Torn Apart – Blood and Bone Saga

Chapter 1

Swirls of colour and warmth wrapped around Ron as he dreamed. In the wake of Morpheus, he indulged in the memories of a girl's soft lips, tasting them as she pressed her body against his.

"What'sez is this?" Ron vaguely heard a cold voice, "why'sez it here on my desk. It not parts of my work load's". It was a deep raspy voice that exuded an unsettling coldness.

Ron was still kissing the girl as the scene in which he did, folded and bled into a new one, as dreams often did. As it morphed though the sound of that voice registered a second time. Something about the way it sounded was primal, giving rise to a natural fear response.

"Why'sez it still attached, it still got'zes a body! Who put'sez there in my case load's!"

The dream was blissful and gentile, but this voice didn't belong. Its presence felt like an intrusion. And more so as he heard it again, it panicked him. He started to shout, to tell it to get away.

Pansy woke slowly, with dreary sight, to the sound of distant moaning. It was a tired awakening that left her vision blurred, unable to take anything in. She knew she had woken feeling very grouchy. It had to be early, "Blasted body clock", she thought, still tired.

The moaning continued, "shut your snoring Greengrass", she thought.

She realised that she wasn't as comfortable as she expected to be. Not uncomfortable, she knew that wherever she was, she was happy about being there and didn't want to get up. Her current stop over wasn't to her bed's usual levels of comfort. She breathed in a fresh scent of earthy grass and broom handle wax that lit a heat inside her as it brought flickers of memories. Of strong hands and a solid frame enveloping her. She smiled as she felt a pressure on her lower back, it was a welcome presence that lingered until it began to fall and caress her round rear.

Pansy's head jolted up with a squeak at the realisation that she wasn't alone. The panic in her peaked as she felt her sturdy nights platform begin to move as the sound woke some sleeping giant under her with a start. Quickly rubbing her eyes, she looked down to see Weasley's tired face now blearily looking up at her with his own level of confusion. She had found the source of the moaning.

She stared at him blankly as she was astonished to find him there, covered in a mix of their black and red hair about his face. She realised who she'd slept on, rather than where.

As he came around the memory of the dream was displaced as he was jolted by the comprehension, he retreated in shock an inch backwards into the cushions of the old couch in which they had lay on, now becoming aware of their situation. Pansy leaned up on her arms and Ron's eyes diluted in shock, seemingly unable to decide where to look as he noticed what she hadn't. Turning his head to look at the room instead, he simply raised a hand and pointed at her chest.

Pansy recoiled as her eyes followed his signalling, realising that she was naked. Gathering up an armful of a blanket that was strung over them she hastened it around her, taking stock of the situation. Unable to be happy about finding herself like this, she at least found relief in the fact that she was only naked from the waist up. Pulling the quilt though meant that she now revealed that he too was naked from the waist up. The sight of his chest and stomach unshackled of its burdensome clothes made her own eyes widen.

There was a beep on Ron's watch, it alerted him to the fact that it was early, but he knew it wasn't early enough and soon they'd miss breakfast and start of lessons. They both wrestled to get covered up and dressed. As they did Ron realised, they'd come to the Room of Requirement in the night. They'd slept on a large soft couch that was centred in the room next to Hermione's table and chairs that still remained.

Pansy looked around the room in fleeting wonder as she'd never seen the place before. It was short lived as she followed him to the door. "Why can't I remember anything from last night after-…", the thought made her blush as it recalled more flickering memories of the flight where they'd kissed. She didn't know how long they toured the castle locked together, but the memory was potent, the sort that had electricity flowing over her again.

Ron couldn't help but stare at her as they reached the door. She did the same as they faced off with simple smiles. He'd felt what starlight was truly made of last night and now it was over. The feeling of her lips on his sensitive injured one remained with a perverted sting that he enjoyed.

There was another one of their trademarked long silences as they stared at each other without a single word ready to be spoken. Knowing there was no time and going with that same feeling that had worked so well for him this year, he went with the first thing that came to mind.

