Chapter 18 – Unanswered Owls
Draco,
When are you coming to my home? I'll be waiting. I think we really need to talk it all out. This is the height of ignoring me. I can't stand it anymore.
Love,
Natalie.
Draco,
Why the hell didn't you reply? This is not like you. What is really going on? Please tell me. Together we'll find a way. Talk to me, Drake.
Natalie.
Drake,
Mom's asking for you. She baked your favourite cookies today. They don't taste as good without you. Please visit me. I still don't get it how you're able to convince Butterscotch to come back without a reply, despite me instructing her not to come back without a reply.
Natalie.
This is too much Drake. You didn't speak to me since our last conversation. You wouldn't even look at me. It hurts. It hurts to know that I don't exist for you anymore. If it makes you feel any better, I'll not bring your father into any of our future conversations even if he tries to kill me.
Talk to me, Draco.
Natalie.
There's something I'm missing. I know something is up. You can't start behaving this way out of the blue. Something happened after your dad got arrested, didn't it? Drake, please you're really precious to me. Talk to me. I'm dying here. I really don't know how to spend my holidays without you. I mean, I go to Ron's home, it's fun, but I'm always missing you. I feel so empty without you.
Nat.
This is it. You've tested my patience enough. If I don't get a reply from you today, I'm going to barge into your home tomorrow. I will break down the enchantments around your home, if I have to. Or I'll get someone else to do it. You better reply to me, Draco.
An irritated Nat.
No fair! You got the floo network blocked. You're going out of our way to keep me away. I know something fishy is happening. I'll find out sooner or later. You better tell me now 'cause I'm going to be really mad if I find out later.
Nat.
Now, I'm mad. Like really mad, Draco Malfoy. I was willing to overlook the fact that you hid the information that I went crazy looking for. I was willing to overlook the fact that you decided to ignore me for no real reason…but now I'm going to hold all of this against you. This will be my last owl to you if don't reply to me, Drake. I mean it. You know how I can be when I'm angry.
A very angry Nat.
Draco this is not fair. Why the hell are you doing this? Are you serious doing fine without me? Are you trying to say you don't even think about me anymore? Is it so easy for you? Why the hell is it so easy for you? You just went on like I don't exist at all. Am I so easily disposable for you?
A very hurt and sad Nat.
This is how it's been going on for the past few days. I think it's been two weeks since I came home from Hogwarts. As soon as I got home from the station, I dropped my façade of normalcy and went straight to my room. I think, Andy handled the situation, that's why I didn't have anyone coming up to my room and disturbing me. I fell asleep crying.
The murders of Susan Bones and Emmeline Vance also got me worried. Death Eaters were out there killing people even more. The dementors were out there spreading gloom everywhere. Without Draco talking to me, I imagined all possible outcomes. I admit most of my imagined scenarios were not good. I was afraid for both Draco and Mrs. Malfoy. I don't want Draco to do anything wrong. A small voice in my head said he joined them. But I dismissed it as soon as the thought came into my mind. He's underage. He's of no use to Voldemort. But I couldn't stop that thought for a long time. It made me worry even more.
My parents and other siblings have tried talking to me but I really didn't want to repeat everything that happened again. It was too painful. I thought pain reduces as time passes but this only seems to increase with each day that passes. I spent most of my time either finishing off summer homework or at Ron's home. Things were pretty entertaining at his home. Even in the crazy atmosphere at his home, I still couldn't help think about what Draco was doing.
You see, Bill Weasley, Ron's oldest brother got engaged to Fleur Delacour. Remember her? She was in the Triwizard Tournament with Harry. She apparently joined Gringotts after completing studies at Beauxbatons. That's where they met and hit it off. At first, I thought it was crazy but then I saw Bill and Fleur together and how they seem to be lost in each other when they were together. Despite their differences they seemed to fit. Ginny and Mrs. Weasley are having a tough time accepting their engagement. Maybe it's only because Fleur is different. People have a tendency to shy away from things that are different from their normal way of life.
I agree, Fleur can be a bit too vain at times, but she is at least making an effort. She spends most of her free time at the Burrow trying to get to know Mrs. Weasley and the rest of the family. But I don't see Mrs. Weasley and Ginny make an effort. They are always complaining about her behind her back. Hermione arrived at the Burrow the day before yesterday. Surprisingly, even she took an immediate dislike towards Fleur. Maybe, I'm the only one giving the girl some benefit of the doubt.
