Destiny and the Dragon (A Draco Malfoy Love Story)

Chapter Fifteen

I knew the moment the bowl shattered against the hardwood floor of the dining room that I was in for it. Carelessness, Father McKenzy had said. There is no excuse for a brat like you. I broke that night with the chunks of cheap ceramic. He'd locked me in the Quiet Room, for troublemakers that needed to be separated from the better children, and left me there for nearly two days. I got lucky, though, in a way. I would have been in there longer, but Sister Carrie woke me in the early hours of the morning and handed me a large sack full of my things.

"I couldn't bring your trunk, dear. I was afraid it would wake the others," she whispered. I lugged the heavy pillowcase full of spellbooks and my Slytherin robes, not that even Sister Carrie knew what was inside, as I'd charmed my books to look like car manuals, and followed her into the hall. Early sunlight streamed through the grimy windows, and I hurried to keep up with her.

"Sister, where am I going?" I asked in a hushed voice, pushing my dirty hair out of my face.

"I am leaving the orphanage," she answered simply. "After I am gone, there will be nobody to protect you from that vile man. You must get out now, while you can."

"When?" I asked, my heart thumping in my chest.

"I plan to tell the Father about my resignation in two months.. He already suspects. He is taking it out on you; he knows I care for you like a daughter." I felt tears well in my eyes.

"Where will you go?"

"I am taking a new post of service, but I will not be confirmed there until after you return to school." We were outside the orphanage now, in the poorly-kept grounds. "Write to me, deary. Owl Post."

"What? What are you—"

"I'm a squib. I know what you are, Phoebe. That's why I always cared for you, watched over you, among other reasons."

"Sister, why didn't you tell me?"

"I have left magic behind with my family. They did not take kindly to a non-magical daughter, and I saw no reason to complicate things here," she said quickly. "I retain some skills, however, and I managed to contact that nice family that picked you up last summer, the Changs, and they will be waiting for you at the end of the block." She wrapped me in her arms, kissed my forehead, and stepped backward so quickly it was like one moment.

"Go!" she ordered. "I love you."

"No, Carrie! I won't—" I choked.

"GO!" I turned around and ran before I could change my mind. I hadn't had time to put on my shoes, and the gravel of the road bit into my feet. I fell to my knees before I reached them, skinning them horribly, but picked myself up again and by some miracle I made it to the street corner.

"Phoebe?" said a kind voice. I whipped around to see the plump, sympathetic figure of Mrs. Chang, her husband close beside her with his wand outstretched. I wept, unable to answer her. They came to me, grabbing me by my arms. There was a twisted sensation that would have made me nauseous if I were less preoccupied, a loud crack, and then we were in a totally different place-the nice, pale blue sitting room of the Chang home. Mr. Chang hurried down the hallway, but returned again in only a moment.

"Cho's still asleep," he informed his wife. "We'll tell her in the morning." Mrs. Chang was fussing over me. Her hands pushed my hair back, revealing my bruised and grimy face.

"Oh dear, that is a dreadful place," she said quietly as she ran her fingers over a particularly nasty bruise, and a cut over my lip.

"Not everyone," I tried to argue, but it came out another sob instead.