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Okay, this feels like an afterthought because I thought I ought to maintain a bit of mystery about Apple's little genetic glitch. Clearly a bit of editing is necessary, if and when I ever get around to it, but just so people don't start throwing rotten tomatoes: The idea is that Lucius didn't have a Simurgh feather in the family vault, he had the only Apparition spot to the Simurgh's home on Mount Parnassus - the Malfoy family, for all their faults, have been "keepers" of the secret of the Simurgh's existance and close association with the bird has, over the years, produced the occasional mutant child with certain Simurgh features - tall feathery ears and a long, bony tail, both of which look similar to fox parts excepting the feathers and the length thereof. Okay, enough hideous backstory: I hope once the story actually addresses these points it will make more sense and not sound too Mary Sue.
The Tail of the Tail
Apollina slunk quietly through the halls, as furtive as a thief, until she found the door to the Potions classroom, not terribly far from the Slytherin dungeons. She slipped inside, hoping for a seat at the back of the room.
She was horrified to see that the tables were set in a circle around a large cauldron at the center of the room. Head hanging and tail dragging, she seated herself as close to a corner as she could.
She was several minutes early, but students began to trickle in fairly soon. The first were a pair of Slytherin girls, who nudged each other and giggled, then sat as far from Apollina as they could and laughed and whispered to each other, casting poorly disguised glances in her direction. After another small influx of students, Shishi entered the room. She looked at Apollina, seated all by herself, and seemed to come to a momentous decision. She came over and sat down at her table.
“Apple - “
Apollina got up, grabbed her things, and went to another empty table. She heard the Slytherin girls laugh at her angrily thrashing tail, but she didn’t care. Ears twitching, face bright pink, she slammed her cauldron down at her new station and reorganized her phials and scales. She felt her hair coming out of its bow and tugged the velvet ribbon out angrily, then shook her head so her long blonde tresses fell into her face. She hid behind it like a curtain.
Professor Slughorn bustled in after the bell. “All right, all right, everyone be seated! Welcome, welcome, welcome to your First Year at Hogwarts, and welcome to your first Potions class! Now, we won’t be starting you off too hard. I’ll just be giving you a bit of a basic introduction to the concept of potion-making, and then you’re each going to get to try a few drops of this potion I’ve got simmering in my cauldron - it won’t hurt you, I promise, and I think you’ll find it quite helpful to you through the rest of your classes today!”
Apollina took careful notes all during Professor Slughorn’s lecture, and accepted her ration of Wit-Sharpening Potion - which turned out to be what was in the cauldron - silently. When the Professor dismissed them, she quietly gathered her things and was first to the door.
The two Slytherin girls were just behind her. As she left the room, Apollina heard one of them say, “Watch this.” Then the girl slammed the door as hard as she could on the end of Apollina’s retreating tail.
Apollina screamed in pain, which quickly turned to anger. She dropped her things, spun around, and flew at the girl, claws out. She scratched, bit, kicked, and punched, blinded by tears and rage. She barely felt Shishi’s hands on her shoulders as the Gryffindor girl tried to pull her off her foe, and didn’t hear Professor Slughorn’s weak entreaties at all. She did notice, however, when, in just a very few minutes, she was plucked into the air by a strong and very familiar hand. She went limp, still crying, and allowed her father to half-drag her into Professor Slughorn’s office.
“What in the name of Merlin’s Beard was that all about?” Lucius demanded. “I rather thought your mother and I were raising a young lady, not a young prizefighter.”
Apollina was still crying too hard to speak. Her words came out in hiccups. “She…she…hurt my…tail,” she managed at last.
“Now…now, I did see…I mean, that is true - the other girl was the first aggressor,” Professor Slughorn said, and wrung his pudgy hands in dismay. “I…I will deal with her appropriately. There’s…no need for further unpleasantness.”
“Oh, really? And what will you do, Horace? Take points off of Slytherin?” Lucius said condescendingly. “I’ve already summoned Professor McGonagal; she’ll deal with the situation. Apple - let me see your tail.”
Apple sniffled, and held up the end of her tail, gingerly. The soft, hair-like feathers were sadly crushed, and there was a distinct kink in the structure. Her father touched it gently and she winced.
“Damn it all,” Lucius swore. “It’s broken. Horace, tell Professor McGonagal that she may find Apple and myself in the Hospital Wing.”
“The…the other girl has already been taken there, erm…Lucius. Minerva is probably there already.”
“That’s fine, then. Come, dear, let’s get that tail looked at,” Lucius said, and ushered Apollina out of the room.
“I’m sorry I was a bit short with you, Apple,” he said as they walked the long walk through the castle to the infirmary. “I don’t blame you now for fighting - I should say you were sorely provoked. But what Professor McGonagal will say I don’t know. You may be punished, but I don’t think she’ll be too hard on you. She’s quite fair-minded. And I’m sure Madam Pomfrey will have your pretty tail put right in a moment.”