I also wrote to Harry over the two weeks. Harry had somehow become my crutch. Writing to him was comforting because I knew at least he would reply. I was emotionally leaning towards Harry. Of course, I didn't tell Harry anything about Draco but the pain became more bearable when I read one of the letters from Harry.
Harry told me that Dumbledore was going to Privet Drive to pick him up. Dumbledore was going to drop him at the Burrow. We were told that Dumbledore and Harry were going to take a detour before they came to the Burrow. H, Ron and I started making guesses about the detour. Ron and I assumed that Dumbledore was going to show Harry something that would help him in defeating Voldemort. H was not ready to believe that. She assumed it was some sort of information. I just wanted Harry to come already and put an end to all the speculation. Plus, in a very long time, I was really excited to meet him again.
I wrote my letter of the day to Draco, sent Butterscotch to deliver it and flooed over to Ron's home. I could hear Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Fleur in the kitchen. I could tell they were already disagreeing on something.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Weasley! Hey Ginny! Hey Fleur!" I said quickly.
"Hello dear." Mrs. Weasley said happily. "Ron, Hermione and Harry are upstairs in the twins' room."
"'Ello, Natalie." Fleur said breezily.
"Harry's already here? But he was supposed to come some time later today." I felt a mixture of happiness and nervousness. I'm not sure how to behave in front of him. Ginny didn't look very happy to see me.
"You know how Dumbledore is. They were done sooner than expected so he brought him here last night." She said.
I nodded at her and made my way up to the twins' room. Fred and George moved into an apartment above their shop in Diagon Alley. I could hear them discuss something in the room. I decided to listen in, I didn't feel like interrupting conversation.
"He's going to give me private lessons this year." Harry said it like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"You kept that quiet!" Ron said. I could sense a bit of jealously in his voice.
"He told me just last night in your broom shed." Harry said a bit too quickly. He sensed the jealously as well I guess.
"Blimey…Private lessons with Dumbledore. I wonder why he's…?" Ron tailed off.
"Maybe, it's because of the prophecy." Harry said. My heart started beating faster. The prophecy broke.
"But the prophecy smashed." H stated it like it was the most obvious thing to say.
"That was not the only record of the prophecy. The prophecy was made to Dumbledore. I got to hear it after Dumbledore took me to his office after…everything that happened that night." Harry ended awkwardly.
A heavy silence set in. This meant Harry was really 'The Chosen One'. Come to think of it, I always knew it. We all always knew it but the confirmation of this made it seem even more real. The prophecy was made to Dumbledore, that's why he took a special interest in this. Harry needs H, Ron and I even more now. Suddenly a 'boom' came from the room. Harry and Ron screamed H's name. I ran in. I saw H was covered in a cloud of smoke. When the smoke settled, I saw that H had a black eye.
"Is it true, Harry?" I asked.
This was the first time, the three of them noticed me in the room. Harry set his breakfast tray aside and came to me and hugged me tight. He kissed me on my temple. He grew taller. Was he already taller before? I really didn't pay attention before the vacation began.
"Is it true?" I asked again.
He pulled back a little. "Yes."
"Are…are you scared?"
"I was…when I was first told about this." He confessed. I was wondering if he was downplaying it because I was scared. I think he saw the fear in my eyes. "I'm not scared right now. Calm down."
I managed a small smile. But I didn't let go off him. He didn't make an attempt to let go off me either.
"When Dumbledore said he was going to take you somewhere we thought it was something related to the prophecy." Ron said.
"That's right. I wonder what Dumbledore's going to teach you, Harry? Maybe, he'll teach you really advance defensive magic, advance counter-jinxes. Well at least we know you'll have one lesson more than us. I wonder when our O.W.L. results will come?"
"They should be here soon." Ron said.
"Hang on. Dumbledore told me that we would be getting our results some time today."
Hearing this H went to panic mode. She started asking Harry why he hadn't told her before. She went down not caring about her black eye.
"I think, I should go and get her to calm down." I said tentatively.
"Like that is possible." Ron said with a smirk.
"The least I can do is try." I looked at Harry and said, "I'll let you finish breakfast and change."
He nodded and kissed me on my forehead. "I'll see you downstairs."
