rose pov

' I was thinking about who you are,
your delicate point of view,
I was thinking about you '

I sent a letter out to the Weasley's with a thank you for the flowers Whitman assured me Walburga didn't find before sending another letter to Narcissa. The morning was quieter than usual, my grandmother seeming to avoid me at all costs.

I was sat on the window bench in the library room located on the fourth floor with Theo's head resting in my lap, Whitman mumbling under his breath as he frustratedly searched the spines of each book lining every wall in the room.

Anxious tapping on the window brought me out of my dazed stare at Whitman's figure. I turned my attention up the window to see Vega trying to get in with a letter hanging from his mouth.

I grasp onto the crank handle at the bottom of the glass window, spinning it to crack open the large window and let Vega fly in with all his glory of onyx feathers. He dropped the letter on my lap, consequently falling on Theo's face.

"Damn bird is trying to take my eye out everyday" Theo muttered, shifting his head up a little higher on my lap.

I giggled and grabbed the letter, "Vega loves you and you know it"

"Thank Salazar-maybe it'll knock your ego down in the process" Whitman said with annoyance as he tossed a book down without turning to look at them.

Grumpy arse.

Theo rolled his eyes as I opened the letter and was met with relief-for the most part.

𝒯𝑜 𝓂𝓎 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒,

𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒷𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒾𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝓂𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈.

𝒟𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑜 𝓉𝑜𝓁𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑒𝒸𝓉, 𝒯𝒽𝑒𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑒.

𝐼𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒸𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓎, 𝓃𝑜 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓈𝓅𝑜𝓀𝑒 𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒽is 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒽 '𝒶𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹' 𝓎𝑜𝓊.

𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓇𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹 𝟩 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒹𝒾𝓃𝓃𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝓉, 𝐿𝓊𝒸𝒾𝓊𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒷𝑒 𝒿𝑜𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓊𝓈.

𝒜𝓁𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓂𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓁 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒟𝓇𝒶𝒸𝑜'𝓈 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓂 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓈𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜𝑔𝑒𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒶𝓎.

Yes he told me, couldn't shut up about it....Maybe use that against him.

𝐿𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑜𝓉𝓈, 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒶

I sighed and folded up the letter, before slipping it in the crack of the window bench we sat on.

"Well Narcissa and Draco will be here at seven, thank Merlin Lucius isn't coming"

Theo glanced up with a fake look of innocence, "Are you mentally prepared to see Draco after such civilized time spent together?"

I gave him a death glare, one that would make most people gulp and feel unnerved but Theo could never be afraid of me...for the most part.

There was times he got walked like a dog, but he claims it to be because his feminist views that he allows it.

"Trust me all I want is for us to bicker with hate tonight. I need the sense of normality"

Theo gave a slight chuckle at the thought and turned his attention back to the novel we had been reading before speaking matter of factly, "Put your hands in my hair before I shut the novel and refuse to read any more with you Ro"

I narrowed my eyes down at him and put my hands in his hair, "Fuck off and read the book Teddy"

I could see the smile work onto Theo's face as he reopened the novel, pausing for a moment before asking a question. "What do you suppose started the deep bond Cathy and Heathcliff shared?"

"Hmm..." I looked away from him and out the window in contemplation, "They shared grief and pain, they brought comfort to one another...I also believe Heathcliff never expected her to be anything other than herself"

I look back down to find him already staring up at me in a way that makes my stomach flip, "Like me and you?"

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

I smile and brush his cheek with a fluttering heart, "Like me and you"

Whitman turned towards us, dusting off the cover of a old book with a golden spine. "More like me and Ro-but a nice thought considering yourself to be her Heathcliff Theo"

Theo scowled, turning his head to look at Whitman who was beginning to walk near us. "Your not in love with Ro-you can't be her Heathcliff"

"Who said I'm not in love with her?" Whitman retorted with brows raised that made my eyes go wide as he slid in beside me on the bench seat, resting his back against the wooden acolve.

Bullshit, The both of you are so full of shit.

I rolled my eyes, "Neither of you are in love with me"

"Or am I?" Theo asked while tilting his head up on my lap with a lazy smirk.

I wish.

Whitman propped open his book with what appeared to be a smile he was fighting before nudging my shoulder, "Could be true"

I gulp before laughing it off, ruffling Theo's hair to break the moment. "Read aloud to me again, I quite enjoy looking at the view and would prefer to hear your voice"

Theo turned his attention back to our book immediately and began reading aloud, Whitman yawning as he shuffled impossibly closer. I started to drop my head on his shoulder, becoming lost in Theo's words as I studied the outside world and felt the summer breeze floating through the cracked window.

