Really sorry guys, my last year of high school has finally come upon me… oh joys! So I've been really busy recently, still here's the next chapter, please review, it really helps me. Okay thanks guys!
Chapter thirty-two: Castor's POV
My breath hitched in my throat as I fell into her open arms, her hands went to my hair immediately and she hugged me tightly, telling me how she wouldn't ever let me go, telling me how she loved me. The softness of her skin, tracing the rough curls that adorned my head calmed me as I wrapped my arms like branches of trees around her, not ever wanting to leave her side. Inhaling the smell of her clothes, "I missed you so much." My voice came out frail and in tight whispers. Tonks squeezed me and the reassurance that I was safe in loving arms calmed me.
"I missed you too Cas, I mean we did visit you in the hospital wing pretty much every day," she grinned at me laughing, "But even a day away from my little cousin makes me sad." We were more like siblings; I'd grown up with her by my side and there was no one, not even Luna, who could put a bigger smile on my face than her. As her hair turned from yellow back to pink her dancing fingers led me to my room, which I found still the same as I had left it. School was over for the summer, I hoped that I could relax but I knew that any hope of that actually happening was unlikely, I'd been having horrible nightmares and to the slight annoyance of my friends I'd began to talk more to Draco, I told him to owl me over the summer some time.
"She's pretty scary eh?" Tonks smiled ruffling my hair as we both sat down on the soft cushions of my bed. I felt as though I was allowing all my tension and terrors to release as soon as I touched the bed, the curling covers wrapping their fluffy figures around me as I drew them into me, as though they were a comfort blanket, repelling the world and all the unwanted things that I had to face.
"Mother, yes she is but… there's something about her… I… I'm fascinated by her," I said honestly, allowing the truth about my feelings for my mother to come out to Tonks. Trusting her, "I feel some kind of… I don't know, connection to her."
Tonks sighed but she seemed to understand me, she always did, "I guessed as much kiddo," she didn't say much else on the subject after that, whether it was that all the talking was done, or the words just got stuck in her throat, or that she simply didn't know how to reply didn't matter. I was glad, not wanting to dwell on my mother, either of my parents really. My aunt and uncle were glad to see me once they got home, Tonks told me that my aunt had been out all day with some of her friends and my uncle had been working, which was the norm. For that dinner I managed to shake any thoughts of my parents from my head and simply enjoy my dinner, still as soon as night descended and I found myself curled up in the covers, the fears began to rise. The harsh nightmares, wrenching apart any sliver of hope I had left, shivering through my mind and carelessly sniggered at the sweat that would trickle down my brow in upmost fear. Even muggle pills that Uncle Ted suggested or any manner of spells or charms couldn't get them to stop. They were too powerful, the fear too great, festering inside me and viciously planting its talons in every inch of my heart, its needles stinging my mind….
It was a few days into the summer holiday that I finally turned my attention to the box that my mother had presented me with, almost as a parting ways gift, knowing that when we next met there would be no form of pleasantries, no matter how insane those pleasantries had appeared this time as my mother was far from sane. Next time we would fight to kill, for our different causes and next time only one side would come out the victor, with many casualties. More than just Sirius whose death had affected most of us greatly and who would not be forgotten, I didn't want to think about that on a mass scale.
My fingers groped the cardboard of the shoe box, feelings shivers of anticipation claim me like hungry wolves waiting to feast. My eyelids closed, a few raggedy breaths breaking the silence that filled my room as I sat cross legged on my bed, preparing for whatever I would find. Then the anticipation got me, I ripped the lid from the box, tossing it across the room to where it found its self smacking hard against the sand paper skin of my house: the walls.
Inside I found small vials, with a murky almost transparent liquid resting inside the vials, floating around like a butterfly and wriggling around like a worm. I shuddered knowing exactly what was inside these vials, memories, her memories. My mother's memories, each vial contained a fragment of her jagged and scared life. She had retrieved these memories for me, maybe some of them that she wished not to think about but all the same she'd done it. For some unfathomable reason, maybe she hoped it would regain her some kind of forgiveness, that I might understand why she is the way she is, through reliving what was had lived. The horrors, the hell, the heartbreak.
A loud knock on the window caused me to jump, as I had been lost in my train of thought, I quickly put the box, with the lid firmly back on it under my bed as I quickly jumped to open the window for the owl which was squawking at me, probably for being slow. I fished an owl treat for the bird, which it happily nibbled on and release the letter from the clutches of its talons.
I immediately recognized the handwriting: Draco. We had been in correspondence since the holiday had begun and I smiled fondly, I'd enjoyed getting to know my cousin better.
