This was a tough chapter to write for me. I wrote it during a time where I was feeling similar and so it took a long time.

I hope you like this story so far, it's been super fun to write but also challenging which I think is a good balance.

Campbell woke up again closer to noon than dawn. Her face was scrunchy and tight thanks to the tears that riveted down it all night. She was sure she looked horrific and much like a melted clown. She remembered or maybe she had dreamt, that Hermione had come in.

Campbell couldn't tell what had actually woken her up until she saw it on the trunk at the foot of her bed. Food. Glorious smelling food. Campbell moved slowly through the sea of blankets and grabbed at the plate, then closed the curtains with wandless magic and started to slowly eat. There was a cupcake and many slices of bacon and even some of those sour gummies from the Weasley place that made your tongue purple. Under the cupcake she saw a note.

I'm down stairs.

Join me Bell.

Breath.

Theo

Campbell felt guilty immediately. She wrapped herself up in a forest green blanket and trudged out of her room, her plate floating behind. As she came down the stairs she saw him there, legs stretched out across one of the sofas, arms folded over his eyes. He hadn't even changed out of his pajamas. Horrible things really. If Father had seen them he would not have been impressed. Campbell squashed that thought as another one popped up. Simple black drawstring bottoms and a white vest. She thought it suited him nicely.

She nudged his legs with her own and he removed his arms from his eyes. He took her in slowly, getting that look on his face that always made her want to cry. She hated worrying him. He moved so that she could sit on the sofa with him and she curled into herself on one end while he leaned close to her on the other, the plate floating between them. Theo snagged a strip of bacon.

"Granger is being kind and gathering your work for today as well as she also left you the plate and note." Theo knew she probably wouldn't answer. Bell never spoke after her episodes until she felt a little more human. Theo noticed that she was fidgeting with the blanket she had wrapped around her. He summoned her a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. She accepted it with a small nod.

Theo remembered back when they were kids, their father had yelled at her for something or another, most likely speaking out of turn. She had hidden herself away in her room, even the house elves couldn't get her to eat. Theo eventually went in with candy just to try and get her to eat. He had discovered her completely motionless on her bed. He half thought she was dead. When he had finally coaxed her into eating the sweets he had brought her she finally started to move, slowly as if she was weighed down. She had sat up, and he just talked at her for a long while. He found it to be a personal accomplishment when she finally did speak. Ever since then he had been there for her, whenever she felt overwhelmed or sad or angry or nothing, or even when she got this bad. That's what they called her episodes.

"You know, everyone said it was a pretty good party," Theo tried again. Campbell just looked blankly at something beyond him and took a sip of the hot chocolate. "Since it's Friday, we can go to Hogsmeade tomorrow and just walk around the two of us, like the old days." Still nothing. "You and Blaise seem to be getting along well these days." She picked at the cupcake, grabbing a pinch of the cake, getting frosting on her fingernails. "I was thinking I was gonna finally grow my hair scruffy." Campbell scrunched her nose at that which made Theo smile. "Oh come on Bell, I'd look great scruffy." She just shook her head.

Theo grabbed a strip of bacon and bit into it. He made it super crispy like Bell liked it but he preferred it a little chewy. It tasted like ash to him. He put the bacon back on the plate.

They were both startled by the common room door opening. Campbell scrunched herself into an even smaller ball, letting the blanket and her hair shield her from prying eyes. Theo knew this interruption would set back the progress he had made. He wasn't sure how much but he knew that he had almost gotten her to start talking.

Theo saw a thin black boy slink through the door. Blaise. He looked like he was trying to be sneaky about it. He turned around and dark eyes met dark eyes. Blaise's smile grew on his face. "Hey Nott!" he greeted. He started walking towards the couch when he saw the bundle that was Campbell. "What's going on?" He asked hesitantly. Theo didn't think he had really seen Blaise careful, about anything, but he was being careful now, keeping his voice low and even, his steps slow, his eyes not leaving Campbell.

Theo looked at Campbell too. He drew his lips into a thin line. "It's not a big deal man, just a bad day, you know how it is." Theo gave him a not so subtle leave look.

"Yeah I get it." Blaise shoved his hands in his pockets then walked around to the front of the couch. "Little Nott is just having a bad day." He pulled his wand out of his pocket and the coffee table moved closer so he could sit on it, right in front of Theo and Campbell.

She still hadn't come out of the shell she created for herself, but she tilted her head closer to his voice.

Blaise looked at the floating plate and grabbed one of the gummies. "Don't these turn your tongue purple?" He asked before popping it into his mouth. Campbell lifted her head slightly, her eyes peeking up over her arms. Blaise could see the smudged makeup but didn't say anything. He just stuck out his tongue. "Is my tongue purple yet?" he asked, holding his tongue out as he spoke.

Theo just looked at Campbell, wondering what she would do. She just looked at the boy for a long time. The silence stretched on and on and Theo thought he had never known Blaise to be that quiet for that long.

"Who's getting your school work?" Blaise asked Campbell almost softly.

She fulling peaked her head out from the cocoon she had created for herself. She looked to Theo for an answer.

