Escaping Darkness || Theodore Nott

1

Pandora heard cluttering in the kitchens below her. Lotus, her pet snake, slithered up her arm and nestled in the brink of her neck. Crows were cawing outside of her window.

"Morning, Lotus," Pandora said sleepily. She looked at the clock on her wall. It was 6:30. Dobby must be making breakfast.

Pandora slid off her bed and opened the curtains to her floor-to-ceiling windows. It was bright outside - it would probably be a warm day again.

It was summer break for Pandora and Draco. School would start again in 2 weeks, so they were trying to enjoy their last weeks of freedom in spite of the heat.

That problem was a quick fix because the house was enchanted to stay the same, cold temperature.

The other problem was that they were more likely to get on Lucius's nerves if they stayed inside, which could result in a beating (if the offense was small, like playing too loudly or breaking a glass) or the cruciatus curse (if the offense was bigger, like playing too loudly and breaking a glass and he was already annoyed).

It didn't help that neither of them had received their Hogwarts letters yet. They were supposed to be starting their first year in a fortnight, and Narcissa already wanted to go shopping with them desperately. Lucius had told her to wait until the letters arrived, claiming that, "If they cannot manage to be accepted into Hogwarts, they don't deserve new things."

This had started an argument between Narcissa and Lucius, and brought an almost tangible tension to the Manor. Lucius was more short-tempered than usual, and Narcissa isolated herself more frequently and for longer periods of time.

Draco and Pandora, in an effort to escape the fights and punishments, spent most of their time either in the forest behind the Manor, or, if anyone invited them, at their friends' houses.

They had had a sleepover at the Nott Estate just last week and had visited the Crabbes yesterday. They would do anything to get out of the house.

Sadly, no one had invited them today, so they didn't have any excuses to leave. They would just have to go back to the forest and swim in the rivers.

Well, Pandora thought as she got dressed, it could be worse.

Just then she heard shouting from downstairs. Lucius must be mad again.

She combed her hair quickly and braided it into two loose french braids as she hurried downstairs. She just hoped it wasn't Draco being shouted at.

When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she ran through the dining room into the breakfast room. She listened at the door.

"Why is my breakfast not ready yet?"

"B- Because, sir, D- Dobby didn't think the M- M- Malfoys were awake yet, sir. Forgive me, s- sir."

Pandora was relieved. Draco wasn't the recipient of his father's anger this time. It would be hard not to get on Lucius's nerves, though, if his breakfast was late.

She went inside.

"Good morning, Uncle," she greeted him with a small bow of her head.

"Morning, Pandora. I suppose you heard that our house-elf has been negligent with his tasks again?" replied her uncle in his cold, sneering voice.

"Yes, Uncle. I did. I am glad it was sorted out before I came."

It was always good to be extra polite when Lucius was annoyed.