A/N: I am sorry to have to say this, but this will be the last chapter posted for a while. I am too busy to write at the moment, and will only have time during the Christmas break. The story will be continued, that much I can promise. Also, thank you very much for your reviews.

Chapter 29: Help

Despite my displeasure with his choice of company, and despite the first visit that was full of surprises, when that first letter arrived not four hours after the three of us returned home, I responded.

You don't choose your family, but honestly, Sirius really had to learn to be selective when it comes to friends.

And as I had promised, two days before our term was about to start, the three of us found ourselves in front of those same doors in Grimwauld Place, I once more being the one to knock.

I had had my doubts about taking Arielle along on my first visit, but now, as I was about to see my cousin for the second time in years, I had been the one to propose her company. She had been rather brooding and gloomy for the past few weeks, and I reckoned that it would be best for her to go out a bit, talk to people aside from us and her family. And she never really had the chance to talk to Sirius.

As soon as my hand, clasped around the knocker, made contact with the wood of the doors for the second time, they swung open, and we were quick to enter, walking past Sirius who quickly shut the doors behind us.

This time, my cousin welcomed us alone, if one disregarded the old hag hiding behind that enormous curtain, calling herself the Lady of the house.

He walked briskly past me, and we followed him once more to the living room, now well aware as to why it was not recommendable to talk in the hallway.

And once more, as soon as we found ourselves in the living room, Sirius approached me, giving me a bear hug. His hold was tighter now, stronger, longer. As if he was trying to make me hug him back, yet it was all in vain, my hands remaining motionless beside me, as if they did not belong to me at all.

He gave a soft sigh, one I was not supposed to hear, the one I pretended not to have heard at all.

He released me with a worried look, showing that he was no Black at all. A Black would have faked his emotions, and the honesty of his worry was refreshing.

I stepped aside, letting him hug my sister in her turn as well, and as they separated, he had a smirk pulling on his lips.

"Tell me beautiful cousin" spoke he as my sister blushed at the compliment "is there a boy I should threaten?"

I looked away from them at that question, realizing that I did not know the answer. She had asked me to leave her in peace, and that is exactly what I had done.

"Melody?" I heard Arielle say, and she threw an arm around her shoulders, grinning at Sirius, "Noooo. It's not like her at aaaaaaaaaaaall!"

She then leaned to the left so she could see my sister, and spoke once more, winking :"Am I right my little saint?"

Sirius let out a rumbling laugh, and took a step closer to Arielle, who managed to unlatch herself from Melody.

"I believe we already met beautiful lady." He smirked at her, taking a hold of her hand and bringing it once more to his lips.

"We did meet, but it seems that you don't recall my name. Nice try by the way." She smirked right back and his grin only widened.

"Arielle Hayes" responded he "how in the world could one forget such a beautiful melody?"

"As easily as one can come up with such weak retorts I imagine." She grinned and for the first time in weeks, I knew her smile to be genuine.

"Ah, you wound me my lady" grinned he, taking a mock bow before her "but I congratulate you, your retorts are the best I have heard in years."

My sister giggled at the exchange, delighted that those two were getting along. I, on the other hand, questioned my reasoning that brought the two together, thinking that this exchange might turn out to be more trouble than it was worth.

"Why, my kind sire," laughed Arielle " you should have learned better than to tickle a sleeping dragon, or in this case, a lioness."

He sauntered closer towards her, a playful smirk on his lips "Your claws do not bother me, lioness" purred he "this old dog cannot be clawed easily."

And as the exchange continued, my sister laughed, shaking even, Arielle grinned with delight of finding a mind as playful and flirtatious as hers, and my cousin had begun to resemble the young man he was supposed to be.

It was only me that stood aside, cold, silent, emotionless. I was cast out, involuntarily I knew, but that did not change the fact that I simply did not belong in such company.

The statement cut through me like a knife, and once more, I was so alone.

And I wasn't the only one to have noticed.

"I had a brother once." Spoke Sirius as we both sat in the living room, our armchairs turned towards the fire. We were alone, no unwanted guests there to bother the life out of me, Melody and Arielle in the kitchen, preparing lunch.

