BURN

Chapter Fourteen:

The More the Merrier

JAMES

It is exactly two days before Christmas and despite the chill outside and the snow-covered ground, James is warm as he wakes, blinking at the sunlight that dances over his eyelids.

It takes him a moment to register where he is as his eyes adjust to the light piercing through the drapes. He's surrounded by green walls and gold accents, half naked in large bed, soft white sheets covering the bottom half of him. He remembers Thea as the scent of her perfume lingers on the sheets, but when he glances to his left, he sees the space is empty and cold save for a note and a small motionless photograph.

"Looks like I finally got you to shut up," the note says, followed by, "Brunch is at ten. xThea"

He glances back at the poloroid in his hand, realizing it's of him. He's sleeping, looking more peaceful than he's felt in quite some time.

It's then that he realizes, his picture is just one of many in this room. He spots the others as he stands and rubs his face. The walls are of her bedroom are filled with photographs. He walks towards the walls, inspecting each of the pictures that fill the thin gold frames in various sizes.

It's strange, seeing each picture, the angles and perspective in which they are taken. There are small remnants of familiarity, a quick shadow of something he swears he's seen before but then it's gone. It's not until he reaches a picture at the easternmost window, hung in the frame with a thick matting that makes the picture at its center no bigger than his palm.

It's hands, hands he knows, the fingers to be precise. He knows the tattooed fingers and the lighter half open between them and he glances back at the previous pictures around the room. They're hers, all of them, he realizes. Bas's fingers, Albus' silhouette, Scorpius' half smile. Each picture is someone or some place he's seen before.

He remembers her standing in the rain, drenched from head to toe, on the quidditch pitch as she held her hands out, forming a strange rectangle as she glanced through them in his direction. Again, at the All Hallows Eve party in the dungeons. He'd been laughing, drunk off of firewhiskey and high on her energy as she'd watched him from behind the rectangular shape of her fingers and he understands it all now.

For a brief moment in time he can see a hint of Thea's perspective.

On her vanity is a line of lipsticks, organized in a brass holder for six. Each one is a darker shade of red and he pulls one out, remembering this distinct color and when he'd seen her wearing it last. Next to the lipstick is a stack of three books. The first is a book on wild herbs and their uses, the second is a collection of sonnets by the wizard, William Shakespeare. The third, he realizes, is a muggle book. A book he's seen his mother read but he has never read himself.

Frankenstein is worn and in delicate shape, he notices when he picks it up and flips through the pages. Inside are Thea's distinct looped letters and passages here and there are underlined in black ink. He pauses at one, his brow furrowing at the words.

"Satan had his companions, fellow devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred."

James looks up from the words, frowning as he glances over his shoulder where Thea slept in his arms the night before. Why she has this passage underlined, he doesn't know. But it makes him think back to the night before and the words shared between her and her father.

He thought maybe he finally knew her, or was starting to understand the mysterious woman behind the cloaked exterior she presented to the world. In the span of a few hushed words in the dark it fell apart. This page full of somber scenes and her father's hurried whispers make him wonder if he's only been seeing just another incomplete version of Thea, constructed for him alone.

It shouldn't worry him but it does. And he can't admit to himself why.

He buttons his shirt slowly, his eyes lingering on the photos on her walls and he sees one in particular that pauses his fingers. It's a small photo she hasn't even bothered to frame. It sits tucked into the corner of a framed photo of a place in the city he can almost recognize. It's of her and Albus, taken in what looks to be a muggle photobooth.

It's her smile that draws his attention, the smile he's grown so fond of and for a moment he thinks perhaps he knows what it is inside of him that he again refuses to acknowledge.

And he feels that soon, it will be too hard to ignore.

The sound of laughter pulls his attention to the door. James places the picture of him inside the book filled with her scribbles, deciding to let her keep the damned thing. He pockets the note in his trousers.

He finds his guest rooms down the hall, the laughter growing as he sneaks past the staircase and once again near the large painting of the Malfoys and their three children. He's surprised as he walks through the double doors and finds his clothes neatly folded on the untouched white linen comforter. Another handwritten note sits atop his scarlet red jumper. Thea's handwriting again loops prettily in black ink.

"I figured you'd want this back," says the note.

It's signed "xThea," and and James reads it again as he traces his fingers over the soft knitting. He isn't wearing it, however, when he finally emerges from the room. He likes image of Thea wearing it too much to reclaim it and decides to leave it behind. He descends the stairs to more laughter and his brow furrows at the sight that meets him at the bottom of the steps.

The source of the laughter, he realizes, comes from the Malfoy siblings. Scorpius and Thea interact so infrequently at school, that when he sees Thea atop her brother's shoulders, he thinks perhaps he's entered some sort of parallel universe. Scorpius wavers slightly and Thea tries to scold him for moving. She tries to hang an ornament on the large tree but she only laughs and squeezes his hands to keep from falling. Patrick is there as well, helping to decorate and James smiles at the man's tie and pressed trousers, seemingly formal next to the Malfoys who are still clad in pajamas.

