A/N: As ever I want to thank Mamacita for her beta skills and to all of you who are still reading, for taking the time. Dx

Cindy watched as rivulets of rain slid down the window, the grey and overcast sky promising plenty more to follow. She leant her head on the cold glass as she continued to look out at the deserted street. She had been at her parents' house for four months now and apart from a couple of letters from Lissy, she'd had no news at all from the wizarding world. If she hadn't known it was there it would have been as if it had never existed.

Andrew had been as good as his word and had smuggled her into Muggle London the day after their meeting, promising to look after Lissy and taking a letter for his daughter. He thought Cindy was doing the right thing. Rumours he had heard at work suggested that Bellatrix had already influenced the outcome of the Board and Cindy's life was in serious danger.

But despite that, Cindy wished she hadn't left. She missed Lissy so much that sometimes the pain crippled her and she lay in her small childhood bedroom in floods of tears, unable to do anything but wallow in her misery. This just increased when she thought of Lucius. Because of her lack of wizarding news, she fretted constantly over whether he was okay. Was Voldemort still a guest in his home? Was Lucius even alive still?

Lissy, of course, had no idea what was going on with Lucius as Draco hadn't spoken to her since his return to school, apparently still intent on keeping her away from whatever bad things were going on his life, but her letters, sent to Cindy's parents rather than Cindy so as not to give away her whereabouts in case anyone was checking, brief as they were, told tales of insubordination by her and her friends.

Harry, Ron and Hermione had apparently not returned to school. The official story was that Harry had decided not to return after Albus Dumbledore's death and had disappeared, presumed in hiding with his Muggle family. Ron was seriously ill with a nasty disease called Spattergroit, and Hermione had gone back to the Muggle world; hardly surprising as she, too, was on the list to appear before the Ministry of Magic.

However, Ron's younger sister Ginny had told Lissy and her friends that the trio had gone on a quest given to them by Dumbledore before he died. The implication was that whatever they were doing, it was to try to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The rest of the group that had opposed Umbridge, the D.A., were doing all they could at the school to ensure they were ready to help Harry when the time came. Cindy couldn't help but feel proud of Lissy although she was scared for her too, worried that by taking part in the insurrection she would bring herself to the attention of the Death Eaters who were now running the school and that they would take out their dissatisfaction at not being able to track down Cindy on her daughter.

There was movement outside. A dark figure was walking up the street in the pouring rain, with no umbrella. Cindy rubbed the misted-up window and looked with interest at the figure as it made its way hastily along the rain-sodden road. Then it was gone. Cindy pulled her head back from the glass, her heart suddenly pounding faster. Where had the person gone? Was it a Death Eater? Had they finally tracked her down? A moment later the doorbell rang. Whoever it was had obviously turned into her parents' drive. She was scared now. They weren't expecting any visitors.

She rushed over to the bedroom door and opened it slightly. She could hear the sound of voices as her father talked to the visitor. A moment later the door was opened wider and the mysterious person was invited into the house. Cindy tried to relax. It wasn't likely to be a Death Eater. They would have just killed her father without talking first. She moved out onto the landing to see if she could hear anything and work out who the visitor was. She wasn't going to risk going downstairs until she knew it was safe and Cindy didn't want to endanger her parents by appearing at the wrong moment. The voices were low and she couldn't hear anything more than a mumble, so she moved quietly towards the stairs.

'Well, I'm not sure that's a good idea,' her father was saying, his voice raised a little.

The visitor mumbled for a few seconds. Her father sighed. 'All right, I'll try. But I can't promise anything.' A moment later her father called up from the bottom of the stairs. 'Cindy, love. There's someone here to see you.'

Cindy froze. Who would be coming to see her who wasn't a Death Eater? She waited for a moment without moving. A few seconds later the stairs creaked as her father began to climb, still calling her name. Cindy waited for a couple of seconds then moved to the head of the stairs to gaze at him quizzically.

'You've got a visitor,' he said, looking unhappy.

'Who? Andrew?' Her father shook his head. Cindy frowned. No one else should have known where she was. 'Who, then?'

'That old boyfriend of yours, Lucius Whatshisname,' her father said. 'Although god knows what he's doing here.'

Cindy's heart leapt for joy and she almost ran down the stairs, but suddenly she remembered the Unbreakable Vow she had made with Andrew to enable her escape. She couldn't talk to Lucius; her life depended on it. It was heartbreaking when she thought of the huge risk he must have taken in coming to see her.

'I don't want to see him,' Cindy lied unhappily. 'I've got nothing to say to him and it's dangerous him being here.'