He gently took her hand, leaning down he raised it to his lips where he traced a single kiss on the back. He noticed the pink in her cheeks and the dilation of her pupils, it was enough. Holding the door open she stepped outside, and he followed.

They both parted, going separate ways as they made for a pacy change of clothes. As they left there were several long backwards glances. Only Pansy paused in fascination as she noticed the door they'd just exited almost vanish as it remained only a second longer, bleeding into the brickwork and disappearing.

Walking on Pansy had quickly registered they were on the Seventh floor on the corridor with the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. In fact, the hanging was directly opposite the door that they'd exited, or she thought they had. She was still confused and intrigued by the strange place. But in understanding, she knew she had to rattle her way through every passageway she knew of to get to Slytherin in good time.

Panting at the speed in which she'd reached the Great Hall, now in uniform, she paused to catch her breath. She was close to the Main Hall on root to breakfast. She was anxious to get to the Gal's, Tracey in particular as it hit her that she would be worried about her.

Noise struck her ears, after a second it registered as arguing, loud and angry. Stepping into the foyer she saw the Gal's stood fast opposite Draco, Millicent, Blaise and Nott. All opposing in front of the closed doors to the Great Hall.

Tracey was desperately trying to get at Malfoy while Harrier held her around the waist. Draco looked to be shocked into inaction, but he was as vocal as they rallied threats back and forth.

"I swear, I swear it Malfoy, if you've put a finger on her, I'll have your bollocks for earrings!" Tracey spat wildly.

"I told you I haven't seen your little tart, I wouldn't want it touching me while it's got your filth on it", Draco's words brought a volatile reaction from Tracey who needed further restraining by the taller girl. A sinister grin lit his face, "we'll see how long you get to play with her, Dyke! Your times coming!"

Harrier had to tighten her grip around Tracey who was screeching now. Liza lingered at Tracey's other side waiting while Draco's lot lined up just as ready. Millicent's eyes, which were watching the girls closely, quickly drew back over Draco at his words. A shocked look struck at her, but she remained silent, waiting to react at her best friends Elbow.

"You're a vile sad little boy, you can act as tough as you like, but we all know your just the little boy who can't get the girl and hangs around with other, little, boys", Tracey sneered, tactically trying to wind him up in return.

Nott took a step forward, "watch who your talking to you stupid cow!"

Liza mirrored his step to Tracey's left, her hand in her robe.

"What, you want some too?" Nott warned, addressing the girl now challenging him.

A darkness dimmed Liza's eyes and she pulled out her wand completely. Harrier, still with the one arm around Tracey unsheathed hers with her free hand. Farah came striding forward next to brandishing her own.

Blaise pulled his wand along with Nott, they both took a step forward when Draco spoke up again.

"Are you really that stupid Light", Draco called out, now fixing Harrier with cold eyes.

Harrier huffed in irritation, "if you're going to start Malfoy, I'd much rather do it with wands than listen to your bile-…".

Draco quickly cut her off, his voice chilling now to her ears, "You know Light! Just like your mother and father know. Like Milli's parents and Nott's and Blaise's". His smile curved a sickening depth spreading ear to ear. "We all know he's returned; we know who he's coming for. And you, you better know your place before your put in it!"

Harrier's fingers, coiled round the grip of her wand, flexed in anticipation of her mouth releasing an incantation. But her hard eyes failed and she sagged under his gaze as his words deflated her.

Not happy with the situation deescalating, Draco turned his attention back to Tracey. "Don't worry though I'll send you Pansy's best when I've put her back where she belongs".

The reaction was instant yet again, she erupted. It brought a humour out in him as Harrier struggled to hold her. But his face dropped in that same moment as Liza and Farah stepped forwards, wands raised. They had the jump on Nott and Blaise.

The door to the Hall opened with a bang, causing everyone to jump and turn as Professor McGonagall came striding out wand raised.

