The alley was covered in a thick blanket of white, the creaky chains holding the numerous signs of the alleyway peeked out under their new white caps, footsteps and paw prints crisscrossed each other around the labyrinth of paths and the frost-laced windows, making the street look like an unfinished painting. The morning light struggled through the murky cloud, but even in its weakness, it was enough to blind.
Apparently it was the perfect weather for a trip to Diagon Alley, according to the Malfoy's and their parents of course, despite the fact it would be crowded with hundreds of girls and their mothers frantically trying to get that 'one of a kind' dress for the Yule Ball, with less than two weeks and the weather being just perfect for shopping. In a hurry to relieve themselves from the rush of hustling people, the group retreated to a cafe on the south side of the alley. Quiet, peaceful and distant from any popular shops.
The students had arrived in Diagon Alley, around 11:30 am. Rosabella wandered along the alley heading towards the south end, where she had agreed to meet her parents. Ristorante Magico Della Nonna. It was an Italian cafe, she visited constantly as a young girl and it was just down the road from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.
Rosabella tugged on her black high-waisted jeans, pulling them up above her hips, waiting for the group of witches to exit the narrow stone path. Her blue poncho shawl swayed in the wind, her hands tucked underneath the arms of her grey woollen jumper as she reached the end of the alleyway.
The snow crunched underneath her feet, the snow covered sign barely reading, Ristorante Magico Della Nonna in its cursive gold lettering. Teresa the seating hostess of the restaurant and a close family friend of her grandparents had been waiting at the door when Rosabella arrived.
"Ah Rosabella," Teresa greeted the young girl, engulfing her in a hug.
The young girl eagerly returned the hug, "Teresa, Come stai?" Rosabella asked the older woman in Italian.
"Tutto bene e tu?" Teresa responded, waving her hands in the air, swinging an arm around the girl she had known for over seven years now.
"Eh così-così," Rosabella sighed, taking off her white gloves and beanie.
"Come through darling," Teresa grinned, her thick accent making Rosabella smile, as she walked through to the dining space.
Rosabella surveyed the area, there was an elder couple seated at the window table, looking out into the snowy street, whilst across from them, a younger group of women chatted in one of the booths. There was then a table of businessmen discussing plans in the centre of the room and a table of six people that were a hearing distance away from Rosabella's family.
However, Rosabella thoughts were put on hold when she heard two familiar voices that made her toes curl with excitement. "Rosabella!" Her grandfather's, Charles and Michael grinned, rising from their seats, as Rosabella rushed over to them.
"Nonno, Pépé," Rosabella cheered jumping into the arms of her grandfather, Charles, hugging him tightly. The sound of six forks clattering against crockery echoed from the Malfoy table, as the group turned to survey the voices.
"Rosie," Adelina and Marielle called out to their granddaughter.
"Oh Rosabella, nous ne vous avons pas vu depuis des mois," Marielle cried, placing a kiss on her forehead, the Malfoy's watching in utter shock. (We haven't seen you in months)
"E abbiamo perso così tanto," Adelina laughed, squeezing her cheeks lovingly. (and we missed you so much)
"Nonna, Mamie, I haven't been gone that long," Rosabella giggled, "Che sorpresa! Je ne savais pas que tu viendrais," She questioned, accidently switching languages as she did. "Where's mum and dad, though?" Rosabella asked, resting her head on Charles' shoulder.
Marielle looked at her husband, "Charles, darling, can you do it?"
"What's going on?" Rosabella asked confused, "Pépé, you have to tell me!" Rosabella laughed, pretending to act melodramatic.
"The thing is Rosie," Charles chuckled at his granddaughter's acting, "Your mother-,"
"Is just horribly late sweetie," Katherine cut off her father, sending him a smile as she entered, "but I come bearing gifts!" She smiled, shaking the two large bags of shopping in her daughter's direction.
"Maman!" Rosabella called out to her mother in French, jumping out of her grandfather's arms.
