Sequel to "THORNS"

- Of Earth & Stars -

Chapter 23: Loneliness and Lost Things

December 1991

Slytherin's annual Yuletide party felt strange this year, Suri mused, filling her flute with sparkling pumpkin juice. The Yuletide event was a grand celebration for all current Slytherin students their parents, most being Slytherin alumni, and anyone who once called Slytherin home. For the most part, it was always the same, alumni reminiscing about their youth and subtly one-upping one another, trying to prove they had the better life or child. This year, while there was plenty of nostalgia, the air was charged with an intensity that was difficult to name. It was a cross between restless impatience and sour rancor.

"There you are," Amalia Rosier said, gliding over to Suri across the well-decorated Common Room. "Why are you hiding?"

"I'm not hiding," Suri defended. "I'm observing." Amalia gave Suri and look and Suri's shoulders sagged. In a quieter voice, she added, "you know this isn't my thing, Granna. These people…"

"I know," Amalia nodded, her deep blue eyes full of empathy. "But I do ask that you try a little more. Please?"

"Fine," Suri drained her flute of sparkling pumpkin juice, wishing for something stronger. "This is for you, Granna."

She knew Nate had a flask of fire whiskey on him, but there hadn't been an opportunity for them to steal away with it. Thinking of her friend, Suri looked around and found Nate, standing with his arm around Gemma as they spoke with his mother. Gemma appeared flustered and Nate was a vision of tranquility-minus the set of his jaw. Uh oh, Suri thought, she knew that look. Beneath his calm exterior, Nate was anything but calm. Without hesitation, that's where Suri went.

"Nate!" Suri smiled, patting her friend on the shoulder. She smiled kindly at Gemma, too. Nate's hazel eyes darted to her, his calm expression cracking slightly.

"Suri, you've met my mum."

"Of course. It's good seeing you again, Mrs. Durfort." Nate had kept Mabel Durfort's maiden name after she'd married. She had never married Evan Rosier, Nate's father—cousin to Suri's late mother—whom he never had the chance to meet. Suri had once asked why Nate never took his stepfather's name, but Nate, who didn't like talking about his family much, had shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something about preferring to be an Avery if he couldn't be a Rosier.

"It's nice to see you again, Suri." Nate's mom nodded once, casting silent judgment over her. Suri knew what Mrs. Durfort saw when she looked at her. Over a cream colored dress that fell to her knees, Suri wore velvet, cobalt blue robes that brought out her blue-grey eyes, framed by long dark lashes. Suri knew, with her swipe of red color tinting her lips and her waves pinned back in an elegantly tousled half-do, she looked older than her fourteen years.

Suri turned to Nate and a pale Gemma who looked like she'd rather be anywhere than there. "Is this your first time meeting Gemma? Gemma's truly an amazing girl. She's a Prefect, you know. The best one, in my opinion."

Bashfully, Gemma looked at her shoes. "Thanks, Suri."

"So I've heard," Mrs. Durfort said dismissively. "I was just asking Gemma about her family."

"My family…" Gemma trailed off. "Well, I live with my uncle and he couldn't make it today. Besides, he felt like it would be weird being here because he was in Hufflepuff ages ago."

"And your aunt," Mrs. Durfort pressed. "What does your family do for a living?"

"They both work for the Ministry of Magic. Actually, my aunt was a professor at Beauxbatons for a short while and now she's a homemaker."

"I see," Mrs. Durfort sniffed. She glanced at her son.

"Gemma's the top of her grade in Potions," said Nate. "She also wants to go into curse breaking."

"How very noble," Mrs. Durfort said in a way that suggested otherwise. Gemma cringed; Suri stiffened at Mrs. Durfort's chilly disposition.

"Gemma, have you met my grandmother," Suri suddenly interjected, smiling a tad too brightly. "She's the dignified woman with blonde hair standing by the refreshments. She's speaking with that older man and Theo Nott."

"No…" said Gemma, looking nervously between Nate and his mother. Nate's shoulders sagged imperceptibly and he smiled charmingly at her.

"Everyone needs to meet Amalia Rosier," Nate said, also unnaturally chipper. "I'll introduce you."

"Excuse us, Mrs. Durfort," said Suri, ushering her friends away, toward Granna. Gemma's head hung.

"That was so awful! Your mother hatesme," she whispered.

"She…" Nate, rarely at a loss for words, struggled with what to say next.

"She's particular and it's her loss," Suri reassured her friend. Gemma smiled weakly. The damage had been done.

