Harry Potter and the True Muggles
By Trephinia Cealyn
Chapter 14 | Stick 'em Up
The room blurred and then faded from sight, she landed in a pile of soft grass.
"Hello there child."
"Who are you?"
The grass faded away and she fell into her bed.
"Who are you?"
"I asked first."
The room spun and flung her away with violence.
"I asked second."
"Are you my mum?"
"Don't play games with me child."
High white ceilings surrounded the girl on each side.
"What do you want from me?"
"Well Aphrael, you're going to have to answer that yourself now aren't you?"
"Who are you? Why can't I see you?"
"You wouldn't want to see me."
"Why not?"
The room changed again. Flute's sleeping face filled the girl's mind.
"I'd like to make a proposition for you."
"I'm not interested."
"Why don't you hear the proposition before you decline it?"
"I'm listening."
"You will spy on the girl and then when I give the word you'll kill her."
"What's in it for me?"
"I'll allow you to live, more than I offered your mother."
The girl's eyes narrowed in fury, "Murderer."
"I let you think about it… I'll get back to you in two years. She'll be 11 by then."
The colors swirled chaotically and Aphrael the furrie woke.
"Aphrael! Aphrael where are you?" Flute said flinging pillows about recklessly.
//Over here under the bed miss.//
//Call me Flute… why the formality all of a sudden.//
//Pick me up. There's something we need to talk about.//
"Flute!" Talon said opening the door without knocking.
//We'll talk later okay?//
//Alright//
"What do you want?" Flute said not turning to face him, "Traitor."
"Stop that Flute!"
Flute turned around slowly, "Stop what? Pouting? Feeling sad! He took away my best friend Talon!"
"And you're taking away mine." He shouted at her.
Flute glared at him, "We aren't friends we're siblings."
"We used to be friends. Before you left me and went off to the Quidditch Match." Talon turned to leave.
"Wait," Flute said holding out her hand to stop him. She reached under her mattress and pulled out a crumpled picture, "look at this." She tossed the picture at his feet.
He stooped to pick it up and froze as his fingers closed around it, "Mum…"
Flute nodded. "Hermione gave it to me."
"Why didn't you show me it before?" Talon accused standing.
"I had other things on my mind." Flute snatched the picture from his hands; she turned and flounced onto her bed. "Go 'way."
"Flute it's our 9th birthday," Talon said walking towards the bed, "Will you come out and play later, Father bought us brooms."
"I will… give me a few minutes to get changed." Flute stood up and wandered towards her closet.
"Okay Flute," Talon said happily.
"Okay Talon," Flute smiled.
Flute passed by his study carrying her broom over her shoulder, "Come here child." He said his voice strained.
Flute paused considering her options.
"It wasn't a question."
Flute stalked into the study.
Draco held up a scrap of paper, "Who gave you this?"
Flute leaned closer and realized it was the picture of her mother, "Give it back." She demanded holding out her hand.
Draco tossed it into the fire. Flute leaped after it but was restrained by Draco.
"I hate you," she yelled in a fury, "You won't even talk about her!"
"She didn't exist!" Draco yelled back tears rolling down her face, "I will hear no more of this matter."
"I hate you I hate you I hate you!!!" She screeched, "Couldn't even let me keep a picture eh? A picture can't hurt you!"
"What do you know about it? You weren't there! She wasn't there!"
"Why won't you talk about her?" Flute sobbed, "I don't even know my own mother and it's all your fault!"
"Don't say that!" Draco protested, "Do you think I wanted her to die?"
"You couldn't even bear to look at me! Is that why you detest me so father! Is that why you hate me!"
"I'm your father, you can't talk to me in that manner!"
"I have no father," she said spitefully.
Draco held her shoulders, "Flute…"
"I hate you! That was all I had left of her!" Flute pushed away from his in vain.
"Your wrong," Draco said quietly releasing her, "Go to bed."
Flute turned on her heel and before slamming the door she whispered, "I hate you and I'll hate you forever."
"Don't make promises you can't keep daughter." Draco said to the closed door.
Flute ran to her room and buried her face into the pillow. "I hate him! I hate his stinking guts! That putrid, disgusting bastard! I hate I hate I hate HIM!"
An owl crashed through the window carrying a package. She released him from his burden and pulled the wrapping paper off the gift.
Another tear slid down Flute's face, "Tom…" It was a picture book album full of her mother smiling at her. There were two of them, one for her and one for Tom.
Dear Flute and Talon,
Mother thought you might like these. I agree with her. Happy birthday you two! In two birthdays we'll get our letters from Hogwarts. Have your dad take you to Diagon Alley on the 16 of August. Meet me in Madame Malkin's.
Exclusively yours,
Thomas Potter
//Can we talk now Flute?//
//About what?//
//You'll find out when we talk.//