'I told him that,' her father said, 'but he was insistent. He refuses to go until he's seen you.'

Cindy sighed. She couldn't tell her father about the vow she had made with Andrew. If he even half understood it he would be completely horrified. But she had to do something.

'Please tell him I can't speak to him, Dad. It's all too painful for me at the moment.' She looked pleadingly at him.

He nodded. 'All right, love, but perhaps you should come and see him.'

Cindy shook her head. 'I can't,' she whispered sadly, her heart breaking once again. Inside she was dying to run down and see her beloved Lucius, but she couldn't trust herself not to say anything to him and she didn't know what would be considered breaking the vow. Perhaps even just being near him would be too much.

Her father turned and headed back down the stairs and she heard him talking urgently to Lucius again. Lucius didn't sound very happy, but Cindy's father was soothing. Cindy crept down the stairs until she could hear what they were saying. She still couldn't see Lucius, which was disappointing, but she could at least hear his voice properly now.

'Look, I know this is hard. But I really need to see Cindy, even just for a few minutes.'

'She doesn't want to see you, Lucius. I'm sorry,' her father said. 'Cindy's having enough trouble dealing with being away from everyone without you upsetting her.'

'My intention isn't to upset her, Mr Baker. I'm having just as hard a time with this as Cindy is, but it can all be resolved with just a few minutes of her time.' His voice was so desperate that Cindy almost ran down the stairs to him then, but somehow she managed to hold herself back.

'I'm sorry, Cindy won't come downstairs . . . and I won't let you go up,' her father said apologetically.

'Fine.' Lucius sounded desolate. 'But can you give her a message from me, please?' Her father had obviously nodded, as Lucius continued, 'Tell Cindy I love her more than anything in the world and one day we will be together again. I know things seem bad at the moment, but as soon as it's safe I'll come and get her. Tell her not to give up hope. One day she will be back in the wizarding world.' There was a pause and then as if he knew she was listening, he added, 'I love you, Cindy. Whatever happens, please don't ever forget that. We will be together again soon. I promise.'

Cindy could feel the tears starting and she dashed back up the stairs to her room. If she had stayed there any longer she would have given in and gone down to see her lover, who she missed so desperately. She ran to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lucius as he left. She knew he wouldn't stay now. He had already taken too much of a risk in visiting her in the first place.

Her tears matched the rivers of rain that ran down the window, her head pressed against it once more as Lucius left the house and walked back down the drive towards the road. Outside the gate he stopped, seemingly taking no notice of the rain, and looked up at her window. Her hand rose to press against the cool glass as she looked out at him, wishing she could touch him, just for a moment. A few seconds later he raised his hand, too, as if waving at her. Cindy's heart raced again at the realisation that Lucius could see her, but it also set off a new wave of crying.

'I'm so sorry, my love,' she whispered to the window. 'I just couldn't risk talking to you.'

She watched as Lucius lowered his arm and slowly turned, walking away back up the still deserted street.

'So why was Lucius here?' Cindy's father asked as they sat down to dinner that night.

The tears had finally abated for the time being, and although Cindy looked pale and drawn she felt better than she had for months because she knew her beloved Lucius was still alive.

'Andrew and I have split up,' Cindy admitted. 'I didn't want to upset you with that news on top of everything else,' she said as her parents both looked at her sympathetically. 'Lucius and I have become friends again.'

'A bit more than friends, if his message to you is anything to go by,' her father said sardonically. 'I assume you did hear both parts of it?'

Cindy nodded then took a mouthful of her food. After swallowing she said, 'I don't think Lucius and I ever stopped loving each other really. It's just taken us twenty years to realise.' She smiled wistfully.

'So why didn't you want to see him, then?' her father asked, looking confused.

Cindy thought for a moment, then lied. 'Because he's a wizard. Being close to him might have set off my magic and then the Ministry would be able to trace me. Living here wouldn't stop them from coming to take me away. As far as they're concerned I've committed a crime just by being born and given the opportunity they would soon take me back to the Ministry of Magic for trial.'

Her father nodded understandingly but looked concerned. 'I just hope this stupidity is all over soon,' he said.

'So do I,' Cindy admitted. 'I want to see Lissy and Lucius so much.'

Her father slid something across the table to her.

'Lucius asked me to give you this — for Christmas, he said.'

Cindy smiled wistfully and picked up the necklace Lucius had left. She looked at the familiar pendant hanging from the stout chain — not the whole thing, but half — love divided.

'He said you'd understand what it meant,' her father added.