"ENOUGH!", her voice cried out in warning. The doors behind showing Pansy the number of faces stood trying to get a look at what was causing the commotion. McGonagall slammed the door shut with a flick of her wand.

"Dare I even ask the meaning of this", she scold, looking from each faction. The Gals slowly stowed their wands away, but Harrier wouldn't release her grip on Tracey. "Well?"

"Professor, he's done something to Pansy, I don't know where she is, and I know he did something to her last night, and he's been making threats-…".

McGonagall's eye's flickered with a potent fear as she heard a student was missing, but quite as instantly her eyebrows fell back into place. With an exasperated expression she fixed her eyes on Pansy as she spotted her at the entrance of the room.

"Miss Parkinson, would you care to inform your friends that you're not in peril?"

Everyone in the Hall turned to see her stood looking shocked by the scene. Tracey leaped into action, slamming into her as she wrapped her arms around Pansy.

The feeling was mutual, and she crushed Tracey's torso as she hugged her back, desperate for the feeling of her embrace. Her breath caught in her chest as she realised how cut she truly was to have put Tracey in this state. Witnessing this mess and replaying the last night with Draco, she wanted to disappear with her friends. and pulling her into her fiercely.

Pulling back, Pansy saw the tears in Tracey's eyes. They told each other with silence that they would speak later as they turned back to the teacher.

"Very well, we'll end this here and now but if I hear anything more from you lot today, I'll be straight onto Professor-…" McGonagall paused as she turned to find the Slytherin head behind her, "Snape", she finished gently.

"Professor", he acknowledged her curtly, "Dare I guess that half the school has heard my house as it wages war in the corridors", Snape's eyes threatened as he spoke. "Parkinson, your absence?", Snape asked coldly.

"I had a bad night's sleep Professor, I stepped out in the night for a walk to tire me out and again this morning", she lied.

The two Professor's shared an intelligent glance, "I think a bit of house point docking might go a little way".

"I hope you find a more appropriate punishment for Davies Professor, she's unhinged", Draco ground out with a bitterness in his voice.

"Oh, I'll fucking show you unhinged", Tracey growled only loud enough for the girls to hear.

"Mr Malfoy", McGonagall purred with a diluted malice, "I dare say in all our time as teachers in this school my colleagues and I know when to dish out fitting punishments without the assistance of a fifth year". Her expression was enough to relay her distain, "I have no doubt in my mind that whatever might have caused Miss Davis to become 'unhinged' would be firmly planted at your feet. Perhaps five points from you might remind you of your own place".

"Professor", Snape acknowledged McGonagall politely, "if I might deal with punishments pertaining to my own House".

"Of course," McGonagall replied without a flicker of ignominy.

"Thank you", he again bowed his head to her before turning back to Draco with a much sterner look. "As the Professor quite rightly said, Five points from Slytherin, learn to control yourself Malfoy". Snape turned to Pansy, "Parkinson that's another Five, out of your common room after hours and Davies-…", he paused as he considered her, "yes well, that'll do".

He looked the room over entirely, "as for the rest of you we do not want a repeat of this morning, from any of you". With a pause he looked from the group to McGonagall and back again, "and I highly suggest you take on board that this year at Hogwarts is not the year to be drawing attention to yourself, don't let it happen again".

From the look the two teachers gave each other Pansy took the meaning behind this to have something to do with Umbridge.

A second later and they both took steps towards her and Tracey.

"Miss Parkinson, is there anything you'd like to tell us, in confidence?", McGonagall caught her off guard with how gently she asked the question, "or to either of us individually?"

The question struck at her, "yes!" she thought.

"Thank you, Professors, but no, it was just a stupid mistake".

As she said this, she spotted on the other side of the room by the other doors that Weasley was stood watching her. At what point he'd entered and become a spectator she didn't know. She struggled not to allow the smile that threatened her to emerge.

The Gal's started to surround her as the Professors took to shepherding the other faction into the Great Hall. Pansy watched with a tickle of mild amusement as Weasley and Draco noticed each other and began glaring as much as possible until they reached the doors and Weasley swore at him loudly.

