Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and settings from the Harry Potter world, which is trademarked by J. K. Rowling. I do not claim any ownership over them or the world of Harry Potter and will not receive any money or other financial profit for presenting the work on this site. The story I tell here as well as certain original characters are my own invention, and are not purported or believed to be part of J.K. Rowling's story canon.
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Chapter 50
"I suggest you leave now. There is nothing left to be said, for neither of us," Sage stated, trying her best to sound as indifferent as possible.
"Sage, I didn't expect you to meet me with welcoming arms. I understand that you left because of me and nobody else. But now you are finally back and.. I can't help but wonder if I might have been at least part of the reason for that," he admitted in response, opting for a smile even.
The audacity of this man made Sage sick to her stomach. How could he ever come to think like this? Return because of him? When he was the very reason she had to leave home against her will in the first place? Sage would've laughed straight to his face, had she not felt as deeply offended by his suggestion. He had never understood her or her emotions.. and obviously never would.
"I think I preferred you believing me dead. Let's get back to that," she answered dryly.
"Don't think you had me fooled for a second, dear. I knew you weren't dead, no matter how much of a convincing liar Dumbledore is. I traced back your way to America in less than a day, but I wanted to give you the chance to return to me on your own. Ripping you from the hands of your foolish mother would have only further drawn you away from me. I couldn't possibly risk that. Not when there was still hope to see my beautiful daughter by my side once again," he explained to her, most likely trying to reach after the soft spot she still had for him.
"How dare you?"
"How dare I what?"
"Waste my time with this soppy story when it was you who planned on murdering your wife, the mother of your only child. How could you? You failed not only as a father, but also as a husband and then dare to tell me about how you've desperately been awaiting my return? When fleeing your cruelty was the only way to live without loosing my mother? I left everything behind. My friends, the people who actually cared about me, had to mourn my death. Do you even realise what you did to me? I could lead a happy life now! You robbed me of my childhood. You robbed me of everything dear to me. I will never be the same again. And it's all your goddamn fault!"
"What about your mother? Where is she in all of this? That woman was dragging both of us down with her. What else was I supposed to do than get rid of her?!"
"She was sick, you cruel bastard! It wasn't her fault! Instead of plotting her murder, you could've helped her! You just left me to deal with it.. I was a child, for fuck's sake! I should have been cared for, not the other way 'round!"
"Don't pretend like you weren't very well capable of taking care of yourself. I taught you everything you know. Had you ever been in trouble, you could've easily defended yourself even against a Death Eater of the highest caliber, let alone against a confused woman only barely magical enough to not be a squib. In hindsight, I don't even know what I ever saw in her."
Beneath her skin, Sage was boiling of anger. The blood racing through her veins must've been the temperature of lava at this point. How could he speak so ill of her mother? To her of all people?
"You loved her. Just like she loved you. Long before you let your hunger for power eat your heart up like a starved animal, that is. Now get out of my sight or I'll make you regret coming here in the first place," she openly threatened him this time, her fingers firmly clutched around her wand.
"If this is really what you want, I'll do as you wish. But before I leave, let me tell you this: I have never loved anyone more than you.. and I certainly never will. The day you were born was the happiest day of my life. January 5th, 1979. You weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and were barely as long as my wand. I held you in my arms your entire first night in this world. Your dark little locks tickled against my chin every now and then. No matter how much you cried and how little you slept, I couldn't have been happier," he explained with a genuine smile spread across his lips. An unnerving sight to bear.
It tore Sage apart to admit how moved she was by his words. She didn't think he was lying, maybe even because there might've been a part inside of her that desperately wanted to believe him. But it didn't matter in the end, did it? She wasn't a baby anymore and there wasn't much of a father left in him either. Those dreadful three years ago, the two of them had parted ways for good. Despite the circumstances, it had been a split long overdue.
"Somehow you failed to show me that happiness after a few years," Sage mocked him sarcastically, "As soon as I showed signs of magic, you grew distant and quite the opposite of affectionate. I barely remember the time before you became my tutor rather than my father."
"I.. I needed you to be able to protect yourself, Sage. When I knew that you were going to attend Hogwarts, all I could do was prepare you.. because I wouldn't be able to be there with you," he explained, meeting her eyes desperately.
"Protect me from what? In all my years at Hogwarts I never had to raise my wand against anyone or anything outside of educational purposes."
"Sheer luck. The mudbloods, the blood-traitors.. They want to hurt people like us. You must've realised that by now."
"Hogwarts was a safe place back then. Nothing could've ever happened to me. It was at home where I was hurt.. constantly."
"Sage, believe me when I say, that all I did was done in good intentions. I wanted what's best for you. When I found our house empty that night, nearly 16 years later.. I was devastated. You can't possible understand the pain of losing your child, Sage. It's horrible. Not even upon my greatest enemy I would wish this kind of suffering."
"You didn't want what's best for me. You wanted what's best for you. You didn't want to deal with losing me or watching Mother's condition decline day by day. So, you got me combat ready and then began to shine at being nearly completely absent from my life. How she or I felt during all of this was never of importance to you, because you simply don't care about other people. That's why you say such ridiculous things as never wanting anyone to experience the loss of a child whilst knowing damn well that numerous mudblood children have lost their life because of who you are and what you do."
She had had enough. Though tears were filling her eyes like the sea would at high tide, Sage clenched her teeth and gave him a challenging look. His response didn't matter to her. She just wanted him to finally leave her alone for good. When he attempted to answer, she shut him down without actually saying anything herself. Her eyes had told him enough.
"Out you go!" she exclaimed, raising her wand to point right between his eyes.
"You are seriously threatening me now?" he asked, trying to ridicule her. But Sage..? Sage wasn't having any of it.
"I suggest you do as I ask."
"Why should I be scared of you?"
"Because you made the grave mistake of teaching me all you know."
"Cunning. You get that from my side of the family."
And without another word.. he was gone.
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Author's note: Chapter 50!!!!! It feels so good to be back!! Hope you had a good time since the last chapter was published and still are interested in this story!! I'll have to cut back on updates from now, though I'd like to stick to three updates a week. If there are any days on which you'd prefer the chapters to be published on, please let me you know!! :-)
Thank you for supporting me through taking this break, it truly means a lot to me!!! :-)
Until then, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and maybe leave me some of your thoughts on it!! :-)
