Chapter Six
Wiccan Family
I scramble to my feet, running towards Draco, my heart pounding, fear pulsing inside me. All I can think of is getting to Draco, and getting out safely. We are running out of options, our places to hide no longer safe. I'm terrified, Death Eaters always one step ahead. With nowhere else to go, I have to make the call. It's a call I hope is the right one, because if not then none of this matter anymore. Running towards Draco, I grab his hand, meeting his gaze. He clears his mind, letting me decide the destination we are apparating to. I close my eyes, concentrating, picturing the place clearly. I cross my fingers I have it correct, as we're jerked from our current hiding place, to a place I really hope we'll be safe. Draco and I land on grass, Draco on all fours above me, keeping me safe. I let myself take a moment to give in to my fear, pulling Draco closer, needing his body warmth to remind me that we made it out of there alive, and together.
I wrap my arms around his neck, inhaling his scent, feeling my heart rate steadying. Draco pulls me onto his lap, cradling me against his chest, his presence calming, reassuring. I can feel his need to protect me, to protect what we have, and it makes me feel loved and cherished. I take a deep breath, it's now or never. "Let's go," I say getting to my feet, picking up the satchel that I dropped when we abruptly landed. Draco joins me, and I lead him towards a clearing, hoping that I've not just doomed us. It is a risk showing up, but we no longer have a choice. Today showed us that. We can no longer put it off, our options limited. I have to trust that blood is thicker than hate. Draco stops me in my tracks, wanting to know where we are and what we're doing here. "Where are we?" Draco wants to know, his eyes prying. "Tintern," I answer, heading towards the clearing. "What is in Tintern?" Draco demands, pulling me to a stop. Draco holds my gaze, and I sigh. "A family member," I admit.
Draco takes a moment to process what I've just shared. He nods and allows me to lead the way. We make our way through the brush and into a clearing, where I come to a sudden stop. Draco stumbles into me, the small cottage in front of us hidden behind overgrown shrub. It's exactly as I remember it. I recall days playing in the yard, chasing butterflies and talking to faeries. The door swings open, a tall, middle aged woman with brown hair and brown eyes, marching towards us. Draco instinctively steps in front of me, placing himself between myself and the person he deems is a threat. It is futile, but I'm not about to tell him that. The woman stops a couple of feet in front of us, her hands on her hips, the frown on her forehead making her look scarier than she actually is. Aunt Megan doesn't look surprised to see us, but she's not happy. "You have some nerve missy, bringing his kind here," she scolds, looking past Draco and directly at me. Her animosity for Draco is tangible. Draco takes a step back, closer to me, his arm bent around my hip, keeping me behind him. Like he can protect me against a skilled witch like Megan.
"We have nowhere else to go," I explain, taking a step away from Draco. I remain close enough to appease him, but allow Megan a proper look at me. Megan, hands still on her hips, glare at Draco. "He can't stay here," she demands, her brown eyes giving Draco a once over, before focusing on me. I step away from Draco, not scared that Megan would hurt me. If anyone needs to be protected, it's Draco. She won't hesitate to attack if she deems him a threat. "You know what we are," I plead, meeting her brown gaze. "We're in danger." I am not above begging if it means that we can be safe, that Draco is protected. Megan shakes her head. She not only has Premonitions, but she's also an excellent potion maker, spell caster, and people reader. She doesn't Empathy to be able to read people. Megan studies Draco, her distaste for him clear in the way she glowers watching him. I know what she's doing. She's using her ability to read his aura, determining if she can trust him. From the scowl on her face, it's not good.
"His soul is tainted, his aura black," she spits, tearing her gaze from Draco and settling it on me. She's an intimidating woman. But I can't let her scare me. So, I stand my ground. She's my family, she's blood. Blood protects blood, no matter what. I have to believe that. "That's not true and you know it," I push, taking a step closer to her, making sure I'm still shielding Draco from her disgust. "Don't talk back to me young lady," Megan warns, wagging her finger at me. "Look again," I press, ignoring her scolding tone that is directed at me. I will not back down. Not when Draco's life is in danger. Not if what we have is being threatened. Megan merely turns her gaze towards Draco, studying him again, concentrating. Megan predicted my meeting Draco; knew we are twin flames. She knows the risks we're facing. She better than anyone know what uncertainties we're facing. "I also see some white and purple…the purple growing," Megan says, tilting her head, confused by what she is seeing. "Innocence and love…love for me," I point out, taking Draco's hand in mine, showing a united front. Draco is quiet beside me, not daring to speak, letting me do all the talking. That is probably for the best to be honest.
