harry.
“Famous Harry Potter” he was saying “Can’t even go into a bookshop without making the front page.”
“Leave him alone, he didn’t want all that” it was another redhead girl who had spoken, but she wasn’t Penny. It was the other Weasley girl, the youngest, that spoke with a glare.
“Potter, you’ve got yourself a girlfriend” Malfoy said with a chuckle.
“What on Merlin’s name has happened this time?” asked Cordelia from next to Sienna.
“Gilderoy Lockheart spotted Harry through the crowd and wanted a picture of him.”
Just that? Seriously? Why Draco had to be so annoying and not leave that boy alone?
“Oh, it’s you” said Ron walking with Hermione and Penny next to their friend looking at Draco like he was something very nasty “Bet you’re surprised to see Harry here, eh?”
“Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley” Cordelia shook her head as she saw Fred stir from next to them as George and Fay appeared.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“My nephew is a git” Cordelia said glaring at her relative.
Ron was about to hit Draco only to be stopped by Harry and Hermione, that grabbed him by the jacket and from his father’s voice that called him.
“What are you doing?” he asked “It’s mad in here, let’s go outside.”
“Well, well, well. Arthur Weasley” Lucius’ voice made them all turn as Cordelia’s jaw clenched and Mr Weasley’s glare became cold. That was not going to end well, she could see how Lucius was smirking.
“Busy time at the Ministry, I hear” he said “All those raids... I hope they’re paying you overtime” then he took the books from the youngest Weasley’s cauldron, looking at them in a derisive way “Obviously not” he kept saying “Dear me, what’s use of being a disgrace to the name of wizards if they don’t even pay you well for it?”
“We have a very different idea of what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy” Mr Weasley answered, starting to get irritated by the other man.
“Clearly” Lucius said looking at a woman and a man next to Hermione, before turning towards the direction where Cordelia was; as his eyes landed on Fay, Cordelia noticed George putting himself before her with a glare and when Lucius looked towards Cordelia, she glared at him, making him chuckle darkly, before turning to Mr. Weasley “The company you keep... And I thought your family could sink no lower-”
What happened next, Cordelia didn’t think she would have ever saw in her life as she saw Arthur Weasley throwing himself at Lucius, knocking him into the bookshelf. Books fell down, people started to look in their direction, Charm barked and Fred and George began to yell at their father.
“Get him dad!” they said as Mrs Weasley tried to stop her husband. As for Cordelia she didn’t know if she felt pissed for what she had just witnessed or delighted by the fact that someone finally had hit Lucius Malfoy.
Even the assistant of the bookshop tried to stop them, but it was of not use. Cordelia turned towards Sienna that was backing up the Weasley twins, as Harry and Ron were looking at the scene almost impressed and Hermione and Penny had stepped back holding each other hands.
The two men had no intention to stop and only when Hagrid appeared from the crowd and put himself between them, they finally got away from one another. Mr Weasley had a split lip while Lucius had a bruise under his eyes because of the book that had hit him before. It was a very strange situation, but Cordelia couldn’t help but laugh. And her laughter made Mrs Weasley turn to her with a glare, as did Percy Weasley from next to her mother. Cordelia really tried to restrain herself, but Lucius with a black eye had made her day.
“Here girl, take your book” Lucius said thrusting the book he had took before to the youngest Weasley “It’s the best your father can give you, let’s go Draco” he then pulled himself from Hagrid grip and turned to Cordelia pointing at her.
“And you” he said “Come now” Cordelia glared at him, matching the way his eyes were looking at her. Then she felt a hand on her arm and when she turned, she saw Sienna, looking at her with a slightly worried look, but Cordelia shook her head.
“I’ll see you on the train” Sienna nodded at her words, letting her go. Cordelia smiled a little before walking towards her relatives, feeling the stares of Sienna, the Weasleys and Hagrid on her.
“Someone is in trouble” Draco snickered.
“Will you ever shut that mouth?” Cordelia said as they walked out of the shop.
“You are a disgrace” Lucius said fixing his hair and cloak, making Cordelia scoff “Associating yourself and our family with the Weasleys and mudbloods”
“At least Mr. Weasley can take a punch” Cordelia answered with her head held high, not fearing the look that Lucius was giving to her.
“You are not going out from the house until September” Lucius said pointing a finger at her “You’re going to be in your room, so you’ll have time to remember how a real witch should behave.”
“Oh, please” Cordelia said “It’s a gift you’re giving to me.” Lucius glared at her before walking closer.
“Change your attitude, girl” he said “And always remember that you’re a guest in my house” then he turned towards his son “Come on, Draco.”
A pureblood witch from a rich extinct family; guest in a house that had never understood her. Blamed for her surname by others. What was Cordelia Black? That was something that she really didn’t know.
“Let’s go, Charm” she said, before starting to follow Lucius and Draco.