Ahhh I'm nearly at fifty chapters, wow! Honestly, I'm really surprised at how long this story is getting, and I also don't know how many chapters are left, so if you're someone who is going "jeez, can you wrap it up already" lol.. Sorry! D: I hope you all had a great Easter if you celebrate it! I really am glad I decided to dabble in fanfiction again since I don't know how I'd deal with the stress in my life at the moment if I didn't have a proper distraction (is it very responsible to be distracting myself from my problems? No), and thank you guys for being a part of it and dealing with my story which is kind of all over the place and long. The good news is is that I'm almost done with the Ophelia/Edric flashbacks (they took much longer than I had anticipated). Also thank you for listening to me repeat myself in these author's notes all of the time, hahaha. I just have to thank you over and over! This chapter is late, I know! I'm just extra busy recently. I'm moving. I'm sorry about that! Did any of you guys have any special Easter plans/dinners? I don't really celebrate it, but my mom made Yorkshire pudding which is always a good time. I also made s'mores with Peeps and Reese's Cups which was amaaazing. Hey, random note, but why the hell don't sweatpants exist anymore? Now it's just "joggers" that exist and they are so unflattering. I miss the classic, baggy sweats that gathered at the ankles. Ugh. Anyway, happy reading!

I don't own anything from Harry Potter.

Draco stared down at his now sleeping wife, petting her head as if she were his cat. It felt that way at times when she would curl up on him like this, soft and small. His hand on her head slowed as her screams during her nightmares when he had kicked her out of his bedroom to isolate her infiltrated his thoughts, cloaking his conscience with guilt.

No, he would not feel guilty.

A small period of torture and loneliness was nothing compared to what could have been, what others would have done. It was a small price, and now here she was cuddled up in his embrace as if nothing had happened. Her sentence had been short. She was fine, and he wouldn't allow the nature of her to manipulate him into feeling guilty for being angry with his cheating wife as any man would.

Draco pushed himself into her head, sorting through the memories there that were more fresh in her thoughts. She didn't seem to linger on the past very often, and when she did her memories were mostly mundane and basic. He wasn't sure he wanted to know the memories that she tucked away so deeply in her mind in order for them to be forgotten. He settled on a scene between her and her father as her father was just apparating her home from a more public situation, though Draco didn't gather what situation exactly.

Aldrich Greengrass took his young daughter's face in one hand gingerly, tilting it to the side as he examined the blood there, his eyes being the only thing that changed as he assessed his damaged child as they darkened at the sight.
"The half-blood Death Eater hit me, father," Astoria explained, her voice emotionless and clear. "Mr. Nott stopped him from bothering me further. I-"

Aldrich held up his hand for her to stop and both of them went silent as the man looked in his child's head himself, a gentle laugh falling from his mouth as he released her chin when he was finished. He knelt beside her, squatting in front of her as he stroked the top of her head, looking into her eyes levelly.

"He won't be putting his hands on you again, Astoria," he told her, his voice careful and level.

He led her into his bathroom, wetting a washrag to gently wash the dried blood on her face. Astoria winced ever so slightly, murmuring her apologies when she did and he called for their house-elf to bring some healing potions. "You didn't even cry, my sweet child. You are better than crying under a half-blood's hand. I am proud of you, though you shouldn't have been caught in the first place."

"I am sorry, father," she replied, her bruising face ashamed. "I didn't mean to."

"It was bound to happen, no?" He said thoughtfully. "This mistake will help you learn. You were lucky Nott was there and was kind enough to stand up to a member of his own for you. Not all of them are civilized, obviously. Not all of them are like us. They will hurt you, and some will rape you if they get the chance."

Astoria nodded in small movements, her eyes fearful at his blunt words. "Yes, father."

"And now," he said, his voice slightly scolding but lighthearted. "I owe Nott of all people for protecting you. That's not something I'm excited about whatsoever."

"His son is my friend."

"You do not have friends, Astoria, especially not male friends."

"Mr. Malfoy did not help me," Astoria said curiously. "Actually, he seemed annoyed that Mr. Nott was."

"Color me shocked."

"Are you being sarcastic?" She asked.

The corner of Aldrich's mouth twitched with amusement. "Yes, I'm being sarcastic. Lucius Malfoy does not like me."

