Hidden In The Shadows Part 1- Harry Potter Story

Family Tensions

Estella sat in the living room of her home, flipping through her new textbooks. Her eyes scanned the words that had already been drilled into her by her parents. Much of her early childhood was dedicated to studying and practicing every basic enchantment and spell imaginable. She had nothing else to do at the moment however and it was a good excuse to observe her mother. Amelie hadn't acted the same since Diagon Alley. Estella had often caught her staring off for no apparent reason or forgetting things her particular mother never would have. Right now Amelie was staring blankly out the window, the drapes drawn to only let a small sliver of light through.

Estella raised her head and finally let the question slip off her tongue. "Bellatrix's wand is dragon heartstring too isn't it?"

Amelie dropped the glass she was holding and Estella gave a jump as it fell on the floor. "Hold your tongue young lady," she hissed. "Reparo." The cup fixed back together.

Estella felt tears of frustration begun to well up in her eyes. "No. She's my mother and.."

"SHE'S NO SUCH THING!" Amelie spun around and towered over her daughter, her face pale. "Who has raised you since you were two, took you in despite the risk to my family? Albert and I could die because of the target placed on your back." Estella held herself still. "And yet you have the audacity to claim that criminal as your mother."

"Well she is," Estella stood to her feet, her hands trembling. "She's a murderer and served the Dark Lord. And she probably loved me more than you do." Amelie looked stunned at her daughter's fury. "I have pretended to be some girl I'm not every day of my life. And it's just so.. so.." Estella's face crumpled. "So lonely."

Silence filled the small parlor and Estella began to turn away, blinking away her tears fiercely, when Amelie grabbed her shoulder. "Wait." Her voice was deathly calm. Ella looked up weakly. Amelie sighed and rubbed her forehead, sitting heavily on the stone steps of the entryway. "I'm sorry.. Estella."

Estella froze. She had heard her true name from her mother's lips only one time. And that was when her parents had told her about her prophecy.

Amelie frowned at the look on her daughter's face. "I will not say I've been too hard on you because I've seen what you will face and you must be ready." She paused, face void, but in her eyes glimmered a faint hurt. "I haven't been the same since we saw Lucius Malfoy on that street. Draco is your cousin I know, but you must promise me to never trust those people. I've seen them do terrible things." Amelie shuddered and Estella gave a timid nod, rather frightened. Her mother's rare emotion was disturbing. "And then you had a wand so similar to Bella's and I feared.." Amelie sighed and stroked Estella's ginger locks. "I just don't want your path to be chosen for you already. Whatever you choose, bad or good. That is your decision to make." She fixed her daughter with a fierce gaze.

"My decision." Estella's words echoed in the empty home. It seemed odd that they came from the mouth of such a young girl who knew so little of what was to come.