Chapter 7 is up! Sorry it is so short but I have had a rough day. You can probably tell that from the contents of the chapter. Anyway, enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own 'Harry Potter' etc.


Chapter 7

Every day leading up to Christmas, Draco and I would go for a walk in the grounds, usually result in us kissing under the massive Weeping Willow. Its branches would drape onto the ground producing a curtain of green that blocked us from the outside world. The tree was our secret place that we went to in order to get away from the inquisitive eye of Mrs Malfoy. It was out of sight from the manor and the leaves blocked us from anyone trying to look in.

Four days before Christmas Eve, Draco and I were taking our daily walk around the grounds. We had left the manor when it was almost pitch black with an atmospheric floating candle in front of us to guide our way. We were holding hands in the candle-lit darkness watching the moon rise out of the clouds. All we could hear was the leaves in the trees rustling.

When we got to the willow tree, the branches were waving in the wind, whipping its leaves in different directions. We sat beneath the bowing branches and watched as the candle flickered.

"Draco, you have no idea how happy you have made me this holiday and ever since the news of my parents imprisonment. I love you." I lent in to kiss him.

Draco was just about to lean in to kiss me back when a sudden cough came from outside the willow tree. We both looked up, startled and exchanged looks; nobody had ever disturbed us on our walks before.

"Umm, yes?" Draco said, a bit unsure. Through the leaves of the willow tree came the Malfoy house elf, Peony.

"Master Draco, you mother wishes to speak to you sir, upon a matter of urgency." Peony squeaked. Draco gave me an apologetic look and stood up.

Brushing the grass off himself, he turned to me and held out his hands. I took them and he hauled me up. After dusting me down and both of us looking more presentable, we all made our way back to the Manor.

Peony kept saying in a hurried tone, "Please be quicker Master Draco." Or "Your mother said for you to be with her as soon as possible, sir"

Draco and I both hurried on to the manor and burst into the entrance hall looking flushed.

"Mother," said Draco, breathlessly "What is it? What is wrong?"

He ran to her side and gave her a questioning look. I stayed in the door way, the shadow of the huge old oak outside the entrance towering over me ominously. Narcissa started to talk to her son in a rapid tone and then gave me a quick glance before squeezing her son's shoulder and gliding out of the entrance hall.

Draco looked grave. He turned to look at me and met my questioning gaze.

"Bella, we have just received some bad news."

"Draco, I'm so sorry." I said, but still could not get the questioning look from my eyes.

"Bella, I am the one who's sorry," he replied "the news is not for me, it is for you." The look in his eyes said it all.

My parents are dead, I thought.

"Bells, I am so sorry. We have just received a letter from Azkaban saying that you father and mother died last night in their cells. The Dementors became too much."

He started walked over to me, cautiously.

I laughed at him. "What? You're lying!" He shook his head and I just froze with my mouth open and eyes going blurry. I could feel my heart break into a thousand pieces but the pain hadn't yet arrived. I was in complete denial. However, my bottom lip trembled and tears brimmed over my eyes and fell down my cheeks, stinging them with their hot saltiness as I saw the look of sorrow in Draco's eyes.

He was just about to hug me when a bolt of lightning lit up the entrance hall and thunder ripped through the silence. I let out an anguished cry, spun round and ran out of the entrance hall. I heard him call out to me, but I was too distraught to understand him. I ran and ran for what seemed like an age, until I got to the top of the tallest hill and there I sunk to my knees.

"Aaaggghhh!" I screamed and pounded my fists on the ground. "How could you do this to me? HOW?"

I gave a small sad sob and collapsed on the ground. I was shaking, but not from the cold. Raindrops started to fall and splashed on my face but the cold did not bother me. It had really started to rain by the time I heard someone calling my name in the distance. I just ignored it and clasped my hands around my knees, gently rocking myself slowly. Backwards and forwards, over and over again, muttering "Why? Why? Why?"

I hardly noticed when strong arms clasped around me and lifted me into the air. I just let my head loll on the person's chest and cried.


Sorry about being so morbid, but it was necessary!