Katherine placed the bags on the ground beside her, embracing her little girl. "Rosie," Katherine kissed the side of her daughter's head, happily, "I missed you, my darling girl."
Narcissa held back the tears bubbling in her eyes, dabbing her eyes with the handkerchief Lucius had passed her discretely. She couldn't help but cry on the inside… she was watching her daughter engulf another woman she happily called her mother. Katherine and Rosabella's eyes sparkled as they spoke quietly, their matching blue eyes and blonde hair, hurting Narcissa harder than she thought... "Who would've' suspected a thing anyway?"
"Lucius," Narcissa felt herself hiccup, her gaze shifting from Rosabella to her husband seated across from her.
"I know, I know," He sighed, his own gaze trailing back to his distraught wife.
"You two knew about this?" Anita hissed quietly, "Is that what you knew the other fortnight when we came over? You held something back, Lucius." She growled with annoyance when Lucius gave her a small nod.
"Honestly? And you didn't think to tell us?" Druella complained, her eyes still locked on Rosabella.
Abraxas snapped, clearly irritated, "How long have you know, Lucius?" He hissed through clenched teeth.
"We'd had our suspicions for a while," Lucius whispered slowly, not wanting to draw attention to themselves, "I had some case files that possibly confirmed this," Lucius replied, clinging to every shred of dignity his father had left him.
"Oh and she looks just like Narcissa," Druella sighed delighted, momentarily forgetting that she wasn't theirs anymore.
"Or Katherine, her mother," Narcissa slurred, her voice dripping with nothing but venom.
Cygnus looked in his daughter direction, "Why don't you go up to her then?" Cygnus asked, taking another bite of his food.
Marielle had her arm draped around Rosabella, as the young girl rested her head on the older woman's shoulder. "Yes, we should speak with her," Antia sighed watching gloomily as the girl cuddled in her grandmother's arms.
Anita looked at Druella, who had the same desperate look consuming her face. The thought of their granddaughter with another family, crushed them inside, although no one would ever know. Their special bond with the girl, nothing but a distant memory.
"I don't think that's really the best idea," Lucius stated, attempting to persuade the group otherwise.
"Oh come on, look she's alone," Druella protested and she was right. Rosabella had walked over to the drink stand near their table. The table had gone silent when they noticed Narcissa stand, walking towards the girl.
"Wait, it's Rosabella right?" She called out after Rosabella, who was about to return to her table.
Rosabella turned around to face the soft, motherly voice behind her. "Yes, it is," She replied recognising the woman from the first task.
"Narcissa Malfoy, your" she paused, "friend, Draco's mother," Narcissa introduced, holding out her hand.
"Oh Draco's mother," Rosabella politely acknowledged, still slightly confused, "Right? I didn't know Draco mentioned me to you," She smiled, baffled.
"Oh, Draco has told me all about his new friends," Narcissa reassured, making awkward conversation.
"Oh okay," Rosabella laughed lightly, unsure of where the conversation was heading. Narcissa paused, watching the man heading towards them. The tall figure, carefully enveloped his hands under Rosabella, scooping her into his arms. "Dad," Rosabella giggled.
"Rosie, my princess! How are you, darling?" Matthew questioned, releasing her back onto her feet.
"I'm wonderful," Rosabella paused, grabbing her glass of water off the table before heading back to her table, giving Narcissa a side smile.
"I was with Mark, Daniel's father, earlier today," Matthew informed his daughter, taking a seat across from her, as she snuggled back into Marielle's arms.
"Really?" Rosabella grinned at the thought, "How is he?"
"Quite well," Matthew sipped his coffee, "Daniel's coming to Hogwarts after Christmas break," He told his daughter, who snuggled further into her grandmother, waiting as their food arrived.
"Pity," She sighed, "I would much rather go to the ball with Daniel,"
Narcissa felt her breath hitch, "Who asked her to the Yule Ball?" Anita asked curiously.
"Blaise," Narcissa whispered.
"Zabini? Isn't he Draco's best friend?" Cygnus asked, "and approved, might I add?"