"Why not?"

"Several reasons."

"I have been told that Mr. Nott doesn't like us either though," she said, glancing at the elf that popped in. "And he helped me."

"Nott is not as foolish as Malfoy. Malfoy hasn't seemed all too happy as it is, most likely because the Death Eaters have been stirring as of late. He doesn't seem too keen to begin participating once more with his idiotic endeavors he began in his youth." Aldrich took the potions from the elf, tending to his daughter carefully.

Astoria was quiet for a while as she was still for her father, thinking as she stared past him. "Do you think I should have not spoken out so boldly to that man?" She asked him timidly, watching him with an almost embarrassed expression. "Perhaps he wouldn't have struck me."

"We never shrink to those who are less than us, and you will never cower to anyone who isn't an elder of your family, a male of your family, or your husband. Yes, you should learn when to hold your tongue in certain situations, but I believe you behaved appropriately. As I said, I'm proud of you," he said, his tone slightly soothing.

Draco was yanked back to his current surroundings when their was a large, low sound that vibrated throughout the floors of the Manor. Astoria was looking around wildly, her bright eyes large with fear and confusion. His own fear was pushed down a bit at the sight of her as the urgency to protect her became stronger than his other feelings and he sat up, disapparating them both from his office to his bedroom. "Stay in here," he ordered.

"Wait!" She protested frantically, grabbing onto his arm. "Don't go outside.. Just stay in here.."

"I have to look," he said, pulling his arm from her grasp. "Stay. In. Here."

"Draco," she whimpered, glancing at the balcony doors to make sure they were closed, wrapping her arms around herself as she shivered. "Please."

"I would know if anyone got through, and no major wards were touched. Again, I would know. It will be fine, and I will be back. I'm sure it was just something small and we are overreacting."

"Can't you have the house-elf check then? And you can look in the morning? If it was nothing major?" She pleaded, moving forward to clutch onto him again.

He hesitated, considering this before inhaling through his nose irritably as he looked down onto her hold on him. He called for the elf as his wife had suggested, annoyed that it hadn't already come to him in result of the sound, ordering it to inspect the wards and grounds of the home and to inform him if it found anything suspicious or out of the ordinary.

Astoria let out a breath in relief, looking up at him thankfully. "I don't want you to leave me."

"I have to protect us, Astoria," he said, his voice emotionless as he watched her.

She only kept getting her way.

"I know.. You will.. But you said it was nothing."

"Exactly. It was nothing. So you should be fine with me checking on my own home's wards."

The house-elf popped back in to report it finding nothing and Draco nodded slowly in response, not knowing whether or not that should make him feel better or worse.

"I'm afraid, Draco," Astoria said, her voice nearly a whisper as she stared off and past him as the elf left them once more.

A sharp chill ran down his spine as he remembered the same exact words, same expression, same tone from his own mother speaking to his father, and his father had been unable to do anything to protect her from her fears even though he had promised her that he would. Promised them both that he would.

"I know," he replied stiffly, not willing to make the same promises only to break them just as his father had. "I know."

She seemed to reason with herself and gather herself together before she promptly began to undress, going to slip on a nightgown in silence, appearing much calmer now after talking herself down. He decided to follow her actions similarly, as she seemed to have the desire to go to bed and not linger on this issue at this point based on her actions and expression. That was perfectly fine with him as the last thing he wanted to do was sit around and stress about it, unable to properly ease her mind as he had no way of knowing the outcome of everything that was going on. She was in danger, and it was his fault.

Well, it was the whole lot of their community being targeted, and perhaps the attempt at intrusion had not been related to the recent attacks at all. He supposed it wouldn't matter completely had he been a Death Eater or not, but he also knew it made him a special target. He also knew his wife had the same special target on her in result of being his wife and would receive the appropriate special treatment. Her father had been right, if these Death Eaters were anything like the last then she would most definitely be raped, brutally raped and passed along like a new toy to be shared among the lot of them. When his family had become more and more of a disappoint to the Dark Lord, his mother had nearly been assaulted more than once by the more barbaric Death Eaters, but Bellatrix had been there to prevent it. Draco doubted he would be able to do much to prevent it should they be captured. He wouldn't be able to protect her, his own wife, and it was an absolute revolting thought to have. It was no wonder his father had lost himself. To not be able to look after one's wife, not to mention one's child, was the most terrifying and shameful feeling a man could have. His wife was his responsibility, and his pride resided in her no matter how little or large his cares were for her.

