Writer's block, the heat, thunderstorms, writing job applications have kept me from writing this chapter. The only thing I've really been doing in the past week (other than passing my final exams…) is reading.

After reading HBP I'm really glad that I'm not writing one of the 'main' characters! At least I don't have to fear that it ruined my story :D

I'll make it short, for it is already 01:47 a.m.

TriGemini: Ah, yes, Camille, I promise you, you will see more of her later…

BattlestarPolaris: Ah, don't worry, I'm not planning on making Sophia anything other than what she appeared to be!

Mistress of the Red Kiwi: Oh, I'm planning some scenes with Sophia! (and together with Marjory, so I can have her annoy that woman a bit more!)

Mistyqueen: Thank you! I'm sorry you had to wait a bit longer this time…

Fujutsu: Thank you!

Rupert's honey: Aw, thank you! (But I really doubt that this chapter is better than the last one, especially since the last one has been my favourite one so far)

Andybear09: I like Grandma, too:D And do you really believe I could make the lives of Angelina and Julia worse… uhm, actually, I do….

Ashliegh: Awwwww, thank you! I also liked the last scene a lot, starting from Angelina looking at the rain and feeling at home again until she is lying in Adrian's arms… while the world outside is grey and cloudy, the two of them… oh, I just now realised that this scene was actually a real good metaphor for what could develop…

Chapter 7

Talkings

It had been two weeks since they had returned to England. The first day a tailor had come and had taken measures of Angelina and Julia and two days later their wardrobes had been full of new, very expensive dresses.

Julia's room was filled with toys, books, painting books, crayons, stuffed animals… well, there was not a single toy she didn't have. Sophia had kept her promise and had visited almost every day in the past two weeks and Dyson had visited a few times as well.

So, one would think everything was perfect. Julia liked living in England, having a room to herself and she already called Sophia 'Grandma Sophia'. Adrian was the perfect gentleman, not once showing any sign of anger or brutality and he even seemed to grow closer to Julia.

But of course it couldn't be so good…

Marjory made sure of this! There was barely a day Camille Crowfeather wasn't there to visit. When Adrian was away and neither Sophia nor Dyson were there for a visit – which was barely the case – Angelina was with Julia in her room, teaching her to read and to write and everything else she should learn.

And now, after two weeks back in England, Adrian brought Angelina to a lawyer, so she could find out about the heritage she and Julia had inherited. Or at least, that had been the plan until Adrian and Angelina walked into the office.

"I'm sorry, but this is all I can tell you." The lawyer told Adrian and Angelina and closed the folder in front of him.

"This can't be possible! The Johnson's were everything but poor, there daughters must have inherited something."

"As I already said Mr. Pucey, it has been four years, the money went to the state over a year ago."

"And what about personal belongings? The house?"

"The house has been pulled down and the personal belongings weren't of any value to the state, so…"

Angelina barely listened anymore as Adrian discussed with the lawyer. The small hope she had had to receive something from her parents had been destroyed in a matter of minutes.

Her hand went to her necklace and closed around the locket. So this was really the last thing that was left of her parents. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, Adrian had already arisen from the chair he had been sitting on. Angelina followed his action and after a rather cold goodbye to the lawyer they left the office.

They were walking through the busy streets of wizarding London, Adrian's arm around her waist. The city had changed, Angelina mused. Shops had vanished, new ones had appeared, it was as though she walked through a completely different town than the one she had known from some years ago.

"I'm sorry there's nothing left from your parents for you two." Adrian said suddenly. Angelina nodded slowly, not sure what she should answer him.

"I had hoped to not be completely dependent on you for money." She admitted softly as they walked past new and old shops. She looked at the people in the street, seeing no one she remembered and wondered silently what had happened to her friends in the past years. Had they survived the war?

"It is your money now as well." Adrian spoke through her thoughts.

"You said you didn't want a wife who throws your money away." She said thinking that she didn't even know how long the war had been. Her parents had only written that it could start any day but she never got a letter from them when the war had been.

"I trust you to have enough sense to stop before spending our money is considered throwing it away." Adrian said and once again interrupted her thoughts.

"And one would think that after the past four years you deserve to buy yourself and your sister something."

Angelina was surprised by this statement. So surprised that she stopped for a moment. Adrian was about to ask her why she had stopped when he heard his name being called. He turned around and faced a man in his late forties.

"Adrian, it has been a long time since I've seen you! Congratulations on winning the last year."

Adrian simply nodded and pulled Angelina slightly closer to him.

"And who is your beautiful companion?" the man asked and Angelina could see his yellow teeth while he smiled at her.

"This is my wife. Angelina, this is Denton Weatherfly, he was a business friend of my father." Adrian introduced them and Denton Weatherfly immediately took Angelina's hand in his and brought it to his lips.

"I'm delighted to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Pucey."

Angelina forced herself to smile at him while she wanted nothing more than to pull her hand free and wash it – until her skin would come off. He held her hand too long for her liking. She didn't know if it was her own doing or if it was Adrian who pulled her closer to him, but she found herself pressed tightly against him.

When Denton Weatherfly spoke to Adrian again and enquired about the well being of Adrian's mother Angelina pulled her hand out of his and rubbed it secretly on her dress.

