String Me Along

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒐𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒕

The entire environment was gloomy. The manor felt quiet, and the air felt cold. Sure, it was slowly becoming winter, but it felt wrong. The entire summer we managed to bring up the feeling of having to walk the halls of the manor.

"It's getting late," Pansy sighed, more worried than impatient. She eyed the clock in the corner of the hallway, above Draco's bedroom door. "When do we have to go in?"

"Where is she?" Daphne whispered, leaning into Alex. Even she seemed worried and on edge. 

Then I looked around us. Draco, Blaise, Alex, Enzo, Daphne, Pansy, and me. Trixie and Mattheo weren't here yet. They were probably in the hall, like Mattheo said he'd be, pr they were late. I wouldn't be surprised for either.

"What's this for?" Lorenzo asked, looking at his pocket watch, before at Draco. "Do you know?"

He shrugged, genuinely as confused as us. "My mom didn't say anything. I tried asking, but she didn't answer my letters."

I sighed, understanding what he meant. His mother would have told him, but if she didn't, she was being forced not to. Either by his dad, Mattheo's, or Trixie's mother.

Pansy kept impatiently eyeing the clock, and Daphne tapped her foot anxiously. She sat next to Alex on a bench, holding onto his hand. Blaise stood against a wall, Draco sitting on the floor behind him. Lorenzo stood in the hallway, pacing up and down. Pansy tried listening through the door, but it would be no use. They sound-proof it. She knew that, but clearly she had false hope.

Then the door opened, and Thomas appeared, giving Pansy a fright. 

"Step inside," he gestured, telling us all to follow into the large hall. 

One for one everyone moved inside. I was the last. Our parents were already inside, or most of them, seated at the long table. Then at the end, Voldemort, our Dark Lord, sat looking at us. I lift my head, somehow ending up looking proud to be there. I didn't even really know why.

There were empty seats in between our families, our names on cards on the table. Everyone sunk into their seats, one for one. I sat down beside my father, next to Antonio. I wasn't surprised when little by little everyone looked at him with surprise. Of course they'd be. He was the last person we'd expect to be here. 

"Wait," Pansy said out loud, looking around the table. "Where's Trix?"

Only then I realized she wasn't here. She wasn't at the table, or in the room. Mattheo and Thomas were, sitting beside their father, but Bellatrix sat alone beside Mattheo, her hand on his, looking at her husband with mania on her face.

"She's not here," Voldemort said, before looking around the table again.  "Now, let us begin."

~

"Don't touch me," Daphne sobbed, pulling away from Alex's sympathetic touch. She picked up her pace, arms crossed over her stomach. Pansy was right after her.

Alex gave a sigh of somewhat regret as he slowed down, coming to a stop. He looked as the girls rushed into the first carriage that was waiting, and soon it started moving.

"Great," Draco complained, looking back at the manor. "Now we have to ask for another."

Lorenzo stepped beside Alex, saying something stupid like: "Just give her time." As if that would help them. We no longer had 'time'. 

They stood at the bottom of the staircase to the front door, at which I still stood. Draco passed me, along with Blaise. I didn't move. Silently, with my hands in my jean pockets, I watched them move towards the last carriage.