He joined her in bed, noticing how she seemed to give him space though it was clear she wanted to be close to him. He closed his eyes, exhaling slowly as he tried to release some of the anxiety he was feeling. He shouldn't allow himself to become too emotionally attached to her if those were the types of events that would be taking place. He felt her smooth leg brush against his and his jaw clenched for a while before he dragged her close to him. If he was not able to make her promises then he could at least provide her with a bit of comfort for the time being. He shivered as she practically burrowed herself into his chest, seeming to want to mold herself against him to make one person.

She didn't attempt to talk and press the matter, and for that he was grateful. She was usually good about not pushing him. He pulled the blankets over them, focusing on her body movements as she breathed, waiting for her to sleep before he attempted to himself.

Finally her breaths dropped into their resting pattern and he pressed his lips to her head before he fell into sleep himself.

"I don't want to keep meeting you in empty classrooms and broom cupboards," Edric told Ophelia firmly, locking his door behind him. "You deserve more than that."

"Was it worth all of the work sneaking me in here though?" She slightly grumbled, though her heart was fluttering in its elation at being brought to his room in the Head dorms. "Or worth the risk?"

"There was a risk either way, but yes we should be more careful after the incident with Wilkes. I had gotten a bit too lazy about precautions. You have a rather distracting effect on me unfortunately," he mused, removing his cloak.

Her eyes fell to his bed and she felt a lovely hum of adrenaline and warmth run through her, eager to be in a more relaxed and intimate setting with him again. She was distracted with the nagging confrontation she had been meaning to have with him and she straightened, changing her expression to accusing.

"You paid for my Apparition class. The instructor found me and told me somebody had paid for it. I know it was you."

"You're welcome."

"No. Edric? I won't let you do that. Get your money back. I can't just accept that. If my mum knew.." She sighed, running a hand through her hair.

She didn't want his money. That's not why she was with him, but she didn't particularly like the feeling of rejecting things from him when he had good intentions.

"I can't get it back. Besides, the effort it would take me wouldn't be worth the money. You truly have no idea how little that amount of money is to me. Your mother doesn't have to know, and it's not as if I'm buying you senseless things. You need the class, and I know you want to be in it. Just go, love. Let me do that for you. I already feel guilty sneaking you around as if-" Edric cut off, looking frustrated with himself before shaking his head. "Please just go. Don't let pride get in the way of your education."

She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. She truly did want to go to the class, and she didn't really have any other reason to say no besides pride as he said. The same pride that had been the reason for her and her mother's struggles her entire life, the reason why she wouldn't have been going to the class without Edric. "My mum really wouldn't like it."

"She doesn't have to know, and I would never hold it against you. It's just money, Ophelia."

"It's just money to you. You've always had it."

"I have," he agreed, nodding. "Which is why you should take it. It means more to you than it does to me. Besides, I put you in danger. It's only fair if you learn the skills to help you get out of dangerous situations. I want you to be able to protect yourself even after.." He trailed off, quieting as he sat on the side of his bed, avoiding her gaze.

Pain prodded at her chest as she finished his words for him in her head, reminded of how he was not truly hers to keep. It was hard to think of letting him go, and of course she couldn't help the bitter jealousy she felt imagining the wife he would take after Hogwarts. The perfect, gorgeous pure-blood woman that would be everything she wasn't, everything his parents would be all too thrilled with. She wouldn't be someone he would have to sneak around, wouldn't be someone he was ashamed of.

"Alright.. Alright I'll go to the class," she said finally, reluctantly. "But I swear to you, Edric. One day I will win an argument. Don't think you're the boss just because you act like one. I put up with your egotistical attitude because you have a pretty face."

"A pretty face? That's why you put up with me? Here I was believing it was my flawless personality," he chuckled, motioning her towards him.

She scoffed, crossing her arms defiantly at his beckoning. "You give yourself too much credit. You can be quite the arsehole sometimes, you know that."

"You love me," he replied confidently. "Come here, won't you?"

