Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Graces Malfoy and Thomas Higgs who are my own. I do not claim ownership of the characters or the settings within. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story.

Author's notes: Huge thank you to my beta Denarii for editing and my best friend Aleah for reading it over.

Special thanks to bageltiger, designtechdk, jjgirl9, spannieren, guest, GoingClassic, pettybureaucrat, chat170217, snowflake2410, Cree, pleasereadmything, infinateconstellations, Blue Luver5000, beachchick3, Nancy, Guest, Guest, Guest, Guest, Lizzt B, Paris and AnnyJackson19! Also, special thanks to Miss Luny, AnnyJackson19 and infinateconstellations for the PMs!

Paris- thanks for keeping me updated! You should seriously make an account so we can PM about the translation thing.

Nancy- to answer your question PUREblood children only are coveted. Harry is a half blood, so his life isn't given the same weight by any means. Voldemort's followers wouldn't see a child that wasn't a full pureblood as the same. Also, you have to look at the fear Voldemort inflicts on his followers, I doubt they would ever question him.

So glad everyone is happy about them finally being together!

Chapter 63

Neville had never in his life been a morning person. Sure, he woke up early in the mornings to tend to his plants on occasion, but usually the first part of the morning spent was willing himself to get up and start his day. And while his body would awaken, his mind refused until the second cup of tea. But on this morning he was wide awake staring down at the sleeping body against him.

There was a halo of moon beamed hair spread out on his chest with a soft cheek taking rest. He smiled contentedly and wrapped his arms more firmly around her, grinning as she nestled closer to him and further pushed him towards the edge of the bed. He tried to be still and not fidget so he could watch her sleep longer. It was all still so surreal: everything about last night and everything about this morning. He trailed his fingers lightly up and down her back more just so he could feel her skin and know she was truly there.

She was definitely there. She was there fast asleep and she was his. He never believed that she would want this with him, a real relationship. He didn't care that they still couldn't tell anyone. It didn't make it any less real or meaningful. She was his. He wondered what that all was going to entail. He had never had a real girlfriend. He had never been someone's real boyfriend. He began making a list of all the things he wanted to do with her and then stopped, realizing that half she would laugh at and call him a sap for, and the others she wouldn't allow because people could find out.

Neville's thoughts went silent as Graces' slow breathing paused. He could tell Graces was now awake. Despite the fact he had never once slept with her in this manner and wasn't able to see her face, he knew the blonde was awake. He knew because she was perfectly still and that was something he had recently found out was not typical of Graces when she slept. He didn't say anything, though. He just let his finger continue to trace her bare back and waited for her to show obvious signs that she was now fully conscious. He imagined she would need some time to adjust to everything that had happened, being Graces and all.

Sure enough he was right. Her muscles tightened and he could feel her eyes opening as she continued to lay as still as possible. Neville remained patient though and after a few minutes she shyly turned her head and was looking over at him.

"You snore," she said quietly, pulling the covers closer to her chest.

"And you hog the bed."

Graces smirked at his retort and Neville was relieved that she seemed happy to stay where she was and not move away from him. He could tell she was uncomfortable, the way she fidgeted in the sheets and kept glancing away told him as much.

"Everything still okay?" he asked, eyeing her seriously.

"Yeah," Graces whispered. "Everything's still okay. Better than okay," she added, offering him a small smile. Graces seemed to find no reason for her to say more and just continued to laze about, her head resting on him as her fingers played against his chest. "You've been working out."

"A little," Neville commented shyly.

"I hadn't realized how different you looked. You're always so layered," she added quietly, more to herself than Neville.

"It has been a while," Neville smiled ruefully.

"Yes, I suppose it has," Graces breathed, biting her lip and trying to remember when the last time they had been together was. "I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. This was worth the wait."

