ACT ONE

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September 1st 1991. The day Sophia had been dreaming of her whole life. The day she started Hogwarts. The day she escaped her family. Hogwarts would provide a new freedom that she'd never experienced before.

The platform was bustling with people, children of ages 11-18, some with parents some without. Everyone was smiling, looking excited for the new school year.

"Pay attention Sophia" her father commanded, she groaned and feigned interest in his threats. It was something about how she better end up in Slytherin and honour the Malfoy name. As the lecture continued, Sophia glanced over to a family of red heads. The Weasley's. Sophia was told to stay away from them, so she had every intention of befriending them. One of them in particular caught her eye, a tall one who seemed to be the same age as Celestia. He had big brown eyes and seemed to be making fun of the others, he was really handsome, Sophia thought. Roxie seemed to notice where she was looking. 'Fred!' The little girl expressed. Fred Weasley. Sophia liked that. If she ended up with Fred Weasley, it would entirely piss off her father, that would be great. Pissing off family made her happy, so, she needed to end up with Fred Weasley. Plus, he was really cute, she was sure she'd grow to like him.

They boarded the train and Sophia was forced to sit with her brother and his goons. Sophia had been friends with Pansy once, when they were really young they'd been incredibly close. Then Sophia started having opinions and they weren't allowed to be friends anymore, Mrs Parkinson saw to that. Draco decided to continue the lecture.

"Honestly, you two need to stick to father's rules. It'll just get you in trouble if you don't" he snapped, "you see, I follow the rules and I've never been locked in that room, and, look, Soph, Rox... you two just need to behave appropriately, mostly you Sophia but Roxie you gotta stop following her... she's a bad example" Roxie leaned into Sophia, she was trying to hide.

"Draco, I think you should take everything you just said and shove it up your arse" she smiled sweetly, Draco glared an her and Pansy let out a small laugh, Crabbe and Goyle looked shocked.

They were ignored the rest of the journey, Sophia tried to calm Roxie's nerves about starting at Hogwarts.

"Any house but Slytherin, that's all you have to think Rox" Sophia explained, Roxie nodded slightly, still seeming nervous.

"I don't know if I can.... I'm not brave like you..." Roxie whispered, looking down at the compartment floor.

"Yes you can, I promise" she smiled, hugging Roxie close, the brunette nodded slightly.

The castle stood majestic and magical above them as they waded toward it in the boats along the lake. Pure joy and excitement filled Sophia as they neared the pathway,

"This is beautiful" Sophia whispered, Roxie mumbled some form of agreement,

A short while later, the entire year of children were crammed into a hallway outside a huge set of double oak doors.

A curly haired girl was explaining some of the history of Hogwarts nearby, Sophia turned and began listening.

"That's interesting" Sophia commented, the girl smiled broadly, she had big brown eyes and slightly large front teeth.

"Oh I know! I'm Hermione by the way, Hermione Granger" she replied, reaching her hand out, Sophia smiled in return.

"Sophia Malfoy, nice to meet you" she could Hermione's eyes flicker at the mention of her last name, she clearly knew. But, they kept talking. And talking, until an old witch in an emerald robe interrupted them all.

"Good evening, my name is Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Soon, you will enter the Great Hall and join your classmates. However, before you can, you must be sorted into your houses. There are four houses. Gryffindor. Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff and Slytherin. If you'll follow me" the doors opened and the class of children were led into the hall, older students lined the long tables. An old tattered hat sat on a stool by the teachers table.

"That isn't really the sky. The ceiling is just enchanted to look like it, I read about it" Hermione explained as they walked through the hall, Sophia nodded, smiling in amazement.

Sophia didn't know how the sorting would happen, Celestia said they had to pass a test infront of the whole school. But Sophia didn't know if she trusted her elder sister.

"Oh,you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black, Your tops hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil;

Or yet wise old Ravenclare, If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means To achive their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!!"

Sophia watched in shock as the tattered hat began talking, she felt like cursing but didn't think it appropriate in her current setting.

"When I call your name, come forward and I shall place the sorting hat on your head and you shall be sorted into houses" McGonagall told them.

Numerous names were called, Sophia awaited hers anxiously, she needed to prove she was different to her family. She wasn't pure evil, she was a good person, and she would make sure everyone knew it.

She clapped and cheered as Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, she heard mumblings around her about the girl she already considered a friend,

"Shut up, or I'll make you" she seethed, the mumbling stopped.

"Malfoy, Draco" Draco strode up to the stool, oozing confidence. He smirked as the hat was placed on his head, instantly shouting out Slytherin, then he strutted to the table and sat with Crabbe and Goyle.