"Five points from Gryffindor Weasley", McGonagall shrieked out, "I heard that! Completely uncalled for! You should be ash-…"

As the girls turned to her, Pansy caught the sight of Tracey's bloodshot eyes, while Tracey pulled an angry expression as she raised a finger to Pansy's face. She had found the mark that was still present from where Draco struck her.

With the whole of the night before now on her mind, the shock of the confrontation and Draco's words, tears began growing in her own eye's. She whimpered pitifully to them all as she started to cry, "Death, Teacups, Dresses".

There was an echo of confused looks from them all until the realisation hit them. Each putting an arm round her they dragged her off round the corner.

Ron jumped as he felt the weight of Ginny collide with him. She was alone, abandoning her group to come and sit with her sibling.

"Spill!"

"Spill what?", Ron said drawing out the inevitable.

"What have you done", she asked casually as she ripped open a pastry. "Look your leaving a mystery that even Seamus could solve here. You're at one end of the table, those two are at the other end", she went on when he wouldn't answer. "Alright, also, your already bust lip has recently been re-opened. By the looks of it last night considering it was fine when you left me. So, why'd Harry hit you this time?"

There was a silence as he looked away from her, not wanting to be drawn in. Ginny waited a few moments and started to look from him and his lip, to where Harry and Hermione sat, she realised, they weren't even looking at each other.

"Ron you didn't!" Ginny covered her mouth, "please tell me you haven't done something stupid".

He glared at her, turning to quieten the racket and attention she was stirring.

"What happened?" she hissed.

"We sort of, had a moment".

"A moment!"

"Will you shut it, please" he hissed.

"So, in this moment did you tongue your best mate's girlfriend or not!" Ginny shocked him by how angry the idea made her. It was a complete reverse of how she seemed to be the night their relationship was outed.

"Not, of course I didn't, I wouldn't do that for Merlin's sake!"

Ginny considered him and saw the genuine pain on his face, she laced her hand through his arm, "tell me".

Ron admitted to being caught in a lingering moment with Hermione that pulled her to him and drew his lips threateningly close to hers. She admonished him for it but allowed him to go on. The fact that they'd both pulled away, the holding each other reassuringly, even the challenge to kiss her just to make her see that they knew it wasn't what they wanted.

"And how much of it did he see?"

"I don't know", Ron grumbled, "I know he only hit me the once, but I allowed it".

She frowned at him.

"What?"

"No one hits you Ron", Ginny warned.

"Gin, he had every right", Ron moaned, "Merlin I can't do right for bloody wrong here".

"I don't care", she warned him again, "Weasley's don't go letting anyone put one on us, even if you did deserve it", she added the last with venom.

"I just told you I didn't kiss her", he hissed.

"Go tell that to him then!" Ginny's viciousness beating his. "Ron it's a crap situation. On one hand you shouldn't be letting yourselves get so close. Its great you both moved past whatever it was between you, but the flip side is you've broken Harry's trust, you both have".

"But she's my friend, we all said we didn't want it to change us", Ron didn't know if he was pleading for her to see it his way or to convince himself now. "And we stopped to keep his trust and protect their relationship".

"Firstly, no!", she glared at him, "you two don't get to carry on the same, it's always going to change you. You both have unresolved feelings and attraction, you don't put yourselves in inappropriate situations that can breed…", she punched him repeatedly in his large shoulder trying to give him a dead arm, "…this, exact, type, of problem!"

"Secondly you can't expect the word of both of you saying, wait Harry, we just this moment realised we didn't want this, and it's all resolved now, to outweigh the sheer horror of seeing his girlfriend caught up in his best mate's arms".

"Shite", he moaned as it all hit him.

"Shite", she agreed, stroking his arm supportively now he understood where they'd gone wrong.

She let a few moments pass before turning on him again, this time for gossip purposes. "So, what was going on with the Slytherins? How come you lost us Five points? And why do you keep looking up for Parkinson?".