Graces nodded awkwardly before excusing herself to the loo. Neville was starting to wonder if maybe she was having second thoughts. She didn't seem as blissfully happy as he was about all this. If anything she seemed sad, maybe even regretful. She had said everything was okay, but her demeanor didn't relay that. He stood up from the bed and put his trousers on before going over to the bathroom door. He could hear the water running from the sink and knocked gently before opening.

It was clear Graces was very far from okay. She looked as though she was on the brink of having a panic attack. She was hovering over the sink wearing his shirt and splashing cool water on her face and neck, and when she looked up at him it was clear she had been crying. Neville held in his initial reaction and quietly got a wash cloth for her face. The blonde nodded her thanks and then slowly started to come unraveled. Neville just stood still unsure of what he could possibly say. He had believed her when she said she was sure and now here she was crying. They were together, weren't they? Sure, it was just words, but they had both agreed that they were together, so for him to say that they didn't have to be together was more of a break up. He didn't want them to break up, he wasn't sure if they could recover from that.

"You're leaving in two hours," Graces hiccupped. "I-I didn't think of all that till this morning. I mean... we just and now you're leaving."

"What?" Neville frowned, looking up from his shoes as Graces continued to weep.

"Not to mention things between Draco and I are just all messed up," Graces continued. "I did not expect this to be a wonderful holiday or anything, but not having you here is just going to make it so much worse. We're finally together and you're leaving."

"You're upset because I'm leaving," Neville clarified, gesturing from one point to the other as though making a diagram of the reasoning. "That's what this is about, me leaving." Graces nodded pitifully, and Neville couldn't even stop himself from laughing. "You're upset because you're going to miss me."

"Glad you find this so funny," Graces huffed, throwing the washcloth in his face and storming out of the small bathroom.

"Graces, I'm sorry," Neville pleaded, still unable to stop grinning.

"Yeah, you look sorry."

"I am," Neville promised, reaching out and taking Graces' hand over the bed. "Come here."

"No."

"Stop being mad at me and come here," Neville laughed, causing the blonde to try and move away. Neville snorted out a laugh and yanked her to him causing her to flop on the bed where he quickly moved an arm over her, blocking her from escape. Neville weathered a few good hits as Graces tried to get up, but he didn't relent, he kept her pinned and did his best not to laugh anymore. "Graces, come on listen to me, stop being all indignant."

"You're being offensive. I'm allowed to be indignant."

"I didn't mean to be," Neville pointed out, ducking as a smack almost landed on his ear. "Honest, I wasn't. I was just so relieved."

"Relieved," Graces deadpanned skeptically. "How does my crying give you relief?"

"Well, you were crying cause you were going to miss me," Neville murmured. "Not because you thought last night, being with me, was a mistake. When I saw you over the sink I thought maybe..." Neville let his words trail off and just shrugged. "I'm very happy you don't seem to feel that way."

"You thought I changed my mind?"

"I did," Neville nodded. "It wouldn't exactly be the first time." Graces blushed, but didn't argue his point. "So as you can imagine it was a bit comical for me to find that you're upset because you're going to miss me, something I am extremely happy about," Neville whispered, moving closer to her and gently kissing the base of her throat. "Something that's actually normal in a relationship."

Graces felt herself relax under Neville's soft kisses and warm caress. She was scared, scared for a million different reasons, but Neville seemed to have a spell for making her calm. She never dreamed she would have something like this, that anyone other than Draco could make her forget her trepidations, but Neville could and he did. She kissed him back with the same kind of affection he had kissed her with and wondered if he had an idea as to how much she had given him and how scared she was that she had given him so much right before he left her for weeks.

She held onto his promise that he would never hurt her and pulled him closer to her as she felt his strong hands moving under the shirt to her bare skin. Neville had a skill for making love. He moved slowly and affectionately, his lips always seemed to find something new to caress and he was filled with so much wonder at each tiny portion of her that she felt as though she were being discovered. His fingers moved through her hair and his teeth nibbled at the base of her collar as he whispered her name again and again like a man in wonder of a god. And when he entered her the whole world became still.

