ethereal - draco malfoy

home visit

A week had passed by painfully slow, and today was the day that Beth would be coming over for my therapy session. I wasn't excited to do the therapy part, I was just glad to finally talk to another person.

It was 1:47 p.m., so I made my way to the foyer. The fireplace was on the left side of the arched wall, so I waited under the tunnel for the green flames to appear.

I sat there in silence for a few minutes before green flames engulfed the fireplace. Beth coughed before looking around the large, white, tunnel-like arch and stepping out of the fireplace. Her gaze finally fell on me and a large smile plastered itself on her face.

"Cynthia! Hello!" she said as she wiped her shoulders free of dust. I gave her a smile and a nod before replying. "Hello!" I exclaimed back.
"I can have a house elf take your coat." I said to her before turning my head towards where the elves stayed. "Dinky!" I exclaimed. I stood there as my voice echoed throughout the first level of the house.

Dinky appeared right beside me in an instant. "Yes, Master Cynthia. How can Dinky help you?" he said, bowing down to Beth and I. "Put this up for me." I said flatly. "Dinky will put up Master Cynthia's friend's coat." he assured before disappearing again.

"Master Cynthia?" Beth asked with a raised brow. I shrugged. "My mother insisted." I said with a sigh. "Come on, we can go to the third level library. That's my library, but I often spend my time in my father's library, which is on the second level." I explained before turning around and heading towards the large staircase on the right.

We walked up the staircase and Beth studied the house carefully. "Where are your parents?" she asked, looking around the room as we ascended the first staircase. "Oh fuck! Right, yeah. Come on then." I said as I turned around. I completely forgot to introduce them.

I walked back down the few steps we had taken, Beth following closely behind. We passed the foyer and the tunnel Beth had entered through, the left staircase, and a few more corridors and rooms before reaching the correct corridor. We turned left, then kept going until we had to make a right and then another left. We finally got to the corridor that held my father's study.

We walked down the long corridor to the end, then I knocked on the door on the left. "Come in!" my father called from inside his study. I slowly opened the door and peaked in to see my mother and father having a meeting.

"Oh, hello, sweetheart. Can I help you with something?" he said softly. I pushed the door opened more and scooted to the side, revealing Beth. Both of my parents gazes turned to Beth. "My therapist is here." I announced awkwardly.

"Please, do come in." my mother said kindly. I immediately walked in, Beth trailing behind me.

"Hello, my name is Beth Jacobs. I'm Cynthia's therapist." Beth greeted as she stuck her hand out.

My mother took her hand a shook it softly. "Nice to meet you, Beth. I'm Cynthia's mother, Katherine. It's nice to finally see who I've been owling." she said as she shook Beth's hand. Beth nodded in agreement before turning to my father.

"I'm Christopher, Cynthia's father. Pleasure to meet you." he said with a smile as he shook her hand. Once they were done, I cleared my throat. "So, we're gonna go now." I said awkwardly. My mother gave me a nod of approval and I tugged on Beth's sleeve, signaling for her to follow me.

—

Once we had arrived in the third level library, my library, Beth bombarded me with questions.

"How's your summer so far?"

"Boring."

"Has she hit you?"

"No."

"How are you feeling?"

"I don't know."

"Have you owled any of your friends?"

"No."

"Are you ready for your fourth year?"

"Yes."
—

After three hours of questions, exercises, new rules and a new journal, it was time for Beth to leave.

"I'll see you next week, yeah?" she said as she shrugged her coat on. I nodded.

"Yeah." I replied. She gave me a small smile before grabbing some Floo Powder in her hands, shouting her destination and throwing the powder down.

I stood in the tunnel in silence. I was alone. Again.