The night before O.

"Are you ready for the exams?" Marcy heard a deep voice speak from behind her. she sat on the couch captivated by a book on ancient ruins. Her head shot up when she heard the voice. "I've missed you. It's been months, and you haven't spoken to me. please Marcy, I've apologized dozens of times!"

"Brutus please leave me be. I just want to end the school year in peace." She pleaded, as she held her book close to her chest and swiftly walked by him. of course, knowing Brutus Malfoy, he couldn't very well allow Marcy to leave quietly, and be on her way. He seized her by the forearm and brought her ear close to his lips,

"I'll see you over the holidays." He whispered with a smile

"W-what do you mean?" she said putting distance between Brutus and herself.

"It's been arranged already. I'm honestly shocked your father hasn't told you." he paused, folding his arms over his chest and leaning against the couch "You see, my father has given your father a new job, in your home town of Finglas." Marcy was taken back, at the fact that no one notified her of the sudden move she gave a small gasp and furrowed her brow at him

"What does that have to do with you?"

"My mother owns a small cottage in Finglas, and we will be spending the holidays there. Enough time for you and I to get to each other-"

"No, they're not-" she said dropping her books and staring lividly at him.

"Yes they are. I am being considered, by your mother. Your father needs some convincing, but that's no matter. Mother says, he has his eye on another man for you. Is it one of those knackers you submit yourself to?" Brutus suddenly looked at something with very much anger in his eyes, over Marcys left ear. She wheeled around, her eyes landing on a grinning, Tom Riddle.

"Tom." she said dryly her eyes wide.

"Marcy." He paused for a moment, soaking in the tension that was lurking in the air "I wanted to speak to you before exams. Privately." At that last word, Brutus tensed up, puffing out his chest and becoming extremely irate.

"Whatever you must say to Marcy, you can say it in front of me. we will soon be legally betrothed-"

Tom scoffed and reached a long hand into his pocket, pulling out what looked to be an abundance of parchment neatly folded together. "I don't think you are the only one her parents are interested in."

"You read my letters! You sneaky-"

"I have every right to read these, I'm mentioned in almost all of them." Tom said unfolding the sheets of parchment, and scanning them with his eyes.

"By my father, not my mother. She still has a say in the matter."

"But the fathers decision is final. As I remember he would love his daughter to be wed to a man with a bright future, who can satisfy her every need."

"Tom, please stop." She said looking up at him.

"Of course. Come up to the dorms, for a moment. I want to show you something." Marcy didn't resist him and began to follow when Brutus grabbed her hair and pulled her backwards.

"I WILL NOT HAVE THIS! I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOU GALLAVANTING WITH HIM!" Brutus bellowed. Tom was suddenly at Marcys side, carefully pulling her hair out of Brutus' grip. Marcy looked back and forth between the two of them.

"Marcy go upstairs." Tom ordered, as his eyes narrowed on Brutus. Marcy did the opposite and ran out into the corridors, and up to the kitchens, which was hidden by a large portrait of a fruit bowl. Next to the kitchens was a smaller portrait of a small man wearing a suit of crimson, Marcy slammed her fist against the portrait waking the man up.

"W-What do you want at this hour young maiden?" the man squealed jumping out of his wooden chair.

"I want to knock! I need to speak with someone!"

"Password." He stated calmly.

"I don't have it, I'm a Slytherin, I just need to knock!"

"No password, no entry."

"Please, just a knock?"

"They will not be able to hear you, as they will be in their dorms at this hour."

"Not him. He'll be studying, just a knock." She begged. The small man stared at her, and sighed heavily, as the portrait began open, and reveal a small wooden door, with a badger as the door knocker. Marcy grabbed the badger, and slammed on the wooden door. It swung open, and what looked to be a third year girl with blonde curly hair standing groggily in the doorway.

