Chapter 7 Present

"I would like everyone to understand that the killing of my unborn child was my first step into the darkness that consumed me." I said as I looked out at the people who stared at me. "I'm not evil. Nor was I ever truly evil. I made some mistakes and I've killed, but I am not evil."

Past

I walked back to the common room after leaving the hospital. The nurse had given me the most sorrowful looks and I didn't want them. I didn't want her pity. I was a Malfoy, Malfoy's don't need anyone's pity.

"Morte nell'amore." I said and walked into the common room.

Tom was lying on the couch, his hands behind his head, his lean body stretched out. Afternoon nap I guessed. No matter how much I willed myself to hate him I knew I couldn't. I loved him and I knew I couldn't stop that. I tried to walk to my room as quietly as I could, so I wouldn't catch Tom's attention, I wasn't that lucky.

"Where did you go?" He said without opening his eyes.

"Why do you care?" I asked with all the anger I could muster.

"Macnair said he saw you head to the hospital wing this morning and you've been gone for awhile and you missed breakfast." He said and then sat up. "I don't care it's curiosity."

"Yes well it's also none of your business so if you'll excuse me I'm going to my room if you are done with your curiosity. You are not my boyfriend so you have no reason to know where I have been." I regretted saying the latter sentence as it caused tears to form in my eyes.

Tom stood and looked at me from where he was standing. He was looking directly into my eyes. I turned my head away so my hair fell in front of my face, blocking his view of me. I heard footsteps and then felt Tom's hand on my chin. He turned my head to face him. Tears were still gathering in my eyes threatening to fall.

"Why are you crying?" He asked with a slight concern.

"I'm not." I said turning my head so I was out of his grip and then facing him again.

"Is it because of me… look Sonoña I'm…"

"Yes it's because of you!" The tears started to fall. "It's all your fault. Everything is your fault. I hate you! Leave me alone!"

I turned away my head in my hands and began to walk. Tom caught my upper arm.

"Sonoña." I jerked it away, fury burning in my eyes mixed with tears.

"NO! Leave me alone!" I ran to my room and shut the door leaving Tom by himself.

0000

I woke up and rolled over. Christmas morning. I got up and dressed, having showered the night before. I brushed my hair, leaving it down. I sat back down on my bed and opened the drawer to my bedside table. I picked up a small box and opened it. Inside held a small silver chain. I picked it up and held it in my fingers. I had planned on it being Tom's Christmas present. I placed it back in the box and closed the drawer. I sat the box on the bed, picked up my wand and muttered a spell. I watched as the box wrapped itself in green paper with silver ribbon. I picked it up and went into the common room. Tom was no where to be seen so I placed the gift under the tree. I looked down and saw a red and gold box with a card stuck to it with my name written on it. I sat down on the couch and opened the letter.

Sonoña,

I know I messed up. I am sorry that I have upset you and for the pain

I have put you threw. I wish I could take back the hurt that I have put on

you but I know that you will never forgive me. For it isn't in your nature.

I really do care about you Sonoña. What we had the feelings I felt with

you I have never felt before. I doubt I ever will feel them again. You truly are

special to me Sonoña. I hope you have a happy Christmas.

TMR

I folded the letter back up and slide it into the envelope. I the opened the box. Inside was a diamond heart hanging from a gold chain. The diamond was beautiful. A small tear fell down my cheek. I closed the box and picked it and the letter up and carried them to my room. I placed them in the drawer that had previously held Tom's present and then left for Gryffindor Tower.

I said the password to the Fat Lady and walked into the room. Marie, Bailey, and Margaret were all sitting on a couch.

"Hey there you are we were waiting for you!" Marie said as they all spotted me.

I smiled and walked over to them. We all hugged and then sat down around the tree. Marie handed out the presents to each of us, creating a pile of her own. I had brought the girl's presents from me a few days before so they would be there. Marie sat down and we all had presents from each other and they had one from their parents and I had one extra from someone else. I looked at it with curiosity.

"Garret's owl brought it by yesterday, we put it under the tree." Bailey said looking at me with sad eyes.

