As I enter our hut, I rush to our bathing room to ready for supper. I realize how hungry I am as I was my hands and face as I have not eaten since morning. A part of me wishes that I could avoid sharing a meal with my father because he seems to be in a mood today. I feel as if he acted untoward to Draco today even though they had just met. I know my father is going to want to talk about my day. Specifically, I think the conversation will linger on the kiss I shared with Draco outside. I feel my cheeks heat at the small taste of him still on the tip of my tongue.
Father looked so displeased. I am at a woman’s age. I have seen many of the others in my village kiss when being wooed. I have not the faintest idea in my mind to why my father would look at us in contempt for completing such an act. He should be happy for me that I have found someone. I decide that I may as well get the conversation over with. I take a deep breath and exit my room. When I enter the dining room, he has already taken his seat at the table. I take mine and begin serving the rice and fish onto our plates. As we begin to eat, I keep sneaking peeks at him waiting for the conversation to begin. After a few moments I start to think that maybe he never wanted to have a conversation. So, I finish my food. With my empty plate I gather the rest of the empty dishes from the table and take them to the kitchen. I grab the cloth and wash each dish. When I place the last dish into the drying rack father comes in and places his dish into the sink.
I turn toward my room to ready for bed when he calls my name. I turn to look at him as I brace myself for what he has to say. He leans his back against the sink and runs a hand through his greying hair.
“I know that you are of age to begin being wooed. What I do not understand is your choice. Do you know who this boy you have brought to our village is? The tales that have been told of what goes on in his home or that of his father?” He presses.
“I did not know the answers to those questions until today. He told me who he is and about his life” I reply.
“Then why bring him here when you see there can be no future? Why agree to keep seeing him if you know? I warned you Io to be aware of his will. I warned you to shield yourself from pain” he retorts.
“How can you assume that we will have no future. You do not know him truly. His will is to court me father. He sees me as someone who can be his bride.” I yell.
“Then what will become of your future? You would willingly deal with a man who must have others. To marry someone who only wants to use you for birthing his heirs. I raised you better than this. I taught you to have more value in yourself” he hisses.
“I do value myself father. This will be a love match and he will have no other. He wants no other. I will be his wife and someday we will leave this place” I snap as tears begin to stream down my cheeks. My father begins to pace.
“He is of a higher station in his village. They may not accept you as his bride because you are not used to their ways. I beg you to see the bigger picture daughter. To see that he will betray you and go on with his ways. He is not like us, and you are not like them. See that this cannot work and end it before you are left in ruin” he pleads.
I lower my head to think about what he is saying. Draco has never been cruel. He returned on two days’ time as he had promised. He does not want to cause me pain like my father’s says. The way I feel cannot be changed. He is wrong. “I know you think of me as naive. I know more than you think father. I believe in Draco. He will not hurt me. You will see…. when he comes in two days’ time to begin courting me, you will see” I declare. As I turn my back on him, I wipe the tears from my eyes. I stand tall as I walk to my room. I will keep my faith in Draco and his word. I must. I feel too much not to.