Lucius nodded stoically, "What on earth would she mean by pity?"
"So Rosie," Katherine started, taking the extra chair at the end of the table, next to her daughter and husband, "I picked up your dress," she announced, sliding the large bag towards her.
Rosabella's face lit up, "What? How?" Rosabella asked shocked, looking at the blue fabric that had popped over the edge.
"Darling, I'm your mother," Katherine laughed, "I know everything about you, including the dress magazine, underneath your bed, " Rosabella hugged her mother tightly, "So naturally, picking out a dress for you would be simple," she said pulling out of their embrace, as Rosabella pulled the dress out of the bag fully.
The ice blue dress had a fitted bodice, with an ostrich feather embroidered ice brocade jacquard trapeze skirt. The one Rosabella had circled in the magazine. "Oh it's even prettier in real life," Rosabella sighed delighted, "I love it, I love it, I love it," she repeated ecstatic.
"And the shoes to go with it!" Katherine said, handing over the box, "We'll get the dress fitted this afternoon,"
"Do you have those files back at the manor?" Cygnus asked Lucius, who had been lost in a trance ever since Matthew arrived.
"Yes," he nodded, "Why don't we wrap up lunch and leave, shall we?" Lucius suggested to his family.
"Actually, I have to pick something up from Madame Malkin's, so I'll be a little late," Narcissa interrupted, somewhat distraught over the last half hour.
"That's okay, darling," Cygnus approved, smiling down at his daughter as he stood from his seat.
"I think we'll join you Narcissa," Anita suggested, Druella nodding in agreement, "Leave the boys to drown themselves in whisky and paperwork," she let out a laugh, before raising a daring eyebrow at her husband.
"Well then that's settled, we'll see you at home," Abraxas agreed, as Lucius kissed Narcissa's cheek, walking towards the front desk to pay.
The three women stepped out of the family parlour fireplace about an hour later, "Did you three manage to accomplish anything, besides drinking whisky?" Druella complained, gesturing towards the empty bottles of whisky, her hands fixated on hips.
"Yes, actually," Cygnus surprised his wife, sculling the remainder of his whisky, "It's Her."
"Are you absolutely certain?" Druella questioned, unconvinced by her husband's liquor licked words. The older woman walked towards the armchair beside her husband.
"Positive, we found our little Rosabella Natalia," Cygnus chuckled, as his daughter sat on the arm of his chair.
Narcissa couldn't help the grin forming on her face, "How did you come to this conclusion?" Anita asked, still slightly sceptic, herself.
"Why don't you read her file, mother," Lucius said, passing the parchment booklet over to his mother. Druella leant in reading the files over Anita's shoulder.
"Narcissa, you should ask Draco to invite her over during the Christmas break," Druella suggested, taking a small breath as Anita returned the files to her son.
"Yes, I'll write to him later," Narcissa agreed, making a mental note.
"I have one question for you three," Anita questioned, knowing that they had overlooked one important detail, "How exactly do you plan to tell her and her adoptive family?" The older woman questioned.
The three men shared the same look of dread, Anita had stumped them, she always did. "See!" Anita exclaimed, frustrated they hadn't discussed this further, "We can't just take her back suddenly, you need to alert her calmly and provide her with the evidence!" Anita reasoned.
"What about during the Christmas break?" Lucius suggested to his mother.
"Maybe, although the news could startle her..." Anita logically remarked, "and that's the last thing we want,"
"What about talking to her adoptive parents?" Lucius suggested for the second time, "I mean her adoptive family did attempt to look for us several times, maybe they'd be open to it?" He sipped his fire whisky, waiting patiently for his mother's response.
"It's not a terrible idea," Anita accepted.
"Well they'll be coming home soon," Narcissa spoke, "How about we invite her over and get to know her a little better before we bombard her?" The young woman suggested to her half drunk family.
"I agree with Narcissa," Druella agreed, surprising her daughter. "It's probably best whilst we discuss the facts a little further,"
"I'm going to send Draco a letter, but I'll be down shortly for dinner," Narcissa informed her family, quietly disappearing upstairs.