Marta's voice startles him from across the room and she's shouting out something in Romanian but even the woman can barely stop herself from smiling as Thea replies back, some witty reply in the woman's language. It rolls smoothly off of her tongue.

"Good Morning, Master James," Patrick says, bowing his head slightly. James isn't sure how to respond and just runs his hands through is hair anxiously as he nods and replies in turn.

Thea turns quickly, to see where he's entered the room and she is still smiling as she motions for her brother to let her down.

"You haven't even reached the top yet," Scorpius complains. "Look there, the entire top left is bare." Thea lazily flicks her wand to towards the tree without breaking eye contact with James. Scorpius groans. "No magic, Thea."

"Don't get your wand in a knot, Scorpius," she teases. "It's a handful of ornaments."

"But it's a tradition," a voice says, climbing the steps from the foyer.

"Papa, you're awake," Thea says, her voice light.

Scorpius stiffens slightly but he too has his eyes trained on their father. Draco Malfoy looks tired, more so than he had in the shadows with Thea the night before.

"And you're underdressed, aren't you?" he asks, looking to both of his children still in pajamas. James tries not to wonder why exactly she'd bothered putting them on since the last time he saw her she was wrapped beneath him wearing nothing at all.

"It's early still," Thea says, narrowing her eyes at her father. "Formal attire is not necessary for brunch. Clearly Potter would feel a bit underdressed for such an occasion if that were the case."

"Behave, Theodora," Draco warns with a sparkle in his eye. It's clear the warning is half-hearted.

"Scorpius and I will be dressed shortly. Marta said that brunch is nearly ready."

"And where will we be eating this morning?" Draco asks. Thea turns back to the tree without an answer, nudging her brother out of the way with a slight bump of her hips.

"The greenhouse, sir," Patrick says.

James notices both Draco and Scorpius glance at Thea who doesn't bother to meet either of their gazes in return. A yuletide record plays somewhere in the background but there is silence where there was once laughter as Thea once again busies herself with the tree. At the hearth, Marta stokes the yule log but she too has her eyes on Thea. James begins to wonder what is so sensational about having brunch in the greenhouse.

Draco interrupts the silence by clearing his throat and he glances down at his pocket watch briefly before turning to James.

"Very well," he says, his voice cautious. "Mr. Potter," It's clear there is some attempt at sounding welcoming but the stiffness in the sound of his name is apparent. "Shall I show you to the greenhouse?" he asks and James knows that even if he did mind, there would be no escaping it so simply nods.

"Of course, sir," he says politely and Draco motions through the large archway.

James follows, glancing over his shoulder only once to see Thea look up quickly from behind the tree. He gives her a wink before placing his hands in his pockets and following Draco out of the room.

"I apologize for dragging you away from the festivities," says Draco. "Scorpius and Theodora wanted you and Miss Granger-Weasley to have time to speak with me regarding the project."

"I'm sure Thea would rather we weren't here invading her space at all," James teases and he's surprised when Draco doesn't even try to hide his smile.

"I must admit, I was very surprised to get a letter from your parents agreeing to allow you to come. I'm sure you must know your father and I didn't exactly...get on….during our time at school."

"He might have mentioned it," Jame replies as they head down a few steps towards a part of the house he's yet to see.

James is momentarily taken aback as they enter a hallway and immediately he sets his eyes on a doorway into what he knows now must be the aforementioned greenhouse. It's not what he expected to see as Draco waves his wand, opening the door for the both of them. James' eyes wander around the large space. He's surrounded immediately in green. So many different varieties of plants fill the large space. They hang from the glass and bronze, they're buried in various planters both high and low from the ground.

The sound of water trickles through the room and he sees the center of the room is a large shallow pool with a light trickling fountain. He can immediately understand the peacefulness of it all.

Rose is at the table that is amongst several vining plants. The vines seem to be on their best behavior.

"Mr. Malfoy," she says, standing quickly.

"Good Morning, Miss Granger-Weasley," Draco replies.

Rose's cheeks are pink as she settles herself back into the chair. She, like James, continues to look around in awe as plates and glasses float into the room delicately in one elegant stream of magic.

"I've had some time to read about Sandwith Hall's history," Rose says. James is certain he sees Draco smirk slightly. If anything, Rose is certainly her mother's daughter. "I was most fascinated by how it was acquired by the Greengrass family. Is it true that the manor was won in a duel?"

Draco smiles and nods. "Yes, my wife certainly enjoyed telling the story. Her grandfather was, from what I've been told, quite the magical historian. He travelled all around England and Scotland, collecting properties and artifacts that had been known to harbor particular significance in wizarding history. When he came across Sandwith Hall, it was owned by a couple who he had traced through a long lineage of Morgan le Fay."

Rose's eyes widened.

