Above Them All

Seven

"You haven't been here for years so, I'm not sure if you'll want to change up your room a bit," she carefully opened the door and showed a black, green, and grey room. The bed and carpet had a snake on it and a pictures hanging on the walls had pictures of single flowers with white backgrounds. "It's... beautiful," I smiled slightly. "If you want to change it a bit you can, like the colors, or the photos," my mother said. I shook my head lightly. "I like it the way it is," I said. "What's Hogwarts like?" I asked turning to her. "It's complicated. And confusing. That's all I can really say," she shrugged. I nodded slowly looking down at my sleeve. THE MARK! I lifted my sleeve up slowly. It was gone. I checked the other. Nothing. "I understand if you want me to leave. I know I'm not as powerful without the mark," I mumbled. "The what? Oh... Carina! You didn't think this was all over the mark did you?" She asked. I looked at her confused. "Wasn't it?" I looked down away from her gaze. "Why would you think that?" She put her hand on my shoulder and sat down so become the same height as me. "We would never take you back only for your mark. I didn't even remember that! I just wanted my daughter," she said. "You never wanted me before... so why now?" I asked. "I don't what I thinking before. I should've never put Draco before you. Ever," she said. I hugged her tightly. "Also, I know your 12th birthday is coming up. I actually got this after we saw you a few days ago," she smiled and showed me the cloth covered gift. "What is it?" I asked. "We'll take the cloth off and you'll see," she set it down gently in front of me. I took off the cloth to see a small pile of ashes. Beneath it, a small reddish-orange bird emerged. "It's not exactly an owl, but I guess with all the new students, they took all the owls," she said a bit disappointed. "I LOVE IT!" I hugged her again as my eyes lit up with excitement. "Narcissa, Draco's about to get his owl, let's see his reaction," Lucius said. And now I wasn't going to call him father because he would have to earn that. "Oh... I see you've already made her happy... Lovely," he sneered. "Lucius don't. Not now," my mother slowly stood up and headed downstairs. "C-can I come?" I asked. "Why wouldn't you?" My mother laughed. "Lucius usually doesn't let me leave the room unless I have permission," I said. "What did you call me?!" Lucius spun around quickly his wand in his hand aiming at me. "STOP!" My mother stood between us, his wand now aiming at her. "She's only 11 almost 12!" She argued. "Call me that again and my hand just might slip!" He growled. I grasped the bottom of my mother's dress and stood behind her. She grabbed my hand and we walked downstairs silently. I still had the cage in my left hand. Annabex(my phoenix) waddled around in her cage. "What is it you got me?" Draco asked excitedly. "Open the cage," Lucius said. Draco's excutment faded when he saw his brownish-black owl. "What is this?!" He said disgusted. "It's your owl, son," my father said. "I don't want a bloody owl!" He shouted. "Draco!" My mother said warningly. "I want what she has!" He nodded to me. "I want her phoenix," he said. My father walked up to me and held out his hand. "But Lucius, I just got this for my birthday," I said. "DONT, call me that!" He said his arm still extended. "Fine..." I slowly handed him the cage. "No," my mother said calmly. "Draco always gets what he wants. He needs to learn," she crossed her arms. My father roughly handed me back the phoenix while Draco through a tantrum. "But mother, now Draco's upset," I said. "Well, money isn't everything," she smiled. I set Bex on the dresser while I brushed my hair. Lucius came it quickly. "Your mother just left for Diagon Alley. She'll be back soon," he growled. "And?" I asked confused. "Come her," He snapped. I stood in front of him. How stupid I was. He raised his cane. Before I had a chance to react, it came down and hit my head. I fell backwards and everything turned black.