The Unavoidable Truth
So we have to play nice with Draco?" Ron asked as we sat squished together in a compartment on the train.
"For my sake, yes" I replied as he made a face but didn't say anything else. Fred and I had started to explain things the previous day but George whisked Fred away and wouldn't let me talk to him for the remainder of the night. It was hard getting Fred away for a few minutes to talk to the rest of the group, George kept circling our compartment. I told him he could come in but he completely ignored me. Thankfully Lee was around and managed to hold him off, but only long enough to let us explain and then was taking Fred off again. I knew it was partly due to how back and forth I was between his brother and Oliver. It didn't exactly make me look good and I knew Charity was having a hard time accepting the separation and constantly whined to Lavender.
"Melinda mentioned something about visions?" Hermione asked as I rolled my eyes, trying not to glare at Melinda; I didn't know why she had to bring that up.
"They're not visions" I corrected for what felt like the tenth time.
"What else do you think they are then?" Melinda argued but I shrugged, hoping no one asked anything else on it.
"We're almost back to the station, I gotta go to the Malfoys first but we'll catch up" I told them as the train pulled into the station.
"Keep us updated then" Ron said as Fred and Draco appeared in the doorway.
"Ready?" Draco asked as Fred came in and took my luggage down.
"I can at least walk her out" Fred snorted but Draco shook his head and took my bags, nodding toward his mom who stood on the platform.
"Besides, you're not her boyfriend" and with that he started out without waiting for me.
"I'll send a letter" I told him as I hurried after Draco, partly afraid I'd get an earful if I didn't follow him right away. "You know, that was really rude" I told him as we made our way through the crowd.
"Listen, I don't like it anymore than you, I didn't even get to say bye to my girlfriend" he mumbled, his mood turning sour.
"What exactly was stopping you? We can go back and both say bye" I told him but he shook his head and continued dragging me toward his mom.
"Hello" she said kindly as I gave her a half smile. She patted Draco's shoulder and we started out. I glanced back but as I saw Fred all I could do was wave, thankful to see him waving back, Melinda at his side. I heavily sighed, disappointed again that I didn't stand up for myself and instead followed Mrs. Malfoy out of the train station.
"Don't worry about your luggage" Mrs. Malfoy said as we approached the house. Refusing to let the house-elf do anything I grabbed my bag, it clanking against my leg as I carried it. Draco must have felt bad or didn't like waiting because he came back and took my bag and went back and grabbed his. I smiled at his help to which he rolled his eyes and we continued into the house, his mom having disappeared into another room.
"What's the point in coming here first if she doesn't wanna talk to us?" I asked as Draco set the bags by the stairs and shrugged. "Hey, I never got to say congratulations on your relationship with—" his hand was on my mouth in seconds as he glanced around, his expression terrified.
"Not here" he whispered lowering his hand as he pointed upstairs. This time I rolled my eyes and followed him up to his room.
"Please tell me there's an understandable reason why we're up here in private talking about Melinda?" I asked as he nodded and sat on his bed, motioning for me to take to the small couch.
"My parents found out your dad and that her grandparents were involved in whatever, and thought it was best I didn't get involved with her. For safety" he explained as I raised an eyebrow.
"So you decided, to contradict what they said?" I asked with a smirk.
"It wasn't supposed to be like that, but, you don't know how she is," he started trying not to look like he was swooning but he definitely was.
"I've known her practically my whole life, I could've told you she was an ideal girlfriend" I told him as he cocked his head.
"Really? You think I deserve someone like that?" He asked almost like he was angry that I said it in the first place, the swooning look gone.
"Well, you two balance each other out really, you're smart, she's smart, you're both very skeptical of people and prefer not mingling with a large crowd but you both are in decent sized groups. Perfect couple; granted there's more than that to it, but you know what I mean" I told him as I stood up to look at his bookshelf.
"Thanks" he said after a minute, I mumbled a mmm-hmm and continued looking, half tempted to ask to borrow a few of the books with interesting titles. "I don't hate you and Fred together" he said quietly, but trying to sound casual. I smiled to myself but didn't turn around. "Not that I didn't mind your relationship with Oliver, though it seems like it wasn't really a relationship per say, but that's none of my business and you and him—"
"It's okay, Draco, thank you" I said as he nodded. "Do you think I should write my mom?" I asked after a few minutes of silence, "she said she would be here, butI haven't heard from her and I didn't see her at the station."
"Just wait, I'm sure she probably just lost track of time" Draco said as I nodded, hoping he was right. "What about Melinda and Fred? Are you going to write them?" He asked eagerly.
"Maybe" I teased as he gave me a small smile, but it disappeared as soon as Mrs. Malfoy was at the door.
"Dinner" she said and then walked away.
Following dinner Draco and I had another short half discussion about his feelings for Melinda and how he thought the relationship was going well. We had to cease all conversation on dating when his dad came home though, but it was just in time of getting a letter from my mom. She said everything was fine but she'd have to postpone her visit. I couldn't lie, I was more than disheartened by this news, it wasn't even the fact that something came up, but rather that she felt like it was a visit, that it was just another day seeing a friend. "Don't think about too much, I'm sure it's nothing" Draco said as he came to say goodnight. "We're seeing the others tomorrow, that should cheer you up, I'll even buy you an ice cream cone" he added with a proper smile but I knew I looked glum.