"No," she sniffed, ignoring the odd jerk in her stomach when he mentioned the word "love" the way he had. "I don't think I will. Maybe when you say please."

"Who am I talking to exactly? Astoria, is that you?"

"I'm not nearly as cute as your sister."

"My sister isn't cute. She's a terror. Now please will you come here, love?"

She smiled and took off her shoes before walking over to him and into his arms as he laid them back on the bed, brushing her hair back behind her to expose the side of her neck. "From what I've seen your sister has you wrapped around her finger," she told him, adjusting herself against him comfortably.

"As if you don't?" He grumbled, running his hand down her neck and over her shoulder. "Besides, Astoria manages to get everyone wrapped around her finger."

"You think I have you wrapped around my finger?" She asked softly, wiggling closer to him, content.

"I know you do." He kissed her forehead gently, pulling the blankets up and settling them over them.

"I'll fall asleep," she said accusingly. "Don't do that."

"I want you to sleep here tonight."

"But that's-"

"Everyone is going to Hogsmeade tomorrow. It will be easy to sneak you back out."

"Aren't you meant to go? As Head Boy?" She asked cautiously, fully desiring to sleep with him in his bed tonight.

He shrugged, looping his arm around her waist. "I'm ill."

"You're not ill," she said flatly, giving him a dull look. "You're a horrendous Head Boy, I hope you know."

"The faculty would disagree," he said, smirking.

"Yes, well. I know the real you, and you're terrible."

He hummed and tugged her sweater up under the covers and she scowled at him. "Excuse you. I did not permit that."

"Would you like to sleep in your uniform?" He asked, his tone amused.

She rolled her eyes and tugged off her tie, wrapping it around his neck.

"Get your Ravenclaw mess off of me."

"I think it looks nice on you," she said, smiling. "You could have been a Ravenclaw."

"Absolutely not," he snorted, tossing her tie aside.

"Slytherins are so touchy about other houses." She rolled her eyes, slipping off her skirt under the blankets. "Imagine if I were a Gryffindor. I doubt you would even touch me."

"If you were a Gryffindor you would act as one, and I would never be interested in a woman who acted that way. Now get some sleep," he replied, kissing her forehead again before slipping out of the bed. "I'm going to shower before I join you."

She inhaled in order to protest, but her preparation to argue turned into a yawn and she felt her eyelids droop, realizing how tired she actually was. "Kiss me first," she told him, snuggling closer into his pillows and his scent.

"Is that a demand?"

"Yes."

The bed dipped as he braced his hand against it and she tilted her face up for him as his mouth covered hers, kissing her slowly and sweetly before retracting much too soon.

"Thank you, Edric," she said sincerely. "For the class. I really do appreciate it."

"Anything you need, love," he said, his voice gentle. "Anything you want. I'll give it to you."

"Ophelia Rose! Why have you left the front door unlocked? Are you mad?!" Edric froze beside Ophelia in her kitchen at the sound of her mother's voice. He was at her house just as the Spring holiday break had begun, talking with her in her kitchen as they had gone down for something to drink.

"She's home early," she groaned, her eyes darting around to look for a quick escape for him, not that he had the time at this point.

Her mother entered the kitchen, odd looking handbags in her arms. She stopped to stare at the both of them, her eyes moving back and forth between them before she dropped the bags onto the counter space, horror touching her eyes for just a small moment.

"Mum. This is-"

"The boy from the book shop. The boy you were getting into fights over," her mother finished, staring at him with cold eyes.

"Well.. Yes and no. We weren't fighting over him," Ophelia said slowly, looking at Edric apologetically and a bit nervously as if he'd go off on the muggle woman or storm out. "His name is Edric."

"Ms. Hale, I am more than pleased to finally meet you. I am so sorry that I am in your home against your knowledge, and I'm more embarrassed than I can express to you. I also want to apologize for what Ophelia went through with Charlotte. It was not her fault, and I can assure you that," he expressed to her mother sincerely, walking forward to extend his hand. "I'm Edric Greengrass. I've been seeing your daughter since this recent summer. She is also my Astronomy partner, and a brilliant partner at that. You have a very intelligent daughter."

Her mother's eyes flickered down to his offered hand before she inhaled deeply and took it. "Gwendolyn," she told him, giving Ophelia a look when he kissed her hand respectfully.

