"Cub?" Narcissa asks as she knocks on Ursa's doorframe. Ursa is laying on her bed reading. She flips the book over to mark her page and looks at Narcissa. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

     "Yes?" Ursa replies.

     Narcissa walks into the room and sits on the edge of Ursa's bed "I know you spent nine years in the States, but when we are in public, could you try to speak normal? I am not embarrassed or anything."

     "I was actually going to ask about that, like if there was a spell or something magical. I do not want to stand out at school. Well more than I already will for being a new fourth year."

     "I do not think there is, but it should become normal if you do it for a long time. Another thing, we have a party for Draco's birthday every year and it is next week."

     "Alright."

     "We do not have anything planned for your birthday Cub, We did not know yo-"

     "It is fine Mother. It's not like I have anyone to invite to a party. My only friend right now is Draco."

     "I do not want you to feel bad that you are not getting a party or anything big."

     "It is alright. No one knew I would be here. My birthday is after school starts anyways."

     "Are you sure you are okay Cub?"

     "Yes Mother. Honestly just being home again is enough. I do not really want anything else."

     "Alright. Well if you come up with something you want, just let your father or me know." Narcissa stands and goes into Ursa's closet.

     "I mean new books and brooms are always good presents. I have a list of books I have somewhere or it's a list of what I want. What are you doing?" Ursa asks.

     "Do you not have any party dresses?"

     "I never really went to parties. Beatrice let me stay at home with a babysitter. I tended to cause trouble from either boredom or being overwhelmed."

     "I guess that means we are going shopping."

     "Oh fun." Ursa says sarcastically.

     Narcissa walks out of the closet. "Why did you say that sarcastically?"

     "I am not a big fan of shopping, especially with you." Narcissa's brow furrows and Ursa explains. "At least when I was little it was not fun. Too many frills and pinks. You never listened to what I wanted."

     "It will be fun Cub, I promise. You can choose what you want."

     "Alright. We can look for other things too."

***

     Ursa wakes with a start from a nightmare. She gets out of bed and goes into the hall. She thinks for a second before going across the hall to Draco's room. She quietly opens his door. "Draco?" Ursa closes the door behind her and walks to his bed. "Dray?"

     Draco groans before mumbling. "It's the middle of the night."

     "I- never mind."

     "What?"

     "I had a nightmare and don't want to be alone. I don't want to bother Mother and Father."

     "Come on." Draco moves over and raises the covers. She climbs into his bed and they lay facing each other. "What happened?"

     "I don't wanna talk about it."

     "Alright."

     Narcissa goes into Draco's room to wake him. She finds them and smiles. Draco is laying on his back and Ursa's head is on his chest. She gently shakes them awake. "Good morning." They both grumble in reply and Narcissa chuckles. "I feel like I am having déjà vu. I used to find you two in each other's beds all the time after Draco stopped sleeping in a crib."

     "Why do you talk so much in the morning?" Ursa asks as she sits up.

     Narcissa chuckles. "Why are you in your brother's bed?"

     "I had a nightmare. I did not want to bother you but I did not want to be alone."

     "Alright then. Breakfast is in 15 minutes."

     "Okay." Draco replies and Narcissa leaves. "Little Ursa had a nightmare than made her go to her little brother's bed."

     "Ass." Ursa says as she stands.

     "Bitch."

     "Bite me." Ursa turns and sticks her tongue out at him causing them both to laugh.

     "Is this like our thing now?"

     "I guess."

***

Ursa sighs as she hears Lucius yelling on the other side of the manor. She gets up and goes into Draco's room. She plops backwards onto his bed. "They're fighting again." She says

"What is like the third time in a week?" Draco asks.

"I thought you said they didn't fight often."

"They don't. This is new. The little bit I heard clearly earlier this week was them arguing about you being at my party."

"Let me guess, Father does not want me there because no one knows about me and he is not ready to admit he hid my existence?"

"That was part of what I heard after Mother left the room. He also found out you never went to parties and what happened at the ones you did go to. He believes you don't know how to behave at them."

"I do know though. Do you feel like their fighting has increased since I returned?"

Draco sighs before answering. "A little bit. But don't blame yourself. This all came as a surprise and they don't really know how to parent a girl... or you.

"I don't think it would be that different. I've been taught how to be a lady. Don't always act like one." They lay in silence, just listening to Lucius's muffled yelling. "Do you think they still love each other?"

"Yes. Neither of them know how to handle their negative emotions well. They were taught to push them down so they sometimes take it out on each other. Trust me. I know they still love each other. Don't go to their side of the manor the night after they fight."

Ursa laughs. "Eww. You heard that?"

"Ran like hell back to my room and tried to forget it."

"Do you think he's ever hurt her?"

"No never. They really do love each other, Ursa. He loves her more than anything. They've had rough patches before. They just don't know how to communicate calmly about issues. They fought whenever you were here visiting. They both wanted to bring you home but Mother said they couldn't. Something about guardianship."

