Hi there? Did you miss me?

Thanks again for all the awesome reviews and feedback. You know how much that means to me.

So not much to say here other than here's some folks I bet some of you have missed!

Warning for lots of sappiness. And Lesbians.

If Someone Cared Enough

Chapter Ninety-Five: Life on the Run

It was a clatter and the shattering of glass that roused her from sleep.

Sitting up with a gasp, the young woman clutched the blankets to her chest, eyes warily scanning the room for any sign of an intruder. Her heart pounded in her chest like a drum. Had they been found already?

Her eyes landed on a mess by the closet door, a shattered perfume bottle soaking the edge of the area rug in the heavy fragrance of cranberry cinnamon-apple. The bowl of potpourri on the table where the perfume bottle once sat was overturned, spilling ornamental mini pinecones and scented dried flowers across the wooden surface.

The end of a familiar furry tail was all she caught sight of as it vanished into the closet.

Sighing, the woman turned to regard her companion, bemused that not even a herd of Erumpents could probably wake the sleepy dreamer. The slumbering figure beside her was a tangle of brunette curls of hair splayed out in tendrils over a soft face of porcelain skin, the hint of a smile lingering on her lips.

The first woman chuckled, drawing the blankets up over her companion to fully cover the dozing one's bare skin, reluctant though the woman was to shield such a lovely sigh from her eyes.

Sliding from the bed, her feet sunk into the soft, plush furs that served as area rugs, enchanted to resist stains and fraying. Padding on bare feet to the vanity, she plucked her dressing gown off the chair and wrapped it about herself, relishing the gentle, cool embrace of silk.

Frowning at the mess on the floor, she grabbed her wand from the nightstand and flicked it once in the direction of the smashed bottle, sending bits of glass and droplets of scented oils flying back together into shape. Setting the bottle back on the table, she turned to the mirror and gathered her hair up into a messy bun, threading her wand through the center to hold the mass in place.

Slipping out into the hall, the woman sidestepped a stout goblin woman carrying a basket of fish and bread, followed by two goblin children giggling as they waved flavorful kebabs of meat in their tiny fists.

Smiling at the scene, she wandered over to the railing and looked down into the chasm of the mountain, stories upon stories of floors all bustling with life, illuminated only by torchlight and the sapphires embedded in the cave ceiling, fire light reflecting off of them so they glowed like stars in the night sky. It danced off the woman's rich, dark skin like glowing leopard spots.

Simon sighed in contentment as she watched the citizens around her go about their daily lives.

The lamplighters were making their rounds refueling the torches and lanterns to keep the chasm in a perpetual state of twilight. Mothers were attending to children and bringing in freshly cut meat from the market, huge legs and shanks of elk easily twice their size that they carried effortlessly while cradling nursing infants.

Miles down below, the fish mongers shouted their wares by the mouth of the river that ran through the heart of the mountain, proclaiming only the freshest and meatiest of fillets. Butchers and Grocers lined their stalls with the most recent kills and ripest vegetables; mostly roots and tubers to satiate goblin taste buds looking for a hearty breakfast.

Merchants set up their shops for the day, dragging out display stands of only the finest weapons and jewelry, crafted by impeccably skilled hands. Clusters of old men and women, with wizen faces and gnarly fingers, gathered together to weave intricate tapestries, each woven into a story, a tale of times long ago and immemorial.

A meow by her feet caught Simone's attention. She glanced down to find a large, bushy cat twining around her legs.

She gave the cat a wry grin, "Why good morning Amadeus."

Amadeus sat down at her feet, pawing Simone's dressing gown and meowing expectantly.

Simone chuckled, picking the heavy beast up.

"I suppose that was you who made that mess in my room, hm?" she asked teasingly, holding the kneazle out in from of her, "Was that your way of telling me you're ready to get up and have breakfast?"

Amadeus mewed again, batting his paws at Simone in an attempt to bop her nose.

"Alright, you great hairy baby," Simone conceded with a laugh, hefting the now purring creature into her arms, "Let's get you fed so you can go about your day tormenting everyone."

