TW: Abuse mentioned

     "I see you found her." Draco states.

     "Looking at the stars." Narcissa replies.

     Ursa looks around and sees everyone dancing. "You are going to make me dance aren't you?" Ursa asks.

     "Yes I am, but you can dance with me or your brother if you are uncomfortable dancing with anyone else."

     Ursa looks to Draco only to find he disappeared. "Well since Draco walked away."

     Narcissa chuckles and leads Ursa out to the dance floor. "You dance well for someone who never went to parties."

     "Oh I still had to learn how to dance even if I did not go to parties."

     A few minutes later, Draco and Lucius walk up to them, Draco to Narcissa. "May I cut in?" He asks.

     Narcissa and Ursa both chuckle. Ursa releases Narcissa and Draco take's Narcissa's hand. Lucius gently puts a hand on Ursa's shoulder. "May I?" Ursa smiles softly and lets him take the lead. They stay quiet for a minute until Lucius speaks. "Have you been behaving yourself?"

     "Yes Father." Ursa replies.

     "I have noticed you disappear a few times."

     "I got a little overwhelmed. I did not go to parties often, let alone ones where I knew no one and no one knew me."

     A few minutes later, the Malfoys end up near each other and Lucius and Draco switch places. Ursa and Draco discreetly dance their way to the edge of the dance floor, where they let go of each other. They smiles at each other and walk off to the side. Draco leans against the wall.

     "How long do you think it'll take them to notice we're gone?" Ursa asks.

     "Depends, they can get all lovey and lost and forget the world around them sometimes." Draco replies.

     "Ew."

     "Hey at least they love each other. That's better than most pure-blood marriages these days."

     "True. I can totally wait to be old enough to be married. Hopefully, some of the boys will mature or at least are not like the boys in the States or I am screwed."

     "I take it they were not good."

     "Lets say like Crabbe but a little stupider and a lot more immature."

     "Wow I did not think that was possible." They both laugh.

     "Did you see that glare Mother gave Father when the Minister said he didn't know Father had a daughter?"

     "Oh yeah. He's in trouble. Stay on our side of the manor tonight."

     "Ew." Ursa scrunches up her nose. "Want something to drink?"

     "Depends on what you mean."

     "What does that mean?"

     "Adult drinks or kids?"

     "Kids. We are 14 and there is a reporter here. Skeeter I think is what Mother said."

     "Just some water."

     Ursa walks away and comes back with waters a few minutes later. She hands a glass to Draco and leans against the wall next to him. She sighs happily as she gently kicks off her shoe. "Sooooo how much longer do I have to be down here?"

     "What do you mean?"

     "I mean I would rather be in my room."

     "A while longer."

     Ursa sighs and takes a sip of her water. They both watch the people dancing in silence. Ursa smiles as they see Narcissa and Lucius. "They really are lucky aren't they?"

     "Huh?"

     "Our parents and their marriage. Them marrying for love and having kids because they wanted them instead of for duty."

     "Yeah."

     "I hope to be that lucky."

     "Me too."

     "You're a boy. You get to choose the girl for the most part. I have no choice."

     "Why are you talking like that? Like normal, not your American accent."

     "Mother wants me to, plus I kinda want to sound normal for school."

     "I thought you would be dancing with boys."

     "Mother recommended I do but I don't really want to. What makes you think that?"

     "I don't know, other girls would be."

     "I'd rather lean against a wall with my little brother."

     Draco rolls his eyes and Ursa chuckles. "You're annoying, you know that right?"

     "You know you love me. I was hoping I knew someone here other than the Crabbes and Goyles."

     "Like who, you don't know anyone else."

     "I don't know, I guess it's been three years since I've seen Severus."

     "We invite him but he never comes. Besides, you'll see him at school."

     "I know."

     "Are you excited about school?"

     "And nervous. I know there are rarely transfers or new students other than first years. Also worried I could be behind."

     "Well with the- that thing happening this year, you won't be the only 'new student.' I had hoped some of the girls in our year or house would be here so I could introduce you."

     "Our house?"

     "At Hogwarts."

     "We don't even know what I am yet."

     "Come on, you're a Malfoy and a Black. You're Slytherin."

     Narcissa catches Ursa's eyes. "And Mother has noticed us."

     "We should probably start dancing again."

     "I'm good."

     "Want to go to the garden before they come for us?"

     "Sure." Ursa pushes off the wall and grabs her shoes, not putting them on. "Where are the two idiots?"

     "They went home with their mothers." They get to the garden where some adults are mingling.

     "Oh, I keep forgetting to show you something." Ursa leads Draco to a sad plot of land near the back of the garden and smiles.

     "Ummmm."

     "I managed to do this without magic."

     "Ah, I was going to say it looks very sad." Ursa shoves Draco. "What? Its true!"

     "I know it is but I am still proud of it. It is my sad little plot."

     "We should get back inside."

     Draco grabs Ursa's hand and drags her back inside. Ursa puts her shoes back on as Narcissa approaches. "There you two are. I had noticed you stopped dancing." Narcissa says.

     "We did." Draco replies.

     "Come, you two need to dance together for at least one full song."

     "Yes Mother." Both Ursa and Draco say.

     Later, Draco runs up to Ursa. "Come on Ursa!" He says excitedly. "It's time for fireworks!"

     "O-okay." Ursa replies nervously but Draco does not notice. She follows Draco outside and stands with her family.

     Narcissa puts an arm around Ursa and notices Ursa's shaking. "Are you alright Cub?" Narcissa asks.

     "Yes-" Ursa starts but is interrupted by the first firework. She flinches and looks away. Narcissa furrows her brow as Ursa closes her eyes and puts her finger in her ears.

