JINX; AUGUST

The woman was speaking to me from toward the end of the colossally large table that lay smack dab in the middle of the room. She stood from her place, making her way across the room. A man with long blond hair joined her along with a young boy with hair the same shade. This was my family. All three of them. My family.

"Aunt Narcissa, Uncle Lucius, and Draco, right?"

"Correct, but you can call me Auntie if you like." Auntie Cissa assured, tentatively drawing closer to me. "It's been so long, Jinxie." She reached out with meek hesitance, warm hand on my shoulder. "Far too long."

"I didn't even know I had a cousin." Draco said, his face screwed up into a perpetual disgusted look. "Are you really from America?"

"Quiet Draco." Uncle Lucius harshly ordered, smacking the boy lightly with the ornate cane he carried. The top of it carried a snake carved from silver with its mouth drawn open, ready to bite. "We mustn't be rude to house guests."

A house guest? Was I visiting? Was this temporary? Would they just dump me away if another accident happened?

"She's not a house guest." Aunt Cissa hissed, the blonde locks in her dark black hair reflecting in the firelight. Pitiful warmth filled the giant room coming from marble fireplace. Green flakes licked from the hearth, crackling repetitively. "Jinxon is our family." Turning back to me, she bent down slightly to be level to my own face. "You're home, Jinxon. This is your home as much as it is ours."

"Of course." Lucius enunciated coldly. "My mistake. I must have forgotten myself for a moment. Language is silly that way, isn't it?"

"Why are you dressed like that?" Draco asked, his light blue eyes sharply piercing into me.

"Draco!" Now it was his mother's turn to chastise him, her jaw clenching. "Did I not raise you to be polite? Be kind to your cousin!"

"I don't even know her, Mum." Draco protested, stabbing glances my way.

"Like what?" I cut in, a dreadful feeling settling deep in the depths of my stomach. "Like an orphan or like I'm poor?"

"Both."

"Draco!" Auntie Cissa was furious now, seizing his shoulder. "Apologize at once!"

"But I didn't do anythi-"

"It's fine." I cut him off once again, voice accidentally breaking. My face felt hot as did the rest of my body. "I'm an orphan and I'm poor, aren't I?"

"No. No, Jinx." Auntie Cissa objected, shaking her small sculpted jaw. All of them looked carved from marble, the way their features were shaped. Especially Draco and Uncle Lucius. They were about as cold as marble. "Not anymore. You don't have to worry about such things. You have us."

"Yes." Uncle Lucius spoke slowly, a mocking edge on his voice. "You have us. Narcissa why don't you take the children into town tomorrow. Buy Draco the new Comet Two Sixty and Jinxon some new clothes." His turned up nose remained pointing to the ceiling. "She's a Lestrange. She should dress like one, yes?"

His words made me feel less than. My clothes didn't seem so nice anymore. My converse high tops seemed battered with the tears in the sides of the canvas material.

Now my new Salvation Army T-shirt seemed wrinkled and like tattered cloth compared to even Draco's pajamas. They were made of dark green velvet, looking softer than my cheap polyester wardrobe.

"But Father," Draco groused, his angular chin jutting toward Uncle Lucius. "I don't want a Comet. I want a Nimbus 2000."

"A Nimbus is far too fast for you. Theodore Nott broke his arm last week from riding one. His mother told me over tea."
His mother denied him softly, running manicured nails through his freshly showered hair. He smelled of lemon suds and cleanliness. I still smelled like dirt and cheeseburger.

"You're only going to be a first year, Draco. Hogwarts doesn't even allow first years to bring brooms with them, let alone ride them."

"Yes. Yes." Uncle Lucius mechanically patted his son's head. Making the action seemed forced. "Mother knows best, Draco." His emotionless gaze fell back on me. "It's late. Why don't you children run along upstairs. You can manage showing Jinxon her room, right, Son?"

"Yes, Father." Replied Draco, still confusingly sullen about some broom. I thought that maybe he just really liked cleaning. But then again, Draco didn't exactly look like the cleaning type. "Come on, Jinx."

