‘Good morning! Sorry, can you hear me? I saaaaiiidd... GOOOOD MOOOORNING, WORRLD!’ I sang into my hairbrush.
My dolls and teddy bears clapped along.
‘If you're listening to this, then I sing for you on this brand-new, new, new day! So come on and mew, mew, hoor-raaaay! That's right, I'm the one, the greatest! Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm the latest, and I'm here to stay...’ I sang, thrusting my arms into the air.
The teddy bears clapped harder.
‘Clap your hands for me!’ I wiggled my butt and jabbed a thumb at my chest.
My toys cupped their hands around their mouths as if hooting and hollering. Oh, I knew they loved it.
Someone was shouting, but I didn't care. Today, I was going back to school, which meant I got to hang out with all my friends.
‘Clap your hands! Go on, clap those itty-bitty hands for me! The one and oh-oh only! That's right, baby! I'm Draconia Malfoid, and I'm the best! Ah-ah... better than ALL the rest!’ I wagged my finger at the room.
My toys waved their arms and fainted one by one onto the bed.
I bobbed my head as the music played. Well, technically, an enchanted book was playing it. The beat changed depending on the page, but I absolutely loved this tune.
Someone shouted again. Maybe Mum was upset.
Nah! I had time. I'd woken up early.
I continued bobbing my head from side to side.
‘Draconia!’ Mum exclaimed.
The door flew open and slammed against the wall. Mother strode into the room amid a gust of cold air, wand in hand and eyes narrowed.
Yep, that was my mum, Narcissa Malfoid.
I froze mid-pose, my mouth inches from my comb. The music slowed before stopping altogether, and the enchanted book snapped shut. All my toys turned to stare at Mother, then at me, before going stiff and toppling onto the bed.
‘Do you have any idea what time it is?’ Mum demanded as she approached.
‘Six thirty?’ I said, nodding towards the grandfather clock.
In the corner of my two-storey master bedroom stood a grandfather clock. And I mean a real grandfather clock. Its face was carved to resemble my grandpa Abraxas, complete with stars and constellations surrounding it. Right now, good old Grandpa's carved face drooped as he snored.
The clock's hands pointed to six thirty.
‘Abraxas! Stop napping! Good heavens, you stupid clock!’ Mum marched over and tapped it with her wand.
‘Oh, my! OH, MY!’ Abraxas cried, jerking awake and shaking his face.
The clock hands spun before settling at seven forty-five.
‘You're late!’ Mum declared.
‘Whoopsy. Oh well. Multicorfors!’
I waved my wand above my head and twirled.
My baggy pyjamas transformed into my Slytherin outfit. The towel draped over my shoulders came alive like a snake, then transformed in a series of puffs into a green scarf that wound itself around my neck.
‘Samis! Rose!’ I snapped my fingers.
Two house-elves appeared beside me.
‘Yes, mistress.’ Samis bowed his head.
Rose merely clasped her hands in front of her and fixed me with a piercing gaze.
‘Pack my bags. I'm ready to go to school!’ I waved dismissively.
The elves began Apparating around the room, packing my things.
Meanwhile, I crossed to the mirror to inspect my face. Oval face, high cheekbones, long blonde hair, sparkling grey eyes, and a beauty spot beneath one eye.
I totally slayed.
Sure, my hair was a mess, but there was an easy fix. It was called MAGIC!
‘Crinus Muto!’ I exclaimed, waving my wand.
My hair straightened and flowed over one shoulder.
‘Aaaand, I'm ready!’ I spun around and spread my arms.
Mother looked me up and down, gave a disapproving huff, and walked away.
‘Come along, daughter of mine,’ she called sharply.
I strode into King's Cross Station, ready to slay. My jacket hung over one shoulder, my glossy lipstick sparkled, and my hair bounced with every step. White snakeskin gloves gave me a refined look, while my high-heeled boots clacked against the floor.
Behind me, the help pushed my luggage trolley. At the moment, the house-elves looked like a pair of Muggle oafs.
‘Come on, then!’ I waved them forward.
We passed through the barrier onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and for one glorious moment, the whole world stopped.
Allow me to paint the scene for you, dear reader.
