CHAPTER 4: THE HARRY POTTER BOOK

CHAPTER 4: THE HARRY POTTER BOOK

WILLOW'S POV:

A day or two after that encounter with Noah, I tried to avoid him at all cost. Laying my head low not to meet his eyes, eating quietly at the dinning table and doing my duties diligently.

As usual, it was like I never existed to Noah. He was colder than ever, he would never mistakenly glance my way and I can't lie, I yearn for it.

I yearn for him to just gaze briefly at me, even though his eyes would have total hate in them. It was better than nothing at all. He would never mistakenly say my name.

Noah goes to ‘work’ early everyday and comes back late at night, I know he spends most of his day with his mistress. I should be used to this side of him because for three years of marriage, he acts this way.

He's barely at home - I should know as I secretly check on him - He's always mean and moody, yells at everyone, even his family. The only person he can tolerate is Charlotte, his niece.

The first year of our marriage was like hell, I was over the moon to finally be married to the man of my dreams but I got the first maltreatment when he scoffed at my face at the mention of our honeymoon.

After the wedding reception, we boarded the same car and the driver drove away.

“Take a stop at the highway”, Noah had told the driver.

The driver stopped close to a black Range Rover, Noah got down without sparing me a glance. Confused as I was, I hopped out of the car with him, he already took the keys from the driver of the Range Rover and got into the driver's seat.

“W-where are we g-going?”, I had asked ignorantly, hurrying to the passenger side. With a scowl on his face, Noah got down from the car, slamming the car door and I jerked.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?”, He asked with a deep frown.

I furrowed my brows at him.

“I wanted to know where w-we are going”, I asked again.

“We?!”, He scoffed.

Not still getting what he was implying, I slowly walk to his side, dragging my wedding dress from the floor. I didn't have time to change to a reception dress as everything was rushed.

“Has the honeymoon location been changed?”, I asked in curiosity. Otherwise, that's the only logical reason why we'll change cars. The one we were in was working perfectly.

“There isn't any fucking honeymoon”, he said in a low tone but I could feel the intensity of his words.

I frowned, not quite getting him.

‘Don't married couples go for their honeymoon immediately the wedding is over?’, I asked myself.

“W-what do you mean?--”.

“I mean that there wouldn't be any honeymoon or any form of intimacy between us! This fucking marriage is a sham!”, He roars and I shivered in shock.

I know what they say about Noah Wellesley, he was known to be arrogant and rude. I noticed how he acted doing the wedding ceremony, he was cold and distance towards me but I thought it was only wedding fever - if that's a thing.

But the man in front of me right now is scary, too scary.

“I don't under-- what's happening?--”, I asked, tears building up at the corner of my eyes.

He scoffed, taking dangerous steps towards me, “Cut the crap and pretence. I hate when people pretend and act like cowards... You might think your trick to get married to me has work, but you're forgetting that it takes two to be in a marriage. I'll make your life a living hell, ugly bitch“ He concluded, hopping into the car and zoomed off.

I was left dumbfounded, shocked and broken. I couldn't comprehend what just happened. He said I tricked him into marrying me? But wasn't he the one who wanted to marry me?!

I found out later that it was all a ploy between my father and Noah's father to get us marriage.

‘But why?’.

I was soon brought back from my train of thoughts and remembrance when I felt a warm liquid on my cheek. I was crying.

I immediately dried my tears and sniffed in, reminding myself that I was stronger than this and I wouldn't let these family tear me apart.

★ ★ ★ ★

It was one of those days where I don't go anywhere but stay locked up at this mansion, not literally. This time it was one of those rare chances that they all went away.

Mr Wellesley went on a business trip, his wife, Mrs Wellesley was on some women charity meeting, Ava went out shopping with her girlfriends, Noah's brother, Ryan, was at work, Charlotte was in school. Noah, I didn't know of. He might be at work or with Katherine, I couldn't care less - I lied, I care deeply.

I found myself in The Wellesley's huge library. Mr Wellesley was a traveller when he was younger, he would travel to different places in the world, and he brings back books - more than two- from his trips. How I know? He tells me himself.

Mr Wellesley isn't entire bad to me, just that he turns a blind eyes to his family's treatment towards me.

I have read hundreds of books from this library as it helps me cope with the loneliness in my heart. I didn't have friends to go out with, even if I did, Mrs Wellesley wouldn't let me. According to her, I should stay home and not go out to drag The Wellesley's name through the mud.

These books keeps me company. So many genre to be fascinated by - Thriller, historical fiction, travel, self help, poetry, horror, romance, mystery, fantasy - all you can think of.

I always enjoy the fantasy and romance more, I love Love. Sadly, love doesn't want me.

I took out a book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling. I started reading it yesterday but couldn't finish it on time as Mrs Wellesley came back home with her usual shouts.

The book begins with the introduction of Harry Potter, an orphan boy who lives with his cruel and neglectful Muggle - non-magical - relatives, the Dursleys. Harry is treated poorly by the Dursleys and is forced to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs.

On the eve of Harry's eleventh birthday, strange things begin to happen. Owls start delivering letters addressed to Harry, but the Dursleys intercept them and try to prevent Harry from receiving them. However, the letters continue to arrive and the Dursleys become increasingly frustrated and try to escape the letters by taking Harry to a remote island.

Despite their efforts, the letters finally reach Harry, and he learns that he is accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a prestigious magic school. Hagrid, the gamekeeper at Hogwarts, arrives to deliver the letter in person and informs Harry that he is a wizard and that his parents were killed by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. Harry's life is about to change forever as he discovers his true identity and begins his journey to Hogwarts.

I am so invested in this book, I'll lock myself in the library and read all through the day.

I sometimes imagine myself being inside the book, becoming a witch and just get to escape my current life. But I knew it was all fiction, not real. Magic isn't real, owls delivering letters isn't real, love... love isn't real either.

I drowned myself in the story of Harry, completely shutting out reality, until I heard loud shouts.

I jerked, dreading that Mrs Wellesley or Ava has come back. There goes my peace and quiet.

I paused to hear who it was but nothing, what I heard next was a loud bang of a door, I shivered. I picked myself up, closed the book and slowly walked out of the library.

I reached the living room but I didn't see anyone, 'Who was it?', I thought to myself.

As I turned, I saw a young maid.

“Whose voice was that?”, I asked her in a whisper. She seized me up and down, trying hard to hide her hate.

“The young master”, She said and walked away.

I frowned, not because of the maid's attitude as I was already used to it, but by the fact that Noah is back! It isn't midnight yet!

'What happened', I asked myself.

If he was back home this early, something definitely happened at work or with Katherine. He never gets back home at this time of the afternoon.

I shouldn't care, I don't care. All that matters right now was for me to keep my distance from him through out. I hope he remains in his room and I'll stay in the library.

I sighed, touching the Harry Potter's book that was in my hand, preparing to go back to the library when I heard my name being yelled and I froze in shock.

Noah! He called me?! What does he wants from me?!