Against the Odds

the dark mark

"Hello darling."

Bellatrix, my mother, the person I swore I would never be like, is now standing here in front of me with her bony arms wrapped around my body. Lucius, Narcissa, Draco and Marcus are standing in the background accompanied by some elves moving our things back in.

"Mother?" I whisper, holding still. My arms remain at my side as I scan the room confused. "Yes Clara it's me, in the flesh," she says releasing me. "Why? When? How did you get out of Azkaban?" I ask, taking a step back from her.

She looks around the room confused. "Did you not know?" She asks with a small chuckle at the end. "Was I supposed to?" I ask back. She scoffs, "Darling everyone knows." I snap my head over to Draco and he looks quickly from my to his Father and then to Bellatrix.

"Well it happened when you were going through that break up," he says quietly, "You wouldn't leave your room or even talk to anyone and it didn't feel like the time to deliver such important news."

I begin to respond when Lucius steps forward. "Well I think you should both go get settled in and begin getting ready," me and Draco look at each other with wide eyes, "We're having some company over for dinner," Lucius finishes. Me and Draco quickly walk up the stairs. I follow him into his room just before he can slam the door on me.

"Are you fucking kidding me," I say shoving him into his bed. "Clara I'm sorry I'm sorry," he says, getting up in a defensive position but lets me push him. "How could you not tell me this?" I say hitting him with a pillow with every word.

"Clara, listen it happened when you were going through that stupid break up with Fred," he says quietly, "You wouldn't leave your room or even talk to me and I didnt want to say anything that would make it worse." I groan and fall back on to his bed, running my fingers through his hair.

"And who's coming for dinner?" I ask after a short silence. "You're not gonna like that answer much either," he says, hanging up one of his shirts. I sit up as he turns back towards me. I stare at him and he sighs. "The death eaters," he mumbles, looking at the floor.

"You're shitting me," I say bluntly. "And possibly Mattheo's dad?" I ask standing up. He silently nods his head and now takes a seat. I rub my fingers through my hair and pace the floor. I drag my fingers down my face and look over to Draco who's already looking at me.

"This is why you were being so weird today," I say as I begin pacing again, "and Mattheo wouldn't talk to me." Again I take a seat on the bed but this time next to Draco. I sigh and lay my head on his shoulder. "Just tell me next time please," I say, staring into his closet. I can feel him nod and we both just sit for a moment.

"Oh my gosh what do I wear?" I say lifting my head off his shoulder, "Is this like dress to impress formal or like our usual formal or what?" I ask standing up. Draco and I have attended many formal events even with his parents. We would typically go as each other's date to avoid having to find one. We've gone together since we were 11 and even now we still go together.

"Clara just wear something nice, no bright colors, not 'fun' , something that's a bit more serious," he says, placing hands on my shoulders to stop me from pacing. I mumble ok and thank him before hurrying across the hall to my room.

I rush to my closet and shove all my clothes to the side leaving my dresses. I pull them all out and lay them down on my bed. I separate my bright ones from dark ones and put the bright ones back.

I slide on a black, long slip dress with a thigh slit and look at myself in the mirror. Narcissa bought me this dress a couple years ago for a black tie event we went to but I didn't end up wearing it.

I quickly turn around as the door opens. "Oh Clara you look stunning," Narcissa says, clasping her hands together. She's also wearing a black tight fit dress that has a couple ruffles. It fits her perfectly.