A/N -

Sorry for my absence! I was just so into this chapter that it went on for a rather long time... It had better make up for it. xD

Anyway, enjoy it, and don't forget to drop a review. I may just have to bribe you with cybercookies...

~~Ti, x

Two days after their run-in in classroom eleven, Ti found herself leaning against a tree by the lake, wondering how her best friend relationship with Maya was now hanging on by such loose threads it was possible that if worse came to it, they could lose each other for good.

She'd risked it and bought her half-consumed packet of cigarettes with her. She knew if Maya caught her again it would definitely be their friendship going up in flames rather than the cigarettes, but when had Tielle ever cared about getting caught? Life wasn't worth living without a little risk.

Sighing, she took one out and placed it in her mouth. But something kept her from picking her wand up and lighting it. The conversation that had taken place between the two girls had been replaying in her mind like a stuck record ever since Maya had left. It was probably the thought of her best friend that made her take it out of her mouth and, along with the rest of the pack, threw it into the lake.

There was no way she was picking some disgusting habit over her best friend.

She actually felt quite relieved as she stood up, brushed her hands and jeans off, then set off back up to the school for dinner. She'd have to find Maya and apologise. She'd overreacted by saying it was all Maya's fault. It wasn't. If she hadn't been stupid and started smoking, none of it would have come about in the first place.

Walking into the Great Hall, she took a deep breath and headed over to the Ravenclaw table. She couldn't see Maya, so she just looked as she walked along it. That was when she reached Andrea, Emma and Sarah. The appeared to be unhappy with her sudden appearance.

"Maya's not here," Emma informed her, her tone seeming icy.

Ti wondered what she'd done to annoy Maya's friends. It's not like they were friends themselves, so they couldn't really judge.

"Oh, right..." She said awkwardly. "Well, do you know where she is?"

"No," Sarah snapped. "And I'm pretty sure even if we did know; she wouldn't want us telling you."

Ti, through clenched teeth, sighed deeply and made herself stay calm. Her natural Slytherin instinct was telling her to pick a fight, but that tiny thought of her and Maya being friends again overpowered it.

She just gave them a cold glare and a hair flick over the shoulder, then walked out of the Hall rather dramatically. Some help they were.

If there was one place Maya would be other than Ravenclaw tower, it would be the Library. Tielle, after knowing the girl for six years, knew the Maya motto rather well: When in doubt, go to the Library.

Perfect.

She headed straight there. At least, she thought she did. After walking through countless corridors, she realised that she actually had no idea how to get there without Maya's assistance. It's not like she'd ever willingly go there alone.

She pouted for a second, then let out a heavy frustrated sigh.

"Lost?" came a voice from down the corridor.

Ti turned and looked at him, letting a low chuckle escape her. "Do you know where the Library is?" she asked, biting her lip.

"Merlin, Ti. It's on the other side of the castle!" Scorpius Malfoy laughed, shaking his head.

"Oh... Well, do you mind taking me there?" She smiled innocently.

"Fine, fine," he shook his head and started walking, with Ti following suit.

After a few seconds of silence, Scorpius pursed his lips then looked towards her. "According to my parents we're coming to your place for Christmas," he said, in an obvious attempt to make conversation.

"Yeah, dad mentioned it... But I made plans to go to Maya's," she shrugged.

"I thought the two of you fell out..."

"It's nothing we can't sort out. Hence why I need to go the library."

"So did you make those plans before or after you found out we were coming?" he asked after a short pause, raising an eyebrow.

Sighing, Ti shook her head. There was no point in lying to him. "After..."

He nodded, his smug smile still in place.

"It wasn't because of you," she lied, crossing her arms and setting her jaw in place. She didn't want to add on that she didn't like his company much. He was alright, but he and his friends (more like followers) just got on her nerves sometimes.

"Of course not," he nodded, obviously not believing her.

"Look, I don't feel that way about you anymore, Malfoy. That was two years ago, and it was just a small crush. Let it go, already."

Obviously disappointed by this answer, Scorpius sighed. "You know I don't have to walk you..."

"Then don't!" she snapped before he'd even had the chance to finish his sentence.

