Chapter Eight - The Funeral June 1978
As Izabella sat at the table the next morning, her head in her hand, she attempted to stay awake and not let her face fall into her cereal. The night had be long and sleep had come to her unwillingly. Her mother was skitting around the kitchen, already dressed in her modest black robes. Severus was still in his nightwear, but his face was calm and serene.
“Mother sit down.” he sighed exasperatedly. She obliged, her face tense and her hands wavering.
Izabella rolled her eyes and pushed her bowl away from her. She returned upstairs climbed into the shower, washing her hair forcefully as an attempt to clear her mind and rid herself of thoughts.
She wrapped a towel around herself and hurried across the hallway into her bedroom where she pulled on a robe and sat on her bed as she pulled her wand through her hair, steam evaporating from her drying curls.
Finally she sighed and turned to the dress that was lying over the back of her chair. She picked it up, glaring at the silk for a moment then she removed her robe, pulled on her underwear and then stepped into the dress. She pulled up the zip and turned to face the mirror.
Izabella tilted her head slightly. She had to admit, it was lovely. It was tighter than she had expected, hugging her body flatteringly and falling just below her knees. It had short strappy sleeves and a modest neckline, but the back dipped a little, baring some flesh. She pulled out a pair of moderately high heels and slipped them on, admiring the outcome in the mirror.
She glanced at her hair and in one motion, sweeped up the top, pinning it with grips. The rest hung in loose curls and she pulled it to one side over her shoulder. Satisfied, she made her way downstairs where Severus and Eileen were waiting.
“Izabella! You look beautiful.” she gasped. Izabella rolled her eyes.
“Lets go.” she mumbled, passing them and walking out of the door to find a strange car outside, and a chauffeur standing close by. He crossed and opened the door for Izabella and she climbed inside, raising an eyebrow at the leather seats. Her mother and Severus crawled in, settling themselves opposite her.
“Where did the car come from?” Izabella asked.
“Abraxas lent it to us.”
“What a surprise.” Izabella mumbled. “And since when have you been on first name terms?” she asked icily.
“Izabella.” Severus said in a warning tone. “Abraxas Malfoy has done a lot for this family, so you had better not forget it.”
Izabella rolled her eyes and childishly folded her arms, leaning back in her seat and watching out of the window. The sun was beating down, warming the air and enticing the flowers to bloom.
Ironic day for a funeral, Izabella thought to herself.
They pulled up outside the church and Izabella spotted the mass of mourners. Izabella frowned. Did Tobias even know this many people?
She climbed out of the car and spotted Lucius and Abraxas turn their heads towards her. They looked startlingly alike, both dressed in fine black suits which were tailored to their bodies perfectly.
Severus was by her side and extended his arm. Izabella took it; she knew he wanted to show family unity, even if they were broken and crumbling apart. She looked around and saw the only Muggles were the two men that Tobias used to go drinking with and they looked just as confused as she did about the amount of people gathered.
Eileen played her part, lowering her head in mourning as she approached the Malfoys. Abraxas nodded understandingly and patted her shoulder in comfort. Lucius watched Izabella as she walked with Severus and he smiled gently. She returned the gesture.
Severus began to lead her inside and she turned, grabbing Eileen's arm to pull her away from Abraxas, not that it would be long until he returned. As they took their place on the front row, Izabella's mouth dropped open as they had the cheek the join them. Izabella found herself between Severus and Lucius, but at least the latter looked apologetic.
“I'm sorry, I tried to tell him it was innappropiate for us to sit here.” Lucius said quietly in her ear. She shook her head slightly and smiled.
“I would of thought it was innappropiate for you to be here at all... Purebloods at a Muggle's funeral!” she said, pretending to cover her mouth in shock. He chuckled then looked down at her with twinkling eyes.
“You're a Pureblood and you're still here.”
She rolled her eyes, partly at what he said, but partly at the fact that he even knew she was a Pureblood.
“Tobias was my-”
She stopped, swallowing hard and turned to face the front. She felt Lucius' eyes graze over her face then he reached down and patted her hand gently as it lay between them on the bench. She grasped his hand, interlocking their fingers as the service began and a tear fell silently down her face.
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