"I don't blame you for being here without me knowing. I'm sure you had little control over my daughter attempting to go behind my back and sneak you in and out," she quipped, turning to her bags and away from him. "Help me with the groceries, Ophelia."

Ophelia went forward obediently and began putting the food away in the chilled box, both of them uncomfortably silent.

"So you're Ophelia's boyfriend then, are you?" Gwendolyn asked when she was finished, bracing her hands on the counter as she looked at him again.

"I am," he confirmed, not planning on upsetting the woman in any way by announcing the true nature of their relationship.

Not that he was entirely sure what the nature of their relationship was, seeing as they were far from having sex every time they saw each other, and he looked at her as if she was much more than just a shag.

"Well, I wonder why I haven't met you sooner."

"I believe your daughter wishes to present you with a man much more worthy of her company. She sees me as a spoiled, 'pretty face'. Or so she has told me," he told her lightheartedly, smiling at Ophelia.

"Hmm. More like she believes that's how I'd see you," her mother grumbled, shaking her head. "So, your parents won't miss you for Easter?"

"Ah. No, Ms. Hale. We don't celebrate it."

"Is that not something magical people celebrate..? The school gives breaks for it, no?" She asked, confused.

"They do." He nodded. "But those who do have integrated muggle traditions and religions due to marriage and mixture of culture. My family and families like mine will participate in some activities such as attending certain events and occasionally exchanging gifts, but the holidays don't mean anything to us."

"Muggle traditions due to marriage," She repeated. "So you're.. A pure-blood then?"

"Yes. One of the cleanest lines."

"Clean," she said flatly. "How lovely. Yes, Ophelia has told me about your type. So you don't intermix then? Does that mean your family is purely English as well? I know the upper class are particular about that sort of thing."

He could only imagine what Ophelia had told her about "his type" based on how he had seen some of his housemates treat her.

"No, not nearly. My mother is German, and the Greengrass family has a fair amount of Polish down the line as well, among other things I'm sure."

"Huh.. Interesting. Do you know Violet then? She's a pure-blood."

"I've known Violet for a very long time." Unfortunately.

"She's.. A loyal friend," Gwendolyn said slowly.

"Mum hates Violet," Ophelia said dryly. "You two have something in common."

"I do not hate your friend. I feel the way she acts questionable at times, but I do not hate her."

"I'd have to agree," he said smoothly. "She has a reputation of being inappropriate."

"As inappropriate as getting in fights at school over a boy?" Her mother sniffed, looking at her daughter.

"It wasn't over him. I don't know how many times I have to say it."

"Technically it was over me," he said fairly. "I am not set to marry Charlotte anymore because of your words, and that is why she began attacking you."

"At least he knows whose side to take." Gwendolyn looked him up and down. "Am I meant to feed him dinner with us?"

"Oh, um.. I'm sure he has to get home soon.."

"I don't."

"Lovely. I suppose you'll stay for dinner then. Fix yourself up for it, Ophelia. Leave him here," she said firmly. "He doesn't need to be in your bedroom as you shower, though I'm not naive enough to believe that you two haven't been less than appropriate with each other already."

"Mum," Ophelia mumbled, appearing embarrassed. "Please don't."

"Go on," she replied shortly.

Ophelia threw Edric an apologetic glance before she left him there, alone with her mother.

Her mother regarded him blankly, and he noticed her jaw working as she watched him. He knew she was entirely uncomfortable and upset that he was involved with her daughter, and she had full reason to be.

He was going to break her heart, wasn't he?

But he had warned her, he had always been honest it would be that way. He had made no promises to stay with her or leave his family for her and she knew that. She wanted him even though she knew she couldn't keep him, even though he wanted to keep her. She brought him peace. She was purely good, untarnished by the ways of his world and sweetly naive. Even his youngest sister, a small child, knew how to manipulate people and knew how to seek out her own personal gain effectively even being as young and innocent as she was. When he thought of letting Ophelia go previously he had merely felt possessive thinking of how she would move on and other men would have her. Now he also felt a strong sense of shame that the next man to be with her would treat her how she deserved to be treated and give her what she deserved to be given instead of sneaking her about as if she were someone to be disgusted by. He knew he wasn't what she deserved, but he was too selfish to let her go. She helped him stay sane.

