Narcissa had never taken much interest with any of the women her son was involved with, she often found them to be simple and dull. However, Aurora was the diamond in the rough. Admittedly, Narcissa thought that this young lady would be like the rest despite the good things Ophelia had boasted. But she was proven wrong; unlike the rest Aurora had depth. She wasn't just a pretty face with a head full of hot air.

"What type of tea do you prefer, Narcissa?" Aurora asked politely, pulling Narcissa from her thoughts.

"Conventional black tea; however, my spirits are high and I'm feeling a bit adventurous. What do you recommend, my dear?"

"I do enjoy the ayurvedic chai- good for healing, you know." Aurora jested.

Narcissa put on her most gracious smile. "Then ayurvedic it is!"

The two women conversed politely as they waited for their chai.

"How is your hand? Is it supposed to still be bruised?" Narcissa asked with concern.

Aurora nodded and sighed. "Draco told me that it will be sore for a few hours and the bruising is normal. I should be fine by tomorrow."

"Good, as long as there is no permanent damage."

"I don't think it's that bad, Narcissa."

"Au contraire, ma chère, [1] a broken hand not something to be taken lightly."

"Je vais essayer d'être plus prudents. [2]"

Narcissa nodded with satisfaction. Over the number of encounters she'd had with Emmanuel and Ophelia's youngest child, Narcissa had developed a soft spot for the girl. How Ophelia sent such a child away at such a young age, she would never know.

"Forgive me for prying, but at what age did your parents send you to America?"

"I was 3."

"Oh my, that's awfully young."

Aurora began to fidget uncomfortably. "Yes, and to be honest, looking back at my childhood I can hardly remember my parents."

Narcissa looked at the girl with sympathy, waiting for her to continue.

"They never really visited much you see, Father was always busy with work and Mother…I'm not too sure what she occupied her time with. You could probably tell me- after all, you know her better than I do."

"Why did they send you here?"

"Who knows?" Aurora shrugged indifferently. "All my life I was made to believe that I was sent here because of a dark wizard that was terrorizing the Wizarding community in Europe, but now it seems to me that they couldn't be bothered with a daughter." Aurora drew in a deep breath. "I wasn't going inherit the family business or my father's estate." Aurora was so engrossed in her grievances that she had forgotten that she was speaking freely about a very private matter. "They had great plans for all my brothers. Nathaniel would inherit the business and the château, Father had purchased some properties for Reginald, and Emerson is going to be an investment banker. Where does that leave me?" She crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. "I am expected to marry a suitable man from a family of good breeding and produce adorable offspring for my mother to fawn over in her all too brief visits; that is if she could spare a moment to remember that she actually does have a daughter living on the other side of the world!" It took Aurora a moment to realize that she was speaking a little too loudly and that the other patrons in the tea shop were now staring at her or at least were pretending not to listen. She looked up at Narcissa and turned all sorts of different shades of red.

"Please forgive me, I did not mean to lose my composure. I also did not wish to burden you with all of my personal issues…I-I've just been under a lot of stress as of late."

"It is no problem dear. Maybe we can forgo the tea and just go for a walk instead."

Aurora nodded and followed Narcissa out of the tea shop.

XXXX

Lucius was sitting in his study occupying himself with a book that his wife had recommended to him when he heard the door open and shut.

"Where have you been, love?" Lucius ask nonchalantly not even bothering to lift his eyes off the page.

"I've been in America, dear."

This caught Lucius' attention, he looked up at his wife. "Why? Draco is spending the next two weeks here!"

Narcissa sighed and moved to sit on her husband's lap. "There was an incident."

"Incident? What incident? Is Draco alright?" Lucius asked with concern.

"Yes, yes he's fine."

"Then what seems to be the trouble?"

"Aurora broke her hand."

Lucius sat still for a moment and then looked up at his wife. "So?"

"What do you mean, 'so'? The poor child injured her hand and she lives alone!"

"What does that have to do with you?"

Narcissa sighed. "Don't be unkind, she actually sent an owl to summon Draco so he could heal it for her."

"And did he?"

"Yes, it was amazing, he fixed it up in no time. That son of ours is very talented, you know?"

"Of course I know!" Lucius mused. "That's because he takes after his mother."

Narcissa smiled and placed a light kiss on her husband's cheek.

"He's a good boy."

"I know."

Narcissa rested her head on her husband's shoulder. "Thank you for always being there for him." She whispered.

XXXX

Wyatt lay motionlessly on the beach, listening to the waves crashing against the shore. Not too far from him Ramona was digging up samples of gillyweed. July was usually the month when the Belbys went on their annual family vacation. This year Damocles had decided to take his wife and children to Malta.