"Suri! Do you have a moment dear?" Suri turned at the sound of her name called from somewhere behind her. Standing by the large fireplace was a very blond and blue-eyed family. Draco Malfoy stood between his parents, his lips turned down in a nervous frown. Mrs. Malfoy, the one who called out to Suri, did not smile, either. Mr. Malfoy simply stared down at everything, as though he were king of this Common Room.

"Their royal highnesses beckon you," Nate muttered. "We'll catch up later." He steered Gemma to Amalia, caught in conversation with Edgar Nott, Theo Nott's older father. Suri nodded, plastering on a smile, and walked over to the Malfoys. She'd rather be anywhere than talking to them.

"Ah, here she is," Mr. Malfoy greeted when Suri joined them. "Draco's told us quite a bit about you."

"Has he now," Suri answered carefully, looking at Draco. His cheeks were flushed, perhaps by a mixture of the fire's warmth and embarrassment. Suri braced herself for the worst. Her relationship with Draco was tense. She had little care for the young first year, especially as he continued to state his narrow-minded opinions and insult Harry Potter whenever he could. Draco even spoke poorly of her, but Suri realized it was less about any actual animosity toward her, and more for a desire to be liked. She realized this when she noticed Draco still attempted to engage with her as though they were better friends than they were.

"He says you've connected him with good friends which can help him attain his dreams of playing quidditch."

Suri raised an eyebrow. Draco definitely meant Marcus Flint. Although surprised, this wasn't a lie. She'd introduced them when she was assigned to Draco because she had no tolerance for the foolish boy. Suri bit her cheek, swallowing back her surprise that Draco spoke well of her within his home. Why?

"I do hope Draco hasn't been trouble for you," said Mrs. Malfoy, her ice blue eyes piercing.

"None at all. At least nothing that I can't handle. By the way, thank you for the thoughtful gift Draco gave me during the Sponsorship ceremony. It's a beautiful quill."

"No trouble at all," Mrs. Malfoy's lips betrayed the ghost of a smile as she considered Suri. Mrs. Malfoy was a lovely witch, aside from the way she hardly seemed to smile and always appeared as though she smelled something foul. A best of silence extended between them. Finally, she said, "Do you know happen to know who Bellatrix Lestrange is?"

Suri shook her head, eyebrows knitting together. "I'm not familiar with that name. Does she go here?"

"No, no, not anymore. She's actually my older sister. You just look quite similar to her. Well, you're shorter than she is, but it's the wavy hair and physique that are similar. The Black family has strong genes, I suppose."

"Oh…" Suri was at a loss for words. Something about the comparison didn't sit well with her. Perhaps it was the way Mr. Malfoy shot his wife a warning look when she started talking about Bellatrix. Carefully, Suri pressed, "Does your sister have a child that goes here?"

"Nothing like that," Mr. Malfoy interjected quickly, putting a hand on his wife's shoulder. Mrs. Malfoy gave him a frosty look, and Mr. Malfoy's hand dropped. "Bellatrix isn't the type to raise a family. Narcissa, my love, it seems being here has made you sentimental."

"It has," Mrs. Malfoy said, softly sighing. She turned back to Suri, her gaze calculating. "Being here and seeing old friends really brings me back. I suppose my nostalgia started a while ago. When Draco told me your name, it felt serendipitous. Years ago, I was Contessa Rosier's sponsor. Your mother was a decent girl with a headstrong heart. She'd be proud of you for carrying on her legacy in Slytherin, the poor creature. If only she stayed away from my wretched cousin, perhaps…" Mrs. Malfoy trailed off, shaking her head.

"You were...my mother's sponsor?" This was a surprise. Keeping the shock from her face was difficult. "You knew my mother well, then."

"For a time, dear," Mrs. Malfoy nodded. "She had all the makings of a true Slytherin. I can't say the same about some of your housemates now, I'm afraid." The older woman sniffed delicately, appearing as though she caught a whiff of something vile. "Apparently Hogwarts is letting anyone through the doors. I hear there's a high volume of muggle-borns this year."

"I...I'm not sure," Suri answered, distractedly. Mrs. Malfoy's account of Tessa Rosier was the second time Suri recently heard someone speak ill of her mother, the first being Snape a few weeks back. It was information Suri wanted to process privately. The Malfoys looked at her expectantly. Suri quickly thought of an exit strategy.

