Draco POV
The grand hall of Malfoy Manor was as cold and imposing as ever, with its crystal chandeliers casting a faint, sterile glow over the gleaming marble floors.
Draco Malfoy paced back and forth, his polished shoes making soft, rhythmic clicks that echoed through the vast space. His fingers raked through his sleek, white-blond hair, a telltale sign of his growing frustration.
He hated feeling restless-it wasn't like him.
Yet here he was, heart pounding, unable to shake the tension building in his chest.
Why now?
Why after all these years?
From behind him, his mother's soft footsteps broke the silence. Narcissa Malfoy, ever poised and graceful, approached with a calm expression that Draco didn't trust for a second. She had that look-the one she used when she was carefully walking a tightrope of words.
"Draco, what's troubling you, dear?" she asked, her voice as gentle as ever.
He stopped pacing, turning to face her with a frown.
"What's troubling me? Oh, I don't know-maybe the fact that I'm finally meeting my twin sister, who, by the way, has been conveniently kept away for, let's see... my entire life!" His voice was sharp, though it cracked slightly at the end, betraying his nerves.
His mother's lips pressed together in that infuriatingly calm way. "Ah, Zeta," she said, her expression softening. There was something else there, though-something sad. "You know, I haven't seen her since she was born either. We've only communicated through letters all these years."
Draco folded his arms across his chest, his sharp grey eyes narrowing. "Why is that, Mother? Why did Father send her away to live with Aunt in bloody Russia of all places? And why, even on holidays, does she stay at Snape's place instead of coming here?" His frustration bubbled to the surface as he rattled off the questions that had plagued him for years.
"None of it makes sense."
Narcissa sighed, her composure faltering just a little-a rare sight. "Draco, it's... complicated," she said, her tone tinged with regret.
"It's a long and painful story, one I promise to explain in time. For now, what matters is that she's coming home, and she'll be attending Hogwarts with you."
Draco's arms fell to his sides as the news hit him. "With me? At Hogwarts?"
The thought of sharing space-sharing everything-with someone he didn't even know felt overwhelming.
But there was a flicker of something else too: curiosity, maybe even hope.
Before he could press her for more answers, a sharp knock echoed through the manor, cutting through his thoughts like a knife. His mother's head snapped toward the door, her expression tightening.
"That must be her," Narcissa said briskly. She smoothed her robes and fixed him with a look that said, Behave yourself.
Draco opened his mouth to respond, but she was already sweeping toward the door, leaving him standing there with a knot of nerves tightening in his stomach.
He hated waiting. He hated not knowing what to expect.
But most of all, he hated how much he cared.
Vega's POV
If I had to describe Malfoy Manor in one word, it would be extra.
Gleaming marble floors that you could probably eat off, towering crystal chandeliers that screamed, Look at how rich we are!, and a hall so large you could lose a Hippogriff in it.
Basically, it was everything you'd expect from a family so obsessed with their pure-blood superiority that they probably polish their wands with dragon tears.
I tugged at the collar of my coat as Snape-sorry, Dad-knocked on the door. He gave me one of his patented behave yourself glares, but I just smirked back.
"Relax, Dad. I'll be good...ish."
It's not that I'm planning to burn this manor down...maybe I'm.
The door creaked open to reveal Narcissa Malfoy herself, standing there like she just stepped out of a Renaissance painting.
Elegant, beautiful, and wearing the kind of calm expression that could soothe a rampaging Hippogriff-or make you feel like you forgot to do your homework.
"Zeta," she said, her voice soft but trembling slightly.
"Hi, Mom," I said casually, like I wasn't meeting her for the first time in years.
Her lips quivered as she pulled me into a hug so tight, I almost lost my breath. "My darling girl," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
I patted her back awkwardly. "Yep, it's me. Still alive, surprisingly."
She pulled back, dabbing at her eyes. "Come in, both of you."
Snape nodded curtly and strode in, his robes billowing behind him like he had somewhere way more important to be. I followed, rolling my eyes at his dramatics.
The hall was as ridiculous as I remembered.
Draco who is my twin, was pacing back and forth, looking every bit the dramatic Malfoy heir. His perfectly tailored robes, platinum-blond hair, and sharp features screamed I'm too good for this world.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me.
For a second, I thought he was going to faint.
"Draco," Mom said gently, her voice full of that maternal warmth she somehow managed to keep hidden most of the time. "This is your sister, Zeta."
"Zeta Malfoy but call me Vega," I said with a smirk, stepping forward and extending my hand. "Nice to meet you, twin."
He stared at me like I'd grown a second head, then finally shook my hand. His grip was firm but cautious, like he wasn't sure if I was going to hex him or hug him.
"So, you're the one they sent away," he said, his voice cool but not unkind.
"And you're the one they kept," I shot back, grinning.
"Lucky me, huh?"
To my surprise, he smirked. "We'll see about that."
The reunion was going well-by Malfoy standards-until Mom tried to bring up him.
"Your father is looking forward to seeing you-"
"Pass," I said sharply, my smile vanishing.
Narcissa winced, but before she could say anything, Draco stepped in.
"Father's an idiot," he said bluntly, crossing his arms.
That earned him a sharp look from Mom, but he didn't back down. "He's made his choices. Vega doesn't owe him anything."
I shot him a surprised glance. "Wow, Draco. Who knew you had a spine?"
His lips twitched into a small smile. "Don't get used to it."
Mom sighed, rubbing her temples.
"I just wish... Never mind."
She didn't finish, but I knew what she was thinking.
She wished we could be a perfect little family, all smiles and pure-blood pride.
Sorry, Mom, but that ship sailed the moment Lucius Malfoy decided I wasn't Malfoy enough for him.
Snape's departure was as dramatic as his entrance.
He gave me a quick nod, his dark eyes softening just a fraction.
"Behave," he said, his tone stern but familiar.
"Always," I replied with a cheeky grin.
As he turned to leave, I called out, "Thanks, Dad!"
The room fell silent.
Draco froze, his grey eyes darting between me and Narcissa.
Mom's face was pale, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Dad?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
I shrugged, my smile tight. "What can I say? He's been more of a father to me than Lucius ever was."
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud.
Mom looked like she wanted to say something, but she just nodded, her expression filled with a sorrow I didn't have the energy to unpack.
Later, Draco and I sat in the drawing room, the tension from earlier still lingering but not as suffocating.
"So," he said, leaning back in his chair, "you really called Snape 'Dad.'"
"Yep," I said, popping the 'p.'
"Why? Jealous?"
He snorted. "Hardly. I'm just trying to imagine him being... fatherly."
"Hey, he's not so bad," I said, smirking. "Sure, he's emotionally constipated and terrifying half the time, but he cares. That's more than I can say for someone else."
Draco didn't argue, which surprised me. Instead, he leaned forward, studying me intently.
"You're not what I expected," he said finally.
"Disappointed?"
"Not yet," he replied, a small smirk playing on his lips.
I laughed.
"Well, stick around, twin. I'm full of surprises."
To Be Continued...