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Vincit Que Patitur

Chapter one: Vincit que patitur

September 1st 1974

"Vincit que patitur, Abellina. You understand what that means?" Alexander Avery paced in front of his daughter, his cloak already on and wand in his pocket. Abellina stood in the middle of the hall. Her hands behind her back and her innocent eyes looking up at the man she adored.

"He who suffers wins" She replied instantly, her voice wavered despite her confidence- betraying her fear for her father. He always went away, often for months on end but he also always came back. This time, however, she could tell that he wasn't sure he would. She didn't know what it was but she could just tell that there was something different about this time.

"Indeed. You will have to suffer, Abellina. Life is not going to be easy for you- I'm not going to give you any false hope in that respect but you are strong. Strong enough to win. You're going to be okay- no matter what happens." He paused, stroking the side of her face with his thumb before pulling her into a tight hug. It was rare that he hugged her like this but she melted into it- glad of the contact.

"I don't understand daddy...why do you have to go? Where are you going?" Abellina's voice was muffled by his shoulder but she felt him tense and seconds later the hug was over. He gave her one last fleeting glance before turning away so that she didn't see the tears in his eyes.

"That is not important darling. Just know that I love you. I always will and always have...I must depart now." Before she could say anything else he had spun on the spot, disappearing with a faint pop.

"NO! DADDY!" She screamed, the sound ripping through her throat and tearing from her body, her sobs coming fast. She hadn't even realised she was holding on to such emotion until she was on her knees, sobbing quietly on the ground, her bronzed, mahogany hair getting caught in the tears that were streaming down her pale, freckled skin. When she next had the strength to raise her blue-grey eyes and survey her surroundings she saw that the sky had darkened and it must have been several hours since her father left. She was all alone except for the house-elves who were too afraid to go near her when she was like this. As Abellina lacked the strength to move she fell asleep on the cool floor to the sound of her own raspy sobs.

The next day a silvery white owl arrived.

The letter said he'd died.

That she was to move to England and attend Hogwarts with her cousin Lucius.

That her father loved her.

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"Come on! Come on! Come on! Hurry up, Lucy!" squealed, bouncing on the balls on her heels as she stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her cousin to come down, much to Abraxus Malfoy's disapproval- he had believed the girl was well-raised, apparently, it was not so.

"I'm sure she'll settle down soon, darling, after all, her father has only just died." His wife, Diana, whispered into his ear, placing a soothing hand on his arm. He shot her a glare but it was only half-hearted as he relaxed into her.

"She's had six months. I'm s-"

"I said move it!" Abellina screamed once again, blocking out whatever he was about to say.

"Would you stop being so insufferable, Abellina, I am on my way...And please don't call me that" He added as an afterthought, although she couldn't see his face she could hear the sneer and the sarcasm in his voice from three floors down.