Guys…I uploaded the wrong file. Smh. If you've already read this, sorry! The first time I uploaded, it was the first draft I had. And I didn't check after I uploaded. Ugh. This chapter is updated. I deleted the chapter to stop everyone from reading the file. And uploaded the correct file once I got a chance to after work. So, this chapter is basically the same, and what was supposed to be the rest of this chapter will be added to tomorrow's chapter. Thanks, BRIROSE1 for bringing it to my attention that something wrong with this chapter, causing me to look and see what I had done.
Again, sorry guys! I can't believe I did this. That will teach me to pay more attention when I upload chapters.
Note: It may still have some grammatical errors, I haven't had the opportunity to proofread this. And I wanted to reupload this chapter. So I will edit this chapter today or tomorrow when I get the chance and fix those mistakes. And the second part of this chapter will be up tomorrow.
Bella's POV:
The next morning, my dreams are interrupted by three loud knocks on the bedroom door. Light filters in through my barely cracked eyelids, and the temperature has dropped considerably during the night. My throat feels scratchy and sore from the cold dry air. Being away from the UK for so long has not been good for my health. At Charlie's I don't have to worry about waking up in the morning to a freezing cold room. But it's a completely different scenario in a magical home. Where you need to have a fire going or a warming charm activated before falling asleep. Why is the magical world so behind the rest of the world?
Leaving the comfort and slight warmness of the bed, I go to see what Uncle Sev needs. Severus Snape was not someone you wanted to ignore or irritate. My brothers and I have learned that throughout the years. You only get a slap on the back of the head as a result.
"Morning." He is already on his way to the kitchen, starting a pot of water for tea. I really need to buy a Keurig the next time I go to a store. Going so long without coffee in the morning is not good for my grogginess. Thanks Charlie for your refusal to buy tea and creating my coffee addiction.
Sipping on a cup of earl gray with milk in the mornings is the best way to start your mornings.
"Get dressed. We have been invited to the manor for breakfast." His eyebrow raises immediately when I don't make a sound.
"Why does Voldemort want us over for brekkie?" I ask incredulously. He doesn't seem like the kind to sit around a table, sharing pleasantries while digging into some eggs and bacon.
"He will not be in attendance as he has gone away on a mission. I always have breakfast at the manor on Sundays." I guess tradition hasn't changed with our deaths. "And since everyone believes that you are living with me the invitation has been included to you as well." I wasn't aware that anyone apart from Voldemort was aware of my living situation.
"Do I have to go? What if mum or dad recognize me. I haven't been around them without a ton of people around."
"Just act like the American Charles has raised you to be, and I am sure you will be fine." Rude. I make no other comment before heading to the room to change. Knowing that any meal at the manor is a bit more elegant than usual, I change into a new black and white cocktail dress that I purchased in Seattle in a vintage shop. After braiding my hair, I put on my cloak and apparate after Uncle Sev to the manor.
The manor itself is nearly empty when we arrive. It seems when Voldemort is away, not many death eaters hang around. No one is at the door when we arrive, and I have to open the front door by myself for the first time in my life. Where were all the workers that used to fill my house with life?
"Severus!" My mother greets us as we come in, making her way down the staircase. Her hair is down in the natural curls that she rarely wears around others and is wearing a royal blue dress. As she nears I can see that she looks much happier than the other times I've seen her. Instead of the guarded and worried look in her eyes, they seem happy and full of life.
"Good morning, Cissa." Uncle Sev replies, returning the greeting with a kiss to her cheek. I don't get more than a quiet good morning, before she leads us to the dining room. I shrug at Uncle Sev's look, letting him know that I'm not worried about her quiet greeting. As far as she knows I'm just a young death eater that is living with one of her oldest friends. I'm not family, and I know that her invitation was only common curtesy.
Dad is already sitting down reading the daily prophet when we enter the dining room. The front cover displaying a short and stout woman in an alarming shade of pink walking with the minister of magic. I don't get a chance to see what the article is about before dad puts the newspaper down to greet us.
"Good morning Severus, Isabella." Why he always finds the need to call me by my full name I will never know. We both return the greeting before sitting down to eat. The table is decorated in a variety of breakfast dishes, and to my surprise a couple of American dishes as well.
"We thought you would prefer an American meal. I know a full English breakfast can be a bit much for foreigners." Mum explains when she sees me looking at the pancakes and oatmeal.
"Thank you, that's very kind of you." She gives a small smile in return before arranging her plate. I start filling my plate with pancakes, eggs, and yogurt with berries. While I start to prepare my cup of tea, I start tuning into the conversation around me.
"Draco wrote to us this morning, and he was complaining about that horrid Umbridge woman." Umbridge? I think that was the pink monstrosity on the daily prophet.
"Dolores is starting to make changes that she believes are necessary for Hogwarts, and in doing do is alienating herself from the students." Uncle Sev replies not looking the least bit concerned.
"The ministry's choice of representation at Hogwarts could not have been more lacking. Draco says she has been observing the professors and their lectures?"
"Indeed. I recently had an observation from her where she made it clear what she thought about my position."
