August 8, 2026

The door was open and so Rose just walked in without knocking. She painfully bent down and took off her sandals. It was a struggle to lift herself up, she had to use the wall for help. She could see Molly facing the living room as she flicked her wand at the dishes in the sink every few seconds.

"Hey Rose! We're all just in the. . ." Her voice trailed off as she fully turned around.

"Cat's finally got your tongue Molly?" Dominique said. "Is she wearing a dress or something?"

There were a few sounds of laughter from Dominique and Lucy. Molly didn't reply but walked to Rose and half supporting her brought her into view.

The laughter died off quickly as they walked into the living room.

Lorcan and Dominique were sitting on the couch with Lucy perched on the arm and the latter two were staring. Lucy, Molly's identical twin with shorter brown hair but the same big blue eyes, opened and closed her mouth numerous times without saying anything. Dominique, who had blonde hair and was the shortest of all people in the flat, reeled back into the couch in surprise as she looked at Rose. Lorcan didn't even notice the awkward silence as he had been reading a magazine when she first walked in.

Rose gave a pointed look at him and then to Molly. Molly widened her eyes and nodded.

"Hey, Lorcan, I'm going to have to kick you out for a moment, family meeting right now, alright?" Molly said smoothly and quickly.

Lorcan looked up at her curiously and then finally noticed the person she was standing beside. He looked at Rose and blinked multiple times, slowly putting his magazine down. Molly left Rose standing and went over to whisper in his ear. Rose started leaning against the wall, too tired to stand up straight while the silence hovered in the air, heavy and awkward.

"Are. . . you sure?" Lorcan asked Molly with raised eyebrows.

"Yeah, Rose won't talk at all if you are here. She has this complex thing where she can't speak openly in front of strangers. Not that you're really one. . . But. . ."

Lorcan looked nervously between Rose and Molly, "well... errrr.. "

Rose, tired of waiting while Lorcan sat there, proclaimed, "Lorcan, sorry, but get the hell out of here."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Unnecessary, Rose."

Molly whispered again to him. Lorcan nodded and stood up, kissing Molly on the cheek, waving good bye to Dominique and Lucy, and saying an awkward "Bye" to Rose. He then grabbed some Floo powder from beside the fireplace and disappeared.

Once again, the room descended into a silence.

"So, you last visited – what, three months ago? What is -" Dominique started, unsure if she should start talking about how Rose looked, but immediately got cut off by Lucy.

"Rose, did you get jumped?" asked Lucy bluntly.

The three girls looked at Rose intently and she stared past them all out the window.

"Uhh, funny story, but not at all. Well. . . I broke up with Danny."

Dominique let out a big guffaw at that. "Yeah, sure. Like you did the other dozen times too?"

Molly cut her off with an angry glare. Lucy rolled her eyes and asked Rose, "do you want to sit down or something-?"

When Rose nodded and started moving towards the chair closest to her Dominique yelled out, "just wait-" She ran off down the hall and came back with a sheet and put it over the chair, "OK, now you can sit."

Rose wanted to make some sarcastic comment, but the effort was too much. She vaguely heard Lucy tell Dominique to be less shallow because it was just a stupid chair. Rose collapsed into the chair and continued the conversation from where it had left off previously. "No, trust me on this. I am one hundred percent serious. Me and Danny are Over, with a capital O."

Lucy gave her a disbelieving look. "Mhmmm, sure you are. Then the next day you make up with him and have 'raging hot sex,' apparently. I mean you've never shown up here looking like this, but you've always gone back."

"Jealous much?" Dominique said to Lucy and she glared back.

"Why would I be jealous? I'm just repeating what Rose says every time."

"'Cause you still have your v-card."

"Doesn't faze me. It's not like it's a bad thing! Anyway, focus!" Lucy shot back and then they both looked at Rose.

Rose gave a garbled sigh. "Heh. . . well, sure in the past we've gotten back together after breakups, but it was complicated. . . this time, well it's a bit. . . different. We didn't part on a very good note this time. Not at all."

