Happy second half of June everyone! Can't believe we're nearly halfway through the year already. It's been a better year than last so that's something. I'm also managing to get double updates out again as well. I am loving seeing people reading my stories and I hope that you are still enjoying them.

Lots of love,

LSH xx

Finally Belonging Somewhere – Part 125:

The next day arrived and, with it, brought the trip to the nearby town. Aurora was more prepared for it this time and she had Astoria, Ellie and Charlotte with her as well. The 12-year-old sighed as she checked herself over in the mirror as she wanted to make sure that she looked OK. She didn't want to let anyone down by having something out of place. She was aware that all eyes would be on her and that was something she was overly mindful of.

"You all ready?" Astoria asked as she looked at Aurora. "You've been ages and we're all waiting for you."

"Sorry. Do I look OK? I don't want to let anyone down with how I look…"

"Oh Aurora. Is that why you've been up here so long?" Astoria asked before she had a nod in confirmation. "You look wonderful to me so come on. Where's your bag?" she asked and Aurora grabbed her bag before Astoria led her downstairs.

Astoria shook her head at Narcissa, who had wanted to ask what had taken Aurora so long to get ready for the trip before the children were paired off with an adult for the Apparation. Narcissa took Aurora and Astoria with her.

It wasn't too much longer before everyone had gathered. There was Lucius, Narcissa and Meredith with Draco and Aurora, Daphne and Astoria and then Charlotte and Ellie. Aurora instantly going over to her best friends once they'd arrived and Meredith moved to station herself behind her niece and her friends as they began to walk around and stopped in the shops that people wanted to stop in. For Charlotte and Ellie it was their first time in France, so they were asking a lot of questions about everything and Narcissa was only too happy to start explaining things to the pair.

Aurora had slipped her hand into Meredith's as she could feel eyes on her and it was then that the aunt realized why Aurora had taken so long to get ready. She stopped with Aurora and knelt down to be closer to her level and she stroked her cheek.

"You took a while because you knew everyone would be watching you didn't you?" she asked her niece and Aurora but her lip and nodded softly after a small sigh escaped her lips. "Oh Aurora. It doesn't matter what you wear or how you look. You are a Malfoy and that is why people look at you."

"I don't like them looking at me, Aunt Meredith. It makes me think I've done something wrong," Aurora said as she looked at her aunt and but her lip.

Meredith moved to stroke her niece's cheek softly and kissed her head before pulling the girl in for a hug.

"I will stay by your side if that is what you wish," Meredith said and Aurora nodded. "Then that is what I will do because I want you to be comfortable," she said before getting up, taking Aurora's hand in hers and they walked to catch up with everyone else.

Narcissa looked at Meredith as the two rejoined the group but Meredith signaled that she'd speak to her later when Aurora was not in earshot. The last thing she wanted was Aurora hearing her thoughts and possibly feeling even more self-conscious than she already was.

"I brought a lot of things when we came here the other day," Aurora said as she looked at her friends, "mummy says that I have enough dresses to last for years but I don't think I have. I've never been able to wear pretty dresses until I came home so I want all the pretty dresses I can have," she explained and Narcissa chuckled.

"What colours do you not have?" she asked her daughter.

"Peach, light blue, yellow, red…" Aurora said as she listed off the colours that she didn't have but wanted. "Green is another one," she said as she looked at Narcissa who sighed but nodded.

"Then that is what we shall have to look into getting you one of every colour it seems little star," Narcissa said as she moved to push some hair back from Aurora's face before a café stop was in order as they'd been through half the shops.

The group arrived into Narcissa's favourite café and everyone found a seat. Aurora sat away from the window and Meredith sat by her as Astoria, Charlotte and Ellie joined them at the table and the girl began to talk and Meredith just listened as they did. The witch was surprised to hear that Astoria was going to speak to her grandparents about allowing Charlotte and Ellie to go and visit their friend in the Highlands.

"That is very thoughtful of you Astoria," she said to the teenager, who smiled.

"Well Aurora deserves to see her friends and I'm sure the King and Queen won't have a problem with it," she said and Aurora giggled softly. "That's what she calls my grandparents… just for the reference." Meredith nodded before orders were placed and snacks were had.

After refreshments the group headed to the bookshop and Charlotte and Ellie instantly gasped at all the pretty books and decided to get some books that they liked the look of before they lost the chance forever. Aurora smiled and watched her friends before she found a couple more books that she wanted to read. They had been ones that she was looking at when they were last in the town but she hadn't picked them up but she had decided to now and asked Meredith if she could have them.

Of course, the woman had said yes to buying them for her niece. She knew how Aurora was feeling about the day and wanted her to feel better. Was she maybe spoiling Aurora at the same time? Maybe but she'd longed to have her niece back to spoil her.

The group made it back to the cottage late afternoon and the sun was setting and the children went off to Aurora's room to share what they'd brought for the day.

Narcissa cast a silencing spell at the stairs before turning to her sister-in-law.

"What happened with Aurora in the town? I noticed you held back with her and were having a conversation with her," the mother said, "and then you shook your head as I went to ask you what was wrong with her."

"I didn't want to say anything in front of Aurora because saying things in front of her isn't always the best thing to do but, yes, something has unsettled her about going into the town and that is why she clung to me today. Yes, I should have told you but it wasn't the right time or place to say anything so I didn't."

"Could you please tell me what is going on with my daughter so I can discuss things with her, Mer?" Narcissa asked as she watched her sister-in-law. "I am grateful that you were there for her because she needed someone to be there for her clearly." Meredith nodded before she began to tell Narcissa what was troubling Aurora.