YEAR 7 | Draco Malfoy

33.0 the banquet

The usual dark hallways of the Traver's home were lit with multiple burning candles, their warmth heating the space.

From the hall up to the garden were decorations placed, some gold and shiny but most of them black or green, resembling everything that these people stood for.

A soft melody was playing on an enchanted harp while house-elves scurried from the kitchen to the dining room, their hands full with cutlery and sometimes dishes.

Soft talking could be heard from the living room where important families of wizards and witches had gathered.

While they conversed with each other, sometimes friendly and sometimes political, Claire and her parents were greeting the guests who were still arriving.

Claire's hair was pulled back into a Victorian braid that seemed to weigh more than her entire body, so much it was hard for her to keep her head straight.

Her usual plain lips were sculpted with a light colour and her cheeks were blushed but nothing too much.

Even this little alternation on her appearance made her itchy, she wanted to get rid of it but only because it hadn't been her idea.

None of this was.

Claire tried her best to focus on the faces that passed her but she didn't care, a fake smile plastered on her lips.

All she could do was place a label on their head, Death Eater after Death Eater.

"Bulstrode!" Her father called out in surprise and went to greet an old friend of his, leaving his wife and daughter behind.

Evangeline immediately turned to her daughter and started to fix the small hairs that were escaping the braid.

"Mom, it looks fine." Claire sighed and tried to take a step back.

Like a reflex, her mother grabbed her by her arm like she had done a million times before and Claire flinched.

The way her daughter pulled back in pain made Evangeline even angrier.

"Stop whining." She growled and began adjusting the pins in Claire's hair, not caring if it hurt or not.

A blur consumed Claire's vision again and her heartbeat began slowing down.

It was a defence mechanism to shield herself from the pain but also the fear that kept rushing through her veins.

Another family had arrived and a woman approached the front door, looking inside to see if anyone was there.

"Lauren!" Evangeline said in surprise, immediately backing away from her daughter.

The Greengrass's stepped inside with a nervous smile on their faces, almost like they didn't want to be here.

Daphne walked over to Claire, her little sister Astoria following close behind her.

"Hey." Daphne breathed out, feeling the tension.

Claire let her eyes wander over the light green dress Daphne was wearing before looking at her blonde hair, the locks freely dancing in the slight wind that came from outside.

The two of them hadn't spoken since arriving at Kings Cross station and it seemed as if the events still weighed down on them.

"Hi." Claire greeted back, smiling at the brunette standing behind Daphne.

Astoria dared to smile back at the older girl, still a little hesitant and making sure to stay close to her big sister.

"Let's go girls." Lauren Greengrass smiled and took her daughters to the living room, leaving Claire and Evangeline to themselves again.