That night Theo, Blaise, and Malfoy all sat in the common room sipping firewhiskey and playing a calm game of wizard's chess.

The common room was mostly empty thanks to the ungodly hour, and only a few people mulled around, seeming restless. That's what the Slytherin boys were. Restless. Each of them had the Dark Mark still firmly placed on their forearms, none of them really knowing what to do about it.

"You're sister seems different," Malfoy said calmly as if it hadn't been on his mind all day.

"Not really," Theo sighed, taking a drink. "With Father locked away she is just free to be herself now, without fear that he will hear about it and be cross with her."

Blaise was contemplating a move on the board. "Knight to E5." He looked at Theo then. "She seems happy." It was true. Theo had never seen his twin so happy, and so at peace. She wasn't nervous, she was stepping out on her own, interacting with people and not leaving the conversation completely drained.

"You'd know," Malfoy jabbed.

"What's that meant to mean?" Blaise asked, seeming offended.

"Oh come off it, you know what I mean. You've had a hard on for Little Nott since first year." At this news Theo lifted his head.

"Oi, I have not, she's a friend you git."

Theo interjected, "This is my sister you are talking about."

This didn't quell the argument boiling. "You pay a lot of attention to someone who's only a friend," Malfoy noted.

"Jealous that she actually talks to me?" Blaise raised an eyebrow.

Malfoy snorted in a very unMalfoy kind of way. "As if I'd want a swot like that. The only girl worse here is Granger."

Theo stood then, disrupting the chess game. "Another word about my sister and you'll both be hexed," he warned.

Malfoy only smiled. "Ah, so you are her keeper."

Blaise held up his hands in defeat. "Alright mate, it's okay, we're just taking the piss out of each other." Theo nodded and then sat back down. "She is right fit though, and just because we aren't trying to get under her skirt doesn't mean others aren't so inclined."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Like who?" He wanted names so that he could personally see to it that they didn't come anywhere near Campbell, not that he would tell her that.

"Goyle's been after her since she sprouted tits," Blaise said nonchalantly as if he wasn't just discussing his friend's sister.

Malfoy chimed in, "That McLaggen ponce."

"Thomas."

"Jordan."

"Flint fancied her for a while there," Blaise pointed out.

"Oi, I get it!" Theo grumbled. "You blokes can quit it now."

The other two boys laughed. Malfoy swirled his drink in his hand. "Don't worry mate, no one will mess with her, not if she keeps mouthing off like she has been." Theo slapped his friend over the side of the head.

"I hate you both."

I know this is a short one sorry, not sorry.

Though I really do hope you like this.