Chapter 14
The week or so before my trial was pretty much one of the worst.
The wait was agonizing. I pretty much spent most of the day shut in my room, thinking about what could happen. I tried to focus on the good, I really did. But it just wasn't easy when the bad was blatantly obvious. It was strictly illegal to practice any Unforgivable Curse, even if you used it in the spur of the moment without really meaning to. Unless Harry or Aunt Narcissa came up with a freaking awesome defense, it would be off to Azkaban I go.
Teddy went to live with Victoire's parents since his grandmother died (even though I wasn't really one to get emotional, ever since Andromeda died, not only had my hatred for my mother increased considerably, I had done my fair share of crying) since my darling (note the sarcasm) uncle tended to mutter under his breath about werewolves and abominations when Teddy was in the room. Eventually, the poor kid got to where he couldn't stand it anymore and packed up and left when Victoire's father's letter came in telling him he could stay with them.
Speaking of Victoire, we had been writing back and forth, and she wasn't all that shocked when I told her that my mother had come to call.
I told you to expect something like this, she had reminded me. I'm really sorry about your aunt, but to be honest? It's not much of a shock.
I had to admit that she was right. I had a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that kept telling me that I should've expected something like this. But of course, I didn't want to believe it.
In an attempt to clear my head, I decided to take a walk down to a small pond near the manor. As I trudged through the snow that covered the ground, the trees, and everything else it could reach, I reminisced. I thought about all the good times I had with Victoire and Teddy, the sort-of-good Christmas holidays I'd had with my family, and realized that my life hadn't sucked as much as I thought it had. Yeah, my parents were insane fugitives, but at least I had a roof over my head.
When I reached the iced-over pond, I brushed the snow off of a log with a gloved hand and sat down, still thinking. About fifteen minutes later, someone tapped my shoulder, startling me out of my reverie. I jumped and the person said, "I'm sorry!" The voice was male with a Scottish accent.
I turned around. The guy was about my age – maybe a year or two older. He had auburn hair and striking olive green eyes. He smiled, showing white, even teeth. And it was pretty obvious that he was a Muggle, since most of the magical population flinched and walked away as quickly as possible once they realized who I was. I looked so much like my mother that it terrified people.
"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I just wanted to ask you if I could sit down next to you." He gestured to the empty spot next to me.
"Sure," I said breathlessly, still trying to bring my heart rate down to an even level. "Be my guest."
He brushed the snow off the other end of the log and sat down, shivering. After a moment, he said, "My name is Daniel Cauldwell. What's yours? I don't think I've seen you around before." He was a talker.
Nova wasn't a common name for a Muggle (which I was trying to make out I was), and I couldn't exactly avoid the question, so I fibbed. "Nancy." It was close enough. I didn't bother with a last name.
Daniel noticed my hesitation; his eyebrows furrowed slightly, causing his forehead to pucker a bit, but he let it go. "Nice to meet you." He paused. "I haven't seen you around before. It's a small town, so I figure I would have."
"I keep to myself." It was true. I rarely left the house when I was home.
"I see."
It was silent for a minute, then Daniel spoke and his voice was blunt. "Are you lying to me?"
Startled, I looked at with wide eyes. "What?"
"You heard me."
I hesitated, which probably wasn't helping my case any. "I… well…" I shot up off the log. "I gotta go," I said quickly, walking off in the opposite direction.
"I didn't mean to upset you!" His voice was apologetic. "I just want the truth!"
I turned back to him. "Ask me no questions and I tell you no lies."
I started walking again in the direction of the manor, my mind spinning. He's way too curious for his own good.
Yet I still found him an interesting person. Could I avoid him long enough for him to forget about me?
Only time could tell. Besides, I had other problems…