I scanned the letter which was only brief and found myself grinning in glee by the end. Draco wished to come round for a visit, in secret from his parents of course as they would be furious to find out that he was associating with me and other supposed blood traitors. I quickly scribbled a response back on a piece of parchment and sent it back with the bird, grinning to myself. So it was set, Draco would come round tomorrow, which was Saturday. Draco had been telling me in his letters how he'd been getting more nervous, with him not having much free time due to his associating with the death eaters, he assured me that he hadn't had to carry out attacks… yet but that he'd been training in the dark arts. I just hoped that was all he had been doing, that he was telling the truth.
I promised myself that I would buy a pensive with the limited funds I had and view my mother's memories on my next visit into Diagon Alley. I spent the rest of the day lolling around the house without Tonks who was doing her job or my aunt or uncle to keep me company. My excitement only building with each hour that passed for seeing Draco again.
The morning came fast enough for me and I scrambled to get ready, filled with joy at the idea of seeing my cousin. I was sure that he would be nervous, as he would be meeting Andromeda and Ted and well Tonks had been present at the battle which included his father so she would no doubt not be pleased to see his offspring.
I waited, skipping from foot to foot in front of my fireplace, until I saw a pale bony hand appear in front of my eyes and soon a smartly dressed, tall boy with a straight back and good posture standing before me. He cradled cloak which he had brought with him in his hand, before I took it off him, greeting him with a warm smile as he returned it.
"Get here easily Draco?"
He smirked that well known Malfoy smirk and raised an eyebrow, "I would say I did satisfactory in escaping the prying eyes of my mother. I said I was just popping out to Diagon Alley for school supplies, she wanted to come with me or at least have someone go with me… I guess after what happened with father she just… anyway she finally relented to let me go alone and well here I am." I nodded thankful that he was here, a quick glance at the clock confirmed my thoughts that he was indeed half an hour late, not that I minded much.
His eyes widened as he heard the boisterous chatter coming from a few rooms away, my aunt and uncle and cousin were all currently enjoying each others company, unaware of the guest they had not invited. Still, despite Draco's reluctance I grabbed his arm and dragged him into the kitchen.
"Hello all!" Three pairs of eyes snapped up at my call, my Uncle Ted's eyes widened in shock as he tried to get some words out but failed, coming out stuttering and stammering in confusion as he just stared at the figure standing just behind me in the doorway. My aunt dropped the cup of tea she had been drinking as tiny shards implanted themselves into different spots on the kitchen tiles, her hands going to her mouth. Her brown eyes like puddles of murky water, a ripple of almost terror rippling through them.
Tonks snarled, getting to her feet, luckily however she didn't draw her wand, which surprised me slightly, I expected her auror instinct to kick in but I guessed she had managed to see the poor frail teenager who stood before her instead of the preconceived idea she had about the Malfoy's, if only slightly still. No matter how small though I was thankful to her for this, she was restoring my hope that people's views could change, that you weren't defined by what your parents did, by your lineage.
"C-Castor? You never told me you were-," my aunt began but I cut her off, blurting out my response.
"I thought you would judge me! Judge us!" I said gesturing to me and Draco, my uncle gave a slight smile as I began to realize how this conversation sounded quite like a young teen telling their parents that they were gay, or telling their pureblood parents how they were going to run off with a muggleborn.
"No… we wouldn't Castor, of course not! I just… we didn't know you were friends… that's my… my sister's son… my sister's son," Aunty Andromeda mumbled, her eyes close to tears as she gazed at Draco, "You look so much like her I… I." I could tell she wanted nothing more than to touch him and identify every inch of his face, matching the similarities she found there to those of her younger sister, Narcissa Malfoy, who she hadn't seen for years, since she ran away to be with Ted.
"That still doesn't change the fact that he is from a well known Death Eater family… his father was at the battle! Draco could be one for all we know," I sighed even though in truth what Tonks was saying was pretty much correct. Draco was practically being forced to be a Death Eater but I didn't know whether he was one yet, whether he'd taken the dark mark was unknown to me.
"I can speak as proof to show that your parents do not reflect your own character," I sighed and Tonks grinned at this and ruffled my hair.
"Wotcha Cas, guess your right! I'm just going to be keeping an eye on my newly acquainted cousin," Tonks said glaring at Draco who shuffled nervously under the auror's gaze. Frankly I got nervous when she glared at me, knowing a highly trainer auror who could kick your butt isn't too fond of you isn't something I enjoy.
"Can we go and play please aunty and uncle?" I asked giving them my best charming smile which came off as sarcastic. They both chuckled and looked at each other.
Ted smirked and my face fell, "Nope… I want to find out more about my nephew Draco over here." I grinned, my teeth flicking up into a smile. Even Draco's eyes seemed to lit up as he spoke to our muggleborn uncle. Maybe, just maybe there was still hope for Draco Malfoy yet.
Cheers guys! Hope you enjoyed, next chapter we should view some of Bellatrix's memories! Please review and give me any suggestions or ideas you might have!