Chapter 14
It was the evening before my birthday. We had spent the day in Diagon Alley and I was looking forward to the morn. The sky had been slightly cloudy today, but no rain, and I wasn't looking forward to going home in two days time.
I was standing outside the ball room, draped like a prized doll on Montague's arm. Inside the room before us was a Death Eater meeting. I didn't want to go, but I had no choice. My only option was survival and I wished to follow Montague to the ends of the earth. He would be receiving the mark tonight.
The double doors before us opened gracefully and I watched as the room full of masked wizards and witches turned to face us - forming a corridor down the centre of the group.
The room was one of the largest in the house. It was engraved with symbols that I did not understand and the ceiling resembled the one in Hogwart's great hall. It was a beautiful malevolence that I surround me as we walked towards Voldermort.
Montague bowed, I had told the Dark Lord previously I refused to, and we moved to our places at the front of the group.
"Tonight," spoke Voldermort, "We welcome Mr Grey and Miss Potter."
The hall listened with rapt attention.
"Mr Grey shall be joining our number tonight," he explained, "Miss Potter is a welcomed guest of the Grey's so I wish you to show her the utmost courtesy."
He had been like this for the duration of my stay. I had expected him to be forceful, controlling and dark. However, over the last three weeks he had made very pleasant company and had spoke very little of the Death Eaters or of what they stood for. We had spent many hours discussing literature, he had inquired many times into the goings on at Hogwarts, how my family were. Overall very polite and friendly. A memory I found hard to believe as I watched him stand straight and tall in front of his devoted followers. They watched him with devotion shining in their eyes. Each was proud to be standing in his presence.
I had expected at least a torture session or punishment, but there was none. It was a very civilised evening - other than seeing Montague in obvious pain as the mark was branded onto his arm. We all filed out of the hall in unison and many of the guests returned to the apparation room to go home. All who were left were the three Malfoys, the three Greys, Mr and Mrs Nott, Mr and Mrs Macnair, Voldermort and myself.
That night Montague slept in my bed. He was troubled and the mark was hurting him as it bonded to his skin. I looked at it critically and saw, to my horror, how much the skin had inflamed and burnt. The first destination was to my first aid kit, where I found a healing salve and smoothed it into the skin.
It was next to him that I awoke on the morn of my 15th birthday. A familiar owl, Hedwig, had landed on my bedside table with a large package attached to her leg. The sun outside the window had returned and I wiggled out of Montague's arm so that I could sit up. He stirred slightly before moving his arm so that it was draped across my legs. I smiled fondly at him, I did love this man. My mum said I should follow my heart, but where would that take me?
Turning my attention back to the package, I reached over and gently untied it from Hedwig's legs. She gave me a soft hoot before leaving quickly. I sighed, she was Harry's owl. Other than the few letters I had sent during my stay, I had thought little of my brother. Now, with an intense feeling of guilt in my stomach, I couldn't help but think what Harry would say if he found out about my company over the last few weeks…
I was careful while I opened the package that I had moved onto my lap, I didn't want to wake Montague with the ripping of paper. Inside the brown parcel paper I discovered many small wrapped gifts. The first was from Harry. He had given me a small photo frame containing a picture of us and the Weasleys last summer at the Quidditch world cup. All the small versions of us were waving and smiling; I looked at the photo-me closely. I looked so much younger. It was if I had been forced to grow out of my childlike innocence over the last year.
His parcel also contained a letter,
I Hiya Kirsty!
Happy Birthday! How are you? I'm hoping the Grey's are treating you well. Getting up to much?
Ron , Hermione and I have missed you over the summer so far. It's a shame that you couldn't spend your birthday with us. But we are looking forward to seeing you tomorrow! We haven't been doing very much, Mrs Weasley's being really overprotective at the moment - with the whole Voldermort thing.
Keep safe sis and be careful of people you don't know. Death Eaters are nasty pieces of work.
All the best sis, and say hi to Montague from me!
Harry
XXX
/I
"Tell him I say 'hi' back," yawned Montague, who had obviously been reading over my shoulder.
"Morning love," I whispered, before kissing him, "sleep well?"
He nodded, "very. Happy birthday by the way. I'll give you your gift later, it's still in my rooms."
I smiled at him gratefully as I turned to the next package before me. This one was from Hermione and, once again, I had received a book. Only this time it was on defensive magic. I was beginning to feel really awkward, especially now Montague was officially 'one of them'. The Weasleys had sent me a new quill and packet of Bertie Bott's every flavoured beans, as well as a famous Weasley jumper. Though I decided I wouldn't wear it today. Draco had sent me a gift card for the book shop in diagon alley, as well as a card that entitled me to 20 free ice creams, though not all at once, at the ice cream parlour.
It didn't take us long after that to shift ourselves from our rather comfortable positions on my bed and go downstairs.
Later that day, after the sun had set, I was sitting on the floor beside my trunk, trying to fit everything in. I had received everything from a gorgeous green silk gown to a set of dung bombs from Fred and George - I had thrown the dung bombs away, I already had plenty at home and I didn't wanna risk them going off in my trunk.
I called for the person knocking on my door to enter, I presumed it was Montague, and continued to pack.
I"Hello Kirsty,"/I hissed the visitor in parsletongue.
I jumped, I hadn't expected him to come to my door! I"Hello Voldermort,"/I I replied, turning face the snakelike man who had now sat himself on my sofa, I was suddenly glad I had chosen to wear my night robes over my PJ's. I felt this man's eyes scan the length of my body as I walked over and took the opposite seat.
"How did you know it was me?" he asked mockingly, in English this time.
"You mean, apart from the fact that you are the only other person in this house that knows how to speak Parsletongue?" I shot back.
He shot me one of his graceful smiles before settling back into his seat.
"So, other than to relax in my very comfortable chair, is there any other reason you wished to see me alone tonight?" I asked conversationally.
He nodded, giving himself time to think before he answered, "yes, I wanted to ask permission if I could owl you occasionally. Just as a friend of course."
I scrawled, Voldermort did not have friends, just associates, "You will not use it as an opportunity to spy on my friends and family?"
"You have my word."
"Then you may, using another name," I agreed, "it wouldn't look to good if my brother found a pile of letters hidden under my bed signed 'love Lord Voldermort'."
He gave one of his rare chuckles before replying, though it held very little emotion, "Of course, how about Tom Riddle?"
"Also a bad idea," I corrected, "we destroyed your diary at the end of our second year, your younger self was trying to possess my foster sister."
"And how did she get hold of that?" asked Voldermort, now truly interested in what I had to say.
"Draco believes his father slipped it to her during the previous summer," I explained, "the basilisk left many students petrified, though there were no deaths."
"What happened to her?"
"The Basilisk?" I quizzed, he nodded, "your younger self took a more independent form and set her on us. A lovely specimen, but it was kill or be killed I'm afraid."
He looked slightly upset at this news, "no matter. I shall keep in contact with you over the course of the year." With that he stood as if to leave.
"Voldermort?" I asked, "Why show so much concern? You murdered my parents and, once upon a time, wanted me dead. What's changed?"
"When the time comes, you will know." Then he swept from the room, leaving me to finish packing.
There's another chapter boys and girls….or ladies and gentleman….
TBC……