"Bailey stop. He's a Slytherin, and he's going down the wrong path. I can't follow him. I know he was nice and all and he was cute but it's just not right for me."

She nodded and smiled. "Let's open presents now!" Margaret said like a five-year-old. We all laughed and began to open the gifts from each other first. The girls then opened the ones from family. I stared at the box in my hand. For the second time that day I didn't know if I wanted to open it.

"Well go on and open it." Marie said. I continued to look at the box. "Oh for Merlin's sake Sonoña just open the darn thing."

I nodded and pulled the ribbon off and opened the box. It was a great deal bigger than the box Tom had given me but I didn't care. I pushed back the tissue paper and revealed a beautiful fur cloak. It had a diamond on the hook to hold it around my neck. I stood up and placed it around my shoulders. It was lined with blood red silk. It fell majestically to the floor. It was very warm and I knew it cost garret a small fortune but I also knew he didn't care.

Bailey picked up something. "Sonoña there's a letter." She said.

I took off the cloak and sat down taking the letter from her. I opened it and began reading tears filling my eyes.

Sonoña,

Since I still care for you with all my heart I found it only

fit to get you the best. I was looking for a gift for my mother when I came

across this cloak. I knew it was meant for you when I saw it. It's beauty matched your

own. Sonoña you mean the world to me, and I am going down the path I am for you. The

power that it holds is great. We could be very powerful, you are a wonderful witch and

deserve the best. Sonoña I am doing this for you and our future. I know that everything came

as a shock to you but please forgive me. And remember it is unusual for me to ask forgiveness.

But for you I would do it everyday. I hope you have a Happy Christmas.

Love,

Garret

I let the letter fall to the ground. Garret still cared. A part of my heart still belonged to Garret, I had been with him for so long. We were meant to be wed, I had ruined that. Garret was right, with him my future was set to be fine. It would be filled with parties with other purebloods, all wearing fake smiles and laughing at ridiculous jokes. It would be filled with expensive clothes and jewelry and everything I could ever imagine. Things I had grown up with. If I stayed single and waited for Tom to change, which might not happen, I would never see the things I grew up with. I didn't love Garret, just cared for him, I knew that but I was still raised as a Slytherin who just happened to be put in Gryffindor. Yes I knew what I had to do to get what I wanted and that was to marry Garret.

"Sonoña?" I looked up at Marie. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Thank you all for the gifts, I love them but I must be getting back to my room to put things away. And I have things to do. I shall see you tonight at dinner." I said and stood up and gathered my things and left.

0000

When I got back to my common room I went straight to my room, Tom was still no where to be seen. I set my things on my bed and examined them. I had received a beautiful black feathered quill from Bailey, way to much candy for one person from Margaret, and as always makeup from Marie but this year she included a bottle of perfume.

I put my gifts away and went back to the bed where I picked up my cloak. Garret was right it really was the best. I went into the closet and hung it up. I went back to my desk and began to write Garret a letter.

Garret,

Firstly, thank you for my gift, I absolutely adore it. Secondly I would like to say I am sorry

for how I acted towards you at the beginning of the school year. I would love for you to come

see me in a few months or even sooner if it is possible. I shall talk to Professor Dippet about you

coming to visit for a short period of time. I hope to see you soon.

Love,

Sonoña

I rolled the letter up and walked over to Midnight. Unlike most people I refused to keep Midnight in the Owlery and kept her in my room instead. I petted her head lightly and she hooted. I tied the letter to her leg and took her to my window. I opened it.

"Take this to Garret Nott, you remember him don't you." She hooted happily. "Yea I knew you did." She then took off out the window toward the Nott Mansion where Garret still lived. I then went to see if Garret could come visit.

000

I said the password to Professor Dippet's office and went up the spiral staircase. I knocked on the door.

"Come in." I opened the door. "Ah, Miss. Malfoy, nice to see you, what can I do for you?"

"Well Professor I was wondering if an old student and a friend of mine could come stay at Hogwarts for awhile, well until the Christmas break has ended."

"And who is this friend and where shall he or she stay?"

