Chapter 29

Fred and George were beginning to panic. As they no longer had the map it was difficult for them to hunt down their wayward friend. Ron and Hermione hadn't seen Rasalas in about two hours and it was only at the twin's questioning that they had realised the swift passage of time. After attempting to covertly ask Harry and Ginny the last time they had seen the young head of family the twins left them with ears ringing from Ginny's shrieks, discovering that they hadn't seen her either. They were beginning to really consider getting a Professor involved- something they had once sworn never to do- until Hermione suggested that Rasalas could have gone to visit either Hagrid or Charlie as she often spent long periods of time outside. Looking out of the window at the driving rain and falling darkness, the twins and Ron thought it was unlikely but they would leave to possibility unchecked.

An hour later they were back in the castle, dripping wet, with Charlie's advice of asking Draco or Snape ringing in their ears while they tried not to panic anymore than they were. Hearing Filch's shuffling footsteps they quickly cast drying charms on themselves and, leaving a rather large puddle of rainwater behind them for Filch, bolted to the dungeons. Although they had very few OWL's, the twins were naturally clever people and so the instinctively knew that the dungeon, being snake territory, was not a good place for two Gryffindors to wander round- it didn't matter that the war was over, there were still some believers. Therefore they made their way to the Potion Professor's quarters knowing that he would know where Draco was, and hopefully Rasalas.

They were in luck. The stern Potion Master was there and so was Draco, but unfortunately not Rasalas. After questioning both men, attempting to be nonchalant and failing- really they were talking to an ex-spy and two Snakes- they were beginning to take this lost business very seriously as neither of the Slytherin's had seen her since some point at mid-day. They quickly scarpered with a flimsy excuse thrown over their shoulders- the Professor was really scary when he wanted to be- and darted back up to the main school, narrowly avoiding Neville who had seen the elusive Lady Black heading towards the Room of Requirement several hours ago. The twins sped away taking the stairs two at a time, sometimes three, their long legs covering the ground at an amazing pace.

Panting heavily and gasping for breath they finally reached the seventh floor. Opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy- who was looking less crazed and more concerned- was a large oak door. The twins took a sharp breath and looking at each other held a swift mental conversation over who should open the door. Fred won and so George made his way over to the imposing door, his twin close behind, and taking a deep breath to brace himself, slowly opened the door.

It opened smoothly and with no noise. The twins, although they had not idea what the room should look like, had expected a room that was large and extravagant- something like the Malfoy's owned- but were surprised how similar it was to the Gryffindor Common Room. It was small with a little fireplace and two couches with a large window behind them where Rasalas stood alone looking out. The room looked and felt rather homely and reminded the twins of the Burrow slightly.

Fred, feeling he should be generous to his twin, stepped into the room and, with only a moment's hesitation, he and his twin made their way over to the young Lady by the window, letting the door close as silently as it had opened. Rasalas gave no sign that she was aware that they had joined her and the twins, not wanting to scare her, didn't touch her but did shift by her side and made small noises to let her know that they were there. The three stood together side by side- Rasalas in the centre- in silence and stillness looking out at the view that the room provided, it was a view of lakes, forests and misty hills in the distance, a calm and peaceful scene after all of the panic.

It was Rasalas herself who was the first one to break the silence with an almost inaudible murmur.

"How long have you been looking for me?"

"Most of the day, my friend, even when we know where you are we try and keep and eye on you."

"Fred is right; no one had seen you, apart from a few glimpses since lessons ended."

"Why are you here Ras?" She sighed and clasped her hands in front of her, her posture less tense and her shoulders slumped.

"It was this morning, the gorgeous ring on Severus' finger. I know it is only a plain band and really not that pretty... but it is what is signifies. The look on his face every time he sees it, it was... It hurts. I know I must have a husband by the end of this year, sooner if possible. It hurts and scares me so much, to think that I have only just begun to find out what it is like to be loved... I just had the feeling that I possibly won't be loved like Severus is. Sirius is so lucky." By the end of her answer she was visibly fighting back choking tears.

The twins looked at each other over her head and as one they wrapped an arm each around her as she fought her sobs back refusing to cry even in front of her self proclaimed family.

"I just want to be loved! But at the same time how can I trust someone to love me after the life I have had. How do I know that they won't just want me for my money or title?" Finally the three broke down into tears together and stumbled over to one of the couches, the twins hoped that someone could gain Rasalas' trust again and not betray it.


Sirius was almost shining with joy, his love was now his fiancée and would be joining him for dinner and then afterwards they would talk about arrangements for their wedding, and perhaps he could persuade Severus to stay the night too... Sirius wasn't particularly interested in a long engagement, the horrible thought that Severus would be crossed his mind. He shook his head in a dog-like fashion, no; he wouldn't entertain such horrible thoughts.

Checking the clock for the ninth time in the last five minutes Sirius shifted his gaze to the nearest reflective surface and checked his appearance again, he was expecting his lover soon. The food was ready, the wine opened and he was looking forward to enjoying a relaxing evening with Severus. He let out a sigh as the flames glowed and the dark head of his lover preceded the rest of his lanky frame from the fireplace. The replying sigh the tall, pale man gave was a sign to Sirius that their evening would start with getting rid of all the annoyances that Severus had face from his students.

"Come on; tell me everything about your dunderheads before we get started on the wedding stuff." The smile that crossed Severus' face at the mention of the wedding made Sirius fall in love even further.


The fire crackling in the grate warmed the room even as the clock on the mantelpiece over it struck one into the darkness. The lone occupant of the red and gold of the Gryffindor Common Room sat looking into the flames thinking over the words he had heard from his father the week before. Tonight was Halloween, the sixteenth anniversary of the first defeat of Voldemort and the sixth month anniversary of his second and final defeat.

Harry looked up at the shadows playing on the ceiling, his head resting on the back of the sofa he was seated on. He knew he felt worried about something his father had said but he couldn't decide if it was the thought that he wouldn't receive the entirety of his father's money or his title when he died or the fact that his father didn't believe that he could get the woman he wanted. He sighed deeply as, for the first time in his life he began to think over what he truly wanted.

Why was it he couldn't get what he wanted without working for it? After all people already threw themselves at him and he hadn't done anything, he hadn't taken part in this war, and was quite happy with that. His mother was there to help him when he needed it and she thought he deserved all the praise he got so why didn't his father, parents were supposed to be supportive to their children not restricting. Obviously his father hadn't been brought up properly. Harry sighed again, Halloween.

Halloween! Voldemort was dead because of him- in the eyes of the public at least. Today would be the day that everyone would want to talk to him, touch him perhaps and he may even have to make a speech. Swiftly Harry's mind veered off the topic of what to do about his father's ultimatum and onto the difficult thoughts of what to say in his speech to the school.