Disclaimer: Anything created by JK Rowling does not belong to me. Unless some lovely person has gone out and bought me an early birthday present…? No? Oh well.

Author's Note: Will Morganna die? I don't know? Don't ask me that. I refuse to answer such questions at this point in time. Okay, one hint:

If I kill Morgy, the heading of the chapter for that will be: Saying Goodbye

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Chapter Seven: I love you

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**Third Person Writing From Here On In**

Morag was nestled in the safety and reassuring warmth of Draco's arms.

Ginny sat with Kieran, and Ron was watching Hermione.

Hermione, the girl he wanted for himself, his girlfriend.

Who was technically still the girlfriend of that renowned Quidditch player, Viktor Krum.

Ron swore. He'd taken her to the Yule Ball, but it hadn't meant anything, or so he'd led her to believe.

"I love you, Hermione." He whispered.

She didn't hear.

Harry watched Morag and Draco with jealousy and envy barely hidden. Este sighed, and tapped him on the arm.

"Let him have her, Harry." She said softly.

"How can you say that?" he ground out, staring at his hands.

"Do you think Professor Snape is going to let you date his daughter? Draco is a safe choice. You're the 'Boy Who Lived', Voldemort wants you to be the boy who died painfully. Draco is just the boy who had a girlfriend that wasn't all she seemed to be, and she's the girl who lied. Voldemort wants her dead, and Draco punished. Harry, Morag's not safe whether she's with you or Draco, really, but her father will accept him. Not you." Este wasn't really arguing, or taking sides, just stating the obvious.

"I love her." Harry muttered.

"Draco does too."

"The Serpent and the Lion shall be united and in their union is our safekeeping." Harry quoted.

"Oh, give over, Harry." Este said impatiently. "That's not talking about you and Morag, it can't be."

"It could be."

"And Gom 'could' turn into a human and give you and Draco some competition, but it's not too likely." Este replied.

Harry just sat there.

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Draco and Morag were quiet, until she spoke suddenly, softly.

"Father doesn't want me anymore."

Shocked, Draco replied, "Don't be absurd. Your father loves you."

"I'm not his daughter, not really, and he doesn't love me. He said so. I heard him."

"When?" he managed to say finally.

"When he was sitting with Mother, and he was talking to Jenni. He said I wasn't his daughter, and you'd have to be stupid not to see what he meant."

Draco shook his head and held her tighter. "You're overreacting, Morag."

Morag hoped he was right, but she didn't think he was.

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The hand that Severus had been holding, warm, yet limp, almost lifeless, twitched.

He was gradually sobering up – Jenni had given the servants strict orders not to give him any alcohol, under any circumstances. So he noticed.

Morganna's fingers curled around his, and she stirred.

"Morganna?" he had thought he was beyond hope, but here it was, interrupting his miserable brooding.

She frowned, and opened her eyes. "Severus?"

Then she sniffed. "You've been drinking."

Severus was never one for the great big emotional displays, but he caught her in his arms and held her tightly, as if making sure this wasn't just a dream conjured up by wishful thinking.

"You've been drinking." She repeated. "Where is Morag?"

"She's in the parlor with the other children – teens, whatever they like to be called – they're waiting for word of you." Severus told her, looking at the ceiling, but she caught the guilty flash in his eyes.

She chose not to say anything of it. He had been a right shit over the years about Morag's parentage, always when he was in a bad mood about something was when he'd bring it up. It hurt, since in a way, it was his fault that she was here. She didn't blame him, she never had, but she knew he blamed himself for the mistakes she made with Jonathan. This was probably just one more nasty comment from an angry, drunk man.

Severus stood up. "I'll go tell them you're all right."

"That'd be a good idea." Morganna nodded, settling back into the pillows. She still felt awful, but at least she was conscious.

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After the others had gone up to their rooms, and her father had gone back to sit with her mother, who she'd seen, Morag remained in the parlor, in front of the fire.

"So you heard that."

It was Jenni, standing by the door.

"Heard what?" Morag questioned, but she knew what Jenni meant.

"What your father said earlier."

"How do you know?"

"I heard you talking to Draco."

"Oh."

"What are you going to do about it?" Jenni asked, sitting down next to her.

"Maybe I should just do everyone a favor and stay in France with Mother's family."

"Do you want to?"

"No."

"Why then?"

"Because I don't want a father that doesn't love me." Morag replied, hurt showing in her eyes. The idea that she'd been lied to for years, that all those emotions, however brief, had been feigned, was painful.

"Maybe you might want to talk to your parents." Jenni suggested.

"Maybe."

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Just as Morganna was drifting off to sleep that night, she murmured to Severus, "I love you."

"I love you, too." He replied, but she was already asleep.

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Author's Note: Gah. I still don't know whether it should be Draco or Harry, and I'm trying to work out how I can bring Gloria Anne back into the plot. I'm bouncing around too much, aren't I? Eurgh. I promise faithfully that I will do my best for the next chapter…