"You mean this house was built by ancestors of Morgana?" she asks, eyeing it again in a new light.

"Well, I'm still not entirely convinced, though that was his assessment. He immediately offered a price for the property, well above what it was perhaps worth. But the couple refused him. After the twelfth time, the husband offered the house if Astoria's grandfather could defeat him in a duel. Astoria said he not only defeated the man, but turned him into a nazzle mumph. Apparently there was a large infestation for years. Astoria recalls the summer they were finally relocated."

"He turned the man into a nazzle mumph? I don't recall that from the book," Rose says, her brow furrowed.

"Well it isn't the proudest of memories. If it is true, I doubt the Greengrass family would have liked for it to be public knowledge."

"Aunt Hermione said that Malfoy Manor passed to you after the war," James says. The lightness seems to drain from Draco's eyes slowly. "Why did you not raise the family there."

"I didn't have very fond memories growing up there," the man replies, a far off look in his eyes. "When I met Astoria and we decided to get married, I knew I wanted to keep her as far away from that place as I could."

James nods, realizing the topic is tough but it is part of their past and he is trying to understand the larger picture that is this Malfoy family that suddenly seems so strange to him.

"I saw a portrait of your family upstairs," James continues. He can see Rose's disapproving glare but Draco seems to already know which direction the conversation is going and nods.

"Yes, and I'm sure in it you noticed that Scorpius and Theodora once had a brother," Draco adds.

Rose's eyes widen at this and James wonders if perhaps Scorpius hasn't told her either.

"Cygnus was my first son. He was extremely bright and mischievous," Draco says, a fond smile on his lips. "Theodora admired him, did everything he did. She is so much like he was." There is a slight pause. James can feel the weight of the conversation change and he hates that he brought it up. "He fell ill shortly after his tenth birthday. The doctors still can't be sure what the issue was but Astoria believed it was the hereditary blood curse that ran through her family."

"I...I didn't realize," says James.

Draco shakes his head.

"I assume the children don't speak of him. It was hard for them, Theodora in particular. Then after their mother…" Draco doesn't finish the sentence.

James realizes his misstep and glances to Rose immediately clears her throat to chime in.

"Scorpius tells me he has so many happy memories here growing up," she says, her attempt to lighten the conversation.

"Happy Memories? My brother?" a voice says from behind them. James turns to see Thea standing there with Scorpius. "I didn't take you for a liar, brother mine."

Thea takes a seat to James' left, sitting between him and her father. Scorpius sits to Rose's right wearing a deep frown on his lips.

"Well he told me about the pear orchard for one," Rose continues, visibly bothered by Scorpius' sudden change in mood.

"The pear orchard?" James asks.

Thea chuckles, taking a bite of the toast on her plate. She's still chewing when she says, "the one Papa had cut down? It used to be right out there," she says, pointing out the windows where a line of what look like dirigible plum trees now sit in staggered lines.

"I couldn't keep her away from them, no matter the effects to her health," Draco replies. When he sees James' confused expression he laughs. "Theodora has an allergy. She was forbidden from eating pears and yet Scorpius would find her stuffing her face with them despite the rashes that would ensue."

"Rashes?" James mouths to her.

She rolls her eyes, doing her best to keep a straight face as she pinches his leg beneath the table. James bites the insides of his cheeks to keep from laughing.

"Better believe the first healing spell I perfected was for said allergies," she said with a shrug.

James sees Marta approach with two others carrying a few small trays of food. Theodora grabs the woman's hand and pulled her gently towards her lap and says something in Romanian that causes Draco to cough to cover his own laugh.

"You are not too old for a wooden spoon," the woman says in English, pulling her hand away.

"Marta!" Thea says, her laughter voiced in mock innocence. "We have guests!"

"Guests or no, Theodora, I will put you over my knee." The woman's threats are half laced in laughter.

Thea grabs the woman's hand, placing it to her lips and says another bout of smooth Romanian that causes the woman to blush furiously and she pinches Thea's cheek.

"Your daughter is a little monster, sir," she says to Draco with a grin.

"Unfortunately so, Marta," he replies. "How you put up with her, I'll never know."

James likes Thea's smile, the childish way she clings to Marta who is clearly more family than staff. He has never seen her behave like this and he wonders if it's this place or if she's always been like this somewhere beneath the snark and sneers.

She pours the tea for her father, then James, then herself before whisking her wand to pour for Scorpius and Rose across the table who are out of her reach.

"So Scorpius also told me about your Christmas tradition," Rose says as she pulls a piece of bread onto her plate and reaches for the jam.

"Oh, Rose…" Scorpius says softly and it's the first time he's spoken since he sat down.

She simply smiles and continues. "He says go abroad every year. How you spin the globe to pick a place. Does that only happen on Christmas morning or do you pick before?"

"Actually what happens is…" Draco starts but Scorpius cuts in with a scoff.

