The days continue to pass quickly until days turn into weeks and weeks into months, and Christmas is just a mere week away. I've already scheduled concerts and entered winter competitions to gain more money, that and I just really enjoy playing; it's like a release from my everyday life when I play I am free. No masks, no lies, just me and my music.

"Hadria, would you like to stay at my manor during the break? The others have all agreed already. My father would like to meet you. Is that an instrument?" Draco asks as I'm walking out of my dorm, violin case in hand.

"I will be there, although I will have to leave every so often to compete in my competition's, I will also be required to attend gatherings." I reply before leaving the common room and heading towards the lake. I slipped up and haven't been practicing as I should, I must not let myself be so complacent about my talents as others could be better than me, as reluctant I am to admit it. I have to play Christmas music and two choices of my own, for both instruments. I chose Moonlight Sonata and Für Elise for piano. For the violin, I decided Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy and Ashokan Farewell; neither is easy, but it still shouldn't be too difficult for me to play. I'm sure I will make mistakes, but one day I plan to play them all perfectly.

I quickly tune my violin before I start my scales and then into one of the Christmas pieces, rapidly losing myself into the music produced. I don't even notice as Draco comes out with my friends or any of the others that followed. I sway to the music, and before I realize it, I'm going into a haunting piece, tears filling my eyes and sliding down my face as I put all my emotions into it, of the abuse I had to suffer before the music world saved me. Of the bruises that covered my fingers as I was slapped with a ruler anytime I messed up on the piano. I remembered the time Vernon beat me with my bow until it snapped because I messed up on a complicated piece in front of his business associates. Each emotion I felt at that time, fear, hopelessness, shame, and anger, I put into the haunting melody drifting from my instrument.

I slowly come to an end, the last note ringing in the silence before applause sounds out. I snap my eyes open, magic coming to my fingertips to use before I realize it's just my friends and other classmates.

"Wow, Harry! That was beautiful!" Hermione gasps, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. I try to get out of her hold, not used to the contact, but she just tightens her arms around me before stepping away.

"I did not realize you could play an instrument so well. I thought I was at a professional concert." Altair says, coming to stand beside me as I gently place my instrument in its case. I quietly hum as I clean rosin off the strings and put my bow back in its place, careful to avoid touching the hair.

"I was dubbed a prodigy as a child; I've been playing both of my instruments for five years. I may start to learn another instrument soon." I reply before heading to the room I had the house-elves deliver a piano to so that I could work on my piano pieces.

Days continue to fly by as I diligently work on my music pieces until the day comes to leave for break. I grab all the things I will need, including the concert tickets I got for my friends so that they could attend with their families if they wanted. I also set aside the ones for Petunia and Dudley as they always come. Petunia so that she can seem doting and Dudley because Petunia makes him so that he can learn to be refined and become a gentleman. Anyone at the concert or competition can attend the after-party.

"You ready, Hadria? Your boys are impatiently waiting for you." Tracy Davis says, leaning against the doorway as I finish putting my shrunk trunk into my pocket and grab the tickets. I nod and head toward the common room, smiling as I hear Blaise whine about just how long females and Draco take to get ready.

"I'll have you know, Zabini, that I've been ready for a while now. I just figured I should get the tickets I received to give to friends just in case you wanted to discern true aptitude over the holidays." I disdainfully sniff as I walk past the boys, passing a confused Draco on my way out the door.

"What the bloody hell happe-" I hear Draco ask as the wall slams shut behind me, and I head outside to the carriages that will take us to the station in Hogsmeade, confused at the skeleton horses.

"What are they?" I whisper to myself, looking at how beautiful they are.

"Thestrals. They are only seen by someone that has witnessed death. Therefore, Miss Potter, just who have you seen die?" Professor Snape says from beside me, nearly giving me a heart attack as I never sensed him come near me, too caught up in the beauty of the Thestrals.

"Harry? You've seen someone die?" Hermione says from behind Snape, the others standing with her looking surprised.

"Uncle Vernon's sister had a heart attack in the middle of dinner when I was nine." I respond, shrugging my shoulders as I don't care, being as I'm the one that killed her.

