Servitium| Theodore Nott

Chapter Thirty-Two

As Ivory walked to the carriages, she realised she could now see the Thestrals. It was odd, she'd always thought that the carriages were being pulled by magic and not a creature that symbolised death. Even so they were beautiful and mystifying, looking at them brought her a sense of comfort that she hadn't expected. They were skeletal creatures with wings and black leathery skin. Comfort was better than the feeling aggrieved, and it was better than fear, she blew out a breath and tugged at the left sleeve of her robe before climbing into the carriage followed by Fabiola and Susan Bones. The Mark was covered, there was no way it couldn't be, Narcissa had precisely measured out her school uniform and robes before they were tailored to make sure nobody would even be able to catch a glimpse.

Thinking about having the Dark Mark and actually having the Dark Mark at school were two completely different things she found, not to mention the staring as she had walked to the carriages, she had been confined to the walls of the Malfoy Manor most of the summer, but she knew that the news of her mother's death at the hands of Voldemort had made its way around the Wizarding World. However, Dumbledore had done a pretty good job at covering up Ivory's involvement in the Department of Mysteries.

"Let them stare, who cares." Fabiola grabbed a hold of her hand. "Where'd you go after you went with Hermione, what did she want anyway?"

"Nothing just a catch up, and I went to see Theo, you know, my boyfriend. I should properly introduce the two of you," Ivory joked.

"Ah yes your boyfriend, I hope he's treating you well." Fabiola narrowed her eyes as the carriage pulled off.

"Better than anything I could ask for Fabiola." Ivory forced a smile, from the corner of her eye she could see Susan Bones eyeing her pitifully.

"Is there a reason why you're staring at me like that?" Ivory inquired and Susan shook her head.

"I saw you just before we got on the carriage staring at the Thestrals. You can see them now, can't you?" Ivory didn't answer instead she focused on the carriages ahead. "Hey," Susan said softly placing a hand on Ivory's bare knee. "I know you're sad at the moment, but cheer up there's lots in store for you this year."

"I'm not sad," Ivory said in a dismissive tone, not wanting to continue a very much one sided conversation. Sad, she hated that word, it was a word used to downplay someone's inner troubles or negative emotions. The word sad was childish. To Ivory it sounded flimsy like it was something you should be able to get over and cast off as if it were nothing. But being sad was nothing like that. Nothing at all, Ivory had learnt that she had never really known true sadness until Anastasia died.

As they entered the castle, Ivory noted that Hogwarts looked different than it had during Umbridge's reign, everything that was destroyed had been fixed, but the metaphoric dark cloud looming over the castle seemed to have become more potent. The portraits and house ghosts didn't greet them as they entered rather they seemed to shy away or leave their frames. 

"Merlin you walk fast." A hand grabbed at her left forearm causing Ivory to yelp and jump backwards. "Bloody hell Ivory! It's only me." Draco grabbed her by the elbow steadying her frantic form. 

"Draco, why the hell would you grab me like that?" Ivory questioned breathing deeply to slow her rapid heartbeat.

"Why don't the two of you run along?" Draco sneered at Fabiola and Susan who were waiting for her by the entrance to the Great Hall.

"It's okay Fabiola, save a space for me," Ivory assured the two and they nodded before heading into the Great Hall, passing McGonagall who was gathering the first years.

"What?" Ivory huffed. "It hurts you know, you don't need to grab me there."

"You'd do well to refrain from acting like a maniac whenever anyone remotely comes near your arm. Don't want to give yourself away before it's even started," Draco hissed.