Chapter 4

It was now early October and Tom and me had continued our secret friendship. He seemed to always be looking out for me and watching me. Sometimes when I would look up from eating in the great hall I would see him looking at me. It didn't bother me, I liked it, I felt like maybe he was attracted to me, just as much as I was attracted to him.

I woke up early one morning, it was Saturday, which meant, no classes. I grabbed a change of clothes out of my closet, set them on my bed, and looked at the large clock that hung on the wall, I hadn't noticed it until now. It was 6:30. I moaned, why must I always wake up early when I don't have too. I opened the curtains to my window and looked outside. My room faced the direction of the Quidditch Pitch.

I went into the bathroom, making sure I locked all the doors, even mine, just to be safe. I turned on the faucets to the bath and waited for it to fill up with water and bubble bath. The water smelled like strawberries. I stripped off my clothes and slid into the water. After I washed my hair and body I climbed out of the bath and dried off with a giant red fluffy towel. I unlocked all the doors and went back into my bedroom. I changed into a pink sleeveless sweater and black pants. I let my hair fall wet down my back. I slipped on some black pumps and walked out to the common room.

I began to walk to where I set my book down last night when I heard a tapping at the window. It was the first time I had noticed the giant window that was actually a door that led to a small balcony. I opened the door not wanting to wake Tom up. The owl tapping at the door was my brother's owl, Kane. He flew into the room and sat on the back of the chair. I walked over and took the letter from him, I ran to my room and came back with an owl treat. I gave him the treat and he flew into my room to find Midnight. I opened the letter and began to read.

Sonoña,

I am pleased to tell you that Fedonia and I are to be married. The wedding is set in April. I have asked father to allow you to come back, but he has forbidden it. So I have asked Fedonia if we could come visit you before the wedding, she said no. I am so sorry Sonoña but I am no longer able to visit you. Please forgive me but I have no choice. Fedonia says if I come to see you behind her back that she will leave me. Father will kill me if I see you. I am so sorry Sonoña but I must follow Fedonia and father's wishes. I still love you very much, you are my little sister, and I will always be there for you. I cannot lose Fedonia or father. He has taught me so much Sonoña. I know you don't approve but he really has. Garret misses you so much. He has talked of nothing but you Sonoña. He is still very much in love with you. He had planned on asking you to marry him when you came home for Christmas. I understand it was your choice and you are almost of age and can make your own decisions, but I really think you should rethink breaking up with Garret. He is the kind of man you need to have by your side. I am so sorry to cut the letter short but Fedonia will be back shortly, she has moved into the manor with me until we can find a home of our own. I shall try and write you again. I miss you and I am sorry I can no longer see you but you will always be my little sister.

Love,

Abraxas Lucifer Malfoy

P.S. Father said something about a curse he put on you. What is he talking about Sonoña, what did he do to you?

I was so distracted with reading my letter I hadn't noticed Tom walk in and sit down on the couch. I let the letter fall from my hands and onto the floor. I sat down in a chair in a daze. Tears began to fall down my face as I sobbed.

"I can't believe it. He just gave in. He gave in to that little whore!" I sobbed even harder after I said this.

I looked up when I heard something move in front of me. Tom was sitting on his knees in front of me, trying to figure out what he should do. Without thinking I jumped out of my chair and threw my arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder. He seemed taken aback because it took him a moment before he awkwardly patted my back. He finally gave in and wrapped both of his arms around me and pulled me to him allowing me to sit on his lap. With one of his hands he ran his fingers through my hair. I'm not sure how long we sat there. But he just held me, as I cried, not complaining about me soaking his shirt.

I lifted my head off his shoulders and let my hands lay limply in my lap. I felt guilty, we had just become friends and had a sort of normal conversation last night, and here I was crying like a four year old.

"I'm so sorry Tom I shouldn't have done that." I said covering my face with my hands. I had slid in between his legs at some point and had tucked mine underneath me. His legs where on either side of me.

"It's fine Sonoña. It's quiet all right. But if you don't mind me asking what has made you so upset?" Tom asked with what seemed like actual concern.

Without thinking I handed him the letter. I then pushed myself up off the floor and sat back in the chair behind me. I wiped the remaining tears away with the back of my hand and leaned back in the chair. Once he had finished reading he handed me the letter and put his hand on my knee, it seemed slightly awkward but I liked it.

"I am so sorry Sonoña. I never knew Garret cared for you that much, or that you were that much against the dark arts. I just thought you followed them, since you come from a family that does. I shouldn't have judged you like that. I am sorry for your loss." He said as his thumb rubbed my knee, I don't think he realized that he was doing it.

"Yes Garret cared very much but I do not agree with what my father has taught him and my brother. It is wrong. It's horrible Tom, killing people because of their blood." At that his eyes seemed to darken and he tensed. "And don't worry about judging me, I come from a family where I am suppose to be evil and cruel. I guess the sorting hat saw through my surname. I'm the oddball of my family you could say. I am the only Gryffindor in my entire family, they were all Slytherins of course." I said proud I wasn't a Slytherin.

"Sonoña I don't understand something… your brother said your father put you under a curse. What was it?" Tom asked his eyes full of curiosity.

I wasn't sure what to say. I had never even talked to Tom before yesterday and I had this strange feeling that he was the one I loved. I couldn't let him know this.

"It was an ancient curse, dark and evil, my father saw it as punishment. He believes I love someone I am not supposed to love, for I would be mixing my blood with muggle blood." I told him enough to keep him interested but not enough to let him know whom I loved.

"Oh. I am so sorry, but what will happen to you, what was the point of the curse?" Tom asked.

"I cannot die unless the man I love kills me. When he dies I shall be able to die by anyone else or by natural cause, but not until he dies." I said, avoiding Tom's eyes.

