Amelia Merlin

Part Forty Four: Mother/daughter bonding time

A painting could not have been more still than the room.

Amelia couldn't breathe, the machine that kept her body working, had pressed pause. She didn't have anything to say, her mouth hung open like a trap door.

Then, as though someone had flicked a switch, she was able to move.

The tears came first.

Drowning her poor face, then the ragged breathing and clenched fists.

Then as soon as it came, the sadness went, and anger replaced it. Mrs Merlin had not moved from her position, Amelia stood up so she was face to face with her.

"You hate me," she said slowly, "because I sent dad to prison?"

"You ripped this family apart!" Her mother hissed.

"He ripped this family apart, not me." Amelia growled. "He tortured me!"

"Oh please!" She waved a gloved hand in dismissal. "He was a Merlin man! His cruciatus curse was nothing compared to the real thing!"

"I was a child!" Amelia screamed, the tears careened down her cheeks.

"You still are a child, which is why you'll never understand what he did for you!"

"What he did for me?" She replied incredulously. Anger pulsed through her body like poison.

"Yes, Amelia! He helped you." Her mother threw her hands in the air. "Even you, on your high horse, can't deny that your father did you a service."

"You know what mother?" Amelia's voice was dangerously low, "go fuck yourself."

Shoving past her mother, she ran into the garden.

Her hands were shaking as she stood in the grass. Her breath was shallow and she could barely form a thought.

"aperire animo," Amelia closed her eyes and chanted. "aperire animo"

She knelt down and pressed her palms to the earth.

"aperire animo,"

Amelia raised her hand an inch off the ground, and saw a small green sprout. As she lifted her palm more, the sprout grew into a tiny tree.

"aperire animo," she whispered again.

She stood up and the tree grew five feet tall, still under Amelia's palm. She felt tears still trickling down her face, but didn't bother wiping them away.

Amelia clenched her jaw, and with a shot put like motion, shoved upwards with her hand. The tree shot to the sky and formed into a hundred foot tall oak. It was magnificently beautiful.

She spent the next three days in that tree. With just her mind, Amelia was able to make wonderful carvings on the branches. Three days is a lot of time so, she told stories that she had read as a child, through her carvings. The story of the ancient mariner, the one about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and her favourite, the Princess Bride.

Amelia had only spoken to Glapp since the fight with her mother. She hadn't even seen her around the house, so that was convenient.

But the time had come for her mothers dinner party, and Amelia would be expected to attend.

"I don't want to do it." Amelia sat on the kitchen counter while Glapp cut up apples.

"Of course the little mistress doesn't want to, but we must do our duty!"

"Yes, but mothers being a twat." Amelia countered.

"Little mistress!" Glapp was so alarmed she nearly cut her own fingers off.

"Sorry, but it's true."

"Maybe little mistress should just do what would please her, instead of trying to please Mrs Merlin." Glapp offered.

"I guess that's a good way to look at it. Because I really would love to dress up and eat a fancy dinner with fancy people. I think that could be fun! And of course Cedric will be there!" Amelia gushed.

Glapp finished cutting up the apples and smiled at her. "Then little mistress should go to the dinner party!" She squeaked.

"You're right! I should go!" Amelia hopped off the counter. "Fuck what mother thinks!"

"Little mistress!" The house elf clapped her hands over her large ears. "Glapp does not wish to hear such things!"

"I love you Glapp!" Amelia blew her a kiss and left to get ready for the dinner.

Amelia had on a dark blue, velvet dress, that ended a few inches above her knees. She was just curling her hair, when her mother walked in.

"Something came for you in the mail. You need to open it now." She placed the small package on Amelia's bed and walked out.

"Good talk!" Amelia called after her mother who had long since disappeared, then whispered to herself, "bitch." She finished doing her hair then went over to the bed. Plopping down on the covers, she started to unwrap the present.

There was a little note attached that read:

My dearest Amelia,

I'm sorry I can't come home for Christmas. I would have loved to see you but work is keeping me busy. So I got you this gift, the animal engraved on it is out family sigil and means a great deal to us. I hope you like it and wear it as a reminder of who you are.

All my love,
Jeremy

The paper ripped open with the most satisfying sound, and there was a little black box inside that she promptly opened.

The necklace was silver, with a pendant, half the size of her thumb. It was really quite elegant.

Amelia's heart nearly stopped when she saw the animal engraved on the front. It was a wolf.

Needless to say, it raised a few questions for her.

But the party was starting and Amelia had to get down stairs. So she put the damn necklace on and raced to meet the guests. She saw Glapp running around with trays of food and stopped to talk to her.

"Is Cedric here?"

"The Diggory family had to cancel! Sorry little mistress doesn't get to see her friend!" The house elf bounced slightly as she talked.

"No that's alright, I hope you enjoy your night!" Amelia said kindly then walked off. Her mother then called for dinner to be served and everyone piled in to the long dining room.

It was a grand spectacle. The chandeliers were glittering in the bright candle light, and there were red and gold twinkling orbs that hung above the table. The table itself was a master piece, with poinsettias and golden flakes littering the whole thing. The food was too wonderful. There were apples cut into roses, stuffed peppers, roast potatoes, turkey, gravy, bread that smelled so good Amelia nearly died, and so much more.

But Amelia could barely enjoy any of it, because the moment she sat down, a familiar voice spoke beside her.

"Hello, Merlin." Draco Malfoy drawled with a smirk on his face.

Amelia groaned. It was going to be a long dinner.