A smirk crept onto his face that he tried to hide but Ginny noticed, and her mouth fell open. "Oh shite! what, have, you, done, now!" she snarled, rhythmically thumping him again.

Downstairs in the corridor used by all the Hufflepuffs, Liza leaned over and tickled the pear on the portrait of the bowl of fruit. The pear transformed into a green handle, and she led them in through the fixture as she swung it open.

Pansy had never stepped foot inside, neither too had Tracey and Farah she noticed, shock showed on their faces as they took in the sheer size of the place as they entered. They were swamped by a sea of overly helpful elves offering every kind of favour they might need.

"How long do we have?" Harrier asked sharply.

"Twenty minutes tops, thirty at a push but we'd all better have an excuse", Liza stated factually.

"Very well", Harrier and Pansy moved through the sea of Elves with little thought for politeness as they bodily pushed some of them over. Sitting themselves down without thanks, even ushering some to move. "You, a pot of Coffee, some toast and porridge for five".

"Of course Miss" the little elf squeaked, and they all began to scatter into helping ready their request as quickly as possible.

"Wait!", Pansy barked, her voice shaky as she'd already began regaining some control after her little cry. Some of the elves stopped and turned, "and a pot of tea", she said sharply.

Liza looked between Pansy and Harrier to Tracey and Farah. Sitting down she sighed, pinching at the bridge of her nose as she knew an argument was brewing.

Tracey and Farah, opposite the table from the other two, stood gripping the backs of the chairs, each of them staring daggers at the other two. Harrier and Pansy sat blinking at them in bewilderment.

"What?" they both chorused.

"What the hell was that", Tracey spat.

"That was disgusting!" Farah said in astonishment.

There was a thump on the table and a sharp low hiss shattered their eardrums as it screeched out. "ENOUGH!" the sound echoed through the room and took everyone by surprise, including the Elves who jumped in fright.

Liza stood, slamming her hands on the table as she did. Pansy's mouth, like the others, fell open. She was in disbelief as Liza's eyes had physically darkened to a shark like blackness, cold and devoid of compassion.

"Sit", Liza whispered, yet the word echoed. When no one moved and just looked at each other in shock she repeated that same scream, "SIT!", the noise was likened to a screech in a storm.

Pansy felt the hairs on her neck stand and spark. She saw that as Liza released this resonant sound her skin, usually only hinting at its green pearlescence, intensified with warning. It transitioned in that split second from its softness to a sharp angry green around her neck like an animal's threatening crest.

Everyone sat and she placed her palms on the table, glaring at each of them.

"I'm sorry", her words were strained, Pansy saw Harrier slide her hand to Liza, but she recoiled. "I'm worked up from that confrontation with those idiots". She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, settling herself.

"I will not sit and watch my sisters pick each other apart when others are so ready to". They all remained silent, "Girls", she turned to Tracey and Farah, "you need to forgive Harrier and Pansy, this is a cultural difference. They were both raised around this kind of", she paused, "attitude". "To them a house elf is just another appliance, and it's presence is dismissible to their minds eye".

She looked at the other two, "you two need to remember this isn't their way. Remind them it isn't a cruelty, and that you wouldn't willingly be so callous".

"Excuse me!", she turned to get all the elves' attention and they all stopped to look over to them, the nearest running to assist. "I just wanted to say, I'm very sorry about my outburst, I hope it didn't scare anyone. Also, my friends would like to say something".

Liza turned and glared at Tracey and Harrier. They turned to the elves on mass and blanched, slowly they found their voice.

"Hell... hello".

"Yes, hello…, just to say we didn't mean to be rude".

"Yes, and thank you for the breakfast?", Pansy finished the last aiming the question at Liza. She knew that for Harrier, like herself, this was just bizarre. Being asked to thank an Elf, it just wasn't done. But looking at the other two's faces, she felt she might understand Liza's reaction.

Liza nodded and patted Harrier's hand as she sat.

There was a long silence as the elves brought their order over, each of them offering a small thanks in return.

