the one where Willlow knows this moment by heart and Lapis seeks help.

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The air is filled with the rich scent of food and the smoky smell of fire.

Each and every one of these faces Willow knows by heart. Her mother's heart shaped face and those familiar Virago green eyes so common in her family. Coraline Virago was petite in figure but had a strong voice, which was currently raised in laughter as she conversed with Victoria O'Connors, Jackson's mother.

Cooking over a large muggle grill is her father, Addam Virago, tall, and strong, with his curly black hair and dark eyes, shining with warmth as he grilled an array of seafood and steaks while keeping an eye on the little ones, little Lacy Virago, who was just five, and cousins, Alax and James, twin rascals who at 8 were quite the adventurers and visited every summer.

Willow's older brother, Jacob, who was seventeen and training to be an auror was racing after his best mate, Ivan Hood, who had swiped his model dragon.

At edge of this scene was a pond, clear as glass and full of bright, colorful stones of all sizes, some even rising above the water to form stepping stones. Shy little pixies with dragonlfy wings darted across the water, intent on snatching up beetle and bugs for their dinner.

Arching over this pond was a thick, strong tree log, acting as a bridge of sorts. This was where Willow sat, dressed in a dark blue pair of overalls and Jackson at her side, a napkin of grapes between them.

She was fourteen and it was July twelfth. The day of the annual Virago Barbecue.

Willow couldn't help but feel a strong sense of deja vu, as though she'd seen all this before, as though Jackson popping grapes into his mouth while Jacob raced after Ivan and Lacy begged for Alex and James to let her play pirates too had happened before.

A sharp tugging pulled at Willow's core, pricking at her mind that something was wrong. That she wasn't supposed to be here.

Willow shook her head to rid herself of the sensation. How could any of this be wrong when it felt so right? Her family before her and her childhood friend, now boyfriend at her side.

several yards away, on the pateo of her house, dragonfire played on the wireless.

Willow smiled.

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"-And the third brother greeted Death as an old friend."

Lapis set down the old book and ran her fingers through Peridot hair. Said gemling was curled into a ball under the covers of her bed.

It had taken a while to set up a room for the green toddler, but eventually Peridot, or 'Dott' as Lapis had taken to calling her, was settled.

Lapis left the room, closed the door (Gemling though she might be, Peridot was hardly afraid of the dark.) and went to her own room.

As far as the ocean gem's room went, it was fairly simple. Walls painted blue, a single large window facing the sea. Next the the window was her bed, which had a white comforter and a grey knit blanket. there was bookshelf, with an array of novels gifted to her by Willow, and a desk cluttered with papers.

The papers were what currently held Lapis' attention at the moment.

They were all documents Lapis had gotten from Willow's room. Most of them were from the Blood war, letters and treaties passed from allies and business partners.

A few of them, were more recent, sent from Great Britain. The letters were in cursive, however, and Lapis struggled to read it.

For several days now, Lapis had been skimming through these files, searching for a particular name she couldn't recall, but was sure she'd know if she saw it.

Pinned to her bulletin board was a list of names and the condition of the people they belonged to.

Jacob Virago-dead

Coraline Virago- dead

Addam Virago-dead

Alex Johnson -brain damaged

James Johnson - dead

Ivan Hood - dead

Amelia Strapp- dead

Jessica Jones- estranged

Mary Dennis-dead

Henry Gannon- dead

Carl Edwards- dead

Lillian Wendell- dead

Susan Bones- estranged

Daphne Greengrass- dead

Victoria O'Connors - dead

Kennith O'Connors- dead

Jackson O'Connors-dead

Nearly everyone Willow had ever known was dead or wanted nothing to do with Willow once her criminal status was made known.

Lapis riffled through her friends files till she came to the last one she'd yet to read. It was in cursive, but Lapis managed to make out a name at the bottom.

Draco.

Lapis fought the urge to facepalm.

Of course! Draco Malfoy! His mother had been very close to Willow's mother, Coraline Virago. In fact, Narcissa Malfoy nee Black was Willow's godmother, making Draco Willow's godbrother.