"have you forgotten the password?" she said with a yawn as she rubbed her eyes. Once she could properly see the emerald green crest on Marcys jacket her eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. "You're not supposed to be here…"

"Please, just get Gregory Abbot. He's a sixth year boy…"

"I know who he is, he's my brother." Marcy looked a bit closer and could see the large hazel eyes, and the subtle streaks of auburn that ran through her light hair "Who are you?"

"I'm Marcy Nott. I'm a friend of your brothers-"

"You!" the girl said suddenly becoming livid "You're Marcy? You're the girl that my brother was so heartbroken over, and suddenly wandered back into his life with an explanation! Leave!"

"Please-"

"Hannah. My name is Hannah."

"Hannah, please listen, I didn't want to leave your brother. If anything, I wanted to see him even more, but I couldn't. it was for his safety that I didn't speak to him, but I can now. I need to speak to him."

"No." Hannah's' hand shot to her pocket, searching for where her wand was supposed to be. She looked at Marcy with anger all over her face.

"Give it back, you sneaky Slytherin! You Slytherins are always starting trouble, always stealing and lying and you always seem to get away with it. Well not-"

"What's all this noise?" a sweet voice said from behind Hannah.

"Gregory!" Marcy cried, as her eyes met his. "Please I need to speak with you." Gregory walked towards the two girls, and Marcy handed the wand back to Hannah.

"I see you've met Hannah" he said smiling and lovingly stroking his sisters hair.

"Yes, she's lovely." Marcy said smiling down at Hannah, and winking. Hannah looking still suspicious, nodded as if settling a disagreement. "I need to talk to you. I didn't know where else to go and-"

"What happened?" he said urgently "Hannah, go back to your dorm, please. I'll see you in the morning. Hannah nodded and resentfully sulked up the stairs.

"It's Tom and Brutus, they were fighting in the dorm, and Brutus pulled my hair, and Tom got so angry and they were screaming, and I was so scared, so I came to you." Gregory stepped out of the common room, and wrapped an arm around her.

"It's okay, they aren't going to hurt you. I'll take you back to the dorm, and we can sort things out there."

They walked to the common room and Marcy spoke the password and the door opened, exposing an empty common room. Gregory poked his head in and smiled, a beautiful, melt away smile that could warm a room in seconds.

"Well." He sated "No one seems to be in a brawl, so you should be okay." He winked, taking step out of the dorm.

"Wait, don't go… not yet."

"I have to sleep, we have O. in the morning." She sighed and nodded, glancing up at him. "Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." With that he kissed her and fled the common room. Marcy walked over to the steps leading to the dorms, when she was startled by seeing a dark figure leaning against the wall, in the doorway of the boys common room. She jumped and stared at the shadowy figure. It laughed and stepped into the glowing light.

"Did I startle you, my dear? Catch you off guard?" Marcy turned on the third stair up tripping over it, about to do a face plant into the mossy steps. Luckily Tom, reached his arm out wrapping it around her waist and bringing her back up, to his level "You should always be aware of your surroundings, darling." She brought in a breath and stared at him for a moment, taking in his beautifully sculpted face. Her lips struggled to not bleed the words she feared to speak most to him. She bit on her lip and tried greatly to close her mind. He laughed shortly, and let go of her. Marcy could feel the emotion of longing flood over her, as his skin left hers. Another laugh escaped him and she blushed furiously.

"I'm only a few doors down. I'll be there at any time." He winked and pocketed his hands.

"Don't act as if seeing me with Gregory, doesn't drive you up the wall. If on was to call the other, it would be you to first speak, not I." she then skipped up the stairs and plunged into bed, feeling completely satisfied that she didn't melt into Tom, for once.

"I want a letter as often as possible, update me whenever possible." Violet said pulling Marcy into a friendly hug. "The year went by so fast, so much calmer than last I suppose. I will plea for my parents to allow me to visit Finglas." Marcy smiled and hugged her friend once more.

"Of course. There is always room for you, send me pictures from London." Marcy felt an arm wrap around her waist and the warmth of another body, next to hers.