She closed her eyes and stopped trying to match his adorations. She just held him close and whispered his name between kisses and her soft moans and gasps. It didn't matter that he was leaving. She saw as well as felt that now. Neville was hers and she was his and the space between them meant nothing because in many ways he was going to be here with her. Maybe that's what her mother had meant when she said that being with someone like this means giving them a piece of you that you have no hope of gaining back.

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Neville knew he had to get up from the bed. If he didn't leave this room in ten minutes then he would miss the train completely. Still he couldn't find the motivation. Graces' body fit perfectly with his as they laid together in the aftermath of their morning. He was sure she had been close to falling back into sleep, but he kept her from it with soft kisses on the back of her neck and tight squeezes that pulled her closer to him.

"I know you have to go," Graces murmured quietly, turning around so that she was facing him on the bed. "It's okay," she promised, offering him a sad smile. "I'll be fine. Don't feel bad."

Neville let out a breath and tucked a stray strand of hair back behind her ears.

"I don't want to go," he swore, thinking of how happy he would be to spend his whole Christmas just lazing in bed with Graces. "I just... it's just me, gran and my great uncle Algie now, and if I didn't—"

Neville's explanations were silenced by Graces' soft lips. He let the words die on his tongue and chose to kiss her more firmly, his blood beginning to boil from the contact. When Graces pulled away he had half a mind to miss the train all together, but she pushed him farther from her on the bed.

"You have to go," she maintained. "You should enjoy being with your family. Merlin knows I wish I could be with all of mine," she added sadly. "You need to go."

Neville knew she was right and kissed her apologetically before he got up from the bed and started getting dressed. He decided to take a quick shower, not wanting to greet his gran off the train smelling like perfume and sex. Graces stayed in bed. When he emerged from the shower he could feel her eyes watching him as he scrambled around the room for clothes. He knew he had put his clothes for the train somewhere, he just couldn't remember what drawer he placed them in.

Merlin, I hope I didn't forget.

It was just as Graces moved out of the bed that he found the drawer.

"No-no-no," he grinned, picking her up from the floor and placing her back in the bed. "You stay right here," he ordered huskily. "I want to leave with the image of you in my shirt all tousled in the bed."

Graces giggled at his proclamation and Neville found himself quickly forgetting he needed to go. He moved up on the bed with her and discarded the towel that had been wrapped around his hips.

"You are not being wise," Graces murmured against his lips.

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"You'll miss the train," the blonde insisted, pushing him away.

Neville groaned at the truth and moved off the bed so he could go back to getting dressed.

"I don't think you saw last night, but that book case is part of your gift as well," he informed tying his tie for the second time.

"You got me all those books?"

"Yeah." Neville looked up and watched as Graces read the titles on the spine. "They're used," he admitted. "But they're all supposedly great muggle books. I ordered them from this tiny used book shop. I didn't think you would mind that they were used." Only then did it occur to Neville that Graces probably had never once been given something that was used. He pinked a little at the realization and for the first time felt a bit odd about how different their financial situations were.

"You're spoiling me," Graces grinned, moving to the edge of the bed and leaning over to grab one of the smaller books.

"You're already spoiled," Neville teased, feeling better as he saw her excitedly turn a page.

"This is way too much," Graces insisted. "The perfume, the sheets, the room and now the books. It's far too much. I just got you one gift and it's just a boring book."

"I highly doubt it's a boring book."

"No, it really is," Graces insisted with a groan. "It's a book with spells to set a certain climate for specific plants."

"That is not dull at all," Neville exclaimed, his mind already thinking about the types of plants he could grow. "That's actually a very perfect gift for me."

"It's not nearly as thoughtful as all this."

"You gifted me a whole hospital ward," Neville snorted.

"I really hate that you know about that," Graces sighed, shutting the book. "You were never supposed to know about that."