None of her cousins knew the whole story between Danny and Rose, and she wanted to keep it that way. She hated talking about the past and bringing up her skeletons.

Molly shot up from the couch and exclaimed with a pointed hand straight to Rose, "oh my god! That bruise! He hit you!"

Everyone gawked at Rose and she blushed.

"No! . . . no he didn't. Well I mean he tried to and all. But it wasn't like that."

"Rose, your eye has swelled shut and your cheek is purple," Lucy said, pointing out the obvious.

"Oh, so that is why my vision was doubling. It went all wonky during my walk here and I was wondering why." Rose ran her hand in front of her eye a few times. "Well I guess I can't even see out of that eye."

Lucy's eyebrows shot up, "wait, you. . . walked here? From your house?"

"Merlin, Rose. Are you crazy?" Dominique said disapprovingly.

Thinking of the voices she had heard and talked to, she almost responded with an affirmative but then changed her answer at the last moment, "No – I just had no money, wizard or muggle, and forgot my cell, and didn't know your numbers." Rose paused. "At least it wasn't raining."

"Damn girl. You could have gotten a taxi and we would have paid for it here," Dominique replied.

Rose just stared open mouthed at that. "Well that was the one thing I didn't think of."

Lucy frowned at Rose, "have you even seen your face in the mirror?"

"Nope. Don't think I want to," Rose replied.

"I think you should. . ." Molly said. "It's very oddly shaped. Definitely doesn't look like a fist now that I think of it. There is a very dark line from your eye to your chin. Why is it so straight? It almost looks as if you ran into a coffee table or got hit with a ruler or book? Something along those lines, because bruises usually are more disfigured, you know?"

"How lovely," retorted Rose, "and I don't think I can stand up to go look so I will just take your word for it."

"Oh it's not lovely at all. It looks nasty in fact. And why can you not stand up, it seems to-"

Lucy cleared her throat to interrupt her. "Tell us what happened?" she said. Molly looked at Lucy and scrunched her nose in disgust saying back, "okay, I can take a hint. Geez."

Dominique sympathetically patted Molly's hand as Lucy sniggered at her.

Rose sighed and stared at the wall, not wanting to see the reactions that her cousins would give her. She ran a hand over her hair and gripped her ponytail for support.

"Well," she began, "I kind of lost it on Danny today. For the two years all he has been doing is watching that damn television, drinking beer, and sitting on the sofa every day, all friggin day. It didn't start out like that, but it just got worse and worse. It was just me working and doing all the work around the house. . . not that I really minded because I have to be busy, and he was recovering. It's just I can't live with him when that's all he does and just demands, demands, demands." Rose took another breath. "I mean, at the beginning I understood, because well - everyone told me to just give it time and he had a lot to go through, we both did. But I gave it loads of time! I don't even know when he changed from that young adventurous man to this lazy TV addict. It happened so slowly and I don't know if he'll ever go back to being, well, himself."

Rose paused and then continued, "he just gained a shit load of weight and gave up on himself, on everything. And so yeah. . . anyway. . . well you guys know how I get when I'm mad, but times that by about 500. I. . . ah... took a wrench to his TV and then that was when he lost it and then we got into a minor scuffle and long story short I came here to get some tender loving care from my cousins."

Now that it was out, she felt deflated. She was tired; she just wanted the numbness in her face and body to go away.

"A wrench to his TV?" Lucy exclaimed.

"A scuffle?" Molly blurted.

Rose shrugged but didn't say anything. She had nothing left to say.

"So, you haven't had sex in how long?"

There was a very pregnant pause.

"What? That's what you took from that?" asked Lucy disappointedly.

Dominique flipped her blonde hair over her shoulders, "I was kinda just kidding. You guys both said something and so I thought I had to as well and that was the first thing that popped up! It was comic relief! But you know, I guess it also is important for a young woman. Oh get over it Lucy, don't make that face."

"The things you think of sometimes. . . " she said with a shake of her head. "So you came here because you want us to heal you? What are all your injuries?"