"Night Draco" he nodded and closed my door as I laid down.
"Are you sure they said noon?" I asked as I rushed after Draco down the street of Diagon Alley. We were both late getting up and apparently he had received word from Melinda to meet at noon at the ice cream shop. I hadn't heard from Melinda or Fred so I wasn't sure if it was a personal meeting or all four of us meeting. He said the letter was simple and straightforward and I didn't have time to question him. Instead I had to wait an extra thirty minutes for him to even consider getting ready because he didn't want his mother questioning where he went and she usually didn't leave after ten-fifteen, though I wasn't sure why.
We made it to the shop, five minutes after noon, but Melinda didn't look like she had been waiting long. I looked around her, disappointed I didn't see anyone else. "Fancy seeing you here ma'ma" I turned around quick, my frown turning into a smile as I glanced up at Fred, him holding two cones. "Melinda said you like chocolate" he said nodding to the cone in his left hand.
"I owe you" I told him as he shook his head and nodded toward Melinda.
"Trust me, you're need a good sugar rush, Melinda got a troubling letter last night and she's not looking forward to telling you the news." I glanced at her again, somehow having missed her nervous toe tapping, her tell-tale sign.
"Okay" I said walking over to her, Draco behind us as we sat down.
"Hey" Draco said happily as Melinda gave him a halfhearted smile.
"Has your mom talked to you?" She asked turning her attention to me.
"Not really, she postponed her visit to the house, as if she was a friend and not my mother..." I mumbled, trying not to be saddened.
"I think there's a reason for that" Melinda said eagerly as she leaned forward. "I got a letter yesterday, I went straight to Weasleys this morning because I wasn't sure how to tell you and I knew if anyone could be supportive to you it would be Fred" I pretended not to notice Fred blush, "so this letter, I don't know who it's from, it didn't say and didn't have a return address. Anyway, it said..." she trailed off nervously as she looked at Fred who nodded. "Tammie, I'm so sorry" her voice was entirely too sympathetic for my liking and my senses went on high alert thinking it was something involving my mom.
"Is it my mom—"
"No, she's fine" Fred quickly interrupted, putting his hand on my hand. I felt my heart rate slow down, that was a relief.
"It's about my grandparents, they were involved in this binding spell, I don't know the full details but it was supposedly to help the wizarding world. I don't know if it had something to do with Lord Voldemort or what, but, they made this spell, a really grand spell, very powerful, very advanced stuff; they pulled it off" I nodded, that didn't sound all that bad.
"That sounds like a good thing, they never told you about it?" I asked as she shook her head, her face twisting.
"They needed an anchor of sorts, like a sacrifice" she continued, "they were older when they did all you understand and they couldn't be the sacrifices themselves, but they did find someone willing to help them" she unnecessarily paused as I nodded, "your dad." I shook my head, again, that was good if he was able to help someone. But then it dawned on me when it registered what the word sacrifice meant.
"Wait, he died because of them?" I asked, my voice slow and low, very confused. "That doesn't make any sense..."
"I thought that at first too, but the letter said he had to be the bonding agent, he had to be the one to seal the spell and he did, and he would be fine until he had a child, apparently once he had a child that anchor would be passed on to them and any blood relative would be protected from harm. In return any relative bonded by marriage would have to cease their relationship with the child, a sacrifice of their own so the child can stand on their own and protect those around them." There were too many thoughts in my mind, I felt so confused, she had to be wrong.
"I saw the letter, it's all true" Fred said sympathetically as he went to put his hand on mine again but I pulled away.
"What does that mean?" I asked as Melinda looked at Draco.
"It means the Malfoys took you in knowing what you're dad did only so you could protect their family. Not because they love you" she said staring at Draco.
"Not true" Draco argued, slamming his hands on the table. "Tammie, that's not true" he said again as I looked back at Melinda.
"Ask your parents then" Fred mumbled.
"Okay, so, maybe it started out that way, but we do care about your safety, I care about your safety and you're well-being—"
"You knew this whole time?" I shot at him as he deflated.
"Bits and pieces, neither of my parents will tell me the whole story, but I knew you had to live with us before you turned sixteen, though it was highly recommended the sooner the better. My parents said everything was explained in a lengthy letter your dad wrote, one to them, one to your mother" he explained.
"When we get home I want to see it" I insisted but he sadly shook his head.
"The last part—and they showed me—said to burn after reading, you weren't to see it. Either letter, said it was in your best interest but to trust him" he said as I felt my body sink. I was to trust a man I had never officially met, much less bonded with. My mom always said he was a good man, a fun person, her best friend, but right now he sounded like an enemy.
"But you knew the whole year and you didn't tell me?" I whispered.
"I didn't want you to think it was true, I didn't want you trying to run away or making it harder to be friends, I want to be friends with you, I want you to see me as family that you enjoy being around" he said eagerly as I felt the unavoidable tears.