Draco's heart burst with sorrow for the girl sleeping in his arms. Regrettably, Draco knew that this would not be the end of Roanoke LaMer's trouble.
When she awoke, her story continued to how she had come to be the resident muggle at Hogwarts. Not that anyone knew she was a muggle though. To the students, she was Dumbledore's niece who went to Beauxbatons, but could apparate and so visited her favorite – and only – uncle daily. Though she was there on a daily basis, most students rarely saw her, if they ever caught a glimpse at all. She only made herself known at school events, such as sortings and feasts. Other than that, she was generally occupied.
When Draco looked at her inquisitively, as if wondering what else she would do than go to classes, she ignored the look and kept talking. She had her own room, but nobody except a few close friends knew where it was. These devoted acquaintances were mostly males to Draco's chagrin. Besides Explain, there was Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnegan and the Weasley twins - Gryffindors. Then there was Cable Roofe and Jadon Heard, two Hufflepuffs; from Ravenclaw there was Ceron Fernald, Weylin Cullen and Rogene Earnest. She had no friends from Slytherin at all. She tried to avoid them at all costs, besides Draco of course. They tended to be rather unfriendly. Last but not least, Roanoke was best friends with Explain.. And Harry Potter.
The fact that nearly all of Roanoke's friends were guys meant next to nothing when compared with the fact that the boy she was closest to was his enemy, Harry Potter.
Trying to get his mind off the subject, Draco had asked why she had come to stay at the magical school at all.
"It just doesn't make sense," he said, "I mean, don't you have any family at all?"
"Well," she replied sadly, "Not really. We were the last of the LaMers, besides a random cousin here or there. I've known Dumbledore forever. He's like a second father to me. I- I- I really had nowhere else to go." She seemed to be on the verge of tears again when all of a sudden she sat up straight with a fierce look and finished, "And he's the only one who could protect me if Voldemort figures out he didn't get all of us. And he probably already knows anyhow... Having Topher and all..." Again she looked upset, but with a worn strength which must've been what kept her going all these years.
"Well now you have me too."
"What?" She looked at him skeptically.
"You heard me. I'll protect you. With everything I have and more, I swear I'll protect you."
"That's sweet and all Draco, but..."
"What? What's wrong? You don't have to stay here where you don't belong. We could go where ever you wanted to go! I just have to finish this year of school and then we're out of here!"
"No, Draco, you don't get it. I can't leave. I'm not sure I would even if I could."
"Why can't you leave?" Frustrated and confused, Draco peered into her face for the answer.
"This is where my family is," she replied quietly, almost shyly.
"Oh," he understood, "you mean Dumbledore and Potter and all the rest. I get it."
"No," she chuckled unhappily, "no, you don't get it. I meant my family. My honest-to-god, blood-is-thicker-than-water family. That's what I do in all my time here. I go visit the only muggles at St. Mungo's. 'Liam and Topher, my brothers."