Rose grimaced and then somewhat reluctantly said, "well, my foot for one from stepping on rocks and other things. And my wrist, and then my ribs, and my bruise on my face. . . what? It's not like it's that much."

"I'm pretty sure you could charge him for domestic violence," said Molly seriously, "that sounds serious Rose."

Rose flapped her hand at her. "No, besides I started it with the TV incident, and I might have, you know, broken his nose too."

"Merlin, Rose. When you end a relationship, you certainly know how to end a relationship on a bad note!" remarked Lucy with a small chuckle.

"Right! Now that I think of it, remember Kobe Bragger? You poured gravy down his head. And Sean Partigan? You pushed him into the Black Lake. . . "

"Yes, yes but we can discuss past ex's later." Lucy stood up and walked over to Rose going into Healer mode and evaluating her. "Okay Dom, you go get the bruise balm or make some if we don't have any. Molly, find a sleeping draft or calming draft or something else relevant in our cupboard, I'm sure we have something somewhere. I'll get started on her injuries."

Dominique stood up and faced Lucy, whining. "Awwwh, why do I have to make the bruise balm? I had to make a couple hundred litres for volunteer work. I'm sick of it."

Molly answered for Lucy. "Maybe because you got the highest mark in that class and are the best at potions and that's what your going to be when you're done school! That's the reason why Luce is doing spells and I'm just looking for the draft. Duh."

Dominique sniffed. "Fine Sparky."

Molly looked incredulously at Dom. "I have no words to say to you right now, Boomerang." They both started walking and bickering. Dominique replying with a "that's a first, you having to words to say. Someone should document this, you're making history right now!"

The two left the living room and Lucy looked at Rose, tapping her chin in thought.

Still slumped in the chair, Rose stated, "I'm not getting naked for you."

Lucy chided, "I'm not asking you to get completely naked for me, but your shirt does need to come off. We're cousins young'un. Besides, we practically ran around together naked all the time when we were little."

"Can't you just wave your wand and go 'presto'?"

"Are you sure you remember how to be a witch?" Lucy said with a laugh. "Besides, how can I fix your ribs? For someone who spends a lot of time naked, you sure seem insecure about your body."

"I don't spend a lot of time naked and I'm not insecure. . . I just don't like flaunting it. Or you know, showing stuff that doesn't need to be shown."

Dominique walked back to the living room juggling a few different containers. "You were born in the wrong century girl. It's called women empowerment. You are allowed to show skin you know. It's not the medieval ages. And it's not like you have boobs anyways."

Lucy and Rose both ignored her. "Sit up, Rose," commanded Lucy.

When Rose didn't move Lucy pulled her hand until Rose was in a sitting position. That ignited an "ow" from Rose.

"Yes, yes, you hurt. But shirt off and I will fix it right up."

Rose raised her arms carefully wincing a bit and Lucy pulled the shirt off. She ran her wand over Rose's ribs, muttering under her breath.

"Okay, so nothing too major, you have two cracked ribs. Make your back straighter," she said to Rose and Rose pulled her shoulders back. Lucy then muttered a charm and Rose felt her side heat up and then cool down again. It then got warm again and stayed warm for a few minutes.

"Ta-Da! All healed, well don't move for a minute or so just to make sure it is set. Now let's see. . . your foot now, and then wrist."

Same ordeal, Lucy ran her wand over Rose's foot, cleaning up the cuts and scrapes with some simple spells, and over her wrist, taking down the swelling. When she was finished, Lucy stood up and handed Rose back her shirt. Rose could feel energy coming back to her; she felt wonderful and was no longer tired. She had to move around.

Lucy called out, "Molls, have you found the draft yet?"

"Ummm nope. All's I can find is this Vomit-Inducing draft. Why do we have so much of it?"

"Well, I'm not sure actually, but whatever, no big deal, I'm sure Rose will be fine without the draft tonight," Lucy replied.

