A Memory Of Shadows

6 - A thread of tomorrow

A/N

Hey everyone,

Thank you so much for being here! I have revised this chapter and added some things, as I felt I didn't explore this night as much as I could have. I hope you enjoy!

She had not touched another human being in 5 years. At Azkaban, one was to always remain a few feet in front of the Aurors to ensure they could watch your every move. The impact of it and the fact Draco did not push her away made it worse. Or better. Right now, there was no way to tell. Her mind was racing, her thoughts and feelings summersaulting.

It was hard to tell what had triggered her break down. Maybe it had been the familiarity of his face, the comfortable tingle in her stomach as Draco casually insulted her taste in books. Maybe it had been longing for normalcy, for a person knowing and not judging her.

In her months back at home, Verin had always asked herself how life was to go on now. Was she allowed a normal life, a hobby, friends? Hell, she didn't even know if any of her friends were left. Or still her friends. She had not dared to look for anyone. See if they had been killed or captured that night. For him to just appear like this – it was a relief.

Draco had not answered the questions she had circling in her head or raised questions himself. He had simply strutted in here, picking up the pieces of themselves in a way she could not.

Not breaking had been Verin's number one goal in these past years. The one thing she had held onto and chanted in her head through those haunted nights and days. In her life before it all she had not been the emotional type. Anxiety, yes. Rare Outbreaks, yes. But always behind closed doors or a mask of calm. She had known how to control herself. Preferred to remain silent and barely talk, while in her mind went down, down, down, down into the depths of herself, burying things where the sun did not shine. Ever.

Now, there was no point to hold onto it anymore. She had done it. That is what happened, right? She had done it. Verin was safely home and had all the possibilities a more than comfortable fortune and her education could give her.

Of course, there was the Trace back on her wand now. Just like underage students, criminals fresh out of Azkaban were under close surveillance of the Ministry. For her it was only for another year or so, depending on her behavior and her evaluations at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement Verin had to undergo every month. The last two times, some Auror had just sat there, asking her questions about life while her wand was checked. Last time, it had taken a turn for the worse.

"How are you feeling?"- "Peachy" They had glared at each other, blue eyes lighter than hers piercing her. "Attitude will only make this harder, Miss Yaxley." She had barely suppressed a snort. "What are you doing to keep you busy?" "Housework. The estate has seen some neglect in the past years with no one around."

That was a lie. All she had done was sleep and stare. Stare, stare, stare. Touching walls and running her hands over furniture, wondering if they talked back to her as the walls in that hell hole had done. They had not. They had barely triggered memories. And then she had gone to sleep again.

"And have you been seeing anyone? You know, friends, family, others?" Verin had raised an eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean? It was not like she could back to the Dark Lord and fall back into her forced upon rhythm with destroying the world. "I have not." He looked at her across the table. He seemed only a little older than herself, which made her wonder if they had chosen him for training or just to make her more comfortable. His hair was a shabby colour of blonde, but it was well kempt. As was everything about him. Verin appreciated men who took caring for their appearance seriously. Too many did not. "Miss Yaxley, you return after 5 years and you have not seen a single person of your family or friends? That is really hard to believe"