"That sounds horrible. But it can't be that bad, you can't die. That's a good thing." Tom said.

I was taken aback by his comment, he seemed to want eternal life. I stood up and pulled my top down slightly. "I should write my brother back." I began to walk off when I noticed Tom was following me. I turned back around.

"Why are you following me?" I asked as I tilted my head to one side.

"I'm not sure really. I just wanted to make sure you were alright I suppose." He said, I could tell he was trying to cover up something, but I let it slide.

I walked into my bedroom and sat down at the desk that was beside the owl perch. Tim had come in and was standing beside me softly stroking Midnight, she hooted happily.

"Whose owl is this?" He asked pointed at Kane.

"Oh that is my brother's owl Kane. He and Midnight as brother and sister, my father gave them to us when I was little, before he turned to the dark arts. Kane always stay with Midnight until I send him back to my brother."

Kane was all black, just like Midnight, but he didn't have any white on him. I finished writing my letter to my brother and looked over it.

Abraxas,

I am hurt that you have chosen to give into Fedonia and father's wishes just like that. You are my brother and friend, I thought you would put up more of a fight for me, I thought wrong. I am glad you are happy with Fedonia, but this doesn't mean I like her. I never have, you can do so much better than her Abraxas. But it is not my choice, and it is not your choice whom I choose to marry, and it is not Garret. I am sorry to say that after this letter you will not hear from me again. I can not continue to write you knowing you cannot be honest with father and Fedonia. I also cannot have you going down the path of dark magic; you are better than that Abraxas. Tell Garret to move on, there are other woman out there. I am sorry about the way we must end but I cannot follow you and Garret Abraxas. The curse is nothing. I am a big girl and can take care of myself.

Sonoña Majesta Malfoy

I rolled the letter up and stood up. Midnight stepped over to me. "Not this time Midnight, Kane needs to go back to Abraxas. Say goodbye to your brother, you probably won't see him again." I stepped over to Kane and tied the letter to his leg and he stepped onto my arm.

"Did you know we have a balcony?" I asked as I turned to Tom, who had moved to the doorway. He shook his head.

"Well come on I'll show you." We walked back into the common room and I walked up to the door. "See the window is actually a door, and the door leads out to a balcony.

I opened the door to the balcony and walked out. I heard a knock on the door and turned to see Tom letting in some of his friends. I pretended to shut the balcony door but left it slightly open so I could hear what they were saying.

I stroked Kane's feathers and he hooted softly. "I'm going to miss you Kane." I then turned my attention to Tom and his friends. I recognized them to be Antonin Dolohov, Mulciber, and Macnair. They all sat down on the couch and Tom stood in front of them.

"So my lord where is that blood traitor room mate of yours. For a Gryffindor she is pretty attractive." Said Mulciber.

"She is on the balcony, sending back her brother's owl. And she is pretty but she seems to have been rejected from her family, she doesn't follow the dark arts so she is of no use to me." Tom said.

I felt tears start to brim my eyes. He didn't care he is learning the dark arts on his own, I thought. I had heard them call him my lord, was this a joke or something more serious, I needed to ask Tom when they left. I stroked Kane once more and lifted my arm up and watched him fly off into the morning sky.

I had ignored the rest of Tom and his friend's conversation and decided to go to my room. I walked back into the common room and shut the door behind me. I began to walk to my room when I one of the guy whistled. I turned around only to see Macnair walking towards me.

"Hello, you certainly have gotten to be very pretty over the summer. I heard of your break up with Nott, news travels so fast here. Don't you worry at all because I am so much better for you that Nott." He was now about three inches away from me and his right hand was finding its way to my waist.

"You're kidding right? You actually think you are better than Garret. You have lost your mind. Oh and by the way, get your hands off me." He had placed his other hand on my hip and was making small circles with his thumb.

"Oh I don't think so sweetie. You and me would make a nice couple. I know your father and trust me he would love for you to be part of my family." He said as he came even closer.

I pushed against his chest trying to get him away from me only to have him tighten his grip on me.

"Not so fast sweetheart. I won't hurt you. Well I won't hurt you too bad I promise." He said and laughed. I heard his friends laughing in the background. I noticed Tom wasn't his eyes were very dark and he was gripping his wand.

"Get off me. Get off." I screamed as he pushed me up against the wall.

"Let her go." Tom's voice seemed strong and powerful.

"Oh back off Tom. It's just a little bit of harmless fun. Well it might be harmful to her." Macnair said.

I heard footsteps and then saw Tom's wand pointed at Macnair's neck. "I said let her go."

"You wouldn't curse me. I am one of your followers. Oops I bet she doesn't know about Lord Voldemort, does she my lord." Macnair said.

"I swear to Merlin if you don't let her go I will curse you to oblivion." Tom still had his wand to Macnair's neck.

Macnair let me go and I sunk to the floor. He backed away and stood next to the other two guys. "Get out of here. And don't you ever come near Sonoña or I will not hesitate to kill you." Tom said. "Oh and not a word of this to anyone." He said and the boys all left the room in a hurry.

Tom pocketed his wand and bent down next to me. "Did he hurt you?" Tom asked with worry in his eyes.

"No I'm fine. He just scared me that's all." I stood up, as did Tom. "Thank you, by the way, for not letting him hurt me." I smiled at Tom and saw him smile back. It was very rare for Tom to smile but when he did I was filled with this warm feeling. Suddenly I threw my arms around Tom and hugged him. "Thank you, for everything." I said and kissed him on his cheek. I then let go of him and blushed.

"Well…. Um. We should be heading down for breakfast." I said and quickly walked to the door. I turned around after a few moments of walking to see Tom a short ways behind me. I smiled once again and continued walking.