The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 7: Consequences

*CW: Violence*

August 2nd, 1995 - 6:30pm

"FOR MERLIN'S SAKE! WHAT HAS SHE DONE THIS TIME?" an approaching voice bellowed as I awoke.

"Dementors," a different voice answered, "He said there was an attack."

"Who said, Draco?" the first voice asked.

"Erm... Dawn said it, father," the second voice stammered, "I found her lying outside the door in the mudblood town, and she was whispering it."

My eyes fluttered open as I slowly took in my surroundings, becoming more confused by the moment. How did I get back to this house? I was just in London fighting two dementors with Harry. 

I awoke to my family towering above me, baffled looks sprawled across their faces. 

"Regardless of where she was, I'm glad you found her, Draco," My mother sighed as she handed me a brown substance, "Dawn, eat this, it will help with the symptoms."

She handed me a piece of chocolate. Professor Lupin gave us all chocolate when dementors invaded the Hogwarts Express. The sugar helped with the negative feelings caused by the creatures. However, I wasn't fond of chocolate, so having to consume it was insufferable.

"What happened?" I asked through my chewing.

"A dementor attack," Draco explained, "You said so yourself!"

I had so many questions.

When did I say that? 

Was Draco there when the dementors attacked? 

What happened? 

HOW DID I GET HERE?

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE JUST TELL ME HOW I GOT BACK HERE?

"Oh yeah, I must've forgotten," I sighed, lying through my teeth whiling chewing on the chocolate, "My apologies..."

A staggering silence overcame the room as my family took awkward glances at each other. I sat there watching them, becoming more anxious by the second. Finally, my father took a step forward, a questioning look on his face.

"Dawn, I'm not going to ask you again," he spat, "Dementors don't just attack wizards in the middle of London, and especially not underage ones. I don't appreciate these lies, and you have already caused our family enough trouble this summer... so what were you doing before Draco found you?"

I sunk underneath the bedsheets as my breathing quickened, "I got attacked by dementors..."

My father narrowed his eyes at me before facing my mother, "What did she say? Dawn, speak up."

"I got attacked by dementors..." I shrugged, speaking clearly this time.

Father clenched his fist, taking a step forward. I quickly pulled the covers over my head, curling up into a ball to shield myself from what was coming. But thankfully, Mother pulled him back, and whispered something to him. Father didn't calm down, but he also didn't take another step forward.

"STUPID CHILD! A BLOODY COCK-UP!" Father shouted, causing me to flinch at the sudden volume of his voice, "JUST AS DAFT AS THE REST OF THE BLOOD-TRAITORS SHE ASSOCIATES HERSELF WITH! NARCISSA, I AM TIRED OF PLAYING THIS LITTLE GAME OF OURS. EITHER YOU FIX HER, OR I WILL!"

I heard Father's footprints echo down the hallway, and once they were quiet enough, I pulled back the covers. Only Draco and Narcissa were left in my room, both equally frightened. Unlike them, I felt indifferent towards what was just said. I've heard and felt worse, and after enduring so much of it, it's stopped bothering me.