Daddy issues

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR: A discussion

*Annabella's POV*

Another grand entrance. Another greeting to a guest. Another gift unwrapped. Another fake smile and laugh at a terribly shit joke. Just another fucking party...

Safe to say, I had had enough for the evening. The Minister's enchantment seemed to work perfectly, no one remembered Kit as anything but Draco's younger brother. Draco and I spent the evening watching over him and mainly carrying him around so that he didn't fall over with the sheer volume of guests that packed the ballroom. Once it had reached 10:30pm I had put Kit to bed, tucking him in and saying goodnight. I then returned to the party where I had been mingling ever since.

"Hey, what's up? Why do you look so grumpy? It's Christmas! You should be celebrating!" I heard a clearly drunk Draco slur behind me as he wrapped me in his arms. I sighed knowing I had to have the conversation with Lucius and Severus about my issues. Rather than explaining something which I knew he wouldn't understand due to the amount he had had to drink... I decided to just pat him on the shoulders gently and place give him a peck on the lips before walking away to Lucius's office.

It was a large room with books neatly stacked on shelves on one wall and maps and passages of writing on another. There was a large window, although it didn't overlook a view -so as to speak- more just the forest of trees to the side of the Manor. The moonlight shone through the the gaps in the treeline creating a subtle green glow on the wall opposite the window panes. I stood there taking it all in. I rarely got to come in here, Lucius was always busy and both Draco and I were forbidden to enter it without reason to. That was why Lucius had got so angry at me during the summer... But I felt that he was hiding something... And I still felt that.

Merlin! I don't even know what exactly I'm looking for...

I proceeded to do exactly the same thing I did in the summer. I searched every nook and cranny, from rummaging through drawers, to surveying the bookshelves from top to bottom to even looking for loose floorboards; but there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. I was ready to give up and admit defeat when something caught my eye as I sat down on the leather armchair. Something... shiny?

Interesting...

Immediately, I rose from where I sat and raced towards the object, almost as if it were calling me. Once I reached it, I realised that it was a book, similar to my father's old diary that Potter destroyed in his second year, but this one was in tact and looked worn down -as if it were constantly being used. It was a black leather case with gold on the corners. Was that what had called me? No there was something else. There had to be something else there. I still felt a strong urge to search this weird tucked away corner under the shelf. I brushed my hand over old boxes, cases and books until I felt something I can only describe as an electric current course through my body, sending a warm sensation all over. Suddenly I felt very powerful, any worry I had before had vanished. What I had touched was a black wooden box. It looked pretty average; there was nothing that stood out about it except for the little gold clasp that held the lid on. It was plain and boring but I couldn't help but feel a connection to it.

I pulled it out and walked over to the armchair I was sat in previously with it in hand.

How have I not seen or even noticed this before? What the fuck?!

I gasped as I unclasped the box, lifting up the lid to reveal what looked like a tiara; it was gorgeous, it was covered in diamonds all arranged in small patterns that created a look that was elegant but also mysterious. There was a large sapphire in the centre creating the body of what looked like an eagle, or maybe a hawk, or maybe a vulture? I didn't know it was a bird of some sort. All I knew was that it was pretty and I wanted it.