I was incredibly nervous writing this chapter for some reason and still not 100% happy. But I hope you guys like it.

OH and Happy New Year :)

"What about the three broomsticks?" Cordelia says to she lifts her head from her breakfast. "Since you're officially old enough. We could meet you there after your done with your aunt and uncle? Or Adrian said he knows that room where the Weasleys had their party. We could always do something like that?"

Lilith isn't focusing on her friend. She's staring down the table at Xander who is stabbing at his porridge. It had been quick, painless really. But she still couldn't help the guilt that was welling up in her chest. All she could think was what a horrible cow she was for kissing someone else, falling for someone else, even dating him in the first place. Using him in some pathetic attempt to try and get over Fred.

She remembered the look on his face as she told him, he hadn't even seemed upset. Just disappointed.

That made it slightly easier.

"I don't want to do anything."

"Well maybe if you hadn't of dumped Xander you wouldn't be so miserable."

"That's not why I'm miserable. Xander and I – we didn't – there wasn't a spark."

"What does that even mean?"

Lilith didn't know how to explain it. All she knew is that she had felt it with Fred, but she couldn't very well tell Cordelia that.

"Well, even so, I think we should have a party. For the past five bloody years you've said you've not wanted to do anything, and I've always agreed, but not this year." Lilith ignores her as reaches for the marmalade. At least this way she could look busy. "It's your Seventeenth. It's important. You're having a party even if I have to stun you and drag you there!"

The owls fly overhead, and the letter drops next to her plate. She picks up the envelope, recognizing Fred's scrawl straight away and she tears it open.

Tonight. Eleven. Seventh Floor.

Please.

She glances past Cordelia's shoulder to Fred, and as he smiles, she feels the warmth spread across her face.

She unsure how one person can have such an effect on her.

"Lilith – Hello. Party?" Cordelia stammers on.

She scrunches the letter in a ball as the irritation grows. "Cordelia, I don't want a party, so please stop going on about it?"

She stands from the table. Out of all the things she was going to deal with today, she refuses to have Cordelia's incessant whining to be one of them.

When she enters the three broomsticks she spots them straight away, sat in the corner, completely misplaced amongst everyone else. In almost six years of school she couldn't even recall the last time they had sent her a card, let alone a visit on her birthday.

The moment she had received the letter from her aunt asking her to meet them in The Three Broomsticks she knew it was going to be a terrible birthday.

Lilith forces her way through the crowd and over to the small table in the dark corner. Narcissa stands immediately, placing a soft kiss on her cheek. At least one of them seemed mildly happy to see her.

"Happy birthday dear."

"Thank you."

Lucius doesn't stand, but he nods subtly as she takes a seat opposite them. "Yes, Happy Birthday." She could practically feel the iciness behind his words. "We got you a glass of wine. To mark the occasion. Seeing as you are of age now."

She hated the stuff. They both knew that, well, she thought they knew that. "Thank you." She says softly, not touching the drink.

The silence seeps between the three of them. Lucius leans on his cane, his eyes darting around the room watching the merriment. She was surprised they chose here of all places, it was far too public.

She wished she had asked Draco to come. Even Cordelia with her chatter would have broken the tension.

No, she wished Fred was there. He would crack jokes her Aunt and Uncle wouldn't understand and she would see the vein in Lucius forehead throb at him just being in their presence. She tries to hold back the smile at the thought.

Her aunt breaks the silence first.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?"

Feigning interest. Perfect.

"Cordelia is throwing me a party." She lies because it's easier. Cordelia had been going on about a party for weeks which Lilith rebuffed every time. She couldn't think of anything worse. "She hasn't said much about it to be perfectly honest."

"As long as you keep yourself out of trouble." Her uncle notes, already seeming bored with the conversation. "I trust you know why we've come here today?"

"To wish me a happy birthday?"

She sees him grimace. Lucius eyes sharpen as he stares at her and she feels the hatred fill her chest. Lilith and Lucious had never seen eye to eye on much, but she always kept quiet, it was easier that way.

