Part II

Millicent plastered a smile on her face. "I hadn't heard, but then again I don't keep up with society news... you know me."

Wes looked over at his sister, her voice sounded odd... almost hollow. Millicent sensed his gaze on her, she took a deep breath hoping to affect her normal presence.

"Congratulations," she offered.

The smile that crossed Daphne's face was sharp enough to cut glass. "Yes, we're quite pleased, aren't we Blaise?" She asked looking up at her fiancé.

"Of course dear," Blaise responded, a placating smile on his face.

Millicent thought she could read dissatisfaction in his eyes, but she reminded herself that quite often the mind sees only what it wants to see. Millicent coughed as a sudden rush of emotion overcame her. She had to get out of here; she didn't want to ruin this happy memory of her baby brother making his transition to adulthood with useless thoughts of self-pity.

"Well it was good to see the both of you and nice to meet you Angela." Millicent turned back to her brother. "I should probably get back, if I remember correctly you have a feast and a few parties to attend to do you not? I'll see you at the train station tomorrow afternoon."

Wes furrowed his brow; she didn't have to leave quite yet. There was probably an hour in which they could still socialize... but as he moved forward to give his sister a hug goodbye he saw the look in her eye and didn't question her.

He squeezed her tight, "are you okay?' He asked quietly in her ear.

"Oh yes," she immediately replied. "I just have some business to take care of this afternoon. I'll be glad when you are home for the summer; things have been rather busy lately."

Wes nodded as he released her. "Bye Millie, I'll see you tomorrow!" He waved her off.

Millicent turned slowly her vision grazing across the group. Her brother happily whispering something in Angela's ear that made her face light up, Daphne carefully wrapped in Blaise's arms and of course Blaise, as handsome as he ever was. She waved slightly, a sad sort of smile on her face, before leaving the hall and apparating home.

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Many butterbeers had been consumed by the occupants of the Gryffindor common room in celebration of their recent graduation, streamers littered the floor and various products from Weasley Wizard Wheezes were scattered about. Members of several houses continued to mill about, some still drinking, but most talking, laughing and reminiscing. Angela rested against Wes as he lounged in a red velvet couch in front of the fireplace.

Angela glanced up. Wes's features were closed and quiet. She frowned slightly. It was a rare moment when Wes didn't have some sort of smile on his face. She knew he hadn't had the easiest life and a great deal of his current contentment came from the role his sister played in his life.

"You okay?" She asked softly, a small hand playing with the catch on his robe.

Wes murmured softly. He tilted his head down to look at her. "Yeah... I was just thinking about Millicent. I worry about her sometimes. She spends too much time alone. She'd never let me know that it bothers her but... I can tell she's not happy." Wes sighed and ran a hand through his sandy brown hair. "I know she never wanted to take on our parents' business but she did it for me.

Angela lifted a hand and touched his cheek. "You know she loves you... I think seeing you happy is what makes her happy."

"I know... but that's not right. She needs to be happy for herself." Wes raised his hand to cover hers resting on his cheek. "I don't know..." He trailed off and turned his lips into her palm. "Although I am only too happy to have found you."

Angela smiled before she moved into capture his lips with her own. "Same here... same here," she repeated as she moved in for another kiss.

As the fire flickered down and the common room cleared out, Wes groaned. "This is going to be the longest month of my life. Remind me again why you have to go on vacation with your family."

Angela pinched his arm. "You'll survive... at least you aren't the one stuck with Daphne for four long weeks, while she selects her trousseau. She's become insufferable since she got engaged, lording that damn ring over everybody." She wrinkled her nose at Wes.

"I'll just have to make it up to you when you come visit after you get back." Wes winked as he stood up, pulling Angela with him.

They made their way over to the common room door. "I'll see you on the train in the morning." Wes placed a kiss on her cheek as Angela bounded down the stairs and headed off to the Ravenclaw dormitories.

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Millicent stared at the canopied bed she'd slept in since childhood. She'd never moved into her parents' master suite... it had just never felt right. Instead she had remained in her room in the years since she had graduated.

Dark wood made up the frame and deep red hangings covered the four posters. The bed had been made by a house-elf, but it didn't really matter, no one ever saw the bloody thing. She shook her head willing the thoughts that hovered just at the edge of her mind to stay there.

A picture on her nightstand proved to be her undoing. It was from her own graduation. A group of Slytherins and two Gryffindors stood waving in the photo. Draco's image would alternate between waving at her and snogging the life from Ginny Weasley. Lavender Brown stood next to Draco with Cassius Warrington's arms wrapped around her waist. He would occasionally reach down and place a kiss on her cheek while Lavender laughed happily. Pansy stood next to Millicent in the photo, she would grin and then spin her head around looking for a certain Mr. Bletchley who was barely visible in the background of the photo. Millicent was in the center. Her picture-self grinned at her then up at Blaise who had his arm wrapped around her shoulders.

She watched him wink at her from the photo. Taking a hurried step forward she threw the picture face down on the wooden tabletop. Her hand lingered on the edge of the frame. Why had she kept the blasted photo...

Millicent sunk down onto the edge of her pristine bed – the pillows straight and unmarred. She dropped her head into her hands and bit her lip. The taste of copper filled her mouth and she squeezed her eyes shut.

It didn't matter, she reminded herself. She would be fine; she was a survivor wasn't she. Now Wes would be home and the house wouldn't be so empty. Maybe she could take some healing classes on the side or volunteer at St. Mungo's, with Wes home to help with the business. She could be perfectly content with her life as she'd always lived it... she had to be didn't she?

Scrubbing her face with her hands, Millicent laid down onto the bed. She rolled to the side and curled her knees up. If she could just get some sleep... it would all be better in the morning... of course it would be.