"That's bullshit. You're the best potions master that Hogwarts could have asked for. Your abilities far surpass many in your field!" How dare she! I know over the years Uncle Sev has gotten some criticism for wanting the DADA position, and his overall performance as a potions master. But I know he really enjoyed his position, and loved teaching others about the art. It was just teaching potions to incompetent students that had no hope of succeeding that made it difficult.
I stop talking when I notice that no one is talking and are instead looking at me. Mum is looking at me in shock, cup of tea raised to her lips. The silence is broken with a "Language, Bella." From my uncle and a chortle of laughter from my father.
The awkward tension that had been in the room previously goes away, and the conversation continues about this Dolores woman.
"Draco just needs to learn to stay out of the way. Dolores has begun to favor the Slytherins and the other houses are very aware of that fact. Helping students in the other houses will not sit well with them, no matter Draco's intentions."
Draco had taken to helping some of the younger students with their potions. However, since the return of Voldemort, less students were willing to trust my brother.
I concentrate on my food when they continue to talk about the sorry excuse for a professor that the ministry appointed. Dolores Umbridge, basically eating out of the minister's palm. But was recently trying to cozy up to known…well suspected death eaters.
"-break into my family's vault." I zone back into mum's conversation.
"The Dark Lord needed an object he had entrusted to my father in our family's vault. And when he went to retrieve it yesterday it was nowhere to be seen."
"As I've mentioned Cissa, your family's vault hasn't been opened in years. Anyone with the smallest amount of Black blood could have gotten access and taken what they desired. Or the ministry for that matter during any of their inspections." He didn't even tell mum that Xavier went into the Black family vault. I let out a silent sigh of relief, happy that my surrogate brother was not in any danger from the Dark Lord.
My father's lie is thankfully somewhat possible. The goblins in Gringotts are not ones to regulate who comes in and out of the vaults. As long as you have a key or a wand to verify your identity, you can enter. With the imprisonment of Aunt Bella and Sirius after the first war, the number of Black family members decreased tremendously. There was chaos during that time and many vaults were broken into. And the number of break-ins has increased when Aunt Bella's key vault was seized by the ministry. The ministry conducted various "inspections" for dangerous items. It's probable that during one of those raids, Voldemort's cup was stolen.
The conversation wraps up with my parent's worry over Draco. Voldemort is pushing them to allow Draco to take the mark as soon as possible. They were reluctant to do so, and since Draco learned of it he had become more secluded. He wasn't happy with the suggestion and has refused to talk about the subject. Unfortunately, the choice wasn't his or our parent's choice to make. If Voldemort wanted him to be marked, it would only be a matter of when.
"When do you think he will be marked?" I ask my uncle quietly as we make our way outside of the manor's wards.
"The Dark Lord is hoping for as early as the summer. After Lucius spoke to him, he has allowed Draco to finish the term at school. But I'm afraid he is getting impatient." A dread fills me thinking of my little brother being forced to take a mark that will ruin his future and damage him emotionally. "Your mother wants to send him away. But your father is against the notion, knowing that it would only bring more attention to the entire family." Of course. If a third Malfoy child was to mysteriously disappear, Voldemort will know that something is happening. And who knows what he will do to mum or dad.
When we reach the outside of the property, Uncle Sev takes my arm and disapparate. Surprising me as I thought we would be returning to his home after brekkie.
I'm not expecting to see the looming tower in front of me when we stop spinning. It's still early in the day, but Hogwarts is already bustling with activity. However, the aura around the school campus is somber. No students are playing in the snow or having snowball fights, instead they are all hurrying to their first class of the day.
"What are we doing here?" We get a few odd looks from the students as we make our way to the front door. Students hurrying out of the way of their most feared teacher, amusing me to no end.
"I have some business to attend to with Dumbledore. Will you accompany me or can you occupy yourself for a couple minutes or so?"
"Listen to you two drone on about things I've heard all day yesterday? No thanks, I'll just wander around a little." He doesn't spare me a second glance as he heads into the castle, giving me an opportunity to find the diadem and figure out what to do.
I get some curious looks as I make my way through the halls of my old school, but I am mostly ignored as everyone rushes to class. If I'm not mistaken its time for the first class of the day, and a majority of the students are rushing from the great hall to make it on time.
By the time I make it to the seventh floor, I'm walking through the corridors alone. Which makes it easier when I stand facing an empty wall, walking to and fro until a massive ornate wall appears.
Before I can step inside, I freeze when I hear hurried footsteps down the corridor. Signs of a struggle and laughing teenage boys. Remembering a similar scene when I was younger I hurry down the hallway.
Just before reaching the entryway to the Divination classroom a group of seventh year Ravenclaws are surrounding some students. From the insults and papers sprawled across the hallway, its not a friendly chat they're having.
"-nothing more than death eater children. You don't belong here!" The tall brunet boy that was spewing that garbage is knocked down by a tall lanky blonde that I've only seen once or twice since my return.
Draco is able to land a punch on the ignorant prick's face before he is held back two other figures in blue. I can now see a little girl and boy both in green and no older than twelve being corned by another Ravenclaw.
"You shouldn't have done that Malfoy." He says smirking before advancing on my little brother. I am already on my way to beat the crap out of them when a group of older Slytherins turn the corner and draw their wands.
