Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (challenges & assignments)

Eygyptology Task 3: Write about someone having to be the 'responsible adult'.

Word count: 786

Summary: As Daphne and Astoria bury their parents, they discuss how they proceed into adulthood.

Warnings: Dealing with grief.

We'll Be Fine

"What do we do now, Daph?"

Daphne gripped onto Astoria's hand as she slipped it into hers. They watched the headstone slowly being placed on the grave of their parents. She was glad they'd ended up going together. She could never imagine one without the other. They'd have tried for the sake of their daughters, if one of them had survived the Dragon Pox, but only half of them would have been present. Daphne wasn't even sure the survivor would have made it past both of them reaching adulthood. They'd have hung on long enough, then left to be with their soulmate.

And soulmates they were.

Daphne and Astoria's childhood had been filled with happiness and laughter because of their love.

The wizard placing the headstone tucked his wand into his robes and gave Astoria and Daphne a half-bow, half-nod, not saying a word. Daphne forced a smile of thanks and gave him a single nod back. He took that as his cue to leave them be, a small 'pop' signalling his exit from the graveside.

Daphne swallowed against the lump building in her throat, a deep ache behind her breastbone. She would see Astoria to adulthood for them because she would never have wanted them to have lived without the other. It would have broken them to be separated for even a day. At least they had made it past the war; long enough to see Daphne graduate, now it was her turn to do this for Astoria.

"Daphne?"

She saw Astoria lift her head to look at her out of the corner of her eye. She kept staring at the names, wishing it was someone else's parents written in the stone. At least the tears weren't coming. Yet.

"We don't do anything. Not at the moment, sis." Daphne took a shaky breath as she wrapped an arm around Astoria's shoulders, leaning her head against hers. "You go back to school. Finish your final year while I sort everything out."

"What about your training?" Astoria immediately asked, a fight in her voice.

She tried to step out of Daphne's embrace, but she held on tighter, clutching Astoria close to her with both arms. "What about it? They left us some money. It will get us through until you've finished school."

"You've barely finished school yourself," Astoria said with a sniff, her hands clutching at Daphne's forearm sitting across Astoria's chest. "It's not just up to you to be the adult here."

"Yes it is and I'm not arguing about it, Astoria." She lifted her head, letting go of her sister so that she could face her. She gave her a sad smile, thankful the tears were still staying away as Astoria's tears started to fall and her chin wobbled. "The only thing they asked of me was to get you through school without any worries. Just like they did for me… well, as best they could, all things considered."

"It's not fair," she cried.

Daphne pulled her into a tight hug. "It's not. But we've still got each other and it's more than some people have."

When Astoria's quiet sobs subsided, Daphne gently pulled back, holding both of her hands in hers. "So you go back to school and when you've graduated, we'll see where we're at then. Deal?"

Astoria sighed without saying a word. Her chin wobbled again, but the tears didn't come. "I don't need school."

"Astoria," Daphne said firmly. "I'll be fine. We'll be fine. All I want is for you to hold on to your childhood as long as you possibly can because I didn't always get that choice in my last year. You need to do this, please?"

Finally, Astoria nodded her agreement. "You promise you won't keep anything from me?"

"I'll tell you everything when I think it's time and not a day before. That's the best you'll get out of me." Daphne tucked a strand of hair coming loose from Astoria's plait back behind her ear.

"Mum and Dad aways said it was like you knew what you were here for when I was born," Astoria said sadly.

"I don't know how not to be a big sister and I wouldn't want it any other way."

They took another look at the names on the headstone.

"I think I was born so that you could never be alone," Astoria whispered. "I think they knew this would happen."

Daphne kissed Astoria's temple, keeping the future she'd seen at the age of three to herself as they proceeded to live every moment she'd told her mother about one summer evening after a strange dream. Funny how Seer blood could work through a family, whether it was good or bad.