*

That night I stood in front of my mirror while fiddling with the sleeves of my dress, sighing heavily as I took in my appearance.

I flattened my stomach with my hands, Walburga might not be beside me but it's times like these where I take a deep look in the mirror and can hear her voice so loudly.

'You will never be worthy of any companionship with all that extra fat around your stomach'

'Men don't like their women to be carrying around extra weight like a pregnant lady!'

'No type of food is worth being fat for, sweets are meant for decoration-not eating'

'If you can't learn to control your appetite you can go without food!'

'Oh honey are you sure you want another one of those? I think you had plenty'

I shake my head trying to bring myself back to reality, placing two fingers on my temple in a attempt to get the voices to stop. Walburga has been so unhappy with how skinny I have gotten, I was always either eating too much or not enough.

I was never going to be able to please her. Whitman often told me that, but I could never let go of the want to do so.

I was desperate for it actually.

I sigh once more and pull my hair up into lazy bun, leaving two pieces out in the front to hang loosely. As I finish I turn around to look at the back of my dress and try to not feel guilty about my body, but it's hard not to. One of Walburga's many gifts to me was passing down her thinking, I was still not satisfied with the way my bones stuck out on my back.

More more more....I wanted more like an addict.

I am startled when I see Whitman appear behind me in the mirror with a band shirt that was sure to piss Walburga off, "You know you are perfect love-those voices hold no weight"

Yeah...the voices.

Whitman often claimed he would fight them, even called out to a empty room over and over before until I went from crying to laughing.

I face the mirror head on again as he comes to stand directly behind me, "That doesn't mean they don't plague me"

He sighs and wraps his arms around my shoulders and waist, hugging me from the back with warmth and the undeniable feeling of home in every way a person could be.

"I would do anything for you to see yourself through my eyes-just for a moment"

I nod with my gut sinking, eager to change the subject. "Is Theo ready? They should be arriving any minute?"

Whitman gives me a look that says this discussion is far from over, but nevertheless unwraps his arms from me and sighs heavily. "He is already down there with Kreacher. The two are fussing because Kreacher is refusing Theo's help with the table-I'm sure Walburga is preparing to scold Theo for even thinking about doing such"

I break out into a smile and slightly laugh at his words mixed with the disgust as he spat Walburga's name. It made Whitman let out a breath of relief, clearly tensed from seeing me lost in my head seconds before.

"Did Kreacher shrink the table down so it can be a more intimate dinner?"

Whitman slid an arm around my waist again and started to forcefully guide me out of my bedroom, knowing what was coming. "Yes and yes and yes to all your questions, everything is handled Ro. Let's just enjoy having Cissa and Draco around without Lucius present"

I give him a look as we walk down the stairs together, "You and Theo will enjoy having Draco present, I am only grateful for Cissa coming"

Lying, I like to believe I'm fantastic at it.

Whitman shakes his head and pulls me closer to him as we are about to enter the kitchen, "I live for the day you can make peace with him again"

I scoff before admiring how beautiful the table looks, shrunken down for just the six of us-decorated with beautiful black roses and dark green candles.

I come back to earth, realizing Whitman's comment. "I will never accept the fact that my two favorite people are best friends with that prat"

"Theodore!" I yell loudly making Whitman wince, purposefully doing it quickly before he can retort.

"In the lounge!" Theo yells back.

"I can't stand either of your yelling" Whitman grumbles to himself, leading the way to the lounge room. We are stopped by Walburga stepping out of the doorway with her gown flowing and lips pursed, making me freeze in place.

"Would it kill you to put the disgusting muggle shirts away for a day Whitman?" Walburga spat, Whitman only shrugging with a tense face.

"Probably-can't exist without them on my body or I get all itchy...know what I mean?"

I elbowed him harshly, always living in fear of the day Walburga would snap and harm him too.

"Let go of her Whitman-let me see how you look dear" Walburga said with a lifted chin, tutting until Whitman annoyedly let go me. "Hm...what gown is that?"