She had a rough idea of where they were. She'd just go back to the Entrance Hall and find Albus. She hadn't spent much time with him recently, which was a shame, really. She'd briefly explained to him about her fall-out with Maya, and he'd understood that she wanted to be left alone for a while. Sometimes she thought he was too perfect to be true.

Ti set off down the corridor alone and eventually found her way to the Main Staircase. It was just plain luck that she spotted Albus about to walk through the big doors to the Great Hall with some friends.

She was so happy to see him that she completely forgot about the fact that the two of them dating was a secret.

Running up to him, she grinned. "Hey! I know I've not been the best girlfriend recently, and I'll make it up to you, I swear... But I kind of need a teensy favour," she pouted.

Al looked like he was in shock, and Ti realised what she'd done. She'd just said that in front of all his friends and all of the other people within hearing distance. There was no way she could go around and obliviate everyone's minds... That would take far too long!

Recovering, Albus reached over and took hold of her hand. "Sure. What is it, love?" he asked, planting a light kiss on her cheek, and then smiling.

Ti was more than confused now. She eyed him suspiciously and whispered, "What are you doing?"

"I've been getting signs that maybe people should know about us all week. This one was practically yelling at me, so..."

"But... You'll get so much crap because of me," she said, looking at her feet.

"I don't care," he said simply, lifting her chin so that she was looking at him. "I'm not ashamed. Not at all."

Ti grinned and returned his earlier cheek-kiss, then looked around to a few stunned faces. She didn't care anymore. She had Albus, and hopefully soon, Maya.

"What was it you wanted, cariño?" Al asked her with a smile.

Ti loved it when he called her any form of love in other languages. He often called her querida and cariño. At first, Ti had had no idea what either of them meant, but after some quick research, she'd found out that they meant dear and love.

Not helping but to grin, she shrugged. "I need to find Maya. I just assumed she'd be in the library."

"You don't know where the library is?" He asked, not keeping the evident surprise from his tone.

"Shush, you," she laughed giving him a small playful shove.

Shaking his head and laughing, Albus looked towards his friends and told him he'd catch up with them later, then started walking, pulling Ti lightly by the hand up the stairs from the Entrance Hall.

When they finally got there, Ti realised what she'd done. She'd just taken a right at the staircase when she should have taken a left. Surprisingly, she'd been in the exact right location, just on the wrong side of the school.

Looking inside the door, Ti spotted Maya sitting alone at the end of one of the tables.

"If you want to talk to her alone, I can find the way back by myself..." he offered.

"No, I feel guilty for not spending time with you lately. I've missed you."

"I've missed you too! But this is more of a conversation you two should have alone. We can meet up later, yeah?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Ti smiled and pulled him into a hug before walking hesitantly into the library. She'd never felt more out of place in her life.

She invited herself to sit with Maya and crossed her arms on the table, resting her chin in her hands. When Maya didn't look up, she cleared her throat.

"May I help you?" She asked, not taking her eyes off her work.

"Looking at me would be a start," she suggested, leaning back in her chair.

Maya sighed and placed her quill onto the table carefully to avoid splatters, then looked at the older of the two.

"I came to say sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you the other day, and I shouldn't have blamed our falling out on you. You were right. And my—" Ti took a look around, "—supplies are water logged now, probably being enjoyed my merpeople at the bottom of the lake as we speak."

Maya couldn't help but smile, and reached over to give her friend a hug. "Thank you for the apology, and I'm glad you've stopped," she said.

"But...?"

"But I only have two sentences left to write, and I'm in my place."

Ti laughed and shook her head. That was just typical Maya. "I'll wait, then," she said, watching as the other girl scribbled some more words onto her parchment, then put in the last full-stop.

"There!" She said, tapping it with her wand and watching as it rolled itself up into a neat reel.

"Now, Albus is in the Great Hall. I want you to meet him properly," she smiled, waiting for Maya to pack up her things before standing and leaving the library with her.

This was going to be great! Albus was a bit of a bookworm who loved schoolwork, so he and Maya would probably get along perfectly! At least her best friend and boyfriend would get along. That had to be positive, right?

