Insomnia obviously, you all know how it goes at this point, but honestly I thought this served as a decent prelude to things that are to come. Imma try and sleep at least an hour before I have to go to work, enjoy!

Marching down the halls of Hogwarts with purpose Dancia found herself in the very awkward position of needing to divest herself of all her secrets to her loved ones in order to protect them from what threats may come. All while also suffering under the knowledge that she could very well be destroying her entire life in the process which was just so bloody typical, her reality, really. Draco's Harry may have had assured her that everything would be all right in the end but… Hell's bells… What if…what if…

What if her family stopped loving her? The painful pang to her heart at the very thought was promptly shoved aside, but the lingering angst was not so easily dismissed.

Forcing herself not to hyperventilate as she finally acknowledged that long ignored paralyzing fear she had held close to her heart for… forever, she steeled herself for what was to come and nodded in determination as she stopped before her objective.

Taking in a shuddering breath Dany knocked on Professor Flitwick's office door, the heavily varnished mahogany mass then swung open quickly and the diminutive Charms and Dueling Master seated behind a simple desk shot her a pleasant grin earning him a true smile from her in return.

"Ah Miss Malfoy, an unexpected yet not unwelcome pleasure to be in your company, what can I do for you today my dear?"

Sighing Dany took the seat before his desk and shakily placed her hands on her lap as she met his gaze evenly while trying her level best to keep her composure, "Hello Professor, I…have a slightly odd request to bring forth to you."

Flitwick tilted his head to the side slightly as he replied with, "Oh? I dare say that is a bit out of character for you, unlike most of the aristocratic youth that have passed through this school's hallowed halls you rarely if ever throw around your proverbial weight so to speak."

She nearly snorted at that, she had gotten that out of her system in a past life after all, and would rather not dwell on how much of a twat her previous incarnation had been to… well, everyone.

"Yes, I have found it benefits myself and those I care for to behave with a sense of composed brevity, and though the term mirrors my lovely mother's name, I detest narcissism. So I have done my very best to avoid anyone going out of their way to shall we say, play favorites?"

The professor stared at her a few moments, then shook his head slowly while smiling wryly, "You are going to be an absolute firecracker when you enter the realm of politics, are you not Miss Malfoy?"

Dany raised a brow, and then smirked as she drawled out, "You have no idea how accurate that statement is, sir."

Flitwick grinned and shook his head slowly and quickly met her gaze evenly, "Well then. What is your odd request my dear?"

Taking in a deep breath Dany centered herself, let out said breath, then quickly stated, "I would like Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and myself to be allowed to return to one of our estates for a day in order to… Well… discuss family business… with our elders."

Flitwick stared at the uncomfortably shifting teen for a few moments, contemplated any reasons he could possibly want to detain either of the trio, and once finding nothing of import, he shrugged.

"Very well, I will write you and your friends a pass, young miss."

Dany let out a shuddering sigh of relief while shooting the diminutive professor a wan smile replying with, a succinct, "Thank you, sir."

"This was a terrible idea," Dany stated as Dora ran her fingers through her cousin's snow white hair while gently running her other hand down the younger girls back.

"It needed to be done," Dora stated with a sad sigh and a shrug.

"Regardless it doesn't make it any less abhorrent of an idea despite its inherent necessity, if anything it just makes it more clear than anything why I kept everyone out of dangers way and left them all blissfully ignorant to the threats the outside world presented."

Dora dryly stated, "You do realize how condescending that sounds, yes?"

Dancia replied with a drawled out; "Oh wow it's almost like I have a century old wizard's memories guiding me along to protect my family and friends to safety and victory with the end all be all of cheat sheets in hand, all while already having the tempered and jaded experience necessary to protect everyone even if I have to drag them to safety fucking kicking screaming."

Dora snorted at that while shaking her head, "You are such an unrepentant condescending bitch."

Dany grinned in return, "I had a wonderful teacher to solidify that outlook and guess what? You taught me well!"

Dora sighed in a state of weirdly proud resignation, "I know, I'm stuck in this odd middle ground between pride and annoyance and I'm not really sure how to handle it..."

Her only reply from her younger cousin was giggling.

It took all of Dora's willpower to no respond the same in turn.

Entering the antechamber of Malfoy Manor Dany took in a deep breath as Dora wrapped her arm around the waif of a teen's shoulders as she let out a shuddering breath.

"This is it, isn't it?"

Dora pulled a handkerchief from her robes and wiped Dany's eyes quickly followed with a kiss to her brow as she pocketed the stained bit of cloth.

"Yeah kiddo I think, really... yeah, this is it..."

Dancia let out a tittering laugh and after a few moments of silence she muttered, "I'm terrified... How pathetic is that?"

Dora pulled her closer, her firm grip the only anchor that meant a thing at the moment while she muttered out, "It isn't pathetic, and I'm here for you little one."

It was an empty platitude, all things considered, but...

"Thank you, Dora."

"You're welcome, Dany."

The door before them opened, and they were confronted with the collective of their gathered family.

Dany took in a shuddering sigh while muttering, "Here we go..."