The house started to wake up slowly, each person eventually arriving at breakfast. All the meals in he Malfoy manor were group events, where everyone staying would gather in the dining room and settle into overly elegant chairs and enjoy each other's company. When they had all gathered for some time they would then move into the dining room and the elves would make sure everything was arranged properly. Rose felt it was strange, she had been so accustomed to making her and Hugo's breakfasts herself. Her mother would help her sometimes. They was noise as the adults talked but Rose kept to herself, trying to stay away from the attention. The book was placed on her lap and her fingers fiddled with the edge of the cover. Occasionally Rose felt Scorpius's grandmothers' eyes on her and she dared not read her the diary. Despite the feeling of being watched every time Rose looked over to the greying woman she was engaged in something else. Was she just being paranoid? Rose attempted to shake the feeling from herself. It was not worth worrying over now.

"I was thinking a trip to Diagon Alley, Scorpius still needs a few things" Draco chimed as he ate.

"It will be good to have some time outside" Rose's mother replied with a smile. She seemed in a far better mood and for that Rose was glad. She felt herself smiling too, her mother was in a better mood and perhaps things would look up.

"And it won't be long till Hogwarts" Scorpius beamed as he spoke, pride showing on his features. Rose stared at him for the longest time. Why did she not share his enthusiasm? They had previously babbled with excited at the prospect. He had helped to ease her fear about not being housed in Gryffindor. His own certainty as to his assigned house was evident in their conversations. It felt strange, almost hollow now? She could not place the feeling. Rose had been excited. She had visions and dreams about it but now? She glanced down at her book as she listened to Scorpius, attempting to keep her smile appearing genuine. Scorpius continued to babble and she wondered if he noticed her hesitation, her quietness. Was it all in her head? Was she normally this quiet? She felt doubt about herself, a creeping uncertainty that she could not shake.
"Scorpius, can you get your grandmother a drink please?" Grandmother Malfoy called form her high chair. Both Scorpius and Rose looked up at this.
"Of course, Grandmother" Scorpius jumped to his feet. Disappearing quickly through the large doors. Rose found the woman staring at her, her blue gaze lingering uncomfortably. The woman carried a daunting presence to her, powerful and determined. Rose found herself opening her book and burying herself inside, despite her concerns of doing stuff, to avoid the woman's piercing stare.

-x-

Potions was weird.
Severus barely said a word. He must still be mad…. What am I going to do?
I feel awful for imposing on his like that. A dumb, stupid drunken kiss. I do not know why I did it.
I think I shall have to try and find him later on, I do not wish for him to be mad at me forever and maybe if I apologise he might accept it and go back to being normal once more?
I am tired. I struggled to sleep for worry. I need this to be resolved before sleep deprivation starts to affect me too much. I cannot let this get bad enough to affect my grades.
Not to mention Lucius seems to be pressing more again. I can't write more, doubtless he will appear again. How am I going to sneak away to see Severus? I cannot have him tailing me, otherwise I'll never get to apologise to Severus.

-x-

The page was short, less hurried then it's previous. Rose found herself reading the sentences over and over, only taking pieces in after a few reads. Scorpius had come back and people were staring to get ready to move into the dining room by the time she had finished. The book was closed and she stood up, clutching it against her chest protectively. Grandmother Malfoy met her eyes again and Rose gulped, ducking her head away.

"Are you enjoying your book?" Grandmother Malfoy called out. Rose gulped, glancing around. Scorpius was smiling from the doorway, waiting for her. At that moment she felt like she had never been more thankful for his over eagerness and over friendliness.

"Erm… yes" Rose croaked, barely a whisper as she stared at the floor. The chair has elegantly carved feet that curled inwards with carefully rounded indents.

"You've been reading it a very long time, are you not finished? Scorpius says you are a very fast reader" The woman's voice was slow and drawn out. Rose wished she could be impolite and simply leave but knew she could not. She was a guest to this house, this woman had helped to fund it.
"It is very detailed" Rose lied. She did not want to have this conversation, not now not ever. Especially not with the woman who had stolen it away from between her fingers. Part of her wondered what this woman knew. Why she seemed so interesting in it. It was Rose's by all right. That and the original author, but she had no idea who that was. The woman hummed at her, her tone sounded disapproving and Rose took this as an excuse to join Scorpius. Rose tried to not rush from the room. She could hear the woman standing up behind her. A cane clicked against the wooden floorboard as the woman followed them through into the dining room. Each clicked rattled in Rose's mind. An unnerving sound that seemed to gnaw at her spine.