"Does it really matter?" Scorpius says. Silence floods the table. "I mean, since we're not doing Christmas this year and all."

"Scorpius," Thea hisses, playfulness gone from her eyes as she lowers the teacup from her lips.

"This is neither the time nor the place for this conversation, son," Draco replies but his words aren't full of malice, only shame.

Scorpius stands up, throwing his napkin on the table and storms off back into the house. Thea follows without wasting a second, nearly knocking over her chair in the process. On the other side of the glass door, James watches her grab hold of her brother's hand. He spins around but the doors close and he can't hear what they are saying, only that there are shouts. Draco too is eyeing them and sighs heavily as Thea places her hands on either side of her brother's face.

"I apologise," Draco says. "I am afraid I've ruined the festivities. A habit of mine, it would seem."

"I don't understand," Rose says, her voice quiet.

Her eyes glance back at the two figures arguing, Thea's calm words and Scorpius' hands around her wrists where her hands still rest on his face. He doesn't attempt to remove them but she's saying something that softens his features.

"I have to go away on business," answers Draco.

"At Christmas?" she asks, her voice soft.

"Yes, unfortunately it is something that cannot wait," he replied, his eyes falling.

His hands brush through his hair and they rest there for many moments as he leans into his elbows. James doesn't know how to break the silence as he watches this man lose all the light that was previously in his ice-colored eyes.

James remembers the conversation he'd overheard, the desperation in Draco's voice and how Thea pleaded for him to stay. For Scorpius. But it isn't about business, or at least he suspects it's not, which explains the guilt-ridden expression on Draco's face and why Thea is trying to hard to calm Scorpius. James has never seen him so upset or Thea so soft. It's a role reversal that surprises him.

"Where will they go?" Rose asks, bringing James back to the conversation. "For Christmas? Do you have family they could see."

"Unfortunately my wife's family has made other arrangements. Her sister just recently remarried and they are spending the season abroad. I can't imagine they'd appreciate the interruption of their honeymoon," Draco says, some bitterness in his tone. "But Scorpius and Thea will be ok on their own. I was going to ask Marta if she would look after them, she's close with the children. In fact, I doubt they'll notice that I'm gone."

"They could stay with us," James blurts out before he realizes what he is saying.

Both Rose and Draco look at him with baffled expressions.

"Sorry, what?" Draco asked.

"I uh...I just meant. Our family..." he says slowly, motioning to Rose. He can feel himself panicking with every word. "Well there are quite a lot of us, as I'm sure you know. And well...my gran loves company. More the merrier, she always says. Doesn't she always say that Rose?"

"Yes, I suppose she does?" she replies, narrowed eyes. He can tell she's just as confused as Draco.

"I think that would be quite the imposition," Draco says.

"What would?" Scorpius asks, rejoining the group. Thea is close behind him, her hand still in his.

"Mr. Potter here, has just extended an invitation for you both to stay with their family for Christmas," Draco says.

"James," says Thea abruptly, looking down at him with furrowed brows. He's momentarily taken aback by her use of his given name. "Why would you do that?"

"Well I just...I dunno, I thought maybe since both of you were going to come for Easter holiday anyways, why not get it out of the way. And...it's Christmas and all."

"I'm not entirely sure your parents would appreciate the last minute addition," Draco says, shaking his head.

"I can assure you it would be fine," Rose adds in James' defense. For the first time he feels himself exhale. "My gran really does love guests, especially at Christmas. And Albus, well he certainly wouldn't mind, would he?"

Draco glances from Rose to James and then finally to his children. Both are wearing completely different expressions. Scorpius is still jaw-clenched, looking to the table at nothing in particular. Thea is all furrowed brows and confusion as she stares at James.

"Well?" Draco asks. Thea's attention snaps to his. "What do you think?"

"Papa…you can't be serious?"

"I know you two don't get along," nodding towards James who tries not to glance at Thea. "But Albus will be there. You've always wanted to visit with him during the holidays."

"I'm not sure this was what I had in mind," she replies, glancing to her brother. "But, if Scorpius wants to, then yes, ok."

"Scorpius?" Draco asks, his voice is cautious.

"Fine," he answers abruptly and turns quickly from the table. "I'll pack."

He walks off, or perhaps it's more like storming, and Thea quickly follows, allowing one glance back at James as she shakes her head.

"Well then, I suppose I should reach out to your parents. They are likely sick of hearing from me these days."

It is an attempt at humor and so both James and Rose laughed politely as Draco rose from the table and excused himself to his study. When they are alone Rose lets out a breath and James finds one that he doesn't realize he's been holding.

"What...the bloody hell just happened?" Rose asks.

"I think...I invited the Malfoys to spend Christmas with us," James replies.

There is a long silence before both of them erupt into laughter.

THEA

Thea isn't entirely sure what to wear to the Potters', having never been once in her entire life. She knows they are casual people and likely won't mind whatever she chooses but she takes great care in planning her wardrobe to make sure she doesn't perpetuate the image they already have of her.