"Malfoy, Sophia!" She took in a deep breath and made her way up to the stool, it was uncomfortable. All she could think was 'not Slytherin'

"Not Slytherin eh? A Malfoy not wanting to be in Slytherin that's a first..." the hat whispered, her eyes widened and she looked up, "now... no... you're not a Slytherin, brave...courageous.... Strong willed.... Yes..." the hat continued to speak in her head then shouted, "Gryffindor!" A huge smile spread across her face as she rushed down to the table, sitting next to Hermione and attempting to start conversations with those around her. Whilst Gryffindor clapped, the rest of the hall sat in stunned silence. There was a Malfoy not in Slytherin. The first in history. Sophia intended to be the first Malfoy to do many things. The applause quickly picked up, it was more of a celebration, and Sophia liked that.

"This is a surprise isn't it Georgie" she turned to see Fred Weasley, the boy she intended to date, talking to her, he was smirking.

"It is, I've never seen a Malfoy not in Slytherin... that one in our year is god awful" the twin, George, added, Sophia laughed at the comment about her sister. Celestia was awful, she was cruel and rude and sprouted hate whenever and wherever she could.

"I like you Goldie, you seem rebellious. Don't make us change our mind" Fred smirked and then went back to talking with a dark skinned boy, Sophia felt her cheeks go bright red. Maybe she was already liking the boy that was perfect for her. Perfect to ruin her reputation, and with it, her family's.

"You're blushing" Hermione whispered, Sophia turned to her and laughed slightly.

"I think I like him" Sophia whispered back, Hermione squealed lightly and was about to speak but stopped when someone else spoke up,

"Sophia? I'm Bree. We're cousins" a short haired person said, Sophia recalled they'd been sorted earlier, and McGonagall had called them by the wrong name.

"I thought we might be, I guess you're from the disowned side" they nodded, "I wish I was, I hate all the stupid rules"

"We're gonna get on well" Bree smiled broadly, then McGonagall spoke.

"I trust you are all excited about the events that just took place but we must carry on" the woman smiled at Sophia before going to read the next name, her eyes widened in shock. "Malfoy, Roxie" the hall went silent, then the whispers started. Sophia often forgot Roxie's existence was kept a secret, the brunette slowly walked up to the chair. Sophia attempted to offer her sister a supportive smile but it didn't work well,

The hat sat on her head for several minutes before calling out,

"Hufflepuff!" Sophia began cheering and Hermione, Bree, Fred, George and, their friend followed suit. Soon enough, the cheering of the Gryffindor table spread throughout the hall. Draco and Celestia were glaring, Sophia hadn't noticed it before, but now she did. She didn't care about their thoughts on her sorting, but she did care about them being cruel to Roxie. She was going to speak up but McGonagall moved swiftly on to the next person,

Sophia had zoned out for most of the sorting until she heard,

"Potter, Harry" the boy who lived. Then she remembered, her father had instructed them to befriend Harry Potter as he must've been a powerful dark wizard to defeat Voldemort. Sophia thought this was bullshit.

Harry walked toward the stool and sat down, the hat seemed to confer with him before shouting,

"Gryffindor!" The entire table burst into cheers, Sophia joined. Fred and George were screaming, 'we got potter!'. He sat down across from her and smiled,

"I'm Harry... but you knew that..." he laughed awkwardly,

"I'm Sophia. It's nice to meet you" his eyes widened, he'd been told about her family,

"I met your brother earlier... he's..."

"A twat" Sophia finished, her response caused him to smile and the look of hatred in his eye vanished, she could tell she was going to get on well with the famed Harry Potter. And boy would it piss her father off.

Next, someone who Sophia wasn't too fond of was called, 'Jazz Potter'. They followed her around like a lost puppy whenever they visited the manor. Sophia tried to be friends with them but they just gazed at her and rarely said anything, it made a friendship very hard. The hat called out Gryffindor and Jazz sat down next to her, incredibly close. Sophia's eyes widnened and Hermione, seeing the slight discomfort, moved over so Sophia had more room. Jazz looked like they were going to move into the new space but, Eileen Snape was hurriedly sorted into Gryffindor and took the seat next to Sophia. Smiling, Sophia rested her head on one of her closest friends shoulder.

"I love you" Eileen smirked and replied with,

"I know"

Ron Weasley was also sorted into Gryffindor and the rest of the sorting Sophia had zoned out for. She was planning how to prove to everyone that she was nothing like her family. The first stage was complete, she'd made it into a house other than Slytherin. And not just any other house, Gryffindor. The same as her uncle Sirius. That would piss her parents off too, this made her happy.

Mountains of food magically spawned on the table, Sophia smiled and began stacking her plate, whilst also talking to Hermione, Bree, Jazz, Eileen, Harry, and Ron. Well, she tried to talk to Ron but he mostly just gave her dirty looks.

The Gryffindor common room was beautiful, it had scarlet sofas and tapestries. A giant crafted fireplace, it was beautiful. Sophia was sharing a dorm with Hermione, Eileen, Bree and Jazz.

That night, for the first time in her whole life, Sophia went to bed, truly happy.