Disclaimer: I do not own any of the harry potter characters. Sad, but true.
Hello darlings.
I know, this chapter has taken a while. And I will warn you right now, it's quite sad. Do remember, I am only the messenger now. The quicker you review, though, the quicker I update.
Love,
Avoline.
"You promised," she stated. "You said we would go see my parents graves!" It had been five days since Draco had said he would take her, yet they were still in one of the rooms at the pub. She was becoming impatient, and she had every intention of making him keep his word.
"Serenity, don't do this to me," he pleaded. "You've been dealing with everything so well. I don't want to mess this up."
"Then take me to see them," she snapped. "I would have taken you to see your parents resting place." His eyes went misty, and she knew that she had struck a nerve. "Quit putting it off and take me." He turned away from her and sat in the dusty old chair. She stood, wondering how long the stand-off would last.
"You didn't have to say that," he whispered, so softly that she almost didn't hear him.
"Then take me to see them. Please, Draco." He shook his head. "Are you going back on your word?"
"No," he replied.
"Then why keep waiting?" He stared at the floor. She began to wish she could read his mind so that she would know what he was thinking. Suddenly, she noticed his hands were trembling.
"Cause I don't want to loose you again," he muttered. "I feel like I'm finally getting you back, and next thing I know, you want to go see where your parent's are buried."
"I can handle it." He sighed.
"That's what Potter said," he scoffed. "Yet seeing his parent's tombstone got him choked up. The bloke never even got the chance to know them" He finally raised his head, gazing into her eyes. "I can't help but worry about how it will affect you." She sat on the love seat opposite of him.
"Draco, I can handle it," she soothed. "I feel like I need to do this. But I don't want to do it alone." He nodded. She could see the reluctance in his gaze. "Please, Draco, for me." He looked away.
"For you, I'll do anything," he murmured. She reached and took his trembling hand. He closed his eyes, and she noticed a tear racing down his face.
"I'll be fine, as long as you're there," she soothed.
They apparated in the middle of a snow covered street. She clutched his hand tightly, like she was worried that he would leave.
"Maybe we should have used some polyjuice potion," he whispered. She shook her head.
"This was home," she pointed out. "I shouldn't have to hide." They slowly walked along the road until they came to a small church with a cemetary next to it. "Do you think they're in there?" He nodded. They both entered, and separated to quicken the search. After a few minutes, she found what she was looking for. She stared, unable to speak. She could hear Draco calling her name, but it sounded distant, like they were standing in a tunnel. She stared until she felt him grasp her hand.
"I'm here, love," he cooed softly. "You can speak to them now." She swallowed hard, then cleared her throat.
"Hey Mum, Dad," she began. "I finally came home. Completely." He emmitted a small, choked noise. "I realize I never got to say goodbye to you. I wish things could have been different. For all of us." Tears began to form in her eyes. "I wish you could have lived long enough for us to see each other one last time. I wish I had had enough sense to come home sooner. I miss you guys." A lump formed in her throat, rendering her unable to speak. Draco raised his wand, producing a small bouquet of flowers. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Happy Christmas, Serenity," he murmured as the bells tolled, signalling midnight. She squeezed his hand. "Let's go back to Hogsmead."
"What about the house," she asked, her voice broken. "I've still got stuff there." He nodded, and they made their way out of the cemetary and down the road.
She was shocked to find the door unlocked. Upon entering, she spotted a envelope on the small table in the foyer. Her trembling fingers picked it up and opened it.
My dearest daughter,
By the time you read this, I will be long gone. Your friends will tell you that I died from the grief of your disappearance. That, my dear, is only partially true. I decided to end my own life because of what I have done to you. I allowed the curse to be embedded in you when you were but a few months old. Why, you say? All of your answers are up stairs, in the one room we never allowed you in.
Love,
Your doting father.
She stood, unable to move. What secrets had her father been keeping from her? Her worst fears had just been confirmed. He had planned this. What reason could he have for allowing such a terrible curse to live in her?
"Serenity." Draco's voice broke through her thoughts, and she looked into his eyes. "Let's go see what's up there." She slowly led the way, terrified of what she would find. She stopped when she came to the door.
"Draco, I'm scared," she confessed. "Now that I'm here, I want to leave." He took her hand in his and gently squeezed it.
"I'm here," he soothed. "I'll always be here." She nodded, then opened the door. A small teddy bear sat in the middle of the empty room.
"They kept you away from a teddy bear," he asked. She looked around to see another envelope in front of the teddy bear. She stepped forward and picked it up.
Your mother and I tried for many years to have a child. You would have had an older brother, Serenity. The teddy bear before you would have been his. Sadly, he did not survive. We had been told that you, too, would pass within hours of being born. Our only hope was to embed a curse in you. We believed that it would work.
I sit here, writing this, tired and alone. You would have lived to be a strong, healthy, beautiful young woman, curse or no curse. I see that now, though it is too late. The man who tricked us is gone. You, my child, have done the most amazing thing. The curse did not control you; you, insted, controled the curse, though it came at a terrible price.
My death will not reverse my actions. Nor will it bring back my childhood friend, Lucius. But it will reunite me with your mother. I loved you, my child. Please understand, your mother and I were desperate and scared.
Her hands shook. It was done to save her life. Because her brother had died just hours after being born. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to break down and cry. but, for some reason, couldn't. She wanted to run away and never come back, but she knew Draco would find her. So she stood and stared at the stuffed doll until she collasped, overwhelmed with grief.
She awoke to find herself lying on a bed. She vaugely remembered reading the note. She saw a figure with long, white blond hair.
Lucius!
She remembered her father mentioning him in the second letter, and sat up, looking around for Draco. He needed to know. Their fathers were friends at one time.
"Draco," she called. She turned to see him sitting in an arm chair, staring at the floor.
"I know, Serenity," he croaked. She could tell he had been crying. "I read the note after you collasped." His eyes met hers. She stood and stumbled over to him. His arms around her, they cried for the remainder of the holiday.