Her heart is pounding as she fidgets with her overnight bag. It doesn't stop until she feels James' hand over hers and she flinches slightly, looking around to see they are alone. Scorpius is still upstairs packing with Rose.

Her father is gone, leaving two small packages with green ribbons on the table in the foyer.

"This is a terrible idea," she whispers, letting her eyes meet his.

He's looking at her like he did the night before. It doesn't help make her relax as she remembers his words, the way he touched her, the way it's not just her body that responds to his nearness anymore.

"I'm sorry," he replies. "I thought I was helping. I didn't mean to blurt it out like that, I just didn't like thought of you…."

"Shh," she urges, her finger over her mouth. He lowers his voice.

"I didn't like the thought of you alone for Christmas."

Those words pull at her and she reminds herself to breathe. His hand is warm and comforting and it's all the more reason they shouldn't be doing this. Things are dangerously close to changing and she doesn't think she can handle change. Not now. Especially now.

"Do you realize what this means?" she asks him, pulling her hand away. "Albus is going to be there, your whole bloody family is going to be there. Things are different and it's going to be pretty obvious that we don't hate each other anymore when we aren't at each other's throats for the next three days."

"Why are you so worried about this?" he asks. "If I promise to keep my distance, will it make you feel better?"

"Will you actually keep your distance?" she asked and he smirked. "See? You can't even take this seriously."

"I'm sorry, I am. I really am," he apologised. "I really will keep my distance. As much as it pains me. I know how much my brother means to you and I won't fuck that up, I promise."

"This is a mess. Scorpius is devastated. All because of me."

She curses herself when she realizes what she's said aloud. Unfortunately, James notices the word choice.

"What do you mean, because of you?" he asks and she shrugs.

"I told Papa it was ok to go," she lies and it's so easy she actually feels bad when she sees the concern in James' eyes. "I should have insisted he stayed."

"Maybe whatever he's doing really is important."

She looks away. She's sick of hearing those words.

"It's not," she whispers. "Not more important than Scorpius."

"Thea…"

The sound of her name on his tongue is inviting and she knows for sure this whole thing is going to be a bigger challenge than she expected.

"Madame," Patrick's voice interrupts and though she's not standing close to him she takes another step back from James for good measure.

"Yes?" she asks, clearing her throat.

"Your…" Patrick pauses as his eyes flicker to James briefly. "Your grandparents have just arrived. They are in the sitting room."

Thea's brows crease as she cocks her head slightly.

"I thought they were in Prague visiting Uncle Andrew?" she asks. She shrugs, perking slightly and smiles. "Did Granny bring that delicious lemon cake I love?" she asks but Patrick doesn't smile back. There is a distinct discomfort in the way his eye contact falters. She slowly realizes why and her body goes rigid. "Right. Okay," she says nodding.

Her posture immediately straightens and she looks down the red knitted turtleneck tucked into her denim trousers and she sighs. She pulls her winter coat off and drapes it over the staircase railing.

"Should I ask them to leave?" asks Patrick. She shakes her head.

"No. Just...find Scorpius, please?" she asks Patrick, her voice stiff in her throat and he nods sharply. She turns then to James and steps in towards him, the the space she previously vacated. She doesn't even check to see if Patrick is out of sight before she places her hand against his chest and looks up at him, her gaze trying to leech that comfort back out of his warm brown eyes. "Please," she says and it's a whisper but she can feel her voice shaking as she says it. "Please, just….stay here."

He places his hand over hers but it's only for a brief second before she lets hers slide away. She walks away, leaving him in the foyer as she rounds the corner down the hall.

The corridor is long but it seems as though it has grown shorter as she looks for the third door on the right. She stands outside the door for a long time, her fingers hovering over the handle. She can't go in until she breathes but suddenly it's as if her lungs no longer work. She can't pull in breath. She can't push it out. Her heartbeat is loud in her chest and in the silence of the corridor. The only sound is the pounding beneath her ribcage and the muffled sounds on the other side of the heavy door.

She has to pull herself together. She knows this. This is no different than school, no different than being the person everyone expects. With that in mind, she forces air into her lungs and opens the door.

The sitting room is rarely used anymore. It was her mother's space. Thea hasn't told her brother or father that at nights she can't sleep, she sneaks down to this room and falls asleep on the floor like she would as a child.

When she enters the room this time it's not her mother sitting in the blue armchair.

"Gran," she says, her voice steady as she forces herself into a calm. "Grandfather," she adds, the tone altered only slightly as she glances the man in her mother's chair with a sour expression on his contorted mouth.

"Hello, darling," her grandmother says, it's not stiff but there is relief in it as if perhaps she thought Thea wouldn't show. Thea wonders now if that was an option.

Narcissa Malfoy is a regal woman. As a child Thea used to be mesmerized by the woman's beauty. Time has changed her and perhaps so has circumstance. Her father rarely speaks to either of his parents and the only things Thea has ever heard of them are stories that once haunted her dreams.

