This day
Abby POV
Abby was sitting in a meeting room, surrounded by familiar faces, but everything was blurred, as if she were looking at the scene through a thick fog. The aurors were there to talk to the family, to explain what had really happened that day. Every word, every detail they were about to share, threatened to shatter the precarious balance she had been trying to maintain since Samuel’s death.
She had tried several times to recount the events, but the words eluded her, mingling with her pain. She had to stop several times, unable to bear the reality of what she was reliving. Fortunately, Luna wasn’t there. She was with Narcissa and Scorpius, further on, eating. Abby had to survive the day.
One of the aurors spoke again. The man’s voice sounded distant, almost unreal. She forced herself to listen. She had to. But the words blurred, tangled with the relentless ache in her chest. Her hands were trembling on the table, and she clenched them into fists to steady herself.
—After investigating, it’s likely that it wasn’t just a simple burglary. There was no theft found on the premises. Instead, he was violently attacked by several spells, coming from different directions.
The words floated through the air like empty echoes. Attacked? Samuel? Abby tried to understand, but her mind was too numb with pain.
—What...? she thought, her heart beating faster and her breathing becoming irregular.
The auror continued with a cold precision that seemed unbearable:
—Three people, at least. He tried to fight back, but the spells were powerful and coordinated. Unfortunately, the attack was fatal. He died before anyone could find out.
The words echoed in his mind. Samuel was killed. It was as if the world was crumbling around her, piece by piece.
—He was… attacked?’ she finally stammered, her voice fragile.
—Yes, I’m sorry, all the early indications confirm it,’ replied the auror, his gaze heavy with sympathy.
She couldn’t accept this truth. This was no accident, no random tragedy. This was murder. Her mind was disconnecting from reality, refusing to accept the horror of this revelation.
—He’s been killed,’ she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.
Astoria, who was sitting next to her, put a gentle hand on her knee to try and soothe her, but Abby felt a wave of anger rise up inside her.
—They killed him!’ she shouted, her voice full of despair, before bursting into tears. Why did they do it? No, no, no, no…
Astoria intervened, her own voice trembling.
—The threats,’ she said a little low.
Abby raised her head in confusion.
—What threats?’ she replied, surprised. Her eyes turned to Draco and Astoria, who paled visibly under her accusing gaze. What threats?
Draco took a deep breath, obviously fighting a feeling of guilt before speaking.
—Samuel had received death threats, which he had reported to the Ministry. He didn’t want to tell you… so you wouldn’t worry,’ Draco began, his words heavy with regret.
Abby’s world crumbled further. Threats? Samuel had received threats and she knew nothing about it? All she felt at that moment was a deep betrayal.
—I should have known! I could have… we could have done something! she shouted, anger mingling with her pain.
Draco shook his head, his gaze heavy.
—There’s nothing you could have done. If… if you’d been there, with Luna, it would have been so much worse…
—I couldn’t have helped,’ she shouted back. I don’t know how to do magic!
—It’s not that,’ replied Draco, his voice trying to soothe. It would have been too dangerous for you and Luna. Samuel wanted you far away, safe. You and Luna were all that mattered to him.
These words hit her even harder. Samuel had wanted to protect them, but at what cost? The pain and guilt were unbearable. Abby stood up abruptly, unable to contain her emotions any longer, before breaking down in tears again. Astoria joined her, her own tears falling silently.
The aurors left the room, giving them a moment to collect themselves. Later, when she was alone, curled up in a chair, Abby let her pain overwhelm her. She wept silently, her heart torn by Samuel’s absence. He’s been killed. Those words looped around in her mind, like poison seeping into every thought, every breath. She couldn’t imagine a world without him.
Suddenly, she felt a presence beside her and jumped back instinctively. In her panic, she looked up and recognised Harry. There he was, standing next to her, looking uncomfortable.
—I didn’t mean to frighten you,’ he murmured softly. I’m sorry.
She wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to regain some semblance of calm.
—What are you doing here?’ she asked, her voice trembling.
—I wanted to… check up on you,’ he replied, sounding sincere and concerned.
Abby couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer. She burst into tears, her shoulders shaking with pain, while Harry remained silent, respectful of her grief.
At the same moment, a small, familiar voice pierced the air.
—Mummy!’ called Luna, breaking free from Narcissa’s arms to run towards her.
Abby quickly wiped away her tears and sat up to welcome her daughter into her arms. Luna cuddled up to her, her little hands gripping her mother tightly, her sobs uncontrollable.
—I want Daddy. she sobbed, broken.
Luna’s words pierced Abby. She clutched her daughter tightly, unable to respond.
Draco was leaning against the wall, his face turned towards the floor, his fists clenched until his knuckles were white. He had never felt so powerless. Abby's screams were still echoing in his head. He deserved it. He'd closed his eyes, but it hadn't changed anything: he could still see Samuel, his laughter, his imposing presence, and now... his absence.
He felt his shoulders tremble. A tear slipped down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away, but it was no use. The others followed, like a torrent he could no longer contain. He put his hand over his mouth to stifle a sob. He didn't want Abby, or even Astoria, to see him like this. But the guilt was too heavy.
‘We should have told her, maybe...’ he murmured at last, mid-voice, his voice broken by emotion. He turned slightly towards Astoria, who remained seated, her gaze empty, her hands knotted in her lap. Maybe she would have insisted that he hide, that he flee. Maybe he'd still be here...’
Astoria raised her head at last. Her own cheeks were streaked with tears, and her reddened eyes bore witness to her own inner battles. She breathed in for a moment before replying, her voice trembling, almost broken.
- ‘What if someone had told her, Draco? What if she'd known? She would have insisted on staying with him, on helping him, on being there.
She put her hands on her knees, tense. ‘What about Luna? She would have been there too. You know what would have happened. You know.’
Draco turned his face to her, eyes wide, and she continued, lower, her voice almost a whisper:
- If they'd been there that day... they'd all be. Not just Samuel.’
The weight of those words took his breath away. He looked away, his lips trembling with rage and despair.
- But maybe not...’ he tried, his voice desperate, as if he were trying to convince Astoria as much as himself. ‘We could have... protected them...’
- We will never know. I would never... All he wanted was for them to be safe. And for that, he kept silent. None of... it was so serious, but... he... they're alive. They could have waited.
- The threats are for them too now, if ... . If he hurt or... they could want revenge.
- I know. I won't let them do that. She breaks down. For Samuel. For them.
Draco inhaled deeply, the weight of Astoria's words adding to the weight he was already carrying. He wanted to shout, to scream, to hit something to expel all this rage and sadness, but nothing seemed to be enough. Instead, he sat down beside her, his back bent, his head in his hands, and finally let his tears flow in silence.
And so they remained, broken, unable to mend what had been broken, unable to erase what had been lost.