Draco's Wife

Everything's Changing For Us

Year 3 Begins

Coming home from Hogwarts was traumatic. I didn't think the events that occurred that year would be brought with such controversy... I failed to realize the fear amongst the wizarding community, amongst my own community; my family. I was being told 20 different things by 20 different people; all of which including my parents: my teachers, my peers, and myself. I didn't know who to believe, or why. It was spread all over the news; Was Harry Potter crazy? Was Dumbledore lying? Will He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named return? Who is Bluffing and Who is to Blame? Etcetera. Etcetera. I couldn't come up with a clear conclusion that also made sense... Everyone was shouting different answers... I couldn't decide whose opinion to believe ... I trusted that perhaps my parents were the ones who had all the answers...

"Dad... Is it true... that he's back, that Voldemort is back?" I asked over the dinner table. The hustling of the dinner silverware stopped, and my mother dropped her fork. My parents shivered when I said his name. His name at the time was almost like a Taboo; as if the more we said it, the more he would seem to be real. Probably not the best time to do it; to ask about him, but I wanted to know how his presence could possibly affect our family. My dad looked at my mum unsure.

"We don't know for sure honey. He could be... back that is..." My dad trialed off looking more intently at my mother, but she seemed frozen; as if the world stopped. It seemed it did for her to process what I had just asked her... and there was no doubt it was... something... terrible.

"And?" I egged on. "What if he was? What about us? Are you going to serve him like before?" I almost pleaded; as if they had the answers over a casual family dinner.

"Astoria... This is not the time... Or place for this conversation." My dad stated. I looked at my sister. She had a stern gaze not telling me anything about her view on the conversation, except for the fact she might have been annoyed at me for prying. She looked at me and I realized I was wrong, she wasn't annoyed; she was frightened. But I was frightened too; that's why I was asking so many questions.

"Dad... I want to know if we will be safe," I stated firmly looking back to him.

"There is a chance..." He began softly, "The Dark Lord usually goes for muggles and mudbloods first. Rightfully so." My dad said hesitantly. As if he was trying to convince himself, "but his least favorites are those who betrayed him... those are the ones he's mad at; those are the ones who truly are not safe..."

"But what if he is mad at you?" My sister asked. I looked over to my mother and she was shaking. All in one movement she picked up her glass and finished her wine. Right afterwards she accidentally (or purposefully) dropped her glass. It shattered on the ground.

"Oh, how clumsy of me!" Mum exclaimed smiling awkwardly. A house elf came to clean her mess. We all watched him pick up the pieces in silence. My mum took the opportunity to change the subject.

"Daphne, don't you have your O.W.L.s in the fall," my mum sweetly asked my sister.

"No mum. They're in the spring... of next year." Daphne responded, clearly confused. We all knew mum was desperately trying not to freak out, but she was definitely showing signs. Her brain was most likely frazzled at the thought of the future. The change of the subjected indicated something was wrong... more so than I had anticipated.

"Right... Right... I knew that," she looked down at her food, "Oh looks like I'm done with dinner! We should all clean up, right?" She stood up from the table and took her plate to the kitchen. It was sad seeing my mother like this. She was usually so put together, but I could see why she was acting bizarre. If Voldemort was truly back, our lives were potentially in danger.