Silence filled the room as Mei stepped out. Her hand ran
through her hair nervously, looking at the crowd in front of her. Their eyes
filled with wonder and awe, she was used to some attention, but this was over
whelming to her.
“What do you think?” Mei’s mother was the first to speak.
She turned away from the eyes that were scanning her up and
down, still in awe. She faced the floor length mirror. She realized now, why
they were in shock. The wedding dress laid perfectly on her body, which also
provided an air of elegance around her. She felt the dress all the way to the
tulle skirt and picked up an end so that she could twirl. She loved the flow of
the skirt, and she loved the floral accents that ran from the bust to the
bottom of the dress even more.
The sales lady adjusted the train on the dress, “This A-Line
spaghetti strapped dress, is not only perfect for the ceremony, but perfect for
the reception. More importantly though, it absolutely looks amazing on you.”
“You’ll look even
more beautiful with this.” Fleur said as she placed a veil on Mei.
Mrs. Diggory, and Mrs. Kuran’s eyes filled with tears as Mei
turned around once more. Bill and Fleur smiled from ear to ear, the same way
Mei and Cedric looked when Fleur had went wedding dress shopping. Finally,
Mei’s eyes met with Cedric’s, which made the tears start welling up in her own
eyes. He still had the look of wonder, but she could tell the love and the
happiness in his expression too.
Mei turned to the mirror. She had never felt this way
before, and right then and there, she knew- This dress was the one she would
get married to Cedric in. She wiped the little tears, so it wouldn’t run down
her face, nor get on the dress.
“This is the one,” She spoke, which put smiles all over her
little entourage’s face.
The sales lady smiled again as well, “Perfect. Your mother
and I will talk about all the pricing, and any alterations for the special day.
You can get changed, dear.”
Mei nodded and went back in the change room, and her mom and
Cedric’s mom went to talk to the sales girl. She closed the curtain to the big
change room, and smiled one last time to herself, for there was a floor length
mirror in her own change room. She slowly unzipped the dress and slipped
herself out. She didn’t want to step on anything or get anything ruined even
before she actually wore it on the big day. She hung the dress with the other
dresses she tried before, but slightly separating it. She was ready to put on
her regular clothes, until she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
She was only in her undergarments, so she saw every scar on
her body that she had desperately hid from everyone. It was to the point where
they did not hurt anymore, but the bruises and scars were still noticeably
there.
When she was at school, and even when she came back on
break, she deliberately tried to dismiss them. However, in the change room, she
could see all the flaws. Her head started hurting, as she remembered all she
had gone through for the past few months. She fell to her knees, holding her
stomach with all the scars, and she started to scream.
“Mei!” Her mother rushed, to see her daughter on the floor,
bruises and scratches all over her back, “W-who did this to y-you?”
Fleur followed behind her, and saw Mei stand up to reveal
more of the scars on her body. She ran up to hug her, with Mrs. Kuran and Mrs.
Diggory following. Finally, Cedric came in with Bill, and he saw his precious
girlfriend. He never saw how damaged she was. He hurriedly grabbed one of the
robes that was on the rack and placed it around Mei.
“How did this come about? Why didn’t you show me?” Cedric
had many questions running through his head.
She shook her head, “I can’t tell you.”
“You have to. Please, Mei.” Fleur cried.
“My baby, you can’t get better, if you don’t tell us what
happened,” Her mother cooed.
Mei stood up with the help of Fleur, “We revived the D.A,
and we helped to protect other students,” Tears started falling from her face,
“But it wasn’t always enough. The Carrows, “Her voice choked up, “They hurt us,
manipulate us, and turn students one another. We try to recruit more people,
but it just leaves us with punishments. We even tried to have people escape
from detention, which resulted in even more punishment. I get punishment for
helping my fellow Gryffindor. I want to help, but I don’t know if I can. I
don’t know if my body can handle it.”
Mei hugged Cedric as hard as she could, as if her body was
crumbling before her. All the emotions she had not released for so long, was
now over-flowing out. She wanted to be strong, but in front of her family and
friends, she could not anymore.
Cedric, still not letting go, told her, “I don’t think you
should go back to Hogwarts.”
“Honey, it’s not the safe Hogwarts we once knew. You can’t
go back,” Her mother cried.
“No. Please. I need to go back. I must,” Mei spitted in
between tears.
Cedric pulled way, “Why? You can stay here, and you won’t get
hurt, especially if you stay here with me. Or with Fleur. Anywhere but Hogwarts.”
“I disagree with that.”
The whole group turned around towards the voice that spoke,
which was not one of their own.
It was Narcissa Malfoy.
Mei’s mother brought out her wand and directed it towards
Narcissa, “What are you doing here?”
Narcissa held out her hand, and lowered Mrs. Kuran’s wand.
She started walking towards Mei, who was again, being held tightly by Cedric,
on the ground. She again held out her hand, for Mei’s own. Cedric held even
tighter, but Mei pushed off, grabbing a hold of Mrs. Malfoy. Mei weakly stood
up, and immediately Narcissa eyed her body. Then, she finally spoke.
“I am so sorry, you have to go through all that,” Her voice
was shaking, “I consider you like my own child, and seeing you like this, hurts
me.”
“Enough with that,” Mei’s mother yelled, going towards her daughter,
“Tell me why you are here.”
Narcissa smiled softly, “I snuck away for the manor, for Mei,
because my boy wishes. Draco sends his wishes, and he now has received your
letters. Mei. You have to understand, your family and friends are known to be
against the dark lord, and if he who must be named finds out Draco is talking
to his enemies, it would be bad for him, and my family.”
Tears were started welling up in Mei’s eyes again, “I
understand.”
“And you also need to understand this,” Mrs. Malfoy
continued, “Ultimately, it’s your choice on whether you go back to Hogwarts or
not. Draco doesn’t have a choice, but you do. Yes, you may be experiencing so
much pain, but you’re helping those who cannot be helped. However, I know if
you go back, you’ll have a bigger target placed over your head. Are you ready
for that?”
Everyone looked around to each other. They were all targets for
the Dark Lord, especially since all of them have defied him in some way.
“If you are, go back
to Hogwarts. Help your fellow students, and if you can’t anymore, know you’re
fighting for an amazing cause,” She hugged Mei, and the tears started flowing
again, “No one can know I was here with you all, but just know I am here in
spirit.”
With that Narcissa was gone. Silence came upon the group
once more. They were all thinking about she had said.
Mei took a deep sigh, “I am going back. For the greater
good.”