Cradling her familiar in her arms, Simone re-entered her bedroom, pausing in the doorway to marvel at the sight of Thea—her wife—sprawled out in bed. Crystals in the ceiling enchanted to soak in the sun's rays from miles up above began to glimmer and sparkle, casting the room in the warm glow of sunrise. The rays fell across Thea's face, illuminating her angelic visage, a gentle sigh falling from her lips as she rolled unconsciously rolled away from the light attempting to seep under her eyelids.

"It still feels like a dream," Simone murmured happily, gazing with fond affection at the vision of loveliness in their marriage bed.

"Mrrow," Amadeus grumbled, smacking his paw into the side of Simone's nose.

Simone rolled her eyes, "Yes, yes, you'll get your food."

Plodding over to a cabinet, Simone juggled Amadeus in one of her arms as she fiddled with the latch on the door, managing to get it up without dropping the eagerly struggling kneazle.

"Wait just a—if you'd just hold still—fine! Take the bloody thing you silly creature!" Simone shoved a dried mackerel into Amadeus mouth, relaxing with relief when Amadeus ceased his struggles to snuggle contentedly in her arms with his tasty prize.

"You know, it's a little spoiled to want to be held while you're eating," Simone mumbled, "You're not being bottle fed or anything…"

Amadeus paid his owner no mind, gripping his breakfast in both paws as he chewed away at the head.

"Ugh, that fishy smell," Thea groaned from the bed.

Rolling over, the brunette got up onto her side, squinting over at her wife, "Breakfast for him already?"

"Fraid so," Simone answered, "He even decided to give me a new alarm to wake up to so I could feed him." She pointed to the shoddily repaired perfume bottle.

"Grimheld will be able to fix that," Thea offered, "Her glass work is top notch."

Simone hummed, shifted her oversized feline, "Still, it's a shame to have it needing repairs so soon…it was a wedding present."

Thea smiled sympathetically as she slid out of bed and drew her gown about her shoulders, much to the displeasure of Simone's roving eyes, "You just like it because I wore it on our honeymoon."

"Well…yeah," Simone admitted bluntly, "It's not the scent I liked; it's the pretty, naked lady who wore it for me."

Thea shook her head in amusement, "Something tells me I could dab vinegar on my wrists and you'd still tell me that I smell good."

Simone leaned over to kiss Thea's cheek as she drew near.

"You could rub one of Amadeus's mackerels behind your ears and I'd still find you irresistible," Simone said with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Amadeus growled, wrapping his paws protectively around his meal, little pointy teeth latched on the one fin possessively.

"No one's going to steal your mackerels, Amadeus," Thea cooed, managing to scratch the chubby cat under the chin, "We love you too much to let you go hungry."

Amadeus purred, munching happily on his breakfast as he leaned into Thea's touch.

"You're the only one who can touch him while he's eating," Simone mused.

"Nonsense," Thea said. She gestured to Simone's arms wrapped securely under the cat, "You're touching him."

"I'm holding him," Simone clarified, adjusting her grip, "Because he likes to be paraded around like a sultan while he dines. But if I were to try and get close to his head…"

Shifting her grip, Simone brought up one hand to pet Amadeus.

She quickly retracted her hand when Amadeus growled threatening, swatting at her with his paw as he rolled inward towards Simone's chest to protect his fish.

"See?" Simone said, "No touchy."

Thea stroked Amadeus behind the ears, "I wonder why he doesn't swat at me?"

'Probably because only a monster would leave a mark on your skin,' Simone thought, her mind darkening at the thought of Thea's wretched parents currently under auror surveillance while being treated at St. Mungos.

"Do you need to feed Jerva?" Simone asked instead.

Thea shook her head.

"Not anymore," Thea said, glancing about the room for her gecko, "I did when we first arrived, but there's so many bugs hiding down in the chasm that she's pretty much got her meals covered."

"So that just leaves Pudge," Simone noted. She looked over to the perch on the far side of the room, the chubby little owl dozing with his head tucked under one wing, "Morning, you're fluffy pillow of grouchiness!" she called out loudly.

Pudge stirred slowly, raising his head to peer through narrowed eyes at his masters with undisguised displeasure.

Simone snorted, "Don't give me that look, you smug cluck. Do you want breakfast or not?"

