Chapter 2: Dinner
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The only audible sound in the room was the soft clinking of forks touching plates and glasses being placed upon the table, lifted, swirled, and set down again. They were eating pork. It was positively delicious and her hand clenched beneath the table in hunger. She had a small portion of the meat on her plate, and she was determined to finish every last ounce, for she was not to have any more. It would be most unbecoming of her to eat more than her husband and she need not gain any pounds. The candles glowed softly in the room.
"My parents are having a small gathering next week. We are expected to attend. I will be wearing the new robes I purchased yesterday. They are blue." he said to her from the other end of the table, the distance between them making his voice very difficult to hear.
What was he wearing?
"Of course, dear." she replied. She had barely heard him but responded as she usually did. He rarely asked anything that required more than an appraising look and some words that made it clear she had understood.
"What will you wear?" he asked, not raising his voice only slightly.
"A dress, darling."
"What color?" he asked, lowering his fork and raising his eyes.
She carefully lifted her glass, sparing her a few moments to think, and she swallowed thickly. The candle holder in front of her seemed hazy for a moment, and vertically inscribed were the words Blue, my love. She put down her glass.
"Blue, my love." she responded, a wave of calm passing over her. Two large, green orbs glowed in the corner behind him. She nodded her head in appreciation. The elf blinked in response then stepped back into the darkness silently.
He waved his hand flippantly and the food disappeared. The house elves were heard adding the final touches to the dessert and his hand waved again. The luscious cakes and puddings they typically enjoyed appeared and she was served by a floating spoon. Hardly two scoops of rice pudding. She picked up her spoon and took only the smallest bites, trying to preserve the flavor seeing as she was given so little. Mr. Malfoy had a rather large serving of cake and she stared enviously at his dessert. She was rather peeved tonight, seeing as they had prepared her favorite meal and it was so quickly taken away and now she had only a handful of dessert. Normally it would not faze her in the slightest, but tonight, she was peeved.