Annabelle

It's been a week. All this time I was walking like I was down in the water. I tried to be in public places as little as possible, because it seemed to me that everyone was looking at me and chuckling after that ill-fated grandmother's Howler. Of course, the whole school knew about what had happened, well, at least our entire faculty knew for sure. But if that were the main problem.

After the conversation with Snape, I couldn't calm down for a long time. I was shaking all over with fear, I could not sleep at night, suffering from insomnia, and this continued until, from overwork, I fainted right in the Potions lesson. Thankfully, Professor Slughorn is a really nice and kind person. He treated me with understanding and even with a certain amount of care, or something.

Of course, I told Aurora all the information that hung like a heavy burden on my heart, because I have no friends closer than her. I didn't know what to do with it. The first and logical decision that came to mind was to really not disturb Draco, so I tried to avoid him as soon as he left the infirmary.

Sitting at breakfast in the morning, I twitched nervously when I saw an owl flying towards me. I instantly grabbed the envelope that fell in front of me and opened it, afraid of what might be inside.

"My dear girl!

I am very disappointed with...

that I could not personally see how you used the spell of our family!

Bravo, Annabelle! I can only imagine Snape's twisted expression!

I'm incredibly proud of you!

You shouldn't let anyone hurt you! A lot has piled on you now and I'm so bitter that I can't help you, but know that I'm always on your side!

No matter how you teach this brat a new lesson, I will always support you.

And don't worry about your grandmother's threats, if anything, we'll run away from home together!

Love you,

Dad"

After reading the letter from my father, my heart felt so warm. Probably for the first time this whole week, I smiled. Dad loved me very much and I knew that he would do anything for me. Like me for him.

Immediately those same words of our Head flashed through my mind again and something painfully squeezed in my chest. I worried a lot about my father. I was often told that my character is all in him, that we both cannot sit still and often find adventure on our own heads. And if, as it seemed to me, I could control myself, then my father was an even more unrestrained person, unable to remain silent and sit still. Even more than me. And I was afraid that he might be cocky even with the Dark Lord. Especially now, when our lives are hanging by a thread.

I did not notice how another owl landed in front of Aurora and me.

"Look, Anna, this is a letter to both of us," my friend's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"From whom? Open and read quicker!"

"Dear Miss Black and Miss Lestrange. Your outstanding abilities, both in certain types of potions and in masterful execution of ancient spells, have impressed me greatly. On the occasion of the next meeting of my club, I invite you to join us for dinner tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp. Sincerely, Professor Slughorn."

We stared at each other in shock. This news was at the same time joyful, since both of us had long wanted to get into the notorious Slug Club, and slightly disturbing.

"Did he figure out that we used Amortentia on Draco?" I voiced my thoughts, lowering my voice to a whisper.

"Apparently, yes. It's amazing that the professor invites us to the club, and does not assign detention."

"He's droll," I shrugged, and we smiled again.

*

Sitting at the round table of the Slug Club, it was hard not to appreciate the splendor of this reception. Slughorn, a lover of luxury, gifts and other signs of attention, ordered to lay the table no worse than on any holiday. Everything was here: all kinds of ice cream, muffins, profiteroles, chocolate, caramel sticks and other sweets. Club members gladly ate everything on both cheeks.

It was surprising how few Slytherins were here. Or rather, just the two of us and Zabini, near whom we sat. Opposite us sat one Ravenclaw and Gryffindors — Granger, Potter, Ginny Weasley and some handsome, tall guy, apparently a year older, who immediately winked at me when we met eyes. I chuckled at him automatically.

As it turned out, it was Cormac McLaggen, the nephew of some ministerial bigwig. He kept talking about how he and his uncle and other well-known ministerial workers often went hunting.

I didn't notice that I was staring at the guy as he talked about how to hunt Nogtails, which are almost elusive demon-like creatures. His story fascinated me, I immediately imagined how this stately, broad-shouldered guy was riding a horse, and a dozen hounds were racing ahead of him. The wind blows his golden curls, he confidently stays in the saddle and looks so courageous. Brave, self-confident, obviously ready to rush towards any adventure. The complete opposite of my fiance. Too bad he's a Gryffindor.

I almost jumped from Ora's light elbow in my side, waking up from my dreams, and looked at her inquiringly.

"You're staring too much," she whispered to me with a chuckle. And I immediately pretended not to understand what she meant.

But apparently she wasn't the only one who noticed this, because Cormac, somehow slyly squinting, looked at me, smiling smugly.

"Well, the next meeting will be festive. I'm planning to throw a party, so be sure to bring a couple for the dance!" said Slughorn solemnly, and than said goodbye to everyone.

*

The next day, at dinner, the same Ravenclaw who had been at Slughorn's yesterday came up to me and handed me a small box. I was surprised, but accepted the gift, thanking the guy, never bothering to remember his name.

"Wow, Anna, you have a secret admirer!" Aurora winked merrily at me.

I hurriedly pulled off the red ribbon from the box and gasped when I opened it. Inside was a red rose, my favorite flower. Fresh, fragrant and, of course, magical, because it's almost December. I brought it up to my face, inhaling the heady aroma, and only then noticed the note. Curiosity got the better of me and I put the flower aside to unroll the parchment:

"To a lovely rose, as beautiful as this flower.

Hoping to get an agreement to accompany you to a Slughorn's festive ball.

C. McLaggen"

"Mm... Wow, how romantic," Ora drawled, grinning. "And what, will you answer him with consent?"

I thought for a moment. Indeed, it was all insanely romantic and just in time! It was just what my soul needed to calm down, at least for a while, until I figured out how to handle my problems. In the meantime, perhaps it was worth allowing myself to enjoy such romance. Moreover, it was new to me and very flattering. Draco never gave me gifts for no reason, never made beautiful, romantic gestures, never courted me, as it should be for two truly in love, which we were not.

"I don't know..." I shrugged, bringing the rose up to my face again and stared across the table into the crowd of Gryffindors, noticing that Cormac had apparently been trying to see my reaction all this time. "Perhaps…" I smiled.

*

All the time before Slughorn's party, I received gifts and courtesies from McLaggen. Once, not far from the entrance to our common room, there was a box of sweets with my name on it, then, as I later guessed; a house elf from the kitchen came to us right in the bedroom and strewn my bed with flowers (how did he persuade her?); at other times, owls brought letters with famous and insanely romantic poems.

The Slytherins were whispering behind my back, but I didn't care. I even calmly walked past Pansy, who was sitting on the arm of Draco's chair, leaning over him so that she was about to be on his lap, and openly hugging him. I had so much fun then that I didn't even notice his piercing look at my back when I left the common room to send Cormac a letter agreeing to go with him to the party. And even if I noticed, I didn't care. Let him do what he wants and with whom he wants, just like with whom I want, I go to the dance with that.

All of this was distracting me. From the fear for my father's life, from the threat looming over us, from the terrifying thoughts about the future, from the inevitable marriage and everything that has piled on me.

I could not stand such changes and constant being in a state of stress. I wanted to forget, to run away, to ignore everything that was happening, to do anything to avoid thinking about it. I wanted all this to be just a nightmare and nothing more, and the familiar world to return to normal.

I just wanted to be myself, finally, without terrible problems that fell on my head like a bolt from the blue; unburdened by matters of life and death.

I wanted to be an ordinary and free from obligation girl, who is so beautifully and romantically looked after, in whom attention and interest are shown, and not all these constant quarrels and full of contempt looks that I was terribly tired of.

Don't I deserve it?