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"NO," her mother's cold voice signaled the end of the discussion.

Athena, with an unsigned Hogsmeade slip in her hand, huffed and turned around, her rage evident in the way she stomped out of the living room where her parents had been sitting.

For the first time in a month, she had approached her parents, needing them to sign the Hogsmeade slip. She didn't want to miss another year of Hogsmeade village—she longed to taste the butterbeer Lucinda always talked about and to see the beautiful snow in the small village during winter.

But, of course, her mother dismissed all her wants, finding satisfaction in telling her 'no' for no reason.

Athena knew that Abraxas had his slip signed just like last year, and probably the year before that when she was attending Beauxbatons.

For some reason, her parents did not want to sign hers.

Athena did not feel like arguing—not when her father hadn't even lifted his head from the letter he was writing, and not when her mother gave her a glare so cold it made her tense.

Instead, she went to her bedroom, but unlike the past few weeks, she wasn't planning to hide there. She had plans for the day with her friends, which included a trip to Diagon Alley for some shopping.

As she reached the top of the stairs, her bedroom door came into view, and her mood soured when she saw who was standing there. At that moment, she had no patience or energy to deal with her brother.

Without saying a word, she slipped past him, quickly opened the door to her room, and attempted to slam it shut behind her.

Unfortunately, Abraxas managed to slip inside before she could fully close the door, leaving her with no choice but to face him.

"What?" she asked sharply, her eyes fixed on his.

Abraxas rolled his eyes as soon as he saw her sour expression, clearly having anticipated it. He extended his hand toward her, nodding at the unsigned slip she was holding. When she scoffed in response, he snapped, "Just hand it over and be quiet."

Athena narrowed her gaze as she crossed her arms, refusing to comply. "I don't want your help," she snapped back.

He rolled his eyes again and took a deep breath, muttering something like "brat" under his breath as he snatched the unsigned slip from her hand and walked out of her bedroom.

She stepped forward, but one look from him as he turned around at the sound of her footsteps made her stop in her tracks.

Athena swallowed and closed the door instead of following him downstairs as she had wanted. Knowing that her mother would most likely be angry, she sat down on her bed.

Her mother had already told her no. Her mother, who seemed intent on ruining her mood and saying no to anything she wanted.

Athena wished she knew why she was so disliked. She wished she understood what was wrong with her that made her family treat her this way. It couldn't be just because she was born, could it?

Maybe it was. Celia Malfoy did not need to voice her reasons for anything she did, after all.

A few minutes later, the door opened again, and Abraxas walked in. He didn't even look at her as he approached, handed her the slip, and turned around to leave.

She looked at the slip now in her hands, pursing her lips at the signature on it.

Of course, her parents—especially her mother—listened to and did whatever Abraxas asked. The moment he requested their mother to sign the Hogsmeade slip, she had complied with little to no complaints.

As the door clicked shut, Athena couldn't help but roll her eyes in exasperation.

She glanced around her bedroom, taking in the emptiness that surrounded her.

The familiar space felt oddly lonely without anyone else present, leaving her alone with her thoughts and the silence that was her only company.

It felt peaceful being alone.

But there was a void in her chest, something that signified the "alone" part of her life.

And Athena sat there on her bed, wondering whether she felt peace in being left alone or felt loneliness.

Diagon Alley was bustling with energy. Students were running around with their families, their faces glowing with excitement for the upcoming year at Hogwarts, drawing nearer day by day.

Athena secured her wand in the holster wrapped around her thigh, on top of the black jeans her mother had insisted she buy months ago—"no daughter of hers would wear anything less than designer."

Athena recognized that her mother's concern wasn't truly about her well-being; it was more about flaunting the Malfoys' wealth.

As she stood in the bustling heart of Diagon Alley with her two friends, her designer clothes weren't the only markers of the Malfoys' wealth. The golden hue of her striking blonde hair radiated beauty, showcasing both the Malfoys' pride and their luxury.

