Hey y'all. Matching up with AO3 here and this part carries a major tissue warning here!
LM xxxxxx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 13:
Friday morning arrived and Draco was sat with Astoria a little bit away from Aurora and Charlotte. It was the first meal that Draco had allowed Aurora to sit a little way away from him but he couldn't stop watching her. He had written to his mother overnight and Eros had returned with a note from his mother saying that she would be arriving at lunchtime and taking Daphne and Aurora for lunch in London before St. Mungo's.
Aurora had been quiet since the previous night and luckily Pansy had been staying away from Aurora but Natalie and Chloe were watching Aurora and Draco now knew about the mirror from his mother and he also knew that Aurora had that on her. Every precaution was being taken to protect Aurora now and once they had the official report from St. Mungo's and Draco's coping methods combined with the Healer's advice and hopefully things with Aurora would begin to slowly improve.
Aurora had left with Charlotte when she came face to face with Natalie and Charlotte and had already pressed the token when she pushed Charlotte out of the way as a hex was sent her way. Her anger and hatred for the girls began to take over her and she pulled her wand out of her robes and held it, pointing it towards the two girls and then Draco arrived and Aurora was forced to defend herself before shooting hexes before both her and Natalie were disarmed.
"Aurora and Natalie!" Professor McGonagall said, "both of you will serve detention for this," she said before giving each witch their wand back.
"Professor!" Draco said pushing through the crowd, "please let me give Aurora her detention. Given the situation and circumstances I think I'd be better giving Aurora her detention," he said, pushing the girl behind him as if protecting her, "surely having them two together in the same room is asking for trouble."
Silence filled the corridor as everyone waited to hear what McGonagall was going to say,
"Very well Mr. Malfoy but I will be asking Professor Snape to supervise the detention," she said finally, "having both Miss Edwards and Miss Adams in the same room all things considering is probably not an idea. Right everyone to class!"
Draco grabbed Aurora and took her to Charms as he knew her timetable off by heart.
"Meet me and Daph in the Entrance Hall at the end of forth lesson. Mother is taking you both for lunch in London before the hospital," he said.
"I'm scared Draco…" Aurora whispered.
"We want to help you but we need to know everything so we can help you," Draco said, "Charlotte isn't mad at you either," he said before Aurora went inside the classroom and he headed off to his lesson, which luckily was with McGonagall.
Charlotte walked Aurora down to the Entrance Hall and waited until Draco and Daphne were there before she headed into the Great Hall.
"We need to head to Dumbledore's office as mother is meeting us there," Draco said and it wasn't long before the three were walking into the Headmaster's office where Narcissa was sat waiting for them. She noticed the fact that Draco held Aurora's hand and she couldn't help but smile at that.
"We'd better be heading off Albus," Narcissa said, "we do have a lunch reservation to keep," she said before taking Aurora's hand, "you my little flower will travel through the Floo Network with me and Daphne will follow." Aurora nodded and was fighting the urge to run away and hide. Narcissa knew because she just sang Scarborough Fair and walked Aurora over to the fireplace and stepped in with her and held her tight before Aurora closed her eyes and she clung to Narcissa's arm before they stepped out of the fireplace the other end. Seconds later Daphne appeared and stood beside Narcissa before they headed to another area where they were seated at a table.
"Now you both may have whatever you want and Aurora that doesn't mean you have the smallest thing on the menu, it means you have what you want," Narcissa said, ordering drinks for the three of them. She saw Aurora having trouble deciding what she wanted. This whole life was new to her and Narcissa quickly realised the young witch was getting overwhelmed and she told Aurora a few suggestions of food and she smiled as the young witch listened to her and picked something out.
Daphne was watching the two and smiled softly but knew it wouldn't be long before Aurora's smile would fade from her face as they would head to St. Mungo's and she was dreading that moment because she didn't want Aurora to get worked up and upset.
"So I hear someone has a detention," Narcissa said as they ate.
"She's doing it with Draco with Professor Snape supervising. She was just defending herself Narcissa," Daphne said, "she saw them heading towards her and pressed her token and Draco hurried up in time to see Natalie start attacking Aurora."
"Those tokens are a great idea. Lucius and I suspect that Pansy and Natalie know each other somehow," Narcissa said before saying they needed to hurry up and finish eating.