When I went down, I saw H was making everyone nervous with her nervous energy. I tried to calm her down but she snapped at me and I decided to keep a safe distance from her. Harry and Ron came down after a few minutes. Harry took a seat next to me and slid his hand into mine. I smiled at him.
A few minutes later, H shrieked from the window. "Look, look, those are definitely owls."
"They are definitely four of them." Ron said. He was standing next to H. Harry and I stood on the other side looking at the owls. I know one of us should open the window so the owls could fly in but we couldn't move a muscle. The owls are so going to crash into the window. I wondered if I flooed to home right now, will the owl carrying my results come to my home? squeezed in between and opened the window at the right moment.
The owls flew in and settled on the table in one straight line. This is it. This letter is going to tell me if I return to Hogwarts this year or no. We reached for our respective results one after the other.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades : Outstanding (O) ; Exceeds Expectations (E) ; Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades : Poor (P) ; Dreadful (D) ; Troll (T)
NATALIE ELIZABETH SHEPHERD ACHIEVED
Ancient Runes : E
Arithmancy : E
Astronomy : E
Care of Magical Creatures : O
Charms : O
Defence Against the Dark Arts : O
Herbology : O
History of Magic : A
Potions : O
Transfiguration : O
I can't believe I scored 'Outstanding' in Potions. This happened only because Draco helped. Draco…the sad feeling gripped again. I wish there was a way to find out his grades. By the time, I finished going through my grades, the boys had already swapped their results and high-fived each other on their results.
Harry looked at me, "What about you?"
I gave him my results. Harry failed Divination and History of Magic. I guess, those subjects don't really matter. "Congrats, Harry."
"Elizabeth? Really? Your middle name is Elizabeth?" Harry asked. I shrugged. "Congrats, Nat." He pulled me into a tight embrace. I wondered if this is enough. If I let Draco go, can Harry take his place? No, nobody can take the place that Draco holds in my life.
"Thanks." I kissed him on his cheek.
Ron had snatched Hermione's results. She got 'Outstanding' in everything except Defence Against the Dark Arts. She got 'Exceeds Expectations' in DADA. She was still disappointed. How can she be disappointed with 'Outstanding' in nine subjects? We all laughed at her while she looked sheepishly at us.
"Harry, I'm gonna go home. I'm sure Mom and Dad are waiting to know my results. They'll want to know."
"Ya. Will you come back again later?" He asked hopefully.
I smiled at his eagerness, "Not today. I'm sure we'll have a small family get together tonight since the results are out. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Fine. But before you go…" Harry pulled me to the backyard. "I was thinking we could have our own private celebration."
I felt heat rise in my cheeks. "Harry, I'm still thinking about it. I don't want to rush into anything."
He didn't look sad but concerned. "Talk to me, Nat. Tell me why are you being so hesitant?"
I'm surprised he asked me this but I still answered him. "I'm just scared. If something like that were to happen again I don't think I can take it. I'll break, Harry." Honestly, I'm already broken. When Draco stopped being friends with me, I broke. No one can take that pain away.
"I know, I'm sorry. If you let me, I want to make it up to you."
I knew he meant every word he said. Maybe, I need to stop thinking of Draco. I can't force someone to stay in my life.
I hugged him. "I'm willing to try." I said into his chest.
I left his lips in my hair. I knew he needed more reassurance. Words were not enough. I lifted my head so I could kiss him. The kiss warmed me up. When the kiss ended Harry had the cutest smile on his face. I couldn't help but return it.
When I got back home, I showed Mom my results. She was happy with my grades. As expected, Andy got Outstanding in all the subjects. I floo called Dad, Mike and Will at their respective work places and read out my grades to them. They were ecstatic. I asked Mom to make a copy of my results.
Draco,
I passed all the subjects. I'm so glad I passed. I even managed to get 'O' in Potions. Surprising, I know. Thank you, Thank you for spending all that time with me so I could score well. I'm sure you must have gotten great grades as well. Congrats. I'm still waiting for a reply and I'm still waiting for you to visit. I miss you. I wish you were here with me.
I'm sending you a copy of my results as well.
Love, Nat.
Please read and review! Thank you for reading so far! Tell me what you think! I will try to post chapters regularly please be patient!
Enjoy! Neepa...:-)
