July 15th- 14 days since her family and Lev died, 11 days since the funerals, 10 days since found out her fate, 9 days since she moved to the Malfoy's, 16 days until she turned sixteen years old, 48 days until she went back to Norway- if she went back to Norway she had been thinking some things over about her future, 381 days until she came of age, 382 days until she began her training as a healer, and then who knew how long it would take for the next big thing in her life. She decided to stop at 382 for now.

Grieving was an odd thing missing someone was inevitable and you wouldn't ever really stop missing them so what was grieving? Grieving must be the adjustment period after someone's death. The time you spend getting used to not having those people you could not replace. So here she was in England far from home surrounded by the family she had left trying to cope because that was all you could do was cope. Wounds like these, well they never healed.

Verina stared at her surroundings the manor sitting proudly in the distance, the cottage that her little piece of Bulgaria lived in, the mansion her great uncle lived in, the pond that sat in between them that Verina loved to sit at. It was not Tinworth nor was it her home in Bulgaria, but the manor had its own charm. Its marble floors and white walls made it all look grand when you walked in, as if you were living inside an ancient Roman statue. The drawing room was a light green with grey accents, the dining room was black and marble, and the other parlors were various shades of greens, yellows, and blues. The paintings on the walls of ancestors were funny to talk to and the marble statues were beautiful. The manor was open and sunny now that Lucius was gone and Verina enjoyed it. Her room was still her favorite room in the house because it had a balcony that overlooked the gardens and a small pound with a fountain. She could smell roses from her bed if the doors were open. The room had also been decorated with her in mind. Its lavender walls, plush white carpets, elm wood furniture, and down pillows and blankets made it a very comfortable environment. When she was little her cousin Lucius called it the princess room not only because of her life long nick name that he had given her but because of its large four poster and canopy that encased it. Verina's personal items now occupied the room. Pictures lined her shelves and fireplace, her books now occupied the elm book shelf that sat in her reading area- a corner of her very large room with four chairs and two book cases assembled around a small coffee table, her potions now sat prettily on her new shelf, her clothes and vanity were in her dressing room. She had begun to feel more at home as the days passed. Especially since she had developed pretty much the same routine as before, with a few exceptions of course, she now took her breakfast in bed, and had an afternoon nap, because she was more fatigued these days, of course her study routine change, but not much her grandmother had been very clear on what she needed to learn before the summer was out, and Verina had even begun to read a medical school entrance exam book, she had also asked Mrs. Zograf for the books Lev had been studying or arithmetic, human anatomy, and science, she had also decided to skip out on parties for a while, and because no one was to know where she was staying she was confined to the two houses she was used to volunteering at the hospital, outings, and more social events, but she understood these things had to wait a week or two until the dust settled. For now she was trying to grieve in the best way possible.

She had to admit life at the Malfoy's was pleasant. She enjoyed visiting Katherine, Briony, and Narcissa every day, she sometimes missed Lucius, but not too often, however; there were moments that if she listened quietly enough she could still hear him say "Princess, why don't you come with cousin Lucius I think I have lemon drops in my office. Would you happen to know whose favorite candies are lemon drops" these moments pained her almost as much as the mourning of her grandparents, but life had its good moments and others presents somewhat compensated for those they had lost.

To her surprise she had found a friend in Draco. It was often he would come to the parlor she was in and check up on her or he would make an excuse to come and see her. Usually this lead to them talking about something or another and they had actually formed a friendship. It was in its early stages, but it was a friendship none the less. She was surprised at how easy conversation flowed, even though it was usually about government, politics, foreign affairs, or whatever was in the prophet. He even asked her to explain some things about healing to him she obliged and he listened intrigued at all she had discovered about the human body. He thought it was fascinating and listened and even asked questions to better understand. It intrigued Verina how much he actually had changed. Tragedy matures those it affects and he was evidence of that. Never had she seen such transformation she almost dared to say she was proud, but she didn't want to take it too far.

She thought about these things and others from her spot by the pond. A peacock strutted prettily over to get a drink of water, birds serenaded her from their perches in the trees, and the scents of the gardens floated in the air a beautiful sweet mix of jasmine, roses, and gardenias, the warm sun tickled her where it lay and yet wrapped her in a comforting embrace all its own. She laid back in what seemed like bliss for this was her sanctuary; in her own mind, in her own world she found comfort. For the briefest of moments- moments like these she felt okay as if she truly could handle this thing they called grieving like she was truly going to make it.