Pudge perked up at the mention of food, tilting his head this way and that with intrigue.

Simone stepped towards the door to the hall, her free hand on the doorknob, "Ready to stretch your wings?"

Pudge eyes went wide, alert as he spread out his wings and hunched forward in anticipation.

Simone's hand lingered on the doorknob teasingly for a moment before throwing the door open, "Annnnnnnd GO!"

The owl swooped into the air, shooting past Simone in a whoosh as he swept out the open doorway and up into the chasm. There was a gap half a mile to the left in the chasm walls that opened up to the outside, where most owls and falcons—many goblins' preferred hunting companion—could come and go as they pleased to hunt for prey and soar over the neighboring forest and plains.

"He'll be gone all day," Thea warned, "He hates being confined here because it has no windows."

Simone watched Pudge disappear out of sight, "Yeah…but I can't say I blame him. Birds aren't meant to live in mountains."

She set Amadeus on the floor, ushering the stubborn feline out the door, "You've had your food, you spoiled baby, now go play."

Amadeus all but strutted out the door, tail held high.

Simone folded her arms over her chest, watching the cat go, "Let's just hope we don't need to send any letters before Pudge returns."

"Not that we've been able to send many anyway," Thea muttered, "The aurors are probably intercepting every owl that comes to any of our family or acquaintances."

"I miss writing to mum and dad," Simone admitted, drawing Thea into her arms and rested her chin upon the shorter woman's head, "But we did what we had to. This hiding isn't forever; just until dad manages to convince the ministry that the charges against us are unfair. It really wouldn't be ethical to punish us for defending ourselves."

Thea sighed, cuddling into Simone's embrace, "I just wish we didn't have to live like fugitives. I'm thankful for all Gritstone and his family has done for us, really I am. But…what's all this luxury and hospitality without freedom?"

Simone tipped Thea's head up so they were looking each other in the eyes, "No one can cage you anymore, Thea. Don't think of this as a prison, but as a secret base. They can only pursue us for so long before public opinion sways them into leniency."

"Do you really think so?" Thea asked hopefully.

"Of course," Simone replied confidently, "You've seen the papers; people are demanding a harsh punishment for your parents' use of forgivables. They want those two brought to trial even without the pair being able to remember anything. People are outraged! The ministry is just all fired up with showing their iron first right now to spook Death Eaters and show the public how on top of everything they are. Eventually, they'll have to back off on us in order to focus on more important matters."

"Trust me," Simone soothed, holding Thea tightly, "Things will work out. And even if they don't, I'll always be here for you."

Thea smiled up at Simone, admiration and gratitude shining in her eyes. It was still so hard to believe this really happened, that she was safe with Simone away from the madness of her family. The immediate aftermath of her rescue still felt like a dream.

They collapsed onto the floor of Simone's room, neither girl able to hold herself up anymore.

"Mistress!" Coro cried in dismay, flocking to Thea's side, "Mistress is hurt badly."

Thea managed a weak attempt at a reassuring smile for her house elf's sake, "I'm fine, Coro."

"Bullshit," Simone spat out, a hacking cough wracking her frame.

"Sim," Thea said worriedly, "You should still be resting in the hospital wing."

"And left you at the mercy of your parents?" Simone asked. She laughed harshly, "Next time I would have heard from you, you would have been Rabastan's mind controlled wife, already carrying his wretched kids."

"Sim…" Thea said sadly.

"I mean it," Simone barked out, "I barely made it there in time as it is. If Dumbledore hadn't dragged out his little lecture, I could have been there before they ever laid a hand on you."

Turning to Thea, Simone cupped the girl's face with a shaky hand.

"If I had just been quicker," Simone lamented, tracing the bruise blossoming across Thea's face, "They wouldn't have hurt you."

Thea placed her hands over Simone's, "This isn't on you, Sim. No one could have guessed what they were capable of."

Simone closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her face.

"This never should have happened," she whispered.

Minks and Coro exchanged sad looks, their hearts breaking for their charges.

"Simone, what are we going to do?" Thea asked, her voice wavering as the weight of their actions began to crash down on her, "They'll come looking for us. The ministry will know what you've done."

