Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. He and anything else you recognize is the property to JKR and I claim no right to any of it, I am only borrowing for a while.

AN: Finally finished! I've been slowly working on this for weeks so to finally be done is such an accomplishment. I'm moving the plot along slowly but I really do mean it when I say that everything that has happened so far will be important in the future. It may not seem like the plot is moving very quickly and the action is kinda nonexistant but every little action that the characters take at this point will affect the rest of the story. If them doing this or that doesn't seem important now it will later on. Thanks to every one who has reviewed so far, I love getting feedback. Also I wrote a little insert to this series called, "How Draco Malfoy lost his heart". No real spoilers, its just to give you a bit of background for further chapters. Check it out on my Author's Page.

Chapter 8

La maison sûre

The 'walk' as Al had called it was shaping up to be more of an adventure hick, and his two miles appeared to be more like five. By noon Rose was tired, hungry and her feet were hurting so much she knew she had blisters. Leaning against a sturdy tree she tried to catch her breath. Unlike her companions, who regularly played Quidditch, Rose had always been an indoors type, much preferring books as a child to climbing trees. Letting out a puff of breath, Rose turned brown eyes to her companions, a glare forming.

They had no problems making the trek that was laid out before them. Neither looked like they had been walking since dawn, still pristine in dress and not a bead of sweat anywhere on their face. Feeling a surge of unknown emotion swirl in her stomach Rose pushed off from the tree and stomped past them. 'Now your acting like your father again, Rosie.' Growling low at her mother's persistent voice she ignored her friends looks and continued walking.

"Maybe we should take a break." Al's voice drifted towards her, sparking unknown feelings in her gut. Standing still Rose tried to arrange her thoughts in some kind of order. So much had changed in the past twenty four hours she was barely holding on to constructive thought by a bare thread.

Turning around sharply she looked at them, her eyes hardening. "There's no need to stop. I'm fine. If we want to get where ever we're going before dark I think the last thing we need is to stop now." she snipped, her stomach clenching slightly. Anger boiled in her as she watched them exchange a quick glance, their eyes speaking volumes to each other. 'So the know-it-all rears her ugly head.' their voices seemed to echo in her head, mocking her. 'Just like her mother, though not nearly as smart, just thinks she is.'

Giving a short, but fierce growl she turned from them, walking quickly in hopes to escape the mocking voices that plagued her mind. She pushed ahead even when she knew she had gained some distance on her friends, the voices seeming to quiet with each forced step. Mumming forced tunes to herself she only vaguely paid attention as they began to catch up to her. Biting back her thoughts she chose the cowards way and remained silent, forcing her mind to remain blank, afraid of exactly were it could lead her.

The forest that surrounded them slowly thinned as they pressed towards the south. Rose had spent the afternoon tracking the sun through the thick canopy of trees that hung high above her. Through this she had finally given herself some baring and a pleasant distraction for her mind. By the time they had exited the woods the sun was well past noon, though the shifting lengths of day left her baffled as to exactly what time it could have been. The lonely stretch of beach they had stumbled upon was wholly unremarkable. Rose had stared over the rocky shore and deep blue-green waves but took very little of it in.

"Lets keep moving." Al had said after only a few moments to take in their surroundings. Nodding absentmindedly Rose followed, her eyes occasionally drifting back towards the waves. Something, though she wasn't sure what it was, made her believe they would regret coming here. She knew that what ever lay before them would likely change them forever, and her heart hurt thinking of the things that she didn't know. Blinking back tears she pressed on. She had to do this, not only for her family, and herself but for her future, the future she hoped would be her's. Not daring to glance at Scorpius she walked more briskly. The sooner they reached their destinations the sooner all this would play itself out.

The walk down the beach was much shorter then their hick through the woods. Over a small hill and around a bend in the beach Rose stopped short right behind Al, both looking at the house that stood just off the shore line. It wasn't much in appearance, and quiet honestly looked as though it had been made out of pieces of drift wood but their was a certain homy feeling about the place. Walking up the three short steps to the porch Rose stared at the odd blue door to the front of the house. Raising a slightly shaky hand, Al knocked a pattern Rose was sure she had heard somewhere before.

The door swung open in one swift, fluid motion, a cold blast of air hitting Rose in the face. A lone figure stood in the open doorway, olive colored robes billowing around them. "You 'ave arrived." a heavily accented voice said, the figure stepping out into the midday light of the porch. Silvery, long hair was pulled back in an almost sever twist, soft tendrils falling around her face somewhat softening the effect. Her features were soft and delicate, large almond eyes perfectly accented with pale, arching brows.

Rose felt instantly inferior, even before she had noticed the woman's eye color, pale sea green. Her companions seemed transfixed, both nodding along dumbly while staring openly. Huffing slightly she stepped forward, extending her hand in greeting. "I'm Rose Weasley." Whether the woman recognized the icy undertone to her voice or not she accepted her hand, shaking it softly.

"Gabrielle Bois." she replied. Rose's eyes widened slightly in recognition. So this was Vic's reclusive aunt. She'd always wondered what the woman was like, but even Vic barely knew her, Gabrielle, as apparently her name was, had left Britain for the mother land before Vic had even left for Hogwarts. Gabrielle merely nodded to the boys before stepping into the house in a sign of welcome. "Come, I vill show you vhere you vill be staying."

