Chapter Text
Y/N’s POV
I stare at the letter, reading every line word for word once more even though I already knew I would be accepted into Hogwarts. After all, I came from a halfblood family, the all-powerful and respected Y/L/N family no less. It had only been natural that I attend Hogwarts, although given my brother was a squib I suppose it wasn’t always like that.
I remember the day we found out my brother Oliver was a squib, my father and mother were both livid and kicked him out on the spot. I remember my fathers’ words when he kicked him out. ‘ If you don’t have magic, then you’re no Y/L/N, and most certainly no son of mine!’ That’s why this was important, why me getting into Hogwarts and having magic just like my parents was important. What they didn’t know however, was I had been secretly writing to Oliver. I couldn’t help it, he was my brother and I had a right to keep in contact with him. The only reason I’ve kept it, and will continue to keep it, a secret is because I know I would suffer from the same fate if they were to find out.
“Oh darling, we’re so proud of you!” My mother said, as if I had done some heroic deed. It made me sick to hear her say that when they kicked Oliver out for being different from us. I always hated the idea of half blood being above everyone else, above muggle-borns. It made me sick and I hated it. Of course, I couldn’t say this out loud so I decided to just put on a thin-lipped smile and nod a bit.
“Thanks mum, it means a lot to me” I said, keeping the same thin-lipped smile. I’m such a liar, but at least my lies are convincing. “If it’s okay, I’d like to go to my room and prepare what I can right now.” Another lie, I actually planned to go write a letter to Oliver using my brown owl Rubin, who I’ve owned for 2 years and am very much attached to. Funny enough, it had been Oliver himself who saved up the money to buy him for me.
“Alright, well just know we’re proud of you darling” My father said. Again, it makes me sick to my stomach to hear them putting me on a pedestal. It’s like they just ignore the fact that Oliver even exists anymore. But again, I don’t say anything as I nod and quickly go up to my room and sit at my desk before I begin to write.
Hi big brother! Sorry it’s been a bit since I've written to you. I had to keep a low profile since I’m pretty sure father has been trying to intercept my letters! But I’ve got big news: I got into Hogwarts!! I hope its okay I tell you that since, well, you know. But hey, at least I know that you are proud of me from where you are! Do you think I’ll get into Slytherin like mother and father did?
Oh my gosh I’m so nervous. What if everyone finds out about my secret? I mean we’ve worked so hard to keep it inside the family and not let anyone outside of the family know so our entire reputation doesn't get ruined, but if someone were to find out…well, i really don't want to think about it…But in any case, I should probably wrap this up and send it off to you! I promise to make you proud big brother!
With love from your beloved younger sisters,
Y/N Y/L/N
Once I was sure I had written everything I desired to write in the letter I put it in an envelope and sealed it before turning to Rubin. “Okay Rubin, don't get distracted this time and deliver it straight to Oliver okay? Peck him as much as you need to, if you have to do so.” I watched Rubin give a hoot of confirmation before he flew off on his way to deliver the letter.
Once he was gone I went to put on my makeup, which consisted of black lipstick and mascara. I then put on my outfit to go out school shopping that day, which was rather alternative and, I admit, strayed heavily from what wizards typically wore. I didn't like wearing the very girly stuff my mother forced me to wear to formal outings, I always tended to find that stuff to be way too stuffy for my liking and way too uncomfortable.
I knew my mother would say something, but I didn’t care. She was the last person whose opinion I cared about. “Y/N, are you ready to go?” I heard my father yell up the stairs, causing me to roll my eyes a bit but head down regardless. “Don’t roll your eyes at me young lady” he warned as he prepared to apparate us to Diagon Alley to shop for my books and my wand for the school year.
“Maybe if you didn't force me to go along with your beliefs…” I muttered under my breath, only to get a sharp glare from my father that made me flinch. I never did well with my parents' anger, and tended to crumble under their gaze when they got mad at me. A perk of witnessing their constant anger towards my brother I suppose. I just wish Oliver was here to come to my defense…
“What was that young lady? Let’s not forget who raised you to be who you are” he said threateningly before we apparated to Diagon Alley. I always preferred Diagon Alley over my own home, all the shops were always so lively and bustling with activity. I liked looking at all the shops with Pansy Parkinson when our parents met up. To my surprise though, my father started to drag me over to a man with long platinum blonde hair, a woman with similarly colored hair, and a boy who looked to be around my age with platinum blonde hair.
“Ah, Atticus, I see you have your…lovely daughter with you.” the older man said, making his distaste for me very noticeable as he sneered at me with a very obvious dislike. I never understood the idea of judging someone for their looks right off the bat, getting to know them first and then deciding whether I like them or not is more my style. So I could tell right off the bat that I wasn’t going to like this guy. His son was not any better, as he was looking me up and down with a very arrogant smirk, which immediately irritated me.
As if on cue my father said with an arrogant but hearty laugh, “Yup, Y/N here finally got her letter from Hogwarts, Lucius! So we are just getting her books, I take it you and Draco are doing the same? How has working in the higher levels of the ministry been for you?” Ah, so that's why my father is being more of an asshole than usual. Because he just wants to use me as a trophy to show off to higher ups in an attempt to get a promotion in the ministry of magic.
It wouldn’t be the first time, of course. He tried to do that with Cornelius Fudge too while we were at a formal event for everyone in the ministry of magic and their families, but he got ignored. “She looks like a vampire father.” I heard the boy, Draco apparently, say when he turned to his father after looking me up and down in a scornful way for five minutes.
“Excuse me? Who are you calling a vampire when you’re as pale as I am, if not even paler!” I said in an angry tone as I glared at this boy, noticing his fathers angry look and my fathers look that held a mixture of horror and anger as he looked at me.
“Don’t you dare talk to my son like that, you stupid little girl. Our family is much more powerful and more well connected in the wizarding world than yours ever will be, so if you want your fathers job to stay intact I would suggest keeping your pretty little mouth shut” Lucius said angrily as he looked at me.
I was just about to say something else when my father’s grasp on my wrist tightened, causing me to wince in pain as he said, “I am so, so sorry about my daughter, Lucius, she has no filter whatsoever and doesn’t know how to stay quiet at all. We should get going so we can get her books and what not before all of the shops close. Will I see you at the office on Monday?”
I watched as Lucius gave me a much more scornful look as he said to my father, “Yes, I suppose we shall. As for your daughter, I hope for the sake of your job you can get her under control before she has to go to Hogwarts. After all, Draco always tells me and Narcissa everything that happens when we’re not with him, and I will make sure he tells me if your daughter does anything wrong. And based on how he’s reacting to your daughter’s insult, I’m sure he would be more than happy to do that since it would cost you your job at the ministry of magic, which would mean no promotion and no income Atticus.”
He then walked away, his wife and son following behind him shortly after. Once they were gone and out of me and my father’s sight, I saw my father turn to me, a look that could only be described as seething and almost uncontrollable rage etched on his face that made me wince a bit and cower in fear. “You, young lady, are in the worst kind of trouble imaginable, do I make myself clear?” He said it in this voice that was almost akin to a growl, and I couldn’t help but whimper and nod a bit as I looked up at my father anxiously.
“Good, now let’s get this done so we can go ahead and leave” He said before grabbing my wrist a bit tighter as he led me to Olivander’s, all the while I am just hoping Oliver responds to my letter and Rubin arrives by the time I get back, my mind wandering back to that boy and how he and his father had treated me from just a few minutes of meeting me and judging me. Oh, I can already tell from this interaction that this is going to be a very, very long school year…