"Now that your seventeen, and with your parents…incapacitated for the foreseeable future – " That was one word for it. "Everything that comes under the Lestrange fold now belongs to you. The estates, money, everything." He says it like he's almost disappointed.

She feels the chill run down her spine as her uncle places the key on the table. The key to the Lestrange vault. As she picks it up it seems to burn in her palm and the sickness overwhelms her stomach. As her eyes gaze from the object to her guardians she tries to force the words to leave her mouth, despite the fact she already knows what their answer would be. Lilith has to spit it out before she loses her nerve.

"What if I don't want it?"

Narcissa and Lucius exchange a look before her uncle speaks. "Excuse me?" She can hear the anger in his words.

She doesn't want to repeat herself. She picks up the glass of red wine and takes a gulp, hoping it will give her courage. It's bitter as it goes down her throat but she forces herself to drain the glass before she speaks again, coughing as alcohol hits her stomach.

She hesitantly starts speaking after what seems like an eternity. She can feel herself shaking.

"I just don't think…I want it. The estates and…everything else. It doesn't feel – "

She forces herself to stop when her uncle leans in, his gaze icy and dark. "You are a Lestrange." His voice entertains the same coldness as his gaze. "Do you not understand the privilege and honour that comes with that? Despite what people may think regarding your parents the name still carries great weight and every choice that you make now, as one of the last of them, affects that. Even who you choose to associate yourself with."

"What do you – who do you mean?"

He sits back up, straightening himself.

"Minister Fudge spoke to me regarding the events of the Yule Ball, and that thug Weasley – "

Of course Fudge blabbed, unsurprisingly. She refuses to let him finish, and to listen to him bad mouth Fred. She wouldn't have it. "Did he happen to talk about his own thug son? And why Fred did what he did?"

"I don't care which of the Weasleys it was or their reason behind it."

Her eyes flash to her aunt who is sipping from her glass slowly. How could he not care?

"Did Minister Fudge tell you what Ambrose did, yes or no?" She snaps at him, but she forces herself to keep her voice low.

"Ambrose explained what happened that night, and he's deeply regretful for whatever took place."

Lilith can't believe the words that just came out of her aunt's mouth. She wants to flip the table, smash anything that's within reach.

"And in your eyes that makes it ok?" She can't stop the wobble in her voice.

They both ignores the question, and her uncle continues.

"When you are back from school we have agreed he can come by the Manor, so you can both discuss – "

She wished she hadn't drunk the wine so she could throw it in his face.

"I'm not discussing anything with him. I'd rather choke." Lilith wanted to scream at her uncle in the middle of the three broomsticks and tell him to go to hell, but she remains quiet, ever the polite one. "Are you so desperate for more power that you would just throw me to the wolves despite what he did! Do you really not care about me that much?"

"And what would you rather do? Cohort around with blood traitors like the Weasleys? The whole family are savages, I knew it from the moment Arthur Weasley attacked me in Flourish and Blotts. And if you continue to have anything to do with them, for whatever reason – "

She doesn't want to hear about whatever spiteful and hateful things he had to say about The Weasleys. She can't remain quiet.

"Merlin just – SHUT UP!"

She can't help it that time. She didn't expect it to come out of her throat at the volume that it did.

"I beg your pardon – "

"You're so malicious and cruel to them for what? The Weasley have never done anything to you. At lease they are kind and care about each other. At least Fred stood up for me and did something. Your response when you find out what Ambrose did is to take his side because you care more about smoothing it over with Fudge than you do me."

Most of the pub are staring over to them now. Lucius doesn't even flinch at her words.

"I suggest you lower your voice Lilith before you embarrass us any further."

She couldn't believe after her outburst, with half the pub staring at them, that's all he had to say. The whispers were obvious, but the silence from her aunt and uncle seem to be strangling her.

"I'm your family. How can you not care about me?"

It hurts too much to even look at them. She wants to burst into tears. She can feel them gathering as she forces herself to keep breathing. The last time she cried was when she was eight years old, when she found out about her parents. Lucius had scolded her for it.

When Fred had held her in the girls bathroom.

When Ambrose had left the marks on her.

