Melisende sat on her bed bored out of her mind as she saw the house elf pack her bags, which she wasn't allowed to do as she was a respectful pureblood. 

She groaned at the amount of dresses her mother had laid out, the only pants she was allowed to take were her pyjamas. And she had no idea why?

James had replied with just I am sorry written on the parchment and she had not bothered replying. Was she over reacting? She had no idea. But one thing she was sure about was that she wouldn't drag James into her mess, he deserved better.

Suddenly her door was thrown open, she turned to find Rebecca, her mother.

"Yes?", she asked.

Rebecca closed the door behind her and ordered the house elf to leave. Melisende's eyebrows furrowed as she took in her mother's appearance. She was breathing loudly, as if she had ran down the hall. There was sweat all over her forehead, and her fingers gripped the hem of her dress tightly.

"What's wrong?", Melisende found herself asking. Of course she wasn't overly fond of her mother, but that didn't mean she didn't care. She had spend enough time with her mother to know her reactions on situations. And her current state was no good.

Rebecca took a deep breath, she smiled softly at her daughter and started packing the leftover dresses.

Melisende watched her mother like a hawk, what would have happened to have her so flustered? And why the hell was she packing her bags when she herself wasn't allowed to?

A deep silence followed.

"I remember as if just yesterday, the day you were born. Your father was so proud, his face basically glowed when he looked at you", her mother started.

Glowed? You have got to be kidding me!

"He wasn't a bad man then, just a misjudged slytherin. He was just different, i don't know how to explain. He didn't had anything against muggles but he didn't want to go against his people. He would secretly help the muggleborns when we were in hogwarts, i was a year younger. I only know because he told me himself, we were a couple then, you the one madly in love, shipped by everyone! That's what your generation say right?", she paused as she took a look at her daughter.

Mel didn't knew how to reply, so she just nodded her head.

"But things changed when we graduated. The Dark Lord had started recruiting purebloods convincing them that muggleborns were nothing but the dirt beneath their boots. People started joining him, the numbers started increasing gradually", her mother stopped and turned towards Mel. Her eyes were glossy, tears threatening to spill.

"But your father refused", she breathed out, her voice trembling.

What? He refused? But he worships Voldermort like everything.

Rebecca could see the struggle in her daughter's eyes.

"Dark Lord was angry, just a boy then but he still was capable of stuff.  Dereck thought we were happy on our own, we had just married. But the Lord had other plans. He....he murdered your grandparents in front of your father's eyes. Wanted to set a example if anyone thought of defying him".

Melisende couldn't believe it, so that's why she was never told how her grandparents died? She felt sick as she thought of it, seeing your parents get murdered? She visibly shuddered.

"Dereck was never the same again, he joined the army, persuaded me as well. He didn't want to lose more. He became the submissive, doing everything The dark lord asked him to. He kept acting, never let anyone know how he really felt. Time shaped his personality, he became the strict and distant one. And then you were born. He was happy yes, but he was sad as well because he knew you would share the same fate as his. Maybe this is the reason why he never came close to you, he didn't want to lose you as well".

Rebecca wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

This is to much to take in, Mel thought.

After all this time she had convinced herself that her father didn't love her. But now suddenly she was told that he had a reason to be cruel...... he was just protecting her from the secrets, secrets which could destroy her.

What would i had done, if i was in his place?

The reality struck her as she realised her answer. Of course she would had done the same thing her father did. She would had protected her child from the horrors, made them hate her so they never mindled with her business....... so they never felt any loss when she died.

So this was it? 

Her father didn't want her to go through the same phase, so he made her hate him? 

Being a death eater means dueling with death. You either die at the hands of aurors or Voldermort himself. There is no escape, it's either today or tomorrow.

Her heart clenched as she thought of it. He did this all so that she wouldn't fell the pain he did when he died?

Did he really love her that much? 

But it came with a cost, her childhood was destroyed, she never recieved any parental love.

So was it worth it? She had no happy memories with him.

Her mind was spinning with the thoughts. Her stomach full of knots.

"Why are you telling me now, why of all time now?", she asked her mother, her voice strained.

"You still don't understand it sweetheart...... he did this all so you had no attachments with him, no bonds. So that you don't have any regrets if you leave him behind, so that you can grab the opportunity to defy him, live your own life, with your own principles", her mother urged. There was desperation in her voice, she wanted her daughter to understand.

Opportunity? he wanted her to leave?

Her mother suddenly looked at the letters lying on her desk from James, letters she forgot to hide.

Her eyes shifted between the letters, and her balcony.

Melisende found herself sweating. She didn't knew did she?

"He would probably never say it, but all he wants you to do is grab the opportunity before it's to late. You have a choice, don't let it get wasted"

_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*

Hey guys! Here comes next chapter. 

What do you all think?

Lots of love.