The rest of the day went by uneventfully, the house elves prepared fantastic meals for all the guests. Hermione beamed as she watched them, part of her time had been dedicated to freeing them and now all house elves were paid and properly treated. Free to quit their jobs or find different work.
In the evening everyone gathered into a large living room. Rose, Scorpius and Hugo were settled near the fire while Hermione, Draco and Scorpius's mother were settled into different armchairs enjoying glasses of wine as they talked. It felt peaceful to Rose. Everyone was calm, they was no shouting. She settled herself facing towards everyone, so that nobody could read over her shoulder.

-x-

Severus came to find me today. Lily was with him but he asked her to stand away for a moment. I was confused. We hadn't planned a meeting or anything, he just chanced into me. Lily looked pleased with being told to move away, she is very strange.

Severus told me that he had spoken to Lucius, that Lucius had asked him to ensure I agreed to date Lucius.

It was a long conversation. Severus didn't understand my point of view. Not properly, he understood my hesitation at saying yes but not fully. If I said yes to dating him it'd be agreeing to permanence, my mother would ensure it. I explained to him that I had to marry properly, my family demanded it. I explained that my mother would never forgive me if I tried to break up with him. I explained that it was too soon for me to be agreeing to marry him, I don't know him. How can I decided on forever on someone I don't even know?
I guess I shouldn't be too surprised he didn't fully understand, he isn't from a house like mine. He doesn't have the same pressures as I do. His parents would probably be fine with him marrying a muggle-born. I however had less options. I had to do this wisely.

Apparently Lucius is pulling some heavy strings on this, I don't understand why exactly. Severus told me he thinks marrying Lucius would be a terrible idea, but made me promise to lie if ever asked. Severus almost seems scared of Lucius. It is probably my imagination, Severus doesn't care for drama and there would be a storm if Lucius found out he had broken his promise. At least I have an answer about Lucius I guess….
I just have to try and avoid him as much as possible.

Severus hugged me before he left. I wasn't expecting it, I would have never mistaken him for the type to hug. He went back to Lily after, she hugged him and they left.

-x-

There was a loud knock that startled Rose from her reading and she glanced up.

"Come in" Draco called from his seat. He had relaxed into an unusual position, one of his legs propped over one of the arms of his chair. A small elf pushed the door open.

"A gentleman wishes to floo here. Demands. He shouts." The elf stated and Rose's mother's face dropped into concern.

"Ignore him" Draco stated, taking another sip from his wine.

"As you wish" the elf bowed and retreated from the room, bowing as he did so.

"Perhaps the children should away to bed?" Grandmother Malfoy stated, standing up and straitening her skirt. As she stood her hands rested together in her lap neatly. She looked prim and proper, the picture of manners.

"Good idea, Mother" Draco muttered. "Are you okay to take them?" The woman nodded, turning to the children and gesturing towards the door.

"Come along" The three of them stood up, being led back out into the hallway and up the grand staircase once more. The door into the living room was shut but Rose saw Draco standing up and looking concerned. What was it that they were being taken away from? Rose and Hugo had rooms that were prepared for them, their belonging had been neatly stacking inside the doors. They were adjacent to each other and on the same floor as Scorpius. Scorpius hugged them both before disappearing into his own room. "Do you know where the bathroom on this floor is?" Rose could not help see the awkwardness in her stand. It was all so strange, not at all like some silly sleepover.

"Yes, Ms Malfoy"

"Do you need anything else?" Rose thought for a moment before shaking her head, everything had been packed and she could bother the house elves if she needed anything. Ms Malfoy stood for a moment, as if words were caught in her throat. Rose felt anger well inside her, she did not want this strange woman feeling sorry for her, she did not want to be bathed in pity or sadness. "I hope you are content in the Manor" The woman finally stated. She still looked uncomfortable, as if they was more she wanted to say.

"Thank you" Rose muttered, ducking into her temporary room. It was larger than her normal room, decorated with cream and pale blue. The sheets looked expensive. The room looked expensive. It was not her house that was painfully clear. She missed her small room, she hoped her mother would come say goodnight to them. With a sigh she placed the diary on a table, glancing into the mirror. She looked tired, black circles had appeared under her eyes. Her red hair hung loose around her, she had forgotten to plait it that morning with…. With everything moving like it had. Eventually she abandoned the mirror and moved to open her luggage, dragging out a knitted blanket. It was red and green with a roses around the borders. It clashed with the room but she didn't' care, it smelt of home and reminded her of her own grandmother who had knitted it lovingly for her. Scorpius seemed to have a good relationship with his grandmother but Rose wondered about it still. His grandmother was not warm like hers, she carried a frown while hers was always smiling. Rose got changed and ducked under the covers, pulling the knitted blanket around her head. It felt wrong, all of it did.