"I'm very glad I do know about it though," Neville smiled, taking a seat next to the blonde and wishing he didn't have to go.

"Will you write to me?" Graces asked pitifully, clutching the book to her chest and waiting for his reply.

"Every chance I get," Neville swore, wrapping his arms around her tiny frame. "I plan on writing you even when I have nothing to say."

"I'm sure you'll have plenty to say," Graces smirked, leaning her head against his chest and taking a deep breath to calm herself. "It's so silly. I've gone weeks without talking to you, but I-I don't know—I still saw you in the halls, in class, at meals. It's an odd comfort to me now."

"Comfort," Neville scoffed. "You don't have to lie to me, Miss Malfoy. I know you just like seeing my handsome face." Graces giggled at Neville's proclamation and Neville could feel his chest warm at the sound. "And my bod. You're going to miss looking at my incredibly sexy, built, strong physique." The giggles had now turned into full out laughter and Neville didn't waste any time in kissing the blonde into silence. He was determined to kiss a happy, joyful Graces before he left and he grinned as a few more giggles blew against his lips as he pulled away.

"I have to go now," he whispered sorrowfully.

"I know."

"Have a happy Christmas, Graces."

"Merry Yule," Graces smiled.

Neville raised a brow to Graces' words before asking if she danced naked for that as well.

"Don't be daft," Graces scoffed, kissing him soundly one last time. "I celebrate the same way Christmas is celebrated. You realize that all of the Christmas traditions are ours, don't you? The tree, the holly, mistletoe," Graces smirked leaning up and kissing him. "All ours. Christmas is basically Yule."

"I suppose you're right," Neville chuckled. "Still, most say Christmas now anyways."

"I know… It's very intertwined with our culture," an obvious note of distaste in her words. "I mean their Christ wasn't even born in December. It was in August, but they moved the celebrations to December to turn people from paganism. I think it's worked. You clearly don't hold to the old ways."

"I wouldn't say I hold to much of anything. I like all though, I suppose."

Graces brows creased for a moment pensively.

"You like all," she repeated. "You like their religion?"

"It has some very nice qualities," Neville pointed out, not at all frightened to say what he thought.

"You shall not permit a sorceress to live. Exodus 22:18. That's me Neville. They would kill me. Would you let someone stone me? Or burn me into ash?"

"Graces," Neville whispered taking a seat next to her.

"Shall not permit, Neville. Shall not permit. Meaning their God commands them to kill us. They think—"

"That was a very long time ago, Graces," Neville shushed, holding her face in his palms. "Very, very long ago. It's not like that. Come here, you're getting all upset over nothing."

"It's our history," Graces murmured quietly, laying her head against his chest.

"And they—I have heard—are very ashamed of it."

"Because they don't think we are real."

"Because they know they took innocent lives," Neville corrected. He knew Graces didn't believe him, but he was glad she didn't argue. "Dr. Harris didn't want to kill you," he reminded. "He could have let you die."

"Maybe he isn't a Christian."

"That white coat he wore said St. John," Neville informed gently. "That's religious. Saint is religious. Things have changed, Graces. He didn't care that you were a witch. He just thought of you as a person, as a girl that needed help."

"I'm not saying I believe in anything, because honestly I don't think there is really much to believe in other than belief itself and holding yourself to your own moral standards, but I think it's important to find beauty in all beliefs."

"Everyone has a dark past in their history. We certainly have our share to be ashamed of. There are spells that we won't even mention because they are so...horrid, but we have come a long way and have done our best to put any malicious practices away and so have they," Neville ended gently. He could tell Graces was taking in what he said and he wondered how far away from her original beliefs she was. He always knew it wouldn't change over night and he saw this as one of the things she held on to, but he had hope that there would be a day where she didn't see things the way her father did.

"I need to go," he whispered, placing his head on hers. "I'm so sorry. I hope we can talk about this more when I get back. I think it would be a good discussion, but I really have to go."