The house, cottage really, while small was homely, the furnishings richly colored and the house dimly lit and well furnished. A short walk up the two flights of stairs left them in a small hall. "You," she said pointing to Al and Scorpius. "Vill be here." Opening the worn wood door she pointed to the two beds in the room. Nodding, distracted by something Rose didn't see, they entered the room. Shaking her head slightly Gabrielle continued down the hall, Rose following close behind. "Zee bathroom is zere, and you will be staying across from it." Stepping into the room Rose felt instantly at home with the cool Mediterranean colors that where used.

Letting her bag fall to the small bed she turned, giving Gabrielle a slightly strained smile. "Thank you." she said, inclining her head slightly. The older woman returned the gesture, a look of understanding flashing in her eyes.

"Dinner vill be ready in an hour or so, I vasn't expecting you so early." With that she nodded to Rose one last time, exiting the room and closing the door behind her. The silence that followed unnerved Rose slightly, the only sounds being the crashing of the waves outside her window.

Heaving a sigh Rose sat on the bed, running weary hands over her face. The day had been long and she honestly didn't know how much more she could take. It was supposed to be an adventure, the excitement of it all had been what had interested her to begin with after all. Now it was all turning out to be so much more complicated. She'd left home under the juvenile assumption that this would be cut and dry and she would be returning to life and school before too long. Here it was mid September and she was essentially on the run in a foreign country she knew very little about and very much uncertain of whether of not this would be the last unexpected relocation she would experience in the near future.

That night and the few after, thankfully, proceeded without incident. While confined to the house during the day Gabrielle had noticed her restlessness and given her free reign of the houses library. She'd poured over book, ones of language, politics, magic, anything that she found interesting. After several late nights she had managed to turn her pendent into a translation amulet, though she still studied the language books, just in case she ever had need for it.

It was on one of these late night trips to the library that she had stumbled upon Gabrielle, looking longingly at a book, silent tears on her cheeks. Her head had jerked up suddenly at catching Rose's movement, giving her little time to quietly sneak out. "I'm sorry for disturbing you." she'd blurted out before she could think of anything else to say.

Smiling softly Gabrielle merely wiped her face and motioned her to set. While Rose and she did not particularly get along there was still a silent agreement between the two. Closing the book she had been looking at she turned her eyes towards Rose. "I am not so old yet as to not notice vhen jealousy is placed in my direction." she said, smiling softly at Rose. Feeling embarrassed Rose ducked her head to hide her blush. "I do not know if Victorie every explained zee family to you but I feel zat now I must. Ma Grand-mere vas a Veela. Zo ma soeur and I vere born part Veela. I am sure a vell read fille like you know vat zat entails."

Rose nodded, feeling like a weight had been lifted off of her heart. Scorpius was entranced with her because of her blood he couldn't help it. The slight ache of jealousy was still there but Rose tried to focus on this explanation and not allow her mind to drift back to the other option. Clearing her throat Rose tried to turn the conversation towards something else. "What book were you reading? When I came in?" Always eggar to gain new knowledge she hoped it would be one that she hadn't read before.

A sad smile crossed Gabrielle's face as she traced the gold foliage on the cover. "It vas mon vedding album. Mine and mon mair's. Ve vould have been married ten years today." she said, tears once again appearing. Not knowing what to say or do Rose stared at her hands for a moment.

"What was he like, your husband?" she asked, watching as a reminiscent smile passed over Gabrielle's lips. Happy memories apparently taking over the bad.

"He vas merveilleux, vonderful, mon Gerard. So brave, so smart. He vas a... an Auror I think you call zem. He so loved to save ozers." Gabrielle said a soft sob escaping her lips. "Two years, only two. Ve vere so young, but it did not matter. Ve thought ve'd have forever. But, no, only two."

Rose felt her heart go out to the other woman, to love someone so deeply to only love them and to only have two years together. She wasn't sure if she could handle it. A small piece of her snapped in the moment. There was a chance they could die doing this. The thought made her still of a moment, the thought of her own death or far worse that of Scorpius flashing in her mind. She loved him, she knew that, no matter how foolish it was to be in love at sixteen. Could she live if he didn't make it out of this alive? In that one fleeting moment she knew that she would never be able to move on if she were to have him only to watch him die in front of her own eyes.

Smiling at Gabrielle she knew that she couldn't do it. The only way she could deal with it would be to never have him at all. She could not have Scorpius Malfoy return her feeling. For to lose a lover was far more painful then losing a friend. The conversation drew her in again, the hours burning away as she and Gabrielle grew closer, talking animatly about the man Rose had never known.

Late that night, tucked away in her bed Rose mind reflected on her thoughts earlier that evening. Yes, she would not love nor be loved by Scorpius. Not only for her and her fear of losing him, if not to death then to his reward but for the thought of the grief that he would suffer if she were the one to parish. After all there was no prophecy for Rose Weasley, no guarantee that there was a place for her in the coming darkness. With that final thought she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

tbc.

Next: The Fall of Nim. A trip to the nearby village leads to some interesting happenings.

AN: There you go, what do you think? I'll start writing ch. 9 sometime this weekend and I really hope to have it up within a week this time.