"She signed guardianship to Beatrice. Beatrice would have never let them bring me home and if they tried, they could have been arrested for kidnapping."

They both flinch as they hear a door slam and Ursa stands.

"Where are you going?" Draco asks.

"To make sure she's okay." Ursa replies. She runs down the hall and the stairs. She quietly opens the sitting-room door, where they were fighting. Narcissa is sitting on the couch, crying lightly. Ursa quietly walks over to her and sits down next to her. Ursa carefully hugs her.

"What are you doing in here?" Narcissa asks.

"Checking on you. I heard the door slam and got worried. Did he hurt you?" Ursa replies.

"No, no he would never hurt me Ursa." Narcissa sighs. "Just disagreeing about you being at the party and going to the World Cup. I want you to be there and I am frustrated that he does not."

"I'm fine with sitting up in my room for the party. If his problem is that I did not often go to parties, I do know how to behave at one. Beatrice never let me leave the main room so I could not step out and calm down. Yes I know that is only part of his problem."

"How do you know that?"

"Draco heard a little bit of your fighting earlier this week."

"Wait, what is the other part of his problem?"

"That no ones knows who I am, let alone that I exist."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you ever heard Father speak of me in public? Draco said he has not heard him." Ursa asks and Narcissa sighs. "Exactly. He does not want to admit that he has been hiding my existence, accidental or not."

"Why do you have to be so smart?"

"I do not know, every family has at least one smart child and it is not Draco."

"Draco is smart. He is second or third in most of his classes. A know-it-all Mudblood is first."

"Really? The only time I ever see him as smart is when he is around Crabbe and Goyle." Narcissa chuckles. "And he only seems smart because they are dumber than a box of rocks."

Narcissa laughs. "How can you still manage to make me smile when I'm down after not seeing me for so long?"

"No idea, guess it is just a talent I have. And he may go down to third and fourth if he is not careful. Despite not being liked I was always the top student."

Narcissa pulls Ursa into a side hug and Ursa curls up into her. Narcissa smiles softly and pets Ursa's hair. "I love you Cub."

"I love you too. Random question. Why doesn't Draco have a nickname like I do?"

"Well if I followed the pattern he would be called 'Whelp' or 'Hatchling.' You and I used to call him 'Dray' but he sassily told me to stop when he was around five."

Ursa chuckles. "I remember he was a very sassy four year old."

"Where do you think he learned it? You were not much better. You two were the sassiest pair of children I have ever seen. Once you two were around the same size we were always asked if you and him were twins. It did not help you were best friends."

"Not surprising. Between Father and Auntie we were bound to be sassy and sarcastic." Ursa sighs. "I feel weird that I miss her sometimes, Auntie."

"Why?"

"I do not know. She did a horrible thing. She is a bad person but the little I remember of her she was not."

"You were her favorite person and she was yours. She was always so protective of you. Not more than she was of me but pretty close. It broke you when I told you she was not coming back." Narcissa chuckles. "She did not want kids of her own but she adored you and Draco. She rarely left the manor after you were born. Only when the Dark Lord made her. We did not need a nanny because she was always around. She almost did not go that night because of you two, but Crouch convinced her. She loves you so much."

"Should we go shopping this afternoon?" Ursa asks. "Spend some time with out the boys."

"Let's do it."

***

"Draco?" Ursa asks as she walks into his room.

"Hm?" Draco replies.

"I was talking to Mother and brought up that you don't have a nick name. Why did you stop letting her call you 'Dray'?"

Draco sighs. "After a few months, I realized you weren't coming back and it reminded me too much of you."

"So can I still call you that?"

"Of course. Mother probably could too. I remember you did at King's Cross."

"Alright. Well Mother and I are going shopping."

"Okay."

***

"What about this?" Narcissa asks as she shows Ursa another dress, it's pastel pink.

"Pink?" Ursa replies.

"Right. You do not like pink."

"Dark colors. I actually fit the family aesthetic."

Narcissa smiles and finds another dress. "What about this?"

Ursa smiles as she looks at the dress. It is a black, floor length dress, with a mix of rectangle and sweetheart necklines. The neckline is lined with black sequins. The bodice and sleeves are lace, and the bodice has a solid black cover under it. The circle skirt is barely above the floor. "I have to try it on. Now." Narcissa chuckles as Ursa takes it from her and goes into the changing room. Narcissa looks for a dress for herself while Ursa changes. Her back is to Ursa when Ursa steps out of the dressing room. "So?"

Narcissa turns around and smiles. "Beautiful. What do you think?"

"I love it. I am not a big fan of dresses but I love this." Ursa replies.

"Good. Do you have jewelry to go with it?"

"Yes Mother."

"Alright. Change back and we'll get it."

"Yay!"

***

"Oh there's a new Nimbus again. Oh and they have Firebolts." Ursa says as she points at Quality Quidditch Supplies. "I wish I could play Quidditch."

"What do you mean?" Narcissa asks.

"I never made the team. Too disliked for my name. I honestly thought I had done better than the chasers that made the team the last two years."

