Everything Has Changed || June 16, 1978 || Self Para
"Miriam, pleased to finally see you. Have a seat. Mitzi, fetch us fresh tea." Andrew shooed his summoned house elf out of the empty class room he had commandeered when he had come to the conclusion that his daughter wasn't going to simply appear by sheer will.
"I apologize if I kept you waiting, father. I was unaware you had arrived, I hope your journey was easy." Miriam said softly as she pulled a chair out before settling herself in it uncomfortably. There was no words she contained within her to explain the lead inside her stomach currently.
The man who was in front of her was as unfamiliar as a stranger. Long gone was the happy man from her childhood who joined in the silliness that had once ruled her home. However, the desperate lost drunken mess she had come to know in the last ten years wasn't sitting here either. She could practically feel the disappointment rolling off of him as Mitzi reappeared with their tea.
"It was hardly a journey, Miriam, I simply took the floo. What has been tedious and frustrating is attempting to locate you within the castle." Andrew folded up his paper as he eyed his daughter "What I have managed to find in the hours I've been waiting is your professors and the school Matron and even some of your school mates. I am aware that you didn't have any control over which house you were sorted into, but I would have expected you to conduct yourself more wisely. You have been working in the hospital wing. The tasks you've been doing, they are fit for a house elf."
"You can't just walk in the hospital wing and expect to jump into healing. You have to learn first, I was doing what was asked. This is what I want to do, I'm good at this. I can be a healer and still get married."
Andrew's chair hit the ground as he began pacing, holding up a hand to cut her off in an instant "No, I don't want to hear about these silly aspirations of yours, Miriam. This is not up for debate. I did travel all this way to discuss this. I came because you are exhausting your quill and owl for no reason. I do not need your approval to make the decisions that are best for this family."
"This isn't what Mom would have wanted. She loved her time at Hogwarts, she used to tell me stories about her time here. She completed seven years, and I want nothing more than to be able to do the same thing she did." Miriam forced herself to keep her voice even, not to let the emotions rising up inside of her escape. She needed him to understand where she was coming from and she could only do that if she could remain rational.
"Don't you dare bring your mother up. What your mother would have wanted is irrelevant, because she's gone. She left you in my care, because I am your father." Andrew practically roared his words, it wasn't the volume that was screaming at her, but the flash of emotion in his eyes. The steely resolve on his face, cooled her insides. "My decision is final, I have no one to blame for what is wrong with you but myself. I did not follow through with things the way your mother would have. You should have learned french, taken ball room and etiquette classes with other girls of your station, but the time for sitting back has passed. Miriam, the time for action has arrived. You come from a line of pure magic, we will not bring shame upon our name, by not fulfilling our duties any longer. You will tie up your affairs here at school. When you arrive home for the summer you will begin lessons." "No. I'm not going to..." "I said enough. Your impertinence can be left behind here in this drafty old castle. I will be speaking with my friends surely someone has a younger son or someone else for you. You are a pretty enough girl and I believe you have enough of your mother inside yourself to make some man a decent enough wife."
The tears were brimming as every argument she had worked so hard to create was erased in the blink of an eye. "Father, I am only asking for one more year. I simply want to complete my time at Hogwarts." "Your time is complete. Get your head out of the clouds, the time has come to focus on less frivolous things. You have learned more than is needed, no one is expecting you to do anything more other than to look pretty, throw a good party and socialize. I sent you in here friends with Regulus Black and I am receiving you back with questionable alliances everywhere. Enough is enough, if I leave you here any longer who knows what your head will be full of. I shall hire private tutors to continue the education I declare necessary." "But--" "That is all, Miriam. I am a busy man and I was expected back in the office hours ago. If you'll ex-" "But I was just--" "My patience has evaporated Miriam Guinivere. We are finished. I will see you when you arrive home on the train. Good day."
Miriam felt as if all the air left her body as the door to the classroom slammed.
"Madam Miriam." Mitzi's comforting hand was on Miriam's back in an instant. "Do not let Master cause you pain. He wants what is best for you only." For the first time in her life, she didn't want the comforting words. They felt empty, they made it hurt worse so she shook off the hand thoughtlessly. "Go. Go with him. Just leave me here."
"But Madam--"
She shook her head, forcing herself to ignore the distress in the elf's voice. She needed to disappear and let go and this was digging the hole deeper. "That is an order. Go." She snapped, as she felt the last of her restraint fade away.
She didn't listen for the pop of her house elf as she allowed the reality of what had just happened to sink in. She had failed, the school year was over and a decision was imminent.
The only thing that seemed clear to Miriam was that it had been years since she'd missed her mother to the point where it physically hurt her. Right in this moment, losing her felt fresh as the feeling of being alone began to gnaw at her from the inside.