"Goodnight, children. I'll see you in the morning." Auntie Cissa cooed, waving us off as Draco led me out of the room. We traversed up winding marble staircases, my floppy shoes smacking against the stone.

The manor had to be larger than all the houses I had stayed at combined. The ceilings were skycrapingly high, with skylights every few feet. More portraits watched us as we passed, some snoring, others wishing us goodnight. Portraits were going to be the weirdest thing to get used to. Their eyes and bodies moving like real people.

Our journey only ended when we reached twin ebony doors. They lay opposite to each other in the hall. The knobs were big fat emeralds, making me blink twice when approaching them.

"Woah." Slipped from my mouth when my hand made contact with the icy jewel. "It's- Wow."

Draco swung around to me, his own hand on his own door knob. He wore a blank stare, upper lip curled.

"You know, just because were family doesn't mean that we have to be friends. Stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours, got it?"

My ribs curled in on themselves, bones wrapping around my shriveling heart. I ached for connection. For love. Draco offered me none. What I felt most of all was that I missed Apollo.

I met Apollo Hernandez when I was eight years old and living with the Abarca's. No matter where I was moved to he always called me or sent letters.

When I met him he lived next door, climbed trees, wore baggy pants, and ran around the sprinklers without his shirt on. What more could I ask for? He was always a wild child. Apollo Hernandez was also my best friend.
I missed him terribly.

"Got it." I finally answered, heart dulling to a few thumps per minute. "Night, Draco."

He returned my good night with a door slam, retreating to his room. I wouldn't doubt it if he spent the rest of the night soaking in his privilege.

Trying to forget him, I entered my own room. At once I was greeted by my own crackling green fireplace, ebony vanity, desk, and chair.

Decadent shelves wrapped around the elaborate jade colored wall paper. A massive King sized bed waited for me, trademark green plush comforter tucked tightly around it.

A long black silk nightgown floated patiently for me in the corner beside my luggage. It must have unexplainably appeared like I had with Professor Snape. Investigating further, I also had a personal bathroom and a walk in closet the size of a regular room.

This was the moment when everything hit me. I fully realized the concept of my own family. The Malfoy's weren't just rich. No. They were a loathsome type of rich. The kind of wealthy that made everyone secretly jealous and many people hate them.

Now I was one of them. Sort of. Not quite. I was a Lestrange or a Black. I couldn't seem to remember but whatever I was I was only a partial Malfoy. I didn't know if that was better or worse. But it was me.

Eventually my awe had worn off enough so that I could notice the letter stationary on my desk. It had the Malfoy's special stamp and crest upon it. Quickly, I sat down, eager to write Apollo a letter.

★・・・・★ MALFOY ★・・・・★

Dear, Apollo

There's so much to tell you! Oh my God!!! You're never going to believe what happened to me Polly. I have a FAMILY. I know, crazy, right?

Me. Jinx. I have a family. I found out today and guess where I'm writing you from. Guess. England! I'm in freaking England! Can you believe it?! This is so freaking crazy!

They picked me up today from the Clark's and I went on my first flight. It was great. The flight attendant gave me candy. One of those full sized candy bars.

Turns out my real mom's locked up. Kind of like Fernie. I don't know what she did but hopefully it's just robbery or something and she'll be out soon. I can't wait to see her. Visit her even.

Anyways because my mom's away, I'm staying with my Aunt and Uncle. Turns out I got a cousin. He's kind of a jerk though. Also turns out their super rich. No lie, Dude. Pretty sure this house has three floors or something.

I guess I'm also going to be starting some boarding school in September. I hope this whole family works out in my favor. I've never had one so I'm just going to try my best. No accidents. No way. I don't want to mess this up.

I'm also going tomorrow with my Aunt Narcissa. Can't wait to write you later to tell you how it went!

Love, Jinx

★・・・・★ MALFOY ★・・・・★