Chapter Twelve

Malfoy's and Diggory's

Three jeans, five blouses, two dresses, and seven pairs of shoes. Ara pulled her hair back, pinned it up, and let it down. She put on makeup, and washed her face. She wanted to scream in frustration. Nothing seemed good enough. There was a flaw with everything, and her mother yelled for her to come down for breakfast for the sixth time.

She eventually settled for her black sneakers, blue jeans, and a red blouse with frills at the hems, the short sleeves puffed out. She let her plain brown hair fall in its straightness down her shoulders. She swept a brush of blush across her cheeks, and left it at that leaving her makeup on her crisp white vanity.

Everything in her room was white. The walls, the huge triple size bed, even the floor. It was like being in a large cloud. It made her peaceful, and feel innocent. Then again it might only be because it was her childhood room, there were still her muggle stuffed animals on the bed, and posters of Wizarding bands along the wall. If someone opened her wardrobe they would find ten orange Chudley Canon posters taped there out of sight, the players zooming across. Her Uncle Ron wanted very badly for her to become a fan. There was no chance in that happening. They were the worst Quidditch team in history, but to pacify him she took them happily. She swore to him that they were taped up. He just didn't know where.

Ara shoveled her food down quickly. Her parents stopped eating their forks halfway to their mouths, her father raising an elegant pale brow at her odd behavior. She was taught to eat slowly, but it was quite the opposite when she was nervous.

"Sweetie, you're going to be sick," her mom warned.

She set her fork by her plate. "Dad... Please don't give the Diggory's a hard time. Please, be nice."

"I'm always nice."

Her mom snorted. "Don't worry, Ara, I'll make sure your father behaves."

He sneered, and took a deep swig from his cup. Her mom mocked his actions.

Ara escaped upstairs to her bedroom. It wasn't her parents bickering that made her do so, she was used to that, but she had to be alone before her father hounded her with questions about Thomas. She had successfully avoided that so far, with a bit of help from her mom by changing the subject.

She sat at the edge of her bed hugging an old stuffed brown bear to her chest. It was placed in her crib the night she came home from the hospital, and she never stopped sleeping with it. She didn't take it to Hogwarts of course, but when she came home she held it while she slept. Her dad said that it was her Aunt Ara's, that he gave it to her for Christmas one year. It was the only thing she had of Aunt Ara's, and she suspected it was the only thing her dad had too.

"Ara," her mom called from the doorway before coming to sit beside her. "It'll go fine," she soothed running her hand along her hair.

"What if they don't like me," she asked in undertone.

She chortled. "As you know your grandfather hates me, but that didn't stop us." Her smile fell, and she became serious. "I know this is hard for you. I never imagined that the wizarding world would be this upset about my marriage, or even dare to take it out on you, but... Some things don't change. But you must not let that stop you from doing what you want, or feel that is right. This boy obviously likes you enough to face this with you. Whatever happens, no matter who dislikes you, or what they say - you are loved. Forever you'll be loved. Unconditionally."

"I was an accident," she stated feeling her mom's hand freeze on her shoulder in shock. "Do you regret me?"

"How can you think that?"

"I didn't want to think that dad was a Death Eater..."

"I have never regretted you. You are the most precious thing in my life. I couldn't regret you any more than I could regret your father. There are no regrets. You were an accident, but you were a blessing. The best surprise I never though to ask for."

She breathed in relief, but there was something else nagging at her. It was best to start with her mother. Her father wouldn't handle it as well. "Mum," she said worriedly. "Thomas asked me to be home schooled next year. In case the kids are..."

"I know what you mean. Your dad, and I would be happy to home school you if that's what you want. Kids can be cruel, and I'm sure your relationship with Thomas is making it worse, and will get worse if he's not there - you'll be seen as vulnerable. It's your choice. We'll support you no matter what you choose."

Downstairs the doorbell rung. She stiffened. They were there.

Her mom kissed her temple. "Everything will be fine."

"Just give me a few. I'll be there soon."

"Okay."

When she heard the door click shut Ara fell on her bed, her arms outstretched. She closed her eyes, focused on her even breathing, and pretended that everything else disappeared. She should try to think positively. What was the worse that could happen? Her dad could hex Thomas's dad, and be sent off to Azkaban by Uncle Harry, and Uncle Ron. There had to be an even worse scenario than that, but she was supposed to be thinking positive. If that was positive then she was doomed.

She stood to her feet, smoothed out her blouse, and ran her fingers through her hair. As tempting as it was, she couldn't stay in her bedroom. She had to face it. She was a Gryffindor. There had to be one brave cell in her somewhere. What was it that her mother used to say to her, "being brave is being scared, but doing the right thing." Yes, that was it. She was scared, and the right thing to do was go, and face the music. Or the yelling. Or the cursing.

