"Your mother knows." Cedrella looked at Septimus wide widen eyes as she stopped mid-sentence on her essay. "Listen to this." He straightens out the folded letter and takes a deep breath. "I'm very happy you two have found a way to be together, but please be very careful. Lysandra knows, and while she did not mention it out loud, the look in her eyes said it all."

"How did she find out?" Septimus stayed quiet as he re-read the letter.

"The minute she asked for you, I made the greatest mistake into informing her that you had stayed for the holidays. She said nothing more and left. Please stay safe, dear. Send my greetings to your beautiful lady. I love you, Mum."

"it no doubt had to be Malfoy. He couldn't just keep his big nose to his own space." Cedrella threw the paper across the desk and sighed. Septimus got her hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of it, comforting her in a way.

The two did not know what to do, but Cedrella had an idea. If it was true that her mother had a suspicion that she was now romantically involved with, she no longer had to hide. She no longer felt the need to hide who she was deeply in love with. Cedrella took Septimus's hand and dragged him outside, where the floor was covered with freshly covered snow, wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

Septimus stood shocked but eventually gave in and wrapped his arms around her waist and spun around. "Happy Christmas, love." Cedrella grinned, moving a piece of hair that had fallen over his eyes, before looking right at them. Their shoes were getting wet as the snow began to slowly melt from their body heat, but the two stared into each other's eyes. Loving and free,

"Happy Christmas, dear."

~

Cedrella could not stop grinning as the students began to return to school. She publically kissed her boyfriend and held his hand. Their arms wrapped around one another and their legs on top of each other when they silently crammed material. It had finally felt right. If her mother knew, then the entire world could know. The only downside was that if Septimus's mother was wrong and Lysandra did not know about her daughter's relationship. But being almost 18, it was time for Cedrella to not be the little girl that had to practice every upbringing that her parents had taught her. She felt no need to make anyone happy but herself, even if it meant to sacrifice some things, or even herself. Deep down she wished it never had to be that way. She didn't want to sacrifice her relationship with her sisters but she did not want to give up the man of her dreams either. She was not looking forward to the summer, where her parents would be able to be on top of her and trying to get her very far away from Septimus. She didn't like the idea of being apart, and it was time for her to fight back for what she really wanted.

"You okay, love?" Septimus asked, putting his book aside and grabbing her hand. Cedrella looked at their hands and smiled

"Of course. Just exhausted."

"Well, why don't you go to unwind? I'll head out and see if I can catch up with some other work. I'll meet you for Dinner." Cedrella faked a yawn and nodded, before collecting her things. Septimus packed his own things and kissed the top of her head before going to the other side, towards the stairs that would lead him to the Gryffindor room. Making her way towards the Slytherin common room, her arm is held back but a grip she unhappily recognized.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"You're still seeing the blood traitor, I see?" Cedrella fixed the strap of her bag and pointed a finger right at him.

"Who I am seeing those not matter to you, Abraxas. Are you jealous that I am not paying attention to you the same way I do to Septimus or even the professors in this school?" Abraxas shook his head and smirked. "And say every word I tell you to my mother. In the end, I know how to deal with her, while you run like a coward behind yours when your father bursts in." His smirk weakened instantly, giving Cedrella the victory tally once again. "Anything else you want to inform me?"

"You'll get disowned"

"And I will happily accept it. Now if you excuse me. I'm pretty exhausted dealing with my classes already. I do not need to add another pile of pain to it." Cedrella smiled kindly before turning her heels and continued walking to the common room.