Despite the fact that there were no meddlesome guests in the living room, some could definitely be found in the kitchen, as I heard laughter from Arielle, along with my sister and the Weasley twins. The three laughed delightedly, their laughter genuine, all , save for Arielle.

She was good, but not nearly good enough, and my ears detected a fake note to her laughter, a comforting lie.

I had a glass of water in my hands, while my cousin cradled a glass of Firewhisky.

This was the first time he had spoken since we were left alone, his tone distant, as if he was remembering some past time.

I didn't respond, I just stared at the fire, feeling like I too had a sister… once.

"He was a soft person, easily manipulated, a good son, a proper Black." He stopped at that, taking a rather long sip of his drink. "We were as different as the water you are holding is from my Firewhisky. I was a Gryffindor, he a Slytherin. I told my parents to bugger off, he told them, "Yes sir, yes Mam.""

I noticed that there was a note of disgust to his words, and I wondered what the purpose of this conversation was.

"He joined the Dark Lord, proper little Pureblood he was, all happy to serve the cause." I noticed that his fingers curled tighter around his glass. "And then, he got in too deep. Was asked to do things he didn't want to do. But there is no way out once you have fallen so low. He was killed by his own mates."

He sounded… displeased with his brother, to say the least.

But then his words softened, and his brows furrowed.

"He was a spoiled little child, a marionette in our parents' hands." He spoke, and I saw that he was clenching the glass "But he was one more thing. He was my little brother, and I realized that too late."
"Remus and James and….Peter and I, we were all so busy saving the world, such heroes. I was so bloody busy that I failed to save my own brother… he was eighteen when he died, and his death I will never forgive myself. And do you know why? Because he tried reaching for me as a first year, and I shunned him."

We were both silent as he stopped talking and I felt my chest closing in on me as he spoke again "I would have done anything for him, if he had just asked. But the thing is, when he got in too deep, he didn't ask for my help. He didn't know he had a brother he could turn to."

"I had a lot of time in… that place." Spoke he and I still stared at the fire "I thought about it a lot."

"And now when I think about my brother" spoke he, and downed the rest of his drink, pouring himself one more glass and taking a few sips more "I see the nine year old who did not understand why he could not talk to his brother any more. I see the eleven year old, who tried to talk to me, and whom I laughed at. And I see a sixteen year old boy with a dark mark on his arm."

He downed one more drink and tossed the glass into the flames, not caring that it was priceless, watching as it burned in the ember flames.

"I don't suppose I know what happened between you and Melody, but I wanted to tell you." He turned towards me at that, his face dark, sullen, old. "Lindy, don't let that happen to you. Don't let yourself mourn the chances you had and the opportunities lost. Act while you still can. Because you may not have another chance."

I was about to respond when my sister walked in, a big smile on her face.
"The lunch is" said she and then stopped abruptly as she noticed the atmosphere. "ready."

Sirius turned away from me , staring once more into the flames, and I stood up, straightening out my skirt.

I walked up to my sister, and to her surprise, I took her hand, intertwining our fingers.

"Come along sis, Sirius will follow. What did you make?" I spoke, giving her a small smile.

I watched as a hesitant smile spread over her lips, and as she pressed tightly on our fingers, that hesitance blossomed in a wide smile, lightening her face.

We walked away from Sirius, hand in hand, and I pretended not to see that he poured himself another shot of Firewhisky.

I loved Serpen, I truly did, and the best quality found in that delightful creature was his ability to disperse a crowd of yelling, laughing, pranks making, bumbling idiots.

Melody was the only one by my side, and her falcon was searching the crowd with his keen eyes, looking for the two other girls we would share a compartment with.

"People sure are afraid of Serpen" spoke my sister and I looked to my left only to find that she was smiling down at the snake that had now just about reached two metres of length. I reckoned not even that moron could carry him on his shoulders now. "but you're harmless, aren't you boy?"

She then bent down, petting my familiar. Treating him like a bloody pet.

"He is not a dog Melody, he is a two metres long, highly poisonous snake capable of killing people instantly." I responded, frowning at the way she was addressing my snake.

"Sure he is" cooed she, and I sighed, feeling that I was losing this battle.

Serpen didn't mind, and I figured that it was alright, a small sacrifice for the sake of our relationship, which was gradually becoming better.