     Narcissa gently leads Ursa off to the side. "Do you want to go inside?" Ursa nods. "Alright. You can go up to your room. The party is over after this."

     Ursa nods again and runs inside. She takes off her heels and runs up to her room. She silences the room before closing her curtains. She turns some quiet music on before changing into pajamas and curling up into a ball on her couch. She cries silently.

     Narcissa comes up as soon as she can to find Ursa asleep. She gently shakes Ursa. "Cub?" Narcissa asks.

     "Hm?" Ursa mumbles.

     "Could you sit up?" Ursa nods and sits up. Narcissa's heart breaks as she sees tear tracks. Narcissa sits next to Ursa and Ursa lays her head on Narcissa's shoulder. "Do you want to explain what happened down there?"

     "Beatrice wasn't the nicest with punishments. Fireworks sound like one of the spells she used and the lights remind me of them."

     "Oh Cub." Narcissa wraps an arm around Ursa. "I really regret sending you there. How bad was it?"

     "Lets just say Father's punishment was pretty mild compared to her worst, which only happened once or twice. It was horrible at the beginning because I was trying everything to get sent home but nothing worked. She was determined."

     "I'm sorry I signed those guardianship papers."

     "It was not as bad after I realized there was nothing I could do. If I had known getting expelled would have gotten me sent back I would have gotten expelled as soon as possible.

     "Why did you never tell me how bad it was?"

     "She threatened my life and yours."

     "Come on, lets get you into bed. Tomorrow you are telling me more about what happened there."

     That night, Draco wakes up and hears Ursa crying. He gets up and opens her door to see Ursa is crying in her sleep. Draco walks over and lays in her bed. Ursa curls up against him when she feels his body heat.

***

     Ursa notices the Daily Prophet on the table as she walks into the dining room and sighs. "What?" Draco asks.

     "I made the front page of the Prophet. 'Mystery Girl of Malfoy Manor!'" Ursa sits at the table and food appears in front of her. She reads her article as she eats.

     Lucius and Narcissa walk into the dining room and see Ursa reading. "Are you reading the paper?" Lucius asks.

     "She made the front page." Draco answers and Ursa glares at him.

     Lucius sits down and Narcissa looks over Ursa's shoulder. "It seems Skeeter took an interest in Ursa."

     "Would either one of you like to explain why she could not find a record of my birth?" Ursa asks.

     "You were born here at the manor and Draco was born at St. Mungos." Lucius answers.

     "Why?"

     "My pregnancy with Draco was much harder than yours." Narcissa explains. "After you, we were told another pregnancy could kill me. We did not want to take any chances."

     "So what I am hearing is Draco has been a pain since before he was born." Narcissa tries not to chuckle but fails.

     "Mother!" Draco exclaims.

     "Sorry dear." Narcissa replies. "Since you were born here, you are only on the Ministry's private records, unlike Draco who is also on St. Mungo's public records. There was an announcement in the Prophet of your birth though. So what are Rita's theories about who you are?"

     "Mainly Draco's girlfriend or someone paid to act as his girlfriend. Adopted is another one, which is believable given my hair." Ursa says.

     "You know everyone else in my family had dark hair."

     "I know. The lack of record of my birth makes her doubt I am your daughter. Well, that is at least what she wrote. She was close to us when we spoke to the Minister so this might just be mainly satire."

***

     "So what else happened with Beatrice?" Narcissa asks as she sits on Ursa's couch with her. Ursa has her legs tucked under her.

     "She let me explore the Dark Arts how I wanted but educated me in the war and dueling. It honestly wasn't horrible once I behaved to her standards. And her standards were strict. I would not even be able to talk to you like I am. Sitting how I want. Had to be sitting up straight at all times. I've enjoyed relaxing. For the most part punishments were little shocks to remind me, but the fireworks reminded me of some of the worst. Messing up in front of someone important. Sneaking outside when I was not supposed to be outside. Being super unladylike. My clothing when I was not in public was the only freedom I had."

     "That's why you are so... such a pain in the ass to get into a skirt."

     Ursa laughs. "Yes that is exactly why."

     "Every day I regretted signing those papers. You were only supposed to be there for a week to a month. I listened to her telling me you were happy and you seemed relatively happy when I visited. It did not hit me that you were faking your happiness until it was too late and I was home and had signed the papers." Narcissa tucks Ursa's hair behind her ear. "We tried so hard to find a way around those papers, but there was nothing we could do without breaking the International Statute of Secrecy. The papers were from the Muggle government not the Ministry or MACUSA."

     "She would not have let you take me back. Every time I left to visit, she reminded me that she would kill us, you and me, if I did not come back. It never occurred to me until after my last visit that she would not have been able to even get to you. That's why she kept canceling visits, she knew I would tell you the truth. I would have told you in a letter but she started reading those."

     "How did I not see it? I knew the signs of abuse and manipulation from my own parents. We should have tried harder. Im so sorry you had to go through that. I will never let something like that happen to you again. You are safe now." Ursa shoots forward and hugs Narcissa with tears falling. Narcissa rubs her back and shushes her. "I have to ask, those days I find you in Draco's bed or him in yours are those nightmares from her?"

     "Yes usually or you and me dying by her."

     "Im sorry. I'm so sorry." Narcissa says as a few tears fall down her face.

     Ursa pulls back from the hug. "You have nothing to apologize for. You didn't know."

     "Now that you say it I see the signs I missed that you were not happy. I should have known. I should have known."

     "I'm sorry for never telling you. It never occurred to me she could not get to me if I was here."

     "You were keeping yourself safe. Never apologize for that."

     "I forgive you for not seeing it. I don't resent you for that. I am a good actress."

     "I love you Ursa."

     "I love you Mother."