Chapter 10

Shanara was packed and waiting in the entrance hall before any of the others got there. She knew that the few moments of snatched privacy with her brothers were few and far between and that she must use them wisely. She had already planned out a speech to set their anxieties to rest and to make sure that that holiday went off smoothly.

However, when she saw Robert enter through the huge doors, she felt her smile falter and when she saw Alejandro, his usually smiling face miserable and concerned, she couldn't help but throw herself into his arms and wish that she would never have to leave them. Robert silently hugged her from the behind and sandwiched between her brothers, for the first time in months, Shanara felt safe.

She was so wrapped up in them that she didn't notice the tall, solitary figure of Lucius Malfoy come in behind them and when they finally let go of her, she involuntarily ran to him and hugged him as she would her own father.

Lucius was a hard man. He had worked all his life to keep the Malfoy's where they were, wealthy, powerful and unbreakable. However, his grief over the break up of Draco's and Shanara's engagement was very real. Montgomery or not, Shanara had been virtually his daughter and he was thoroughly ashamed of his son's behaviour.

Looking down at the girl before him, looking so young and vulnerable, for the millionth time, he found himself cursing Draco and his stupidity.

"Hello, my dear.." he said affectionately.

"Hello, Uncle Luce" she said, smiling up at him with the same affection.

Before he could say more though, the rest of the travelers arrived, noisily dragging their trunks and chatting. Lucius saw his son trailing at the back, refusing to meet his eyes, tentatively smiling at Alejandro and Robert and flinching at their cold smiles and nods. Lucius almost screamed with exasperation. Draco had hurt and humiliated their sister. They knew the realities of what society was like and they very rightfully blamed Draco for the problems their sister would face in the future.

After the awkward introductions all round ( Hermione exclaiming that she didn't know Shanara had a twin and Ron muttering mutinously about being under the same roof as 'deatheaters') the entire lot portkeyed to Montgomery Manor.

As she stepped through the doors of her home, Shanara found herself instantly swept into the arms of her mother and after her, Marya and in turn all her aunts, uncles and cousins, laughing, she hugged them all and exclaimed over their news and playfully bullied her cousins. They all knew what had happened but tactfully refrained from commenting. Looking around, she saw that her father and grandfather had placed themselves apart from the crowd near the fireplace and were watching her with fond smiles. Grinning, she ran to them and hugged them, thrilled to see them again.

Here were the men that would never let her down nor hurt her and she loved them with all her heart.

Talking to them all excitedly, she allowed herself to be dragged to dinner and later to bed.

Smiling quietly at the silliness of the childish tradition, she waited for her siblings to join her as they always did the first night that they were all together again.

Alex danced in first, flopping on the bed in the most undignified manner and tickling her unmercifully, Robert waltzed in soon after, poised and unflustered as ever and lastly Marya, giggly and fairylike floated in. After the usual squabbles of sleeping arrangements, they all settled into different corners of the four poster bed and took a good look at eachother.

Alex, Robert and Marya were shocked at the change in their little sister. Shanara had lost weight, her perpectually slim form was thinner than ever and her face wore the look of sleeplessness and emotional anguish. She was smiling now but they knew her well enough to realize that there was a newfound bitterness in that simple smile that had never been there before.

Though they stayed away from the topic of Draco and spoke of everything else. They couldn't help but realize that the Shanara that they sent to Hogwarts that year had come back a very different person from their beloved baby sister.

This certainly didn't make them care a whole lot more for Draco.