"Are you-"

"Gwendolyn!" An elderly woman called, carrying a box with a smaller box held to her ear, a curled line connecting the two. A telephone is what Ophelia had called it, used to communicate with others in place of an owl. "Daniel is on the phone again. He wants to know if you received the documents?"

"Tell him I'm not going to testify for him," Gwendolyn snapped dismissively. "And to stop calling."

The elderly woman, Ophelia's grandmother, repeated the message into the box. He had never seen her either, though Ophelia claimed she was usually home but mostly always in her bedroom. "He isn't taking no for an answer, Gwendolyn."

"Hang up, mother."

"Oh, don't be so rude, Gwendolyn. The man is going through a nasty divorce. I won't do such a thing. Pardon, Daniel?" The woman cut off for a few moments. "He is saying that he knows exactly where you live and has only not barged in on you over the years out of courtesy but will make an exception for such an emergency."

"Oh really? Well, if he doesn't like the 'Daniel Clarke Beats Wife' headline then perhaps he doesn't want a 'Daniel Clarke Stalks and Harasses Small Family He Abandoned' headline either!"

Edric listened curiously. Daniel Clarke was Ophelia's father, he knew that much. Odd, he had made parallels between the upper class muggle world to his own circle of upper class, but nothing of the sort would make the headlines in his community.

"He is laughing, says no one would ever take you seriously."

Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes, stalking over to her mother and yanking the box out of her hand, slamming it on top of the other, holding it until it started shrilling loudly and Edric grimaced at the sound.

"Don't answer the phone again."

Edric was quiet as he watched the two women, attempting to tie the scene together. It never sounded as if Ophelia's father and mother were in much contact with each other, but perhaps they were more so than Ophelia believed based on what he was witnessing. He watched her grandmother grumble and retreat back behind the wall of the kitchen. Gwendolyn was a lot more hard headed than her daughter, a lot colder. She wasn't an ugly woman by any means, and he could see that she was clearly a lovely woman in her youth, but in her current state she looked tired and overworked. His own mother was nearly the same age, yet Freya looked many years younger than Gwendolyn. There was an odd beauty at the sight of the woman, natural and real in wearing the signs of her busy and difficult years.

"Hopefully you're fine with my food, though I'm sure it will be less than what you're used to," she sighed, plucking ingredients out of cupboards, seeming to move on and ignore what had just went on.

"I'm sure it won't be less, only different. I feel as if I ought to offer you help.. But I am afraid I may end up setting your house on fire. I do not know how to cook," he expressed apologetically.

"Rubbish. Of course you won't help. You're a guest, one that I was not aware of, but still. A guest. You never helped your mother bake or cook as a child?"

"My mother doesn't cook or bake, Ms. Hale," he chuckled, trying to imagine his mother attempting something like that.

"Right," she muttered. "That's a bit sad. Some days I really dread coming home and making dinner after a long day, but there is still something special in making your own meals or teaching your children how."

He nodded thoughtfully, trying to picture Ophelia as a young girl beside her mother, cooking without magic. "I want to apologize for my mother's treatment towards you that day in the shop," he started. "I know you will take it personally as an attack because of the fact that you're a muggle or that you are not as well off financially, but I can assure you that's just how she is, and I also know she wasn't giving you the money out of pity. I love my mother, but she is rough around the edges to say the least."

"You don't have to apologize for your mother," she finally replied after a few moments of silence. "I just hope that you don't have anything to apologize for when it comes to my daughter. She's strong, but she's still breakable and much too kind for her own good. Please don't hurt her. Please."

The sudden rush of guilt at this muggle woman's words took his breath away and he faltered slightly, gathering his thoughts together before he spoke. "I never want to hurt her, Ms. Hale," he said, his voice much steadier than he felt in that moment.

It didn't matter. It didn't matter what he had told her what to expect before, and it didn't matter if she knew the outcome of their relationship. It didn't change the fact that it was going to end, and it was going to end abruptly. It would kill her, and it would kill her mother as well. It would be his fault.

Her response was cut off by the well dressed man letting himself into the kitchen, his hair curly on top of his head. The muggle suit he was wearing was not much different from the suits Edric wore himself, and from the slight similarities in his face to his witch he had an unfortunate feeling that this was in fact her father, making good on his words that he knew where they lived.