When she had seen the boggart turn into Neville's mum and had listened to the screams.

She had wanted to cry all those times and had forced herself not to.

Lestrange's don't cry.

That's what they always told her.

Her uncle leans in, his eyes blazing as he reaches out and grabs her forearm. She tries not to flinch as he grips it roughly.

"Lilith as I say this, I hope you listen carefully." His voice is muted but stern, for a moment she feels like she's eight years old again. Terrified. "I will not have members of our family seen as traitors. I won't stand for it. If you believe me to be Malicious and cruel even though we are the ones that took you in, looked after you…"

They were supposed to. They were her family. That's what families did.

"If you have anything to do with the Weasleys, you will not be allowed back to the Manor. Do you understand?"

There's a deafening silence. She's tries to bite her tongue. She can't.

"As if you would give up your show dog."

The grip tightens. It was going to bruise, she was certain of it.

"There are worse things I can do to that boy than simply wipe his memory. You would do well to remember that."

Her aunt says nothing. Lilith hated them in that moment more than she ever had.

"Hey! Lilith!"

It startles them and Lucius releases his grasp. Only Lilith turns to Lee who had appeared behind them, nervous smile on his face as he waves at the three of them.

"You said you'd come for that drink with us, remember?" He points over his shoulder to the table where he had been sitting and she suddenly realises what he's doing. Her uncle's words are still ringing in her ears as she stares at Lee, she can't even seem to respond properly.

"I believe it's time we left anyway." Lucius says it as he eyes Lee up, the sneer still prominent on his face. "Narcissa. "

"Yes, we should – " Her aunt stares at her with such disappointment it makes Lilith wants to burst into tears more than her uncles words had.

"Alright well, come on then." Lee says as he tugs her by the arm so she's forced up from her seat and he drags her over to the table where they were sat. As she glances over shoulder to see them leave the pub as Lee pushes her down into the chair and suddenly, she's face to face with George.

She's suddenly not sure if this is any better.

"How about another round. My treat? Butterbeer?" Lee says in a cheery voice. It doesn't help to break the tension.

George who was propping himself up on one arm stares at her, arching a curious eyebrow. Somehow the silence was worse than the harsh words Lilith and Lucius had just been exchanging.

She's still trying not to cry. She can feel her cheeks and eye burning as she fights it all back. She rubs her arm where her uncle had grabbed her and she sees George's eyes flicker down.

"Are you ok?" She can hear the concern in his voice as he gazes at her, but then again so is half the pub. She wants so badly to just run out of there, but she seems to be glued to the seat.

Realising he's still looking at her, waiting for an answer, she just shrugs with a sniff and receives a look of sympathy.

"Fred said you did that a lot. Just play it off."

She doesn't know why she's surprised Fred talks about her. She wishes she could do that. She wonders what Cordelia would do is she knew. Probably vomit.

"They've probably gone now, so – I should go."

"Lee's bringing you a drink – "

She starts rummaging around in her pocket and pulls out the Gallon, placing it on the table. George's eyes grow wide. "Bottles a sickle, if that."

"It doesn't matter. Just tell Lee thanks for saving me."

As she stands George does too and she freezes as the pair stair at each other. "It was my idea." He blurts out, almost nervously. "I told Lee to go over to you. I didn't think seeing a Weasley would help the matter."

"How much did you hear?" She asks pointedly. George frowns.

"Enough. Sounded rough."

Lilith can almost hear the pity in his voice.

"Do all you Weasleys have such a saviour complex?"

He smiles sadly. "I suppose we do. Besides, if Fred found out I saw that and didn't do anything he'd have my guts for garters. You can sit down you know."

"No. I should go."

"Come on, I should get to know my twins girlfriend. Right?"

The word seems to startle her.

"We're not – " Not yet anyway. After what Lucius threatened probably not ever.

He gives her a curious look as he rubs his chest. "Not what he told me. In fact he's off right now getting your birthday present ready."

Merlin what was he bloody up to.