Dearest Draco,
I hope you are having a pleasant time at Hogwarts, my darling son.
I'm happy to let you know that Rosabella is, in fact, your little sister.
The Christmas break is quickly approaching and I was hoping you'd invite her over during the break.
I can't wait to see you my darling.
Be safe,
Love your mother.
Harry, Hermione and the youngest four Weasley children had congregated around one of mahogany tables in the school library, stacks of parchment and newspapers lay scattered across the tables as they waited for Rosabella to arrive from her Beauxbatons meeting.
"Hey," Rosabella whispered, "Sorry, I'm late," She apologised.
"Hey Rosie," the group grinned, returning the greeting. Rosabella stood beside Harry and Hermione, immediately filling the air with her vanilla lime scent.
"Okay, I'm ready..." Rosabella inhaled, "What have you found?" She inquired.
"Well, we've looked through every daily prophet within a four-week time range, two on either side of the day you were found," Hermione explained. "We think that you were either taken or accidently went missing,"
"Taken, right..." Rosabella whispered, feeling her breath catch in her throat.
"Possibly," Ron reassured her, "It's not a definite, only a maybe," Ron smiled over in her direction.
"I know, it's like a one in a million chance," Harry sighed, frustrated they hadn't figure anything else out. "But I have an idea," Harry announced suddenly, after a moment of silence. "Since Rosie's coming over to the Weasley's on the break, I thought I could ask Sirius about her?" Harry explained to the group, "Or even Remus, there bound to have more knowledge on this area than us,"
"That's actually a brilliant idea Harry," Hermione beamed, "He was around then anyway, so he may know something that wasn't published,"
"They both might or even mum and dad," Fred suggested.
"He'd probably have some idea about who you are, your background… something?" Hermione rambled thinking of the possibilities.
"One question," Rosabella interrupted her friends, "Who's Sirius? and Remus?" She questioned, highly confused.
"Oh, that's quite a long story which I'll explain to you later," Hermione promised, "Let's just send an owl to Sirius," Hermione suggested, earning a nod from Harry, who swiftly grabbed a piece of bare parchment from the table.
"Oh, I was supposed to meet someone," Rosabella blurted out, looking down at her watch, "I'll see you guys later," Rosabella rushed off, listening to the voice of her friends as they farewelled her from the table.
Draco had been waiting on the far side of the library for Rosabella, when she sped around the corner, "Hey," she breathed, "Sorry I'm late," she apologised, recomposing herself.
"That's okay. It's only quick." Draco grinned.
"Aller,"
"I was wondering if you wanted to come over to my place during the holidays, we could maybe go ice skating," Draco stuttered, nervous to hear her answer, "I was hoping you'd teach me,"
"Oh that's very errr kind of you Draco, I'd errr love to," Rosabella replied politely, unsure how comfortable she was visiting him.
"Great, I'll let you know the details before school finishes," Draco grinned, ecstatic. "I'll see you later," he farewelled, walking, almost skipping, out the door.
Rosabella was utterly confused by the all-too-keen vibes Draco was sending her. She was paralysed by shock if that's what you could even call it. His lack of confidence around her, his nervous stutter, his unusual happiness, were all factors amounting to the same disastrous conclusion…he couldn't like her... could he?
Please read and review!
Please let me know your thoughts and ideas down below!
Thanks Vanilla xx
Translations
Teresa, Come stai?
How are you?
Tutto bene e tu?
Very good and you?
Eh così-così
Okay
Oh Rosabella, nous ne vous avons pas vu depuis des mois
We haven't seen you in months
E abbiamo perso così tanto
and we missed you so much
Che sorpresa! Je ne savais pas que tu viendrais
What a surprise! I didn't know you were coming.
Link to Rosabella's Dress in Profile
Search : Oscar de la Renta Light blue Ostrich Dress We Heart It
- should be the first link (its a blonde girl wearing the dress)
