ACT ONE, CHAPTER ELEVEN
HARD TO FACE REALITY
For the rest of Christmas break, Madelyn spent her time in her room or in the study, poring over books and scrolls, researching anything she could find on dark wizards, dark magic, and everything associated with darkness. The Laurent Manor had an extensive library, filled with ancient tomes that held secrets and knowledge accumulated over centuries. She buried herself in the musty pages, hoping to find some way to counteract the dark mark that now lay on her forearm.
She had found a way to conceal it for when she gets back to Hogwarts which she couldn't wait for. Every day got more boring, less books to read, less things to distract her.
Now it was the night before she had to go back to Hogwarts, as the snowstorm outside raged, Madelyn sat in the dimly lit study, surrounded by a fortress of books. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls. She flipped through another ancient text, her eyes scanning the faded script, but her mind kept drifting. She was tired, really tired but no matter how hard she tried to fall asleep she couldn't.
The words on the page blurred as her eyelids grew heavy, but every time she closed her eyes, visions of the dark mark and the ominous future it represented jolted her awake. The silence of the manor, broken only by the howling wind and the occasional crackle of the fire, weighed heavily on her.
She closed the book with a sigh and leaned back in her chair, staring at the dancing flames. The thought of returning to Hogwarts brought a mixture of relief and dread. She longed for the familiar halls and the company of her friends, but she also feared someone seeing her mark.
If James, Sirius, Remus or Peter saw this they would never look at her the same ever again. If Lily saw it she would feel betrayed, her very own best friend going against everything she was. Marlene wouldn't forgive her, she was very loyal so in Lily's name she would never forgive her. A lot was a stake here, all of her friends, her reputation, her life, basically everything.
Regulus also had a lot at stake but he wasn't a friendly Gryffindor everyone loved, Regulus was a Slytherin with Slytherin friends who bore the same mark. He wouldn't understand, no one would.
A soft knock on the study door startled her from her reverie. She turned to see Remi, her house-elf, standing there with a tray of tea and biscuits.
"Mistress Madalaina, Remi thought you might need something to help you sleep," her large eyes filled with concern.
"Thank you, Remi," Madelyn replied, managing a small smile as she accepted the tray. The warmth of the tea and the sweetness of the biscuits provided a brief comfort.With a determined sigh, she set the empty cup aside and picked up another book. Sleep might be elusive, but she wouldn't let her fears consume her. There was still so much to learn, and she needed to be prepared for whatever lay ahead.
The hours slipped by as she delved into the ancient texts, her mind absorbing the knowledge within. Despite the weariness that tugged at her, a spark of hope flickered in her heart. She would find a way to fight the darkness, to reclaim her future. And when she returned to Hogwarts, she would do so with the strength and resolve needed to face whatever challenges awaited her.
Madelyn finally closed the last book and rose from her chair. The storm outside had calmed, leaving the world blanketed in a pristine layer of snow and the moon shined brightly in the sky reflecting beautifully over the snow.
She quietly walked to her bedroom, and shut the door behind her. As she crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin she thought again to her friends. Hopefully they would never find out about it. Madelyn never liked to lie, but over the years she had to do it every now and again.
