Chapter 12: Visit

Weeks passed. And a few more weeks. More. Until it was almost February and Edenia was not too sure if she had adjusted as much as she could have.
She glanced around the large apartment they lived in; it was rather empty while everyone else was at work. Emily worked as an apprentice nurse and had her exams coming up really soon, which was why everything was full of notes everywhere. Alex got in trouble when he once came home from work and had black oil smears on his fingers that he accidentally put on some of Emily's copies and she didn't talk to him for the rest of the day, cussing about how chaotic he was but he just responded that life as a mechatronics engineer would be including oil. Tyle of course tried to sort out the argument as the lawyer-to-be that he was, currently studying in Cambridge, but Emily wasn't one to listen a lot when enraged. Everyone was busy, having a job and Edenia felt really useless. She highlighted some available positions in the newspaper but none of them appeared interesting enough. With a deep sigh, she got up and walked over to the stove and grabbed some leftovers from yesterday evening and turned on the TV while eating. Her head spun over to the door when Alex walked in and greeted her happily.
"Hey Nia."
"Heh Alex. How was work?"
"Fine, got a half day off earlier." He quickly washed his hands before something could be touched that encouraged his downfall but then noticed more stains on himself and said "I'll better take a shower. See you later."
"See you." Edenia snickered and stretched on the couch, feeling very comfortable.
Ring. Ring.
Edenia's head swivelled towards the door once more. She put the plate down and sighed, thinking one of them forgot their keys again. But it was none of the usual friendly faces when she opened the door. Edenia's eyes widened and she was about to close the door on an instant out of shock but it was stopped by a hand covered in a black leather-glove.

"Edenia. Please..." Said Narcissa Malfoy, accompanied by her son Draco and of course her sister Bellatrix Lestrange, who had her arms crossed and eyes narrowed, nostrils were flaring. She tried a great deal to remain calm and not lunge out at the girl. Narcissa seemed troubled and Draco tried to avoid looking at Edenia directly.
"Listen..." Narcissa tried again and Bellatrix snorted.
"We really should not do this, Cissy! Let alone with the traitor here!" But her sister did not listen. Edenia's arms crossed and she stared at them while leaning against the doorframe. Bella tried peeping inside the apartment but the girl blocked her view by closing the door a tad more with a stern look on her face before her eyes rested on the blond woman again as she spoke.

"You have no idea what is going on at home, Edenia...everyone. Is...Is going mad..." Narcissa started but Edenia scoffed sarcastically at that. She noticed they are mad. Bellatrix growled and Narcissa sucked in her lips while tears streamed down her face and she went on.
"We are on war and...And the wizarding world is not safe, we..." She tried to hold back the tears while she played around with Draco's collar, keeping on fixing and pulling it up again while she continued stammering and explaining.
"He sent Draco...to do dangerous things, things that could get him killed! Edenia...you...you were friends, please...I..." She bit her bottom lip and Bellatrix grumbled.
"And now she asks you to hide the coward."
"My son is no coward!" Bellowed Narcissa through gritted teeth and Bellatrix rolled her eyes and looked away.
"The missions are too complicated...he would die on an instant, I know it. This time he can't count on...on someone I once counted on...I...you are my last hope..." She sniffled and wiped away the tears with a handkerchief that had the Black family's crest on it. Edenia watched her calmly and could not imagine someone else falling from grace as much as she did. Bellatrix had her face turned away and watched the surrounding with her nose wrinkling up in disgust every once in a while. Narcissa then cleared her throat and went to say something again but was interrupted.
"How do you even know he is safe here…?" Demanded Edenia coldly.
"He won't come here...into the muggle world…muggles don't interest the Dark Lord anymore...he's safer here than with us..."
"But what do you tell him when he asks for Draco's service?"
"You let us worry about that!" Spat Bellatrix, trying to restrain herself from using her wand on the girl. Narcissa dabbed her tears away again and croaked.
"I know...I know you loathe us for...for what we have done to you and...Your friends. But..." "You are right." Said Edenia suddenly and narrowed her eyes. Bellatrix spun her head towards the girl and Narcissa's eyes widened. Edenia was about to say something but a shout from the back of the room caused everyone to turn their eyes there.