"Do forgive me, Mr. Malfoy, Mrs. Malfoy, but you'll have to excuse me. It seems I might have had one too many macarons. Draco, I hope you have a good holiday with your family. Happy Christmas."

"Oh dear, of course," said Narcissa, taking a step back, fearing that Suri would puke on her.

"Thankyou for being a guide for our son. And if there's anything we can do for you, don't hesitate to ask Draco or send us an owl."

Suri smiled, nodded and retreated to Granna, Nate and Gemma. Nate and Granna seemed to be in a heated debate about tactical maneuvers for chasers. As a former keeper, Suri broke the four-generation streak of female chasers her mother's ancestors had kept up. In doing so, she'd deprived Amalia Rosier of these discussions. When Suri touched Amalia's elbow, Suri was greeted by a stern look from the older witch.

"Suri, there you are. Your friend Nathaniel has just informed me that you quit the team this year," said Amalia. Her tone was light, but Suri knew her grandmother well enough to know she would be lectured in private. For the most part, Suri kept Amalia in the dark about everything that occurred this school year. The only thing she mentioned was struggling to keep up with the academics.

Shooting a hostile glare at Nate, Nate and Gemma took this as their cue to leave. "Well,

I think I did some changing this school year."

X

Amalia Rosier walked down the long staircase of her Northern Ireland home and into the grand living room where she found Suri, precariously perched on the highest rung of a ladder. Suri focused her attention on the Christmas tree, twice the size of the ones they would typically get for their Vienna apartment, figuring out where to string the enchanted lights and fine ornaments. Leave it to Suri to be self-reliant. Unable to use magic outside of school grounds yet and unwilling to wait for Amalia's help or the help of their houselves Apple and Ivy, Suri would risk injury to get whatever she needed done. Amalia smiled to herself; Suri wouldn't be anything less than who she was.

For a moment, Amalia quietly observed her granddaughter, her long hair damp from her bath, dressed in an off-shoulder and oversized jumper and leggings. As she continued decorating the tree, Suri softly sang "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", her voice both pleasant and clear. Amalia pressed a hand to her throat, swallowing back the unexpected tears. It was as though she had both her daughter and Sirius Black in the same room again. Her Contessa would be handling the Christmas decorating, and Sirius, in his handsome voice, would be loudly singing some unholy version of Christmas carols. The only thing missing was their laughter echoing through the manor like it had many winters ago. Tessa and Sirius were a wildfire with their combined energies, igniting all that they touched. Suri was softer, a steady, flickering fire withstanding hurricanes.

Amalia must have made a sound because Suri looked at her over her shoulder. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Not too long, dear," said Amalia. "You could have asked for help, you know, instead of waiting to break your neck on that old ladder."

"Granna, you practically raised me on a broom. There's no way I would fall from this short distance." Suri looked down at the ground and then at Amalia. "This is nothing."

"Speaking of brooms…" Amalia trailed off, frowning at Suri's automatic eye roll.

"Granna, do we really have to talk about this again? It's Christmas Eve tomorrow. I just don't want to think about it."

"Suri Ariel, I don't appreciate your tone. Andwe wouldn't keep having this conversation if we actually hadit."

Another eye roll. Amalia watched Suri shimmy down the ladder, and, knowing it was dramatic, jump off of it, mid-rung, landing deftly on her feet. Without another word, Suri sat in the large armchair by the fire and cracked open a book she had placed beside it. More curious behavior.

"And now you read," Amalia raised an eyebrow. "You were never much of a reader before this year."

"Are you calling me stupid?" Suri looked up from her book, eyes flashing like the eye of a hurricane and her chin set stubbornly. Again, it was like both Sirius and Tessa were in the same room all over again. Still, Suri rarely had this defiant attitude about her as she did the entire winter holiday. It was as though Suri had left for Hogwarts and came back as an almost completely different child.

"Child, you and I both know you aren't stupid," now it was Amalia's turn to roll her eyes. "I'm just trying to keep up with this new Suri you've become."

"Granna…" Suri made a face. Amalia shook her head. They would get nowhere tonight. Amalia knew when it was time to wave a flag of truce.

"I love you all the same. As for me, I think I'll be going to bed early." Amalia smiled. Something flickered across Suri's expression and Amalia refrained from probing into her granddaughter's mind for better clarity. She rarely ever looked into Tessa's mind, aside from when she taught her occlumency, and she had no desire to start the practice with her granddaughter.