"I know you do," Graces sighed. "Don't forget to write."

"I'm already dictating my first letter," Neville grinned, standing up and grabbing his coat. "Do me a favor though and use a school owl. I really don't think I can handle weeks of seeing Loki."

Neville dodged a pillow before bidding his final goodbyes and walking out the door. He stood outside the room for a few moments, the realization that he wouldn't be seeing Graces for a while truly sinking in. The urge to go back in with her was almost unbearable. He wanted to be with her, especially now, but he walked away. He was all his gran had really and he was sure she was lonely. Missing holidays with her just wasn't an option.

An hour later he leaned against the window of the train thinking of blonde hair spread around a soft pillow. If he closed his eyes he could faintly smell her around him and hear her soft slow breaths as she slept. He smiled quietly to himself as he thought about it all. Of all the things he could be replaying over and over in his mind from last night he thought about her sleeping.

"Hey, Ginny, have you seen Colin anywhere?" Neville asked an idea coming to his head.

"Yeah, I saw him and Dennis in the 5th compartment."

"Thanks."

"Where are you going?" Ginny frowned, halting in her attempts to feed her pygmy puff some Bertie Bott's beans.

"Just wanted to tell him Happy Christmas. Hey, if you open my bag you'll find your bottle of perfume," Neville grinned, before ducking out to find Colin. Sure enough he found the Creevy boys just where Ginny had told him, sitting in the 5th compartment and playing a game of exploding snaps with a few other younger years.

"Neville! Hi!" Colin greeted, getting up and opening the door. "Do you want to join? We can start a new game."

"Oh, no-no, thanks, but I-uh- I was hoping I could have a word with you actually."

"Me?" Colin laughed, as though the idea that Neville would need a word with him was absurd. "Yeah, okay." Colin stepped out of the cart and shut the door behind him.

"Do you remember when you asked me to take you to the greenhouses so you could take all those pictures of plants to show your parents?"

"Yeah, thanks again for doing that. I know I wasn't supposed to be in those last two greenhouses, but I'm really excited with the pictures I got."

"Yeah, well umm I was wondering if maybe you caught a few pictures of me displaying the plants where I look, well… dashing?"

"Dashing..."

"Yeah, dashing," Neville repeated awkwardly. "It's for my gran… she likes to put up pictures on the mantle and show her friends all these pictures of me and well, I thought it would be nice to have a, uh, good one for once."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure I have one."

"Yeah? Grand. I'll just give you my address and you can owl me it when you-"

"Oh, I have the pictures in my satchel," Colin interrupted, pointing over to the cart. "I didn't pack them away so I could show my mum on the drive home."

Neville spent the next few minutes shuffling through the countless photos that Colin had taken that day and other days. Neville was so used to seeing the younger boy with a camera that he didn't even notice half of the pictures he had taken of him in the pile. There were loads more than just the greenhouse. In the end he found two he liked, and Colin was generous enough to insist he take both, telling him he could easily make other copies.

By the time Neville got back to his cart he had already wrote Graces a letter, all he needed to do now was put it on paper and get home to owl it.

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"You really don't have to stay here for winter break, Thomas," Graces stressed, placing Octavian down for his nap. "I mean, I'm thrilled you're here and even more so that you have decided to keep Octavian here as well, but you do not have to."

"I know," Thomas shrugged, offering her a small smile as he bent back over the desk and looked over a book.

It had been a surprise to find that Thomas had stayed at the school. Graces had completely forgotten to ask Thomas about his plans in light of everything else, but when she had finally returned to the dorms she had been pleasantly surprised to see Thomas was there. Though she was glad she had been surprised by his presence after she had gone to her room, showered and changed. She didn't really want to answer any questions about why she was in the clothes she had worn the night before.

