Neomi watched with wide eyes as Snape fell to the forest floor. Lupin's eyes danced with pleasure at the jinx. She and Draco exchanged a worried look. To be completely honest, she wasn't so sure that Lupin was a safe bet. He had a good bit of suppressed anger towards Snape, and for good reason. But, looking at him now, she got the feeling that he was enjoying this more than he should. Apparently, Draco agreed.

"Prof-ah, Remus, perhaps we should leave now?" he asked, motioning at the forest around them.

Lupin's expression grew calmer, and he held out a hand. "Of course," he answered. "Neomi, take my hand. Draco, take hers. I'll Apparate the three of us, easier that way. I know where we're going."

Neomi hesitated a little before placing her left hand in his. Anyone who got that much enjoyment out of knocking another person unconscious was at least a little unhinged. But, time was of the essence, and they needed to leave. Draco took her right hand, giving it a small squeeze of encouragement.

"Everything's gonna be alright now, Mi," he said, just before Lupin Apparated them away.

When they stopped, her mouth dropped and her eyes grew wide. Their destination was a beautiful beach house, obviously smaller than the Manor, but not too small. Quaint. It reminded her of the cottage she had lived in with her mother. Those memories were faint, but they were happy. Just looking at the house made her feel better. She gave Lupin a hopeful look.

"Is this where we are staying?" she asked hopefully. When he nodded, she almost jumped. It seemed too perfect. After years of being neglected under the best of circumstances and tortured under the worst, especially lately, she couldn't believe that she was free.

"It's not over yet, Neomi," Lupin said, attempting to ground her in reality. He didn't want her to get too excited. The war was still raging, and she was far from safe. She nodded in response but didn't lose the elated look on her face. He sighed. "Let's get inside and perhaps you can explain what's going on?"

Neomi and Draco nodded, following Lupin into the beach house. When she saw the interior, she sighed happily. It was soft and cozy, with simple, charming décor that reflected the location. There was a chair in the main room that looked almost exactly like her mother's rocking chair.

At a sudden gasp, she turned, meeting eyes with Professor McGonagall, who started for her.

McGonagall grabbed Neomi's hands softly and pulled them up, examining her arms. "Neomi, child, whatever have they done to you…" she murmured, concern in her eyes. She looked up at Neomi's face. "When was the last time you ate?"

Neomi blushed, though she didn't quite understand why the idea that she was ill fed was embarrassing. It wasn't like it was her fault. She shrugged. "I'm not sure. Living in the basement… It was kind of hard to know how much time was passing. After a while… you just… stop feeling hungry." Draco glared at nothing, staring off into space. She knew that he blamed himself for her lack of food. He hadn't been able to sneak her food as often as he should have, as far as he was concerned. Especially lately.

McGongall just pursed her lips together, her usual expression when she was displeased. "Well, then, I'd say the talking can wait. We need to get some food in you." She placed her hands on Neomi's shoulders, leading her to the kitchen. Lupin and Draco followed. The two arched a brow at the scent of meat pies coming from the oven.

"I take it you were prepared for this circumstance?" Lupin asked dryly, and McGonagall gave him a stern look.

"I can hardly be considered foolish for preparing a meal for the dear girl, considering that she has, in fact, not been fed in days," she bit back. Draco and Neomi looked at each other, smirking and fighting the urge to laugh. McGonagall waved her way, and the stove opened and two pies flew out, cooling before they landed on the table. She looked at the Malfoys, her expression softening. "Sit. Eat. You both look like you need it."

Neomi sat down and immediately started devouring the pie. She wondered if McGonagall had known that meat pies were her favorite, or if it was just a coincidence. Either way, it was seasoned perfectly, and the crust was just the right amount of flaky. She almost moaned in delight. Draco gave her a smile, knowing how much she was enjoying the meal. When he took a bite, his eyes rolled back in his head. Ever since the Manor had become Voldemort's base, and ever since the Malfoy family had been on his bad side, he hadn't been getting much in the way of decent food, either. His last meal had been little more than chunks of meat in a thin broth, prepared by one of the Dark Lord's grunts, who was obviously not used to working in the kitchen. Seemed the only ones getting decent meals in the house were Voldemort and, on occasion, Bellatrix. As such, the pie was quite the treat for both siblings.

As the two sat in silence, eating, McGonagall and Lupin moved into the main room of the house. Neomi could hear the faintest traces of conversation, and gathered that McGonagall was filing Lupin in on what she knew about the situation. She wasn't completely sure what Snape had told McGonagall, but she was hoping he'd told her enough that she wouldn't have to talk about it too much. Neomi had been living it for months, years even. Having to talk about it, live through it, explain her life to these people, would probably be more than she could bear right now.

Apparently, Draco agreed. "Hope McGonagall knows everything," he said, echoing her thoughts. For what was the millionth time since they'd become siblings, Neomi wondered if Draco could read her mind. "I don't really want to talk about it, and I hardly think you would."

"I suspect that's why McGonagall gave us the food and took him in there to talk," she replied before taking her last bite of the pie. She looked down at it sadly. She hadn't really eaten much. It'd been so long since she'd had a decent meal, her stomach had shrunk. She'd barely eaten a fourth of the pie. She shoved it away, sighing. "I wish I could eat more," she said forlornly.

Draco gave her a small smile. "I'm sure you'll be able to eat more as you get used to it," he said encouragingly. She nodded.

"I hope so. Especially if they're going to keep feeding us like this. Who would have thought Professor McGonagall knew how to cook so well?" She laughed a little. Of all the things she'd have guessed about the Professor if asked, this was probably one of the last. McGonagall didn't really strike one as the domestic type.

Draco laughed, too, partially out of agreement, and also partially because it was so nice to hear Neomi laughing again. Really laughing, not a sarcastic snicker like what she would give the Death Eaters during her sessions. "Definitely not me. And yet, here we are, and she apparently cooked this."

"It's probably the best meat pie I've ever had," she said. It might not actually be, but it was certainly the best one she remembered.

With that in mind, she smiled and pulled the pie back to her. "Maybe just a couple more bites," she said, and Draco smiled. It was good to see her being herself. She took another bite of the pie, listening to the conversation in the other room. They were still talking, so she figured she had a bit longer before she had to talk about it. She decided to enjoy the time while she could.