Lapis recalled Willow making note of how the coming winter would mark Lapis' first Yule, and that she had wanted to figure out a way too invite her Godmother and godbrother (Narcissa's husband was dead, as was her godfather, Remus Lupin) over for the festivities.

Lapis couldn't believe it had taken her this long to remember the names of the only living family (however technical the relation was) that Willow had.

Lapis pulled out a piece of paper and began to write a letter.

Things were finally looking up.

Hopefully.

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"Jackson O'Connors you get back here right now!"

Willow raced after her boyfriend furiously, reaching out in vain for the book he'd snatched from her lap. Up on the pateo, her parents watched in amusement. Little Lacy chased after Jackson as well, not sure what was going on, but wanting to be a part of the game anyways.

Jackson laughed, eyes sparkling as he darted just out of her reach while Lacy was distracted by the sound of Jacob calling out for her to save him from Ivan, who had tackled him to the ground in a mock wrestling match.

Jackson, who was three inches taller than Willow, used his superior hight to his advantage by lifting the book into the air. Willow huffed and crossed her arms, fighting back a smirk at her boyfriend's antics.

"Give it back. "

Jackson pretended to consider the request carefully. "I could..." Jackson spoke with a coy smile. "But it'll cost you."

Willow rolled her eyes and tugged Jackson down to her height by the collar of his shirt. Leaning forward slightly, her lips captured his in a sound kiss.

Jackson dropped the book onto a nearby picnic table so that his hands were free to wrap around Willow's waist.

"Hey! Watch it O'Connors!" Addam called in a teasing manner from by the grill.

Jackson broke away to wink at Mr. Virago with a playfull smirk. "Don't worry sir, your daughter is in good hands."

Willow smacked his arm.

"Ow! what?"

Willow folded her arms across her chest. "How dare you talk about me as though I need to be protected!" Willow cried in mock anger. "I think we both know its you that needs to be in good hands mister. "

Jackson chuckled and leaned down to press a kiss against her cheek. "That I do. Thankfully I've got a dragonness looking after me."

Willow smirked at his words. As he went in for another kiss she pulled away with a coy smile. Jackson grinned and chased after her, the book all but forgotten.

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As far as the Wizarding world went, Lapis couldn't say she knew all that much. That is to say, she knew some of their history, and a few customs, but in the grand scheme of things, Lapis knew very little.

Communication, for instance, Lapis didn't entirely understand.

Which is why she was currently having a staring contest with her best friends mail raven.

'owls are the standerd mail bird of course.' Willow had said once, lapis recalled. 'But ravens blend in so much more easily. An owl taking to the skys miday, is considered an oddity. But a raven is considered perfectly normal in many regions.'

The way Willow had spoken at the time made it sound as though it made perfect sense. Personally though, Lapis still had her doubts. After all, no matter what kind, a bird was still a bird, and looking at this blank-faced raven before her, Lapis wasn't entirely sure that it was smart enough to deliver mail.

But then again, the dang bird had delivered Willow's newspapers everyday without fail. That could hardly be a coincidence now could it?

Lapis sighed and examined the envelope, making sure it was properly addressed before handing it Athena (for that was the ravens name) who took it securely in her beak.

The raven seemed almost smug at Lapis' reluctance surrender of the mail. Lapis rolled her eyes. "Look, just..." Lapis shifted her gaze to a picture of herself and Willow standing proudly in front their flat for the first time. It was Lapis' favorite picture because it was the only one Willow seemed to be genuinely smiling.

Lapis lowered her eyes. "Just make sure you deliver it. Alright?"

Surprisingly, the regal bird nodded before taking off out the window.

Lapis sighed and made her way to the kitchen, setting about making herself a cup of nice, strong tea. The wireless crackled and buzzed out a song, the volume turned down low so as not to wake Dott.

The channel was set to Traditional, an elegant waltz filtering through the wireless' speaker.

Lapis recalled that this was Willow's favorite station. She would often turn listen to the refined ballroom music while she cooked, spinning and twirling about the kitchen with a sort of weightless ease, often humming along as she did so. It was one of the rare moments Willow was completely relaxed.