Tracey seemed sullen and drawn now in the light. It didn't sit right with Pansy; she was used to seeing her be the spark in any room.

"Bloody hell Liza, you scared the piss out of me", Tracey finally breaking the quiet.

Curiosity finally got the better of Pansy, "Liza, was that your, err…".

"My Heritage?", Liza suggested, Pansy nodded, "yes dear it was. I can't always shake off that kind of, anger, after it's built up like that. I'd apologise but…", She paused. "Well, I guess it's sort of worked out, setting us all down while we wait to hear from you, when your ready I mean".

Again, fascinated by her, Pansy gave her a smile. She was right though, she needed to get on with telling them before they were out of time.

After barely eating a single piece of toast she took to warming her hands on her mug of tea as she told them about the meeting with Draco. Pansy felt for Tracey's hand under the table and clutched it warmly as she got to the darker part of the confrontation. She took the time to address them all as she recanted, word for word, his threats, and the barrage she'd fired back at him as she lost control. Each one of them looked shocked at what they were hearing.

Tracy's rear raised out of her seat when she recalled the slap that he landed across her cheek. It was only when Liza took hold of her hand that she stopped rising out of her chair and sat back down. Either warning or reassurance, it halted her.

"How bad is it?" Pansy asked them all quietly.

After hearing herself retell the story she originally felt a worry that she had said too much and gone too far with him. But then an even more powerful dread took her, and she turned to Harrier. Finally getting that it was her that she really wanted to hear from. Their childhoods, raised Pureblood was a commonality that she couldn't share with the others.

Pansy felt as the paralytic doom took hold of her, like it had the night before.

Harrier spoke first, her hand finding Pansy's she quietly answered. "I don't know Pansy, but I'm frightened half to death hearing this. You're certain he said asked, or did he say he was going to ask Lucius?".

"He's already done it; I could see it in his face".

"Wait a minute", Tracey scoffed, "I'm sorry but why are you both bricking it? She's not actually going to marry him are you, I mean they can't make you". Tracey lost her confidence as Pansy gave her a blank look, "can they?"

Pansy and Harrier gave each other another terrified look.

"I'm not hearing this", Tracey laughed, "this is bull, they can't make you-…".

"-Tracey", Liza warned gently, "sit, down".

She again offered her her hand as the girl realised, she'd started rising out of her chair a second time.

"But Liz", Tracey pleaded, "you know they can't".

Liza smiled at her as she tried to sooth her again, but knowing Harrier as long as she had, Liza had already taken in the bleakness on her face.

"Actually", Harrier spoke up, looking petrified in doing so. She eyed Pansy who nodded, as if to reassure her it was ok to say it. "Well, Pansy and I can pretty much be used as our parents please, when it comes to purity betrothing, we don't get a say. I'm lucky that farther wants to keep me sweet. But it doesn't mean I'm safe from him deciding to enforce a bond with another house".

Another meaningful look with Pansy, before addressing the girls. "It was changing, slowly for the better", she spoke softly, choosing her words wisely. "But our families sort of still have a foot in the dark ages and…".

Harrier paused as a shiver struck at her, they all saw how she struggled, it only stressed to them how truly cold they all were now after the fight earlier.

She choked, "now the…the Dark Lords returned".

"Malfoy's words before?", Liza questioned.

Both Harrier and Pansy nodded now, but Tracey and Farah sat wide eyed and shocked. Countless questions came to them both, mixed with a myriad of emotions that disbelieved her words as absolute.

"We all know what's been flying around after last year, but Pansy and I actually know. The night Diggory was killed, it was our families that was there".

"You can't be saying your lot are Deatheater's", Farah couldn't stay quiet.

Harrier looked around, a habit she'd picked up in a childhood of being scolded for speaking such things out loud.

But Pansy jumped in, a panic straining her voice as she whispered, "she can't answer that!"

"Why?"

"Because," Pansy's back getting up slightly, "you don't blurt out such questions without welcoming the threat of your family's throats being slit in their beds".