My eyes focused on Arielle in the crowd, she too having the privilege of a clear path, an almost fully grown panther walking elegantly by her side. There was a wide grin on her face as she approached us, and this time it was real. She was genuinely happy to be returning to Hogwarts.

My sister gave her a tight hug, one that was returned full heartedly.

I simply stood by, a smirk on my lips as Serpen once more eluded Shadow's attempt to tackle him.

"Feeling better I trust?" I smirked, finding that her mood had improved significantly since we returned from our little visit.

"To your immense sorrow Lindsy" spoke she, swinging one unnecessarily large arm around my shoulders "I'm great!"

"Oh joy." I deadpanned, swatting her hand away and crossing my hands across my chest, annoyed that we were kept waiting by the last member of our little group.

We still had time at that moment, but when she did not appear ten minutes later, I was downright cross.

"What if something happened to her?" asked my sister, worried instead of cross.

"She bloody well hope that something happened to her, or my wrath shall be the misfortune that has befallen her." I hissed, and earned myself a reprimanding look from Arielle.

Apparently, this was insensitive.

My sister looked somewhat panicked now, possibly imagining Death Eaters torturing her poor, defenceless friend. Please.

"Don't worry Mells" spoke Arielle, comforting her "I'm sure she's just running a little late."

I hmphed in response, and as soon as I did, Claudia pushed her way through the crowd, her appearance dishevelled, her marten's fur standing up in irritation.

My sister gave a relieved sigh and I rolled my eyes, only then realising just how much our last combat had damaged her.

The lot of them hugged, and I walked forward, not caring to hear the details of how Claudia couldn't make her way past crowds of giggling fools.

I was the first one to board the train, and as I passed by one compartment after the other, growing more annoyed with each terrified face that met my gaze, I heard someone call "Rose!"

Now, naturally, there was no doubt as to who was calling me, but I had no intention of stopping, or Merlin forbid, betraying any sign of having heard him.

"Rose!" yelled he, and I hurried my pace as the voice moved closer.

Come on, come on, just one empty compartment I could lock myself in.

"Rose." Curses. He was not a step away from me and I came to a stop, sighing and turning around very reluctantly.

"Zabini" I greeted, my eyes focused on the point next to his head, avoiding tolook directly in his eyes.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were avoiding me Rose." Smirked he and I felt that beneath the playful words, there was a note of genuine worry.

"I am always avoiding you Zabini. Is that all you wished to ascertain?" I asked, but as he moved, my eyes met his, and I added, before he could reply. "Good day Zabini."

I then spun on my heel, not allowing him a chance to reply, hating the nervousness that appeared in my chest as our eyes met. I was still worried about Claudia, I concluded, Serpen hissing in denial.

I know, I know, I never was good at deceiving myself.

There were no drums in the background.

There was no lighting and no thunder.

The world did not stop.

But any semblance of peace that I had built for myself, my safe little haven, came crashing down.

It was a normal, calm, bone chilling cold January morning. It was a typical morning in Hogwarts, a typical breakfast that found us at the Ravenclaw table.

I had no foreboding feeling, I had no warning.

And as hundreds of owls swooped downwards across the Great Hall, a smirk was still found on my lips.

One glance, just one, was enough to erase every happy thought in my mind. A leering woman, with rotten teeth, dishevelled hair and a maniacal smile. She lunged at the camera, barring her teeth and I felt my fingers curl up in fists.

There was no explosive anger, instead, my hate, my rage, bubbled more and more with every second that ticked by.

The bitch was free.

My jaw clenched, and I just barely made out the title, finding that she was not the only one to have broken free.

But somehow, nine other, incredibly dangerous Death Eaters were irrelevant.

The bitch was free.

I stood up suddenly, violently, turning around and heading for the exit of the Great Hall, not seeing, not hearing, allowing my rage to guide me, all composure gone, thrown to the wind.

I walked briskly out of the Great Hall, only vaguely aware that people were moving away as I headed towards them, only having a slight idea of my destination.

I knew this would happen, it was obvious the Dark Lord would not allow his most prolific followers to stay incarcerated.

But the hate that clenched my chest, the rage that consumed my mind knew no reason, knew no boundary.

