Daddy issues

CHAPTER THREE: "I don't like to be kept waiting."

*Annabella's POV*

It truly was marvellous, the carriages pulling themselves (though I had my suspicions as to what was actually pulling them...I just hoped to never find out if I was correct). The scenery was picture perfect, admittedly it was dark and dimly lit but even then, I could tell it was a beautiful place; a large coniferous forest stretched for acres and acres, with a small dirt path which the carriages led us down. The pale moonlight shone through the thin clouds up above creating a glow that softened any harsh features our surroundings may have had. It was perfect. Then I saw it, the castle, the place where I would be spending a good portion of my life, where I would learn and love and live... It was stunning. I mean it was literal architectural genius, with the obscenely tall towers and a long narrow bridge that seemed to cross a lake. I think they called it something like the Black Lake? So I assumed it was that same body of water that elegantly reflected and refracted the moonlight, creating an abundance of sparkling diamonds on the water's surface.

We came to a halt outside a large pair of metal gates. My breathing hitched as I admired the craftsmanship of whoever created the ornate ironwork that stood so proudly before me. My head turned as I felt a light tap on my shoulder, it was Pansy, I tilted my head slightly to the side and she returned the confused gesture.

"We've arrived... You need to get up and off the carriage, that is unless you want to go back to the station?" She laughed as I realised what she meant. But there was still what seemed quite a way to go until the castle even if we were by the gates...

"What? You're telling me I have to walk the rest of the way? In heels?" I scoffed, "You've got to be kidding right?"

I looked around everyone was dead serious, I noticed that they were all in flats, even Pansy. In hindsight, maybe I should have listened to Draco when he told me to wear my boots instead, but I insisted as always that I wanted to make a good first impression and that required me looking like royalty. Blaise looked me up and down and then gave Draco a glance and smirk to himself. What was that about?

He walked up to me, quite menacingly actually, gazed down at me -the smirk still plastered on his face- and spoke in a low husky growl with the tiniest hint of amusement,

"What? The posh princess doesn't want her shoes to get all muddy?" He proceeded to bite his lower lip and then out of nowhere hoisted me up and flung me over his shoulder, making sure to adjust the hem of my dress so that I wasn't exposed.

"How gentlemanly of you!" I sneered, "However, I think I know how to walk by myself and I would appreciate if you could put me down."

Everyone was in fits of laughter by that point and I found it quite rude, I never ask much of people except from respect.

"Alright, so you want to ruin your shoes? I'll put you down then," he chuckled as began to lower me.

I let out a load groan then huffed out, "actually, I would appreciate the lift....."

Draco looked at me strangely, probably wondering why I agreed since I could just apparate there (I had previously worked out that the Hogwarts anti-apparition enchantments didn't work when I was at one of Draco's quidditch matches and desperately needed the toilet). However, I wanted to keep that a little secret between the two of us, just incase there was ever a need to. Plus, who wouldn't want to be carried by someone as handsome as Blaise Zabini? It's not like any harm can come out of it, right?

Blaise let out a deep, hearty laugh, mumbled a small, "I thought so," and just continued to walk with me still slung over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing.
Shortly, we all arrived at the castle and it was magnificent. It was breathtaking from far away but up close... well it was nothing like I could have imagined, a huge improvement from the small Beauxbatons castle. Every window seemed to sparkle letting off dozens of golden beams like stars twinkling in the night sky. Blaise gently lowered me down as we began to walk through the doors. Every step I took as we entered made me feel powerful, like I could do anything I set my mind to, it gave me the encouragement to achieve all aspirations I had. It didn't dishearten me like Beauxbatons did, no, it gave me life. I had only walked these halls for a few mere seconds but I could already tell that this would be home. This would be the place where I thrived, where I would take on the world as my oyster (as the muggles say, I know it's wrong of me to use their sayings, but some of them are quite funny -as long as I keep them to myself).