"Yes but-…"

"Girls", Liza quietly pleaded, her voice didn't linger as she spoke normally, all be it strained. "Cultural differences remember".

Once again, despite the setting of friends, like Pansy, Harrier still lowered her voice. "That's not a fair question to ask, how can I say, 'oh yes my farther is", or 'oh no he would never', when I know that an answer like either of those could have him killed", she inclined her head to Pansy, reinforcing her words.

Pansy spoke up, her voice still quiet, "Harrier's point was that It makes the idea of betrothing all the more frightening now he's back. He takes purity and lineage to heart, makes examples of people and will eventually demand matches of his own choosing for whatever ends suite his plans".

"Couldn't family's fight it or go into hiding", Farah suggested with an air of a child trying to help an adult find the answer.

"And end up like the Weasley's", Harrier got to her feet in anger, "Blood Traitor's without a pot to piss in, stupid girl! There all marked for death if he gets back to full power".

Harrier's outburst rocked Farah as her mouth fell open and her face trembled between anger and pained.

Pansy too had been dragged out of her stoop, a mixture of emotions at the girl's outburst and the sharpness of hearing the Weasley name.

Liza stood and took a step to Harrier. Pansy noted that it was the first time she'd seen a heated reaction from the girl, with the exception of the earlier confrontation. The shorter girl leaned into her closest friend, whatever their words were, it was quiet enough that it remained between them.

Harrier sat back down, and again, for the first time Pansy thought she saw a moment of sulking from the girl. But she passed this as she leaned across and put her hand out in request for Farah's.

Farah didn't react straight away, but she did relent and leaned to take her hand. Harrier mutely lipped her apologies in the quiet that remained around them. The same quiet that lingered for long moments until Farah shattered it again.

"Could you run away?"

Pansy wasn't sure if the girl had done this on purpose, but seeing the disbelief on Harrier's face as she rolled her eyes to the ceiling made her smile, "my first thought actually", her voice didn't match her amused look however as it lingered with sadness.

Tracey jumped on this, "Yes! Yes that's it you come live with me with my mum, she'd hate having two of us to deal with, hilarious!". She frowned as Pansy shook her head, "No Pansy it's great, honestly she'll love you and your so small you'd fit in a shoe box!"

"Tracey!" Harrier pleaded with her.

Anger struck at Tracey as she backed down yet again, as feelings that they were getting nowhere bit at her.

"You're asking her to abandon her family, more than that her status and heritage". Harrier paused nodding, "and I know, honestly, I do. What family? If they can do this to us? Well, ours actually. This is what's so hard to comprehend when you haven't lived it. We really do have duty and honour burned into us as soon as were old enough to. Were taught family is everything, even if it's no kind of true family by an outsider's perspective, it's all we've ever known. Death and honour in protection of the blood lines", she sighed. "She'd be a pariah in her own community. And again, I get it, she'll always have us, but this is a huge thing to comprehend".

Farah now linked her fingers in with Tracey's giving her a sad smile. "Their right", she said sadly, "My parents chose to raise me muggle like yours did. But were an interracial family that turned its back on tradition. And I've never had to worry about such things, but I've seen firsthand what arranged marriages can do to people. I lost my own grandmother and almost all my other family before I was born, all because my mother ran from her betrothing to marry my dad. It's as sad as it is beautiful".

"He should have hit you harder!" Tracey seethed as she turned back to Pansy with an angry glare. Standing abruptly, she stormed away from them, "knock some bloody sense into you", they heard her mutter as she disappeared through the portrait hole.

Pansy's head dropped defeated as Tracey left, lashing out as she did. She wasn't angry at her, just upset her situation was effecting them all so much.

Farah started to rise to go after her, but Liza put a hand on her shoulder. "Let her go love, we'll give her some space".

"You don't think Draco will actually go through with it now though, do you? After the way he spoke this morning. If he believed any of what she told him", Liza asked Harrier.