"I see a hint of black in your aura, threatening the white you bear," Megan studies me, my turn to be scrutinised. "If the darkness continues to corrupt the good in you, we'll lose you to the dark arts," she shakes her head, convinced my soul is lost to evil. A few weeks ago, that would have scared me. It would have made me walk away from Draco and risk the consequences. But I know better now. Together Draco and I are stronger, and we bring out the best in each other. "We're strong enough together to defeat the darkness growing inside us," I say, letting go of Draco's hand, taking another step closer to where Megan is keeping her distance from us. "Our love will overcome the evil you see." Megan locks eyes with me, shaking her head, "the evil is strong in his bloodline, you might not have the power to overcome that." I refuse to believe that. We've already proven that good can out last evil. "And the good is strong in mine," I implore, needing to fight for me and Draco. She's wrong. Draco is not evil. He's flourished into a good man, despite his upbringing, wanting to do what is right by me…by us. I have to believe that together we can overcome this curse that's been bestowed upon us. Make something good come from this.
Megan nods, her need to protect her own more important than her need to banish Draco for not being a Wiccan. "Come in," she finally concedes, stepping aside to allow us entry into her home. Draco is hesitant, aware that Megan still does not fully trust him. "It's okay," I whisper, taking his hand in mine. Against all the odds we are still together, and we will be safe here. We step into Megan's cottage, the space warm and comforting. There's a fire going in the fireplace, a cauldron and potion ingredients on the kitchen table. It's an open floor plan, the kitchen, living room and dining room one big space. Off to the side there's a door on the left and two on the right. The place has changed a lot since I've last been here. That was nearly eleven years ago. Eleven years ago, my mother and Megan had a falling out. I never knew what the cause was of the fallout but was disappointed as Megan was the only family that lived close. She is a free spirit, and when we did spend time with her, they were moments of fun. "Tea," Megan offers, heading to the kitchen. "Yes please," Draco and I say together, taking a seat on the two-seater. It is a plush sofa, white and decorated with colourful and fluffy pillows. I readjust a couple of pillows, getting comfortable.
Draco stays close to me, his knee touching mine and he settles on the sofa. "I expected you sooner," Megan says, placing a tray with teacups on the coffee table in front of us. Draco leans forward, taking two cups, handing me one. I give him a reassuring smile. He's on edge, still worried that Megan might turn on us, on him. I place a hand on his knee, giving his knee a squeeze. He gives me a smile, interlacing his fingers with my hand that's on his knee. He is immediately relaxed, drawing on the love I feel for him. Draco trusts me and I trust him. If I believe we'll be safe her, then he trusts that I'm right. "I didn't want to risk bringing the war to your doorstep," I explain, taking a sip of tea. The liquid is warm, smooth, running down my throat like sweet nectar. "And yet, here you are," Megan sits down on the rocking chair in the corner. I nod, here we are. "Your prophecy," I start, it's as good a place as any. "My warning was clearly not heeded," Megan shrugs, holding her cup in both hands. "Can you help us?" I say, a little snippy. I'm tired, the events of today arduous.
I take a deep breath, my anger not going to help the situation. If we want help, I need to be patient. "They misunderstood the prophecy," I say, holding the cup in both hands, taking comfort in the warmth. "They never even considered what we are, but Severus knew. He figured it out." Megan nods, taking a sip from her cup. "Severus has always been insightful. He would've been against this union, just like me." I nod, meeting Megan's gaze. Severus was dead set against my relationship with Draco. More than once he's warmed me, tried to keep me away. My and Draco's paths were always meant to cross. Being together were always in the cards, no matter how many warnings were signalled. I have accepted that, come to terms with our bond and what that means for us and our future. "Severus heeded your warning and tried." Megan nods, looking at Draco again. He's been silent, observing Megan, trying to read her. "I'll provide you shelter for now," Megan agrees, her eyes on Draco. Before I could say anything, Draco inclines his head, "thank you."