A/N: And we arrrrrrrre... back! Yes, we still exist and we haven't forgotten this story. In fact, we finally started working on it again and we're now well into chapter 41. Yay us :D BTW, as one of our reviewers pointed out: Yes, there is a Death Eater Yaxley in DH. However, since we started writing this before DH came out we didn't know about that but we reacted and mentioned Orion's uncle Corvus Yaxley who is responsible for the deaths of Orion's parents and is now in Azkaban in chapter 24. Yes, we do have a tendency to be obsessive-compulsive ;)

Thirty-seven

"It's not over tonight
Just give me one more chance to make it right
I may not make it through the night
I won't go home without you."

Maroon 5, "Won't go home without you"

Lavinia

I wish I turned deaf. Because, you know, then I wouldn't hear the knocking on my door. I also wish I had no idea who it is, but even after about a week – or maybe longer? Think I kind of lost track of time – of only leaving my bedroom to force a piece of toast down my throat, I have my suspicions. Which isn't all that hard since he's been on it for about three or four days now.

I honestly thought it would be clear enough that I don't want contact to anyone when I instructed both April and Pleiade to return all letters immediately, didn't answer to floo calls and kept my door shut. But I obviously underestimated Orion Yaxley's persistency.

Another knock, a little more forcefully now. Groaning I turn around. Where the hell did he get the stupid idea that I would answer this knock when I haven't answered any other knocks? Honestly, what's so hard about understanding the message? Just another knock, and I curl up a little tighter and pull the blanket over my head. Just sodding go away.

"Please open the door, dear." What the…? He enlisted Mrs Wright? Quite the industrial little fellow. Not that it will change anything, but I have to pay him respect for that ingenious idea. "We are really worried about you." No need to because I'm bloody fine. I just need a little time to sort out myself and then I'll be good as new. "Look, whatever Mr Yaxley here said or did, he's really sorry for it." Is he? What the hell did he tell her?

"Yes, I am. Open up, please." Before I know it, I'm sitting upright and eyeing the bedroom's door that's slightly ajar. What… is he up to? "I should have stayed." Okay, that's enough. I don't want to hear anything of that, I just want peace. I want them all to leave me alone. Coach, Mum, the press, Orion… it's gotta stop, and it's gotta stop now. Determined, I throw back the covers and stalk towards the door. With a scowl on my face I open it.

And the first thing I get is an aghast "Goodness, you look horrible" from Orion. Without a comment, I close the door again. Honestly, I've had a week from hell – and this time I mean it – and I just don't have to listen to any of this crap. I had to listen to way too much crap ever since that… accident.

"May I suggest you try again, Mr Yaxley? I'm not sure if this was the right opening for a reconciliation." That… almost makes me crack a little smile. I can just image the frown he's giving Mrs Wright, because he doesn't see anything wrong in what he just said. The amazing thing is: For the first time in a week, I actually feel some curiosity coming up. The predominant feeling I had up to now was a mixture of guilt and failure, laced with the ridiculous feeling of being afraid of myself. Very softly I walk back to the door and put my head against it, to hear how Orion will answer.

"Yes, I can see that." Don't be rude, Orion. She's just trying to help. "Lavinia… I didn't mean to insult you. I'm just… concerned about you." Wow. Even through the door I can hear how much this admission must have cost him. Sighing silently, I close my eyes. Maybe I really need to tell him face to face to leave me alone. I open the door again to say exactly that.

But then my stupid mouth gets the better of me. "Care to tell me why exactly you're concerned about me when you're dating a certain Lucinda Carrow?" Yeah, way to go. It's not like you've got bigger problems on your plate than your ex-flatmate dating some peroxide blonde witch.

His first reaction is – to my surprise – not denying it right away, but putting a foot in the doorframe, obviously to prevent me from being able to shut it again. "Whoever told you about that nonsense?" Huh. Still no denial. That's… interesting. And although I know I shouldn't be asking about this stuff, because a pretty big part of me simply doesn't want to know about the sordid details of this highly unnatural pairing, another smaller part wants to see how he tries to get out of this. I just barely register that Mrs Wright excuses herself and hurries away.