Cindy nodded as she picked up the precious talisman, feeling the tears back in her eyes. It meant she wasn't alone. It meant that however long it took, Lucius would wait for her so they could be one again.

'Thanks, Dad,' she whispered quietly and turned her attention back to eating.

Ru arrived at Cindy's parents' house just after lunch on the tenth of May. He was carrying a letter from Lissy, which said that Voldemort had been defeated by Harry Potter and Cindy could come home, back to the wizarding world. The letter was scant of news, but Lissy said she and Draco would meet her mother in Diagon Alley at two o'clock the following afternoon and they could catch up on what had been happening. Ecstatic, Cindy shared the news with her parents before heading up to her room to pack.

Her hand moved as it often did, unconsciously, to her necklace with the pendant on it. She was going back to the wizarding world. She was going to see Lissy, Draco and Lucius again. The tears of happiness were suddenly overtaken by the remembrance of her vow with Andrew. The war might be over, but she would be no better off. Andrew had still managed to ruin her life. She sent Ru back to Lissy with a note asking that Lucius not be present at the meeting. She didn't go into details but said it was important that he not be there, and she would explain further when she saw Lissy.

Finishing packing, she went to join her parents for a final evening meal with them. She was sure that as much as they loved her they were as glad to be getting rid of her as she was to be going. The meal that night was a celebration and Cindy was still excited when she went to bed, thinking that like a six-year-old waiting for Christmas Day she would never get to sleep, although of course, she did.

The following morning was spent with her parents, saying farewell, although she knew it wasn't forever. She and Lissy would be joining them during the summer for barbeques and birthdays, just as they had always done. Now that the war was over there would be no restriction on either of their movements. Then, finally, it was time to leave. Picking up her bag, Cindy kissed both of her parents' goodbye and headed out the door. She smiled and waved as she reached the gate, remembering for a second how Lucius had stood there on that rainy day five months before. She was surprised at how much time had gone by since she'd had to leave the wizarding world.

Hoisting the bag over her shoulder, Cindy walked up the road towards the tube station, wondering if she could ever convince Andrew to annul the Unbreakable Vow and, also, whether they actually could cancel the spell. She had no idea why his hatred for Lucius continued when Andrew had his own large family, but perhaps he would cut her some slack now there was no chance of Voldemort coming back again.

That made her wonder about Lucius and the Death Eaters. Had his Dark Mark gone again? Or had Lucius been arrested and taken back to Azkaban? Was that why Lissy's original note hadn't mentioned him coming with them to Diagon Alley?

Cindy got off the tube at Leicester Square station and walked up Charing Cross Road until she found the Leaky Cauldron. She had been worried for a moment that being in the Muggle world for so long would have stopped her from seeing it and her stomach was full of nervous little butterflies pitching and swooping, but she was still a witch and the glamour didn't fool her.

Opening the door to the pub, she stepped inside, amazed at how busy it was. There still seemed to be a lot of celebrating going on. Tom the barman waved and greeted her brightly as she made her way out to the small courtyard area in the back. She opened her bag and rummaged around, finding her old Gryffindor school scarf, in which she had carefully wrapped her wand before her exile nine months earlier. She felt a tingle of excitement as her beautiful thirteen-inch cherry wood and unicorn hair wand was revealed, and she could feel the power in it as it was reunited with her hand.

A few seconds later she watched tearfully as the entrance to Diagon Alley opened, the bricks magically peeling back to provide the opening, and she stepped back into her world with a smile.

'Mum!'

Immediately as she walked through the archway Cindy heard Lissy's cry and her daughter came running over to her and wrapped her arms around Cindy's waist. Cindy clutched at Lissy too, tears running down both their faces as they hugged.

'Oh, Lissy . . . I've missed you terribly,' Cindy said, grabbing her daughter's face and kissing her. 'Gods, you've grown so much.'

Lissy laughed as she straightened. She was taller than her mother now. A moment later Draco joined them, waiting patiently for Lissy to finish greeting her mother.

'Hello, Draco,' Cindy greeted the tall, pale boy with a smile. 'It's good to see you.'

Her smile froze at the next sound she heard.

'Cindy!' It was Lucius, hurrying up the road towards them. 'Darling! You're back.' His voice sounded stilted with emotion.

'I thought I asked you not to bring him,' Cindy hissed at Lissy.

Lissy stared at her in surprise. 'I thought you were joking. There was no way he wasn't coming. All he's talked about since the battle is seeing you.'

'I can't speak to him,' Cindy said worriedly.

