She who walks in Darkness

Momentarily forgetting her new appearance she wondered why they didn’t balk at the sight of her, after all the Malfoys had been very vocal in their distaste for those of a lesser blood status than themselves and as Death Eaters had demonstrated that distaste frequently. She shuddered slightly as she thought back to the World Cup several years prior and the band of Death Eaters that had been abusing the Muggle family, levitating them high in the air.

The gentle drip of water from her hair onto the marble flooring brought her back to her senses and she remembered that she was no longer visibly recognisable as Hermione Granger and her blood status, the blood status she had held for her entire life she thought with a twinge of bitterness, was as pure as any of those around her. She could have felt anger, blind hatred at the three of them standing before her. Certainly it wouldn’t be unjustified, certainly towards the youngest figure, Draco Malfoy, whom had seemingly taken delight in making her school life a misery. However as these thoughts flashed across her mind, the warmth she had come to recognise as the presence of her father washed over her again and his voiced echoed inside her head, “do not judge them too harshly my child, the outwards appearance is not always reflective of the soul within”.

This was true, she considered. After all she didn’t know the circumstances that had led the Malfoys to become Death Eaters or to act as they did. Besides, were their actions so far different to those she had fought alongside, those who called themselves the Light? They too took pleasure in the torture and murder of others, others who had no necessarily proven guilt. They made just as frequent harsh judgements regarding blood status and Harry and Ron, her absent best friends, had made Malfoy’s life as difficult as possible at school, turning whole houses of people against him, people who, before the segregation that school houses provided, had been his childhood friends.

A feeling of shame crept across her as she realised she too had been active in the destruction of his reputation and the downfall of any chance of happiness he might have had at school. Resolving to put all past judgements behind her in favour of re-evaluating those coming into her new life, she looked into the faces of the three figures in front of her and smiled. Certainly she would not be telling them her past name, not unless they guessed. The door had closed on the life of Hermione Granger now along with all the petty vengeances she felt.

Her bright smile had broken the ice and in a whoosh of perfumed air and silk robes Thea found herself wrapped tightly in the arms of Narcissa Malfoy.

“My dear”, a sob catching in the older woman’s throat, “we are so pleased to have you come home”.

Lucius stepped forward, enveloping her in strong and protective arms. “Little Thea, you have no idea how hard it was...the pain, watching you be given away to strangers, to Muggles and having to step backwards out of your life, I beg you, can you ever forgive us?”

Surprised at the emotions portrayed by the pair, Thea’s mouth hung open slightly. She hadn’t even been aware they held capacity for such emotion, having always held a haughty air of disinterest at everything in the times she had previously seen them. Silently admonishing herself she remembered she was supposed to be starting anew.

“There is nothing to forgive” she said to the older man gently, taking in the pain etched in his face, the unspilt tears making his eyes shine brightly, unlike his wife whose tears were streaming silently down her beautiful face. “I had a good life with my foster parents and now that is over I hope to have a good life with my new family. You are my Godparents I take it?”

“We are”, cut in Narcissa as the tears started to fall from Lucius’ eyes, “myself, Lucius here and our dear friend Alonzo Zabini also. He and his family will arrive in a few days’ time so you are not too overwhelmed by the presence of new faces. And you will of course have a good life! As a child you were like a daughter to me, I promised your mother…” but she tailed off, emotion catching up with her as she remember the beautiful Persephone, so loving and gentle, taken so unfairly.

Having pulled himself together Lucius turned back and pulled his son forward. “Thea, this is our son…”

“Draco” she smiled up at him.

The two men looked momentarily stunned at her seeming recognition of her and she silently cursed herself as she realised she had almost given away her previous identity already.

“We were at school together” she muttered, her skin flushing as she looked down towards her feet.

“I don’t recognise…” Draco started, his voice deep and rich, but Lucius cut across him.

“The glamour, of course” the older man sighed, “what was your name before my child?”

Stuttering she whispered “it’s unimportant”, and then finding her confidence again she spoke. “Would you like to join me inside for breakfast? Chives and Thyme make the most amazing French toast!

They laughed at her enthusiasm as they followed her inside.

“If you’ll just excuse me”, she turned to them, eyes twinkling, “I think a few more clothes might be in order before I join you!”

And with that she scampered up the stairs towards her room, but not before catching the piercing stare of Draco Malfoy, gazing at her so intently and thoughtfully she could almost see the cogs whirring in his mind.