Starving! Eat! Hunt! Starving! Eat! Hunt! Starving! Eat! Hunt!
The Wolf howls and cries and gets confused as to where it's located. The wolf smells and howls then growls. New smells, new cage ...
Starving! Eat! Hunt! Starving! Eat! Hunt! Starving! Eat! Hunt!
With shaky legs Ramona tries to stand, without the help of her father she would have fallen. Lyall helps Ramona to sit down on the lounge room chair and wraps a blanket around Ramona. Lyall sits next to Ramona and wraps an arm around her shoulder. Ramona realises why her father is being so nice, he feels guilty and blames himself for the pain she is going through.
Even though Ramona knows that her father is only doing this out of guilt and not love she doesn't mind and doesn't want to reject the only sign of any comfort from her parents for a long time. Ramona's head leans on her father's shoulder and she starts to fall to asleep.
They are both taken out of their quiet moment with Hope walking in the room. Ramona continues to keep her eyes closed even though she realises her mum is walking near.
"Was anyone hurt?" whispers Hope.
Yes, I was ..
"No," answer's Lyall, just as quietly.
At Hogwarts Ramona has access to potions for free made by a potion master, at home the potions are brought by her father and the quality is not so great. So healing takes a lot longer. Almost a week passed before Ramona wrote to her friends to say that she is doing better.
Ramona groans and stretches her arm to get rid of the pain of overwriting. Her essay's are almost completed and with so many more weeks until Hogwarts Ramona feels stuck.
After hearing a slight hoot Ramona removes a letter from an owl without really paying attention then continues her essay.
After finishing a sentence Ramona opens the letter, after realising what the letter is she drops it in surprise. Ramona slightly growls and picks up the letter and all her belongings and rushes inside.
Locating her father in his study she then thrusts the letter upon him.
"I don't know what this is about but I don't want to go."
Lyall picks up the letter and speed reads to find out what it is. Lyall hums then rubs his chin.
"This is some sort of political move and I can't see how we can say no and keep our reputation intact. No one says no to a Malfoy gathering unless you want trouble. It's rumoured that's how the legendary feud of the Malfoy and Weasley family began."
Ramona growls then runs her hand through her hair, a bad habit she picked up from James, "The marauders prank Lucius all the time and I am not friends with him, why would we be invited?"
Lyall stands up and starts pacing, "Don't growl like that, you sound like an animal. Use your head Ramona isn't it obvious. We are invited simply because you are a dark creature and they are dark aligned."
Great. There is no point of argument that Lyall would listen to, in the end they accept the invitation to the Malfoy gathering.
Ramona is stuck having to wear a pretty dress, something she absolutely hates. Ramona hates dresses not because she doesn't like being feminine it just isn't practical. It slows you down, something she learnt trying to keep up with her friends, which is why she hasn't worn skirts at Hogwarts for a long time. Robes are hard enough to deal with without adding skirts.
When Lyall and Ramona enter the gates of the Malfoy family manor Ramona's jaw drops, she hastily closes her mouth not wanting to give an impression of no class. As the evening continues Ramona realises her fears were somewhat needless. There is about almost two hundred people in attendance and are having stuffy boring talk and introductions. It wasn't as politically motivated as she thought it would be, perhaps it's a way for the Malfoy's to curb their boredom or show off their wealth. After thinking about it more she realises it probably is a sneaky political move to get ally's, getting more flies with honey situation.
When Lyall and Ramona take a seat for dinner Severus sits next to her left side, to be honest there are not many young people here so this peaks her interest.
"So why are you here Snape?"
Severus stiffens his back and looks to Ramona with a hurt expression. Ramona can easily see he has taken offence to what she said.
"And why would I not be invited? Contrary to how you feel about me my house mates think differently and I am respected in Slytherin. Lucius invited me personally, we are .. friends."
Respected in Slytherin. Ramona knows what this means, 'I have power and they are scared of me'. Ramona grins sheepishly, "Sorry Snape I was only curious, I was only invited because my father works in the ministry."
Snape's eyes narrow in suspicion, "How delightful."
Ramona can't help but chuckle, "You and Lily are just like twins, she loves sarcasm as well."
Snape relaxes a bit and asks Ramona how her holiday break is going. The conversation between them becomes nice and comfortable and Ramona actually finds herself enjoying the evening.
Lyall interrupts his daughter conversation with Snape to inform Ramona that they are leaving.
"See you at school Severus."
Severus nods slightly, "Bye."
After polite thank yous and chat with the Malfoy hosts Lyall and Ramona leave.
After Ramona's trunk is placed on the rack her parents uncomfortably give her a hug goodbye, as her parents start to walk off together Ramona notices how more relaxed they are.
They wish to get rid off me thinks Ramona wryly. Not long tell the trouble maker's arrive grabbing her attention and start to distract Ramona with their antics and jokes. This, this is what Ramona missed, FUN.