"Granna—"

"Good night, Suri love," Amalia gently interrupted. "No more arguing tonight. I love you."

Amalia was at the foot of the stairs when she heard Suri's voice, faintly through the walls that separated the living room, from the foyer and the stairwell. "I love you too."

X

Christmas Eve was full of family tradition. Suri slept in until later in the morning. When she woke, she and her grandmother made brunch with golden waffles and homemade maple syrup, making sure to make enough for Apple and Ivy as well. The houselves were beside themselves with joy and appreciation.

After brunch, they opened presents. Suri gifted her grandmother perfume and a silk scarf she'd purchased in Vienna over the summer. From Amalia, Suri received a soft, dark blue throw blanket that subtly sparkled like stars in the night sky. She also received fashionable muggle clothing in black—Suri's preferred color of choice. From Nate, she got a candle and lavender scented soap, from Gemma she received a bold red lipstick, and to her surprise she got a gift from the Weasley twins. It was an obnoxious Gryffindor themed beanie with a bright red pompom, which was not surprising. Suri smiled at Amalia's raised eyebrow.

"Some things are better left unsaid, dear," Amalia shook her head, wrapping her new scarf around her neck. "What did you get Nate and Mara?"

"I got Nate a book from an author he really likes. And I got Gemma lipstick, too. I also got clothes for Harry Potter. Granna, you should see the clothes he wears. Everything is too big for him and they're old! He deserves something nice. You should see him, Granna. He's so skinny, and not in a good way."

"That's very kind of you," Amalia smiled. "I'm sure he really appreciates it. And Mara? How about her?"

"Oh nothing," Suri ran her hands along her new blanket, avoiding her grandmother's eyes. "We're not really friends anymore. It's part of the new Suri deal."

"Ah," Amalia nodded slowly. Rising from the sofa, Amalia clapped her hands once. "Suri, I want you to get dressed. We're going on a field trip?"

"Where?"

"You'll see. Looks like it's snowing outside, so dress warmly."

Fifteen minutes later, Suri pulled a pair of jeans over her leggings and a heavy snow coat over her plaid, button-down shirt. To save time, she pulled on her Gryffindor beanie, courtesy of the Weasley twins. She thought she saw Amalia refrain from rolling her eyes. In the foyer, Amalia opened the front door and stepped onto the porch, looking at the sky.

"Looks like the snow will hold for a couple hours. How about we fly—"

"NO!" Suri's cheeks pinked at her sudden outburst. "I mean, it's just cold outside. Can't we apparate?"

"Suri Ariel Rosier-Black, what's gotten into you? A little weather never stopped you from flying before," Amalia's tone, although calm, demanded an answer.

Unable to answer, Suri looked down. She knew how she sounded to her grandmother. Suri was annoyed by herself and the things she'd lost. "I know, I know. Can we just...can we just not fly? Please?"

"Alright," Granna looked as though she wanted to ask Suri more questions, but instead she pursed her lips and looped her arm securely through Suri's. "We'll apparate."

X

"This place..." Dozens of memories flooded Suri as she stared at the large, Scottish cottage surrounded by snow-covered rolling hills. Compared to the expansive opulence of the Maeve Manor, this cottage looked lonely with its dark windows and smaller layout. But when Suri closed her eyes, the stone cottage, lined by purple flowers, grew three sizes and the surrounding hills were green. The wind carried the ghost of barking laughter and childish giggles. Suri took a step forward, her stormy eyes filled with tears. "This is home."

Amalia gave Suri space to explore her childhood home. The furniture was covered with white sheets to protect against the elements, adding to the broken and stale appearance to the home that used to be filled with so much love.

Leaving behind the sitting room, living room, kitchen and downstairs bathroom, Suri headed up the stairs to explore the rooms. There was a new creak in the floorboards, Suri noted, as she slowly pushed open the door that once belonged to her parents. She knew it was theirs because she remembered running into their room on tiny, chubby legs and jumping into bed between them. She could almost feel her father's stubbly kisses or her mother's hair grazing her cheek when they snuggled her between them. Now, that same bed was dusty, the bedding discolored by time. She did a full circle around the room, noticing the way dust and grime settled on everything—even the dried flowers on a dresser—before she left, reverently shutting the door behind her.