"That's terrible! I'm so sorry!" Hermione gasps, and I shrug again, briefly forgetting about Snape as I see Blaise and Altair giving me a confused look.

"You may be able to fool the innocent Miss Potter, but I know what that look in your eyes means." Snape says before walking away, robes flaring out behind him, the said innocents looking confused before Draco gasps in shock.

"Don't be so surprised Draco, remember our conversation on Halloween." I snarl at his horrorstricken face before marching onto a carriage with Altair and Blaise, both staying silent, knowing it's something Draco and I would have to settle ourselves. The carriages soon take off, and within minutes we are at the station and boarding the train to London. Altair, Blaise, and I choose an empty cabin and are soon joined by Draco, who explains that Hermione and Adrian are sitting with some friends from Ravenclaw to discuss the books they are reading over the break for their book club. I wandlessly lock the door and make it to where no sound will leave the compartment.

"Ask, Draco." I order, licking my suddenly dry lips in my nervousness.

"You killed someone when you were nine!" He gasps out, and I look at him bemused.

"The first time I killed someone was when I was almost eight. I practiced on criminals until I knew I had my magic under control. It was the only way to move out of the cupboard under the stairs and to scare my aunt and uncle enough not to abuse me anymore. Then I took control of the house, being the only person earning any money. I assigned chores and made Dudley diet and exercise. I was just the adult of the house." I shrug uninterested as the others look at me incredulously.

"Cupboard?"

"Abuse?"

"Eight?"

I just shake my head at the three. I don't know why Draco was freaking about me being eight when I first murdered instead of the abuse like Altair and Blaise, well I don't think Altair heard anything farther than me living in a cupboard. I hum again as I remember the tickets I have before handing them to the three. I then stand to bring Hermione and Adrian theirs while the others are distracted. I can somehow always sense where Adrian is, so I follow that sensation and knock on the compartment door. When Hermione opens the door, I explain it to her before walking back to the boys. They slowly get over their shock, but once they do, everything goes back to normal, and we finally make it to London. Altair and I will stay with Draco all break as Altair's mom is always working and isn't the friendliest towards him, although not abusive. According to Altair, she just sees too much of his father when she looks at him and has become detached to cope. When the train slows, I quickly spot the Malfoy's, and I follow Draco over to them.

"Mother, Father, this is Hadria Potter-Black and Altair Black. Both are Heirs to the House of Black. Heir Black, Heiress Black, these are my parents, Narcissa Malfoy and Lucius Malfoy." Draco introduces, and I curtsy to Draco's mother before holding out my hand to his father, who then lightly kisses it.

"It's very nice to meet you, albeit I will have to be coming and going from your house often to attend my performances in the muggle world." I inform, causing Draco to remember to show the family pass to his parents.

"H-Hadria." Petunia says, stuttering as she comes up beside me with Dudley in tow, having followed the magic that I sent to fetch her.

"Aunt Petunia. Here are the tickets. Remember, you will only receive what I permit you to have." I respond, monotone and uncaring, too busy noticing the weight Dudley seems to be gaining even though I gave strict instructions to follow.

"But that's barely enough for us to survive off of, and Vernon isn't able to find a well-paying job!" Petunia argues, gaining some confidence from my absence within her presence these last few months.

"You receive over two thousand pounds a week from my vault with the investments I've made. That alone is more than you will need to live comfortably and still be able to save money. I then upped it to three thousand pounds a week last month for you to have a nice Christmas. Let me ask you something, Petunia. Why has Dudley gained weight? I had a strict regimen in place. Do not disobey me again." I reply, a dark coldness seeping into my voice as I stare at Petunia, Dudley shivering away from my fury as I force my magic through his body.

"Mommy!" Dudley cries out, and Petunia turns fearful eyes to him before looking back at me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Just please stop!" She begs, and I pull my magic back towards my body, Dudley back down to the weight he was when I left for school. I nod in their direction, and she quickly rushes away with Dudley.

I turn back to the small audience that I couldn't fool with an invisibility spell as they knew we were there, just to see gobsmacked looks on Altair, Draco, and Narcissa while a cruel smirk adorned Lucius' face.

