Letters to a Stranger - (Draco MalfoyxReader)

Chapter 2

As she walked around the corner, she was hit with the heavy smell of old wood she took a deeper breath and let in the scent of the sweet, musky smell of old parchment and leather-bound books. Her heartbeat was already calming down after the short encounter she had with Draco. Anna slowly walked deeper into the library searching for her sister but unfortunately, Nina was not in her usual spot which saddened Anna's heart. She wanted to talk to someone she trusted, after conversing with the Slytherin boy Anna was reminded of what was expected of her after graduating.

That is of course as her father Mr Vandenberg says to "marry a noble pureblood boy, one who will keep up the family bloodline". Both girls found it disturbing especially since they would never marry out of love but only for convenience. Draco made her realize that she would one day, not very far in the future, would spend her moments with someone shallow, proud, and egoistic.

With a scowl, she tightened her ponytail and made her way to Nina's table, the last one under the far window from the back corner of the silent library. Her mind drifted to a fight her father had with both sisters when he told them to not look into career opportunities after NEWTs as their future prospects should revolve around finding a respectable pureblood family, get a husband, and open as Nina usually called it "the baby-making machine". This made Anna's blood boil as she emptied her bag into the old oak table and started to scribble short notes about the new set of constellations, they covered in class that morning.

An hour in and she found herself looking at the window admiring the view, now she knew why her sister claimed this seat. Her desire to talk to someone was becoming overwhelming so she decided to write a letter to Nina who most probably was in her common room, or sneaking into the kitchen to feed her new stray. Truly keeping up with the Hufflepuff stigma Anna thought as she smiled to herself.

Hey N,

Missed you at the library today, but don't worry I kept your seat warm. I wish we had something easier to communicate with especially during moments like these. Fester is having trouble with his memory again so hopefully this time the letter arrives to the right person. We had this conversation many times before but today has been one of those days where all I could think of is fathers harsh wipe of his words that are capable to open wounds with his softest whispers, although we both know how he favours his high tone. During breakfast Roxanne told me how excited she is to move out of her parent's house, how ready she is to start living her life, to go off and make her own adventures. I'm jealous of them. This is your last year here and the next will be my last. Waiting for us will not be two loving, proud parents or an empty trunk ready to be stuffed with clothes for our voyages, but an old dull aristocrat. I don't want that! I'm sorry I know that I should be the last one to complain especially to you but no one understands. Not Roxanne or Laura already planning their trip to Egypt. How could they? The others in our boat are eighter too proud or too scared to complain or act upon their families' orders. I'm sick and tired of having my life all planned out for me. I want to do something I would never do... something crazy and for once unplanned. I want to draw outside the lines. I feel like it's a shot in the dark, a mantra we always plan and fantasize about, but dear sister maybe just maybe we can escape our fate or we can make what little time we have together memorable something to hold on to when we marry.

-A

Anna took a deep breath in feeling the weight getting lighter on her shoulder although a nagging at the back of her mind laughed at her hopefulness. She folded the parchment and made her way to the owlery.

After delivering the letter she took a shower and changed into her pyjamas when the harsh chattering of Fester's beak hit the window advising her of his arrival. Her heart filled with joy as she saw a letter attached to his leg, quickly Anna opened the window as the freezing breeze entered the room making Roxanne give her a pleading look to close the window. The old brown owl perched itself on the bedside table as she closed the window and opened the letter.

"Weird," she thought as she wasn't greeted by her sister's cursive handwriting but with hurried sharp stroked letters, one that she never saw before. Anna gave a scolding look to Fester who had his head resting to his back drifting off to sleep and sat on her soft bed as she began to read the letter.

Dear A,

Your owl made a wrong turn and the letter ended up reaching the wrong person. Sorry to have read it but I thought it was from someone back home and once I started, I couldn't stop. Fathers always have their way with words unfortunately it's not a blessing. I think that the term "adventure" has become misunderstood, yes it can mean travelling but sometimes it's not that complicated, that out there. Adventure is something unusual, something daring and exciting that leaves you up at night, something that makes you smile even when faced with the harsh realities of life. I understand what you're going through although fathers do speak to their sons of the duty of marriage, we are more at liberty than you. Yes, as you've guessed, I am not that far from your situation as is half the lot of purebloods in this school. Maybe adventure is right there around the next corner waiting for us... If not, we should make the opportunity ourselves.

-M

Anna's heart started to beat faster. She felt embarrassed at how open she was with this stranger yet as her identity was still a mystery, she couldn't help but feel excited as she started to write another letter. As the clouds rolled on Hogwarts in those early school months a new friendship started to grow between Anna and the boy, even though both kept their identities a secret.