"IS THAT THE CRAZY PACK?! HOW DARE YOU STAND BEFORE EDENIA AND ASK HER TO HELP YOU! DISGUSTING FREAKS!" Came Alex rushing towards the door, ripping it open widely but Bellatrix had her wand already pointed at him. Edenia screamed and stood before him, blocking him while Alex tried to get around her and continued provoking the dark witch.
"Come at me then, bitch! Come at me!" He yelled but Edenia pushed him back and turned to him with her face, trying anything.
"STOP IT! Knock it off!" She hissed at him but Alex had already pulled out something else; something silver; metal looking. The witches looked at Alex, not exactly knowing what the thing was he was holding up.
"Step aside Nia! Step aside! I'll shoot that bitch!"
"No! You will not! We won't sink so low! Now put the gun away before someone else sees it!" She glared at him, then glared back at the others and nodded.
"You are right. You have always been right." She said. Narcissa sniffled again and lowered her head; Bellatrix kept alerted but did not say anything.
"I will never be one of you. I am not like you. I will help." Edenia spoke through gritted teeth, then grabbed Draco's arm and pulled him inside the house and closed the door on their faces with a loud thud.

The level of awkwardness could not have been explained when Draco stood there with his bag. Nothing was audible for a couple of moments but Alex growled and rushed at Draco and pushed him against the wall with a firm grip on the collar of his shirt. Edenia tried to pry him off but Alex was well built as he and Tyle visited the gym on a regular basis.
"Alex! Don't! I said don't! We are better than that! We don't have to kill anyone!"
"Who said I wanted to kill this bug right here, huh? Even though I'm itching to do it!" He growled and Draco just stared at him in shock when Alex spoke through gritted teeth.
"One false move, buddy...I'll be awake when Nia sleeps...I'll be watching you! Anytime! You touch her again and I'll make you and your stupid family pay for everything!" He then let go of him and Draco slid down the wall and sat on the floor with his eyes turned away in shame. Edenia inhaled deeply but she could not help herself but to feel sorry for Draco. Alex glared, looked at Edenia but she sighed softly and shrugged.

"I don't understand why you help them!" Alex then exclaimed, throwing his arms as he continued. "They made you suffer! Caused you so much pain! So much insane pain! And you know what you little punk?!" His head turned to Draco and he yelled "She can't even get help here in our world! She can't go to a therapist! Can't ask them to heal her! Because the wounds you caused cannot be talked about here in our world! They will think she is crazy and put her away! She will have to live with all the scars! And she can't heal while you and your stupid-" "Alex! Enough! Please!"
"Why do you help them?! What did they ever do to deserve help?!"
"I help them. Because. I am not. Like them. I help him because I just know it is the right thing to do. Because I can't stand to see someone suffer. Unlike them...!"
"Edenia! I never...I never wanted to hurt you..." Draco suddenly croaked out and buried his head in his hands and ripped on his hair in desperation. Alex glared.
"But you did! You even slapped her! Stalked her! She told me!"
"When I did that...that slap...I stopped terrorizing her...I stopped because...I couldn't...I didn't want to hurt her anymore! But Blaise wouldn't stop, no matter how much I tried to persuade him...!" He looked at Edenia when he said it and she knelt down to his level.
"Alex...can you leave us alone for a bit?"
"What?!"
"Please..."
Alex inhaled deeply but nodded, however he pointed his index and middle finger to his eyes and then to Draco, indicating that he is watching, but then walked off.
"He is very protective of me, you see." Said Edenia softly as she sat next to Draco against the wall.
"We are his only family. Me and two more people. You will meet them later.
"Are...are they like him?" Draco asked with eyes slightly widened but Edenia chuckled and shook her head. "Consider yourself lucky you got over the worst..."
"He...he calls you Nia." He stated and played with his hands a little.
"Are you...dating?" He went on and Edenia chuckled and shook her head.
"No. No we aren't dating. He's a very good friend. He has a good heart. But he's too..." "Explosive?" Draco asked and Edenia snickered again. "Right."