As they approached the Great Hall, Ti saw Albus through the doors and automatically smiled. He was at the Gryffindor table with James and a few of their friends. There were a couple of seats next to them, so Ti started walking over.

Maya, however, had other ideas.

"Actually, I think I'll just go... Go find Professor Haynes," she said, pursing her lips and nodding, then turning to start walking off.

"Maya? Wha..."

Ah. James was sitting over there. And, now that Al and Ti were exclusive, James had nothing on her. The deal was off. Therefore, she was dragging Maya over there and making sure the two of them spoke to one another and got together already.

"You like him, he likes you, would you two just date already?" Ti laughed, grabbing her hand and pulling her over to the Gryffindor table with her.

At this, Maya struggled in her friend's grasp, blushing deeply and finally pulling herself free. "No!" she exclaimed firmly, crossing her arms and huffing.

"See, you even knew who I was talking about and I never even mentioned his name."

"So?"

Ti sighed and stopped. "Look, just forget James is there. I just want you to meet my boyfriend properly. Please?" she added, giving her best sad-face.

Maya rolled her eyes. "Fine. But if he talks to me, I'm leaving."

Restraining herself from laughing, Ti just shook her head and allowed Maya to follow her freely, taking a seat next to Al and smiling. "Al, this is my best friend, Maya," she said. "And Maya, this is my boyfriend, Albus."

She waited for them to greet each other and side glanced James, who was now completely blanking his friends and looking at Maya instead.

Ti felt like she hadn't done anything very Slytherin recently, so she turned to James. "Potter, you know Maya, right?"

She grinned mischievously, pulled Al up by the hand and walked out of the Hall with him rather quickly before Maya could say another word to her.

When they were half way through crossing the Entrance Hall, the more than familiar voice of Scorpius Malfoy found them.

"I heard about you and Potter," he informed them, crossing his arms.

Ti, at this point, desired nothing more than to punch the silly little smirk right off of his face.

"What about us?" she asked, keeping a steady grip on Al's hand.

"Your father must be so proud," he said coldly. "His little girl is dating a Potter."

Sighing, Ti gave him a look that showed her feelings. "Shut up."

"Oh, hit a nerve, did I?" He drawled, sounding an awful lot like his father.

"Just stop talking, or I'll hit your nerve. Capiche?"

"I don't like your tone," he said simply. "How about I tell Potter, here, about what happened earlier today?"

"I don't know what happened earlier today. Enlighten me, will you?"

Albus was standing there looking from one to the other as they spoke, obviously as confused as Ti was.

"You know, when you asked me to help you find the Library?"

"What? When I said I had a little crush on you Merlin knows how many years ago? Albus knows I used to fancy you. Get to the point?"

"Don't tell me you forgot about our kiss already?"

Ti stood there in confusion for a few seconds. Albus loosened his grip on her hand slightly, but didn't let go. "Okay, what the hell are you talking about?" she asked. He was trying to break them up. Ti wasn't going to let that happen...

"You know perfectly well," Scorpius said, "No hard feelings, right, Potter? I mean, she didn't tell me she had a boyfriend." He then proceeded to shrug, dig his hands into his pockets and walk off without waiting for an answer.

When he was out of sight, Albus let go of her hand as if she had some kind of contagious disease he'd only just found out about. "Care to explain?" he asked, sounding like he was extremely mad, just trying to stay calm.

"What? Don't tell me you believe him! There's nothing to explain because nothing happened!"

"Right. So how did he know you needed to find the Library earlier?"

"I was lost on the wrong side of the castle, and he happened to be the first person to find me."

"So you were with him?"

"Yes, but nothing happened. He walked me down a few corridors, then started going off on one about me crushing on him ages ago, so I got pissed off and, in hopes of finding you, found the rest of the way to the Entrance Hall by myself..."

"Wait," Albus interrupted her. "How come you looked so flustered when you found me, then?"

"Because I was pis... Hold on, you... You believe him?"

"I really don't know what to believe anymore," he shrugged. "Maybe this... Us wasn't such a..."

Before he could say another word, Ti just shook her head, turned and started walking away. She knew she wouldn't be able to cope with him finishing his sentence. Reciting it in her head on repeat would be even more torture, otherwise.

