I slowly opened my door. It was only Narcissa.
"Hello darling. Dinner will be ready shortly, so it would be best if you came down in a few minutes."
"I will be down there in just a second," I replied with a content spirit.
I go into my room and rummage through my vanity for a hairbrush. I then brushed out my hair very quickly and took my time going downstairs and into the dining room. However, when I arrived, no one was there. The table wasn't even set up.
"We're eating outside, " said Kasper as he passed by me with a tray of fruit in his hands.
"Oh, hey Kas!" I replied as I began to follow him outside, "Did you ever get to talk to Lucius about getting a job?"
Kasper slowed his pace as he began to speak.
"Well, I did actually. Though, he did not take me seriously at first, but I'm supposed to find out today if I can possibly work for him."
"Well, that's wonderful! You'll be rich before you know it," I winked.
"Maybe, but that's not really the reason I'm working for work."
"Oh? Then why?"
I have actually been wanting to know why Kasper has been so persistent to receive a position at the Ministry, but I refrained from asking for some odd reason.
Kasper took in a small breath before deciding on his next answer. Perhaps the reason was much deeper than simply earning galleons.
"I want to save up money for the future, so that we may not have to live here forever."
He slowly completely stopped walking. "I think since both of our houses have been put up for sale and we certainly don't want to go back, that saving up money for a place to live in the near future would perhaps be a good idea. I'll be done with school in two years which means I haven't got much time. Tell me honestly, does that sound silly or like a waste of time?"
I thought I remembered Kasper mentioning something similar to this back in the Hospital Wing back in May. I paused for a minute as my imagination played into the opportunities this would mean we could have. Once Kasper graduates and gets a place to stay, I could have a home to come to over the summer.
Home.
That's why he wanted to earn money so badly. He is thinking ahead for the future. He's planning to have a home.
For us.
"That doesn't sound silly. That sounds amazing actually."
"Just think Holly." I assumed he has been waiting to say this for a while. "If I can work every summer for now on, I can save up enough money to at least get started. We can go wherever we like. I can support us both and I can watch you graduate. Of course, we don't have to live together forever. Just until you are ready to go out on your own."
All that Kasper was saying and dreaming of sounded so amazing. Just thinking about it made me excited.
"I'm proud of you, Kas."
"That's all I ever wanted to hear you say."
He smiled, and his words and smile made my heart warm on the inside. Kasper's envision of the future was a full and bright as any future I could ever imagine.
We continued our way towards the backyard where a few house elves were seen setting up the large picnic table.
Kasper's POV:
Several months ago, after I passed out in the library, I knew I had to make a final decision. I made up my mind in that hospital bed back at Hogwarts that this certainly could not be my fate. I would not let it be so. I never wanted death decided by the Dark Lord.
As the days stretched forth and as the time to receive the Dark Mark grew nearer, I fell into a deep state of sorrow. I just could not let myself go down like that. Surely, I was not as weak as I believed myself to be. I confessed of my leaden burden to Madam Pomfrey since she insisted I tell her why I was neglecting myself. I confessed not of the Dark Lord's plans, but of mine and Holly's home life. It was enough for her to go and call Dumbledore.
I knew I had to be risking way more than I was willing to bargain, but I did not care when I had nothing to lose. I wanted control over myself, my future, my life. I wanted to get out of my situation. I wanted freedom.
Not only this, but I came to the conclusion that if my life didn't matter, Holly's life certainly did. Maybe I was not exactly dying at the moment; however, I was certainly on the road to death. And, saying this, I did not stay alive for the sake of saving myself. Holly. She was my motivation for going against my parent's wishes. It was hard, but I did it. If no one even decided to help me, I would pray someone would help her. It was worth it for Holly.
I have not told her any of this. I try to keep most of it in the past as possible. I strive to be a better person and it seems impossible when I'm constantly thinking about who I was once was. Though I'm not half the person I used to be, healing does not happen overnight. I'm trying to do my best, but now I'm afraid of failure more than anything.
Perhaps one may be thinking why I could have not said anything about my living conditions sooner? Well, just as Holly was, I was afraid. I did not know what the consequences were which my parents always spoke of. I held it all within so many years, until I could not take it any longer. Also, I was always made to fear telling as a child since my parents threatened to avada kedavra me if I did. However, as I got older, I realized waiting any longer and dwelling on fear would simply lead to more harm than safety.
I may have many relatives. Many of whom who have their memories wiped completely of me and Holly's existence and some of whom who are, of course, in Azkaban. However, Holly is the only one whom I truly consider family.
Holly's POV
Kasper, the Malfoy's, and I all sat at a wide picnic table in the backyard with an invisible, magical shield forming around us that blocked out the heat and the mosquitoes. House elves stood around the table, ready to refill a glass with the wave of a wand. They also stood ready to bring out more food when required to.
As I was eating, I could suddenly sense Lucius was about to say something as he carefully set down his glass of wine.
"So, Norman, I hear you are looking for work, is that right?"
Kasper swallowed his tea hard, slightly embarrassed. "Yes sir."
"Well, convenient enough, I recently lost my secretary since I fired her. Tell me, do you happen to have a quick hand?"
No matter if Kasper had a quick hand or not, I knew what his next answer would be.
"Indeed sir." Hope gleamed in his eyes. I even noticed a slight a smile hid behind his features as he tried to hold it back.
"Tomorrow at 8 a.m., be ready to come with me to work. I believe you could be useful."
"Thank you, sir, but forgive me for asking if this sounds rude but-"
Lucius raised an eyebrow with an expression much too similar to Malfoy's, who was unfortunately sitting next to me.
"-how much does a secretary make?"
The question made him seem greedy, and if I did not know his true intentions, I would have assumed otherwise.
Lucius studied the boy with a thought unreadable as he lifted his glass to his lips.
"Depends how hard you work," he glared in Kasper's direction and drained the rest of his red wine.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Narcissa and I normally drink tea, chat, and watch the sunset together every day a few hours after dinner; however, due to an unexpected business meeting, she was not able to make it today. So, I sat alone as golden hour spread across the horizon and made the atmosphere look like a golden fantasy land.
I seemed to be alone in my rocking chair as I marveled at the orange-pink sky. That was until an unexpected guest showed up.
"What brings you here?" I ask suspiciously.
The other rocking chair which Malfoy stood next to remained empty, but he did not dare take a seat.
"I live here," he answered coldly.
"And so do I?"
"Unfortunately."
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the beautiful view, which Malfoy's prescence was definitely ruining.
"So," he began suddenly, fidgeting with the ring around his finger, "I see your cousin is hungry for money."
"You're just assuming that," I told him. How could someone think so poorly of Kasper?
"At least, that's what my father told me, though we know a man's greatest desire is riches."
"Let me guess. Your father told you that too?"
"Doesn't matter whose mouth it came out of. Your cousin will get what he wants. I'm sure he is a hard worker."
"Perhaps you should put this up with Kasper, but don't go making assumptions about my cousin," I said through gritted teeth.
I stormed off and decided I would watch the sunset another day.