I woke up the next morning feeling absolutely terrified, and I tried to think of why. Rubbing my eyes sleepily, I sat up and looked around the room; the sight of the red velvet curtains around the beds brought everything back, and I swallowed anxiously. I checked the time — about five o'clock. I knew lessons wouldn't begin until nine, but I would have to find my way down to the Great Hall and eat breakfast before then, which probably sounded easier than it would actually be. Sighing quietly, I got up.

I pulled my uniform out of my trunk, taking it into the bathroom across the landing so I could have a shower. I found it quite relaxing, but anxious thoughts still flew around in my mind. Father was sure to send a Howler, I decided — and if not, definitely a very strongly-worded, subtly threatening letter.

Once I was all ready, I called for Aureli in my mind, a slight smile gracing my face as he appeared with a blinding flash of light.

"Hey, Aureli," I said, making sure to keep my voice down.

He made a big fuss of me, acting like I'd abandoned him for a month, not the seventeen hours or so that it had really been.

"You probably heard, but I got sorted into — into Gryffindor yesterday..." My voice trailed off, and I let out a soft sigh. "So I'm going to need you to lie low for a while, okay? That means no showing up in the middle of the night, or at mealtimes — or, actually, any other time when I haven't called you."

He made a mournful noise, and I stroked his golden feathers comfortingly.

"I know, I know... but I don't want people to think I'm showing off or anything." I cringed a little at the thought. "People will think I'm saying, 'Look at me, the Gryffindor Malfoy with a golden phoenix as a pet! I'm so special, and so much better than you!' Which I'm not, but — well, you know—"

Aureli made an understanding noise, and I smiled slightly.

"You'll stay at home for a little bit, then?"

It wasn't really a question, so it was no surprise when he made a movement that was almost a nod, then disappeared in another blinding flash of light. And with that settled, I decided it was time to go to breakfast.

I got lost about a thousand times on my way down to the Great Hall, and by the time I'd pushed aside a tapestry at the exit of a secret tunnel, dodged an ink attack from Peeves, and walked into the hall, most of the students and staff were there already.

The general conversation paused as I entered, and then there was a renewed whispering just like the one my sorting had been met with the night before. Most of the professors at the High Table were watching me, and I quickly sat down at the Gryffindor table, looking down at the plate in front of me to avoid the staring eyes. There was plenty of delicious-looking food, but I found I wasn't at all hungry.

"Hi!"

I looked up at the familiar voice, a hint of panic in my eyes. Hermione was stood opposite me, a smile on her face. I'd just opened my mouth to try to get her to realise we couldn't talk somewhere so public, but then she continued.

"I'm Hermione Granger; I'm in the same dorm as you. Can I sit here?"

I nodded silently, relieved that she'd realised my 'wrong' sorting hadn't changed the fact nobody could know about us already being friends.

"What's your name?" she asked, starting to put toast, bacon, and fried eggs on the plate in front of her.

"Pandora," I said softly. "Pandora Malfoy."

Just as she began to say something else, hundreds of owls suddenly streamed into the Great Hall, circling the tables, and dropping packages and letters to their owners. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable Howler.

Hermione got two letters, one from her parents and one from her sister, both sent with the school owl that I assumed had delivered them the news of her sorting. Nearby, most of the other first-year Gryffindors were also receiving letters that I could only imagine were congratulating them for getting into this house.

Glancing over at the Slytherin table, I saw one of our family owls drop both a letter and a rather large package into Draco's lap. He opened the letter, reading it with a satisfied smirk, then unwrapped the package. In it were a few books, and too many sweets to even count. He glanced over at me and raised an eyebrow. I knew what he was silently asking, and shook my head. There had been no Howler, or even a letter. He frowned slightly, indicating for me to come over.

I stood up, mumbling to Hermione that I'd be back in a minute or two, and walked over to the Slytherin table, with most of the people in the Great Hall watching me.

"Go away, filthy blood-traitor," Pansy spat as I got near.

I opened my mouth to reply, but Draco got there before me.

"Parkinson, that's my sister you're talking to. Be nice to her, or I won't share these sweets with any of you."

Pansy rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything else.

"Who's it from?" I asked Draco, nodding towards the letter.

"Father," he said. "But Dora, are you sure you didn't get a letter too?"

"I'm sure. Why?"

Draco hesitated for a moment, then said, "It's just... well, it might be nothing, but—"

"But what?" I demanded, a little anxious about what Draco might say.

"Father hasn't mentioned you in my letter," he finished. "Not even 'you did this, unlike your sister', or 'tell your sister that'. Nothing."

I sighed quietly, wondering what this could mean. Of course, I had known Father would be unbelievably angry with me, but this — acting like I didn't exist — wasn't really his style. He usually yelled at me, and gave me punishments. So this passive-aggressive silence was quite a new experience for me.

"Considering the circumstances, that's probably the best outcome," I eventually said, and Draco nodded in agreement.

I headed back to the Gryffindor table a minute or two later, lost in thought.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, as I sat back down opposite her.

"Fine," I said. "Just thinking."

"Professor McGonagall handed out the timetables while you were over by the Slytherins," she said, passing me a piece of parchment. "We've got double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first thing, which should be easy enough to find — the greenhouses can't be too far from the castle."

I nodded distractedly, watching where the owls had flown in from. Perhaps father's Howler was just late? No, that didn't make sense — Draco's letter and sweets had arrived on time, so there would be no reason for that not to be the case with anything addressed to me.

"Are you sure you're alright, Dora?" Hermione asked, sounding a little worried now.

"I'm fine."

She didn't look convinced, but thankfully didn't ask again. I wouldn't have minded talking to her about it if we were on our own, but not in somewhere like the Great Hall, where there were so many people that could overhear.

"Have you eaten anything yet?" she asked, changing the subject.

I shook my head, and she frowned.

"That's really not good for you, you know. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!"

"I'm not really hungry, Mione," I mumbled. Then, a little louder, I added, "Besides, it's almost nine now. We'll have to go and find the Herbology greenhouses."

Hermione looked like she wanted to say something else about it, but I quickly stood up, and she begrudgingly copied me. I put my timetable in my bag, swung my bag onto my shoulder, and walked with Hermione out onto the lawns.

***
A/N: oop sorry this chapter was so late! Life happened, y'know?

Word count: 1332