Ebony dragged her trunk down the stairs, wincing as it thudded on every step, knowing full well that her father wouldn't appreciate her battering the floor but she wasn't strong enough to lift it. Once at the bottom, she shoved it by the door of the living room and went to the bathroom.
She looked into the mirror and sighed. The bruise across her cheekbone had now turned a nasty purple yellow despite her efforts. There was no way to hide it, Neville was bound to ask questions, he always did. Ebony knew it was out of concern but sometimes she wished he would just shut up and mind his own damn business.
If only she had kept her mouth shut.
To be fair she never intended for anyone to hear, a mutter during one of her mother's rants, a comment on the stupidity of blood purity. She shouldn't have expected anything less than a smack across the face. It seemed that even after 13 years she underestimated her parents' short tempers.
Imagine if they knew she was friends with Neville.
"EBONY", her mother screeched from the hall. The bathroom clock read 9:30.
"Shit.." She muttered, slipping out of the bathroom.
Narcissa and Draco stood in the hall, Narcissa rambling on to her mother and Draco was picking at his cloak, clearly bored by the conversation. Thankfully Lucius and her father seemed to be elsewhere. Ebony crept over to them, hoping that perhaps they forgot that she was late.
"How nice of you to join us, darling." The cold tone and expression showed that her mother meant no affection with the remark. Ebony mumbled an apology and Bellatrix went back to the conversation with her sister.
"Hey", Ebony flashed a smile at Draco, who stood next to his mother, as he looked up from fiddling with his cloak to meet eyes with his cousin.
"Hi," he said before his eyes landed on her cheek. He opened his mouth as if to say something but was cut off by Lucius and Rodolphus coming down the stairs, loudly announcing that it was time to leave.
Bellatrix led her sister into the living room where the Floo was, quickly followed by Lucius who ushered his son away from Ebony, casting a knowing look at Rodolphus. Ebony picked up her trunk and made to follow them but her father held up his arm and stopped her.
"I trust that you won't forget our little discussion at breakfast" Rodolphus was staring her straight in the eyes.
"Of course not," Ebony said, giving her father a forced smile.
"Good." Her father squeezed her shoulder and followed the rest of the family into the next room.
Ebony looked at her father as he left and touched her shoulder where he had as if holding onto the small act of affection.
Then she followed the others into the next room.