"Rose!"

I would find her, I would bloody well find her, and I would make her pay.

"Rose, wait!"

I'd burn that smile out of that horrible leering face of hers. I'd break her fingers, one by one. I'd use the Cruciatus curse until she begged for mercy.

"Rose, listen to me!"

Who was that? Who bothered me?

But these questions were just a nuisance in the back of my mind, as were the footsteps that followed me.

"Rose."

I knew this voice, and it was close, but a step away.

Suddenly, a hand reached out, taking a hold of my arm and pulling me back, using the momentum to pin me against the wall.

I looked up, shocked out of my angry thoughts, only to find Zabini leaning in , his face smirking.

His chest was pressed against mine, leaving not a breath between us, and the way he was standing prevented me from using my hands to reach my wand.

I felt slightly nauseous as he leaned ever closer, pushing against his chest to get him to let me go, achieving nothing at all.

He stopped leaning in when he had gotten so close that our noses were touching, his lips an inch from mine.

I could feel his breath on my face, and I tried once more to push him away in my panic, finding that I would have better luck moving a mountain.
It's funny how clearly I could see his face, despite my farsightedness, and as our eyes met, I had the distinct urge to run as far away from him as my feet would allow. It also surprised me that there was a green circle around his pupil, the rest of the iris completely brown, even black at the edges.

"Zabini" I hissed, for some reason whispering, uncomfortable with the idea that he could feel my breath on his face as I spoke "I will ask this only once, for I fear the second time would end with your death. What. In. the. Name. of. Merlin. Are. You. Doing?"

He smirked down at me, answering "What am I doing?" echoed he, his smirk growing into a smug smile. "What I am always doing. Helping you Rose."

I would have slapped him if I only could.

"How is it helpful to make me lose my breakfast?" I hissed at him and he laughed quietly.

"You were so angry Rosey" whispered he and I flinched as he hovered slightly closer to me " you lost all composure… If our housemates saw you, how beneficial would that be? We can't let them see can we? Only I can see, so I figured, hiding your face would be the best option available."

He was making sense damn him, and my skin burned where his body met mine, despite the fabric between us. I was bloody going to kill him once he released me.

"And this is your ingenious idea?" I hissed, demanding. I could also hear giggling as some Slytherin girls passed us, assuming that we were, Merlin forbid, kissing.

"Isn't it brilliant Rosey?" asked he, once more smirking "Besides, I don't mind the proximity…"

His eyes suddenly broke contact with mine, and travelled downwards, passing my nose and settling on my lips. I felt my heart stop in that instant, my lungs too seizing their function.

If he bloody got closer I'd kill him, wand or no wand, ability to move or not.

He hovered even closer for a moment, his lips so close to mine that his nose was pressed against mine fully, and I felt like I had something stuck at the back of my throat.

No.

Just as I thought this, he seemed to come to his senses, blinking once and moving back slightly to maintain his original distance.

His eyes moved back to meet mine and after a second, he breathed :"They're gone now."

Another heartbeat and he moved away, and I took the chance to slip from the wall and walk away from him, slight tremors to my hands, the adrenaline I had no idea had built up inside me now leaving me.

The scariest part, even worse than Bellatrix, on whom I could not focus anymore, was that for a second, no, the tiniest fraction of one, I wanted him to kiss me. I had never been more frightened in my life.

It was an educational day, that much was sure.

Aside from the obvious lesson- Zabini was dangerous and could not be relied on to use his brain, were it so that he was in possession of one, a fact highly unlikely in itself, and should therefore be avoided at all costs.

I had also learnt two other things, one on my own, and one aided by my sister and my friends.

The three of them made me realize that the proportions of the lies we were being told daily by our dearest, ever humble and serving ministry, had exceeded my every expectation. And that my connections were keeping some information from me. Which was not a very wise thing to do, not a wise thing to do at all. Perhaps I should arrange for some wizards to lose their jobs.

The thing was, the news we had been told were false. We knew personally, and rather unwillingly, that Dolohov was free long before he was supposed to have escaped. So, that raised a question. Who else?

Who else was free, and we were not told about it?

Who else had lived in our midst for months now, unseen, unnoticeable, as a shadow?