Lapis sipped her tea, mint with lemon balm, as it was Willow's favorite and therefore, the kitchen was fully stocked with the ingredients for it.

Lappis inhaled the warm steam emitting from her mug, willing herself to relax.

The waltz faded and melted into a lighter toon. The sound of a ukulele soothed the last of her tension.

*hold me closeand on le fair

there's magic in the air

this is la vie on rose.*

The light, airy music made Lapis sway her hips lightly in tune.

And when you speak angles

sing from above

everyday words seem

to turn into love songs!

Lapis closed her eyes, picturing a sunny place somewhere far away, where a cherry tree bloomed and it's blossoms drifted through the air lazily.

*hold me close and

on le fairt

his magic spell you cast.

this is la vie on rose!*

Lapis thought she might like to go somewhere like that someday, if Willow was there to show it to her.

"and when you speak angles

sing from above.

I see la vie on rose!"

Lapis remembered those calm, lazy days when Willow would pull out a sketch pad and draw pictures of towering castles and cumbling ancient stones standing boldly above the rolling hills.

Lapis' favorite had been a picture of a charming city where people strolled hand in hand and a great tower looked down on it lovingly.

When Lapis had told her so she'd laughed and explained to her fondly, that it was a city called paris.

"I used to go there every spring when I was young. To visit my great grandmother Janette. Aside from myself, she was the last living death mage in the world. She taught me everything I know about my...skills.

I remember how she'd take me to see a little bit of paris each time I visited. The museums one trip, a festival on another. Till I was about twelve and knew all of paris by heart, and I would sneak out on early morning and sit up on the rooftops to see the sun rise."

"I'd like to see that." Lapis had spoken wistfully.Willow charmed a wooden frame over the sketch and gave it to Lapis.

"Maybe someday I'll take you. And I'll show you all the very best of places. Not in the spring though. We'll do it in winter. I've never seen paris during the winter, so it'll be like we're both seeing it for the first time."

Lapis smiled. "I'd like that."

The ocean gem entered her best friends room and settled herself on the bed next to her sleeping companion.

"You've been like this for over a month now. It's almost August. Peridot will be going to school for the first time. She wants so badly for you to be there when she does."

Lapis chuckled a bit. "You should see the way she runs around the place. She's excited one moment and panicked the next because apparently she's never had to make complex calcutions on her own before.

Apparently her limb enhancers did just about everything for her. I keep telling her tthat no one expects her to be able to calculate anything in first grade but she wont listen. I bet she'd listen if you spoke to her."

Lapis stroked Feroce gently. It was rare for the swooping evil to sleep these days but the poor thing was so tired that for tonight he slept soundly, curled at Willow's neck.

"And...Then there's the matter of the holidays. I hear steven chattering exitedly about something called 'Halloween.' And then there's Yule...do you remember Yule, Willow? You had so many plans for it! And what about Paris, Willow? You were so excited about Paris! I was so excited about Paris! A-and Dott! You love Dott! You wanted to show her everything remember?!"

Tears stung Lapis' eyes.

"I-if you won't come back for me, then for gods sakes wake up for Dott! She needs you 'Low."

And..."

Lapis bit her lip, looking away from her best friends still form.

"I miss you."

Lapis sighed and leaned her back against the headboard. Tears were streaming freely down her cheeks now. "I miss you so much. I miss the way you leave your mugs laying around all over the house because you set them down and forget all about it. I miss you screaching at people whenever they comment on your age and the way you pace when you're restless and how you bite your lips when your thinking a-and I just..." Lapis trailed off and gripped Willow's hand loosely.

"Please come back to us."

That night Lapis cried-really cried-for the first time since Willow had collapsed, and ended up crying herself to sleep beside the still form of her best friend.

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Well that certainly was emotional. I was watching my favorite movie, Maleficent, while writing this chapter so there may be some similarities in there.

Suggestions are still more than welcome! Post them in the comments, I promise I check them almost every day and It warms my heart to see when new ones are added.

and dont be shy about leaving asks at my tumblr, Cinderselensworld: Nerdlife, either. I'm more than happy to answer them!

Hoping to hear from you soon,

-Blue

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