Every first-year student had heard rumours about the great, the beautiful, the majestic, the one, the only, Draconia Malfoid. Naturally, the second- to fifth-years had done their part to build up my reputation.
‘Oh, did you hear about Draconia?’ one would ask.
‘I hear she's sooo pretty!’ a first-year would gush, fanning their cheeks.
‘Powerful, too,’ another would add with a nod.
‘Sooo smart! Ooooh, I want to be just like her!’ yet another would squeal.
So, let's see if I was right, shall we?
‘I am... hereeeee!’ I announced, striding onto the platform with my arms outstretched.
People glanced in my direction.
Then they went back to what they were doing.
What?
No. This couldn't be happening.
Was I really so unpopular?
It was all that stupid Pot-head's fault! He'd hogged the spotlight all last year, strutting around like he was aaaall that just because he'd killed a dragon during the Triwizard Tournament.
I could totally kill a dragon if...
‘Eeeeaaahhh! It's her!’ a second-year squealed.
Other students noticed me and rushed over. Soon, my adoring Slytherin minions... ah... henchmen?
No. Fans.
Yes, they were totally my fans and nothing else.
Ha ha ha.
Stop looking at me like that. I love my fans.
‘You changed your hair!’ A third-year gingerly reached out to touch my silky locks.
‘You look like a queen!’ another gasped.
‘H-hi. I hope I get into Slytherin,’ a first-year said with a hopeful nod.
I opened my mouth to respond when...
‘Out of my way! Away with you!’ Victetta Crabb announced.
I rolled my eyes.
Victetta called herself my friend, but honestly, I found her insufferable. Not only was she chubby, but she also stood almost six feet tall. More troll than witch, if you asked me.
She ploughed through my admirers and planted herself beside me. Her flowing hair framed a smug face as she folded her arms.
‘What are you, my bodyguard? Away!’ I slapped her arm.
‘So sorry!’ Victetta stepped back.
‘Well, well, princess. Are you ready to slay?’ Georgia Goyle asked.
She draped an arm around my shoulders. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was one of the prettier girls at school.
Well, nowhere near my level, but she didn't need to know that.
I bumped my shoulder against hers to dislodge her arm.
‘Come on, girls! My kingdom awaits!’ I declared with a grin.
I strode towards the train, swaying my hips, while the girls hurried after me.
After all, I was a Malfoid, and I was totally here to slay.
I settled into a compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express while two first-years massaged my shoulders. A couple of second-years fetched me a bottle of fizzy drink, and two more chattered excitedly nearby.
Yeah, this was where I belonged.
The heart of the world. The centre of attention. And...
‘He's coming!’ a girl squealed.
She stood in the doorway, peering into the corridor.
My heart sank.
The mindless chatter grew louder as HE strode past.
Like! Who did he think HE was?
Students fawned over him, crowding around the idiot, desperate to earn his approval. But ooooh no! That wasn't even the worst part.
WORSE than all of that was his sheepish attitude.
He pretended he didn't like the attention, but we all knew. WE KNEW he loved it!
The little attention-seeking...
‘POTTER!’ I burst into the corridor.
Harry turned to look at me, and I gulped.
Had he grown over the summer holidays?
He looked so stupid with that messy hair. Like, hello! Did he even own a comb? Those nerdy glasses were totally last year, and did he even have a house-elf to clean his clothes?
Ha! It looked as though he'd put his uniform on the back of a chair and let it gather dust all summer.
Just looking at his face made me soooo angry.
‘Yeah?’ he asked.
Why did he look soooo innocent?
You couldn't look that innocent and NOT be up to something.
‘I... ahhhh...’ I blinked.
My face grew hot.
He ran a hand through his hair and glanced nervously at his friends.
‘Don't think we've forgotten about Diggory! I know you did it!’ I accused, pointing at him.
His face fell.
HA! GOTCHA!
Take that, you stupid Pot-head!
‘Y-yeah.’ He turned and hurried away.
‘Serves him right!’ Victetta declared, folding her arms and jutting out her chin.
I rolled my eyes.
Honestly, could she look any more ridiculous?
I flopped onto my bed at Hogwarts and stared at the ceiling while my elves unpacked my things.