"Um," he rubbed his palms together, "Hermione is grabbing her stuff." Blaise just nodded. "What are you doing out of class today?" He asked Blaise.

"Well, someone wasn't there," he gave a pointed look at Campbell, "so I figured it wouldn't be any fun." He just shrugged. He seemed a little too nonchalant for Theo to actually feel comfortable.

There was also a very very small part of him that hoped Bell would shut down even more, allowing Theo to shew Blaise away. It wasn't that he wanted Bell to get worse, to feel worse, he would never wish for that. It was just that this was his job. Helping Bell had always been his responsibility. It was a point of pride that he was the only one who could get her to talk. He hated the thought as soon as it crossed his mind. Who cared who got her out of the fog, as long as she got out.

Theo cleared his throat. "I'm sure Hermione could get your work for you too Blaise."

The boy turned, a smirk spreading slowly. "Oh yes, I'm sure Granger could." He exaggerated her last name as if to point out that he caught the use of her first name.

A small voice, rough but still feminine, spoke softly then. "Will she get yours too?"

Theo turned a bit too quickly towards her, and she jumped slightly. He tried to keep his voice neutral and steady. "Uh, I don't know but you know how proactive Hermione can be, I'm sure she will."

Blaise just snorted slightly. Campbell turned to him slightly, but instead of saying anything, took another piece of bacon from the plate and nibbled on it.

"Have something to say Zabini?" Theo raised his eyebrows at his friend.

The boy just held up his hands in mock surrender. "No no. Nothing. I think it is awfully nice of young Ms. Granger to help out some down trodden Death Eaters."

Campbell flinched like Blaise had hit her. Theo tossed him a look that could kill and was slowly eating through the black boy.

Blaise shook his head. "Shit," he breathed under his breath. "I'm sorry Little Nott, it was just…" He stopped when she looked straight at him.

"Don't," she breathed slowly. Blaise just nodded, knowing how much he messed up.

"Blaise is going to get you some water," Theo said, knowing she didn't need it, not with the hot coco in her hands. Theo stood, pointedly looking at Blaise, silently telling him to follow. Blaise thankfully complied.

Theo didn't like the idea of leaving Bell alone for too long so this would have to be fast. He resisted the urge to punch Zabini in the face for what he had said.

Theo cast a quick silencing charm around them in the small kitchenette on the outside of the common room, close to the boys stairs. Blaise spoke first. "Look, mate, I know. Sometimes I talk without thinking."

"You never think," he hissed through clenched teeth.

Campbell sat there alone on the couch wondering if that was all she was ever going to be. Even if she didn't take the Mark like Theo did. Maybe people would always just see her as another Death Eater skum who thinks she is better than everyone else.

That's when Granger walked through the door carrying a stack of papers and books. She bustled past to place the stack on the table in the middle, right where Blaise was sitting a moment ago. Hermione let out a puff of air that might have been a sigh but Campbell couldn't tell.

"Alright," Hermione started, trying to get her curls out of her eye line. "I brought you all your homework and also notes from all your classes. I know that it might not be the best notes for you but I took them so I think they will get the information across, and of course you can always come to my room or find me in the library if you want to go over them. I would also love to help out with some of your school work." Campbell didn't think the girl took a breath that whole time.

Hermione looked at Campbell expectantly and she didn't know what to do. She looked longingly towards the kitchenette, hoping Theo would walk out at that exact moment, but he didn't.

Hermione placed a hand on Campbell's knee and looked her right in the eye. "You can talk to me whenever you like." When Campbell nodded the other witch smiled, stood, and walked away. Back to her own classes Campbell supposed.

Theo and Blaise walked out then, too little too late to help her. Blaise was holding a cup of water but didn't extend it towards her, nor did she reach for it.

Theo looked at the stack of papers before his sister and his mouth quirked up at the edges. He stayed silent though. Campbell knew that look. He had given it to Millicent Bulstrode in fourth year. She was a nasty girl that Campbell didn't care for much. Father never knew how Theo felt thought. She was just a halfblood.

The tense silence was broken unexpectedly by Campbell. "I don't know what to sleep in." The boys considered what she said. "All of my pjs are too warm."

"It was always so cold in the dungeon," Theo agreed.

"I've just been sleeping in the nude until The Ministry unfreezes my funds and I can get new night clothes." The twins shared a look. It was fast but Blaise still saw it.

"We're going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. We would be more than happy to help out." Campbell offered all the words to the floor, not bothering to look him in the eye.

"I don't need charity."

"Call it a loan then," Theo offered. "Or a gift. Or whatever you want it to be."

Campbell lifted her head but only to rest it on Theo's shoulder. "Plus, if all the boys see you wandering around naked," she trailed off then looked at him and smiled. "No one would be able to keep their hands to themselves."

He weighed the words, the smile on her face. He gave her one in return. "Alright, I'll come to Hogsmeade with you and let you buy me night clothes. You know I also need a new cauldron."

"Don't push it Zabini," Theo warned half-heartedly as his twin chuckled slightly.

Yeah... Little Nott was not doing well at all. Hopefully Hogsmeade will do good things for her.

Yeah. Tell me what you think!