Ara descended the stairs taking in each of their faces. Her parents gleamed with delight. Mr. Diggory's eyes were glazed with coldness, but his wife appeared to be accepting. Thomas was the one that glowed the most. He met her at the bottom of the stairs, and kissed her cheek finding her hand with his.

"Mum, dad, this is Ara." he walked her to the center of the room showing her off.

"Malfoy," Mr. Diggory grumbled, her dad shooting him a hazardous look.

Mrs. Diggory held out her hand which she took. "It's nice to meet you, Ara. Thomas has told us wonderful things about you. Top of your school I hear, very promising, and beautiful might I add."

Ara blushed crimson. "Thank you, Mrs. Diggory."

"Everyone, please have a seat. I'll bring out the tea," her mother announced.

Ara, and Thomas sat beside each other on the couch, followed by her dad. Mr., and Mrs. Diggory took the two chairs across from them. While Mrs. Diggory looked perfectly at ease, Thomas' father was scrutinizing them through his fragile glasses. This didn't escape her dad whose face was masked in loathing.

Her mom came back into the room carrying a silver tray with five china cups of tea. She sat it gingerly on the coffee table serving everyone before sitting on Ara's side. She patted her leg comfortingly.

Silence engulfed them. It was worse than facing the Hufflepuff's on the train. She felt on display, something that she never felt before. She liked the shadows, being in the spotlight felt wrong. Someone speak, she urged. Anyone. She regretted her thoughts instantly when someone did.

"So this is the girl who has my son so enamored," Mr. Diggory said. "Not much if I do say so -"

"You may not," her dad snapped.

"You didn't speak like that to Voldemort did you?"

Both of her parents shot from their seats. Her dad took a step towards Mr. Diggory while her mom held his arm keeping him back. "Mr. Diggory," she scolded, "if you insist on being unkind to my family then I'll have to ask you to leave. My husband is no more a Death Eater than you are!"

Mr. Diggory's face was beat red. "I think we will leave." His eyes flickered to the black band around her dad's right arm to cover his Dark Mark, an alternative to the concealment charm. "Lets go, Miranda."

Mrs. Diggory got to her feet, "no," she uttered, and turned to them. "I'm so very sorry for his behavior. I apologize. I'm so embarrassed! Hermione, dear you remember what happened to Cedric... After all these years... We heard that Lucius was there in the graveyard... I suppose I've forgiven the past, but my husband..."

"Don't make excuses for me!"

"Edward, she's fifteen! How can you blame her for what happened that long ago? She wasn't born!"

"She's the daughter of him," he pointed at her father.

"If he was still a Death Eater do you think that he would marry Hermione?"

"There's a plan -"

"Fifteen years, Edward, stop it with your theory! Draco is not up to anything!"

Ara felt Thomas taut at his parents angry exchange. He kissed her ear, and whispered, "I have to get them out of here, I'm sorry, Ara. This was a bad idea."

Mr. Diggory slammed his cup on the tray it tipping sideways rattling. He stormed out, and Thomas faced his mother. "It's okay, mum. He'll be okay."

"He will... He'll be fine." She set her cup down, gentler than her husband did, and hugged her son. "We should be going." She nodded to Ara's parents. "I am sorry about this."

"Don't be," her mom assured. "We're... Used to it."

"It's a shame..."

"What is," Thomas asked.

"That you, and Ara -"

"I'm not letting her go, mum. People will have to get over it."

"You'll be facing a lot of ridicule..."

"We'll face it."

Mrs. Diggory touched her son's cheek. "If that's what you want."

"It's what I want."

Sitting on the couch her dad's fists clenched, but her mother smiled. Shyly Ara averted her gaze to the floor.

"It was nice meeting you," Mrs. Diggory shook hands with them. "We best be going..."

Mrs. Diggory threw a handful of Floo powder into the hearth of the fireplace. Green flames curled up, and she stepped through. Thomas touched Ara's hair once, and trailed his mother into the fire. Ara stared at it long after it burned down. She could feel her parents eyes on her back.

"It's not fair to him," she stated aloud.

Her dad leaned to capture her attention. "That's not your decision to make. It's his. He has a choice to be with you. A choice. What wouldn't be fair is to take that away from him. I don't like him, Ara, but he seems to like you. That's all I can ask I suppose."

Leisurely her mom sat, her fingers on her chin thoughtfully. Her eyes scrunched, and Ara knew that she was deep into figuring something out. She made that face a lot when she was working on her cases.

"Mum? What is it?"

"Mr. Lovegood retired from running the Quibbler... Luna took over..."

"What about it," her dad questioned curiously.

"The Quibbler," she grinned. "Yes! That's it! Draco, I think I know how to solve all of this!"