Do you believe in fate?
I know, it's a weird question, but I've found myself asking it more and more every day. Whenever I see Fred and Lyra outside playing, or I meet with my old friends every year on platform 9 3/4, I wonder if this was all meant to happen. What did all this stem from? That fateful day when I was 11, when I met Harry Potter on the train to Hogwarts? Or the day I helped Harry kill the basilisk in our second year to save Ginny? Would I still be here, if I wasn't there that day when Voldemort returned?
I think back to the time when I watched my father die. I ask myself was it fate, or could I have saved him? I look back at all the mistakes I made and the fights I caused, and I wonder was it worth it? Should I have remained in the shadows, never gotten involved? Was I right to stand up for what I believed was right, even though they were just childish dreams? Was it really my place to grow up and take over?
I'm someone that has always wanted answers. I don't like not knowing the answer to something. I don't like paradoxes with no real answer. The truth in this matter though, is that there will never be an answer. I'll never know if my choices really changed the outcome. If I would've saved lives if I just left things be. We can't go back in time and change our entire lives. Even with a time turner, it just doesn't work like that.
I asked you if you believed in fate. And now I ask you this, are you ready to let go of everything you've done and cherish the moments now before you lose them too?
Chapter 1: Daughter of a Murderer
Dark. Empty. Bare. That was what my room. Aside from the bay window which I would often sit at, there was never much place to rest other than the bed or floor. The only light that ever came in was through the window, and the room itself had no furniture other than a simple dresser, nightstand, and an old vanity. The room was large, I had to give it that, but it wasn't anything special. My cousin Draco's room was much different from my own. Silver walls and hardwood flooring. Green bed sheets and the Slytherin emblem on his wall. It was a simple room, but luxurious compared to my own.
It was raining out today. I was sitting by my window with my legs curled up on the seat as I went through a small metal box. The box itself was red and gold, a gift from Harry last Christmas. Inside I kept all my photos, letters, and little gifts from my friends and the Weasley's. Anything that I was worried of my uncle, Lucius Malfoy, taking was stuffed into the box. If it was too large for the box, I kept it in a secret compartment behind the mirror of my vanity. A place I knew not even Draco would go snooping.
Today was an ordinary day for me. I sat at the window, looking through photos and past letters from my friends. Pictures of Hermione, Ron, and I cheering on Harry during a quidditch match in our first year, another of all four of us chasing Hedwig for Ron's scarf. A smile formed on my lips as I saw a picture from our second year of Ron and Harry, sitting on the couch in the common room with a hand to their chins, acting as if they were what Muggles call detectives. There was another of Hermione and I, laughing with one another as she studied and I read. Another was of all four of us, right at the end of our second year. We had our arms around each other, smiling and looking between each other happily. The best group of friends you could ever find. The last of them all though stuck out most to me. It was a picture of my parents, smiling at the camera and holding hands as they looked to one another and gazed into each other's eyes lovingly. It was the only picture I had of them, and it was always kept at the bottom of the box.
Harry and I grew up with similar lives. We both had to grow up with our relatives who are not so fond of us. We grew up without being able to meet and see our parents, except for the one picture we had of them. One detail that made us different though was who our parents were. What they did. How they died. Harry's parents died protecting him. They sacrificed themselves. They cared for him beyond belief, which is what made him the boy-who-lived. My parents on the other hand? They were traitors. My mother was a follower of You-Know-Who. The only Gryffindor known to become a death eater. She was killed by my father when he went mad. He killed her and twelve other muggles in the surrounding area. He's still alive. In Azkaban. I hope he rots there forever.
"M-Miss Black!"
I placed the picture back at the bottom of the box, closed it, and looked over at the scrawny little house elf beside me. "Millie, how many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Delia."
"Oh no, Miss Black!" She bowed her head. "I shall not disrespect you in such manners."
"What was it that you needed, Millie?" I asked, ignoring her comment. Getting to my feet, I made my way over to the vanity and placed my box behind the mirror.
Millie scrambled after me, tripping here and there. "It-It's dinner time."
I simply nodded solemnly and made my way downstairs to the dining room. I seated myself at the table across from Draco, who throughout the dinner spoke nonsense of how he would beat Harry in quidditch. Continuously he insulted my friends, but I held my tongue as I knew the punishment for any action I'd take. I made an effort to ignore him. I stared down at my plate, never lifting my gaze, and ate my scraps from nearly a week back, just barely still good, while Narcissa, Draco and Lucius each ate as if they were royalty.
"Then there's that ridiculous mudblood. Granger." Draco scoffed, taking another bite of his pork while I clenched my fists. "Shame she wasn't killed last year. Petrified wasn't nearly enough en-"
"Shut up!" I stood up, slamming my hands down on the table. "Do you have no respect!? Those idiots as you so called them are my best friends, and I'll have you know that while Hermione maybe muggle-born, she's a whole lot smarter than you!" I took a long, deep breath. "At least my friends actually have brains and don't just follow me around, unlike your two bloody gits!"
The dining room went dead silent. No one spoke a word as I stood there, glaring at my cousin with all the hatred that I've had for him built up all summer let out. It took me a minute to realize what I had done, and the minute I did I hear the excruciating words. "Crucio."
My eyes widened and I fell to the floor. My screams I'm sure could be heard throughout the entire manor as I curled up into a ball and cried out in pain. When the words sounded again, it only seemed to get worse. By now, Narcissa left with Draco. Leaving me there with my uncle, who when ended the curse, pointed the wand towards my neck.
"Despicable girl." He growled, his wand moving back. "Imperio." My body moved against its will as I led the way to my room. The door slammed behind me, leaving my uncle and I alone as I felt myself regain control and fall to the floor in tears. My body was aching all over. The simple movement of a finger made me jolt.
