01 | Malfoy Manor

                                    

                                          
"Acrimony. What is it," says the boy with white blond hair and gray eyes.
"A feeing of bitterness, one that may be hard to get rid of," answers the girl across from him with blue eyes. "Most would say, the opposite of sweet."
"Why do you want me to quiz you on these stupid vocabulary words anyway?" asks the boy, who puts down the list of parchment on the bed next to him.
"Because I want to seem refined when we go to Hogwarts!" answers the girl. "Educated. You know our reputation is very important, Draco." 
She tosses her dual-colored hair over her shoulder haughtily; all over it was light brown, meanwhile there was a startling contrast of white blonde underneath as well as on the wispy bangs that laid across her forehead and strands in front. Her blue eyes were peering at her brother intensely, as if daring to be provoked or tested once more.
"If you think about it like that then all your reputation is going to be is a worry-wart," her brother, Draco, sneers. "You need to be more confident in yourself, Cassie."
"I'm very confident," the girl named Cassie, argues spitefully. "I just want to make a good first impression."
"You don't have to try at that," says a new voice, this one is tame and smooth.
Cassie turns to see her father, Lucius Malfoy, standing in the doorway, his long pale blond locks cascading over his shoulders silkily, his cane in hand while he stared at each of his children with a penetrating gaze so cold Cassie thought a blizzard would form in his eyes.
"Cassie, you must understand that your mother and I have prepared you and Draco for years on how to mold your reputation," Lucius drones. "You two will be one of the few in your year with a reputation already made. You are especially lucky to have a strong one at that."
"One of the few?" repeated Draco. "You mean there are others who will already be known, father?"
"Oh, only another young lad or two," says Lucius vaguely.
"But that means we have to outdo them, right father?" says Cassie eagerly.
"Precisely," answers Lucius. "However, don't fret in trying too hard. They will be able to spot your weaknesses a mile away. Insecurity brings trouble. And we Malfoys are not the insecure breed."
"I'm not —!" Cassie begins to protest before she is shut down.
"Ah, no need to be hasty, Cassiopeia," Lucius warns her. "I was merely making a suggestion." He sneers like his son and stalks out of the dark room, leaving the twins alone.
"Who do you think father was referring to?" Cassie turns back to her perplexed brother.
"'Dunno," he replies. "But whoever it is, we'll show them up. No doubt about it."
As the morning passes, noon arrives. Cassie is swept away into the drawing room where she finds her mother, Narcissa Malfoy, standing near the fireplace.
"We're going to Diagon now?" Cassie asks her mother interestedly.
"Don't use slang, Cassie, it's not proper," her mother scolds, moving swiftly to adjust the collar of her daughter's cloak. "Yes," she adds finally, "we are going to Diagon Alley. Where is Draco?"
"Want me to get him?" asks Cassie.
Narcissa nods, followed up by a hard grimace as her daughter proceeds to turn her head to the doorway and yell, "DRACO, GET IN HERE."
A moment of silence passes before Cassie faces her less-than-pleased mother once again and laughs at her reaction.
"Sorry, mother," she chuckles, "you weren't specific."