Dare - Draco Malfoy

Chapter 67: 53 Holland Park

Maeve:

I don't think I could ever explain the way I am feeling right now. A war has ended, a reality that had become living part of me, gone. A rotting hell in which I had been casted into. But the hell in which I had found him. Coming back home, in London. Seeing my parents, warriors of a different side of the same war. They too, very much aware of the change.

And although I am relieved by the end of it all, change always takes things away. I have grown to find meaning into the fighting, into the sickness.

I arrived home on the following Sunday and only been able to have moments of silence during the night, in which my parents would still check on me. I, always pretending to be sleeping.

I am calm, but a strange feeling of void fills me to think of the future. I always knew I would follow my parents steps, into the law enforcement. I have been wanting to be an auror ever since I can remember. My NEWTS could let me, but it scares me. Change scares me.

Holland Park is a very quiet neighbourhood near the busy Notting hill. May is the perfect time for the cherry blossom, which seems to cover London in soft snow-like texture, the streets turn white and pink. It's a marvel for the eye. I have been going for walks, alone. Thinking.

I have been home for about two weeks but it still amazes me how everyone here has lived a life completely oblivious to what has been happening in our world. I walk the streets, finding new ways, new roads, new paths. I walk for hours. I need to feel the noise of the city, it makes me feel safe, not so alone.

Sunday is a buzzing day here, I hear cars, with their expensive engines, rumbling down the main Avenue. I hear children laughing and crying in their prams. Couples taking pictures. I feel immersed in it, a dozed off feeling fogging my thoughts. But when I am alone, in my room at night it's as though I am floating into nothingness. 

I get back home as the sky begins to turn violet. Use my keys to open the door from the outside.

There's silence in the house, but as the first plank of wood cracks under my step I hear a voice.

"Mae, is that you?" My mum calls from the kitchen.

"Yep." I pop my lips.

"Dinner is almost ready if you are hungry"

She ends with a quieter voice as she comes peering through the corner of the corridor to the kitchen.

"Thank you" I force a smile.

"Oh"

She comes back into the corridor,  I am untying my shoes, bent to the floor.

"You've got post"

"Is it Aria?" I ask, lifting my head back up.

"Mm-mm." She shakes her head, eyebrows raised.

I remove the other shoe, pulling it off with force. Drop my bag onto the hook, keeping my coat on, I rush to the seating area, where we receive our post.

My gut drops. A shot of adrenaline runs through me. I reach the table, to snatch the off white envelope from under a few of other ones.

I watch my fingers tremble as I open it. I steady my breathing and read.

"Maeve,

I have been waiting, desperately, to be able to write this to you. I wanted to wait some time to let my mother rest. Home still feels quite unsettled, still getting used to everything.

I have been missing you.

Meet me at Norland Square garden, this Friday, at 2 pm.

Draco"

My heart remains steady, my body feels calm. I don't panic, nor worry. I am just happy.

I place the parchment inside the envelope and bring it to my chest as I let myself sit back, on the sofa behind me. Close my eyes for a moment. I do feel everything will change.

I go to sit up, but my eyes catch another letter addressed to me. Mom didn't say there were two.

'Maeve Harvey

W11 3RS

53 Holland Park, London'

I let Draco's letter fall on my lap as I bend to pick the new one up.

It is a very common piece of parchment, no particularities about it.

I choke a gasp. The content, it's not as common.

"My dearest Maeve,

I don't think I would ever be able to let you go without saying a last goodbye. I will be moving to America, to work under MACUSA. It's an incredible opportunity to train with the Department of the Treasury.

I will miss Europe. I'll miss Hogwarts. It will be odd not going back.

I heard you will be training as auror in London. I think you'd be perfect for it.

I wish you the best in life, in whatever form or person that comes in. You deserve to be happy.

I'll miss you.

Nott."

I crumble the letter in reaction. Anger at myself. Pain. I sit still, looking up to dry my tears.

I bend my head onto my knees as I try to calm myself.

-

I throw both letters into the side table next to my bed. Uncontrollable rivers of tears pour out of me. It's real. Not going back to Hogwarts. Things, people slowly leaving already.

I sleep.

I fall into a deep sleep in which no cloaked man appears, no darkened waters. It's a sleep which feels to be induced.

-

I wake but I don't want to. I don't want to move. Friday came slowly, making me count the hours. But this morning I am calm. I walk out of bed early enough to catch my dad leaving for work at 8.

I walk back to my room to open my wardrobe. It's a perfect spring morning, the sun is high and burning hot. A fresh wind kindly brushing over London.

I fumble through my clothes, a few dresses hang, of which one catches my attention. It's a light blue colour, thousands of tiny flowers patterned allover it. The sleeves puffy, tiny decorative buttons lining the centre of the dress. 

I remove it from the hanger, laying it in front of me. I look back to the wardrobe to find a white hand knitted jumper.

I pull my hair up into a low bun, my bangs lightly parted in the middle.

 I stand looking at myself in the mirror. The ring, the one he gave me back at the safe house. Right after the attack on Hogwarts. I was so hurt, I remember the pain.

I say goodbye to mum. I am pretty sure she has always been aware of what is going on with me. I know she knows there's something between Draco and I. She had given me a quite unusual warning in January at King's Cross.