After five more dreadful minutes Denton Weatherfly finally left and Angelina sighed. Adrian looked at her and raised his eyebrows at her but didn't say a word.

"Angie! Angie! Grandma Sophia is teaching me Italian!" Julia ran towards her sister as soon as she and Adrian returned home.

"Do you want to hear?"

Angelina nodded when she kneed down next to her sister.

"Mi sorella è stupenda."

"What does it mean?" Angelina asked her smiling sister.

"She said that her sister is gorgeous." Adrian translated. Angelina looked surprised up at him.

"You speak Italian?"

Adrian shrugged his shoulders but before he could answer, Sophia came slowly towards them.

"Of course he does." Sophia said before she kissed Adrian's cheek as a greeting.

"And I'm glad to have a willing alluno, a willing student for a change. And one who doesn't only want to learn the imprecazioni." Sophia looked at Adrian.

"I was a six year old boy when you tried to teach me in earnest. Of course the most important words for me were swearwords!" Adrian simply replied. Sophia sighed and shook her head. She then turned to Angelina again.

"We are going shopping domani, tomorrow." She told the young woman, translating the Italian word immediately.

"Why?" Adrian asked her confused.

"Because Angelina needs a new dress for the ricevimento, the reception we will give next week to celebrate your wedding."

Adrian frowned at this.

"Don't even start to ask whether we have to do this. You know very well that we do! And just because your mother doesn't think of finally announcing that you're married doesn't mean that I will let it slip as well! We will give this reception for the usual people and for this Angelina will need a new dress."

"Why don't we just let a tailor come here?"

Sophia sighed heavily at this.

"Uomini! You men can't understand this, can you? There is no fun in having a tailor come into your house."

Angelina had to suppress a laugh at this while Adrian shook his head.

"You will have the last word in this anyway, won't you?"

Sophia smiled broadly at him.

"Good boy! Now, if only your mother would realise this, too."

Angelina slowly pulled the blanket up to her shoulder when she heard Adrian lying down on his side of the bed. She heard him turning around several times until he lay still with a final sigh. He had done this every evening during the past four days. Since the day she told him she wouldn't be able to sleep with her for the next few days.

It was almost as though not being able to sleep with her made him also unable to sleep. She had often heard him turning and tossing around during the past few days. Why she had heard him? Because she herself had barely slept. Although she wasn't sure what kept her awake. The fear from more nightmares, Adrian's tossing and turning or the same reason that seemed to keep him awake.

She didn't want to think about it right now. But there was also something else on her mind.

"Adrian?" she asked and turned slightly around to see him lying on his back, his eyes still wide open.

"Mhm?" he moved his head and looked asking at her.

"If we have a son and he is grown up…will he… will he have to get the mark?"

Adrian frowned slightly. Why would she ask something like this now?

"The dark Lord doesn't need any sign for his followers in these days. There's no one who could go against him anymore. Our child wouldn't get the mark. Why are you asking?"

Angelina didn't answer him just shrugged before she turned back around and wished him a good night.

About ten minutes later Adrian sighed silently. He understood. The first night, when Angelina had kept him from bringing his left arm close to her eyes, had not been the only time she had done something like that. She always closed her eyes or turned her head or held his hand and thus kept him from bringing his arm close to her face. Why hadn't he realised earlier that she had avoided it? Well, he wouldn't ignore her reaction, that was for sure.

He ran his hand through his hair and looked at his sleeping wife. If only it wouldn't take too long until he could finally touch her again. He could barely wait to feel her, taste her and see the passion and satisfaction on her face, hear her moaning his name when they came together…

He groaned and turned on his side. Was it really too much he asked for when he wanted to sleep one complete night? Obviously it was and he turned back around. So this would then again be a sleepless night!

Two hours later Adrian was still wide awake, but he had ceased turning from one side to the other and lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.

The door to Adrian's and Angelina's bedroom opened slowly and Adrian sat up in his bed and saw Julia looking into the room. She looked at him and bit her lip, her teddy held tightly to her chest.

"I can't sleep." She whispered and looked at her sleeping sister.

"You want to sleep here?" Adrian asked her and Julia happily nodded before she walked slowly towards Angelina's side of the bed. Adrian put his hand on Angelina's shoulder and woke her up just in time for her to see her sister standing next to the bed.

"Julia, did you have a nightmare?"

Julia nodded and Angelina let her crawl under the blanket. Julia, however, crawled over her sister and lay down between Angelina and Adrian. Angelina was surprised by her behaviour put nonetheless she turned around and put her arm around her younger sister.

Julia snuggled closer to Angelina before she moved her hand behind her and searched for Adrian's. She brought it around her body and to Angelina's waist. Now lying safely between the two of them and having made sure that Adrian could also protect Angelina Julia wished them a good night. It didn't take long for the girl to fall asleep.

Angelina looked over Julia's head into Adrian's eyes and swallowed.

"Thank you." She whispered to him before she too went back to sleep. And it seemed as though Hypnos was finally showing pity on Adrian and let him sleep through the rest of the night.

Hypnos was the Greek god of sleep (son of Nyx – night, brother of thanatos – death, and father of Morpheus – dream)