She doesn't even look at her grandfather.

"He's not here," Thea says firmly to them both.

"Patrick told us," Narcissa answers.

She stepped closer and Thea willed herself not to move as the woman took her hands in her own. She leaned in, kissing her cheek lightly and attempted a warm smile. But everything about Narcissa Malfoy screamed tragedy.

"You know he wouldn't be pleased, knowing you've seen us without him here," she says.

"I know, but it's nearly Christmas and, well I just thought it would be nice to see you and Scorpius. That's all," the woman answers. A scoff comes from the blue armchair and Thea finally lets her eyes fall on the man who is the reason their family name is spit on in many circles.

"That's why you're here?" she asks but it's directed at her grandfather. He doesn't meet her gaze. "To see me? Or perhaps it is to attempt, once again to put me in my place, where I belong."

This time, icy grey eyes lock with her own.

"Theodora," Narcissa pleads. "Please don't do this."

"And why not?" she asks. "That's all he ever has to say, to me anyways."

"Watch your tone, girl," Lucius says and Thea feels her jaw clench.

"Come," Narcissa insists, tugging on Thea and they face away from Lucius' cold glare. "Tell me about the gala. I heard it was lovely."

"From who?" Thea asks.

"Savannah Earstwhile," Narcissa says. "I ran into her in town. She said it was simply magnificent."

"It was suitable," was all Thea could muster.

"Darling," says Narcissa. Her voice is bordering on warm though her hands still feel cold as ice in Thea's. "I'm sure it was more than suitable."

"It would have been better had a third of the guests showed up rather than let our family name skew their attendance," Thea replied.

There is only silence. Narcissa's eyes close.

"Our family name?" Lucius mutters from the blue chair.

Thea's nails dig into her palms.

There is no avoiding it now.

SCORPIUS

When Scorpius enters the foyer, there is visible tension in Marta's eyes. James paces the room, eyes dancing towards the corridor with every few steps and something tells him whatever this impatience is, it has nothing to do with leaving. Rose's hand is still in his and the momentary joy he felt in her comfort is immediately extinguished.

"Did Patrick send you?" Marta asks, walking over to him quickly.

"No, we were outside," he replies. "Why was he looking for me? Is everything alright?"

Marta lowers her voice, and speaking in Romanian she says, "Theodora sent him to find you after he told her your grandparents were in the sitting room."

"My grandparents?" he asks, his Romanian garnering a curious look from Rose at his side. He lets go over her hand quickly and Marta nods. "Where is she?"

"She went to greet them."

"Alone?!" he asks, eyes widening.

Patrick descends the steps. He too is quick to slip into Marta's Romanian tongue.

"It's my fault. I thought she would wait until I'd found you," replies Patrick.

Scorpius shakes his head. James' pacing stops and he waits for an explanation. Scorpius doesn't indulge him, however, and turns only to Rose as he says in English, "I'm so sorry. Please, stay here. I'll be right back."

"What's going on?" she asks.

"Please, Rose."

She nods.

Scorpius doesn't waste another moment lingering as he walks quickly down the corridor in long strides. The third door on the right can't come soon enough and he yanks the door open to find Thea standing at their grandmother's side. Their grandfather is standing, shouting down at Thea who clenches her hands into small fists at her side.

They all look up as he enters the room but Scorpius rushes forward to place himself between Thea and Lucius. Thea grips his hand slightly, urging him to move back but he doesn't budge.

"Well, it seems you've also decided to grace us with your presence," Lucius muttered.

"Had I known you were here, I would have ensured you'd have seen neither one of us," he replies.

"It's no matter to me," he says, gesturing to his wife who stands, disappointment growing in her tired eyes.

"Scorpius," Narcissa whispers, stepping towards her. He makes no move to go to her or return her embrace.

"What did he say to you?" he says over his shoulder to Thea. Again she tries to tug him back but he doesn't move.

"Nothing," she says quietly.

"Theodora," Scorpius replies sternly.

"Nothing worth even mentioning," she insists.

"You're not supposed to be here," Scorpius says, glancing back at his grandparents. "Father will hear of this."

"Oh?" Lucius snarls. "And what do you think he'll do about it? For that matter, boy, what do you plan to do about it?"

"You're not worth my time at all," Scorpius mutters. "Or hers," he said, gesturing to his sister.

He grabs Thea with intent to leave. His grandfather's response stops him in his tracks.

"Weak," scoffs Lucius.

"Lucius!" Narcissa hisses.

Thea's hand tightens against his. She tries to keep walking, urging him silently to ignore the man who looms over them so easily. But he doesn't move.

"What!? Look at him. He's weak! Just like his father. Just like his…" Scorpius is ready to lose his composure if he finishes the sentence but he doesn't have a chance when Thea interrupts.