"If it weren't for the way I became regarded after taking you in, my poor orphan niece, I'd kill you." He leaned forward, his wand pointing at my chest. "However, do not think I won't take the opportunity to kill you if you dare disobey my rules again." He narrowed his eyes, standing up straight. "Crucio."
My screams sounded again as I rolled around on the floor. He turned around, walking around my room as he glanced around. "It has come to my attention that you spend to much time with people whom I consider disgraces to the Black family name. After your little outburst tonight, my decision has become final, that you will remain in the manor for the school year."
The pain subsided and my eyes went wide. I tried to sit up, to argue, but the curse sounded again and I was back on the floor, crying. Lucius made his way towards the door, opening it and glancing back at me. "You are to remain locked in here until summer's end. No food, nor water. As punishment for your insolence." With that said, the door shut and locked. Never to be opened unless by him.
I didn't sleep that night. My body shook until the late hours of the night as I continued to cry. My beloved owl, Echo, rested on my dresser, watching me intently. It didn't take me long for me to make my own decision, but finding the strength to get up and do it after a long night was hard. Once I made the first step out of my bed however, I felt a rise of confidence as I grabbed my trunk from under my bed. I packed it with clothes, my box, any belongings I could fit within before I shut it and placed on the seat of my bay window. My wand was set on my vanity. I grabbed it, stuffed it into my pocket and sat at the window, attempting to open it.
Locked.
My gaze moved towards the chair to my vanity. With no other choice, I grabbed it and stood a few feet from my window. I threw it, the glass shattered, and I threw my trunk down before climbing down myself. The door to my room opened and I heard Lucius calling for Narcissa. He came to the window, leaned out the end and pointed his wand at me. I took off running, but not before I heard the words of the killing curse. Whether it missed or I was to far, I don't know, but I made the corner of the bushes safely before I made my way to the road.
My pace was slow as I walked. There weren't any buildings in sight. It was lonely, but it was better than being starved. By the time my legs began to give out, I set my trunk down and sat on top, resting my head in my hands as I took a deep breath. Another, then another. Then a rush of wind went past me and I looked up to see a bus. I stood up, watching as a conductor man stepped off and gave me a look up and down.
"Ya look familiar.. Have ya rode before?"
I watched him cautiously, taking a step back even as I grabbed my trunk. "I don't even know what this is."
"Huh." He mumbled before motioning behind him. "This is the knight buss. Will take ya anywhere ya need ta go."
I glanced in through the windows. Seeing the sleeping people inside, I nodded my head and grabbed my trunk. I made my way up the steps, before dropping my trunk and tightly hugging the dark haired boy with the round glasses. Funny how I didn't see him through the window.
"Harry!" A smile, the first one since early this summer, graced my lips as I wrapped my arms around him. "What in Godric's name are you doing here?"
"I wanted to meet you guys at the Three Broomsticks.. I didn't realize you'd be going though!" He wrapped his arms tightly around me, resting his head on my shoulder. "It's good to see you, Lia."
I didn't let go for a few minutes. Neither did he. I saw the bags under his eyes when I got on the bus, and though he wouldn't admit it, I knew something had happened between him and the Dursley's. Just as he likely knew something happened between myself and the Malfoy's. It was that moment of silence though, that moment where we both knew that somethings were better left unsaid, that made my smile brighten by a fraction.
"Lia.. Lia.." The man continued repeating my nickname. "Lia.. Where would I have.. Ah! Cordelia! Yer Cordelia Black, are you not?"
My gaze returned to the man as Harry and I both sat down on a bed. "I prefer just simply Delia, but yes. I am."
"Bugger me.." He grabbed a copy of The Daily Prophet and handed it to me. "The infamous, daughter of a murderer and the boy-who-lived. Who would've thought that I'd meet both on the same night." He pointed down at the headline. "Ya hear that father of yer's escaped Azkaban yesterday?"
Harry leaned over, looking to see what the man was talking about. Sure enough, there in bold letters was Sirius Black, Mass Murderer, Escapes Azkaban Prison. I narrowed my eyes, watching the picture of my father scream before I quickly handed it off to Harry. "What rubbish.. They'll say anything to get your attention." I looked up at him. "I highly doubt my father escaped. Sorry to burst your bubble."
"Sorry Missy, afraid it's true." Harry read over the paper before looking to me. I on the other hand, refused to meet either of their gazes as I looked out the window. "Everyone in the wizarding world knows it. Rumor is he's after ya both."
Harry tensed. I ignored them both. When the bus stopped, I was the first to grab my trunk and step off. I breathed in the delicate smell of smoke, smiling ever so slightly as Harry came up beside me and we both walked inside. I had never personally been in the inn before, so the sight before me was quite interesting. It was quite larger than it looked on the outside, also a lot more sketchy looking. Who was I to complain though?
"Oh, Harry, Delia! I was hoping you would both arrive alright!"
Finally my old smile returned as I heard Mrs. Weasley's kind voice. The minute I was brought in by her warm embrace, and the minute I heard her scolding towards Harry for his dirty clothes, I felt as if things were returning to the way they were. She ushered us both upstairs to get some decent sleep. On the top floor of where we'd both be staying though, I felt a new pair of arms wrap around me. I returned Hermione's embrace without any hesitation. Followed after hers was Ron's, which was less tight and long as Hermione's, but the thought and love remained the same.
My room was being shared with Harry. As I crawled into bed for the second time that night, I found myself once again restless. The pain in my body was gone, though the memory of the day remained. For now, I was safe. Though I knew that there was no returning after today. Not unless I quite literally had a death wish.
"Lia?"
I didn't turn over, but he did. I heard that much. "Yeah?"
"Happy Birthday."
And despite the tears that slowly leaked down my face, I couldn't help but smile. I was home.