"It wouldn't matter", Harrier shrugged. "Draco has always feared Lucius and disappointing him more so. I think even if it were true and she'd been with a hundred boys, he'd sooner marry her and hush it up than have his father think he asked for a bad match".

Harrier frowned though, deep in thought.

"What?" Liza quizzed as she saw the look.

Harrier glanced at Pansy, whom she now had her arm around, fearful of further upsetting her. "I'm just not sure Lucius would think her a poor match even if it were true. The house of Parkinson has always been one of the weightier names on the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Its only because Arachnus drank and flitted away their wealth that their not a true power anymore".

Pansy flinched hearing her father's name but remained silent as Harrier went on.

"Lucius would be very willing to link with the Parkinson's and absorb their tree as Arachnus would have no male heir to continue the name. It would fall under Lucius and even with him being the coin, he'd inherit the titles and the lineage.

"Think of it this way, if he wanted power, he'd approach my father. He's one of only a few with bigger pockets than himself. But we might only be interesting to him through our lost names like the Blacks".

"The Black family? But I thought your line was American", Farah piped up again.

The slightest hint of Pride flashed on Harrier's face as the girl showed she'd remembered details she'd mentioned in the past.

"Yes, we are, our line descends from the Sayre's in America. It's why were not on the Sacred Twenty-Eight, when Cantankerous Nott published it, he dismissed our house as any links to the States were seen as bourgeois for some inert reason. But our history is still as strong as most as our line through the Sayre's is directly linked to Slytherin's Mother".

"And the Black's?"

"To a Lesser extent yes, they're lineage goes back a similar route and joins ours. It's the type of thing that are only of interest to anyone with a lot to gain from Blood and Bone".

"What's that?" Liza's interest peaked as she was hearing of things they'd not spoke of before.

"Just an old saying", Pansy dismissed, "like really old".

"Yeah", Harrier pulled a quizzical face as she agreed with her, but she also felt she knew better. "She's not wrong, but it depends if you go in for that kind of enigmatic stuff".

Seeing Liza and Farah non plussed she said, "it's sort of from all the old wives' tales or the most ancient bards-…"

"Blood and Bone must always be paid", "Pansy sang out in knowing.

Harrier nodded, "its just an old thing we hear all the time. I don't know the proper meaning, but I know there are a few that believe it refers to Pure Blood families and the debts we incur in life. Some believe that you can pay one by sacrificing another".

Liza made to open her mouth, but Harrier stopped her, "I don't understand it".

"So, Lucius is one of these who believes".

"From what I've heard in passing, yes but its just all nonsense".

There was a long and sad pause, "time?" Harrier asked with a cold indifference.

"Would you believe me if I said we've only been here fifteen minutes", Liza mocked.

"Well, nothing quite as exciting happened to me last night before you all rush to ask me", Farah said prodding at her teacup.

Pansy smiled at her.

"Anyone else then?" Harrier turned to Liza, "I never ask you enough, your always so busy looking after everyone else".

"I was with you all night you wet blanket", she smiled back.

"Well, I slept with Weasley last night".

There was a pause where no sound was made but for the gentle bustle of the elves behind them. Then a smash as Farah's cup hit the floor and the Elves sprang into action.

A/N

Thank you for taking the time to read this through despite it being uploaded on Silent Glances. I am posting three chapters now and I plan to keep to a promise of one chapter a week but in all honesty, it will likely be two, commitments allowing.

As mentioned, this is a new story stemming from my fiction, "Silent Glances", in many ways it follows straight on but I radically changed my ideas for this fiction to steadily grow darker in hopefully a tasteful manner. I had stated it would be mature, but I think I can toe the line one below that without a needless increase.

If any Characters do seem unfamiliar or events, they are all set up in the Silent Glances however I wanted to move away for that to give this version of the story a fresh start. Towards the end of that story, I felt my writing calmer and more restrained and took a good look at what needed improvement.

My plan for this AU story is to slowly deviate from canon where I can get into it without it jarring the lore form the set up in Silent Glances.