She had yet to see her brother, though. His absence was beginning to weigh heavily on her. Thomas had said he had seen him briefly at breakfast, but it didn't stifle her worry. There was far too much unknown between her and Draco. She felt like a canyon of secrets was separating them from one another. She couldn't tell Draco her secrets, though, despite how much she longed to talk to him about Neville she knew she had to keep him to herself. Not only did she have to keep it to herself for Draco's safety, but now she had crossed this point of no return.

Telling Draco now would ruin them. There was a deep betrayal in what she had done. And betrayal was like a well sharpened sword, it cut deep and quick. Even if the skin was repaired and the organs saved and the blood stopped she knew the scar would be too deep from the one slice. Neville was always going to be significant to her, a part of her would always hold on to him even after they were forced to go separate ways, but she couldn't allow her relationship with Neville to destroy her relationship with Draco.

"Maybe on Yule we could use the portkeys and go to your home," Graces suggested, thinking of how nice it could be to get away from the castle even if it was only for a few hours. She knew her mum wanted them to stay at Hogwarts, but she had left before to be there with Octavian, no one would think to find her and Draco there probably. And if someone showed they could portkey back.

"Oh, uh, I d-don't kn-know."

Graces frowned at Thomas' response. She looked over at where the younger boy sat and watched as he diverted his eyes from her. She cautiously stepped forward and caught his eye.

"Why not?" She was sure her suspicion was showing clearly on her face, but she didn't feel a need to hide that from Thomas. "Thomas, answer me."

"I d-don't s-stop y-you f-from g-going there," he answered belligerently. "Y-you h-have a portkey. I j-just d-don't th-think sp-spend-ding Y-Yule th-there is w-wise."

Graces raised an eyebrow and looked down her nose. It made sense, but it was a lie. There was something there.

"What are you hiding, Thomas?" she asked casually circling his desk.

"N-nothing!" Thomas exclaimed. "N-nothing. Y-you h-have a p-portkey. P-pretty s-stupid t-to g-give y-you a p-portkey if I have s-somth-thing to h-hide."

"And yet you're hiding something," Graces clipped, turning on her heels so he was forced to meet her eyes for a brief second. "Clearly it's not a danger or you wouldn't allow Octavian to be going home, correct?" Thomas remained stubbornly silent for a moment. "Correct?" Graces growled warningly, causing Thomas to look up briefly and nod. "So what is it?"

Thomas opened his mouth for a brief moment before closing it shut again.

"I'm h-handling it," he informed slowly.

"What is 'it' exactly?" Graces demanded slowly.

For the first time since the discussion started Graces could see the color in Thomas' eyes, he looked up at her with the same determination she had seen in Draco's eyes.

"It's p-patriarch b-busin-ness and I'm h-handling it."

"Patriarch business," Graces echoed. For a moment she was torn on what she wanted to do. She could get this out of him, but she felt as though doing that would demean him. She did want Thomas to be more of an adult, she wanted him to learn to be a man and a father, but she also knew he was so young. "Okay," she relented. "Whatever it is you're free to deal with. Just remember, Thomas, part of being a patriarch is knowing when you are in way over your head," Graces warned walking over to the door to leave.

"Unders-stood," Thomas vowed, a look of relief coming to his face.

Graces paused before she left and turned back to the boy sitting at the desk.

"Thomas," she started hesitantly. "If you needed… advice," she settled, "on patriarch matters, who would you go to?"

"You," Thomas answered simply.

"Really?" Thomas nodded. "You wouldn't go to Draco? Or Graham?"

"No," Thomas frowned.

"Good night, Thomas," Graces smiled contently, closing the door softly behind her. She slowly descended her way from Thomas' new private room when she saw familiar chestnut hair peeking out from a sofa.

"Graham?" Sure enough it was. Graham stood from where he was seated and turned around to face her. Graces had never remembered seeing the athletic boy looking so… small. "What are you doing here?"