"I'm going to miss you of the holidays." Gregory whispered into her ear. He leaned over and kissed her, grabbing her waist making her cry with laughter.

"I'll be leaving now. I'll save you a seat on the train" Violet said rolling her eyes, and boarding the train.

"Come to Scotland."

"You know my father would never allow that. Besides, I have many outings to attend, and banquets and ridiculous dinners at oversized mansions. Scotland is not on my list of things to do, but I would love to." Gregory nodded, and they fell into a normal conversation about holiday plans. Gregory left her stealing another kiss and boarding the train.

"Thought you could leave without saying goodbye?" A shiver ran through Marcy, at the icy shrill voice.

"Tom."

"I should be seeing you over the holidays." He sated holding out a hand.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard correctly, my sweet Marcy. I'll see you one way or another." He grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it, climbing the steps onto the train, and vanished out of sight. Marcy found Violet and sat with her as they shared sweets from the trolley.

"I don't quite understand, you moved to England to get away from the slums and crimes, and to get a better job, but your father was moved back there? Does this mean he doesn't have a job?"

"He has his job, and is making the same amount of money, but he is working in a different department in the ministry. My father loves Ireland, but my mother does not. We were once knackers, and mother felt so scandalous, talking with her high class friends. Father, didn't seem to mind. He always said, it was where we originated, how he was raised. It did get my siblings and I into more trouble than we have ever been in, living in England."

"Are you still with the knackers?" Violet asked, opening a chocolate frog.

"Yes, they are our family, as much as mother hates to admit it, she was born into a knacker family as well as my father."

"Will you marry one?" Marcy gave a short laugh and looked at her. "If I'm lucky everyone else they wish to sell me off to, is a real bastard."

"Be they wizards?"

"Most. I only knew of one girl that was a squib, in a knacker family. They do not attend Hogwarts. They have their own schools for magic."

The train pulled into the station and Marcy said her last farewells, as she searched for her family.

"Marcy!"

She turned around to see a tall man, with olive skin, blue eyes, and black hair smiling at her from a distance.

"Father!" she screamed, running towards him and wrapping her arms around his wide waist. He gave a low chuckled and hugged her back. "I've missed you."

"And I you. forgive me for being so late with all my letters. I have been so busy with work, and planning… I missed you my daughter." The separated and he grabbed the handle of her cart, holding all of her supplies.

"Where is mother?" she asked beaming at him. he frowned slightly and became uncomfortable, averting his eyes.

"She would not come. I'm sorry."

"Of course, I understand. I'll see her when we arrive home."

Her father shoved her trunk into the small car, and drove. They spent hours in the car, on the way to Finglas, laughing and talking about old times, when she was young.

"Your cousins look forward to seeing you."

"Will mother allow me to see them? she was never very fond of them."

"They are only kids, and the only ones you know. I allow you to see family, and even the others. Spend time with the Finnigans."

"Of course father." Marcy said obediently.

Marcy arrived to her new home, just in time for supper. It was a nice house. White, with white shutters and a garden on the side of the house. Not too far from the local market. Marcy stepped out of the car, smelling the fresh lavender.

"It's beautiful father. I love it." She said walking onto the white porch.

"I knew you would. It's quiet and secluded, but you aren't too far from the market and even the ocean. In the other side of those woods, is a peach orchard, that is beautiful in the summer, everything turns a light shade of pink." He laughed and opened the door for her. "Your bedroom is upstairs, to the right." His voice dropped to a whisper "Your mum wanted it, but there is a cherry tree directly outside of your window with a nest in plain sight, you will be able to see the eggs, it is beautiful and I knew you would want it." Marcy smiled up at her father and hurried up the stairs. She entered the first room on her right. Her father was right, her room was perfect. A crème color, with a light green quilt. Her cat Allermore, waited patiently on the bed purring. Marcy sat down next to the cat and stroked the back of his neck. She felt a wave of happiness come over her, soaking in the happiness which drifted through her new home.

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