'Merton?'

He stirred and groaned

'It's okay, Merton.' I said softly 'Here, drink this for the pain.' He groggily accepted my assistance in helping him drink the wiggenweld potion, and soon his eyes opened fully.

'Mara.' he sank back into the cushions

'How's your head?'

'Better now after the potion...thank you.'

'I'm so sorry about all of this,' I said, pressing my hand on his shoulder 'I never wanted any of it.'

'I know...it's not your fault...' said Merton 'bit of a surprise, though, I tell you.'

'Yeah, don't I know it.'

Merton gazed up at me as I dabbed his forehead with a cold cloth

'You're good at this.' he said, his eyes closing

'Well...I am hoping to become a Healer when I leave school.'

'I remember you telling me over owl,' he smiled 'you'll make a good one I'm sure.'

I smiled 'Maureen said you're not to go anywhere tonight,' I said 'you're staying here on the sofa.'

'Stern isn't she.' Merton grinned

'I suppose so...I don't know her too well yet, we've only just met really.'

'Oh?'

'Yes, Oscar only just recently told me he was my cousin, and that I have another aunt, it's all a big change.'

'I remember...still, I'm glad you're not at the Malfoys any more, bit of a suspicious lot, aren't they, got sent to Azkaban didn't he, Lucius Malfoy, for Death Eater activity.'

I nodded

'They've been Death Eaters for years, never stopped dark activity, just pretended to be reformed in the public eye, but behind closed doors..' my head shook

'And you were living with them all that time? Dangerous.'

'Well, I can thank my so called father for that.'

Merton frowned

'Well, anyway, Oscar leant you a pair of his pajama's for you to wear, I'll leave whilst you put them on.' I rose and made my way to the kitchen, where Oscar and Maureen were stood, talking.

'I'm so sorry about all this,' said Oscar, who was being comforted by his mother

'You're not to blame,' said Maureen stiffly 'it's that horrid man's fault, I told Agatha he was no good, did she listen? Oh, Mara, dear, how is Merton?'

'He's awake, better now with the potion, but I reckon he'll have a bruised eye for awhile.'

'Yes, I think so too.' said Maureen 'Good thing you were there to help him when he woke up.'

'I think I'll go to my room...I need to think.' said Oscar

'Alright, son.' said Maureen, who watched a dejected looking Oscar leave the room.

'Mara, I would like a word.' said Maureen, who swung her wand and the door closed.

'What is it?' I asked as she rummaged through a bag

'After our chat this morning, I went out and bought you something I would like you to use, whenever you are ready.'

She turned to me, her hands behind her back, a worried look on her face.

'Mara...this,' she revealed a small box 'this is a pregnancy test, I would like you to use it.'

My eyes widened, shock overtaking me.

'You think I'm...'

'Yes,' Maureen's eyes closed 'because of the strange things you said you were experiencing...I thought, maybe...have you been with any boys?'

My eyes darted away, and they stung as tears threatened them.

'You have, haven't you?' she asked 'Do you know about safe sex?'

'I-it wasn't a boy..' my head hung

'What...what do you mean?' asked Maureen

I swallowed a lump in my throat, but it wouldn't go down.

'It was Greyback, he...' my fingers shook 'he...he forced himself on me and didn't...'

An uncomfortable silence took hold, when I glanced up, Maureen's hands were to her mouth, and soon, I was pulled into a tight hug, her hand on my head as she comforted my crying figure.

'Are you going to be alright on your own?' I asked after recovering from telling Maureen everything that happened.

'Oh, I should be,' said Merton, now changed into his pajama's with a blanket covering him

'I don't really want to leave you.' I frowned

'Well...' he muttered, looking shifty 'there's room here on the sofa...you know...' he shrugged, and my lips pursed. Glancing up I saw Maureen, who looked rather unhappy with crossed arms.

'Uh, I have to go, Merton.'

I didn't think it a good idea with Maureen standing there with a stern expression

'I'll check in on you in the morning' I smiled, raising onto my feet.

I lay awake for hours, tossing and turning, my mind drifting back to Merton all alone downstairs. Weighing the pros and cons of going down there, but, I really did like him.

I emerged from my room around one a.m, when I tip toed downstairs, the television was playing quietly. Assuming he was awake, I made my way inside the living room.

'Mara?' he asked, when I appeared in front of him

'Just making sure you're alright.'

'Oh, yeah, I'm alright...can't sleep, you?'

'Nor can I.' I lowered onto the armchair 'How's your head?'

'Head's fine...' he smiled 'I've just been thinking about what happened earlier..'

'Same here...' my head shook, and Merton watched as I rose onto my feet 'Well, just wanted to make sure you were okay.' I glanced down as his hand clasped gently around my wrist.

'Stay.'

I looked nervously at the door, and lowered down onto the sofa, he pulled back the blanket, and I slunk under it.

My heart raced at the closeness of our bodies

'Can I...?'

I nodded, and his arms wrapped around my body, holding me softly.

Nervousness shot through me, should I really be doing this?

I sunk deeper into his body, which smelt rather pleasant, my eyes squeezed as I remembered the stench that burnt my nose coming off Greyback, he had a coppery twang.

'Mara...are you okay?' asked Merton

'Oh...' I blinked 'yes, yes I'm alright.'

'Are you comfortable?'

'Yes...very.'

Merton beamed

'Mara...I was wondering...' he paused, glancing up at the television 'could I maybe...kiss you?'

My skin warmed hotly

'I...I think so...yes.'

His face lowered, enough so that our noses touched, his lips brushed my own, his beard tickled me.

My skin tingled all over as his lips melted onto my own, it was a longing sort of kiss, his body relaxed in a relieved kind of way.

He was gentle, I couldn't help but to remember the thrashing of Greyback's lips, and the thrusting of his disgusting tongue in my mouth.

Merton breathed heavily the quicker his pace became, soon, his lips left mine, and lowered to my throat, he looked up as I flinched, remembering Greyback biting me viciously there.

'Mara?' asked Merton, breathless

'I-I'm okay.' I reassured, he smiled and went back to kissing my throat softly, I let out an audible moan, I felt him grin on my skin.

His fingers felt along my sides, underneath my pajama top, threatening to lift it up and reveal my breasts to him, and his other hand played with the hem of my trousers.

My eyes squeezed shut, and already racing heart raced faster, as images flashed through my mind of the teeth that clamped over my breast, making it bleed.

'M-Merton-Merton stop.'

Merton rose up to face me 'What is it?' he said

'I-I can't do this...' I pulled myself up into a seated position 'I'm sorry, I'm just not ready.'

I rose onto my feet and looked back down at Merton, who cast me a small frown

'I'm sorry.' I hurried away, guilt taking over as I left an astounded Merton alone.