Before The Past

Ch. 36

"Good morning darling, happy Christmas." My mother smiled as I walked downstairs. 

"Happy Christmas mother." I responded. 

The entire house smelled of vanilla and a mix of different spices. My mother and Narcissa were both in the kitchen drinking tea and giving the elves instructions for dinner. 

"Have the boys gone on another hunt?" I asked. 

"Orion and Lucius have, they figured it'd be best to leave the other two here. The woods around us aren't as forgiving as they are at home." My mother sighed. 

I nodded and walked over to the fireplace. There the tree had been set up along with several other decorations such as stockings and candles. I asked Jarby to retrieve my book and sat down on the couch. It was peaceful, a new fresh layer of snow had formed outside and all that I could hear was the crackling of the fireplace. It was nice to actually sit in peace without a hundred other voices around me. 

Although I had gone through almost five chapters, I found myself constantly having to go back and read through the pages again. My mind simply couldn't focus and I was getting frustrated. Eventually I set my book down and decided to go outside. 

It was windy, causing my cheeks to burn. The sound of fresh snow under my feet filled the silent air. I read one time that snow absorbs sound, which is why in the winter everything is so much quieter. I like to think that it's the Earth's chance to sit in silence for a while, to let go. The Earth got to let go, and so do I. Snow to me feels like home, like something that will always be there to change things up. To cover up the world for a while and allow me to focus on less. 

The trail that I usually walked on was now covered and all there was to make it out was an indent. I slowly plowed my way through until suddenly other footsteps showed up. The footsteps came from somewhere off the trail and then redirected onto the trail. The tracks were only going forward, so whoever made them was probably still there. Many people walk on this trail, it's probably just a stranger. 

It was in fact not a stranger. Draco was sitting on the stump I usually sit at while staring off into the valley. 

"I didn't take you as someone who would willingly go out into the cold." I spoke as I approached him. 

He jumped and turned around only to relax when he realized it was me. 

"I'm not, my mother made me come out here." Draco sneered. 

"Out here to this specific muggle trail, or just outside?" I questioned. 

"Outside, I just happened to stumble upon the trail." 

"Well your in my seat." 

"I'm sure you can find another." 

Matteo would have given up the stump, I thought to myself. Matteo? Why did that matter? Why was he the first thing to come to mind. Not annoyance that Draco was being stubborn, not hopelessness that I couldn't sit at my favorite spot. Another person. Another boy. 

I sighed and walked off, knowing that talking to him was pointless. He seemed quieter more recently, although his arrogance was strong, his voice was not. He'd changed, and I wasn't sure why. Although it was a relief that I didn't have to talk to him all too much, it was still odd. I almost felt as though there was something wrong with me, or even him. There probably was something wrong, but I'd be the last person he would tell. 

When I made it to where our footsteps diverged, I decided to take his path. Where did he come from? Did he just cut straight across? There was only one way to find out. 

As I got further and further, the trail began to curve. It curved towards another area that I was unfamiliar with. Towards a fenced in area. The area was small, but there were multiple footsteps leading into it along with multiple objects poking out of the snow. As I got closer I realized that it wasn't just a random spot, it was a small grave. I opened the gate out of curiosity and followed the footsteps.