"I overthrew my father as patriarch," Graham said hollowly, reclaiming his seat and facing the fire. "I'm not exactly welcome home for holidays."

"Oh, Graham," Graces whispered at a loss for what to say. She wasn't sure if Graham wanted her company, but he didn't protest when she took the seat beside him. "I'm so sorry."

"He made me do it," Graham said bitterly. "I begged him to reconsider. I even got out the pensive so he could watch the memory of those-those crows bringing in those pictures. I thought if he saw those he would declare his loyalty to the Dark Lord, but he didn't. It did the opposite of what I hoped and he just became more resolved to stay neutral. He said he would die before he bowed to the man that killed his daughter and grandchildren."

"It was like he didn't care that-that he still had living children left," Graham whispered, more to himself than to Graces.

"He loves you, Graham," Graces promised, taking his hand in hers and trying to give him comfort. "He loves all of you. You even said yourself he-he wasn't right after… She was his daughter."

"Yeah," Graham nodded. "He wasn't right, so I took over. I took the deal the Dark Lord had offered me and did what needed to be done, what he should have done. There's blood on my hands, Graces," Graham declared turning to her. His dark eyes piercing into her's. "I have blood on my hands. I've done… I've done things I never thought I would ever do."

"You had to," Graces hiccuped, gently placing a hand on his face. "It's okay, Graham. It is. You had to. You were protecting your family."

Graham moved her hand away and took a deep breath.

"Graces, we need to talk."

"About what?" Graces asked, her heart rate suddenly increasing.

"About Draco." Graces moved her hands away and didn't even try to conceal the terror that had just sprang into her. "The Dark Lord is not happy, Gray… not happy at all. Draco's failure with the mead—"

"That was beyond his control," Graces implored. "Graham, there was nothing he could do. He did all—"

"I know," Graham quieted, his strong hands taking her by the shoulders. "I know. It doesn't change the situation though. There's to be a meeting tonight." Graces let out a small whimper and the other boy looked away while she had a moment of weakness. "I'm going to do whatever I can," Graham vowed, still looking at the rug. "I will, Graces. Everything I can do, I will do. He's not going to kill him, don't worry yourself with that."

"What will he do?" Graces rasped, her throat becoming so tight she could barely say anything.

"Punish him… well, have Nott punish him." Graces let out another sob and buried her eyes in the palms of her hands. "I need you to be aware of the situation, Graces," Graham said quietly. "Really be aware."

"I am aware!" Graces snapped, wiping her eyes angrily. "Why do people treat me like I'm not?"

"Probably because you are not," Graham declared unapologetically. "It's not your fault. Draco has chosen to not disclose everything to you, so how could you be aware?"

"I don't need to know everything to understand the gravity!" Graces retorted angrily. "I know the situation I am in!"

"Then you understand that we are very much on the way to being joined." Graces felt like the air had been kicked out of her. "Your brother is failing, Graces. He failed in his last attempt. Failed," Graham stressed. "And we both know if he is not successful what will happen and we have all agreed that should the circumstances continue like this, with Draco unable to carry out his task, that you and I will marry."

No. I'll be at the safe house, Graces reminded herself, closing her eyes from the chill that had set in her bones. I will not be here. I will be at the safe house. No one is going to kill Draco and I will not be married to Montague.

"I'm not saying this to scare you, Graces," Graham apologized. "I'm saying this because I don't believe anyone else is truly telling you what is happening. And considering the circumstances I want to be as open and honest with you as possible."

"Open and honest," Graces repeated, opening her eyes and looking into Grahams. "What does that entail?"

"Me telling you what happens during this meeting."

"But I'm not supposed to know. Draco doesn't want me to—"

"It will be our secret."

Graces considered the boy sitting beside her for a moment. She knew why Graham was doing this. He was already resigned to the idea that he would be marrying her before the school year ended. His posture and pale complexion told her as much. He wanted them to be on good terms, to have a good amount of trust, because he wanted them to have a chance at a good marriage. He really had no idea that she had absolutely no intentions of ever marrying him.

