The Ministers Daughter

Letters at dinner

Chapter Five - Letters at dinner

The day past in a wave of homework and food, now we all had clear heads we got through our homework relatively quickly for a Sunday and by the time supper started at the great hall we were all done. Me and Rose walked towards the great hall alone we have left Lucy with Michael any guesses regarding what they are up to?

"So Rose now Lucy and Michael have hooked up any thoughts on boys?" I asked over a plate full of mash potatoes. We were sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table and were alone.

"Not really, although there is that boy from Ravenclaw you know the tall blond one" she mused for a minute and I at my mash "No hang on I know" said Rose sitting up straighter "That Slytherin boy Vincent Goyle" she said dreamily a wicked smile on her face. "What?" I spat my mash out and laughed so hard people looked round at me. Vincent Goyle was the most ugly, smelly, nasty, stupid person I have ever seen. He was tall and board and had as many brain cells as a pea but the same sort of muscles as a cart horse. In fact he looked a bit like a cart horse. I was still laughing when James, Fred and Scorpius came into the room, James took on look at me now hunched over laughing holding my stomach and said in worried tones "What have you done to her"

"Who me?" Rose sounded surprised "nothing I was just saying how dreamy Vincent Goyle is" it was Fred's turn to spit out a mouth full of food now. We were all sitting there laughing when Scorpius said "that strange what's an owl doing here now?" I looked up still giggling. The laughter fell from my face at the sight of the owl, I recognised it at once. It was my fathers, a great golden Eagle owl, its huge wings swept over the heads off the students. All eyes were on its commanding form it landed in front of me and held it's leg out impatiently. I was reluctant to take the letter, my past experiences of letters from my father are few and mainly unhappy I knew that this one wouldn't be any different, I untied the letter and the owl took off immediately. The letter was heavy in my hands the official looking envelope made me uneasy. I dropped it and pushed it away from me with a look at Rose. The great hall was once again full of talk I overheard one pair saying how beautiful the owl was.

"Do you want me to...?" she let the words hang in the air as she gestured toward the envelope, I nodded and she picked it up. James, Fred and Scorpius stared at her and I played with my now forgotten dinner. Rose cleared her throat

"Dear Jennifer

I am writing to inform you that me and your mother have decided that now you are of age you should be seen at certain events to do with the ministry. This shows the wider community that the force behind the ministry, the minister himself, is stable and should therefore reflect on the ministry. The first event you shall be attending along with me and your Mother is a meal with the French Minister. My secretary will send you further information regarding timings and I shall write to your Headmaster, Professor Gilbert, concerning absences from school

Best regards,

Albert Kent,

Minister of Magic"

Silence followed Roses reading. "Jenn?" Rose said tentatively, I pushed away from the table and stood up "don't wait up for me" I murmured and walked out of the room. As I got to the doors of the great hall I heard running footsteps behind me I ignored them until I heard a cry of "Jenn wait up" come from the direction of the footsteps. I turned slowly to see Scorpius running towards me "I need to go to the common room" he smiled at me. I nodded and carried on walking Scorpius keeping step at my side. Stupid ministry...stupid minister...of age...French Minister...force behind the ministry. My thoughts ran around and around my head making me dizzy with increasing frustration. I walked without really noticing where I was going it was only when I felt stairs under my feet did I realise that I was going to my tower and with a jolt I realised that Scorpius was still with me. I turned to him and said "I thought you were going to the common room" I asked him

"I was" he said giving me a small smile "but I've never been up here before"

I shrugged and started to climb the steep, familiar stairs. The south tower was the smallest at Hogwarts and wasn't much use as it was to narrow for more then three people. But it was the perfect place to come and vent anger or to cry or to just sit and think. I had only ever taken James and Rose up here and I wasn't sure why I was letting Scorpius come up but it felt right. When we reached the top I walked out into the cool night air and looked around, the grounds of Hogwarts surrounded the tower and I could see smoke rising from, the old ground keepers, Hagrids cabin. Thestrals flew above the forbidden forest before diving into the trees again, I saw my Grandmother die when I was little I don't remember it I was to small but I can still see the skeletal body of a great, black, winged horse whenever I look over the forest. I sat down and looked at my fingers on my lap. I heard Scorpius sit down next to me. We sat in a comfortable silence, me fuming about my father's impersonal letter and Scorpius watching me with a curious look on his face.

"Feeling better yet Jenn?" Scorpius asked me, his smile was so small it was hardly there but I could see the look of concern his face. I looked up at him and gave him an equally small smile "a little" he cocked his head to the side and opened his arms towards me gesture for me to come closer "come here" he said. I crawled hesitantly towards him and sat next to him. He wrapped his arms around me and suddenly I had the strong urge to cry, tears ran down my face. It was the first time I had cried over my dad in ten years and I really went for it. Forgetting where I was or who I was with I turned into the strong arms that were holding me and cried. I cried because of my father, my mother, Lipsy, the ministry and my lost childhood. All the upset that I had been holding inside ever since I was seven came spilling out for me to see. It was like a great weight had been lifted off my chest and I hugged Scorpius as I cried into his strong shoulder. I felt him rub my back and stroke my hair in comfort. I heard him whisper words of comfort in my ear. When I finally stopped crying I pulled back and looked at him. He cocked his head to the side again as if he was inspecting me and nodded, his smile was small but understanding. I leaned back into his arms and said very quietly "thank you"

"For what?" he asked giving my shoulders a squeeze.

"For knowing what to do and not freaking out" I said smiling at him. He smiled back a proper smile with time and I shivered and not just because it was getting cold. Oh that smile... hang on wait... when did this happen? First of all he's just a friend and now I'm sobbing into his shoulder and practically melting whenever he smiles at me. Scorpius seemed to notice my shiver because he said "It's getting cold do you want to go back down?" I nodded and stood up. Scorpius looked up at me and then got up "you've got goose bumps, here" he took off his jumper and handed it to me. I took it shyly and put it on. It was very big on me and the sleeve went way past my hands. Scorpius smiled (insert melting here) and said "a little big but it looks good on you" and with that comment he started walking down the stairs, I followed. When we reached the portrait hole I stopped and took off his jumper "handing it to him I said "Thank you" and kissed him swiftly on the cheek "for everything" I turned to the Fat Lady and Said "Pygmy puff" the door swung open and I climbed in soon followed by a rather surprised looking Scorpius. When I had got into the dorm room I was bombarded with questions from Lucy and Rose

"Where were you?"

"What were you doing?"

"Were you with Scorpius?"

"What did you do?"

"Why are you're eyes red?"

The last question came from Elena, I looked at her in surprise "where's Jess" I asked

"She's in the hospital wing she's got flu" Elena said looking at Lucy, Rose and me in turn "But she'll get over it. How come your eyes are red? I think I have seen all of us cry apart from you" I looked at her in surprise, when did she become so observant or maybe you were just not looking. I sighed "it was my dads letter it was just a bit of a shook that's all" I said looking at each one in turn "now I'm having a shower before you lot go anymore Spanish inquisition on me"