'Of course you can. Nothing's changed. He still loves you, Mum.'

'No!' Cindy was distressed now and moved back, away from Lucius. 'Please, Lissy, tell him not to come any closer.' Lissy looked at her mother in confusion. 'Please,' Cindy begged, tears of panic springing to her eyes.

Lissy grabbed Lucius' arm. 'Please stop, Lucius,' she said as Cindy moved to a safe distance from the couple. 'My mother doesn't want to talk to you just yet.'

'Oh, this is ridiculous,' Lucius said angrily. 'It's fine now, she won't get attacked. That bitch Bellatrix is dead and Narcissa couldn't care less what we get up to.'

'I know that, Lucius, but she's scared. Please, let me talk to her first and find out what's the matter,' Lissy said soothingly. Lucius looked unhappy but nodded and went to stand with his son, who stood glaring at Cindy.

'What's the matter, Mum?' Lissy asked, worried at how distressed her mother had become at Lucius' presence. She had thought her mother and Lucius' reunion would be a wonderful thing. She had been so sure they were completely in love.

Cindy pulled her daughter in close. 'I can't talk to Lucius,' she said simply.

Lissy looked at her in confusion. 'Why not?'

'Because in order to get your father to help me I had to agree to never speak to Lucius again,' Cindy said unhappily.

Lissy laughed. 'Yeah, but that was just Dad being a git. I mean, how's he going to know? Anyway, I'm sure he didn't mean it.'

'Yes, he did, Lissy. He made me make an Unbreakable Vow.'

Lissy stared at her mother in horror. 'He what? Please tell me you're joking!'

Cindy shook her head sadly. 'Not joking, I'm afraid. If I talk to Lucius, I'll die. That's why I can't risk him coming anywhere near me. I can't trust myself to stay silent when I want to talk to him so much.' Tears sprang from Cindy's eyes again as Lissy wrapped her arms around her mother, hugging her tightly.

'That bastard,' Lissy hissed angrily, blinking back her own tears. 'Why the hell did you ever marry him, Mum?' She looked over at Lucius and Draco, then back at her mother. 'I have to tell them.'

Cindy nodded. 'Thank you, Lissy,' she said gratefully. 'Please apologise to Lucius for me, but there really was no other way of getting out and Bellatrix was going to have me killed.'

Lissy hugged her mother once more before scooting over to the men and explaining the situation. Cindy watched from a distance and saw the expression on Lucius' face change from anger to worry and back to fury again when he heard what Andrew had done to her. A few moments later Lissy was back.

'What did the vow say, exactly?' she asked seriously.

'I agreed never to speak to Lucius Malfoy again,' Cindy said her voice cracking with emotion.

'And that's it? I mean, there's nothing else you can't do?'

Cindy thought for a moment. 'I don't know. But I think it's just that I can't talk to him.'

Lissy nodded with a smile. 'Be back in a minute,' she said and headed back over to the men.

The group appeared to be deep in serious discussion for a few minutes then Lissy came back over to Cindy. She pulled her wand from her pocket.

'Non oro,' she said clearly and waved her wand at her mother. A spark of white light left the tip of the wand and hit Cindy in the throat. 'Can you speak?' Lissy asked. Cindy opened her mouth to talk but nothing came out. Lissy smiled and turned to the men. 'It worked! She can't speak.'

At that news Lucius crossed the divide, finally pulling Cindy into his arms as Draco joined Lissy, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders.

'I've missed you so much, Cindy,' Lucius whispered and his lips found hers in a passionate kiss that lasted minutes.

When they parted, he grabbed her head and held it gently as his mind quickly probed hers, seeing the truth of the Unbreakable Vow. Again his lips met hers, neither caring that they were in public.

'This will be sorted,' Lucius promised. 'That tosser's gone too far this time!' Cindy bit her lip worriedly, still trying not to speak in case the spell didn't hold.

'I'm going to visit your husband now,' Lucius told her. 'I'll see you later. Wait for me in the Leaky Cauldron. Draco and Lissy will keep you company.' He looked at Lissy sternly. 'Lissy, I need you to give me your father's address.' Without a moment's hesitation, in fact, almost fervently, Lissy nodded her agreement.

Lucius gave Cindy a final kiss, then squeezed her hand reassuringly before heading off towards the Leaky Cauldron, Lissy walking alongside him, giving directions to Andrew's house. At the portal Lucius stopped and turned to look back at his beautiful lover, who was walking more slowly up Diagon Alley with Draco.

'I LOVE YOU, CINDY!' he shouted before disappearing into the pub.