"It's Garret Nott, and I was hoping he could stay in the Head's Dorm. Not in my room, but in the Common Room."

"Well Mr. Nott is welcome any time he would like to visit. Staying in the Head's Dorm should be fine since you are probably the only one he knows. You may leave for Hogsmeade to meet him when he arrives. When is he coming?"

"I was hoping as soon as possible."

"Alright then, off with you so you can write him a letter to let him know to come to Hogsmeade."

I nodded and walked out of the room and back to the heads dorm.

Once I was in my room and wrote another letter to Garret. Right when I had finished Midnight flew into the room, with a letter from Garret.

"Hi girl. Can you send this back to Garret really fast." She hooted. "Ok." She flew off again once I had the new letter around her foot.

I unrolled the other letter and began to read.

Sonoña,

The way you acted is in the past. I would love to come see you. Owl me if I can.

Love,

Garret

I sat on my bed and looked around my room. I had nothing to do now but wait for Midnight to return with my letter.

000

It was now close to nine at night and I was standing outside The Three Broomsticks. Garret had said to meet him there at 9. The cold December breeze whipped my hair around. I pulled the cloak Garret had given me closer around my body.

After a few more minutes, Garret appeared across the street. He walked over to me quickly and wrapped his arms around my waist. I instantly threw mine around his neck and hugged him. He picked me up off the ground and spun me around a little and then set me back down.

"I've missed you Garret." I whispered in his ear.

"I've missed you too. Let's head back we have a lot to talk about and it's getting late." Garret kept his left arm around me and we began to walk back to Hogwarts.

"Abraxas told me your parents disowned you, I'm so sorry Sonoña."

"I'm not. I'm not the perfect daughter they expected me to be, you saw that the day you took me to King's Cross." I looked up at him. "I'm not like them, Garret, I never will be. I don't think I can be like them."

He pulled me closer and kissed the top of my head. "You don't have to be your father, or your mother. I love you the way you are Sonoña. You are still a Malfoy, whether they like it or not. You still have that air about you that makes you different from other people. You are better Sonoña. You are better than those Gryffindor friends of yours."

I jokingly pushed him. "Hey I'm a Gryffindor. And I'm no better than they are. Garret, blood doesn't mean anything."

"Alright Sonoña, if you say so." He said as we continued to walk.

I knew he didn't believe me and he wasn't going to change his beliefs about it, so I let it go. When we got to the castle we went straight to the head's dorm and walked in. Tom was sitting on the couch. He looked at Garret and me and instantly I felt Garret's arm tighten around my waist. I might have been mad at Tom but I hadn't forgotten my manners.

"Tom, this is Garret." I pointed at Garret. "Garret this is Tom." I pointed my hand to Tom.

"Sonoña, aren't you forgetting something?" Garret asked.

"No, I covered everything, you, him, y'all both know me." I looked at Garret confused.

He leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Am or am I not your boyfriend?"

My eyes got wide and I mentally kicked myself. "Garret I am so sorry, I just assumed we… well I just… I, oh forget it. Tom Garret is my boyfriend."

Garret nodded and held out his hand to Tom. Tom just stared at his hand. He stood up and looked at me, his eyes glowing with hatred, but they seemed to be masking a different emotion.

"It's nice to meet you Garret. I hope you have a grand time with your whore." Tom hissed.

With that he walked to his room and slammed the door.

Garret turned to me. "What's wrong with him?"

I looked up at Garret and then pulled him to the couch.

After I explained what had happened between me and Tom I stood up. " I figured we could conjure up a bed for you and you sleep in here or conjure one in my room and you sleep on a different bed, since we aren't married yet."

Garret raised an eyebrow. "You slept with him, but you won't even actually sleep in the same bed with me. I won't pull anything Sonoña, I respect you more than that." He said putting his hand over mine.

"You don't care about what I've done?" I had told Garret everything, fearing that he might find out from someone else and also fearing he might leave me after he knew.

"No, Sonoña, I love you no matter what happened between you and Tom." He smiled at me. "Now it's late, and I want to get up in the morning and have you show me around so I can see if everything is the same."

We stood up and headed into my room to go to bed