I stepped forward, "Cissa got it for me a few weeks ago when we went to Paris to visit Miss Zabini and Blaise"

"Oh Rosalie-" Walburga began, brushing her cheek lovingly with a contrasting condescending tone as she grasps my wand out of my hair to make it fall down freely. "You need to eat more...appearing sickly will only make you look like a thirteen year old boy and stop hiding your hair"

I could practically feel the rage bubbling up in Whitman behind me at the triggering words. My gut twisted and dropped, doing all the motions but in the worst way-feeling ill very suddenly.

I bite my tongue, flattening my hands down my stomach again. "I do see your point"

Walburga nodded proudly, rubbing a hand down my arm with scrutinizing eyes. "Go on then-I do love that lip color though...it's beautiful"

I suck in a sharp breath and flash her a perfected smile, used to the follow up comments. Suddenly I could feel Whitman's hand sliding onto my back and him pulling me away smoothly.

"Thank you" I whispered up at him as we walked past Walburga into the doorway of the lounge, pausing as he blocked my pathway.

"Hey" he grasped my chin firmly, making me soften my hardening face as our eyes clashed. "You're my beautiful girl, right?"

"Whit-" I began, wrapping my hand around his wrist to pull his hold away to no avail.

"No" Whitman kept a firm grip, leaning closer towards me as Walburga could be heard fussing at Kreacher far away. "I need to hear it"

I glare at him, Whitman only sighing patiently. Giving in, I averted my eyes and muttered the words incoherently.

"Can't hear you love" Whitman tilted his head, voice gentle but taunting.

I rolled my eyes, pushing the words out quickly with a grumpy look. "I'm your beautiful girl-there, happy? Pleased?!"

Whitman half smirked, half smiled with a wink. "Damn right you are"

My lips twitched involuntarily as he pressed his lips to my forehead, Narcissa calling for us from the lounge behind him at the same time.

"Whitman! Rose! Don't just stand there!"

Whitman pulled away, seeming to be shaken at the realization Narcissa and Draco had been behind us the whole time with Theo.

Weird.

He rushed over to the fireplace where the mother and son duo stood, "I missed you guys" Whitman began to pull both Draco and Narcissa into a tight hug.

Theo stood off the the side of the fireplace that they obviously just came through, watching Draco's look of distaste and Narcissa's warm smile in amusement before looking at me and mouthing words.

Draco finally pushed Whitman off himself with a grimace, "You never were this touchy until you started living with Rosie"

Narcissa reached over to swipe the dust from the floo network off Draco's shoulders while holding a hand on Whitman's arm, "I think it's great that he likes to hug his friends"

I stood leaning on the door way waiting for them to acknowledge my presence, and with my luck-me and Draco lock eyes first.

He simply rolls his eyes at me before looking me up and down with such sudden intent I shift. Narcissa finally notices his eye line and smiles widely, "Oh Rose you look so beautiful in that gown love, come here"

I flash her a bright smile-a real one unlike the previous given to my grandmother. My mary Janes click on the floor as I make my way over to her, letting my favorite woman pull me into her open arms.

I better never tell Miss Zabini that.

She spins us around and holds me tightly, Draco failing to hide his annoyance at the affection his mother has for me. When we stop spinning and I mouth to Draco as she keeps holding me, 'Fuck you'

Theo and Whitman stifle their laughter while Draco just scoffs in response, holding up his middle finger.

As me and Narcissa pull away from the hug she grasps onto my arms while looking me over, "I wish I could've given you a hug like that yesterday dear....I'm so sorry"

I sigh heavily, "I missed you so much Cissa, you have no idea"

Narcissa's eyes to start well up with tears as Draco decides to break our moment apart with another scoff, "Please-you see each other every week"

Me and Narcissa both whip our heads to him at the same time with a matching death glare, the menacing look making him throw his hands up in defense.

"Don't look at me like that! It's the truth"

We both scoff at him in unison before turning to each other and laughing at our impeccable synchronicity.

I can feel the boys watching, know we never failed amaze them at how much we were alike.

A shift can be felt in the room as Walburga walks in, myself and Narcissa pulling away at the same time as the latter flashed my grandmother a less than warm smile.

"Evening Walburga"

"Narcissa dear, how grateful I am to hear Lucius will not be joining us" Walburga smirked maliciously, gaining a laugh from Narcissa.

"Yes well he stays quite busy at the ministry as of late" Narcissa glanced at Draco, "Isn't that right honey?"