When she found Scorpius, which she would, he was going to be spending a long time in the Hospital Wing recovering. How dare he? What gave him the right to decide whom she could and couldn't date?

Did he really hate her so much that he wanted to see her miserable?

When Ti reached her dorm, she let herself cry. She was trying not to, but some tears just spilt over and there was nothing she could do to stop them. Nothing at all.

She knew that she wouldn't be leaving her dormitory for a rather long time. There was no way she was leaving, not for anything. Not even food. At that particular point in her life, she couldn't even care less if she starved to death.

When Tielle woke the following morning, her eyes were still stinging from crying herself to sleep. She hardly ever cried, and now she'd cried herself dry over a boy.

'But he's not just a boy,' he conscience kept telling her.

Her conscience was right. He was Albus: The boy she felt more strongly about than anybody else, not just in Hogwarts, but on the planet. She knew this was a bit of a drastic thought, but it was true.

She didn't change her clothes, nor get out of bed. It would be like this for a few days, at least.

"I'm ill," she insisted when Claire came to wake her so she wouldn't be late.

"Have you been... Crying?" she asked cautiously.

"No. I'm fine. Just ill," she concluded, pulling the curtain back around so that she was practically concealed in darkness once more.

She was still in bed when Professor Spence, came in to see her around break time. Obviously one of her friends had told him she was ill. Being the head of house, it was his job to check on these things.

"You seem fine," he said, not seeming surprised.

"I'm ill," she repeated in a monotone for what felt like the millionth time that day, and not caring whether it sounded genuine or not.

"Maybe you'd do better in the hospital wing?" he offered. It was obvious that he knew she was perfectly healthy, but he must have realised that something wasn't right with her.

"I'm just going to stay in bed here," she said, turning over and placing her face in her pillow, only leaving a small gap at the bottom to breathe.

"Since I'm here, I have to ask... Can you please come to my office later?" he asked.

"Why?"

"I'll excuse you from the rest of your lessons if you just come to my office at half past six. Okay?"

"Fine," she replied shortly, keeping her eyes closed and her face in her pillow. What did a girl need to do to be alone nowadays?

She waited until she was alone, then turned back over to find that she could produce tears again as some slid off her cheek onto her pillow.

When quarter past six came, Ti was really sleepy. She'd been sleeping most of the day. There was no other way to keep her mind off of things – But when she'd been awake; her inconsolable crying had completely worn her down.

She didn't make an effort. She just cleaned up her face and changed into a casual muggle attire, consisting of jeans and an oversized hoodie.

Luckily, she didn't bump into anybody on the way there. She was rather grateful for her knowledge of the secret passageways and hidden corridors throughout the castle for getting herself there unseen by just about everybody.

But nothing could prepare her for what she saw after she'd been granted entrance into the office. There was Professor Spence sitting behind his large wooden desk, and opposite him were two chairs. One was already occupied.

"Dad?" Ti asked, looking from him to Spence and back.

"Take a seat please, Miss Zabini."

Pursing her lips, Ti sat down slowly and crossed her legs. "What have I done this time?" she asked, not having the faintest idea why this had to involve her father.

"You've not done anything," Spence said. "Actually, your father wants to talk to you privately." He gave what seemed to be forced smile and stood up from his desk. "I shall leave you two to it, then."

Blaise nodded once in thanks and, after making sure nobody could hear them, looked towards his daughter hesitantly.

When he didn't speak straight away, Ti got slightly worried. This was probably the first time she'd ever seen her father unable to form words.

"What is it?" she asked him quietly, feeling a heavy weight in the pit of her stomach. She was jumping to conclusions in her head, none of them very nice. Had somebody died? Was he ill? What was so private that they'd practically kicked professor Spence out of his office?

"I really don't know how to tell you this... Partly because I have no idea whether you'll like it or not."

"If you tell me, you'll find out..." she joked, trying to lighten the mood, even though she could blatantly tell he was struggling with whatever it was.

"I got an owl yesterday," he said, pursing his lips then exhaling heavily through his nose. "Your biological parents want to meet you."

