Chapter 25: Ch 25 - Kaguya's Birthday Cake
Kaguya sat on the floor at foot of her bed, staring at her reflection in a mirror that was about forty degrees away from her.
She saw another Kaguya, the one who fought, the brave one, who truly belonged in Slytherin.
She swallowed hard and looked at her hands, while a small voice appeared in her head.
'You are more than you think.'
But that voice was wrong.
She took her things and her owl, looked at mirror for the last time and closed the door, leaving that Kaguya in mirror behind.
She tried to laugh with Pansy, Theo and her cousin on the train home.
'Try to distract myself. Think about everything I accomplished and did that strange first year at Hogwarts....'
It's your heart's desire
She smiled to herself when she thought of Snape's face on her first day, or when she spoke to Dumbledore after mirror was removed, or even terrified look on Quirrell's face when she was hiding behind the armour.
She lived in terror of what awaited her when got to the Manor.
But Kaguya discovered that if she wanted to survive, had to live thinking about what awaited her at Hogwarts when she returned.
'That's how it works, right? Living with the illusion that one day I will truly be happy.....'
Kaguya hugged her aunt when she saw her once arrived at the mansion, tried to ignore Lucius' punishments, played with Dobby and talked to Draco every night.
She also woke up in middle of the night, thinking about escaping through window again.
xxxxxx
At Malfoy Manor, employees were not usually respected.
That was an internal truth that would ruin Malfoy family's image if it were to become known.
Kaguya was not a Malfoy, and although for her it was a dishonor, for the little Elf of mansion it represented an immense joy.
Black was in her room reading the materials she would need to start her second year at school.
She imagined herself wand-to-wand fighting Voldemort, winning Quidditch matches, and being top of her class for second year in a row.
She had done nothing but imagine her arrival at Hogwarts.
That was a complete mistake for her uncle, but it was her salvation.
"Dobby asks permission to enter Miss Kaguya's room," She put down her book and looked at the door.
It was very early and Dobby shouldn't be there.
She let him in anyway, and the elf appeared with a tray with a green and brown cake.
"Dobby brought Miss Kaguya a cake for her birthday, Dobby knows it's very late but Dobby hadn't had time before."
Kaguya knelt on her bed so she could look at the small cake, with green frosting that looked melted, and several darker parts of the cake that were burnt.
She didn't have a birthday cake, in fact she didn't even have a party or a big present from her aunt.
She was too busy thinking about exams and Philosopher's Stones to worry about herself and her unimportant birthday.
But Dobby had gone to great lengths to make a cake without his family seeing it, even though he had a thousand chores to do.
"You're so cute, Dobby," Kaguya tasted the frosting with her finger, it tasted like a very sweet lemon, "Delicious"
She smiled at Elf and even helped him onto her bed.
Dobby was carrying a plate and a spoon, Kaguya took those utensils and cut a piece of cake for the elf.
"Dobby can't accept it, Dobby just wants Miss Kaguya to eat happily and peacefully," The Elf spoke with sweetness in his words, Dobby went from being the fearful Elf that Lucius trained to being a friend to Kaguya.
"Dobby has been a very bad elf, Miss Kaguya. Dobby doesn't deserve to share food with someone as kind as you....."
"Kaguya will be happy if Dobby eats some cake with her," Black spoke in a very soft and cheerful voice, imitating the way Dobby used to speak in the third person, "You are not a bad elf, Dobby, and I am not the kindest person in the world."
"Miss Kaguya puts herself down because of Dobby," Elf took a book from her bedside table and started hitting himself.
"Dobby has done bad things, very bad things. Dobby has prevented Miss Kaguya from talking to her friends!"
She jumped out of her bed to grab the Elf and separate him from that heavy book.
She looked at him confused, demanding an explanation for the last thing he said.
"My friends? What did they make you do this time Dobby?"
Dobby let out a squeal and began to pull at his ears in desperation.
Kaguya had to stop the poor creature again, pulling his hands away from his ears.
"Dobby!"
She sighed angrily upon hearing her uncle's voice calling for Elf's presence.
"Dobby is sorry," he apologized getting out of bed.
"Kaguya will save some cake for Dobby," She assured the Elf with good promises.
Dobby gave him a shy smile and left the room to go to his master.
