Tainted Blood

Chapter Four

Sunlight shines through the window, waking me. I slowly uncurl myself but the bright light hurts my sensative eyes and I recoil back under the comforter. I let my mind wonder to last night and rub my arms shakily.

It's painful but thanks to the Wolfsbane, I at least have control.

A light knock sounds on the door and echos around in my head. I groan and throw the blanket off me, then stalk up to the door. I narrow my eyes and catiously sniff; the scent of my mother flows through the wood.

I throw open the door to see Mum standing there looking like she hasn't slept a wink.

"Mum!"

I jump onto her wraping my arms around and squeezing tight. She lets out a surprized noise and squeezes me back.

"Mon cher! You're okay! How do you feel?"

"Really tired, Mum, but fine."

She smiles lovingly at me and runs a hand through my hair.

"And how was the..."

"Extremely painful. It will take awhile to get used to."

Mum exclaims and pulls me into another crushing hug.

"Oh Lexi! My brave girl! Je suis desole! I'm sorry you have to go through that."

"It's nothing, Mum. Lets just go home. Papa is waiting, isn't he?"

"Yes he is, love. You're right, we should leave."

She holds my hand and we Apparate home.

I stumble slightly as we appear in our small kitchen. Papa jumps up from his position at the table and engulfs me in his warm embrace.

"Papa!"

"Honey, are you okay? Do you feel well?"

I pull back and rub my scarred shoulder.

"I'm fine, Papa. Just sore. Changing into a wolf creature isn't exactly a picnic."

His eyes widen and he motions for me to sit down. I do and my parents join me. Papa reaches across the small table to clasp my hand. I smile gratefully and he clears his throat.

"Lexi, honey..what was the wolf like?"

I raise my eyebrows.

"Why?"

"Just curious."

I hum and close my eyes to recollect my memory of my wolf appearance.

"Umm..tall. Really tall, about six foot when I was crouching. I wasn't like a normal wolf though, I could stand like a human and my front paws were more like hands with huge claws. I had legs like a human with thighs and knees, but thicker."

Papa's stares at me with a fasinated expression and Mum reaches over to tuck my hair behind my ear.

"How interesting. I'm really glad you're safe mon cher. Did anything else happen?"

I wonder if I should tell them about the wolf trying to take over. I quickly decide not to, I don't want to worry them. Instead I just shake my head.

"No. I just slept."

Papa sighs.

"All right. Just tell us if there is something, okay? Now Charlotte, dear, would you mind making some tea?"

Mum nods and stands up, walking over to the kettle. My father watches her for a moment before turning back to me.

"You should go upstairs, cher. Your mother and I have a few things to discuss."

Standing up, I nod curtly and stalk upstairs to my room. I open the second door to the left of the stairs and enter. I gaze around my untouched bed room feeling comforted.

The walls are sky blue, my favorite color, with white trim. I step across my blue shag rug and up to my bookshelf. Old books and new books line the two bottom shelfs. Mostly school books but there are a few Muggle literature. I smile and run my finger down the spine of A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

I look up to the top shelf, my smile falling off my face. My best friends grin and wave at me from silver and white picure frames. I run my index finger along the side of one with my closest friends; Emmalee Devux and Fleur Delacour.

Emmy... Fleur... I miss you guys.

Emmalee hasn't written me all summer and I only received one letter from Fleur asking if I was alright.

Sighing, I flop backwards onto my bed and burry my nose into the familiar scents. My sharp hearing picks up the kettle whistling and the muffled voices of my parents downstairs. I ignore them, closing my eyes and drifting off into a dreamless sleep.