"Let them try and find me," Simone bite out harshly, "Do they really think they'll stay in the public's favor if they try to charge me for preventing the use of an unforgivable? It would be a media circus; they'd never save face."

"But they could still take you to trial," Thea protested, "You could be convicted. My family's barrister would push for the highest punishment on my parent's behalf."

Simone struggled to her feet, waving her wand to summon a trunk, "I'd like to see him try and defend those monsters. The minute it hits the news what they tried to do to you, they'll be nothing more than criminals. It won't matter how many bigoted pureblood's secretly support them; everyone will distance themselves from the Mnemosyne's just to avoid being cast in the same bad light."

Thea shook her head, "That might not be enough to put them away. They've got just as many connections as you, Simone. And we don't know how strong your memory charms were; they could get their memories back. Then they'll come for me."

"And I won't let them have you," Simone declared, summoning some of her wardrobe to her bed. Minks set about folding and packing them in Simone's trunk, "They'd have to find us first. I'd doubt they'd have the courage to go up against me again. They're little more than cowards."

"But the Lestranges aren't," Thea protested, "Have you forgot that Rabastan was promised my hand? They'll never let me go without a fight."

Simone stuffed several books into her trunk. She pulled from her nightstand a dagger, goblin made, "Then it's a fight they'll get."

"Simone be reasonable," Thea pleaded, "They're dark wizards; they have magic you and I can barely even comprehend. They're unstable, mad even. This can only end in bloodshed."

"Only if they find you first," Simone insisted, "I've got friends; they'll keep us hidden."

"But for how long, Sim?" Thea challenged, "We'll have to come out of hiding eventually, and as long as that marriage contract is still valid, then I'm Rabastan's by law."

"Thea…" Simone began.

Thea wouldn't hear her protests, "Even if my parents never recover their memories, I'm bound to the Lestranges."

"Thea, please…"

"There is no escape," Thea sobbed, "We're only delaying the inevitable by running."

Simone took a step closer, "Thea, listen to me."

"No," Thea cried, "Don't you get it, I'm obligated to marry Rabastan. I can't get out of the contract unless my parents void it or I'm already married so—"

"Then marry me!" Simone blurted out.

Thea looked at Simone in shock, "…what?"

"Marry me," Simone repeated, "In a goblin ceremony. My friends can do it and the ministry is required to honor goblin marriage rites."

"B-but you're not a goblin," Thea pointed out.

"Then I'll get inducted into the clan," Simone countered, "I trust my friends, they'll help us."

"Please, Thea," Simone begged, taking Thea's hands in her own, "Marry me. Let me take you away from this nightmare."

Thea stared at Simone, utterly stunned, "You're honestly proposing marriage?"

Simone looked away, a blush rising to her cheeks, "I always intended this to be far more romantic…but I mean, it's always been a given, how we feel about each other and all," she ran a hand through her hair, "But I thought I'd have more time to plan it out."

"I was going to get a ring…" Simone confessed to a wide-eyed Thea, "there were going to be candles a-and music. Those chocolates you like…it was all going to be so perf—" Simone was cut off as Thea threw herself into Simone's arms and kissed her.

Thea clutched Simone like her life depended on it, eyes squeezed shut for fear of waking up and finding this was all a dream.

Simone closed her eyes, sinking into the kiss with blissful relief. Her hands fell to the small of Thea's back, holding her close.

"They'll come after us," Thea reminded Simone as they pulled away. Still she smiled even as tears streamed down her face.

Simone cradled Thea's face in her hands, wiping away a tear with her thumb, "Then let them. I'll move heaven and earth before I let them take you from me."

"You'll be bound to me forever," Thea warned, "Goblin's marry for life."

Simone looked deep into her eyes, "Thea, I'd stay with you for a thousand lifetimes. Through the next life and the next…I'll find you…and I'll make you mine all over again."

Thea burst into tears, throwing herself into Simone's arms once more, as she wept in joy and relief.

Simone tucked a strand of hair behind Thea's hair, drawing the latter from her thoughts.

"Daydreaming, love?" Simone asked in amusement.

Thea leant into Simone's embrace, "Just still trying to process everything."