I cross my arms in front of my chest. "Not your business." As is nothing else that concerns me, in case you've forgotten.

Instead of answering, he just marches past me, grabs the door handle from my hand and shuts the door. Hey! Forgotten all your careful polished manners, Yaxley? "Whatever you heard, it's wrong, so forget about it. Now, about you…" No!

"I thought the fact that I'm not answering any messages should be clear enough to tell you that there is nothing about me." So please just go and let me wallow in self-pity just a little longer. I'm already tired of having to talk to someone.

"I object." Oh, you object. Of course, that changes everything. Idiot. "It clearly tells me that there is something about you. Why are you hiding?" What… I'm not hiding. I'm just… trying to regroup.

"I'm not. And even if I was, it would be none of your business." There. Just go away.

"Look, if you really have to hide, why not doing it somewhere comfortable?" My place is comfortable. Honestly, where is this conversation supposed to be going? I think it's time to become clear, because he obviously chose to talk to me, not with me.

"I. Am. Not. Hiding. And whatever I'm doing, it's not your sodding business." He wants to say something again, but I've had it now. "We are over, Orion. We don't have anything in common, we can't get on with each other and we bloody always end up hurting each other. I've been hurting enough people in the last few days, and I really don't want to add you to the list. Again. So just… do both of us a favour and simply leave." Oh. Errr… wait… I'm… not exactly sure if really wanted to say all of that, especially the last part. And yes, Orion gives me something that's almost close to a deer in headlights look.

He needs a second to come up with something. Then he mumbles something suspiciously like, "It's already too late for that." For what, you idiot?

I take a deep breath to calm myself down. "Orion?"

He throws a look around, a little erratic and crestfallen. Then, "Listen… I shouldn't have walked away back when we fought last time. And I'm sorry." He's… what? I didn't listen to him and he's sorry? I think I just entered some alternative reality or something. This is just… too much for me at the moment.

"I… appreciate that. It's just… this comes a little… surprising right now, and I'm not in the right shape for any more surprises. It's not you, honestly. Just me and… needing some time." Dammit, why can't I just keep my trap shut?

"If you need time… why not take it elsewhere?" I shake my head and retreat a little from him, because I don't want him to see how tied up I am.

"Because I'm at home here, and because I only need a few more days. It'll be over then and I'll be okay." As of now… I'm not so sure about that, but I really don't have to tell him. And it seems I don't have to anyway, because the look on his face and the raised eyebrow tell me very clearly he doesn't believe a word I just said.

"Yeah, sure, but a little bit of fresh air in a quiet place would still do you good." What, and now you turned into my mother?

My eyebrows are raised as well, now, because I have an inkling as to where this is going. "Quiet place?"

"Well, Norfolk, of course. And the press wouldn't find you there." I knew he was going to say that, even the thing about the press. He still is one of those vultures.

Before I know, it's out of my mouth. "Yeah, you should know."

"Yes, I do. That's why I suggested it in the first place." Such a coincidence that you own a place in Norfolk. "There's room enough so you wouldn't have to encounter me if you don't want to." Yeah, maybe not you, but there's still that crazed aunt ghost haunting that house and the pictures that seem to want to spit me on me every time they see me. And your tenants, one of them with a Quidditch crazy daughter. Oh, and horses… wide open spaces of landscapes… cliffs above the roaring sea… sandy beaches… Mh. Wait. That doesn't sound so bad all of a sudden. I eye him suspiciously.

"You'd stay way from me?" He nods.

"If you want me to." Another suspicious look from me.

"And you'd make sure your crazy aunt won't follow me around?" Another nod, albeit a little wary.

"As far as I can, yes." I throw another look around. To be honest… I did feel a little cooped up here. I'd had some bouts of suddenly needing to be outdoor, to breathe some fresh air and I didn't go because I have this feeling that a lot of press vultures have set up their wards in front of my door, just waiting for a chance to ask me if I will accept the Captain's badge and want to hear me say I'm sorry for Chiverston. Which I'm not.

