Challenged Love

Chapter 9

Seven years under the Imperio Curse. Seven years a Death Eater. Seven years with an unaware conscious.

Seven years of my life which could have been spared.

"Would you like something to eat?" Narcissa softly offered.

We stood just outside the red telephone booth, rain pouring from the heavens. My palms are sweaty while holding the umbrella, and my mind was working to complete a puzzle with several missing pieces.

"Yes please," I replied, out of touch with the world around me.

"Come along then. I know a great place in London," she stated.

Narcissa and I traveled down a sidewalk amongst a crowd of Muggles. I got many concerning looks from people passing by, leading me to believe that my face was pale with utter shock. I dug my fingernails into my skin, trying to distract myself from the pain I endured on the inside. I pondered over and over again upon Mr. Dunsworth's words from the little memory I possessed. Soon, the noisy chattering and the sound of London traffic became a vague sound to my ears. I felt myself detaching from reality, disturbance submerging my whole well-being.

Finally, Narcissa and I came to a restaurant named "Witch's Tavern", which could only be entered through a dark alleyway in order to keep it hidden from Muggles. Despite its sketchy entry, the restaurant was rather elegant. A massive, silver and sparkly chandelier hung from the towering ceiling, and the tables were covered in delicate table cloths. There was also a stage with its large, red velvet curtains pulled back. There was even a band playing jazz music on the stage. I knew I was not properly dressed for such a place of elegancy, but the hunger gnawing at my stomach could care less.

"This place is one of my favorites," Narcissa mentioned as a waitress with golden curls approached us.

"Just two, Mrs. Malfoy?" the waitress asked.

Narcissa definitely must attend this restaurant frequently if the workers know her name.

"Yes please," Narcissa answered.

"Right this way then."

Wizards and witches embellished and expensive jewels and fancy clothing gave me  suspicious looks as me and Narcissa were led to our table. I suspected the restaurant was a place for rich snobs. Luckily, Narcissa was a humble and wealthy person, though I am not sure why she would enjoy eating here amongst this type of people.

Once we were seated, menus popped out of thin air and fell into our hands.

"What can I get you two to drink?" the waitress offered, a note pad and a quill floating just above her shoulder.

"A glass of strawberry tea," requested Narcissa.

The quill scribbled onto the note pad as she spoke.

"Same," I said. Strawberries were nice.

At the snap of the waitress's finger, a tea pot and two tea cups came accelerating through the air, landing on our table with a soft thud.

"I'll be right back to take your orders."

The waitress scurried away, leaving me and Narcissa to ourselves. I hesitantly took a sip of tea from my cup, the taste of strawberry sweetness on my tongue.

"Did any of that make sense?" Narcissa inquired with genuine compassion in her tone.

I assumed she was referring to our meeting with Mr. Dunsworth.

"To an extent," I honestly said.

"But, you do understand what it really means?"

Did I? Perhaps I did, but I did not desire to admit it aloud.

I shook my head.

"It means your parents served the Dark Lord unwillingly. It means they're innocent, Holly."

"I doubt that," I stated under unstable breath.

Narcissa appeared perplexed in instant surprise.

"They were under the Imperio Curse for seven years-"

"That could be a lie."

"They ran test..."

"My parents are skilled in deceiving," I protested. I never met Narcissa's eyes.

Their innocence must be a lie. The abuse I faced from them, however, is not a lie.

"You're in denial," Narcissa insisted.

Maybe she was right. After all, denial is the first stage of grief. Still, my parents are Death Eaters. Nothing can reverse that. They also still wounded me physically, mentally, and emotionally, whether they were being controlled or not. Except, the loss of life in their eyes, the eye contact between me and my mother in the court room-

No. That is just the stare of a heartless individual. No. No. None of this makes even the slightest bit of sense. How would they be cursed? Who did it? What did they want that my parents would not give?

"I'm sorry, Holly," tried Narcissa. "I do offer my condolences, but Mr. Dunsworth is a brillant individual. If it were not for him, the truth may have not ever came to the surface."

So this was the truth Dumbledore was referring to.

You may reconsider once you learn the truth.

"If only we knew who Imperioed your parents," Narcissa completed her thoughts.

The waitress came back at the perfect timing, for I wanted this conversation to end.

"Are we ready to order, ladies?"

I glared at the first thing I spotted on the menu.

"Salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing please," I requested.

"Fettuccine Alfredo," Narcissa weakly smiled.

The waitress and the flying notepad were then off to the next table.

Narcissa passed to me a pitiful glare.

"After this, we must go straight to the hospital," Narcissa let me know.

I nodded my head silently, knowing that no amount of fighting could rescue me from this tragic situation.

"Also, you are not to speak of the details concerning the meeting with Mr. Dunsworth, nor the visit at the hospital," Narcissa added.

"Not even to Kasper?" I glared at her.

"Not even to Kasper."

My head rested on my hand as I slouched forward in my chair. My mind hurt. Everything hurt. Why do things like this always happen to me? What's next? Kasper's parents were being controlled as well?

For some reason, it was easier to accept the fact that my parents were who they were because of themselves rather than because of someone else. Maybe since that is what I have believed for all these seven years. Maybe since I have never known anything else. I have always known them to be cold-hearted, not a victim of a gruesome curse.

Perhaps it was because I was a victim, too.