Time Travel

Chapter 29

"Where's Dad?" Draco asked Severus the next morning when he didn't see Lucius at the dining table.

"He left last night." Narcissa answered for him. "Severus came to talk to him and he left after that."

"Did he-" "He went to the ministry for an important meeting. He must've returned late from the ministry so decided to stay back at Malfoy Manor. He will be back soon." Severus said smiling at Draco.

"Severus-" "Draco, you should eat." Severus cut him off shaking his head minutely and Draco nodded his head as he suddenly remembered that his mum is sitting right there and she shouldn't know about it yet. He is thinking about his dad deeply that he didn't notice Holly entering the dining table with James and others.

"Good morning, everyone." She smiled at them. "Thank you so much for understanding last night and I'm really sorry for cancelling the party like that."

"Dear, it's really ok." Narcissa smiled at her. "We really don't mind. You are more important. Your health is more important than a small party to all of us."

"Yes, Cissa is right." Dorea agreed with her.

"Hello, Mr Weasley." Holly smiled at him and he smiled back at her. "How are you? I think you don't know me-"

"Lucius told me everything." Arthur shrugged lightly. "I'm really sorry for what Molly and-"

"Mr Weasley, please. It's not your fault. Don't apologize because of her. I really don't blame you at all." Holly smiled at him.

"Thank you." Arthur smiled with a heavy heart. Such a sweet girl, he thought sadly.

Holly looked at Draco who didn't even look at her once and frowned slightly. She was about to talk to him when James pulled her hand to sit beside him. Holly sat in her chair and looked at Draco again who was looking at Severus talking in hushed tones for a moment before looking at her with a small smile.

"Hi." He said to her and she sighed in relief. "I was just zoned out thinking about my dad. He is yet to be back. I was just worried, that's all."

"Where is he?" Holly asked him.

"Ministry." Draco rolled his eyes. "Stupid Fudge and all that nonsense he talks to dad. Dad must be exhausted last night because of Fudge. I used to hate Fudge with a passion. I still do. He always calls dad at ungodly hours of time to discuss about something so stupid. He just wants money from Malfoy vaults into his personal pockets. Dad has to give him money so that he won't put any false accusations on us and put us behind the bars."

"I didn't know Fudge was that-" "Pathetic?" Draco said making her laugh. "Yeah, pathetic." She said and he snorted.

"He is a gold digging bastard." Draco said to her.

"I know he loved money and his fame, but this is new to me." Holly told him. Draco just nodded and shrugged.

"Let's just eat. Forget about Fudge for sometime." Draco smiled at her and she nodded. 

"Now that my birthday is also over. What are you planning to do with Dumbledore-" She hissed clutching her head as soon as she said his name. It's like a ton of bricks pounding in her head as various emotions started flooding her at once. It stopped as soon as it started and she remembered what the book said about feeling others emotions as soon as she is eighteen and if she couldn't occlude her mind, then she is going to feel the pain everytime she starts thinking about someone else.

"Didn't you practice occlumency the last month, darling?" Dorea asked worriedly. 

"I did, but I just couldn't perfect it in such less time." Holly said rubbing her forehead slightly. "What should I do now?"

"Calm down, Holly." James said passing her a glass of juice. "Severus can help you occlude your mind from outside if you are not able to do it yourself."

"Severus." She looked at her dad and then at the man who looked as uncomfortable as her and she nodded her head after a long time. She needs to occlude her mind and this is more important than anything else. 

"We will do it after breakfast." Sirius said to her. "Now, eat."

"What about-" "Not now." Remus said and she pouted but started to eat. She felt a piercing pain whenever she thought about someone else and sighed willing herself to stop thinking about others.