"Well, there will not be Quidditch at Hogwarts this year due to that thing."

"Right."

"And Draco is the Slytherin seeker. Which reminds me he needs to practice spotting a snitch."

"Oh I need new quills. Most of mine broke in transportation."

"Could it wait until we come for school supplies? It's looks like it is going to rain."

"Of course. I still have two that work and I can always steal Draco's."

Narcissa chuckles as they walk into the Leaky Cauldron. "They really need more Floo fireplaces. I hate having to come in here."

***

     "Have you seen your sister?" Lucius asks Draco.

     "Not in a while." Draco replies. "Why?"

     "I got her that book she wanted."

     "I think I last saw her headed to the potions lab with Mother."

     "Oh lord. Let us hope they do not cause an explosion." Lucius goes downstairs and finds them in the potions lab.

     "Okay now be very careful with that powdered sage." Narcissa says. "Do not spill any or else I will be sneezing for an hour."

     "What are you two making?" Lucius asks. Ursa jumps but luckily she already had the spoon of powdered sage over the cauldron and it all falls in.

     "Lucius!" Narcissa yells and Lucius and Ursa chuckles. "Do not do that! She could have missed and I would have been sneezing for an hour!"

     "Well I guess I'm lucky she did not miss."

     "You are lucky I do not make you sleep outside." Ursa laughs.

     "To answer your question," Ursa says. "A memory potion so I can remember what I did with one of my books."

     "Did you try summoning it?" Lucius asks and Ursa gives him a "seriously?" look. "Okay so you did. Why not use Legimency Cissa?"

     "I was bored." Narcissa replies. "Plus maybe she will be less careless with important books after having to brew a two hour potion to find it."

     "I probably will not." Ursa says as she adds the snowdrop (Galanthus Nivalis) leaves.

     "What do you need Lucius?"

     "I have a book for Ursa." Lucius says.

     "Oh is it that one I asked for?" Ursa asks.

     "Yes." Ursa jogs over to Lucius and he hands her the book.

     "Thank you!" Ursa hugs Lucius.

     "What book did you ask for?" Narcissa asks.

     "Advanced Rune Translation." Ursa says. "I found some old runes at the Junk Shop in Diagon Alley and I cannot find the translations in my dictionary so I'm hoping they are in here."

     "The Junk Shop?" Narcissa questions.

     "I often find things people do not realize are powerful or valuable at second-hand shops like that."

     "Just make sure you are not seen there once people know who you are."

     "Yes Mother."

     "Alright let's finish this potion and find that book."

***

"Hood up." Narcissa says before tossing Floo Powder into the fireplace.

"Why?" Ursa questions.

"We are going to Knockturn Alley and we do not want to be seen going in."

"Yes Mother." Ursa raises her hood as Narcissa steps into the fire.

"Leaky Cauldron." Narcissa says. Narcissa disappears and Ursa steps into the fire.

"Leaky Cauldron." Ursa repeats and she disappears. She appears at the Leaky Cauldron and Narcissa takes her hand. They remain silent as they walk. Narcissa carefully looks around before slipping inside Knockturn Alley. "Why are we here?"

"Potion ingredients and a surprise." They go to Mr Mulpepper's Apothecary and purchase some potion ingredients before going to Ye Ole Curiosity Shop.

"Whoa." Ursa says as she looks around. She finds an interesting broach and looks at it as close as she can without touching it. She reads the runes written on the front of it. "Protect the wearer from all things dark."

"So that's what it says." The shopkeeper says. "Must not work since it was found on some who was killed by the Killing Curse."

"Nothing can protect someone from the Killing Curse." Ursa replies as she draws her wand. She uses magic to turn it around. "It must be charged with an ancient Pagan ritual. One I have heard a few things about. It is a deadly ritual. It takes a few people and only the ritual leader can know what is going on. Especially since the other people will die."

"You weren't kidding when you said she knew a lot." The shopkeeper says to Narcissa.

"I was not." Narcissa replies. "She has her aunt's Dark Arts knowledge. Except she is sane."

"It helps I do not use it to hurt people like she did." Ursa says. "And my knowledge is more about ancient Dark Arts and Pagan Dark Arts. When a lot of witches and wizards still believed in Gods like Thor, Zeus, and Jupiter." Ursa looks around more. "This is amazing."

"I knew you would like it." Narcissa says as she walks up behind Ursa. "Is there anything safe you want?"

"Nothing here is completely safe." Ursa walks around the store. "But no there-" Ursa stops as she sees a bracelet she feels drawn to. She walks over to the case it's in and looks at it. "What is that?"

"I'm not entirely sure." The shopkeeper says. "It's been here forever."

"I feel drawn to it."

"Then you must be the one it is for." The shopkeeper gets the bracelet out of the case. "I was told never to sell it unless someone says they were drawn to it." He hands it to Ursa and Ursa holds it in her hands. It glows lightly. "You must be the one."

"The one what?" Narcissa asks.

"Not sure. But it was meant for her."

"Can I please get it Mother?" Ursa asks.

"Of course Cub."