"Don't call him that," says Thea, her voice rising as she spins around.

"Don't mumble, Theodora," Lucius says after a long pause. His lip curls at the girl who speaks out at him. "If you're going to be indignant, at least have the courtesy to enunciate"

"Apologies," Thea says through her teeth. "I thought I was quite...clear."

"Lucius, please. Let's go," Narcissa urges but he brushes her arm off of him as he steps closer.

"I told you to watch your tone, girl."

"And I told you, you weren't welcome here," she answers.

"You presume to tell me that I'm not welcome? You, the stain on this family's reputation? You want to pretend your words have any weight here?"

Scorpius is the one squeezing Thea's hand as the words hit hard.

"Lucius!" Narcissa shouts, this time her voice carries across the room. "That is enough."

"You too?!" He shouts to his wife. "You always coddled our cowardly son and now you stand between me and his pathetic offspring. This never would have happened if you hadn't let him marry that blood-cursed wh-"

Scorpius thinks he's never pulled his wand faster than he has in that moment.

Somehow, Thea is faster.

"Children," Narcissa urges, desperation heavy in her voice. "Please."

The silence weighs heavy in the room. Thea's steps are slow but calculated as she crosses the room. She steps in front of Scorpius, directly between the two men and he doesn't see it, but he can feel the fire in her eyes.

"Don't...speak about our mother," says Thea, her voice as hard as stone. "Don't speak about our father," she says, taking a step closer. "And don't ever...speak about my brother again," she says, her wand pointed directly under Lucius' chin.

He stares down at her.

"Play pretend all you want, little one. You will never belong," he whispers, his voice low. "You will always be this family's shame. Utterly unwanted and unworthy of the name Malfoy."

"No," she whispered, her voice firm. "That would be you."

Her chest heaves. He can see the flames in her eyes as she stands there and he fears what she'll do if the man provokes her further.

"Leave," Scorpius says, not bothering to stand on ceremony.

Narcissa doesn't wait to be asked again before she places her hand on her husband's shoulder.

They apparate with tiniest pop.

It's several moments of silence before a broken sigh leave's Thea's lungs and he turns to face her for the first time since entering the room. Her eyes close as she stands there, steading her breathing and he glances down to her hands. One is still wrapped tightly around her wand, the other, palm open, is red with blood. He reached out to her, grabbing her hand in his and noticing the blood is from her fingernails digging into her flesh and she jerks it away from him.

"Don't," she whispers curtly.

When she opens her eyes they do not meet his, and she heads for the door.

ROSE

The tension in the room grows with every passing minute that they are forced to stand there and wait. James is biting his nails and pacing while Marta speaks in hushed whispers to Patrick as they keep glancing towards the door where Scorpius disappeared.

James' pacing causes her unease to escalate and she's not entirely certain what's got him so worked up. She keeps thinking back to the table, how he and Thea have behaved so civilly during their time here and she remembers what Roxy said to her back at school.

She wouldn't have thought anything of it until the way Thea said "James" at brunch and she wonders why that bothers her so much. It wasn't said with spite, but something else entirely. James' eyes are glued to the hall now, watching and waiting with the same expression burnt into his features that Rose feels upon her own.

She just doesn't understand why.

A door slams down the hall and Rose jumps involuntarily as her head spins in its direction. She hears the muffled arguments, the curt remarks through clenched teeth, and when the two Malfoy siblings emerge, Thea is pulling her arm away from Scorpius' grasp.

"I'm fine," she says, not bothering to hide the impatience. Scorpius keeps pleading in Romanian. Marta and Patrick follow as well as Thea starts up the stairs at a near run, her flats clicking against the steps. She only stops to whirl around when she realizes she's still being followed. "I said I'm fine! I just need a minute!"

No one follows her up though there is obvious guilt in Scorpius' eyes as he watches her flee. Several more footsteps later Rose hears the door to Thea's bedroom close and there is a muffled crash. Another follows only moments after and Rose flinches a the sound.

James takes one step towards the staircase but stops short. Rose notices there is conflict in his eyes.

"What the hell is going on?" he asks, glancing over at Scorpius who is still looking up to where Thea has disappeared.

"My grandparents," Scorpius says quietly. "They weren't supposed to be here, especially when my father isn't here. He'll be furious when he finds out."

"And Thea?" Rose asks. Scorpius pulls his gaze away finally and lets his eyes settle on her. "Was he unkind to her?" she asks, remembering Scorpius' story about his grandfather.

"Thea…" he starts, shaking his head and he lets out a strained breath. "Saying my grandfather isn't a kind man would be an understatement. He's cruel. The things he says to her…"

He doesn't elaborate and Marta is grumbling under her breath, refusing to adhere to standing at the base of the steps and she starts up them, holding her robes up as she takes each one.

Rose realizes why Scorpius stops his conversation short. She remembers the rumors again, the stories that even her parents had muttered in half-curious whispers years ago when Rose was too young to understand their absurdity. But Scorpius' features are still warped and furrowed and she doesn't know what else to say except to place her hand on his shoulder.