I attempt to keep my eyes away from Draco for my own sanity but could feel his desperation to scoff as he responded without one, "Very much so"

Walburga's icy hand slid onto my shoulder as she stopped by me and spoke with disgust, "I told you...him getting that blonde assistant was an awful decision"

My gut dropped for Narcissa who pursed her lips, "Let us hope the twenty three year old doesn't interest him"

"I can kill her if you please" Walburga sighed, my usual ability to laugh gone at the thought of Lucius cheating. "No one has to know"

"Oh it's quite alright Walburga" Narcissa laughed tensely as everyone was aware she would in fact do it. Narcissa began to focus the conversation onto myself, "Do you like the gown I got Rose?"

When will everyone shut the fuck up about my stupid gown?

I mean-what the fuck?

"Yes well it would look better once she gains a few pounds" Walburga dusted off my shoulder as Narcissa had done to Draco minutes before, "Can't seem to get right at her goal weight"

I clear my throat, "Let me go get the wine, does red work for everyone?"

"Obviously Rosie" states Draco plainly, a annoyed look pointed at Walburga that makes me furrow my brows.

Theo elbows him in the side, earning grunt in response. I flash Theo a smile and then wink at a hunched over Draco before exiting fluidly, pulling on one side of the gown I now want to rip off my body.

As I walk into the kitchen I spot Kreacher cooking, standing on a stool as he mixes something in a pot on the stove.

"Hello Kreacher" I walk by him to the wine cellar on the far left of the kitchen as he responds.

"Hello Mistress Rose, food will me done in a hour or so"

I laugh and smile reassuringly, "No rush Kreacher, we are gonna have some drinks"

I open the cellar and step in to grab three bottles of red wine, hooking multiple glasses in between my fingers. I unsteadily reach for one of the silver trays stacked up by the door, setting everything on it with no idea why I volunteered myself for this task.

Oh yes, to avoid the stupid gown conversation.

Kreacher's looks over from the stove at me struggling to balance the tray as I exit the cellar, and thankfully he snaps his fingers-making the tray float and follow my movements.

I let a dramatic breath of relief as I move towards him, leaning my hip on the counter as I peak into the pot full of spaghetti. "Hm...smells nice"

Kreacher looks up to me with the best smile he could muster, "Kreacher thought it would make everyone happy to have Master Orion's favorite meal"

My gut sinks for the millionth time as I lean down to peck his forehead with a whisper, "I love you"

"Kreacher loves Mistress Rose as well"

His words bring a sense of comfort to my discomfort from thinking about my grandfather, truthfully I don't know how I'll recover.

These thoughts plague me as I turn to exit the kitchen with the tray floating behind me, lifting my chin as I walk through the hallways.

When I enter the lounge I see Narcissa and Walburga sitting on the black leather couch with Theo and Whitman sat across from them on the matching furniture. Draco is boredly stationed in the emerald green armchair beside Theo and Whitman's couch, his face blank.

I let myself take in his all black suit, and cannot help but admire how it makes his features so much more striking. The black on top of his icy skin and pale blonde hair with the lightest shade of blue I have ever seen in someone's eyes, he was like a the essence of poetry.

I shake my head solemnly with the knowledge I've doomed myself to an awful fate, and decide I need to consume a high level of alcohol quickly to wash away my racing mind.

Everyone's attention and laughing stops as they turn their attention to me and the tray following me. Theo gives me a relaxed smile that makes me realize I don't need alcohol to feel calm with him looking at me that way, "Thank Salazar-I need a drink terribly"

I give him a slight laugh while grabbing the floating tray, setting it down on shiny coffee table. Theo goes to reach for a bottle but I swat his hand while tutting, "No sir! I will pour it for you"

He sits back and sighs as I assume Whitman chuckles at him for getting scolded like a child. After, I pour everyone a glass with a distant mind and hand each one off, gaining a wave of thanks from everyone but Draco.

I go to pour my glass and fill it so far to the brim that one wrong movement would lead to it going everywhere, Narcissa chokes on her own wine at the amount I poured as Walburga for once just shoots me a look conveying tonight is an exception.

We both need it.

"Hey! Why do you get to pour a absurd amount in your glass?" Theo attested, staring at my drink with his tired eyes blinking.

"That is one way to fill up a glass" Narcissa speaks with mirth in her voice mixed with a slight laugh as I just sit in the armchair across from Draco, ignoring everyone as I turn the glass up to my lips until I finish it off.