"I'm sorry about that. My aunt and cousin needed a few things and seemed to have forgotten the rules." I curtsy again before touching Draco and Altair so that the portkey can carry me to the Manor. I feel a pull in my stomach before I'm landing shakily on my feet outside of a mansion. I struggle to keep a straight face as I battle my nausea. I think I prefer popping places than doing that ever again.

"Never again." Altair and I groan in unison as Narcissa gives a soft laugh at our misery. I knew all Malfoys must be sadistic, even those that marry into the family. It must be a required attribute to be accepted as marriage material.

"But, Hadria dear, how else will you make it to your competitions?" Narcissa smiles, placing a hand on top of my head, and I scowl at the thought of even trying to portkey again. I refuse, even if it means I have to reveal even more secrets than I already have. Or should I simply make them forget? I'll try sharing some information and, if necessary, I'll make them forget.

"Now that I've been here I will be able to pop back to this location. It shouldn't be too hard." I tell the adults and they, along with Altair, look at me confused. Oh, right, they don't call it popping. What do they call it again? It's not teleportation, nor is it transport. It starts with an 'a' doesn't it?

"She means apparition. She can apparate." Draco says, only to receive disbelieving glances. I guess that type of magic is supposed to be hard, although I don't know why. Using a wand is harder than my wandless magic, although more things can be done with a wand. When I try to use a wand it takes forever for me to master a simple spell.

"How can you apparate?" Altair sighs, already used to the weird things that I can do or that happen around me. Like how we found a three-headed dog while running from Filch, and the troll on Halloween. I almost forgot that even happened if I'm being honest to myself. Besides, Sharvara couldn't hurt a fly, Altair is just freaked out because he's a Cerberus.

"It's really not that hard, I've been able to do it for years. Ever since I was running from Dudley in school and popped up on the roof. After that I was so focused on mastering my magic to control the circumstances around me that I didn't even think it was hard when I came to Hogwarts. Using a wand is harder." I shrug as i receive incredulous looks from everyone around me.

"How is using a wand harder? You're at the top of the class!" Draco splutters in shock and I just shrug my shoulders.

"With a wand I can cast more complicated spells than without, but it's harder. With wandless magic I just think about what I want to happen and it either happens or doesn't, and if it doesn't that just means it's too complicated a task." I calmly inform them as I watch for signs of needing them to forget.

"Anyways, I have a competition tonight, if the judges deem my performance better than my opponent I will advance until I reach the finals. Will I be seeing you there? There will be a gathering of sorts afterwards where I must socialize and let my competitors know that although I haven't been present these last few months that I'm still the best. Whomever has a ticket can come to the gathering and the performances." I inform as I follow Narcissa and the others to the rooms we will stay in.

"We will be there." Draco answers before anyone else can and the others nod in agreement. I nod in acknowledgement before walking into the room that I will be staying in and changing into a dark green flowy dress, with silver gemstones at the top. I manage to tame my wild curls into an elegant updo before sliding on silver chunky heels and silver bracelets. Finally I put some green and silver butterfly clips in my hair. Once I'm satisfied with my outfit I walk out of the room, violin case in hand. The others are waiting in the parlor and I tell the two adults just where they should pop -apparate- to. When I get there I see Petunia and Dudley waiting, flinching as the other four arrive.

"You will win?" Petunia asks meekly, but holding her head up.

"Of course, I remember the consequences of failure and it fuels my determination to succeed." I scowl at her before entering the building and giving my name, the others showing their tickets.

Once I start to play I forget all of my problems and play from my very soul, dominating the competition. Before I know it days have passed and I've won all my competitions. My friends praising my talent as everyone goes to the manor for the last night of break, Draco barely convincing his father to let Hermione come along with Adrian and Blaise. Although once we arrive at the manor Lucius becomes nasty.

"Why would I allow a filthy mudblood dine at the table with us?" Lucius snarls when Hermione tries to sit at the dining table with everyone else before flicking his wand and pushing her to the floor. Altair rushes to her side to try and help her up, scowling at Lucius.

"Maybe because if you harm one of the ones under my protection again, I will make you beg for death." I growl, my magic flaring and surrounding my friends, even including Draco so that Addy wouldn't whine about losing his best friend.