The next three rooms were guest rooms she hardly spent time in as a little girl. One of the rooms housed a tall bookshelf filled with mostly fictional books and a cozy armchair set by the window. It seems her mother had turned this room into a library. On the other side of the room, above the guest bed, there were muggle posters of something Suri knew to be a motorcycle. Suri smiled, thinking about how her mother must've rolled her eyes when her father put those up. But Tessa Rosier loved Sirius Black enough to let them stay. And Sirius Black, Suri giggled into the silence, had charmed them into permanent place, based on their suspiciously pristine condition.

Moving through the other two guestrooms, Suri was careful not to disturb anything in any room and always shut the door carefully behind her, closing a protective lid on her sweetest memories to keep them safe. Finally, nerves buckled her knees; Suri opened the door to the final room.

Her room was painted a soft lilac. Everything in the room was made for a little girl. Suri knew there would be nothing in the dressers or closet—all of that stuff had gone with her to Vienna before she'd outgrown them. Only larger furniture items remained: her white dresser against the wall with the window, a small white bookshelf with ignored books Her favorite childhood story, Earth and Stars, had gone with her to Vienna and followed her to Hogwarts. Toys lined another bookshelf, mostly dolls and stuffed animals. Like her favorite picture book, Suri had only taken her favorite stuffed wolf, affectionately named Uncle. She also brought him to Hogwarts with her each year.

Eventually Suri went back downstairs, finding her grandmother sitting on a barstool in the kitchen. Amalia patted the stool next to her. After a moment, Suri's voice rippled through the thick silence of her empty home. "I've recently heard a lot about Tessa Rosier. Growing up, I always hear that my mother was the very image of perfection. But recently I've heard that she was just as arrogant as my father, and that he corrupted her. I also hear that I'm just like him. Which is it, Granna? Am I really like my dad? Am I anything like Mum?"

Hot tears rolled down Suri's cheeks, cutting into the dust on the kitchen counter. Amalia's hand was cool and soft beneath Suri's chin when she urged Suri to look at her. When she looked at her grandmother, into Amalia's deep blue eyes and grey-streaked, blonde hair pulled into a neat chignon, she found only love.

Amalia touched Suri's cheek, her own eyes filling with tears.

"You've got loads of things Tessa had. I see Tessa when you smile; you have the same dimples here and here. I see her when you frown, too. It's that stubborn chin. I see Sirius Black when you run her fingers through your hair or when you get a determined look in your eyes like there's no force on this earth that will stop you from doing whatever you'll do. Sirius was headstrong and absolutely irritating, but you would never find a more loyal, brave and energetic man. Tessa was clever and independent, and everything she did was intended to make the world a better place. For all they were, they brought out the best and worst in each other, but that's what it means to be human. They corrupted each other and made each other better. As for you, Suri," Amalia thumbed away her granddaughter's tears.

"I see Sirius and Tessa in a lot of the things you do, but more importantly, I seeyou. I will always see you. I see your wild spirit and goodness. I hope in this new and improved Suri who reads books, doesn't fly or play quidditch, and makes new friends still has room for her grandmother."

"There will always be room for you, Granna." Suri smiled, palming the tears away. The new Suri. After Amalia found out Suri quit the quidditch team, there had been an argument about her secrecy. Suri swore up and down that she quit because of her grades and didn't want to disappoint the four generations of women quidditch players in the family. She couldn't bring herself to tell her grandmother about what she'd endured. Somehow, it was easier to have Amalia think she was failing school rather than weak.

Exhaling slowly, she noticed the light snow that started up outside the kitchen window. Another question plagued her.

"I remember my godfather, Uncle Moons. Do you know what happened to him? I don't remember much aside from him having a very scarred face and that I really loved him."

Amalia's shoulders sagged, deep blue eyes clouding with a sad memory.

"It was your father's wish that I take you in if anything happened, because Moons, Remus Lupin, was too unwell to care for a child."

"Unwell?"

"He had a condition…" Amalia shook her head. "He's werewolf, Suri."

"Oh," Suri's eyes widened fractionally. "But Mum must've thought he was healthy enough to take care of me. Do you know where he is?"

"No, my love, I don't. After everything happened I moved us to Vienna to separate us from this world as much as possible. I wanted to give you a fresh start." Amalia's voice sounded full of regret. Suri reached over and took her grandmother's hand and instinctively imagined peace flowing out of her and into her grandmother. Amalia's hand twitching in hers told her she felt that peace.

Even as she gave, Suri realized there wasn't much she could offer. Any inner calm she had was being used up in keeping herself together every day. Suri didn't want to live like that anymore.

"Suri?" Amalia, appearing somewhat calmer after Suri's surge of energy, sensed her granddaughter's thoughts.

