you were mine

seven - dead mothers club

"Dad, please, you don't think you could come with me to the station? You know I won't be back until Christmas." I plead with my dad, hoping he'll have the strength the leave the library for today and bring me to the station. My hopes are low though. 

"Annabelle, I shouldn't even be letting you go back to that school. With everything going on, you should stay here. I can find someone to teach you." he hardly looks at me, his eyes are in a haze staring toward the fireplace. 

"Dad, I have friends at Hogwarts. I'm going back. I'm not letting Voldemort take another thing from me." I sigh and that's when my dad finally makes eye contact with me. His eyes are bloodshot, drowsy from the amount of alcohol in his system, and completely out of life. My father's eyes used to shine. They used to have power and love behind them. But recently, there's nothing. Not even a spark. 

"Fine. You go, you're still friends with that Malfoy boy, he's always been good to you. Stick with him. But I can't go to the station. I have things to do here." 

We both know it's a lie. My father hasn't done anything but lay in this library and read every book over again for the past thirteen years. And that's what he'll continue to do until the day he rots and his body is absorbed by the couch he has taken claim to. 

"See you at Christmas, dad. Love you." I give up, walking out of the library and shutting the two big doors behind me. I made sure to clean the entire house yesterday so maybe it won't be terrible whenever I come back. Everything is dusted, swept, mopped, and organized. My bags are laying, packed, by the door. Ready for me to go. But I'm not. I know this year will be hard. Voldemort will be in every nightmare I have. I'll never be able to go anywhere or do anything without the thought of him lurking around the corner. However, Draco will be there, by my side for every step. And Theo of course. 

<><><><><><><><>

I adjust my skirt as I step out of the car, thanking the driver as I shut the door. I grab my things out of the boot of the car. I load my trunk onto the cart and mentally curse myself for always packing so much. But with the way parts of me grew over the summer, I had to go on a much-needed shopping trip. Shopping always reminds me of my mother. Even though I was so young when she died, I know that she would have loved to take me shopping. Her craft room is full of things that she bought for herself and when I was younger my closet had more clothes than hers did. I also see all the other mothers taking their daughters shopping before school starts, trying on clothes, gossiping, and having some control over their money-spending habits. While I don't do any of those things while shopping. I swear I zone out as soon as I step inside the shop. 

"Belle!" I look up at Draco leaning against the archway of the train station, waiting for me as he does every year. I smile as I speed my walk up to get to him. 

"Hi." I breathe out as I reach him, rolling the cart beside us. He wraps both arms around me, engulfing me with his scent. He got a haircut, but he still kept some of the length. I'm sure he's still scarred by how much I made fun of his first-year haircut. 

"Where's Theo?" I question, looking around for the dark-haired boy.

"He didn't write you? I got a letter yesterday saying he was going to be coming a week late. His mother passed away last week." 

My heart drops, knowing how Theo feels, knowing that this will stay with him forever. He's always been sympathetic about my mother, even while not knowing what happened. He's careful to mention her, to touch her things, or even mention his own mother. 

"Oh my god, that's terrible. He didn't tell me. Do you know what happened?" I wonder why he didn't tell me. I understand he and Draco are a little closer, both being boys, but I think this would be something he would tell me. 

"They think just natural causes. His mother was a little older and she was found in her bed. Most likely passed in her sleep." Draco explains. 

I hate to admit I envy that. His mother passed away and it won't traumatize him as it did me. She was sleeping, scientifically the most peaceful way to pass. Mine was murdered in front of me at a young age. She wasn't old, her time wasn't up, and she still had a life to live. With me. It's an evil thought to have, but I suppose I get that from the Slytherin side of me. Welcome to the 'Dead Mothers Club', Theo. 

"We better go, it's almost eleven," Draco says, laying a hand on my back to guide me toward the entrance. "I'll get your things. Mine are already there." 

Draco's father gets Draco's things delivered early. I suppose as a way of showing superiority above everyone else. However, it keeps me from having to carry my things in and keeps one of Draco's hands free to stay on my back. I shouldn't be thankful for it, but the comfortable feel of his hand gently on my back calms me, it gives me a sense of protection that I don't feel very often, ever since last year. 

<><><><><><><><>

Draco

Everything from the past summer slips from my head as I walk Belle into the station. She's always had that effect on me. Knowing that she can understand some of what goes on in my home, knowing I'm not the only one that despised 'lord' Voldemort. 

I watch her smile as she greets people she's never met, waving to young children, smiling gently at elders, and simply acknowledging the world around her. She's always been one to try and make everyone feel seen. That's what she did for me, she saw me. Nobody had seen me before, not my father, not my mother, not Crabbe or Goyle, just her. 

I load her things onto the train and we both step inside to find a cart to sit in. Usually, it would be Theo, Belle, and I but today it's just me and Belle. Like the beginning. Of course, I feel sorry for Theodore, nobody should have to lose a parent so young. Especially the way Belle lost her mother. But I'm also grateful for the fact I get to be with Belle alone for a while. Whenever Theodore is around Belle is a little quieter, letting him and I hang out more. And sometimes I just wish that he would get up and leave so I could hear her talk for a while. When she gets on a subject she enjoys you can't shut her up and I find it amusing. But whenever Theodore is around she tends to try and stay quiet. I understand she and Theodore aren't as close. She doesn't open up to him as she does me. I am forever grateful for that.