"What can a little girl like you do?" Lucius laughs and I internally wince because I know that my magic isn't controlled or strong enough yet to go against an adult wizard, let alone one trained by Voldemort. Although there are a few things that I can do at this point in time.

"Lucius, don't anger ones with the Black last name. For her to have that last name and some of the characteristics she has, the Black blood is running through her veins. Along with the Black madness." Narcissa warns and Lucius just ignores her, pointing his wand at Hermione and Altair, casting Crucio. I snarl in anger as I order my magic to protect before calling it forth to hold Lucius still, a risky plan forming in my mind. If I can get Lucius distracted enough then I can control him for just a little bit.

"I've warned you Lucius. By going against both Altair and I, you've went against the House of Black. Your marriage with Narcissa is now annulled. Draco will live with Narcissa while you, Lucius, will be humiliated." Narcissa gasps as her bond with Lucius snaps and I take that moment to will my magic to make Lucius do as I say while he's distracted, as it's the only way I would be able to get a skilled wizard like him under my control.

"Lucius, as punishment, I command you to start up a program to test if muggleborns are the descendants of squibs." I order and his eyes glaze over as he nods. That's all I can do for now, but it should ruin his reputation within his circle, and someone may kill him for me.

"That's so wrong Harry! You shouldn't control people!" Hermione gasps while Draco looks at me in betrayal for controlling his father.

"He was going to make you sit at our feet like you aren't important. Besides, all I'm making him do is research for muggleborns." I scowl before forcing my face into a neutral expression, placing a bite of food in my mouth.

"Don't bother looking at Harry like that Draco. Had she not spoken I would have, and it would have been worse for you as I would have made a blood feud between Houses Black and Malfoy. You never would be able to be around either of us again, let alone try to woo Harry." Altair rolls his eyes as Draco pales and continues to eat.

"What does this mean for me?" Narcissa asks and I smile kindly at her.

"Draco once told me you wanted more children but Lucius refused. Now is your chance to marry for love and actually have those children. Although may i suggest marrying a muggleborn or a half-blood? Purebloods magic is weakening from so much inbreeding from what I can tell." I ignore her slight wince at the thought and continue, wanting to enjoy my last night before going back to school.

After dinner all of us kids gather in Draco's sitting room. I try to lay my head in his lap like I always do but he pushes me away before standing up and walking away. A hush falls across the room and I feel my throat close up and my eyes burn like I'm about to cry, but I push that feeling away before curling up on Blaise, wrapping my arms around his neck and tucking my head in between his neck and shoulder. Everyone knows that Draco is the person I always lay on and that he loves it, so the fact he pushed me away is a huge thing. I slightly shake as I fight the tears from falling, and failing, snuggling tighter into Blaise's arms.

"What the bloody hell was that Draco?" Blaise asks darkly, anger evident in his voice.

"I don't want to touch the person controlling my father." Draco shrugs and Hermione agrees that what I did was wrong. Altair disagrees and says that I was being lenient for Draco's sake and Addy stays silent through the whole ordeal.

Soon I hear no more as I cry myself to sleep in Blaise's arms, never making a single noise, nor hearing the argument that goes on between the others.

The next day things are still tense between everyone, all of us boarding the train in silence. I don't even look at Draco as I again climb onto Blaise's lap, this time facing the rest of the compartment.

"I'm going to visit Sharvara after dinner and find out what hes guarding." I finally announce, ignoring the incredulous look the others give me.

"What are you going on about now?" Draco smirks as he sees the tightening of my hands but I quickly put my wall up. I can't show weakness around him again.

"Hagrid mentioned something about Nicolas Flamel to Addy. I think Sharvara is guarding the Philosopher's stone. I want to study it." I shrug as I inform them, ignoring Addy's exclamation that the dogs name is Fluffy and Hermione saying that I might get expelled.

"I'm going with you." Is all Blaise says and I snuggle deeper into his arms, basking in the warmth that simple human contact could give me after years of not receiving any unless it was to harm me.

The voices around me soon fade to a soft murmur as I start to fall asleep. The soft lullaby Blaise hums finally pulling me under. Before I know it I'm falling into the nightmares that have always plagued me. A woman crying, a green light, and then screaming. My dream then shifts to being under a four year old Dudley as he hits me for making pancakes instead of french toast. When my magic tries to protect me I'm picked up by Uncle Vernon, who throws me across the room before he start to kick me as I curl up in a ball, protecting my head.