"You can't.." Gwendolyn managed, stumbling back as she stared at him in shock and then fury. "You cannot just break into my house!"

"I actually didn't break in seeing as the door was unlocked," the man said brightly, glancing around the home. "Not that the lock that would come with a place like this would be bound to actually keep anyone out. This is the dangerous conditions you keep my child in?"

"You need to leave. Right now," she hissed, her eyes glancing towards where Ophelia left nervously.

"I will leave when you agree to help me, not a minute sooner."

"I will call the police," she warned, making a move towards her telephone object.

"You will not call the police, Gwen," he said, rolling his eyes. "Let's not be dramatic, yes?"

"Don't call me Gwen, and I will call the police and you will leave my home right now. Get your ex-wife to help you."

"My ex-wife? Oh yes, wonderful idea. She'll likely jump right on against me claiming 'Yes, now that you mention it, he did hit me. Every night. Oh, I think I'll just need even more of his money!' Brilliant, Gwendolyn," he said, his tone still lively as he imitated a woman's voice.

"Why would she lie unless you really are abusive?"

"I don't know how gold diggers and their brain's work. Ask my mother. Hold on," he paused, squinting at her. "What do you mean 'really are'? You know I'm not abusive."

Gwendolyn sucked her teeth, watching him coolly. "And what makes you think I won't 'jump right on against you' just as she would?"

"Because you're a good person, love. If you won't take my money to feed your child, I doubt you'd lie in court in order to steal it from me when I've been offering for years. And who's this? Bit young for you don't you think, Gwen?" The man asked, nodding towards Edric.

Edric wasn't sure how to respond to this man, he wasn't sure how to be reacting to this situation at all actually. He was Ophelia's father, yes, but he was also unwanted by her mother and had caused his witch a lot of pain. For that Edric did not want to pay the man any respect.

"Bit too young for me?" She scoffed. "Your current wife is what? Eighteen? He's Ophelia's boyfriend. None of your business really who either of us date."

"Edric Greengrass," Edric offered him, nodding stiffly to him in greeting.

"She's twenty-three actually," he replied, seeming unbothered. "Greengrass.. I feel as though I've attempted to purchase some property that belonged to that name.."

"Perhaps."

"Tell me, how would your family handle a woman accusing you of beating her in order to rob you under your nose?"

"Women don't come out with such things in my circle. Actually, I've seen a couple of men slap their wives in the empty hallways of events 'privately' without shame. Those aren't the types of things that would make any headlines, at least in my community. Aside from that, pure-bloods don't really get divorced, and if it is done the wife certainly doesn't get any money. She is simply.. Cast out," he explained, doubting he should be so honest about these things in front of Ophelia's mother. Yes, judging by her facial expression he had made a mistake in being so blunt.

They both stared at him before Daniel looked at Gwendolyn with an incredulous smile. "Right. What century do you have our daughter living in exactly?"

"Daniel. I've had enough of you. If you didn't put your hands on her then you can't be charged with doing so, and it will all go away. You'll be fine just as you always are, and your precious money will stay in the bank."

"It will all go away? What do you think this is? Do you think I can just wave a magic wand, and-" He cut off, pointing his finger in the air suggestively. "Aha."

"It doesn't work like that, Daniel. Don't be an idiot," she sneered.

"How would I know how it works? It's not as if she ever comes close enough to me to explain it. By the way, I got a letter recently from that.. School she goes to informing me she's been getting into fights. Fight, Gwen? Have you been teaching her your ways? I would have attended the little school meeting had I been able to understand how the hell I was meant to get there. Also, the bird nearly tore my assistant's hand off. They could simply telephone my office, and-"

"I told them not to send you things," Gwendolyn said in aggravation, shaking her head. "The sad part is is that I know you would inappropriately show up to a school meeting even though your daughter has never even met you. I won't help you, Daniel. Please leave."

