Chapter One
She never forgot the words that Olivander had said to her when she got her wand, the black Gabon Ebony wood and black core of the Threads of a Demontor’s Cloak. For years, she wondered who the Ancient Queen was and only after some deep digging in libraries and once she got to Hogwarts, Mikah knew who the Ancient Queen was. To be compared to someone as renowned as Catherine of Aragon, Mikah couldn’t help but feel like she had bitten off more than she could chew after agreeing with the old wandmaker. Her hands had shaken for days after she had found out about the heavy secret of Catherine and for months, she couldn’t help but feel as if she was failing.
Mikah had stepped out of the library and hissed, feeling the stinging hex cause the muscles in her arm to twitch painfully. It took everything she had not to look over at who had cursed her but she knew the laughter of most of the Slytherin girls. Bellatrix and Narcissa had very distinct laughs. To be fair, Mikah knew why she was being picked on...most of Slytherin believed that Mikah was just some Mudblood. Mudbloods weren’t supposed to be in Slytherin. She watched as the girls walked by, making a comment about weak mudbloods. The third year bit back a growl and reigned in the demon in her blood. She was far from some weak mudblood but she had promised her mum...she wouldn’t ever show what she was.
Mikah waited a few minutes before she followed the other Slytherins, keeping a safe distance. It was the last day of classes before everyone headed home for the holidays and the final bell had rung a little while before Mikah had left the library. She was one of the few third years who had a free period at the end of the day so she had hidden in the library, searching for everything she could find on the Ancient Queen. Mikah rushed toward the Great Hall, slipping in behind a few Hufflepuffs and sitting at the end of the Slytherin table. She always sat at the end of the table, past the First years. It wasn’t that she thought she was better than them but she thought that she was safer. Being far enough that any spell would be noticed by the Head Table and easier to ignore the dark looks from the Purebloods...except for a pair of curious silver eyes.
Lucius Malfoy hadn’t participated in the bullying of the Third year, having stayed away from what the females in his house did but he hadn’t done anything to stop it. Something about this particular third year, this mudblood didn’t seem right. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t a mudblood...maybe a Pureblood from another country or at least a Half blood but Lucius couldn’t find anyone with the last name Castile, other than the territory in Spain. Which would make sense, Mikah’s accent and habit of slipping into Spanish gave away the Spanish heritage. He would ask his father over the holidays. As well connected as his father was, he would know about any Pureblood family in Spain missing a daughter.
“Lucius, you’re staring.”
Silver eyes shifted back to the oldest LeStrange brother who was also looking down the table at the Spanish girl. “My father looked into her family but he couldn’t find anything other than an address in the Muggle world.” Rodolphus said softly, keeping his voice low so the others near them couldn’t hear. “He’s still looking but it’s as if the family appeared out of nowhere.”
Lucius frowned, “Her last name and accent gives away she’s originally from Spain or at least, her mother is.”
“I know. Father’s been looking there but he hasn’t found anything. He did say the Spanish Ministry was clearly hiding something.”
Lucius raised a perfect eyebrow at Rodolphus’s words. Why would the Spanish Ministry be hiding something? He knew all Ministries had their own secrets but still...when asking about a witch who was clearly from their country, they should have said something...right? He looked back down the table at the girl, “You don’t think she’s a Mudblood, do you?”
Rodolphus shook his head, “No, she’s too well versed in Traditions and I saw her sneak out to the forest for Samhain. So either she’s a Pureblood, a mudblood raised by a Pureblood or there’s a high chance her family are what the muggles call pagans who practice our traditions and worship the Old Gods.”
Lucius looked back at his friend and shrugged, “She is an enigma.”
“Who‘s an enigma?”
Narcissa’s voice caused Lucius to bite back a groan and look over at his betrothed. “Nothing you need to worry about.” He said, smiling softly.
Her eyes narrowed and she looked down the table at the Mudblood. “We saw her coming out of the library, again. She was sorted into the wrong House. She should know she isn’t welcome here.”
“That may be but she is still a Slytherin. The hat put her here for a reason.” Rabastan finally said, having listened to the entire conversation. Like Lucius and Rodolphus, he hadn’t done anything to his yearmate, but he hadn’t stopped it. He did, however, have late night sessions with Mikah helping her learn English in exchange for learning Spanish.
“You’re really defending the Mudblood?” Narcissa said with a scowl.
“No, I’m not defending her but you have to admit she’s the only reason why we are currently in the lead with House points.” Rabastan said with a soft growl. Those dark blue eyes flashed with anger and he stood, no longer hungry. He may not have done anything to stop the bullying but at least he had gotten to know the girl. “I’m going to pack.” He said gruffly, walking away from the table.
Mikah’s green eyes flashed up for a moment, looking at the boy walking by, confused at the small smile Rabastan gave her in that passing moment. Normally, she was the first to leave the table, to get down to the common room and pack her truck before anyone could have the chance to get to it. It had happened once before and Mikah had to spend the first two weeks of summer listening to her mother rant off in Spanish about the immaturity of teenagers. Shaking her head, she waited until Rabastan left the Great Hall before she stood and rushed out of the room, fear that something was going to happen ripping through her veins.
Shoving open the door to her dorm, she sighed in relief seeing her trunk untouched. It was foolish to think that Rabastan would do anything, the males weren’t allowed in the girl’s dorm unless invited. Still...she couldn’t help but think something was wrong...if it wasn’t her books and belongings….then what? While packing her trunk, Mikah went over everything, double checking that everything was right and undamaged. The fact that she had gone until Yule break without needing to get a new book was impressive in itself. The last two years resulted in her mum sending her books because someone had done something to Mikah’s books. At least her mum had been understanding, never had Mikah abused a book in any way and the collection she had in her room looked as though she had never read them.
She didn’t know how long it had been but when she started hearing voices come up the stairs, Mikah finished her packing and shrank her trunk, slipping it into her bag and crawling into her bed, pulling the curtains around just as the door opened.
“Can you believe Rabastan?”
“He actually stood up for that little mudblood but he did make a fair point that her grades are a large part of the reason why we have so many points.”
“That doesn’t change the fact she’s still a mudblood.”
Mikah stopped listening to the conversation, her nails had already bit into her hands and small drops of dark red blood landed on her pillow. She knew her mother was a witch, she had magic but she had never seen her mother use a wand. If they wanted to believe she was a Mudblood...then fine, Mikah had no reason to prove them wrong. Her grades were higher than any of those calling themselves Purebloods and she held to proper traditional holidays as opposed to those who enjoyed what Halloween brought them. Mikah had always gone to the edge of the forest to perform the ritual her mother taught her. Never had she seen any of the Slytherin Purebloods outside of the castle on that night.
No...she was a Traditional witch who worshiped the old Gods and Goddesses. One day, Mikah would show them one day, when she sat as the Minister and head of the Wizengamont. One day, she would be the one they feared.
Eventually, her eyes closed and Mikah fell asleep, her dreams filled with crazy fantasies of the future.