Draco just scoffs at my behavior.

Scoff, scoff, scoff. Is that all he's capable of doing now?

"It's been a long two weeks" I say while leaning forward to fill it up to the top again.

"Are you sure you all do not want to come stay with us? It would give us more company" Narcissa states with a sigh, and I can practically feel Walburga biting her tongue.

"That's alright Narcissa, just because a man leaves the house doesn't mean it falls apart" Walburga says with annoyance.

I nod in agreement, shooting a look at Whitman who smiles softly at our unspoken words. "I can't thank you enough for offering us to come but it's best we stay here. This is me and Whit's home plus it's not like grandmother has not been running it the whole time"

Walburga laughs darkly, "The idea that men should hold power in any form above a woman is preposterous-Orion knew better than to challenge me"

Oh grandmother, everyone knows better.

Draco jumps into the conversation, "I never would have agreed to live with Rosie anyways...her awful presence would ruin my days"

Narcissa began to scold him, "Do not speak of Rose that way Draco!"

Whitman throws the Witches Weekly magazine at him while Walburga let's the comment slide, knowing well how me and Draco work.

I scoff loudly, mimicking his behavior accidentally. "I couldn't imagine you being one of the first things I see in the morning-sounds absolutely putrid"

Narcissa, Theo, and Whitman all huff in annoyance already knowing where this is going, beginning to start their own conversation at once-all directing questions at Walburga.

Me and Draco make eye contact and begin to give each other perfected death glares. I keep the eye contact as I swish my glass around before tipping it back to finish it off again.

Draco tips his glass at me in a condescending way before repeating my actions while staring me down before I lean forward to whisper harshly as I fight the feeling I have inside me, "You drive me nuts Malfoy"

He leans forward with his arms on his legs, making me momentarily glance at the fabric tightening over his arms. Did he get bigger in twenty four hours or am I hallucinating?

"You make me want to pitch myself off the astronomy tower Black" Draco spat with disgust laced in his voice.

I scoff and stand up, filling up my glass with agitation before looking over at the four other occupants still lost in their own conversation.

Clearly they've decided to block us out and I can't blame them for it.

"I'm going to go check on the food, I will be back shortly" I announce and get collective nods in return. So with one last look of hate aimed towards Draco, I began to disappear with nails tightening on the full cup.

My usual route or the kitchen has now been blocked by a floating broom sweeping the floor, forcing me to take a left turn into the opposite hallway.

I pass by the family tapestry room and stiffen, I haven't been in there since Orion passed. Walburga hadn't forced me into any of her 'training' or given me any punishments since, the death of her husband putting a blockage on things over the pass two weeks. This room had been given a name by Whitman and myself, the 'torture chamber'.

I lean on the door way and bring my glass up to my dark lips, refusing to actually step foot in the room as I look into it with flashbacks hitting me like a ton a bricks all at once.

"Reminiscing, are you?"

I internally curse Merlin for Draco's alluring presence settling himself in the door way beside me. I don't look over as I respond, "Nothing good to reminisce about in this room"

Draco stiffens as he realizes where we are, and I send him a weird look.

Don't be so dramatic blondie.

He doesn't meet my eyes but brings his glass up to his lips and swallows, probably dealing with the same flashbacks of hearing my screams from this room or finding me here.

He shakes his head as if internally scolding himself for what he's about to do and then looks me dead in the eyes, wrapping his arm around my shoulders to guide me away from the room.

And I'm thankful for it, because I don't know if I would've been able to move.

He drops his arm once we get a good distance away from the room and it makes me saddened to lose the contact. Without any words he clears his throat and straightens his suit jacket before turning to head back to the lounge.

Leaving me to watch him go.

Something we keep doing to each other.

But he didn't have to say anything, I knew the reasons behind his odd behavior. It wasn't only because of the traumatizing things he witnessed in that room-he has his own version of Walburga's so called 'torture chamber'.

*

Dinner was flying by surprising well, there had yet to be any arguments between me and Draco, only undermining comments thrown back and forth. But like before, I'll blame it on the fuzz of death and the funeral.

"Are we not going to address the elephant in the room?" Draco says, the room immediately falling tense.

I take a deep breathe as I see Narcissa throw him a glare he just shrugs at while the room becomes silent with only the sound of knifes and forks scraping plates.

