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Devore did not take death lightly.
After her dad died, the thought of death gave her nightmares. Seeing dead animals on the road sent her into panic mode. She cried at death on the TV. She would think about death constantly and scare herself. She thought she would grow out of it as she got older but now, as she thought of Cedric, her skin crawled and she was sick. Utterly sick.
The students were ordered to gather in the Great Hall early that morning. It was like all the light had been sucked out. Nobody smiled. Nobody laughed. Professor Dumbledore stood at his podium looking over the students. Some were crying, some were praying, and some just stared off into space unable to say anything. "Today we acknowledge a terrible loss. Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard working, infinitely fair minded, and most important, a fierce, fierce friend."
It was hard to breath sitting in that room. It felt all too familiar. Sitting in a seat listening to someone make a speech about Devore's father while he was lying dead in a casket just a few feet away from her. It felt like someone was shoving a hot iron down her throat from how bad she tried to control her tears. Bennet sat in the chair beside her with his head on her arm, his cheeks puffy from crying all night.
"Therefore, I feel you have the right to know exactly how he died. You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered, by Lord Voldemort." Dumbledore continued, causing gasps and whispers to break out among the students. Devore felt Fred's hand squeeze hers sorrowfully. "The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so I feel would be an insult to his memory. Now the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds me, and, reminds us, that though we may come from different countries and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one. In light of the recent events, the bonds of friendship made this year will be more important than ever. Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. You remember that, and we'll celebrate a boy who was kind, and honest, and brave, and true. Right to the very end."
It was gut wrenching to think about a boy died so young. Who had so much to live for and look forward to. Who was never spiteful or mean to anyone. Cedric was always happy and smiling. He was a good boy and his memory would live on forever. It only made you stop and think about life itself and how grateful you should be to still be where you are. Devore had never been more grateful for what she had. For her friends, her brother, her boyfriend, and the mother she had waiting at home for her to arrive.
The end of the year had finally reached and it was time for the Beauxbatons girls and Durmstrang boys to go back home. Everyone gathered outside the castle to bid them farewell. Devore and the twins stood with Fleur and Gabrielle. "I'll miss you." Olivia said to her cousins while they hugged.
"Get home safely, Fleur, Gabby." Devore added as she hugged the sisters as well.
"Don't get into too much trouble at Beauxbatons." Atlas teased them and hugged them both.
"Au revior, you three." Fleur said goodbye and grabbed her sister's hand before leaving to find the other girls.
"Guess I should go find Legend before we go." Atlas told them and went to find his boyfriend.
Olivia and Devore hooked arms and took off walking. "What are our plans for this summer?"
"Considering we're dating into the same family, I suspect we'll be seeing each other quite a lot." Devore replied and they laughed.
"I still can't believe it. We're dating a pair of twins. We used to always say we wanted to marry into the same family."
"And then kill them so we can gain the inheritance,"
"And then move to Europe or somewhere tropical." Olivia finished.
Devore leaned against her. "I'm so happy I have you."
Olivia pecked the side of her head. "So am I, Dev."
"Devore."
Devore paused and turned around when she heard Draco call her name. Her hand was attached to Bennet's, and he looked up at her. "Go find a pair of the twins. I'll be right there." She muttered to him and quickly smiled.
Her brother glanced at Draco and let go of her hand, running off to find Olivia and Atlas or Fred and George. Devore crossed her arms. "What do you want?"
Draco shifted on his back foot. "I came here to warn you." He started.
"About what?"
"He's back, Dev. You know what that means." He implied.
Devore released an annoyed sigh. "Elaborate or let me leave."
"You-Know-Who. He'll be at my home this summer and he's creating an army. Your mother is all that's left of the family and he'll use that to his advantage. He'll use you and me to get what he wants."
His words made her bit the inside of her cheek. "I won't do it." She declared.
As she began to walk away, Draco quickly stopped her by grabbing her arm. "You won't have much of a choice! He's already making arrangements for us to receive the mark." He hissed quietly under his breath.
Devore glared at him and took her arm back. "I'd rather die before I give myself away to him." She seethed.
"Be careful what you wish for, Devore."
She was well aware of the Malfoy/Black family and their weird obsession with You-Know-Who. Lucius Malfoy had been a follower of Lord Voldemort since he was a student at Hogwarts and he corrupted his son to the exact same way. But Devore was smarter than that. Her father did his best to keep his family out of it. "Your father may have forced you to be his puppet Draco, but not me. I don't care what he does or what he says. I will never be apart of your little cult. Me, my brother, or my mother. So I strongly suggest you and your family stay away from mine."
As she walked away, Devore was kidding herself. She grew up around all of the families that were involved with Lord Voldemort. Though there was never any talk of the Dark Lord in her house, Devore was a Slytherin, her father was a Slytherin, so she was aware of it all. But she tried to ignore it. All she had was her mother and brother. She wasn't going to let any of them get involved.
She was in for one hell of a summer.
When the Taylor siblings stepped off the train, neither of them expected to see their mother standing there waiting for them. Bennet gasped. "Mom!" He shrieked and ran to her.
Chanel smiled widely and opened her arms. "My sweet boy." He crashed into her and she held the back of his head. "I've missed you so much, baby."
Devore stood there in shock, unable to form words until her mother looked up at her. "Mom." She uttered first, blinking her eyes.
She looked like a completely different woman. Her dark, almost black, hair was brushed and sleek, and she didn't look tired. She wore light makeup that enhanced her sharp but beautiful features. When she smiled, it took up her whole face. This, this was the woman she remembered. This was her mother. "Welcome back, sweetheart." Chanel said when she stood in front of her, smiling.
They both just stood there, waiting for one to decide what to do. Devore continued to take her in and thought that until recently, she didn't want anything to do with her mother, or to be reminded of her, and how much she hated herself for it. Because she realized now that she was all she had left.
Devote hugged her, taking Chanel by surprise. "I really missed you, mom." She said into her shoulder.
Her mother softened and wrapped her arms around, closing her eyes. They both knew there was more than one meaning to her words. "I've missed you, my sweet girl."