And then, there was one more thing I had realised. Zabini was not to be trusted, but neither was I.

I had wanted him to close the distance between us, no matter the short lasting of that wish. I was plagued by his lips the entity of the night, only having managed to get an hour or two of sleep. Damn him, damn him to one thousand burning, painful, torturous deaths.

Cold January wind had picked up, biting at my cheeks, freezing my nose, playing with strands of my hair and making me burry my hands deeper into the pockets of my coat.

I could not hear the steps that announced the approach of two people, but the charm I had cast beforehand alerted me well enough.

I curled my fingers around my wand in my pocket, whose sizes had been magically enhanced, and gently, slowly, pulled it out.

I turned around slowly as I heard familiar voices, raising my wand and aiming it at the figure I recognised as Daphne.

She paled, as did her sister, who caught a hold of her sister's sleeve.

"Linda" called Daphne, her voice trembling, making a hesitant step forward, and immediately stepping back in fear at the anger that must have shone in my eyes.

"I have a wand aimed at your heart." I stated and Astoria pressed herself closer to her sister, fear shining in those large eyes of hers. "I will ask you a question, and for your sake, I hope that you will be able to answer me truthfully."

She paled, but before she could reply, I asked "As you were getting me ready for my business meeting, you contemplated placing a charm on me. Which one?"

"Wh- what" asked Daphne, fear radiating from her, and as she made another step, I narrowed my eyes, raising my wand at her. "Che-cheering charm, it was the cheering charm."

I nodded, satisfied with the reply, and I turned my wand at Astoria, who gave a little whimper of fear, clutching her sister for dear life.

"When you were young, there was a toy you used to love, what was it?" I asked, my heart breaking as I saw her tremble.

She was silent for a moment, before whispering "Cuppy".

I remembered the toy, a small dragon, a genuine replica that could not spew fire, and I smiled, lowering my wand.

"Alright." I agreed, approaching them as Daphne too smiled. Astoria was still rather frightened, making a small step back at my approach.

I smiled at Daphne, who had realized the purpose of my interrogation.

"Forgive me Tori" I spoke, standing in front of her, "But I had to make sure that it was indeed you whom I was addressing, for the words I am about to speak could endanger me, and even worse, you, were they to be heard by wrong ears."

"While we are still on that note…" I spoke, raising my wand and aiming it at the air around me, confident in saying "Muffilato!"

She was still slightly hesitant of me, and I turned my back to her, my heart heavy, and I approached the low wall of the Astronomy tower.

"Join me." I invited, and in a moment, my two cousins were standing on my left.

They were standing silent beside me, and I contemplated the best approach to the subject.

"Do you see the Quidditch Pitch?" I asked, after a moment of contemplation, deciding that it was best to have no mercy. The Dark Lord certainly knew of none.

"Yes Linda" replied Daphne, slight curiosity to her voice.

"Burned down." I spoke, my tone as icy cold as the wind that pestered us. Daphne shivered, but for once, I reckoned that it was no wind that chilled her bones.

"Herbiology greenhouse?" I asked, but before she could answer, I replied "Turned to rubble."

"Linda…" started Daphne, but I interrupted her, my left hand curled into a fist.

"Muggleborns?" I asked, "Dead. Tortured. Hunted down for sports. Magical creatures? Slaves. Half of the population of the wizarding world? Gone."

I turned sharply at that, focusing on my cousins and seeing that Daphne had her arm around Astoria's shoulders, while my younger cousin had turned as pale as a sheet.

"War is upon us, my dear cousins, and many sacrifices shall be made." Daphne once more opened her mouth to reply, but I was once more as rude as to interrupt her thought. "But you will not be those sacrifices, that I promise you. If it were up to me, and if my actions alone could be the deciding factor in your fate, then I would do anything to protect you, my family. "

Daphne had tears glisten in her eyes, but I could not discern what emotion it was that brought them on.

"I do not know whether I have told you this before, but for you, my dearest girls, I would give my life." I said and my eyes hardened, as Arielle's wound appeared in my mind. "Yet I fear that there will come a time when I will no longer be able to help you." When I myself will be turned into a victim of this war, when I die. "And for that occasion, I offer you my time now, I offer you my guidance, and I offer you training. Allow me, and I shall turn you into duellers capable of holding their own against any Death Eater."

