À LA FOLIE, draco malfoy

━ prologue i.

"belle of the ball."

⨳

i. Prologue.

            THE SUMMER OF 1995 HADN'T GONE JUST YET. Eulalia had not yet crossed the threshold of Hogwarts for her fifth year. Instead, she sat in the seclusion of her room, engrossed in her journal. Draped in a delicate floral dress that cascaded softly over her legs, she remained a quiet, ethereal figure. Her thick, curly blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders as she leaned over the paper, her expression a blend of concentration and introspection.

The silence lingered a few minutes more before a gentle knock broke it. Eulalia glanced up at the sound, snapping her journal shut. "Come in," she said, quickly sliding the journal under her pillow. Clearing her throat, she settled back onto the bed with an air of nonchalance, as if she had merely been lounging. The door creaked open slowly, the sound echoing softly through the room.

Claire, the housemaid, opened the door with a warm smile. "Eulalia, love, dinner is ready," she announced softly. Eulalia nodded, her calm demeanor unchanged as she prepared to leave her room. Before Claire could leave, she added quietly, "Ton père veut que tu descendes bientôt. Il n'est pas de bonne humeur." (Your father wants you down soon. He is not in a good mood.)

   Eulalia's gentle smile faltered at the mention of her father's mood. "Quel est son problème maintenant ?" she asked. (What's his problem now?) The note of disdain in her voice was unmistakable as she spoke of her father. Claire merely shrugged, offering a quick apology before closing the door behind her. Eulalia watched the door shut with a thoughtful gaze, then slowly lowered her feet to the floor, preparing to leave her room.

    Eulalia rose from the bed and moved to the mirror to ensure she was properly dressed and presentable. After a brief sigh, she turned toward her door, pulling it open with a determined motion. Stepping into the hallway on the second floor, where her room was located, she was met with an eerie stillness. The silence spoke volumes: not only had most of her family already descended, but they had clearly lacked the courage to utter a word at the table.

   That was enough for Eulalia to gauge the situation. She hurried down the hallway, the sharp click of her shoes echoing with each step. Descending the stairs and traversing a few more corridors, she finally discerned muted but discernible voices from the dining room. As she entered the room, her presence immediately drew the attention of everyone gathered. Just as she was about to offer her apologies for her tardiness, she heard one of her siblings approach from behind, drawing her focus.

"I apologize for being rude," came the quiet voice of her younger sister, Nereida. Eulalia turned to see Nereida standing there, her teeth biting into her lip in evident nervousness. Their eyes met briefly before they both looked around the table. There sat their parents, Eulalia's younger brother Valerian, and their older siblings, Cassian and Mirelia.

The scene appeared almost idyllic—a family gathered for lunch, sharing a rare moment of togetherness. However, the perfection was marred by reality. Mirelia had moved out over four years ago, and Cassian, having recently graduated, was preparing to leave as well, though he hadn't been residing at home lately. Their father cleared his throat, attempting to project an air of normalcy despite the clear tension. Corcellia, their mother, glanced between the three of them, acutely aware of the undercurrent of unease.