I let my utensils fall onto the plate with a clatter, "Yes Malfoy, let's discuss my dear old dad breaking out of Azkaban"

He scoffs at me and opens his mouth to respond, only to be kicked at by who I assume is Theo under the table, resulting in a grunt leaving his mouth.

Theo speaks in the voice that settles my storm inside, "I think what he means to say is how are you gonna deal with it when we go back to school?"

"Theo is right dear, first Sirius breaks out then Orion passes, it's both caused a lot of media attention and I cannot image the mental strain for you" Narcissa says, concern obvious in her tone.

"Why did you say 'Sirius' like you knew him?" Whitman begins to asks, brown pinching together.

Narcissa has a solemn look come over her face, quickly replaced with what me and the boys like to call the 'pure blood mask' before she answers him, "I knew of him in school, we were in the same year is all"

I look at her in shock, I didn't know she knew of him and everyone seems to be as shocked as me but Walburga.

Then wait I was waiting for happens.

Walburga speaks up with nothing but pure hatred and disgust, "Pure disgrace to this family-Rosalie has nothing to worry about when it some to Sirius for I will murder him the second I'm given a chance"

Draco clears his throat, noticing my discomfort as I nod stiffly. "Well still Rose, it's going to be pretty hard being the center of attention because your serial killer father is on the loose"

"I'm sure she's gonna clear up any rumors within minutes of being at school" Theo reassures, reaching under the table to grasps my hands that were busy popping each ligament.

Thank you, I want to say.

My peace in a person.

Whitman began to randomly chuckle, "Remember when she stood up on the table, made her wand a microphone last year and said if again was rude to Hermione again they would suffer a terrible fate?"

"Oi! She hexed me and gave me antlers while still standing on the table! It was not funny!" spat Draco, grimacing at the memory.

Narcissa stifles her laugh, causing Draco to send her a look of disbelief and throw his hand over his heart, "My own mother? I feel betrayed!"

Dramatic as always.

We all burst out laughing except Draco, that is-until Walburga speaks again.

"Hermione? The half-blood?"

Jokes on her, she's muggle born.

I attempted to sway Walburga into explaining why I was close friends with Hermione by claiming she was a half-blood.

It was easy to say I failed.

"Yes grandmother" I say smoothly, no tenseness or any detection of a lie in my tone.

She can blame herself for making me so good at being a manipulative bitch.

Even though Draco hates me, he wouldn't dare put me at risk. So with a shrug he stated, "I think she's related to the Travers family"

I have to tuck my head down to keep from laughing.

"What did I tell you about hanging around half-breeds?" Walburga says with a cold tone I despise because I have somehow copied it in my lifetime.

I match her tone with defiance and an angry look, "Seems I've forgotten along the way"

Theo inhales sharply at me snapping back, and like a ripple affect everyone else does too-knowing what awaits me.

I can't help it, I find myself incapable of keeping my mouth shut-especially when the topic of conversation is Hermione Granger being called anything other than amazing.

*

When it was time for them to leave that night Draco left first and quickly after sharing a understanding look with the boys, leaving Narcissa and me standing in the lounge alone-the other two off fussing with Kreacher again to let them help clean as Walburga protests from rooms away.

Narcissa pulled me into a long hug, rubbing my back. "You mean the world to me Rose, don't let it bring you down"

I nod as I'm unable to speak from fear the tears welling up in my eyes will flow freely.

Her hand glides down my back comfortingly, "This world has not been kind to you my girl, but your going to do so many great things. I'm proud of you and I wish I could take you back with me"

She pulls us apart when a few long minutes have passed, holding onto my arms still like she did earlier when I see a single tear roll down her cheek.

Embarrassingly, my own start to roll freely down my face.

"I love you Cissa"

She brings me in again and presses a kiss to head, "And I love you my sweet girl"

When we finally break apart for the final time, both of us shake our heads. "How come you always crack my facade?"

She gasps at me, faking shock. "Me? You always crack mine!"

I laugh and she gently touches my cheek before stepping into the fire place and saying, "Malfoy Manor"

With a few short breath's I turn with a raised chin, ready for whatever Walburga is going to throw at me for the dinner mess and ready for Theo and Whitman to be forced into cleaning it all up.

Cleaning me all up actually, metaphorically and literally.

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A/N: all my author notes got deleted when these were taken down so none for u allll