She looked down at the ring on her finger; a goblin made piece that span the length of her finger in jointed segments, each embedded with a pear shaped diamond. Normally goblin rings ended in a steel claw, but theirs were altered to fit the more human standards.

"I still can't believe this is real," Thea sighed dreamily.

"Believe it," Simone said, intertwining their hands together, her own elongated ring sparkling in the candle light, "You and I are together forever; as is written in ink."

Simone rubbed her thumb over the inside of Thea's wrist, tracing the intricate knot chain tattooed there, the same as her own. It formed a rose inside a shield, written in magic ink in tuned with one another's. An everlasting sign that no force on earth may separate them.

"So now what do we do?" Thea asked after several moments of pleasant silence.

Simone sighed, stepping away from Thea, "I've been asking myself that since we came here. Hiding is all well and good, but we can't just sit around while there's a war brewing out there. We're safe and protected in the mountains while our friends and family—well my family, which is yours now—are out there in the middle of this. They need us."

"I feel the same," Thea agreed, "We all worked together to stop Riddle once; it feels wrong to sit idle now. We only faced a memory the last time; the real You-Know-Who is out there and our friends may be up against him someday. Would it really be fair for us to stay hidden while they may need us?"

"The question is," Simone began, "How can we help them? Surely, there's ways to move about unseen, I'm sure Gritstone could help us with that. However, what good is a disguise or concealment spells if we don't even know what we can do to help with the war?"

Thea sat down by the vanity, picking up her brush, "It's frustrating not knowing what to do. We're pretty sure those two horcruxes we destroyed weren't the last of them, but it's not like we have a lead to go on to find any of them."

"None do we have an endless supply of basilisk venom," Simone pointed out, "And it's not like we have many safe, contained areas to use fiendfyre."

Thea brushed out her hair, watching Simone through the mirror, "We know there's probably a locket somewhere. And Hufflepuff's cup was probably made into a horcrux too. The trouble is finding them."

"And destroying them," Simone added, "All while avoiding detection from You-Know-Who and his followers. The two Horcruxes in the school were unguarded, but that doesn't mean the others will be."

Simone frowned, "I hate to say it, but we may need some assistance."

A knocking drew their attention to the door.

"Breakfast, Mistresses," Coro declared happily, waltzing in with a tray laden with, bread, meat, and cheese. Despite her aged state, she seemed years younger these past few days, overjoyed to finally be away from years of abuse.

"Thank you, Coro," Simone said graciously, "Please put it down over on the table."

Minks wandered in after Coro to gather the laundry. Instead of heading straight for the hamper this time, she went to Simone first.

"This came for you, Mistress," Minks stated, holding out a sealed envelope.

Simone took it with a puzzled glance at Thea, "Who's it from?"

"The letter did not say, Mistress Simone," Minks replied, "Minks and Coro find it sitting on the larder in the kitchens when we's go to fetch breakfast. One moment nothing there, the next, there it be."

Simone and Thea exchanged wary glances, "That's…suspicious."

"Minks already checks it for spells and traps, Mistress," Minks assured, "Nothing come up."

"Still couldn't hurt to make sure," Simone said, running her wand over the letter just to be safe. No wards or curses could be detected.

"It comes with something else, Mistress," Coro said suddenly, done arranging plates for Thea and Simone.

"What else?" Simone inquired.

"This," Coro present a long, crimson feather, striking and vibrant in color, "It was on the envelope when we found it."

Now more curious than ever, Simone hastily opened the letter, quickly scanning its contents.

"Well," Thea prompted expectantly, "What does it say?"

Simone got to the end of the letter, looking up with an excited gleam in her eye.

"It would seem," she began, "Someone has given us a boon…"

Told you these guys would be back eventually. They're not being entirely phased out of the story, but they will be taking on a smaller role, one useful to the plot, but not the primary focus. The main characters are Lily and Severus, after all.

So...we're just going to ignore how in the Harry Potter universe it is apparently legal to marry someone who is already married without them having divorced the previous spouse...or having consented to marrying you...cause I want a less rapey universe for my previous babies where someone can't be forced to marry a person against their will if they are already willingly married to someone else...Yeah...

Any ideas who contacted them and what this person is offering? Hm? Any guesses?

Review please :)