Narcissa didn't take any notice of people looking at her as she walked into St. Mungo's with Aurora on her hip and Daphne walking beside them. Aurora, as predicted, had tried to run away so Narcissa had balanced the tiny girl on her hips as they headed inside St. Mungo's and up to the Malfoy family healer.
"So this is Miss Aurora," Healer Jones said as Narcissa stopped in front of her. She watched as Aurora buried her head into the matriarch's neck, "and I can see why you wanted her looked at now."
"Allow me to introduce Daphne Greengrass of the Greengrass family. She's friends with Aurora and has earned enough trust to come and help me whilst you look at Aurora," Narcissa said and Daphne greeted the healer before they headed to a private room and walked in.
"She'll need to strip down to her underwear," Healer Jones said as Narcissa placed Aurora onto the floor.
"Daphne when I sing to her make sure she doesn't try and run," Narcissa said, knowing that Aurora would try and run again. Daphne nodded and Narcissa knelt down and began to sing Scarborough Fair and began to undress Aurora and the tears began to fall from the 11-year-old's eyes and Narcisa cast a heating charm on Aurora and stayed in the young witch's eyesight as the Healer began to assess Aurora and Narcissa kept singing softly despite the fact Aurora was crying so hard.
"Can we stop for a few minutes?" Narcissa asked, "maybe you can just talk to her for a few minute…"
Narcissa didn't even wait and wrapped Aurora in a blanket and then listened as the Healer began to talk to Aurora and find out things. Narcissa looked as she felt a hand on her arm and saw Daphne's hand on her arm and silently thanked the girl before listening to what Aurora had suffered.
The second half of the examination was soon done and Aurora was dressed again and Narcissa made a bubble machine appear and Aurora played with the bubble whilst Daphne watched her.
"I don't need to tell you do I Mrs. Malfoy? You know for yourself…"
"I know what those girls have done. I just wanted her properly checked out," Narcissa said, "what's the verdict?"
"The physical side will fade as I will issue her a potion that will help. Her mental side will take longer because of how long she endured it," Healer Jones said, "she may need dreamless sleep potions and sleep supervision, sleeping in a dorm may end up being a problem. I've put together a list of things that you do and don't do. I gather Draco has discovered some things."
"She loves bubbles as you can see. We have no idea why and she wouldn't tell you," Narcissa said.
"Sometimes one happy memory remains with them and when they see it like Aurora sees any type of bubbles they try to recapture their childhood," Healer Jones said, "that's what I suspect is happening with Aurora. She's behind in her development and it's not a major worry but it will need monitoring. Regular contact with you would help and maybe visits to Hogwarts to see her. Get her doing things she loves, reading, playing with bubbles, even just talking with her friends or Draco will help."
"Draco says anyone singing Scarborough Fair helps calm her down but when she's scared she tries to run or kicks out…"
"Instinctive reactions and reflexes. She'll do that until she knows you don't want to hurt her," the Healer said, "as for that song I think it means something to her but, because of everything that's happened, the reason why it means something to her is lost. The Ball will be a test but her staying with her friends or even you should make her feel safe."
"We're having her at the Manor for half term and her room is next to mine and Lucius' with similar things to mine in it. I'm getting a music box made of the music for Scarborough Fair and then me singing it as that calms her down so much as do hugs and rocking," Narcissa said, "I just want to help her. Do we have a case against the orphanage?" she asked before Aurora walked over and Narcissa pulled the girl onto her lap and Aurora just snuggled into the older witch.
"Yes you do and I think you'd win it with the pages of information I have gathered," Healer Jones said, "it has for sure affected her development and she needs to be treated differently despite the fact she would want to be treated the same."
"I never thought when we took her on we'd have all this to contend with but I wouldn't change it. I can't…I love her," Narcissa said finally admitting it.
"Her weight is a problem but as she eats properly that will come up. I will have the report sent to the relevant people and I will start the complaint rolling," Healer Jones said before Narcissa nodded and sighed,
"She's asleep."
"Because her body gets exhausted when she fights because she thinks she's going to be attacked or hurt in some way," the Healer said, "like I said I've compiled a list that will help you and the family and friends she does have cope and help her to heal. I do want to see her regularly for updates so we can see how she's getting on."
"Thank you Healer Jones. We will get her better," Narcissa said holding Aurora close, "we'll you better little flower. It might take time but we will get there because I will never give up on you. I can't. You need someone and I'm here to save you and save you I will."