Rose stood up and put her shirt on, jumping and bending to test out the newly healed limbs and bones. She started running on the spot, testing out pressure on her foot. This urge to move around was increasing. "I feel way better, thanks a billion Luce."

"No problemo, that's what cousins are for. Umm, just take it easy for a few moments though." She gave Rose a severe look and then paused and looked at Dom through the large wall window between the living room and the kitchen. "You got the bruise balm all ready?"

Dominique scowled. "Lucy, these things take time. If you want to get rid of the bruises real quick but improperly, then you do it."

Lucy held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Sorry. . . wait – Rose, stop jumping on the couch and come here. Did you already forget what I said? The healing shouldn't have made you loopy! Come here, I'm going to take down the swelling in your face."

Rose ignored Lucy and jumped again waving her arms overenthusiastically. "I feel so great and have so much energy! I can finally do my happy dance Luce! Take that Danny!"

"Definitely loopy, told you I should have done the healing," Dominique said playfully.

Lucy walked over to the couch and grabbed both of Rose's hands, pulling her down. She replied back to Dominique, "well, if you had done it she would probably be running through the apartment naked!"

Dom gave a loud groan. "I knew you were going to say that! That was one time! And in our first year. Of course I've improved my spells since then. But I'm still unsure if James was actually influenced by my healing. Molly's friend was over. I personally think he was showing off."

Molly walked into the kitchen at that point carrying two bottles and set them on the counter. "That was disgusting. I still get nightmares from that. So, didn't find any calming drafts anywhere, but I found these two bottles unmarked in the cupboard at the back and I'm thinking we, as in you, should figure out what they are and label them."

"Okay, I'll be done the bruise balm in fifteen more minutes. Start the fires and prep them?" Molly nodded to Dominique and then took out two separate cauldrons from a cupboard in the kitchen and dumped one bottle in each one, turning on the stove fan. Lucy meanwhile, took down the swelling in Rose's face and healed the minor concussion.

"No jumping until tomorrow okay? Take it easy you hyper kid. Your face is still black and blue but it will be better to not fix that with a spell, same with your wrist. So you will still be sore for some time still."

Rose gave a gleeful laugh. "Okay. That's fine, I already feel a million times better and I will contain myself for right now. Besides, I'm hungry, haven't eaten since this morning so I am definitely going to raid your refrigerator. Better have leftovers of something!"

"Pizza and I think there is some chocolate milk," Molly said concentrating on spelling the counter-tops so they wouldn't burn and then making a fire, setting the two cauldrons on it.

"Perfect!" Rose grabbed the pizza box and the jug of chocolate milk from the fridge and went to the living room to sit down in the sheet covered chair. She opened the box and started devouring the pieces in it.

"Taker easy," Lucy said in amusement, waving her wand over the sofa. She then muttered to Rose, "you're lucky Dom can't see the couch from her angle. You got mud everywhere!"

Rose gave a sheepish grin but continued to eat.

Five minutes later Molly's voice came floating over the air, "Seriously? Veritaserum? Why in the world do we have veritaserum in our cupboard? Do you know how much this is worth? Not to mention how illegal it is?"

Rose and Lucy rushed to the kitchen to look. Dominique laughed at them as she stirred the contents in the cauldron. "It's odourless and colourless. What did you come rushing here for? There is nothing to see!"

The two girls looked at each other in realization. Rose exclaimed, "well fine then, we'll just go sit right back down."

They went back to the living room - Rose to her pizza and milk, and Lucy to cleaning up the couch. Both of them were listening in on the conversation happening in the kitchen.

"Remember that guy you brought over one night with the blue hair. Wasn't he some black market worker in illicit potions?" Molly asked Dominique.

"Oh I suppose. . . yes I can see it being him who left it. He's been over a few more times since when you two weren't home, and a few times to my lab. But then again. . . I can't really see him leaving something that valuable. The first person I thought of was one of the freaky goth or whatever triplets that come over for tea for their probation counselling with you. One of them is a witch, though I have no idea which one. Do you recognize the other potion?"