A glass panel overhead revealed a murky green tank filled with aquatic snakes and fish. At night, the Bumbolt snakes crackled with lightning, bathing the room in a gentle green glow.
‘Ahhhhh! This is MY year! I just know it!’ I punched the air.
‘Yep! I feel it, too.’ Georgia flopped onto the bed beside me.
‘Off.’ I waved her away.
‘Nope! We're besties, and that gives me bestie rights!’ She grabbed my hand.
I rolled my eyes and stared at her.
‘So... you think it's true?’ I asked.
‘What?’ she replied.
‘Like, what they're saying about Pot-head and, you know, Cedric?’ I couldn't stop thinking about Harry's face on the train.
He'd looked totally sad.
No, not just sad. It was like he'd seen something.
Ahhh! Why was he stuck in my head? I just wanted to screeeeaaam!
‘Oh, he legit killed Cedric,’ Georgia said with a nod.
‘Really?’ I sat up and stared at her.
‘Yep. Hannah said she saw Cedric's ghost, and he told her everything.’
‘Really?’ I sighed.
Hannah LOVED making up stories. By next week, she'd probably be telling everyone Cedric had been reanimated or some other nonsense.
‘Yes, and this time I believe her. Justice for Cedric!’ Georgia punched the air.
‘Justice for Cedric!’ another student shouted, punching the air.
Others joined in, chanting the same words.
‘Come on.’ Georgia patted my arm.
‘Y-yeah... Justice for Cedric.’ I raised my fist.
Okay, I wasn't going to tell anyone else this, and if you told anyone, I'd have my house-elf Apparate you into the ocean or something, but... ah... how do I describe it?
You know when you watch something snowball out of control, and you're powerless to stop it? You see it happening, but no matter what you do, you can't undo whatever started the chaos.
Yep. That was meeeee.
By dinner, the whole ‘Justice for Cedric’ thing had gotten completely out of hand. Worse, the princess of Slytherin's name had become attached to it.
Why meeeee?
I had nothing to do with this! Think about my reputation!
Look, you plebes have no idea what it's like at the top. Everyone's always looking up to you.
So, when I entered the Great Hall and spotted Harry Potter sitting at the Gryffindor table, covered in sticky notes reading ‘Justice for Cedric’, I actually felt bad for him.
For about three seconds.
Harry looked at me.
‘Humph!’ I sniffed, stuck up my nose, and walked past.
Yeah! Suck it, Pot-head!
Like I... ME... was going to worry about you!
Ha! Fat chance!
After dinner, I headed to the washroom. As I washed my hands, Victetta appeared beside the sink, arms folded.
Honestly, this girl made me feel like a goon. One of those thug bosses who needed some giant to stand guard.
‘Stop crowding me.’ I waved her away.
‘Sorry, princess.’ Victetta backed up.
A flash of light erupted.
Victetta collapsed.
I spun around to find Hermione Granger approaching with her wand raised. Another one of Pot-head's friends who apparently didn't own a comb. Her messy hair practically curtained her face, which was twisted with anger as she aimed her wand at me.
‘Take it back! Get them to stop it!’ Hermione snarled.
I eyed her up and down.
No sense of fashion, either, apparently. Second-hand clothes much?
Ha!
My boots clacked against the floor as I strode over to the towels and dried my hands.
‘Take... what back?’ I asked, giving her a sidelong glance.
‘About Cedric!’ Hermione snapped.
‘I don't know what you're talking about.’ I shrugged.
‘I know you started it!’ She jabbed her wand towards me.
‘Ahhhh!’ Victetta groaned as she came around.
‘Can you prove it?’ I asked, eyeing Hermione.
‘Well... ah... no. But we all know you started it,’ Hermione insisted.
‘Hmmm. I think not. Now, if you'll excuse me...’
I stepped over Victetta and headed for the door.
‘Expelliarmus!’ Hermione shouted.
Her spell blasted the mirror beside me.
I stopped, looked at the shattered mirror, then turned to face her.
‘Hannah Stephan. She's been known to start a rumour or two. Hmph.’ I smirked and walked away.
See, stupid Pot-head girl? Don't say I never helped.
By the next morning, Hannah was in huge trouble and our house had lost ten points.
Like I cared.