The cake wasn't very big, and she finished it in less than thirty minutes, tried to eat the burnt parts and leave a completely clean and well-cooked portion for Dobby to eat when he had to go clean her room.
But, she also kept thinking about Dobby's words.
"Dobby has prevented Miss Kaguya from talking to her friends."
She hadn't received any letters from her friends, but she blamed everyone's strict families.
Didn't dare think anyone had forced Dobby to keep her letters or something.
If she were Dobby's mistress, she would have let him go free a long time ago.
That choice was her uncle's, and as Dobby was Malfoy house elf, she had no claim on him.
Kaguya spent rest of the afternoon looking out window at bright flowers and sunshine.
It was almost the beginning of August, and there was still a month left until she could return to Hogwarts.
A long and tortuous month.
She didn't see Dobby again for the rest of the day, or that night either.
Even had to ask Narcissa to cast a spell to keep that piece of cake from spoiling.
The next day Draco and Kaguya were preparing to go to Diagon Alley.
This time, Narcissa would not go with them as she had things to do.
In other words, Kaguya had to put up with her uncle all morning.
"We're going to Knockturn Alley," Lucius announced when they arrived at Diagon Alley.
Kaguya's eyes lit up strangely at that news, it was as if a part of her wished with all her heart to visit that alley.
Lucius handed Draco a box to carry to his destination.
"I'll buy you something if you behave," He spoke in a completely raspy voice, serious and not at all friendly.
Only for Kaguya and Draco to look at each other with a small smile, waiting to get to the store to choose something, although Black already knew what she wanted.
Now, Racing broom began to look strangely more accessible.
They entered a store called Borgin and Burkes.
It had many strange objects. Kaguya approached a shiny blue necklace.
Opal Necklace.
She tried to touch it but Lucius hit her hand with the cane he always used to carry everywhere.
Kaguya pulled her sore hand away and glared at her uncle.
"Don't touch anything," Lucius ordered with a warning look at her, "Give me that," he even took the box which Draco had brought there and approached the counter.
What a bad person.
He spoke for a few seconds with man, Borgin, about new law that would be passed to protect Muggles, "Without a doubt that crawler Arthur Weasley is behind all this."
Kaguya's chest burned as she heard her uncle refer to Ron's father.
Draco approached a human-sized box, where a corpse could easily fit.
The box had holes in the front, almost at the height of blond's eyes.
Draco peeked through the holes and managed to see someone inside.
He looked at Kaguya and used his fingers to ask her to come closer, so as not to arouse Lucius's suspicion.
She looked through the holes and when saw who was inside she directly turned her face to look at her cousin.
"It's Potter," She whispered, watching as Harry signaled her to be quiet from inside.
Burgin didn't know Harry was there.
Draco tried to open door of the box but again Lucius stopped them abruptly with his cane.
"What did I tell you?"
Draco swallowed, "We shouldn't touch anything," the blond replied using his most elegant tone.
Kaguya nodded silently, but he glanced at the box again, "What do you think he's doing there?"
"Maybe he got into something he shouldn't have....What do we care?"
"Yes, you're right," Draco gave Harry a quick glance before following his cousin.
Kaguya left the store with her cousin and uncle. Only, both children were still wondering why someone as "nice" as Potter would be in that part of the alley.
"He told us he would buy us something," Only, she protested loudly once they left Borgin and Burkes with nothing, since Lucius was not buying but selling.
"I'll buy each of you a broom, I'm tired of you talking about the Potter boy and how Dumbledore spoiled him."
"Do you agree with me practicing Quidditch?" Kaguya asked with an excitement that made her start jumping up and down as she walked, while noting to give Draco a thankful kiss on his cheek later.
She didn't know her cousin was actually doing stuff from behind!
This made her older brother, Draco feel good and proud.
"Of course not, but Narcissa insists that you should do sports."
That didn't stop Kaguya from feeling excited about finally having a broom of her own.
"I don't agree, it would be like rewarding your ignorance and stupidity. And stop jumping around, you look like a fool!"
Kaguya stopped dead, a lump in her throat. She followed her uncle with her head down into the bookstore.
xxxxxx
There was a cover issue, so I couldn't upload Chapters. I will make up for it this week. ❣️
Meanwhile, do you think Draco is a bit sweet in this Fanfic?
1 Extra Chapter - 70 Power Stone's! 🎉
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone