Behind the Shadows [Book One]

Chapter Thirteen:

[[A/N: Obviously this is a fan fiction and facts and whatnot may be changed around throughout the story to accomodate the storyline I have planned out c: so dont go getting all upset with me over the facts I choose to change (like the fact that Bella got out of Azkaban before the school year began instead of during), I apologize in advance and I hope you all enjoy this chapter]]

Chapter Thirteen:

Draco and I stood at Platform 9 and 3/4 as we said goodbye to Mum and Dad. I hugged the woman I now easily considered my mother before hugging Lucius Malfoy, who despite his coldheartedness had taken me under his wings and taught me much of what I knew like any father would.

As far as I was concerned, there was no better family to be had than the one I had right in front of me.

"Do make sure Draco actually writes this year, dear. I have absolute faith in the fact that only you can get him to do such a horrid thing as getting him to speak to his family," Mother winked, showing me she was teasing him as Lucius finally pushed me away from him, looking slightly uncomfortable at the show of emotion.

Grinning at them both, I backed up and happened to look over Father's shoulder at the people grouped up speaking behind us.

"I will mum, I promise."

At those words, which I knew the group behind us heard, they glanced towards me. Harry's face stared me down, looking a mix of disappointed and angry while a man I recognized as my second year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher grimaced as he saw my family and I so near to his group.

A rather pretty woman with the oddest coloured hair (pink) glanced at us before sticking up her nose and turning away from us and a large black dog rubbed his head against her hand as if to tell her 'it's okay'.

The dog immediately grabbed my attention... something about that action had seemed so human and I had the distinct urge to pet it. Smiling at mum and dad, I excused myself from the group to let them speak to Draco alone; I knew they had a lot to remind him about and I went towards Harry's group.

"Hi Harry!" I exclaimed, doing my best to make it seem as if I were actually excited to see him when in truth I just wanted an excuse to check out the dog that had caught my attention so easily. "Who's this cute little guy?"

"That's Pa-Snuffles."

"Pa-Snuffles?"

"Just Snuffles, sorry. Hello Amaryllis, how was summer?" Harry's hair was a good deal shorter this year than it was at the end of last year, making him look much younger. He almost looked like he did when I was ten, except obviously taller.. and his eyes looked older, as if he had seen more than his fair share of pain.

"It was great, I learned a lot over vacation.. broke a few bones too. That wasn't so fun but I deserved it for being reckless," I laughed, memories of the countless times I'd fallen off the banister over the summer flitting through my mind. "How was yours?"

"Exciting." I expected him to say more about it but that seemed to be all he planned to tell me, so I just grinned and turned to the dog who had walked up to me and sniffed my hand gingerly.

"May I pet him?"

Harry shrugged and the dog pushed his head into my hand. Automatically, my fingers began scratching behind his ears, a spot I knew Bambino particularly enjoyed being scratched at and hoped that Snuffles would also enjoy it.

Who would name their dog Snuffles anyway? What a crud name for a dog... I sort of felt bad for him. If I got another dog, I'd name it Bruiser or Killer or something similar, Bambino was only named that because... well I was eleven and it was the only word I knew in a foreign language and I thought that was just amazing.

I had a much better naming sense now though, thankfully.

"I should get back to the Malfoys," I smiled apologetically as I patted Snuffle's head.

"You're calling them your mum and dad now, I heard you. Have they replaced our actual parents for you? You've replaced the people who loved us more than anything with, of all people, the ones who can't even love their actual son properly?"

I glanced at the group Harry had behind him, some staring at me as if waiting to hear my answer but a couple looked at the ground, almost embarrassed to be around Harry as he asked such a rude question.

"Anyone is better than Petunia and Vernon. Don't judge me just because I decided to get away from the abuse when you were no longer there to protect me from it, Harry. You abandoned me and the Malfoy's took me in and regardless of what you think, they love me just as much as they do Draco.. and that's a hell of a lot, even if you don't think so."

I sneered at the boy who I was forced to call my brother before turning on my heel and stomping my way back to my place at Draco's side.

"Sorry, I saw a cute dog and wanted to pet it. We should get on the train Draco, it's only a few minutes until it leaves. Mum, make sure that Daisy takes care of Bambino please.. I've enchanted his food and water bowl so it will never run out but he'll need exercise and to go outside every couple of hours."

Narcissa smiled softly down at me, promising me that she would before hugging me once more and sending the both of us on our way.

"Are you sitting in our carriage or are you going to find some fellow...Gryffindors?"

To this day, Draco nor I could stand most Gryffindors despite the fact that I was one of them. I was friends with a couple (sort of... more like friendly acquaintances), but how I was sorted into Gryffindor, I'll never know.

I was more cunning, reckless and hilarious than I was brave and courageous but I suppose people change and perhaps I was one of the few who did. I'd do much better in Slytherin than I would in Gryffindor but there was no changing the sorting now.

"I'm actually going to go find Luna and see how far I can go with the subtle insults before she realizes I'm not actually attempting to be friendly."

"All right.. see you, Amy."

"See you, Big D." I laughed at his confused facial expression before he grinned, his smile making me want to smile right back at him but I managed to hold back that reflex before we got onto the train and separated. I'd catch up to him on the ride to Hogwarts, and if not then there was always during the feast and sorting.