Father's Rage
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I am feeling very claustrophobic today. I wish father would let me go out of the house for a walk. I have been walking round and round in circles in our garden with the result that I am feeling very dizzy. I the lie down on the grass, and stretch my hands in the air above me.
Some distance away, under a huge tree, Draco and the boy are sitting and talking. The boy keeps shooting glances towards me. I get up. I want to join them, but don't know how to without them noticing. I walk towards them. Draco hears me coming, and looks around.
'Sit,' he says.
I sit down Indian style on the grass, and pull my dress as far as it would go, so that my thighs are covered. I take one look at the boy. His eyes are boring into mine. I look away at once. How I wish this boy would not stare at me.
I pick a blade of grass and twirl it round my finger. The boy is watching my every move. Draco does not seem to notice. I feel that the boy is hardly listening to what Draco is telling him about the Chudley Cannons.
'Why are you smiling?' Draco says to the boy.
The boy stops smiling at once. Draco looks once at me, and then back at the boy. Uh oh. Before Draco can say anything, I get up and walk towards the open gates. Draco resumes telling the boy about the Quidditch team.
The gates are open. Maybe I can sneak out, without anyone noticing, and go for a walk. I look around nervously. Draco and the boy are still talking; the boy can't see me any more, as he has his back to me. There is no one else nearby. I tiptoe towards the gate and walk out.
Which direction should I go in? Right or left or straight on? I take a step forwards. How wonderful it feels to be out of the house! I walk on, looking at the passers by on the lane. I walk for another five minutes, and then turn right.
As soon as I enter the lane, I realize what a big mistake I made by choosing this path. I see Father walking towards me, looking furious. Should I run? But where will I go? No, the best thing would be to wait for Father to reach me, and apologize immediately.
'What are you doing out of the house?' says Father in a low voice.
I don't answer. He grips my arm tightly, and we Disapparate back home. We are standing in my room. Father is glaring at me.
I back away immediately.
'How did you get out of the house?' says Father keeping his voice painfully calm.
I look at my feet.
'Answer me!' says Father loudly. 'How did you get out?'
'Gate was open,' I say.
'It was open was it?' says Father angrily. 'Tinker!' shouts Father.
Tinker, the house elf appears in the room.
Father points his wand at the elf and says menacingly, 'Why were the gates open?'
'M—Master, I didn't…' begins the elf, banging his head on the wall.
'Stop!' I say to the elf. Tinker stops at once.
'Go!' I say to him. Tinker disapparates.
Father turns to me and yells, 'HOW DARE YOU GO OUT WHEN I HAVE FORBIDDEN YOU!'
He steps towards me and strikes me on the cheek. I fall on the floor. My cheek is stinging. I bring my hand on my cheek and feel blood streaming down my neck. Tears form in my eyes. Father grabs my hair and pulls me up to face him. He looks very scary. His eyes have got a manic glint in them.
'Draco!' I scream as loud as I can, 'Draco!'
Father clutches my throat tightly. I can't breathe.
'WERE YOU SEEN?' shouts Father shaking in fury.
I don't answer.
'Father!' yells a voice behind him. Draco enters the room followed by the boy. Father releases his hold on me. I rush to Draco, and hide behind him.
Father advances towards me, his wand raised.
'Its my fault, Father!' says Draco spreading his arms to shield me. 'I let her out of my sight. Don't punish her. I'll see that she doesn't do it again.'
Father looks from Draco to me. 'She had better not,' he says as he leaves the room.
'Why'd you do that?' says Draco once Father has gone. 'You mustn't disobey Father, Ebbie.'
I don't answer.
'Promise me you won't do it again,' says Draco .
I hold his hand tightly to give him his answer.
'Now, I'm going to see where Father has gone,' says Draco, 'I'll be back in a few minutes.'
Draco makes to leave the room, but I cling on to his hand, not wanting to let go.
'I won't let it get that bad again, I swear,' says Draco softly. He walks out of the room.
Damn the boy. He's still staring at me. I turn away.
The boy strides over to me, and faces me once more. He waves his wand, and the cut on my face heals.
'You're hurt anywhere else?' he asks.
'I'm well in body, though considerably ruffled in spirit, thank you,' I say. That was the longest sentence I ever remember speaking. I feel proud of myself. I wish Draco could have heard me. The boy widens his eyes.
'Why do you stare?' I ask the boy, looking down at the floor. I steal a glance at his face and find him blushing.
He leans in towards my face, and touches my lips with his. No one has ever been so close to my body. He wraps his arms around my waist. A few seconds later he pulls away.
'That's why I stare,' says the boy smiling, his arms still around my waist. I don't know where to look.
'Hey!' yells Draco from behind.
The boy jumps apart from me.
'What were you doing!' says a fuming Draco glaring at the boy.
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