Happy New Year everyone! Ok have to ask... who said Jumanji instead of Happy New Year at midnight? Mine was a cross between the two but luckily I was on my own which meant nobody else heard it thankfully. I hope everyone has a better year than last year was and just make the most of whatever this year throws at us. I'm hoping to get some chapters written before I have surgery next week. It's only planned to be day surgery but yeah... hoping to get some done.
Stay safe!
Lots of love,
LM xx
Finally Belonging Somewhere-Part 85:
It had been a couple of days since Aurora had been told about the Death Eaters and, although she understood what they were, she didn't understand everything. She decided to take it upon herself to learn more about them, but she didn't want anyone to know what she was doing.
"Where would I find books on Death Eaters?" the 12-year-old asked Helena Ravenclaw as they were alone one day.
"There would be some in the Restricted Section, but I know there are books about them in the normal library as it's all part of the history of our world," the ghost said as she floated next to the Malfoy daughter, "why do you want to know more about the Death Eaters?"
"Because daddy was one. I don't want to learn much but a little more. Just don't tell Draco. I don't think he'll be happy to learn about what I am looking at," Aurora said, "I think they want to try and protect me still," she said.
"I can see why they do but I can't stop you from wanting to find out," Helena said as she watched her friend, "but be prepared to find out things that maybe you shouldn't." Aurora nodded and thanked her before heading to the library. She still wanted to find out about the Death Eaters but was also trying to ignore the fact that Helena was right, and she may just learn things that she didn't really want to know.
She began to look around and eventually found the books she needed and headed over to the window tables, sitting down and beginning to read one of the books. It started off talking about the history of Death Eaters before talking more about what they did, and Aurora went pale as she read some of the things her father did. Did he really kill people because they weren't Pureblood? That wasn't a reason to kill someone. Had her father really been someone who had seen himself as better than others?
Unable to read any more Aurora closed the book and hurried passed Madam Pince, book in hand before she was told to hand over the book or to take it out. Aurora just flung the book onto the desk and hurried back to the common room.
She, somehow, managed to avoid Draco for a couple of days but she was quiet and pale. He spoke to Charlotte and she didn't know anything until Natalie and Chloe said that Aurora had been reading a book in the library and it had shaken her up.
"We didn't think anything of it until you just said," Natalie said, "she threw it on Pince's desk and then hurried off."
"Thank you, Natalie. I shall have to go and speak to Pince and see what Aurora was looking at," Draco said, grateful that Natalie had had the courage to say what she'd seen.
"Sorry Madam Pince to disturb you but I need your help," Draco said as he approached the librarian, "Aurora was reading a book the other day and it shook her up and I was wondering if you could tell me which one it was."
The librarian nodded and summoned the book to her desk before passing it to Draco.
"Not the kind of book she should be reading but something must have drawn her to it," she said before Draco nodded and found a chair to see what his sister had been reading.
He hadn't got very far before he realised that Aurora must have read about the Death Eaters and them killing people. He hurried back to the desk and placed the book down before hurrying off to find his sister.
He eventually found her curled up in a chair by the fireplace, her doll and unicorn teddy back to their normal size. He rushed across the common room before realising that Aurora was curled up in Astoria's arms.
"Ria…" Draco said, feeling relieved before deciding to leave his sister settled. "Rora… that book you read…"
"Was daddy really like that? Did he kill people too? I don't understand… daddy is kind to me," Aurora asked, half whispering, slightly scared she was in trouble.
"Shush, you aren't in trouble," Astoria said softly as she stroked Aurora cheek.
"What you saw is a darker side to our family," Draco said, wishing their mother were here to explain all this, "you see… The Death Eaters were people who believed they were better than others because they are Pureblood. Some chose to join themselves… but others…"
"Like Daddy?"
"Yes, like father had no choice. Grandfather Abraxas was chosen to be one of the earlier ones, but I don't think he realised how serious that it would be," Draco said as he looked at his sister, "by the time he tried to get out it was too late, but he wanted to be a part of it. Bellatrix wanted to become a Death Eater from the start and father… well he never had a choice with Grandfather Abraxas already high up the ranks," he said before falling silent so Aurora could process what he'd said.
"But did daddy kill anybody? He must have had a choice…" Aurora said as she looked at her brother.
"As far as I know father never killed anyone. He was more involved in raids, but it was really before I can even remember Rora. I was a baby when the War ended," Draco said, "so I really cannot answer that one, but mother says he did not, and I trust mother, so I'd say that he didn't."
"So, he wasn't really evil? He just had no choice and had to join because Grandfather Abraxas was already on the Dark Lord's side…" Aurora said trying to understand and Draco looked at Astoria silently asking her to finish.
"Your father wasn't evil little rose," the Greengrass said softly, "he just had no choice because of your grandfather already being a member of the Death Eaters. You don't need to worry anymore because they don't exist, and they have been punished for what they have done. Bellatrix will also… finally be tried for her crimes as well as what happened with you when you were a baby," she said before kissing Aurora's head softly and looked at Draco, "go and owl your parents. I'll stay here with Aurora."
Draco nodded and thanked her before rising from his seat; he kissed Astoria's cheek and his sister's head before heading to write his letter to their parents. One thing he was trying to understand was why his heart always beat faster when he saw Astoria caring for his sister. That was a question for another day and one he'd ask his mother about for she would surely know the answer.