"Alright… fine. But no telling to anyone. Not your friends at the Prophet, not Carrow, no one. Not even Aunt Aurelia, should you happen to stumble over her." Which he will, because if I know Aurelia right, she's already trying to get access to me via Orion.

Orion:

That was hard. It's dark outside when we reach Norfolk and I'm exhausted like I've worked an entire night. I hope it was worth it… Bongo already awaits us by the door. He at least seems to be happy that I'm coming back here. I'm not so sure about Lavinia, she always used to hate house elves. To my surprise, she isn't looking angry about it, not at all… she's even smiling slightly.

What a change from an hour ago, when it looked like she never wanted to leave the house again. "Well…" I say, when we reach the door, "welcome to Yaxley Manor." I shouldn't be such an awkward host. But, what else should I say? It's not as if she was an ordinary guest. I stand aside to let her enter and follow her.

"Thank you," she says, with just a small hint of amusement. Well, I'm glad she's not brusque anymore.

"Bongo," I address my house elf, very glad to finally know exactly what to say in a conversation after all this dreadful business, "Mrs. McNeil is going to stay here for a while. I suppose you can prepare the lilac room for her, like last time. She doesn't want to be disturbed, so, only come when she calls you…" Lavinia wants to interrupt me, but I wave her off and just continue, "she's here on my invitation, so take her orders as well. And… tell the others to watch out for Aunt Carina. She shouldn't come too close to the lilac room while she's here. Understood?"

Bongo nods and bows, then suddenly looks up with a huge smile on his little face. "Oh, Master, look, your owl is back!" What? Pleiade? I turn my head, and behold, there she is, the stupid bird, flying in with Lavinia's April.

"Where have you been, stupid bird? And why are you coming back now?" I ask her, but she ignores me in her very own owlish dignity. Stupid, stupid bird.

"Actually…" I hear Lavinia say behind me and turn around, "the 'stupid bird' stayed with me… which might be the reason she's here again." I don't believe it. I… just don't believe it. I shake my head. So, that's where she was… why?

"Don't do that again, Pleiade, do you hear me?" Telling off an owl actually sounds very stupid to me. They obviously have a mind of their own sometimes, and I had to pick an eccentric one, of course.

Lavinia interrupts this line of thought, "Don't be too hard on her. Your owl proved to be cleverer than me." Huh? How could that be possible?

"What are you referring to?" She immediately looks away when I ask the question, clearly uncomfortable about it. Was it something I said? She started it, this time.

"Let's just say, she saw something in someone I did not." Oh… oh… so Pleiade was suspicious of Roshenkov, too? Well, I can see why Lavinia doesn't want to talk about it. But… it doesn't explain why Pleiade stayed with her so long. Stupid bird.

"Um… I guess… everything is settled now. So… do you want to take supper with me afterwards?" Well, that was truly eloquent of me.

Lavinia gives me an apologetic half-smile. "If you don't mind, I'd like to skip supper. I've already eaten and I'm really tired." And obviously, you meant it when you told me you didn't want to be disturbed by me. Why did I even bother to ask? "However, thanks for the invitation. Maybe tomorrow, huh?"

"That's alright. Have a good night. And remember: call Bongo if you need anything", I answer, even though I still believe she just wanted to be polite there. It shouldn't bother me. I did guarantee her that I would leave her to herself here, after all. So… it's only natural.

I watch Bongo leading her upstairs and only turn to my study after they disappeared into the first floor corridor. I suddenly doubt that it had been such a good idea to take her here again. She has already left her imprints in two of my favourite rooms when she had been here last time. But I couldn't seriously leave her there in that tiny little apartment all on her own. I'll always remember how she looked when she opened the door.

When I reach my study, other troubles await me. It seems like another informant of the Daily Prophet disappeared in Argentina. Things are really going downhill there in a frightening pace. I have to catch up on everything I've neglected while I had been trying to reach Lavinia. It's going to be a long night.