AN:
Warning: contains mild violence against a child
Written for the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition Season 9
Round: Round 5
Team: Puddlemere United
Position: Beater 2: Unfairness
Word count: 1086
OPTIONAL PROMPTS:
1. (object) pocket watch
2. (dialogue) "I wouldn't blame you if you hated me."
Amelia Bones was exhausted; she had been working nonstop ever since her family was killed by Death Eaters. Her parents, her brothers and their wives and children, all massacred in the name of that damned Dark Lord. Susan had survived though; her niece had been a fighter and lived through that tragedy.
Amelia had been on a mission for the Auror Department during the time of the attack and had escaped the same fate as her family. Afterwards, she was told she had been lucky, that she had been spared for a reason, but she couldn't see it. Standing in front of what had once been her home, she had wept a sobbed for the innocent lives lost, for her family and her Susan.
She had made a promise to herself and her family that she would raise Susan to the best of her ability. That she would take care of her and love her no matter what happened. And she had lived by that for five years now.
But she didn't have breaks, she couldn't just stop for one second and relax. She always had to be moving, working and raising a child that depended solely on her. She loved Susan like her own, she did, but some days it was too much to handle.
Today was one of those days, she had woken up late, and had to get both herself and Susan ready, only to remember that the person who was supposed to watch the small girl wasn't available today. Having forgotten to make other plans for the child, she decided to take Susan with her to work.
At first, it had been easy enough, Susan had fallen asleep not long after arriving at the office. That had been a blessing, Amelia had been able to complete some work and just breath for a bit. When the girl had woken up though, all hell had broken loose. She cried and shouted hoping to get what she wanted from her aunt. But the woman, as always, had been unyielding and had met the little child head on.
The tantrums didn't stop though and Amelia was getting more and more annoyed and frustrated. The five-year-old was bored and her aunt and the entire department knew it.
Amelia had tried to keep an eye on her as best as she could but after scolding her repeatedly for touching various objects, she transfigured her playground and placed her within it. She placed a variety of games and plushies inside and hoped something would pick up the girl's interest. But nothing did and Amelia was once again faced with a crying child. She absentmindedly cast a silencing charm on her office and hoped Susan would stop soon.
After some time, Susan stops wailing and starts playing with her games. A sign of relief escapes the older woman, her head was pounding from the cries. Trying to focus back on her work, the auror was able to complete some of her paperwork. When the office fell silent, she knew something was up, anyone with a kid knew that when the child was being quiet, he was misbehaving.
Looking up from her work – dread already settling into her – horror flashed across her face. There,in Susan's hand, was a pocket watch. The same pocket watch which had been in her family for centuries, the one her father had given her when she had started auror training. It was her most precious possession. And there Susan held it in her hands getting ready to throw it.
The uttered 'No' was too late as she watched in dismay as her precious watch crashed into the wall. A loud cracking sound ripped through the room and met the ears of the woman whose eyes had widened comically. Tears soon welled up in them as she stared helpless at the shattered pieces of the pocket watch.
"What have you done!" came her booming voice as she slapped her hand on the surface of her desk. A loud noise flowed through the office startling the unsuspecting child who started crying when faced with the violent reaction.
Amelia wasn't thinking clearly at that moment, her mind was clouded with grief and the day's frustration. She stood up fast and made her way towards the crying child. Without thinking, she held up her hand and let in fall on the five-years-old hand causing the child to start wailing and stepping away from her aunt.
The pained cries pierced Amelia's haze and she stared in horror as the little girl stepped away from her. Guilt and shame overtook her in that moment; lips quivering, she tried to step closer to her niece, but the little girl shielded away clutching at her hand where her aunt had struck.
"Susan…" Amelia breathed out pleadingly, arms extending. The little girl shook her head and caved in more on herself.
"Susan, baby… I didn't mean to hit you… or shout at you. Please baby, come here," she pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes at the sight of her baby pulling away from her.
"Noo…you mean.." the little girl told her as more sobs took hold of her small body. The sight broke something inside of Amelia and she kneeled in front of Susan and looked at her pleadingly.
"Love, look at me, I didn't mean to hit you or scream at you. I'm sorry, really really sorry," she told her in an apologetic voice. She was angry at herself for reacting the way she did, she knew logically that Susan didn't mean to break the watch. That the girl didn't know any better, she was young, and her actions reflected her young age.
"I wouldn't blame you if you hated me." Susan stared back at her aunt and still sniffling back sobs, she propelled herself in her arms and held onto her. More sobs racked the little body and Amelia held on to her, trying her best to soothe her. She peppered kisses all over her face and held on to her.
When the girl finally calmed down, she buried herself more into her aunt.
"I'm sorry my love, I really didn't mean to hurt you. I'm really sorry. Forgive me?" Susan nuzzled more into her and nodded.
"I love you baby," Amelia said, kissing the girl's head.
"Love you, My," the girl murmured, using her nickname for her aunt, and Amelia smiled a little. Maybe it would be okay. She had reacted unfairly, and she would learn, she would do better.