She's A Hufflepuff ~Book One of the Hufflepuff Chronicles

Chapter Nine

After two weeks in the dungeon a guard took me from my cell. He took me to my fathers office.
"Ah, Guinevere, time for you to return to school. Remember our deal," he flicked his wand at me and my purple hair turned back to its original shade of platinum blonde. I scoffed and rolled my eyes at my boring hair. "Daniel Delucca will arrive in any moment to escort you to the train. I will see you in six months. And if you mention a word of this to anyone I will destroy them. Daniel will watch you at school. Be gone," he waved his hand toward the door.

I walked onto the platform with Danny's hand on my back.
"Gwen!" I heard my friends call my name. I saw them rush toward me and all I wanted was to rush into there arms. But I couldn't. Danny stepped in between me and them stopping them from embracing me like I so wished they would do.
"Get off me Delucca!" Ash spit.
"Stay away from Guinevere now," he pushed him back.
"I think she can speak for herself!" Pepper grabbed his arm to keep him from throwing his fist.
"Gwen?" Ash asked. I looked at my shoes.
"Well, I think the silence speaks for itself," Danny took my hand and pulled me past them. I looked back to see their stunned and heartbroken faces. A tear slid from the corner of my eye.

At school Danny and his thugs escorted me to a special room called the Room of Requirement.
It was set up just like my bedroom at Malfoy Manor. I was to live there instead of with the other Hufflepuffs.

I spent the next five months alone. I spent all day in my bedroom. I wasn't allowed out to my log otherwise I'd have to tell them about it and I was determined to keep it a secret. I cried myself to sleep every night. I missed Pepper and Taylor and especially Ash. The note he gave me filled with questions. He never stopped talking to me. After the first few months they stopped trying to approach me but he never stopped writing. I would sit at my desk and read him. I couldn't respond but it was nice to hear from him.

One day I managed to escape my body guards and spend some time in the library. I was roaming through the divination section when a book caught my eye. It had a gold spine and black lettering. The Five Secrets All People Have. I had a flashback to that one night years ago when Ash told me his five imperfections. I pulled out the book and opened it. It wasn't a book, but a box that looked like a book. Inside the box was a letter from Ash. I put the box into my bag just as my very own personal Slytherins found me.

That night I read the letter.

Guinevere,

Something's happening and I will find out what. I know you would never just cut us out like this. Pepper and Taylor miss you with tears. I miss you. You are to good of a person to chose that life again. Wether you like it or not your stuck with us. We're not going anywhere.

All the love in my heart,
Ash

I sobbed uncontrollably. I missed them so much. I hated my life so much. But I didn't want them to get hurt. After much contemplating I remembered something. My friends were brilliant. They were clever and sneaky and if anyone could do something it was them. I opened the false bottom of my bedside table. I pulled out the letter that ash had given me so we could communicate. I wrote,

Ash,

You could be killed for knowing this. My family wants my Inperimae. I am to be married to Danny Delucca in four months. My father said that if I speak to any of you again then he would hurt you. I couldn't live knowing you were gone. You need to find dirt that will keep my father from hurting you. Blackmail the shit out of him! The wedding is the tenth of June. Save me!

Guinevere

The reply was almost immediate.

Okay.

I knew if anyone could figure this out it was Ash.

The next four months flew by too fast. The dreaded day came closer and closer. My father had hired a team to plan the wedding. They made all the decisions while I was locked up. I did a lot of drawing though. Soon all the wedding preparations had been made. It was a grand ceremony with a huge reception. My gown was enormous and everything was white and dreadful. The night before the wedding I sat awake for hours crying. Ash only had one day left and I had lost most of my hope. He hadn't even tried to contact me in the past four months. None of my friends had.

I awoke the next day to an army of servants sent to get me ready for the ceremony. I had a sinking feeling in my chest all morning. They dressed me and did my makeup and hair. My father knocked on the door after hours of preparation.
"Guinevere, it's time," he called. I swished over to the door and opened the grand doors. "Daughter, you look..." he face softened for a moment. He cleared his throat. "You look ready," he spoke gruffly. I rolled my eyes. I took his arm and stumbled forward in my gigantic dress.

We took a white carriage to the wedding hall. The doors were pushed open into the chapel. I tried my best not to start balling at the sight of this dreadful wedding. The music swelled and my father began down the isle. The music sounded like a death march. A single tear slipped and fell into my bouquet. When we reached Danny he took my hand and I flinched at the touch of his skin. I hated him! I HATED HIM! He stroked my wrist mockingly and I replied by digging my perfectly manicured fingernails into his palm. He winced. We knelt and I exhaled. I breathed out all my hope. I gave up. It was too late to save me now. This was it. Ash had failed. I was going to be Mrs. Danny Delucca. Another tear slipped. Danny must've noticed cause he squeezed my hand warningly. I dropped my head. The Priest began talking and I felt my heart break inside my chest. My father had fashioned a bracelet to keep me from using my Inperimae so I couldn't escape.
"Daniel Delucca, do you take Guinevere Malfoy to be your wife?" The priest asked. Danny sighed.
"I do."
"Guinevere Malfoy, do you take Daniel Delucca to be your husband?"
Those were the words I had been waiting for my whole life. Until five years ago this was what I was expecting. I looked into the congregation at Mindi. She had so much pain on her face. She might have been a bitch but she loved Danny. I looked at my father who glared back at me. I looked at Danny who had the most sarcastic expression.
"Guinevere?" The priest asked. "Do you?" I took a deep breath knowing what I had to do to protect everyone I held dear to my heart.
"I-"
"Don't!" I was interrupted by a voice I would've recognized anywhere. Ash walked up the isle followed by Pepper and Taylor.
"What is this?" My father boomed he jumped out and held his face inches from Ash's. Ash didn't move. He had death in his eyes. "Get out!"
"Oh no, your gonna want to know what I have to say," Ash smirked. He handed him a slip of paper. My fathers face went white.
"How do you..." he gasped.
"It doesn't matter. Never speak to Guinevere again and never touch my family or anyone else and no one will ever know," he spoke coolly. My father crunched the slip in his fist and dropped it. I held my fist up at him and he took off the enchanted bracelet. He stormed out of the chapel followed by his council. I looked at Danny and gave him a handsome view of my middle finger.
"Good day," I nodded. I ran to my friends and threw my arms around Ash's neck.
"Thank you," I sobbed.
"I would never have left you," he squeezed me. Pepper hugged my from behind. Taylor joined next.
"Hi," I laughed through my tears. I hugged them. "I missed you all so much."
"Gwen, you look beautiful!" Pepper giggled.
"I look like a god damn marshmallow!" I screamed. "I hate it!" I laughed.
"Yeah, it's not really you?" She agreed.
"Your insane," I hugged her again. We started to leave when I turned and picked up the slip. I uncrumpled the parchment and the words written caused my heart to catch in my chest.

I know who killed Emily

"My...mother?" I croaked, looking up at my saviors.
"Come on," Ash put his arm around me.