"They aren't goth. And the – well, I don't think so... I'm not quite sure what it is. I certainly don't recognize it, but it has some-"

"Yeah, some similar properties to veritaserum. Very odd. . ."

"Lucy come here," Molly called.

"What am I – chopped fish bones?" Rose said as Lucy started walking to the kitchen.

"Ha! Rose, you almost failed potions. But your welcome to come take a guess too if you'd like," said Lucy.

Rose sighed dramatically. "Oh I'm hurt by you all. However as my stomach is filled, it is high time I go get my wand now! Can I borrow one of yours to apparate to Al's place?"

Molly peered through the kitchen window at Rose. "Floo's over there," she said with a nod.

"She is allergic to Floo powder Molly," Dominique said distractedly as she peered into the potion. She was frowning in thought.

Molly looked slighted for a moment. "What – no? Really?"

Lucy walked over to Molly and gave her a flick to her forehead. "Of course not! She just doesn't like it." She turned to Rose and looked at her with a shake of her head, "but Rose you haven't done magic in practically four years. I think you would be a hazard to everyone if we gave you one of our wands."

Rose stood up, facing her three cousins through the kitchen window and put her hands on her hips. "I would not!"

"Do you even remember how to apparate?" Lucy shot back.

"Of course!"

"What are the three C's to apparition?" Lucy challenged.

Dominique looked at Lucy, startled, but Lucy just winked.

"C's of apparition? You are making that up! There is no such thing!"

Molly nodded, catching on, "you betcha there are! If you can't name them, then you have to go by Floo."

"What? Bloody hell this is ridiculous! I don't know them!"

"Floo then," stated Lucy with an eyebrow raised.

Rose frowned and said the first things that came to her mind. "Combustion? . . . crazy? And. . . well. . . honestly I have no idea. I can't think of anything that starts with a C! . . . cat?"

Lucy smiled evilly. "Floo powder's on the left hand side. We'll see you back in a bit."

Rose stomped over to the fireplace and grabbed some Floo powder, stepping carefully and distastefully into the fireplace. She crossed her fingers and closed her eyes, firmly saying "Albus Potter, Outback Flat." She disappeared in a burst of flames.

Dominique turned to Lucy. "Hogwarts was so long ago so I can't quite remember - but they're not C's, right?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "No clue actually, I'm thinking it was either D or L. I'm pretty sure one of them was Destination or maybe Location. . . But I knew Rose would have no idea either. Yeah, anyway, I don't recognize this potion at all."

Molly thought for a moment with pursed lips. "Well I will just bottle it up and label it unknown or something. It's not a big deal, probably something we will come across in the future with what we do in class."

She carefully poured the potions back into the bottles while Lucy leaned against the counter and Dominique stirred her concoction.

"Ok. Bruise balm ready. If Rose only waited a few more minutes. . . but I guess she needed to see Al for her wand." Dominique furrowed her eyebrows in thought. ". . . She went to see Al. . . Why does that seem weird?" She gasped then as realisation struck her. "Holy stilettos! She went to see Al! Does she know about his new roommate?"

Lucy looked sharply at Dominique with a beam on her face. "Oh! Crap! No, I don't believe she does!"

Dominique sighed. "Oh darn. And she looks like an absolute troll right now. We should have made her shower and change and do something with that horrible afro she was rocking!"

Molly giggled. "Oh, she is going to kill uuus! And then throw our bodies in the oceaaan, and we will become shark meeeat. . . " she partly sang as she walked down the hall with the unidentifiable potion and the veritaserum to put back into the storage cabinet.

Dominique turned to Lucy with a small frown, blowing her bangs up from out of her eyes, "should we go there to get her? In case she 'loses it' again? There is a great possibility of more injuries for the one, two, or three parties present."

Lucy responded, "well it's too late now I'd say. And I'm sure he can handle our Rosie at her finest. It's time she gets a blast from the past anyways. She can't run forever. . ."

Dominique quirked an eyebrow. "Well, I hope Al's apartment can survive the onslaught. She is really going to kill us you know. Eeeks. . . "

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