Hi everyone! It's been a year! I really want to finish this, I intended it be a 40-chapter story, so it'd be a waste if I'm more than halfway and just leave it there when I have every single chapter plot written up and ready to go. I am currently enjoying my holidays and I don't have much work yet, so I hope I can write a few more before life pulls me back to reality.
"Meet me at Tuesday Cafe, 5pm sharp."
Soon as Hermione sent the message, she let out a deep breath. She had not seen Diana for a very long time. The last memory of her was her in the hospital, holding a grudge against Lucius. It must have been months, for she almost forgot how she looked like. All she could remember was the strong hatred.
Tuesday Cafe was almost empty at this time of the day. People were heading home and the staff members appeared more exhausted after the busy hours. Some of them were stretching their backs, and some were leaning against the wall, staring at the emptiness of the shop.
Hermione ordered a hot tea. Though most British would order coffee at a cafe, she decided that drinking tea would be a better choice. Staring at the drizzle outside, somehow she felt uneasy. She had no idea what Diana had been doing these days, even her mother had no idea.
The bell attached to the door rang, and Hermione pulled her gaze to the door. Diana was wearing a thick trench coat. Her hair was damp from the drizzle. Soon as she sat down in front of Hermione, she snapped, "What's the deal?"
"How have you been?" said Hermione, trying her best to be friendly and sincere.
"Still alive."
The staff brought Hermione's tea to the table and asked, "Do you need anything else?"
"No, thank you."
Diana's eyes never moved away from Hermione. Feeling a little uneasy, Hermione began, "Mother has been worried. She hasn't seen you for a long time."
"I don't care."
Hermione was slightly taken aback by her cold response.
"You knew about your identity long time ago, didn't you?"
Diana leered at her. Her stare was threatening, as though she wanted to get rid of her sister. Had her stare been daggers, Hermione would have been stabbed and killed.
"So?" Diana said nonchalantly, trying very hard to remain unemotional.
"Lucius had been helping you all these years—"
"He should. If it wasn't him, I'd be living happily with my mother…my father…I wouldn't have to suffer. I would be—"
"Rebecca and Lemures didn't want the baby," explained Hermione. "Lucius convinced them to keep you. He paid for everything—"
"Well he should do it!" insisted Diana. "Do you know how hard it is to have this in your head for ten years? Ten whole years! I have been living with strangers for my whole life!"
"Diana, we are your family!"
"No, you are not! My family is Rebecca Wilkins and Lemures Malfoy!"
There was an awkward moment of silence after she said that. Hermione did not know what to say. Their parents had always treated Diana like their own, and Hermione loved her as a sister. There was not a shred of doubt that Diana did not belong to the family.
"Diana," said Hermione, holding back her tears. "Mum and Dad have always loved you. Sometimes I know that they love you more than they love me."
"I find that hard to believe," scoffed Diana.
"Do you remember that when you were young, mother tried so hard to get you a place at Kensington Preparatory School," said Hermione. "She did everything to help you get in. And for the next fifteen years, she put all her attention on you. And so did Dad. You wanted to have riding lessons, they immediately enrolled you to one. You wanted to go see a concert, Dad drove you there. You have everything you want."
"Shut up!" screamed Diana, and she abruptly stood up. Her movement caused the table to shake and tea poured onto Hermione's arm. The sharp pain almost made Hermione scream. Her skin was burning and immediately a big red patch appeared on her forearm. This shocked Diana. Though she was in a bad mood, it was never her intention to harm her sister. She took a few steps back, still dazed with horror. Hermione covered her red patch with her other hand and looked at Diana, then said, "Diana, I hope you could let go and come back. Mother misses you."
Diana was still traumatised by what she had just done, for she stood without moving, taking huge quick breaths. Hermione took the opportunity to hold her sister's arms and stared intently into her eyes, then said,
"It's the past already. Don't dwell in it. Don't make yourself suffer. We love you, that's what matters, right?"
She flung her arms and escaped from Hermione's grasp. Slowly she tottered back a few steps, then barged out of the cafe, running across the busy road intersection. Hermione tried to follow her, but when she went outside, her sister had disappeared into the crowd.
For the rest of the evening and night, Hermione sat quietly by the windowsill with a cup of hot night time tea warming up her palms. Her hand was still slightly red from the thermal burn at the cafe, but she had felt much better after running her hand in cold water. Just when she took a sip, her phone rang. She quickly put down her cup of tea and answered the phone.
"Mum?"
"Darling…thank you for talking to Diana."
"Where is she? Is she alright?"
"She said she had thought about it. She wished to put everything behind and start a new life."
Hermione smiled and let out a breath of relief.
"That's good to hear."
"She will be moving to New York."
"New York?"
"She says it's easier to find a job that fits her there. Don't worry, I will go there with her. She will be fine."
"But my wedding is in two weeks—"
"Don't worry, I will come back for your wedding. How can I miss my sweetheart's big day?"
A knock rang at the door and Hermione quickly hung up. Lucius went into the room and sat beside her, planting a soft slow kiss on her temple.
"What is it?"
"Diana is willing to start a new life in New York."
"That's great."
Lucius held her hand and kissed the back of her hand. Hermione let out a soft hiss as his lips touched the burned area. Lucius noticed and asked, "What happened?"
"It's nothing. It was just an accident. It's better now."
"Let me get you some healing ointment."