After having a cup of tea together, they heads turned towards the door. Emily and Tyle both walked inside and greeted the unknown blonde with a friendly face. Emily walked on over to him, smiling brightly as always as she stretched out her hand.
"Hey! I'm Emily. Have you been here before?" Draco glanced to Edenia for a second, forced a smile that ended up in a grimace and shook her hand quickly.
"Em...he's. Well." Edenia started. "You do know him. From my stories. It's Draco."
"Draco!" She gasped and pulled her hand away, her smile vanished and Tyle's eyes widened.
"What is he doing here?!" She yelled and turned around to Edenia. Tyle stood there rested against the wall with his arms crossed but spotted a bag and said. "Seems like he will stay for a while, huh..."

"Look, Alex already had his flip-a-shit on him...he needs my help and-"
"Where was he when you needed his help!?"
"Close, Emily...always close. Please...don't put more pressure on us than we already have." "Yeah! Right! You expect me to be fine with that?! What kind of a friend would I be?"
"A friend that trusts me and my decisions. Okay?"
Tyle and Emily both sighed.
"Just don't expect me to be best friends with him..." She grumbled and walked off. Tyle stared at Draco for a couple of seconds, then at Edenia, said nothing and walked away as well. Draco remained quiet, closed his eyes and massaged his left eyebrow a bit.
"I'm sorry..."
"No. No it's okay. I deserve it, Edenia...I..." He squinted his eyes shut and massaged the bridge of his nose now; sheer stress took control of his body.

"How did you even know where I was?" Asked Edenia and held out a cup of tea for him that he gladly took.
"My mother found out. She talked to my father about it and that's where Bellatrix accidentally overheard their conversation. My mom didn't want Bellatrix to know it...she. Didn't want to put you in more danger...knowing what Bellatrix would do..."
Edenia sighed now. She was so mean to Narcissa earlier. She too, was dragged into things she never wanted to be dragged in. And could never break out.
"Bellatrix must have been going on a rampage..." Mumbled Edenia.
"Can't describe it." Shuddered Draco suddenly and went on. "When she saw you leaving...she said the next time she sees you, she will be the last thing you see. She tried to find out where you are ever since but nobody knew how to get to you"
"How did your mother find out?"
"Snape." He said briefly. But Edenia didn't know what he meant until it hit her.
"Holy cow! Of course...he knows my address as the new headmaster...I didn't even think so far! I put all my friends in danger!" She almost cried but Draco shook his head.
"Don't worry...Mom was first. Bellatrix was way too distracted looking for you in our world. Well...of course the Dark Lord heard about you leaving the other day and you can guess what he wants, right?"
"He wants me dead..." Whispered Edenia more to herself. Draco said nothing but that said enough. He changed the subject instead.
"Bellatrix killed off a couple of students at Hogwarts whenever someone disobeyed her. Second-years mostly, I doubt we know any of them...She is extremely agitated ever since you are gone...but she had to swear to mother not to hurt you...because you are our last hope. Of course Bellatrix wanted to hear none of that. She called mother a traitor and that she had allied with traitors. But then she somehow agreed not to hurt you."
"Probably until my help is not needed any longer..." Grumbled Edenia and sighed softly. Until another question came into her mind.
"Is...is Blaise back? Did he...kill Ginny?"
"He's back…He told me that Bellatrix put that mission on him. But he said he never found Ginny. So he lied to Bellatrix and told her that she is dead, thinking she will never appear at Hogwarts or anywhere near a Death Eater again anyway."
"Thank goodness..." Edenia exhaled and leaned back.

"Edenia?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."