As Amelia descended down the mansion's grand staircase, the smell of pancakes and coffee filled her nose, making her mouth water just little.

"Good morning Amelia dear," Aunt Catherine called from the kitchen, "Eliza tells me you don't want any pancakes this morning, I made them especially for your journey."

"I'm sorry, I'm not very hungry." Amelia answered as she sat down next to Duncan, her other cousin and Eliza's brother.

"Amelia, I know you're still upset but you have to keep eating, your parents wouldn't want you to become ill. Here," Catherine passed Amelia two slices of bread and motioned across the oak dining table, "and there's butter and jam if you want."

"Thanks." Amelia replied reluctantly.

Uncle Henry, who had been sitting at the head of the table reading today's Daily Prophet, put it down and cleared his throat.

His light brown hair fell softly over his forehead, hiding very little of the deep creases that were growing from even more stress and unwanted meetings.

"Catherine and I both know this summer has been most difficult on this family, especially you, Amelia. Your parents' unexpected deaths have shocked us all and I hope that you will choose to stay with us for however long you feel comfortable for."

Amelia looked up from the table.

Listening to her Uncle recalling what had briefly happened pained her, but she refused to let it show. She merely nodded at the offer to stay.

"This leads me onto another matter. We were very much looking forward to spending Christmas with your mother and father, Amelia, but as that isn't an option now;

Catherine and I have had to make other arrangements," Uncle Henry continued, "the Malfoy's have been very valuable friends of mine and this family's, and as we had them round for Easter, Lucius has kindly returned the favour by inviting us round for Christmas."

Amelia's face dropped in horror.

"I have already spoken with Lucius and he said that he his family would be delighted to spend Christmas with us."

"You've got to be kidding. You are joking, right?" Amelia pleaded, not being able to comprehend what her uncle had just said.

"No Amelia, I am not kidding. I really think that the best and most enjoyable way of spending Christmas this year would be with them. Look," Uncle Henry said as he saw Amelia's anger rising, "I know that you do not care much for the Malfoy's after what has happened this summer but-"

"But what? I hate them! They are the foulest, most spiteful and selfish people I know! I would much rather spend Christmas by myself than with them."

"Now don't be silly, you are not spending Christmas alone. You just have to put the past behind you and move on. You and Draco used to be close friends, so don't let one silly thing ruin that."

"One silly thing? You count mother and father's deaths as silly?" Tears started trickling down Amelia's beautiful face.

She had since, sitting at the table, moved to the doorframe, ready to leave if she lost her self-control.

Arguments such as these with her uncle were common, even more so since her parents' death. She did not enjoy them but she felt very protective over her parents, or so she led herself to believe.

"Of course I'm not Amelia, I just think that you shouldn't ruin your friendship with Draco over a death that doesn't have anything to do with him." Uncle Henry said, starting to get agitated.

"IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HIM!" Amelia screamed at her uncle who was now directly in front of her.

"Right I think everyone needs to calm down," Aunt Catherine said looking at Amelia then her husband, "We will discuss this another time, but for now Amelia needs to get a move on. The floo network isn't working so we will have to use the portkey. It will leave at half past seven so you have 5 minutes to finish packing and get your trunks downstairs. We will meet in the foyer just before half past. Okay?"

Amelia was still glaring through tear-drenched eyes at her uncle while her cousins walked past.

"You should finish packing, Amelia dear. We don't have long." Aunt Catherine insisted.

Knowing that there wasn't a point in carrying the argument on, Amelia nodded to her aunt and left the dining room, not glancing back to notice her uncle storming out of the room and into his study.

But she heard the heavy oak door slam.

Her head was still spinning in exhilaration as she opened the dark blue bedroom door.

She had had many arguments with her uncle, but she had never shouted at him. As she thought about it, she had never shouted at anyone.

Pull yourself together Amelia, the voice inside her head said.

Amelia packed the rest of her books in the trunk and closed the top, fastening the clasps into place.

She suddenly realised how empty this room was without her things in it.

This is how it was when I arrived; lonely, she thought.

She did not own many things so when Amelia moved to Valencote house she did not have many bags to unpack.

Most of her clothes were still in her house, which Uncle Henry said would need to be moved here, and all the rest of her things she packed in her trunk for Hogwarts.

Heaving it off of her large four-poster bed, Amelia grabbed hold of the handle and pulled her trunk into the hallway, taking one last look at her new bedroom