A week had gone by since the check-up, and the owl I had really been expecting had yet to come and I expected it had something to do with the fact that I was a tad bit more prominent than the man whom was supposed to write me. The Ministry's eagerness to please those who donated to them was astounding, although I could almost see Nurse's hand in the quick delivery.
The clatter of dishes falling to the floor brought me to attention, alerting me that Golby's morning chores had been interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Setting aside the croissant I had been enjoying lazily, I watched my bedroom doorway expectedly, finally smiling as Golby fetched in a pale, parchment envelope.
"Is that for me?" I asked sweetly, my mood lifting drastically at the sight of it. The house-elf bobbed his head and set it on my breakfast tray before disappearing once again. Dusting my hands off, I broke the seal and flipped it open excitedly. I beamed at the fluid writing, my expectations met, and glanced at the signature at the bottom, reassuring myself that finally he was off restriction.
"Madam Abernathy," I said aloud as I threw off the covers. The breakfast tray had hurried to settle on the far side of the bed, fearful of being tipped over. "I hope that the Ministry has left you well, although I'm a bit worse of wear. I hope you don't mind a bit of tardiness with this letter, the restriction spells they placed on my home wouldn't have allowed a bowtruckle, so an owl to a friend was temporarily, as you can tell, out of the question."
Stepping over a fallen pillow, I nearly stumbled, trying to slip on a slipper as I kept my eye locked on the page.
"The week's been a bit uneventful, and the desire for company has outbid any objection from inborn modesty, so I've invited a small group of cohorts for an early lunch this Thursday, and schedule permitting, you are more than invited to join us. We'll either be at the Three Broomsticks, in Hogsmeade, or the Leaky Cauldron, in Diagon Alley of course. I'll confirm the choice by Wednesday morning, at the latest.
If you have a preference, please owl me back when you've the time.
Pleasantly yours."
I snorted in amusement. 'Signed, Remus Lupin.'
His letter had an air of friendly delight, a light feel of relaxed wittiness that made me jump to my feet, in a manner of speaking, to accept his offer. It was only Sunday but I was ready to hop onto the Knight Bus at that very moment.
Folding the letter up, and setting it on my nightstand, I shucked off my sleeping clothes and dipped into the bathing room to clean my sleepy self up. When I returned, Golby had already straightened up my room, and left a glass of pumpkin juice next to my letter. It was now, however, accompanied by a small stack of others, the top most marked properly by one of Rupert's wax seals.
It seemed that every one of my hospital cohorts had been released, and ready to rant. Running a brush through my hair I picked up Rupert's letter and slid a nail through the wax seal. Rupert's voice filled the room immediately, and I winced, bracing myself for the long-winded seethe that came.
"Umbridge has that Ministry wrapped so tightly around her ring finger that any sanity it had possessed before her arrival has, if not earlier, been abandoned. An entire week, they kept me jailed in my own home, and if it weren't enough, my own servants weren't allowed out of their home." Pulling the brush through a particularly bad snarl, I winced, slowly making my way back towards my bureau for my wand with the howler trailing behind me like a lapdog.
"I can't tell you how completely serious I am when I say I am going to raise a complaint against this now"
The rest of my day was framed by those morning letters, and although many of them ranged from fury to bitterness, the impeding act of actually leaving the house for a social cause had lifted my spirits. I was the last one to admit that however much I liked enclose myself, I still enjoyed the company of others, and I often had to remind myself of that fault. The hours had gone by quickly after that, what with the cleaning the house was put under by my enthusiastic house elf.
However, my uplifted attitude took a turn for the worse with an outing to Diagon Alley two days after I'd received his letter. We had travelled, once again, by the Knight Bus, for things I had ordered especially from Madam Malkin's, and Flourish and Blotts', as well as another store whose name I always forgot. It was easily found, however, as it had a large red statue of Merlin standing by its doorway.
"I would have thought you were dead by now, Abernathy." The air had been far more pleasant than my back garden. Though well tended, the good vibrations from human activity made Diagon Alley far more enjoyable than lounging at home. Turning around, I searched for whom had spoken, before finally realizing that he was standing right in front of me.
"After all, you're hardly seen outside the walls of your home." Locked in a cool gaze, though his manner suggested otherwise, I inwardly threw up my defences, knowing all too well I was not 'approved' of by the more social elites of the wizarding society. Knowing the man before me, his pleasant facade was nothing more than that, and his airy greeting was nothing more than a hidden insult.
Lucius Malfoy was a shady man, and undoubtedly he and his knew about my state, if not from my family way-back-when, from sources as.. well, as shady as the package in his hand. Barely glancing at the parcel tucked neatly in the fold of his arm, I returned my gaze to the man's face and found myself yet again in another brief staring contest before clearing my throat.
"Good morning, Master Malfoy," I responded respectfully, bowing my head a fraction. Something flickered in his expression, and I frowned slightly. Yes, he knew exactly why I was absent from the socialite circles my parents had once been in. That is, before they went off to explore Africa. Perhaps even before I'd been bitten.
"What exactly has kept you away? Narcissa, my wife, was just telling me the other day, how much of a pity it was you were so busy. Is it difficult?"
"Difficult, sir?" I asked, almost snapping, my chin raising defensively. His cold exterior began to melt away; he was enjoying this little game he was playing on me.
"Difficult being so busy of course. With your calendar changing so much. You're doing so many things to keep your residence up, we all have trouble keeping track. It's almost like trying to track the moon."
"The moon is hardly difficult to track," I said briskly, clasping my hands all the tighter. I scowled darkly as I realized what I had said, and watching him brighten up I knew he'd gotten what he wanted. I straightened and licked my lips before trying to take it back. "Anyone could do it. Look at the muggles."
"Ah, but only the dedicated truly care." I had never gotten on well with the Malfoys, nor any other 'well-to-do' family in the social circles. At least the ones who thought like the man in front of me. I never could stand to be among people, let alone those who looked down on me. And more than likely rumoured about my condition.Before I could reply, I felt a familiar presence by my hip, and had to barely look down to see that Golby was now standing beside me, carrying packages. I hadn't wanted to risk being recognized, even though I had ordered them, it lead to confrontations much like this. The hinting, the prying.
"A pleasure, Master Malfoy, as always, but I must be going. Golby, has everything been picked up?" Golby murmured an affirmative, bowing his head as low as possible with his arms full towards the blonde wizard; he knew how to act just as I did in front of wizards with 'high standards.'
"It was all mine." I was sure it was. I frowned again, allowing my plastered expression of polite interest to fall away. Turning after watching the wizard walk away, I snapped my fingers for the house elf to follow, expecting to hear his soft footfalls to paddle along behind me. All I heard was the definite sound of something falling, and the curse of someone caught off guard. Looking over my shoulder I saw Lucius Malfoy hunched over, picking up the now misshapen package that had been in his arms.
I glanced down at Golby who looked far from innocent, but far from apologizing. He looked smug, on my behalf, but remorseful for having broken his code of duty. Frowning once again, not because of his sudden lack of subservient attitude, I crossed my arms. "Is something wrong, Golby?"
"No, Miss," he said, turning away from theangered warlock just as the man looked up with his parcel safely under his arm once again.
"Very good, Golby.