When her eyes meet his, he lets out a long breath.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he whispers, his voice tired and for the first time she realizes he's shaking.

"Scorpius..." she says.

"They weren't supposed to be here," he says again.

"What did he say?" James asks from behind them and Scorpius tenses beneath her touch.

"Nothing worth repeating," Scorpius grumbles and runs his hands through is hair.

For a moment, the action reminds Rose of Draco at the table during brunch. The frustration is there but so is the guilt. Whatever Lucius said in that room has stripped the warmth from Sandwith Hall.

"Scorpius," she says again, her voice soft. His eyes meet hers and he lets out a long breath. She nods. "Let's just go." His brow furrows. "Go get Thea and we'll leave all of this behind us. Aunt Ginny promised tea would be ready when we arrive."

He doesn't speak but he nods as he turns and walks slowly up the stairs. Rose can hear when he knocks on Thea's bedroom door but there are only muffled words from where he speaks through the door. It must open a crack because Rose hears it close again and Magnus bounds down the stairs.

She watches the cat who slows at the base of the staircase and looks up at Rose. He rubs against her leg once before passing her up for James on the other side of the room. James is now sitting in the armchair by the hearth, watching as the yule log crackles and pops. Magnus brushes up against him twice before he notices and he reaches down to pet the poor thing that meows for his attention.

"Thea says that means he likes you," she says, breaking the silence.

James doesn't look up, only watches Magnus pounce up onto his lap and he scratches the cat's head.

"I can't imagine she'd like that very much," he replies, but it's soft and not full of sarcasm as she'd imagined.

"James," she says, glancing once up towards the empty staircase then back at her cousin. "What's going on?"

"What do you mean?" he asks, looking up with his brow furrowed.

"Is there something going on with Thea?" she asks slowly and though he doesn't meet her eyes he shakes his head. "Then why have you two been acting so….different."

"I think civil is the word you're looking for, Rosie," he says but his tone carries a bite.

"Okay….civil then. What's with the civility?" she asks. "And I don't mean just now, Roxy's noticed it too. You're different lately."

"And what's so wrong with that?" he asks, still petting Magnus who starts to pur.

"Nothing," she says, a defeated sigh. "I am just trying to understand. Your parents are worried."

"They were worried about Albus too."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He shrugs, leaning back into the chair. His eyes are on the yule log again as he pets Magnus who has settled into his lap. The cat's eyes close slowly, his purring loud. He nudges James' hand every time the petting stops. James seems happy to oblige him.

"Don't you ever get tired of it?" he asks slowly. "I do everything they expect from me and it never seems enough."

"You're throwing a pity party because your parents don't understand you?"

"My dad wants me to be like him. But I'm not. Hell, Albus is more like him than I am."

"He wants you to find some direction," Rose contradicts. "There's a difference."

"That's easy for you. You've always wanted to go and work at the Ministry like your mum. Albus wants to train Dragons like Uncle Charlie and even Lily knows she was meant to play Quidditch like our mum."

"What does any of this have to do with the way you've been acting around Thea?" she asks, refusing to let him evade her question and he shakes his head.

"All of it," he says. "I'm tired of this Potter and Malfoy bullocks. I'm tired of fighting about everything and nothing at all. I'm just...tired."

She isn't entirely sure she understands, but she has a feeling it's better to just drop it when she sees the far of look in his eyes. She knows a thing or two about expectations in her own home. Her father still isn't happy about Scorpius no matter how much he tries to hide it. She suspects her mother has something to do with why he no longer brings it up in letters. It's part of why she'd been so taken aback at James' proposal to host the Malfoys for Christmas.

Having Scorpius around her family suddenly makes her realize why Thea had been so hesitant to bring them to Sandwith Hall. And yet, there is something about the grand house that makes Rose wonder if it isn't something else that Thea wants to hide from everyone else. She's seen it in the girl's smile and laughter and the sheer relaxed expression she wore prior to her grandparents' visit.

A door closes somewhere upstairs, this time not as loudly, and steps and whispers resonate through the upstairs corridor. Thea and Scorpius are walking down the steps of the staircase, Patrick and Marta close behind them.

Thea's broken expression is replaced with one she was more familiar with, cool indifference. Scorpius seems only mildly satisfied and eyes his sister carefully as they both say their goodbyes to Marta and Patrick with hugs. Marta stops Thea before she can pull away and lifts her chin. Her Romanian spills out in a warm whisper of words that makes the corners of Thea's mouth turn up ever so slightly.

James' eyes are no longer on the fire as Thea approaches him. Rose watches them carefully, but Thea glances down only at Magnus as she lifts him into her arms and kisses his head.

"Little traitor," she says. "You don't happen to be allergic to cats do you, Jamie?"

Rose swears she sees James holding back a smile.

x