𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓔𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻 | | LM & SS

Chapter 2 - Tomorrow

            "Is she ready?" Someone asked from the kitchen, Ophelia's ears perked up as her bare feet silently padded on the wooden floorboards. Her fingertips gently scraped the wood panneled walls as she practically floated down the hallways. Like a ghost haunting the place.

"Yes, I have already purchased everything she will need, equipment, books, stationary, clothes, I had quite the extensive list." Lucius' voice replied with a huff. Was he annoyed that he had to do that for her? Or for the cost involved? No doubt he didn't scrimp and save, he was Lucius Malfoy after all.

"You know that's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant." Lucius sneered in return.

"She can barely take care of herself, and you want her taking care of entire classes of students, plus greenhouses of rare and dangerous plants." The voice fumed, followed by the sound of a glass being forcibly put down onto a hard surface.

"Want? Despite what you may think of me, I don't want her to be subject to any of this... but it is the Dark Lords command, she can only obey." Lucius said, his words dripping with disdain. "But fear not, I will be keeping a close eye on her..."

"And Snape?" The other man scoffed.

Ophelia was sure she heard a growl escape Lucius's lips as she neared the kitchen doorway, skulking into the shadows she watched and listened, though the owner of the second voice stood out of view.

"He will do as he always does, act in his own self-interest. No doubt that will mean taking Ophelia under his wing..." Lucius grit out, his distaste evident. He looked tired, Ophelia could see the bags under his eyes, the slight dryness to his skin, it was probably not noticeable to others, but to her... he looked exhausted. "...But her safety and... health, are paramount, over my own... jealousies." Lucius swallowed.

"Wow." The second voice said with a twang of humour, "that's growth Malfoy."

Lucius ignored the dig, and leaning against the counter, he turned his head to the window, his eyes gazing out at the mountainous scene. "In times of darkness it is important to look at the bigger picture, your priorities change, your moral compass... skews..." Lucius sighed deeply, his face turning grave for barely a moment. "Anyway... I'm hopeful Hogwarts will give her some purpose, breathe a new lease of life into her. She has always dreamed of this job, this position."

Alexander Antanov stepped forward, his hands running through his untied hair, frustration, not vanity. Alexander countered Lucius' argument... "But not under these circumstances Malfoy, can you not see she is not ready-"

"She is right here." Ophelia said as she stepped out of the shadows into the bright natural light, her sharp words aimed directly at the two men. "She can hear you, and she can make her own decisions."

Lucius' brows rose gently, it was the most words he'd heard out of her since that night. And with such sourness... he was pleased at least emotion ran through her, even if it was disdain for him.

"I don't appreciate you speaking about me like... like a child." She said, curling her hands into fists.

"That's not- we weren't – we were just-" Alexander couldn't find the words, he was not as versed in honeyed apologies or as skilled at spinning conversations, and so he turned to Lucius for support, "Care to speak Malfoy?"

"What is it you've decided then?" Lucius asked, straightening.

Ophelia blinked at him, a little surprised. Her bony hands ran down the off-white linen midi dress she had chosen out of the closet of pretty things Lucius had bought ahead of her departure to Hogwarts. It was beautiful, and simple, with a wrap neckline and delicate lace edge. Her hands ironed out the invisible creases nervously. "I'm to go to Hogwarts, obviously."