Author's notes: Just a quick heads up for everyone, this chapter hasn't been beta'd, as I wanted to get it posted as quickly as possible before the holidays. Therefore, please excuse any mistakes.

Additionally, with Christmas fast approaching, I don't know when I'll have another chapter for y'all. I will try to get one out before New Year's, but if not, it'll be after the holidays.

Finally, thanks to Disco Inferno,Hannah Loves Lupin, Persephoniii andIndeffinate for you wonderful reviews. I really appreciate the support, and I'm glad y'all are enjoying the story.

Chapter Thirteen: An Unspoken Understanding

The following morning, Morrigan big a tearful farewell to her family, as they all gathered to use a Portkey that would take them back to their home in Italy.

"Remember, you're always have a home with us, if things here don't work out," insisted Connor, embracing his daughter tightly.

"Thanks, Papa," replied Morrigan kissing her father on both cheeks.

"And you've got to promise to write to us every week," added Felicia, taking her turn to hug her older sister. "And visit us once you're settled in."

"Of course," assured the raven-haired witch, ruffling her sister's own ebony locks.

"Yeah, if you visit, there will be no one to keep me in line," teased Sean, now stepping up to embrace his sibling.

"I'm sure 'Licia will manage that perfectly well on her own," replied Morrigan facetiously.

Finally, it was only mother and daughter who hadn't said good-bye to each other, and Isabella turned to her second eldest with tearful eyes.

"Take care of yourself, Morrie," she all but sobbed. "If you ever need anything, I'm only an owl away. And remember, just follow your heart and everything will be ok."

"Thanks, Mama," returned the now crying woman. "For everything."

"It's nothing," insisted Isabella, with a warm smile.

"Well, I really appreciate it. And I'm going to really miss your late night coco and advice," sighed Morrigan, resting her head against her mother's chest.

"Me too, baby," agreed the older woman tearfully. "Just don't forget how much I love you."

"I would never," insisted the raven-haired witch, before adding, "And I love you too."

At last the two females stopped embracing, and the O'Brien family all gathered around the half-broken wooden spoon that would serve as a Portkey.

Taking one last turn to each embrace Morrigan, Connor, Isabella, Sean and Felicia all took hold of the disused kitchen utensil.

"We'll miss you," the called in unison, and then with a slight swirling motion they vanished.

Stepping back from where her family had just disappeared from, Morrigan looked around the empty house.

Despite its deserted state, the raven-haired woman's heart felt full of hope, and excitement for the future.

For the fist time since Lilith had died, Morrigan actually felt as though there was something to look forwards to, and she couldn't wait to start her new life in Britain.

As she reached the lounge room, the young woman took a moment to look up at the portrait of the twin she'd tragically lost.

"I'll always miss you, Lils," she whispered. "But I have to move on with my life, I hope you understand that."

Outside, a crow cawed, as if giving Morrigan the approval of her lost sister.

After taking one final look around the house, Morrigan Flooed to the Leaky Cauldron. She had to pay Tom for her stay at the pub, collect her personal belongings from her room, and hopefully get a chance to speak to Draco.

Tom was sad to see Morrigan go; she'd been a loyal customer in the past few months. However, the bar keeper was also happy that the witched had overcome the melancholy that had accompanied her for the duration of Morrigan's stay at the establishment.

"Don't worry, Tom. I'll be back," she assured. "Nowhere else does fire whisky as good as you do."

The barman smiled gratefully at her, and tipped his cap.

Morrigan headed up-stairs to her room, gathered her belongings together, and then cast a charm on them so that they would all fit nicely into her pocket.

Then, the raven-haired witch went in search of Draco.

Despite the fact that the last time they'd seen each other, things had ended awkwardly between them, the young Malfoy Heir had left a note uttering his apology on the morning before Morrigan had gone to see her family.

Feeling hopeful that they could reconcile their differences and overcome the confusion their kiss had led to, Morrigan wrapped loudly on Draco's door.

To her surprise, but also delight, he answered a few moments later.

"Morrigan," he exclaimed in shock. "I thought you'd left for good, and that I wouldn't see you again."

"No, I just needed some time to sort things with my family out," she informed. "But, I will be leaving permanently today. I wanted to stop by and talk to you before I go, though."

"Erm, yeah, sure," stuttered Draco, hastily backing up and allowing Morrigan into his room.

Shockingly for a young man, Draco's room was very tidy, and he happily sat down on his neatly made bed, as Morrigan perched on a near-by stool.

"So, how did things with your family go?" he asked, leaning back against the headboard.

"Good, thanks," replied Morrigan with a smile. "We've sorted out as much as we can at the moment – and while it'll take a long time to get our relationship back to anything like it once was – it's a step in the right direction."

"That's great. I'm really pleased for you," returned Draco.

"Thank you," said Morrigan with a warm smile. "You know, I have you to thank for it in part. If it hadn't been for your insistence that I should take my Grandmother's house, and put myself first, I might not have reconciled with them."

"Well, I'm glad I could help," answered Draco, his own features breaking into a smile.

A few moments of silence followed, and then finally, Draco broke them by clearing his throat.

Morrigan – who had been looking out of the window at the streets of Diagon Alley below, turned her attention back to him, and was instantly pierced by his penetrating grey eyes.

When he said nothing more, she looked at him expectantly and closed the distance between the two of them by perching on the edge of his bed.

"You know, about the other day," Draco began sheepishly. "We'll, I'm really sorry."

Morrigan forestalled him with a wave of her hand. "Can we just draw a line under what happened?" she asked. "Both of us were tense and the time, and said things we shouldn't have. I didn't come here today for apologies."

"But, how I treated you then was unacceptable," he protested. "Getting angry with you like that makes me know better than him, and his followers."

"Draco, listen to me," insisted Morrigan, moving closer still to him, and taking his hand. "We were both at fault the other day. Maybe you wouldn't have gotten so angry if I hadn't provoked you; I should have known better. However, that's all in the past and what matters now is the reason I came here today. As well as saying sorry for taunting you, I also want to apologise for kissing you. I let myself get carried away by my feelings, and I realise now what you really need at the moment is a friend. Which is why, I want to let you know that the offer to stop with me - and get yourself together - still stands."

Draco looked at Morrigan in utter shock, hardly believing what he'd just heard.

"Seriously?" he questioned.

"Seriously," returned Morrigan. "When I was at home, I had a lot of time to think about it. I know what it's like to be alone, and to think you haven't got a friend in the world. I also know that if someone had made me the offer I'm making you, I would have jumped at it. Regardless of what you're going to do about your parents, if you want to stand any chance of making it on your own, you'll need some time and space to get your head together and your feet back on the ground. All I'm offering is a place for you to do that, and a friendly ear to listen, if you ever want it."

"Well, thank you," replied Draco, his features taking on an odd mixture of gratitude, confusion and slight abashment.

Morrigan knew from the expression that he wasn't use to accepting the help of others, and that admitting he had to rely on someone other than himself was hard for Draco.

"But don't think I'm doing this because I like you or anything. I just want to save myself the messy task of recovering you body from a ditch at a later date," she said facetiously, tying to break the tension that had formed between them.

The tactic worked, as Draco smirked, and replied by saying. "Of of course, because you know I'm only accepting your offer because it's the Slytherin thing to do; looking out for yourself in anyway necessary."

"Naturally," Morrigan teased, with a grin of her own.

Then, as the two friends began gathering Draco's belongings together, they both knew that a new, unspoken, understanding had been formed between the two of them.

Happy Holidays Everyone!! Have a great time, and stay safe!

Wanda