Rise of the Death Eaters [3]

Chapter 5: Gloomy Mood

I smelled my mother's perfume before I heard her voice. And even then, I didn't know how close she was until I felt her hand run through my hair, and pull me off the bathroom floor. I groaned in protest, as the cold bathroom tiles were a nice cure for the pounding headache I felt in my right temple. But my sleepy self could only manage another groan as my mother shhhed me gently, and escorted me to bed.

My eyes opened briefly, seeing only shadow in the room with a candle lit by my bedside. A light my mother must have brought up with her. She tucked me in as only a mother does best and for a moment I didn't feel so hallow inside. I felt the mattress move as she laid down next to me and stroked my hair slowly. Automatically, I curled in toward her and I felt myself go in and out of sleep.

But every other moment I heard my mother's voice, speaking to me in whispers of French.

"I'm sorry Ava. I tried my best... But your father is changing and I can't control him as before. You will have to be careful around him. Oh my poor mon ange -"

I woke later the next morning to an empty bed. With not even an indent to show she was there. Was it possible I dreamed her there?

Breakfast didn't give me much answers on the topic. Like in usual circumstances of tension, my parents acted remarkably oblivious to the events of last night. My mother was wearing another chic outfit with her hair tied in a French twist as a manicured hand held a coffee cup idly in one hand. Her gaze was down toward today's edition of the Daily Prophet. My father sat opposite her in a sharp suit for work. He was in the process of devouring eggs and toast when I walked in. Expecting that same cold stare from him, I stopped at the door when he looked up at me. But all I found were those Fountaine colored eyes giving me a usual glance over before saying good morning in a normal tone.

"These eggs are particularly good this morning; you should try them Ava."

"I think I'll just have coffee," I said, joining them at the table. My mother finally looked up at me, with a raised brow at my decision.

"I think not. We have a busy day planned and you need your energy." My father looked up from his eggs with another thought in mind.

"Check the mail on your way to the kitchen. There's something there for you."

On the day table in front of the front door lay a few messages addressed to my father and mother separately as well as a magazine. It was the August edition of Witch Weekly. My face was on the cover, with chin up, and head at an angle with the sunrise as my backdrop. I had to give Charlotte credit for the outfit choice. In person, I didn't think it was great but on camera, it looked chic and fem-casual. I truly looked like an it-girl.

But all that aside, I didn't find myself in the best mood to look through the magazine and see what else was in store. Rather, I grabbed my breakfast and returned to the table.

"Happy?" My father asked, as I rejoined them. "Your mother put more than enough effort into getting you that article. You should thank her." I turned fast enough to see my mother give my father a dirty look before smiling quickly at me as I obediently thanked her.

"Enough of that. While we are here in London, I thought it best that we take a trip to Diagon Ally and get the required materials especially since you've outgrown all your old uniforms from Hogwarts. I should have Theo's list here as well-"

"You mean my Hogwarts letter has already arrived?" I asked dumbfounded. I had hoped that last night was not a reality and that not mentioning it again would keep it in the past, but my parents thought differently. Or at least, my father did.

"It arrived last week," My father cleared up, as he placed his fork and knife back on his empty plate. He pushed away from the table and stood up to leave, remarking on a meeting he had planned with some people from work.