He stroked her hair out of her face as they walked, and scratched gently behind her tall feathery ears. She leaned into his side and he put his arm around her shoulders.
“Daddy, I want to go home,” she said.
Lucius sighed. “Sweetie, I know this little incident qualifies this for the ‘Day From Hell’ award, but it won’t always be this bad. Give it a chance. You haven’t even made it to Lunch yet.”
Apollina was silent. She wasn’t thinking about the door or her throbbing tail. But there was no way she could tell her father about the horrible lies she’d heard…
“Speaking of Lunch…” her father said. “I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t come to Breakfast. Any particular reason for that?”
“I was still stuffed from the Feast,” Apollina lied.
“Apple, you know you have to eat regular meals,” her father said, entering Lecture Mode. “We don’t need you getting sick.”
“I know, Daddy. I’m sorry. I won’t skip Breakfast anymore, I promise.”
“That’s my girl. And no more fighting, all right? If someone picks on you, tell your teachers. Vigilante justice never goes over well in polite society.”
They came at last to a door labeled “Hospital Wing.” Like most doors, this one opened by itself on her father’s approach - a talent Apollina didn’t seem to share.
Professor McGonagal met them just inside. “Lucius. Miss Hepworth says that your daughter attacked her for no reason. She’s inside with Madam Pomfrey right now, having her face healed. Apollina practically tore it off. What do you have to say about this?”
“Did Horace tell you the attack was unprovoked?” Lucius said mildly.
The stern look on the Headmistress’ face softened slightly. “I didn’t say I believed Ms. Hepworth. I merely wanted your take on the matter.”
“I don’t know what happened before I received Horace’s summons and came upon my daughter wailing on the unfortunate Ms. Hepworth. I only know that my daughter has a broken tail in sore need of mending.”
“Was it an accident that Ms. Hepworth slammed the door on your tail, Ms. Malfoy,” Professor McGonagal said, rounding upon Apollina, “or was it with deliberate malice?”
Apollina hung her head. “I don’t know, ma’am,” she said.
Professor McGonagal raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know? Professor Slughorn told me he was quite certain he heard Ms. Hepworth laughing, just before you knocked her down. Of course, he can’t tell me who was laughing, exactly, since he couldn’t remember a name to save his life unless it was famous. Perhaps it was someone else?”
“I don’t know, ma’am,” Apollina said. “I just know that the girl I hit is the girl who slammed the door on my tail, and I heard her say ‘watch this’ to her friend just before it happened. But I suppose it…might’ve been an accident.”
“Minerva, is this line of questioning necessary just now? I know it isn’t like she’s standing here with a broken leg, but her tail is swelling badly and she must be in terrible pain.”
“I know, Lucius, but Ms. Hepworth is in there right now - putting on a great show, I might add - and I’d rather not expose them to each other at this particular moment in time. But if it really is broken and not just bruised, you are quite correct - we should have it looked at immediately. Follow me.”
The Slytherin girl - ‘Ms. Hepworth’ - glared angrily at Apollina as they entered, until with little ceremony Madam Pomfrey shut the curtains around her bed. “You’re healing nicely, miss, no need for continued drama,” the Healer said tiredly. “Now, what is wrong with you, little miss?”
“Broken tail,” Professor McGonagal said succinctly.
“Broken - oh, my goodness. Ah. Yes. Well, I - I should be able to fix that in a heartbeat,” Madam Pomfrey said, for the first time in living memory looking flustered.
While the Healer worked, Professor McGonagal talked - in an over-loud voice intended for Ms. Hepworth’s ears as well.
“There will be no punishment for your actions today, Ms. Malfoy,” she said. “That is not to say I agree with your actions; however I can see for myself that you were provoked, and I would hesitate to say I should not do the same in your position. However, please - if there is any further unpleasantness with any other students, allow your teachers to handle the situation. Ms. Hepworth will be given a week’s detention once Madam Pomfrey gives the all-clear, which she will serve with your father - that ought to scare her badly enough that she won’t do something so utterly bone-headed and cruel again.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Apollina said quietly. “Oh! Oh, Professor - I forgot! I’m supposed to be in Herbology!”
“Professor Longbottom has already been apprised that you will not be in class today. You have been excused. Indeed, if Madam Pomfrey deems it appropriate, you will be excused for the rest of the afternoon.”
Apollina felt at once relieved and disappointed - though she didn’t want to face her peers, she was really looking forward to her classes.
Madam Pomfrey stood up. “That wasn’t as hard as I feared it might be. I think she can go back to classes today, if she feels up to it - after a bit of a rest, that is.”
“Excellent. Well, then, you can sit out Herbology, then join your father for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Good day, Ms. Malfoy, Lucius.”
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