"I'm not mad at you, Granna, you did what you thought was best. You kept me safe, and that's what Mum and Daddy wanted."

"Thank you, love, that means a lot to me. But I feel like there's something more going on."

"I…I've been struggling with my legilimency. I keep having these nightmares. I even asked Professor Snape to help but he just gave me books. He says he won't waste time on me."

"That impudent man…" Amalia's lips flattened into a frown. She considered Suri thoughtfully. "By dreams, do you mean you've been visiting your father?"

Suri remained silent, staring at her shoes.

"This is just like when you were a little girl."

"What do you mean this has happened before?" Suri's head snapped up, searching Granna's face.

"When you first started living with me after your parents…" Amalia cleared her throat. "You woke up shrieking, saying that you saw your daddy and that he was in a very bad and scary place. After a couple years you grew out of it, but for a while I had to give you something to help curb that natural talent—"

"You drugged me," Suri deadpanned. She waited for her grandmother to correct her, but the correction never came. Calmly, Suri rose from the barstool, unsure of how to feel.

"Well, it looks like I'm back to square one."

"For what, Suri love?"

"Do figure this legilimency thing out. Snape won't help me; my own grandmother druggedme as a child. Seems like if I want to figure this out, I'll be on my own. Anything else I should know about, Granna? Anymore drugging or secrets?"

"Suri, you're overreacting—"

"How else am I supposed to act?" Suri's grey-blue eyes blazed. Exhaling heavily, Suri shook her head. Raising her chin, Suri stared her grandmother down, not with Tessa Rosier's arrogance or Sirius Black's wild-eyed loyalty, but her own sheer will, falling back into a familiar patter. Suri didn't need anyone. "I'll do it myself."

X

January 1992

"Suri!" Nate grinned and pulled Suri into a tight embrace on their first day back at Hogwarts after winter holiday.

"How was home?"

"As expected," said Nate, shrugging his shoulders. "We travelled to the south of France, but naturally my good step-father worked the entire time and mother was God knows where."

Suri cringed, thinking of Nate's family. So often, her charismatic friend was left to his own devices.

"How about you?"

"It was...unexpected."

"Oh? Do tell." Nate looped his arm through Suri's as they walked through the outer corridors of Hogwarts, keeping each other warm.

"Well, you know I spent it in Northern Ireland in the house my mother grew up in—"

"Your house."

"Sure," Suri brushed off Nate's correction. It was still weird knowing that Maeve Manor was hers. "Then Granna took me to visit the house Igrew up in—"

"So you have two houses," Nate clarified.

"Do you want me to finish telling the story or not, Nathaniel Evan Avery?" Suri snipped. Nate grinned and remained silent, allowing her to continue.

"Anyway. We went there, we talked about my parents and such. I told Granna I've been having nightmares recently because of my legilimency and she told me I had them as a child too. She told me I outgrew them, but for a while they were cured because she druggedme."

Nate stopped walking, forcing Suri to stop in her tracks too. "Excuse me? Amalia Rosier, queen of all things prim, drugged you? She truly is a Slytherin."

"Yeah…" Suri huffed, brushing her dark hair from her eyes. "So I decided if I'm going to learn how to control my legilimency, help won't come from Snape or my grandmother. I'll have to do it on my own. I spent the rest of winter holiday deciding what I should do. And….I'll need help. Nate, you're the only person I can trust. Will you—"

"Of course."

"Do you want to know what you're going to have to do?"

"I mean, you'll tell me regardless, right?" Nate's hazel eyes seemed brighter because of the snow around them. "How many times do we have to go through this? Whatever you need, you have, cousin."

"I love you," Suri squeezed Nate's arm. She knew he would say yes to her, no matter what. Still, a quiet part of her doubted he would. Some small part of her often feared that she was beyond loving.

"I know," Nate smiled.

Suri realized, not only did she need Nate, but maybe he needed her, too. Through all the years and the ways he invested himself into her life, he kept his secrets close. As lonely as Suri felt, she never felt that way with Nate. She began to see that perhaps, that's what Nate felt, too. Whatever hollow feeling his secrets carved into him, he needed Suri to warm those parts of him he thought couldn't be filled.

Family looked out for each other; friends cared for friends; and Slytherins protected their own.

They kept walking.

Author's Note:

Hey there! I swear there will be chapters where cannon HP characters are featured and have bigger roles. :)

Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you're here!

Reviews are love.

X