The Littlest Wizard

chapter 8

Bellatrix's POV

The carriage ride to Rosalina's school was filled with a mixture of excitement and longing. My heart raced with anticipation, aching to see my little girl again. It had been weeks since I last held her in my arms, weeks filled with letters filled with tales of new friends, magical lessons, and occasional homesick whispers that tugged at my heart. 

The towering gates of the school loomed ahead, shimmering with protective enchantments. As the carriage slowed, I clutched the small bouquet of wildflowers I'd picked along the way. Rosalina always loved flowers—especially when we picked them together in the garden at Malfoy Manor. 

A kind attendant greeted me at the gate and guided me toward the courtyard where the students were gathered for their afternoon break. My eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on her—my sweet Rosalina, sitting cross-legged under a large oak tree, Bun Bun tucked tightly against her chest. 

She looked a little older, a little braver, but as soon as she spotted me, her entire demeanor changed. Her eyes widened, shimmering with disbelief before filling with tears. In an instant, she was on her feet, Bun Bun forgotten on the grass as she sprinted toward me. 

"Mommy!" she cried, her voice breaking with raw emotion. 

I dropped the flowers and opened my arms wide, catching her as she flung herself into me. Her little body trembled against mine, and I held her tightly, never wanting to let go. 

"My darling," I whispered, pressing kisses to her hair. "Oh, how I've missed you." 

Her sobs came fast and hard, each one tugging at my soul. "I-I missed you so much, Mommy," she choked out, her voice small and broken. "I tried to be brave... I really did... but I missed you every night." 

Tears blurred my vision as I rocked her gently. "I know, sweetheart. I missed you too. But I’m here now, and I’ll always come back for you. Always." 

She clung to me desperately, her little hands fisting my robes as if afraid I might vanish. Her voice grew softer, more fragile. "Mommy... can we go home now? I want my garden... and stories with Aunt Cissy... and you tucking me in... please." 

Her words made my chest ache. My brave little girl, who had been so strong for so long, was now my small, vulnerable baby again. "Soon, darling," I promised gently. "But for now, I’m here, and we’ll have the whole day together. Just you and me." 

Her breathing began to steady, though she still sniffled against my shoulder. "Will you hold me, Mommy?" she asked in the smallest voice. "Like at home?" 

"Of course, my love," I whispered, sitting down on the grass beneath the oak tree with her cradled in my lap. I rocked her gently, humming the same lullaby I used to sing every night. Her body relaxed against mine, the tension melting away as I held her close. 

Other children played around us, but in that moment, it was just the two of us—Mommy and Rosalina, together again. 

"I dreamed about this," she murmured sleepily. "About you holding me again." 

"I’ll always hold you, my sweet girl," I promised, brushing a kiss against her forehead. "No matter how far apart we are, you’ll always be my baby." 

She nestled deeper into my arms, her voice barely a whisper. "Love you, Mommy." 

"Love you more," I whispered back, my heart overflowing. 

As she drifted off into a peaceful sleep, I knew that this visit was exactly what she needed—and what I needed too. No distance, no time apart, could ever break the bond between us. My little girl would always find her way back to my arms, and I would always be there to catch her.