limerence- d,,Malfoy

chapter twenty-two

"Aurora, sit here with me," my father beckoned, sitting outside facing the rose bushes. He held a book in the grasp of his hands.

It had only been two days, and I hadn't spoken. At meal times, Valentine and I were served the finest of foods. I didn't eat, I couldn't sleep through the night, and I was haunted by memories. For the first time, I experienced the grief of a person I didn't know.

My father forced me to wear the finest of clothes. Dresses imported from foreign countries, he made Valentine only wear suited attire. It was like a walking hell and only seemed to get worse. He sat us down for hours, studying the ancient practices of our ancestors.

Seeing as Valentine was now seventeen, he was allowed to practice them. He enjoyed himself, taking long swims in the streams like he was on vacation. I remained upstairs in the first-floor library, hoping someone would send a letter.

"You seem to not enjoy yourself here, daughter." He stated, he wasn't lying, "I have given you much knowledge, a home, and new things; what else can I give?"

I sat down on the chair, the umbrella covering me from the sunshine. My hands felt into my lap, and my shoulders sagged downward. I covered the bruises on my arms, which came from practices gone wrong. Or either the harsh grip of his hand.

"I want to have company, Father," I confessed, hoping he would agree to it. Anyone? I would take anyone here. Merlin, I would even take Draco being here the whole summer.

He pursued his lips together. "You have Valentine to accompany you, my child; you both are under strict study for Lord Voldemort."

"Yes, but he is rather headstrong on spell-making," I lied through my teeth; he wasn't at all. "I just wish for a friend of sorts."

He pondered it, taking a huff of his pipe. His wrinkled hands clasped onto the thing end. I looked at the roses, the blood red against the dark greens. I wished he would just give me something. There is no one to talk to; none of the servants talk, not even my morning and night maids.

I was completely alone.

"Perhaps I shall arrange something," he inquired, rubbing his chin in thought. "A dinner party.

Wonderful, a death-eater family reunion. just the company I was asking for. How pleasantly perfect that sounded! I nodded and smiled up at him before excusing myself. I walked along the edge of the gardens, my eyes forming tears.

I had lost all my energy and was emotionally burned up. My thoughts had been working nonstop, barely pausing when I would go along the shrubs' margins. Valentine cast another charm from the top of the hill. I observed as his wand ignited and he once again failed.

I moved my voluminous garment out from under me as I reclined in the grass. A dip in the stream can be helpful. I turned to look at the river flowing by. A quick swim wouldn't harm me because it was a nice summer day.

I only put on my underwear after undressing. I immersed myself in the water's current. I submerged my head and let the water swallow me up. I remained down till I thought my lungs could burst. The bell rang from the manor for dinner. My body slipped back into the dress, holding my now-wet shoes in hand. I trekked back up the hill, my hair dripping down my back. 

"Madam, are you in need of assistance?" A maid called, rushing with a towel. I nodded. You couldn't really say no here; they just did everything anyway.

She placed me in the bath, scrubbing away at my skin. Pulling out her wand to fix my hair, only letting a few loose ends out of the braid. I slipped into another dress, this one baby blue with a lace-lined trim.

Dinner was silent, the only sound being that of scraping cutlery. It was perfect; even the cutlery was perfect. The warm summer's evening breeze fell in from the window. I placed a bite of the roast in my mouth, looking up at my brother. He was in deep conversation with my father, clearly catching his interest.

"And when will Aurora learn to make her own spells?" Valentine questioned me, and I was now pulled into conversation.

"When she is old enough—her seventeenth birthday—I'll bestow on her the runic gifts." My father sighed, now less interested in conversation. "If lucky enough, she will be a strong caster for Lord Voldemort."

If I were lucky enough, I wouldn't make it to seventeen. If I'm lucky enough, I'll disappear and not have to face the deaths of thousands. Although this was another silly lie, I would have to endure it and live in this psychotic world.

"May I be excused? I have finished and am very tired," I said, waiting for the nod of approval. "Goodnight, Father."

I lay awake once again, hoping to never wake up. But, like the previous nights, sleep crept up on me. It led me to the nightmares on Cedric Diggory's face and the faces of previous loved ones. My friends were all dead in pools of crimson blood. My hands were covered in blood, and my face was morphing into a snake-like creature.

I shot awake, sweat dripping from me. I laid awake until the sun rose, and I waited for another day of being lonely.

A/N:
Hey,
I hope everyone is finding this book enjoyable. We are coming to the end on the frist