These trips usually consisted of Wyatt dozing off on the beach and waking to a horrible sunburn, Damocles and Ramona scavenging for native plant samples, and little Eisley collecting seashells to present to her mother Imogen.

"WYATT!" The child screamed has she jumped on his back.

"Whaaaaaat?"He wined

"I want to play in the water!"

"Okay? What does that have to do with me?"

"Mother said I can't play in the ocean unless you or Ramona are with me."

"Go bother Ramona then. Jeez, kid, can't you see I'm trying to nap!" Wyatt rolled onto his other side facing away from his little sister.

"She's busy digging up plants with Father." Eisley pouted.

Wyatt turned to face her once more. He merely opened one eye and caught a glimpse of the pouting child and sighed. He stood, brushing the sand off his swim shorts.

"Alright, let's go."

Eisley squealed in delight and grabbed her brother's hand, dragging him to the direction of the waves.

Damocles and Ramona had returned with four buckets full of gillyweed.

"Well, I would say that was a rather successful venture, don't you think?" Damocles asked his daughter.

"Yes, Father, very successful, but I can't help but wonder why we needed four buckets of this stuff. I said I only needed about 3 or 4 weeds."

Damocles chuckled, "That is where you are mistaken, my little protégée. Over the years I have learned that you can never have enough samples when it comes to potion making. Besides I do recall Wyatt say something about needing the roots for his latest project."

"Project? What project?"

"Didn't he tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Your brother has completed his potions thesis early and he's been accepted into the doctoral program. Can you believe it, Romy? Your brother is finally catching up to you!"

Ramona couldn't help but crack a smile. "Well, isn't that something. The little fool never told me!" She looked over at the beach and watched her brother toss their younger sister into the water while their mother screamed at him not to drown the poor child.

XXXX

Aurora was packing her suitcase. She was in a filthy mood. Not only was she angry at her parents but she was utterly humiliated about how she had behaved the other day in front of Narcissa. She had no intention of reveling her personal issues, but somehow they all just came out.

Narcissa probably thinks I'm some unstable kid with abandonment issues.

Just then Draco entered her apartment unannounced.

"What? You don't know how to knock?" She asked slightly agitated.

Draco quickly stopped in his tracks. "I'm sorry...I did not mean to intrude."

Aurora looked at him and her expression immediately softened. She sighed. "Please forgive me; that was rude."

"There's nothing to forgive, I shouldn't be pushing into your flat unannounced to begin with."

Aurora continued to pack her belongings into her suitcase.

"Are you going on a trip?" Draco asked curiously.

"Yes, of sorts."

"Care to elaborate?"

"Do you have to know everything that happens in my life?" Aurora asked a bit too harshly.

Draco was a bit hurt by her rudeness; she had never taken that tone with him, ever.

"I'm sorry. I only came here to inquire after your well-being, and to see how your hand is healing, but if you want me to leave I'll leave."

Draco turned to exit the flat, and once more Aurora stopped and looked up at her friend, feeling awfully guilty for how she was speaking to him. She was in a nasty mood and was taking it out on the first human she had any contact with.

"No!" Aurora rushed over to Draco and took hold of his hand. "Please don't go. I'm very sorry, I really am. I've just been having a very difficult time as of late and I'm just taking it out on you…I'm horrible!"

Draco looked down at Aurora and it became apparent to him that she hasn't been sleeping. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her complexion was paler than usual- he would even go as far to say that her skin had an unhealthy yellow hue to it.

"Are you okay?"

"I guess."

"No, seriously. Are you okay? You look…unwell."

"What do you want me to say? I'm tired, and overwhelmed."

"Is there any way I can help?"

Aurora shook her head and pulled out her wand to summon her suitcase. "I guess you could take me to the airport."

"Airport?"

"Yes, I've been selected to conduct some fieldwork in Arizona. The Grand Canyon to be specific and since we are working with a group of muggle geologies we have to use muggle transportation.

"I see, is that what's been troubling you?"

"No, I can honestly careless about getting on a damned airplane. What troubles me is more family related-I really don't want to talk about it."

Draco nodded and picked up Aurora's bags and took hold of her hand and gave her to most comforting smile he could offer.

"Well, we'll just leave it at that. Let's go Miss, you have a plane to catch!"

Aurora smiled at Draco's antics, somehow some way his man could always find a way to make her feel better, even if it was for just a brief moment.

[1]: "On the contrary my dear."

[2]: "I will try to be more careful."