This was all very new to me.

And uncertainty about this whole arrangement etched itself into me, how long would this happiness last?

I pondered this as I watched the waves of the sea gently flow, and footprints trailed behind happy couples as they strolled along the sand, hand in hand, beyond the window of my room.

'Ouch.' I bent double over, my hands to my stomach, I held objects on my way to the bed to maintain my balance and curled up on the bed, hugging a pillow.

'Mara dear?' Maureen knocked on the door 'Merton is here.'

She opened the door

'Mara?' she entered and looked at me on the bed 'What's wrong?'

'Just...just a few cramps..'

'Cramps?' Maureen looked concerned 'How long have you been having cramps?'

'Oh, uh...' I thought back 'only about a month, I suppose...I've been feeling funny for a few months, though.''

'Funny? How so?' asked Maureen, her eyebrows furrowed

'Um...my tummy has been feeling weird...like...butterflies in my stomach...and I've been getting back pain recently...I guess I've put weight on, too.'

Maureen looked alarmed.

'What? What is it?' I asked, confused

'Oh, nothing, nothing, dear,' she still looked disturbed 'I'll give you a wiggenweld potion, and you can go on your walk with Merton.' She swung her wand and I sat up as she handed me a potion, I drank it, and moments later the pain vanished.

'Thank you.' I said in relief, handing back the phial.

'I have to go out whilst you and Merton are on the beach,' she said with a small smile 'I should be back before you, but if not, feel free to ask Merton in for a cup of tea!'

I checked the sleeves under my favourite dungaree dress, making sure they hid the scars beneath them well. When I was satisfied, I made my way downstairs, where Merton was indeed waiting for me.

'Mara.' he beamed 'Nice to see you.'

'Merton, hey.' I smiled

'I bought you a box of strawberry chocoballs, hope you like them.'

'Thank you, Merton.' I took the box off him and set them on the coffee table 'Shall we get going?'

'Absolutely.' grinned Merton 'Thank you for inviting me over, Mrs Loughty.'

'You're more than welcome.' said Maureen, who locked the house up behind her as we exited the cottage.

'You look nice, by the way, Mara.' said Merton, as we parted ways with Maureen and headed to the beach 'But, uh, does Oscar really have to linger behind us?'

'It's just extra security, plus a habit as an auror,' I replied 'I mean, with all the disappearances and deaths, and the attack-you know..'

'Yeah, I guess,' said Merton, frowning 'but he can trust me to look after you, I wouldn't let anything happen to you!'

'He knows...and I know that.' I pressed my hand on his arm in a reassuring manner, and his eyes lit up.

We held our shoes as we walked along the sand

'So how's school?' asked Merton

'Oh, fine...well...except for the gossiping...people have assumed we're going out.' my eyes rolled and Merton frowned

'I see.' he replied 'I guess that's to be expected.'

'Yeah...it's better than being gossiped about because of Greyback, though...'

'I can imagine.'

I looked over my shoulder, Oscar was still following us at a distance, his eyes focused upon us, his hand in his pocket, I assumed his fingers were wrapped around his hidden wand.

Surprise hit me, as fingers entwined around mine. I paused, and looked down at Merton and mine's entwined fingers and clasped palms.

Glancing up at him, I noticed he looked, nervous.

My heart fluttered, and I had butterflies (the good kind) in my stomach.

My fingers clasped back, and Merton smiled a wide smile.

'We're home.' said Oscar as we entered the cottage. 'Want a cup of tea, Merton?'

'Sure.'

'Mara?' asked Merton, for I had frozen.

In the living room, there was a familiar man, with a thick beard and ruffled hair with leaves tangled in.

'Oscar!' I cried

He hurried into the room, his wand brandished, but to my surprise, his wand lowered.

'Harold!' he snapped 'What are you doing here!?'

'Harold,' I remarked 'Wait a minute...you've...you've been aiding my father.'

Oscar's head hung

'Don't blame him,' said Harold, moving around the sofa towards us, Merton stepped in front of me, his wand aimed at the man. 'I've been threatening him...'

'You...you bastard.' I sneered

'Mara, please...' he begged 'I just...I just wanted...needed to see you...you're my daughter..'

'Really? Am I? If you cared about me at all you wouldn't have worked with the Death Eaters.'

'That was before...when I learned I was going to be a father, well, I betrayed them and gave names at the trial, though that didn't save me from Azkaban...'

I glared away.

'What happened to my mother?'

'Dead...killed by Death Eaters...they couldn't get to me, so...lucky you weren't there when she died, Maureen was looking after you.'

'Why was I given to the Malfoys!' I cried 'Why didn't Maureen adopt me after my aunt Ethel died!?'

'I wasn't thinking, I was desperate, I thought, if Maureen couldn't adopt you, then, the Malfoy's were the next best thing, in my mind...a fail safe, so, I blackmailed Lucius into keeping you should anything happen to your Aunt...I knew she was ill but I didn't know how long she had.'

I turned my back on Harold, my arms crossing

'Mara?'

'Do you know how unhappy I was at the Malfoys?' I said, turning back to face Harold, rage overtaking me 'They didn't want me there, barely noticed me half the time...for awhile, I was scared of Lucius Malfoy, he treated me the worst, for simply being Half Blood!'

'I wish there was a way you could forgive me...' Harold frowned 'I know in my heart I don't deserve it...Mara, please,' he begged, as I stormed from the living room into the hallway, where Merton followed, his wand still aimed at the approaching Harold.

'Out of my way.' demanded Harold, his fist slamming into Merton's face, he fell sideways, and his head slammed into the wall, causing him to collapse into a heap.

'Merton!' I cried, hurrying to his side on the floor 'You bastard!' I growled 'Get out! Get out before Maureen comes home! I never want to see you again!'

Harold looked hurt

'Mara-'

'GET OUT.' I roared

'If...if that's what you really want, then...then I'll go.'

Harold left through the door, and I heard a loud CRACK.

'Mara?' asked Oscar

'Help me get Merton on the sofa.' I said, Oscar lowered and pulled Merton's arm around his shoulder, lifting him onto his feet.

'We have a lot to explain to Maureen.'