"What should I know now?" she asked tightly, doing her best not to cry or feel guilty for using Graham's kindness under falsehoods. "Is Draco in danger now?"

"No, he's not. He's working on his task. I went up and checked on him earlier and brought him some food."

"Is he well?"

"No, he's a wreck."

"Is there anything I could do?"

"No," Graham answered simply, watching her closely for her reactions.

"I want to help him, Graham," Graces pleaded. "Maybe you could convince him to let me help, to—"

"I won't do that," Graham interrupted calmly. "You cannot help Draco."

"He needs me," Graces stressed.

"He does," Graham agreed. "And tonight after the meeting I will insist that he spend time with you tomorrow. Take a break and breathe, but you cannot help him with his task."

Graces made some sound of frustration, before getting to her feet and pacing the room. Graham had not told her anything she didn't already know. She thought that talking to him would give her more information so that she could actually do something to help her brother, but he wasn't giving her anything she could use.

"You can't help him with this task."

"YOU'VE ALREADY MADE THAT CLEAR!" Graces screamed, clenching her fist so she didn't smack the boy in front of him.

"But I can," Graham finished quietly. "And I will."

Graces halted her pacing and stared dumbfounded at Graham.

"He's repairing a vanishing cabinet," Graham began. "It's actually a set of cabinets. If he repairs the one here it will open up to another at Borgin and Burke's. When the cabinets are repaired a whole crew of Death Eaters will be able to come into Hogwarts and the task will be carried out."

"A vanishing cabinet," Graces repeated.

"I told him about it," Graham admitted gruffly. "You see a few years ago the Weasley twins shoved me in one. They revolted against me when I tried to take away house points from them, and, well, Draco found me after an embarrassing ordeal that I don't wish to talk about, and yeah… I reminded him about it a while ago, and he's been trying to repair it."

"I'll help him repair it," Graham swore, leaning back against the sofa and closing his eyes as his hand rubbed his head. "I'm going to do what I can, Gray, but you need to prepare for the worst and stop all this nonsense about a safe house."

"How do you know about the safe house?" Graces demanded, her tongue becoming heavy.

"Your brother told me."

"He told you?" Graces moaned, her voice cracking with emotion. "He told you?"

Graham opened his eyes and sat back up. Graces hated the way he looked at her. He pitied her, he obviously saw her as someone so stupid and naive she couldn't see the real world.

"I have to go," Graham sighed, standing up and straightening out his robes. "Pull yourself together and make sure that you are prepared to make the situation you are in as good as possible. Don't go screaming at your brother when he walks through those doors. Be there for him and don't pester him with questions. While you're at it apologize to him for whatever argument you two had. I don't care whose fault it was, and maybe go play some Quidditch tomorrow morning after he gets a good night's rest."

Graces opened her mouth to protest, but Graham raised a hand to silence her.

"You're not going to the safe house, Graces. You're not. Your brother will not go and I know you won't go without him."

"Draco isn't thinking. He just doesn't understand or—"

"You're the one that is lacking in understanding, Graces," Graham laughed bitterly. "I'm trying to help you two. If you don't want to listen to me, fine, but don't expect me to be bending over backwards for you either."

"Graham!" Graces called, hurrying after the other boy before he left the common room.

"I'm being summoned," Graham dismissed, not slowing his steps. "It's all going to be okay. I'm going to defend your brother as best I can tonight and save him any physical harm and you are going to save him from himself. It's all going to be okay, because you're smart enough to listen to me."

Graces stood there for a few moments torn between screaming and crying. She didn't know how the day had taken such a drastic turn, but it had. She folded her arms around her for a few moments before tearing out of the common room and sprinting to the owlery.

Thank you all soo much for your patience! Things are still crazy, but I will do my best to update when I can! Don't forget to follow/review!