Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Fourty Four

Erica prised he eye open, squinting as the light assaulted them, she let out a soft groan and rolled over, pressing her face into her pillow and pulling the comforter over her head. She didn't want to face the world beyond the warm embrace of her bed. Sighing as she lay there, thinking about what had happened to her earlier that day; how there had been another attack, how she had told her father and God-father about the attack back in April and how... How she had a break down. She hadn't had to acknowledge the event since it happened but talking about it again opened up a wound she didn't even know she had.

She felt dirty and violated, like his hands were still on her in a way that she hadn't realised she'd been blocking out for the last five months. It was almost time for the girls to return to Hogwarts for the first term of their third year and for Erica to return for her own third year as a professor. Pulling herself from her bed, she wore a cloak to cover her night gown before prising open the bedroom door and walking slowly and silently down the hall to her study and slipping inside. She looked around the rooms at the various portraits, her grandmother; Walburga Black, Druella Black and her God-father; Remus Lupin.
"Bonjour grand-mère, Druella, comment vas-tu aujourd'hui?" Erica nodded at her grandmother and Druella in turn.
"Fine my dear girl" Nodded Druella back as Walburga looked her granddaughter up and down,
"Your accent has improved, much better. Is it a son this time?" Erica muffled a quiet laugh,
"No grandmother, she will be my third daughter, just the same as each other time you've asked"
"Hmm, well that's a shame but I suppose you could always try again although anymore than four children is simply improper. We are wizards, not dogs, we don't need litters."
"Yes, grandmother, of course" she grinned, shaking her head at the older woman's beliefs as she reached up to pull her ebony ringlets into a twisted bun, secured with her wand, shrugging off her cloak and draping it over a hook on the back of the door and sat at her desk, opening her mail.

Professor Erica Black,
It has come to my attention that Professor Malfoy will not be returning to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry on August 30th as was originally planned. I have, in fact, been informed that Mr. Black does not intend to return to this institution for the foreseeable future, at least the first term. Whilst I know you've always had a particular inclination for magical history, I was hoping you'd be able to adopt the position for Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for the time being.

Kindest Regards,
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall

Erica cursed under her breath a the middle-aged portraits tutted disapprovingly, muttering between themselves about unladylike language. Pulling out a pen and parchment, she began scribbling a heated letter.

Draco L. Black,
You are not returning to Hogwarts at the end of the month to resume your position as DADA professor? Draco, you are my husband and my friend so my in Merlin's name are you behaving in such a manner? You leave our home, you leave your job, you leave your wife whilst she's five months pregnant with your daughter.
Now, don't get me wrong, I have no issue with you living however you would like to. However, I would appreciate it if, as your wife, I received the bare minimum of respect. I should not be learning from the headmistress that my husband handed in his notice. Send my regards to Astoria.
Regards,
Erica W. Black

Fuming, she folded the parchment and picked up a candle, tipping dripping wax onto the seam and pressing it into a seal, tossing it to the side before picking up a second piece of parchment.

Headmistress Minerva McGonagall,
Yes, my husband has elected to spend this time with Astoria and will not be returning to his position as the DADA professor. Whilst it is neither my job nor my preference, if it is where you need me to be, I will take on his position although I would rather maintain my own.
Kindest Regards,
Professor Erica W. Black

With a deep breath, she once again, folded the letter and used the candle besides her to seal it before standing from her desk and walking over to the window and holding out the two letters to a pair of owls sat on the windowsill. "Headmistress McGonagall please, Mercher" she said to the first before turning to the other bird; "Draco Malfoy. Thankyou Iris" she grinned to the second one. For a moment, she stood in the window with a hand holding her belly, watching the birds fly away before she turned, pulling her wand from her hair, letting her curls fall down her back and waving it "Expecto patronum"

A small, odd looking creature sprouted from the tip of her wand, for the most part, resembling a small lizard but with three little things coming out of either side of it's head. Until she came back to the land of the living, twelve years ago, in 2016, she had never known what the obscure little creature was. After almost thirty years of wondering, she finally discovered that it was a wizarding creature called an axolotl which could regenerate limbs and had become popular in the muggle world. It swam through the air, circling her twice before settling before her looking up expectantly. She redirected her wand to press the tip to her throat before speaking slowly and clearly.

"I need you to take the twins for me from the 29th so that I can return to Hogwarts for a few days as preparation for the beginning of the school year. I hate to ask but I have been asked to take on Draco's position as DADA professor, much to my distaste and am concerned I may need more time than previous years would suggest. I owe you one Charlie."

She watched it swim away before slumping back into her chair with an exhausted sigh,
"Sit up straight!" Shrieked her grandmother's painting.
"I am five months pregnant, I will sit however I damn well please." she groaned.
"Very well then," the woman replied haughtily, "Have it your way" she grumbled as she disappeared from the frame.