I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking through my words carefully.

"The question is, my dearest girls, do you trust me? Do you allow me to train you?" I asked, meeting their eyes, slight fear rising in my chest.

What if they said no? How do I make them? How could I save lives that wished not to be saved.

I watched as Daphne raised her hand to her face, using the tips of her fingers to wipe away one single tear that managed to escape her heroic efforts.

She then closed her eyes for a moment, her sister peering up at her, and took in a deep breath, building her composure slowly once more, brick by brick.

Once she figured she had managed to control herself well enough, she opened her eyes and once more managed to relieve my worries with a single, honest smile.

"What kind of a question is that Linda?" asked she, "I would have thought that you knew, Astoria and I trust you more than anyone else in our house. You are our cousin, and are most dear to us. Were you to ask, we would follow you anywhere."

She approached me, leaving her sister behind, and gave me a small, short hug, and for once, I returned it.

"My answer is, as it shall always be, yes." Spoke she, turning around and standing beside me. "But I cannot answer for my sister. Astoria, love, it is time to make your own choice."

I suppose, somewhere, at the very recess of my mind, I knew what Daphne would say. She was a mature girl, and I knew her faith in me was virtually without limits.

It was the small, quiet girl standing opposite me with her eyes downcast that worried me. I knew she held me dear, that I was a sort of a role-model for her, yet I was also very aware that she was young, just thirteen years of age.

War was not a matter for thirteen year olds.

Yet, what choice did I have? What better way is there to protect someone than teach them how to take matters in their own hands, were push come to pull?

She never once raised her head, staring at the floor.

She did not speak up, her voice as quiet as a whisper, carried to me in the faintest of volumes by the relentless wind.

"Linda…." She spoke "I'm scared."

It was only four words, only four. And they broke my heart.

I know Tori, I know.

Silence ruled for a moment more and suddenly, the child opposite me broke out into a run, headed straight towards me.

I had hardly a moment to react as she threw her hands around me, holding me tight.

I reached my hands around her too, wrapping them around her hesitantly, unsure of what she was doing.

"Will you be the only one teaching us?" She whispered into my shoulder, and I had to struggle to hear her over the hollers of the wind.

"Naturally." I replied, knowing that I would allow this task to no one, not even Godric Gryffindor himself.

"Then yes, I'll do as you say." She spoke, and I held her just a bit tighter. It must have taken a tremendous amount of courage and trust for her to agree, and I was happy that she chose to place that trust in me.

She sniffed once, choosing to do so in the precise moment the wind had died down, the sound clear to my ears. But I pretended not to have heard.

She unwrapped her hands from my back, and I was quick to let go as well.

She gave me a small smile before turning towards the stairs leading down to the castle, my gaze following her, guilt tearing me apart. I wished, oh how I wished, that I could take that burden from her young shoulders.

I remained in the same position for a few moments more, even after I had known her to be walking through those dimly lit corridors far below my feet.

"Will she be alright Daphne?" I asked, and I felt her presence, rather than saw her beside me, her dark locks merely shadows noticeable from the very corner of my eyes.

The wind was picking up again, even stronger this time, and Daphne had to make a tremendous effort to be heard.

"She will Linda!" yelled she, and I motioned with my hand, inviting her to follow me down the creaking wooden stairs.

Warm air came rushing to meet my skin as we once more found ourselves in the shelter of the tall, stone walls.

I did not reply to her reassurance, and she knew well that the conversation was over. Now that we could no longer count on my charm to shelter us, nor trust the wind to drown our voices in its endless hollering, there was no telling who might overhear even a word spoken in the softest of tones.

"We never did get our chance to talk Linda." Spoke Daphne and I glanced at her, wondering whether she was merely trying to take my mind off of these troubling matters.

But there was something there, right at the very corner of her eye, a sincerity of sorts, one that she let slip unintentionally. There truly was something she had wished to discuss.

And it had to be now, I owed that much to her.

I raised my wand once more, commanding : "Homenum Revelio!"

Nothing, not one single presence on this floor. Or perhaps a very skilled caster, one capable of dispelling my charm.