Ti sat in shocked silence for at least fifteen seconds before she remembered how to talk. "What?" she asked quietly. Obviously she'd heard him – She just didn't know what to make of the situation.

Were they crazy? They'd left their newborn daughter on a doorstep and just gone off and lived their lives without a care in the world about her. They'd never once checked on her wellbeing, never once thanked Blaise for taking her in.

Why should she even give them the time of day?

"Well I don't want to meet them," she summed up eventually, crossing her arms. Blaise looked slightly relieved at this. Ti couldn't blame him, really. As she'd always said – They'd abandoned her. Blaise was her real father as far as she was concerned. Sure, she got jealous when people talked about their mothers. She'd never had a mother figure. She had her grandmother, but she very rarely saw her. Blaise wanted her, and her parents didn't. It was that simple, and it was too late to change anything. She'd be seventeen soon anyway. Of age. If they wanted to know her, why hadn't they tried before now?

"I have you as family. I don't need anybody else," Ti shrugged, feeling mushy. She'd been bought up by Blaise Zabini. She really had no idea how she ended up as mushy as she was.

Her father smiled and nodded. "I'll reply to their owl in the morning."

"Make sure they don't know where we live. And suggest that I don't go to Hogwarts. I don't want them finding me on a Hogsmeade weekend... Actually, you may as well just tell them I died."

Seeing her father's impressed face, she shrugged. "I learnt from the best," she smiled. Smiling felt weird. She hadn't smiled in ages... And in a sudden blast of thought, Ti remembered why not. Albus. The waterworks suddenly started again out of nowhere, and she struggled to keep herself from crying again. It was ridiculous. She'd cried quite enough.

She sniffled and subtly wiped her face. She hadn't cried in front of her father since she was five and fell over in the park. Life had been easier when she'd only cried over a scraped knee. Why had nobody warned her about the confusing teenager years?

"What the..." Blaise muttered. "Ti?" he asked, seeming awkward with her inconsolable crying.

"It's nothing..." she struggled to say, completely defeating the object of the sentence.

He looked ready to perform the Cruciatus curse. It was odd how he'd realised that it wasn't anything to do with the news he'd just told her.

Then again, Ti was surprised he hadn't noticed something was up sooner. She was wearing the clothes she'd normally lounge around in at home when she was feeling too lazy to do anything. She wasn't wearing makeup, and her hair looked like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. And forwards. And backwards again.

"I don't know. I just want to go home... Or change schools, or... Anything but stay here..."

Blaise just looked confused and uncomfortable.

"Please, dad? Can I just come home for a few days?" she asked. She didn't think she could handle sneaking around the castle all the time to try and avoid Al.

Looking at loss of what to do, Blaise just sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

Ti smiled and practically flung herself at him for a hug, muttering her thanks into his now tear stained shoulder.

When she eventually let go and sat back in her own chair, Blaise went back outside to get Professor Spence. He was gone for a few minutes, but the two re-entered the room and claimed their places.

Ti was still sitting in the chair, looking at her knees and hiccoughing. She felt pathetic, crying in front of her head of house.

"If we let you go home for a few days, we'll obviously have to send you schoolwork..." Spence said, obviously defeated by the weeping adolescent before him.

Ti cracked a smile and nodded in appreciation towards him.

At least now avoiding Al would be easier.

That night, Ti sat at her desk at home, re-reading the words inked onto the parchment.

Maya,

I'm at home. I'll explain everything soon, I just needed to get away. Sorry I couldn't tell you this in person. You're still my best friend, don't forget that!

~T xxx

Half-smiling, she rolled it up and walked upstairs to her very own mini-owlery. They had a few owls. Blaise often needed to send letters while other owls were away, so they had six: Lemon, Wings, Dave, Bob, Indigo and Feathers. Ti selected Dave and tied the letter to his leg.

"It's for Maya. Make sure she gets it quickly," she smiled, stroking him a couple of times then stepping back as he spread his wings to set off for Hogwarts.

She watched the owl fade into the distance, then slowly walked downstairs to find her dad reading the paper on the sofa.

She walked over to him and sat beside him, snuggling up to him like she used to when she was younger when she was upset. Though, that was usually only from scraped knees. Heartbreak was so much worse.