"I despise it here," muttered Druella with more disdain than usual as she glanced around the Alley, sneering when a first-year almost bumped into her.

The first-year muttered a quick apology before continuing to run with a bright smile on his face.

Lucinda followed the eleven-year-old's movement, then shook her head and returned to reading the letter in her hands—the one sent to every Hogwarts student detailing the supplies needed for the upcoming year.

That was precisely why the Slytherin trio was in Diagon Alley: shopping for their school supplies. It had actually been Lucinda's idea; in the letter she sent to her friends, she pointed out her desire to start the new school year together rather than face it alone. Athena had agreed immediately, knowing she would much rather shop with her friends than with her parents—who would probably be too focused on Abraxas.

Druella had been harder to convince. But after Lucinda begged her a bit more, she finally agreed.

"I can't believe we're already going into fifth year," Lucinda mused, her brown hair catching the light as she looked around at the myriad of shops. "It feels like just yesterday we were first-years, lost in the castle."

Druella rolled her eyes fondly. "I still remember how you made us get hopelessly lost trying to find the Potions classroom. I thought we'd never find our way back." She glanced at Athena afterwards. "I think you've made a terrible mistake switching from Beauxbatons to Hogwarts. I still cannot believe you chose Hogwarts again this year when you could go back to Beauxbatons."

Athena had mentioned that Abraxas almost made her go back to Beauxbatons, to which Druella was still confused about why she had refused.

Athena did not blame her.

Beauxbatons would've been perfect for Druella, with its beautiful regal architecture and everything that came with it. Its elegance and serene beauty were fit for the Rosier girl.

"Beauxbatons was not as great as Hogwarts is—to me, at least." Athena walked with her friends, Druella between them.

They stepped into the shop they had walked to, its bell ringing to announce their presence. It was a charming little place called Flourish and Blotts. The girls were greeted by the delightful scent of parchment and ink. The shop was bustling with students and parents, all rifling through stacks of textbooks.

"I need to get my Advanced Potions textbook," Lucinda said, leading the way inside. "I heard Professor Slughorn is going to be giving us harder potions to make this year."

Druella nodded, flipping through the shelves. "And I need a new copy of Magical Theory."

Athena browsed the various titles, her fingers trailing over the spines. "I think I'll grab a few extra books on Ancient Runes. My O.W.L. results this year have to be better than Riddle's, or else I might absolutely lose my mind."

"Blimey, Athena," Lucinda shook her head, her focus on the book in her hands. "I'm still confused about how you really cannot let this Riddle rivalry thing go."

"Which you should," Druella interjected sharply, giving her friend a look.

Athena pretended not to notice the look and ignored Druella's warning.

After gathering their textbooks, they moved on to the next shop: Ollivanders. The air inside was thick with the smell of wood and magic. The walls were lined with countless wand boxes, each one holding untold stories.

Lucinda explained how she had accidentally thrown her wand into the fireplace, making it burn almost immediately.

Athena's lips parted after her friend finished. "How did that even happen?" she asked incredulously.

Her friend shrugged. "My thoughts were elsewhere," was her only reply.

Once they finished at Ollivanders, the trio—Lucinda with a new wand—wandered to the nearby apothecary, where jars of shimmering potions and colorful ingredients lined the shelves. The scent of dried herbs filled the air as they picked up the supplies needed for their Potions class.

"I'll take a few more dragon liver and powdered bicorn horn," Lucinda said, jotting down her list. "You can never have enough, right?"

Athena raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Unless you're trying to avoid a disaster in the classroom, which I highly recommend."

Druella had been quiet throughout the shopping, her mind obviously elsewhere.

Athena caught her staring at the betrothal ring on her finger multiple times but only gave her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, reminding her wordlessly that she was there for her.

Druella ignored it.

After completing their shopping list, they decided to stop by the Leaky Cauldron for a quick lunch.