"Muffilato!" I spoke, making a circle around us, chanting the spell two more times, assuring privacy.

Daphne had her eyes narrowed slightly, and I knew the look well, studying, analysing.

"I believe you wished to have a word." I spoke, arching one eyebrow in return, distracting her as it seemed.

She blinked once, seemingly remembering her original intention, and I noticed a hesitance to her words as she spoke, avoiding my eyes.

"Yes, indeed, well, you know how I appreciate your opinion." Spoke she, stumbling over her words and my eyes narrowed, not understanding what was wrong with my normally composed and eloquent cousin.

"Go on." I encouraged as she seemed to have trouble talking. What was she so… afraid of?… no… nervous…. No. She was embarrassed. I had never known her to be embarrassed in my life.

"I wanted to know your opinion on a housemate of ours." She spoke, raising her eyes to meet mine for the shortest of moments, before lowering them immediately, observing her hands.

A housemate? This was most unusual for Daphne, she knew virtually everything there was to know about our housemates, what would she need my opinion for?

"It's…" started she, and faltered, biting her lip. She closed her eyes briefly, only worrying me more, before seemingly collecting all her courage and using it in four words. "It's about Alphonse."

Oh.

It took me a while, but I finally understood her nervousness, her embarrassment, her need to avoid my eyes. She liked Alphonse, and she was afraid of what I was going to say.

"A good choice." I smiled lightly, and she seemed to be relived "Alphonse is one of rare people in our house that has earned my genuine respect. Were it to be your wish to allow his courting, you have my approval."

She gave me one beaming smile, before she seemed to catch up to what I had just said.

"You knew?" she asked, surprised and a bit angry as I noticed "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was not my place." I spoke, raising my chin a bit in response to her anger. "If he wished to court you, he had to show enough courage to tell you himself."

Her mind seemed to having come to terms with what I had said, and she gave a small sigh, letting go of her anger.

"I suppose." Allowed she. "But I would have wanted to know."

I raised my wand, flicking it and ending my charm and turned on my heel, headed to the common room.

"And now you do." I spoke as she caught up to me easily "And I hope you also know that if he hurts you in any way or form, I will hurt him one thousand times worse."

She laughed at that, and responded, laughter still present in her voice "I know Linda, thank you."

I did not respond, I didn't have to, and my mind wondered once more, hoping with all my might, that Zabini would not be present in the common room as I returned. I had done a good job of avoiding him like the plague, I would not have him ruin it.

"Should I take it that he talked to you?" asked she as we waited for the accursed staircase to reach us, the bloody thing having turned away from us just as we approached it.

"He did." I confirmed and she giggled.

"Did you scare him?" asked she, probably imagining the encounter.

"Not initially." I responded, on the verge of tapping my foot in annoyance. "I gave him my approval, and then told him I'd stop his heart if he wounded yours."

I smirked at that, satisfied with myself, and Daphne giggled some more.

We were nearly in our common room when she asked me that one question I knew I could not escape.

"Tell me Linda," spoke she, her tone forcibly light. "what happened between you and Blaise?"

His face appeared in my mind momentarily as his name was mentioned, and I was quick to banish it.

"Nothing." I replied evenly, but I knew I had not convinced her.

"He's been looking for you." Spoke she, but as I made no move to reply, she inquired further "Something must have happened."

"Nothing I deem worth of mentioning Daphne, and I would appreciate it if you did not insist." I snapped, regretting my words immediately.

I sighed once and corrected myself "My apologies, I am aware you had the best intentions. It is just that I am not comfortable with the topic."

We walked in silence to our common room, and as we entered, I saw him at the opposite end, and worst of all, he saw me.

Blood chilled in my veins, and for the tiniest of moments, nervousness claimed my mind. There was something wrong with me, an uncomfortable feeling in my chest, a sort of a pull towards him.

I could see his eyes clearly, and I saw that he had stopped talking to Draco, standing up quickly.

I too moved, walking up to the stairs to my dormitory. I was halfway up as he arrived at their bottom, unable to follow.

"Rose!" he called, and I heard him, involuntarily flinching, and hurrying my step, disappearing behind the doors of my dormitory.