Lilith realises if he's as stubborn as Fred she wasn't getting out of there anytime soon. She plops down on the chair then and he follows suit, sucking in a breath as he glances around the pub. It was strange how the two looked so similar and completely different. Fred was bolder, she already knew that. George was quieter and more subdued. He starts to pick at the coaster on the table, flicking away pieces of cardboard.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He asks as he raises his gaze.

She was tired of the question.

"What would you like me to say George? What am I meant to do about it?"

"Fred tends to punch things." He laughs. "I mean, you've witnessed that first-hand. Him and Phlegm…I had to fix his nose after but sounds like the prick deserved it."

She hated every second of this. What was probably the longest conversation the two had ever shared was starting to feel like the third degree. At least the desire to cry had passed.

"Do you like him?"

"Phlegm?"

George rolled his eyes. "My brother. And not the short one in Fourth year."

"Are you giving me the if you hurt my brother talk?"

"Yeah, I am." He says softly. "Need to make sure you're not messing him about."

"What would make you think that?"

George shrugs as he leans back in his seat. Of course, he didn't have a single reason to trust her but the line of questioning still hurt.

"So, why do you like him?"

What a fucking question. She looks over to Lee hoping he'll return soon with the drinks but he's now leaning at the bar, talking to some girl. When she looks back George is still giving her the same intense stare. He was so much like his brother.

"I – I don't know."

"Not a good enough answer unfortunately." He says quietly.

Lilith wets her lips as she matches his gaze. "He – " Merlin, why did she? It was a question she had never thought to ask herself, and suddenly she was on trial for it. What was she possibly meant to say?

"Why don't you like me?" She retorts back, and she's glad when he seems put off by the question.

"I don't not like you." He shrugs. "I just…Fred…" He lets out a little huff as he pushes his hair back and glowers at her. "I just don't want Fred to get hurt."

She hesitated. "I don't want that either. But your brother is very insistent. I've tried numerous times to stop whatever he wants to happen. He always worms his way back in."

"Is that why you like him?" His tone forces her eyes up. Apparently, he still was waiting for an answer.

She doesn't want to talk to him, but she feels she might be trapped in this pub until she does.

"You know I've never had someone fight for me?"

"Well he's been doing a lot of that." George says with a small mumble of contempt.

"No. I don't mean like that George."

He's waiting. At this point she doesn't have anything left to lose.

"I've never had someone care about me enough to fight my corner. Cordelia does it out of some sick Slytherin pride she has. She thinks she's doing it for the right reasons, yet after what happened in that dark arts lesson when the Slytherins were talking about me, she didn't say a word. She only stood for me when it came to Finnigan, and we both know why."

George lowers his gaze, a slight look of guilt creeping onto his features but she's unsure why.

"Fred doesn't care. Who it is or…why. In fact I know if he had been sat in here instead of you he would of gone straight up to my uncle and punched him square in the face."

George lets out a laugh and she can't help but allow herself to smile back at him, but the seriousness of the conversation settles in again.

"When I'm with Fred I feel like he sees me. He notices stuff about me I don't even notice. He wants to know me. People don't want to know me. They hear Lestrange and they make their assumptions. No one cares about wanting to know me like he does." The sudden quiet is aching. "I know it's ridiculous."

George doesn't say anything.

"Besides, after what my uncle just said…I think it's best Fred and I…that we don't…" She doesn't really want to say it.

"What did he say?"

"You didn't hear that bit?"

He shakes his head as he keeps his gaze down. "I heard you sticking up for us. Sticking up for Fred. Didn't know I was in here did you?"

Lilith met his eyes and shakes her head. Then he smiles.

"You light a fire in him you know."

The statement completely throws her and it's just as Lee sets the drinks down on the table.

"Here you go, sorry, que was a nightmare."

"Nothing to do with the girl you were chatting up at the bar?" George says, smirking at Lilith. She's still in a state of shock.

"Oh shut up. So, what did I miss?"

"Nothing." She says quietly. "I need to go."

"But your drink – "

"It's fine. One of you can have it. Thank you all the same. And thanks for- " She points over to where she had been sat previously, and Georges face gathers that same sympathetic look from before. "Thank you." She mumbles quickly before quietly leaving them in the three broom sticks.