The air inside the Leaky Cauldron was thick with the aromas of rich stews and freshly baked bread. Wooden beams creaked under the weight of enchanted artifacts that hung from the ceiling, and a low murmur of conversation filled the space. In one corner, a flickering candlelight illuminated a round table where three girls sat, each uniquely captivating in her own way.

Lucinda animatedly gestured as she spoke. Her emerald eyes sparkled with excitement. "And then he said, 'That's not a Hippogriff; it's my uncle!'" she laughed, her voice rising above the chatter.

Athena couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of her tale.

Druella's neatly braided blonde hair framed her face, and her deep green robes matched her calm demeanor. She also couldn't help but let out a small laugh—the sound bringing butterflies to Lucinda's stomach.

Lucinda's smile faded almost immediately. She tried to cover it up by raising her glass of butterbeer to her lips and taking a sip of the foamy drink.

Athena glanced between the two and couldn't help but feel pity for Lucinda. Druella had the betrothal ring on her finger, its stone shining as the sun hit it through the windows.

Across the table, Athena tried to change the subject. "We've got a hard year ahead of us," she said, earning a groan from Lucinda at the mention of school. "O.W.L.s are not to be dismissed so quickly, Lucinda!"

Her friend rolled her green eyes in response and gave her a look. "You, my dear friend, care too much about your studies to even enjoy life. You take things for granted, y'know?"

Athena couldn't stop her lips from quirking up at her friend's absurdity. "Like what, Lucinda? Enlighten me."

"Like this delicious bowl of pumpkin soup!" exclaimed the girl in answer, pointing to the bowls in front of them. "Always worrying about studying and grades will stop you from realizing the delicious taste of it!"

Athena let out another laugh, Druella doing the same for the first time in a while. They shared a look, shaking their heads fondly at the friend they adored.

They finally settled into their meals—hearty bowls of pumpkin soup like Lucinda mentioned and slices of crusty bread—the warmth of friendship enveloping them. The atmosphere was welcoming, with other patrons sharing their own tales of wonder and whimsy. They were in a sanctuary of sorts, a place where witches and wizards could gather without fear of judgment or scrutiny.

Druella, sensing a lull in the conversation, glanced around the bustling room. "You know, we should come here more often. It feels... safe. Like we can just be ourselves." Her gaze lingered on a nearby table where a group of witches shared animated stories over mugs of butterbeer, laughter ringing out like music.

"Absolutely! I love how everyone here is so... colorful," Lucinda chimed in, her fingers tracing the rim of her bowl. "It reminds me that there's so much magic beyond our everyday lives. Besides, the food is incredible!"

Athena nodded, but her expression turned thoughtful. "Yeah..." Her brows knitted slightly as her eyes stopped on a laughing family at the end of the room.

Lucinda's eyes followed her gaze. "We've got a family of our own, too," she said gently, putting a hand on Athena's and her other on Druella's—trying not to show how she felt when she accidentally touched the ring on Druella's finger. "Us. We're each other's family."

Athena smiled, putting her other hand on Lucinda's and nodding. This. This was what family meant—these two girls she would give up the whole world for.

Not what was waiting for her at Malfoy Manor.

Druella seemed to be thinking the same thing as she nodded, her eyes glancing between her two friends. "You're right," she whispered, a sad smile overtaking her face. "We are each other's family."

After a moment of silence, Lucinda reached across the table to take a bite of her bread, savoring the warm, buttery taste.

The three girls shared a fond look, the bond between them strengthening over their shared laughter. As they finished their lunch, the sun shone outside the window, casting a golden hue over the Leaky Cauldron.

For a moment, time seemed to pause, their soft laughter and whispers weaving a tapestry of friendship.

In that moment, amidst the clamor of the Leaky Cauldron, Lucinda, Druella, and Athena knew that whatever adventures lay ahead, they would face them together—united in friendship and understanding the other.