"Oh, you will help me, and if you don't I'm going to take you to court for custody of our child, informing them that you have been refusing to allow me contact with her since she was born. She's almost at an adult age, yes, but it won't change the hell you will be put through to afford a decent lawyer, which we both know you won't be able to afford, while I will have the best making it nearly impossible for me to lose any battle I choose to pursue. You will lose to me, and even worse you will lose to our daughter who is under the cruel impression that I have never attempted to have anything to do with her. Oh, and you will make headlines as well, and they won't be saying very nice things about you. I can assure of that. You will be humiliated, which is why I never took you to court before. Look, now you've gone and made me be nastier than I wish to be, but I've put up with enough. You've stolen my child from me as punishment, good on you. All I am asking is for you to show up in court and explain to them that I would never put my hands on any woman because you know full well I wouldn't. Make your choice, Gwendolyn, and please don't make me go the harsher route. I don't want to hurt either of you, but," he held his hands up before dropping them back down at his sides. "Desperate times."

Gwendolyn was still as she stared forward, her face upset. Edric was at a loss as well, hurting for Ophelia and what had been taken from her as he took in her father's words that exposed Ophelia's mother to him.

"It was not a punishment," her mother said shakily through her teeth. "And don't act like you would have ever publicly taken me to court. You would have only seen her in secret, as she was the bastard you were ashamed of. Absolutely not would I and will I ever subject my child to such degradation."

"That wasn't your choice to make, and yet you made it for her. Hopefully our daughter will forgive you and agrees that pride is worth everything you've made her put up with. Though.. It seems she is perfectly fine being around men who are capable of taking care of her properly, so I'm not sure there. I'm perfectly fine taking it to court at this point. Times have changed, love," he said, his voice perky.

"I cannot believe you're standing in my house threatening me." She was fighting tears now as she turned her head to look at him. "I cannot believe you are doing this to either of us."

"I don't want to! For God's sake stop the crying," he complained, pulling out a cigarette and putting it in his mouth as he searched his pockets.

"You will not smoke in my house! What is wrong with you!"

The man exhaled for a long time before removing the cigarette as a small woman entered the room, her hair in a tight bun and glasses on her face. Her face was nervous as she clutched a muggle newspaper to her chest. "Sir.. I know you told me to wait in the car, but I went around to pick this up, and.. Well."

"Who is this? Is it a habit for all of you people to just waltz into people's houses?" Gwendolyn demanded, the weakness gone from her voice.

"It's my assistant, just relax," he said, waving her off. "What is it?"

The girl bit her lip, setting the paper down in front of him slowly. Daniel glanced down at the paper before he yelled almost comically, jumping away from the paper as if it had burned him. He covered his eyes with one hand, turning his face from the paper. "Emily. When I look back at that headline I'm almost sure I won't see the "R" word again, as I'm sure that was just a figment of my imagination, correct?"

".. No, Mr. Clarke," his assistant said apologetically.

"What do you mean by the 'R' word?" Ophelia's mother asked cautiously, though still appearing very irritated.

The man looked back down at the paper, staring at it in horror. "These women never fight fair, but this is.. She's aiming to murder me. How low.. The-" He cut off, closing his eyes and inhaling. "My therapist suggests certain exercises to help me when I begin to have strong reactions."

"You've just been accused of rape by your wife.. I believe you're allowed to be a bit angry, sir," the small girl said quietly, looking down.

"Daniel," Gwendolyn said slowly. "Your wife accused you of that?"

His wife was accusing him of rape? He had never heard of such a thing. How did that work exactly?

"I have to go," Daniel said, nodding as his eyes snapped open. "Please look at the documents, Gwen. Thank you for helping me." He quickly gathered the paper, leaving with his assistant, talking to the large box his assistant handed him and he left. "Yes, I've seen it, mother. Please stop screaming as I'm attempting to keep myself calm."

Edric listened closely for the water running from upstairs as they left, relieved to find it still going as the man left. He did not want to see Ophelia meet her father in such a setting, and also didn't want to be there to intrude on such a private family moment.

Well, at least part of him didn't want to intrude on such a private moment.

"Edric," Gwendolyn said, catching his attention, sounding defeated. "Please.. Please don't repeat what you've heard. Please don't tell her that I've kept this from her.. I-I couldn't bear it if she hated me."

Edric watched the woman quietly as she began to cry, unsure of where he should stand in a situation like this. How could he not tell her? She deserved to know. She had suffered because of this, felt unwanted because of this. She would probably hate him if she knew he knew and didn't tell her.

How could he tell her?

"It's not my secret to tell."