'No, stop! Please stop Uncle Vernon! I promise to be a good girl! Freak will be good! Freak promises! Please don't. Please stop. Please." I cry as Uncle Vernon takes his belt off to whip me with it, the buckle catching my head.

"No!" I scream, jerking out of arms that were holding me and shielding my head from any upcoming blows, flinching away when somebody tries to touch me, continuously murmuring about how freak would be a good girl and not cause freaky things to happen anymore.

"Freak doesn't want to be bad, Freak promises. Freak just wants food." I sob as a hush falls around the room. I cautiously uncover my head and look around me, confused at seeing the strange people around me before all my memories crash into my head and I realize what I just revealed.

"Fuck!" I sigh, running my hand through my hair. I warily climb back into Blaise's lap, flinching back when Draco reaches for me, not wanting to let him in again.

"What was that Hadria?" Adrian asks, bewilderment filling his features and I flinch, not wanting to admit my weakness.

"I- it was nothing important." I sigh, running my hand through my hair, trying to ignore the incredulous looks being directed my way.

"That looked like you were in a memory that you couldn't escape. Like those that suffer from PTSD or abuse victims." Hermione whispers and I flinch back again, Blaise tightening his hold on me.

"Harry doesn't want to talk about it so drop it." Blaise growls and Altair nods in agreement, pointing his wand at the others.

"Hadria?" Draco whispers, holding his arms out to me again and I start to shake from how much I want to crawl into his warmth, but he rejected me once already.

"You rejected her need for touch just last night Malfoy. Why would she go to you?" Altair scowls and Draco flinches.

"I'm sorry, Hadria. I'm sorry. Just please." Draco begs and I slowly crawl into his lap, prepared but fearing for the rejection I'm sure is to come. All Draco does is wrap his arms tighter around me, slowly running his fingers through my hair, making me relax and almost purr in contentment.

"That explains why you're always wanting to be in one of the boys laps. You trust them and feel safe around them, but it seems you feel safer with Draco." Hermione says and I scoff. Me feeling safer with Draco?

"Draco is just the warmest. He's also the only one that plays with my hair. I don't feel safest with him." I scoff while Blaise and Altair smirk at me, not believing it one bit. Okay fine, so I may prefer being in Draco's lap, but that doesn't mean anything. He's still my academic rival.

When the train gets to Hogsmeade we all get on a carriage that will carry us back to Hogwarts. My goal of seeing Sharvara is thwarted, however, when Draco decides that he needs more contact with me to calm his nerves, and Altair and Blaise want to do more research on the stone before going after it. I sigh as I settle into Draco's arms, the Slytherin's used to it by now and ignoring it, even if they view it as indecent. I'm thankful as I realize they would have pounced on the fact that I was in Blaise's lap had Draco still been ignoring me. Everyone knows I only go to Blaise when Draco and I are fighting and they always pounce on that as a weakness, the first through third years trying to dethrone me as the Princess of Slytherin and Altair as the Prince. Fourth through seventh don't care as they respect the Queen and King, that and they're more focused on upcoming exams.

"When will you agree to marry me Harry?" Draco sighs into my hair and I huff, crossing my arms.

"I'm eleven, Draco. I'm not thinking about marriage or dating right now. I'm just trying to decide the best route to take over the wizarding world and make it a better place." I smirk as the people around us start laughing. They think I'm joking just to rile up Draco, but I'm serious. I'm more concerned on how I'll take over Wizarding Britain than I am marriage.

"I'm serious, Hadria. I want us to marry when we turn seventeen." Draco murmurs in my ear and I shiver.

"Malfoy, she's too young." Altair scowls while Blaise sends me a smirk. I nearly laugh at the look on Draco's face.

"Maybe try asking me in a couple years and not when I'm eleven." I smirk at him before standing from his comfortable arms. I bend over slightly to kiss his cheek before heading to my dorm, leaving the warmth to go to sleep in a cold bed, ignoring the snickering behind me as the others laugh at Malfoy.