Narcissa walks quickly into Ursa's room without knocking. "Your Father knows about Pansy." She says.

     "Oh no." Ursa replies. "He's mad isn't he?"

     "Furious. I am hoping he will try to speak to you instead of yelling but... he is not a big supporter of this kind of thing. He did not like it when I told him I liked women too." Ursa's eyes go wide.

     "Pardon?"

     "I did not mean to tell you that."

     "Draco owes me money." Ursa chuckles and Narcissa sighs. "I called it."

     "Of course you two bet on something like that."

     "We bet on everything we disagree on. How did Father find out?"

     "Umbridge."

     "That bitch!"

     "Ursa!" Ursa storms over to her desk and writes a quick note. "What are you writing?" Ursa opens her window and whistles for Lyra.

     "Sending a note to someone." Lyra lands on the windowsill. Ursa holds out the note and Lyra takes it with her beak. "Troublemakers, Lyra." Lyra turns and takes off.

     "Who is 'troublemakers?'"

     "That would defeat the point of the code name. Let's just say, Umbridge messed with the wrong people and she's going to regret it."

     "Do not get yourself in trouble."

     "Oh she will never know I was a part of it. The Troublemakers have had a plan they needed my help on and I told them no. The note I sent was telling them I am in. I expected Father to storm up here the second he found out."

     "I managed to convince him to cool down first."

     "Thank you. I really do not want this to mess up the small progress we've made in repairing our relationship."

     "That is exactly why I told him to cool down first." There is a knock at Ursa's door and Narcissa opens it to find Lucius. "I was just leaving." She says before leaving. "Good luck." She mouths behind Lucius's back. Lucius walks in and closes the door. He motions to the sitting area and Ursa cautiously sits in a chair. Lucius sits on the couch and Ursa notices he is wandless. He sighs before speaking.

     "I assume your mother told you." Lucius says.

     "Yes..." Ursa replies as she looks at her lap and fidgets with her fingers.

     "Ursa, I..."

     "If it helps, I understand I have a duty to our family. I just... I want to love while I have the chance. I know it cannot last."

     "Do her parents know?"

     "Yeah." Ursa says as she nods gently.

     "I do not know what to do Ursa."

     "I do not expect you to accept this. I never did. I know my duty and accept that I will have to marry a man. Even if I will never love him."

     "Never?"

     "Never. I have no interest in boys. Never have."

     "I do not want to encourage this... but as long as you accept your duty... I will find a way to be okay with it." Ursa smiles and stands. She sits next to Lucius and hugs him.

     "Thank you. I was so scared of you finding out." Lucius hugs her back and wipes her tears when he releases her.

     "If it was possible to have a child with another woman I probably would be more accepting, but there is not."

     "I know."

     "Though I think there used to be a way hundreds of years ago."

     "So there is a chance?" Lucius remains silent for a minute, worrying Ursa.

     "If you manage to find the way... you may be able to be with whoever you please. I will be honest, my first thought was arranging an engagement to make sure you married."

     "That makes sense. I know my duty. If it makes you feel better... I guess I would be alright with an arrangement, as long as I get final approval."

     "Several parents have approached me about it. Flint, Nott, MacMillan. Crabbe and Goyle have been trying since you were young."

     "Flint, no. Nott, maybe. MacMillan, don't really know him. Crabbe, no. Goyle, maybe. Crabbe's just too dim."

     "Fawleys did too but after the ball and party even I do not want that." Ursa chuckles.

     "Achilles hates me after that. I think from that list, Goyle would be the best for me. He's terrified of me." Lucius laughs.

     "That's why you think he's the best?"

     "Makes sure he will not try to control me like some men would. He knows I'll curse him without hesitation."

***

     "So my father knows about Pansy now." Ursa says through her connection, despite the fact Snape is in the classroom too and they are alone.

     "Why are you talking to me that way?" Snape asks aloud.

     "In case Umbridge shows up. I heard her mention a surprise check on you during your free time to make sure you aren't doing anything you're not. Plus she may need more Vertiserum at any time."

     "Smart and thanks for the heads up." Snape says aloud before switching to their connection. "So how did Lucius react?"

     "Surprisingly some what accepting." Ursa replies as she adds Salamander Blood to her cauldron. "He understands I want to love while I can and I told him I know and have accepted that it cannot last and I will have to marry a man."

     "What are you-" Snape starts to ask aloud before there is a knock on the door. "Enter." Umbridge walks into the room.

     "Professor Snape." Umbridge says and sighs in irritation when she sees Ursa. "Miss Malfoy. I hope you two are not discussing anything you should not be." Ursa's back is to Umbridge so she rolls her eyes.

     "We have been working in silence although I was just asking Miss Malfoy what she is brewing."

     "And what are you brewing Miss Malfoy?"

     "Wiggenweld Potion." Ursa replies.

     "And why would you possibly need that?"

     "Well as much as I would love to explain my every action to you, it has nothing to do with the subject you teach."

     "As Headmistress I order you to tell me why you are making that potion."

     "Are you really though? I am more qualified to be Headmistress as the Headmaster's Office allows me in." Snape swallows his chuckle.

     "Malfoy!" Snape snaps, hiding his amusement. "Do not be disrespectful. Answer the question." Ursa rolls her eyes.

     "Professor Hagrid is running low on Healing Paste and the Wiggenweld potion is the base for it."

     "And why would you be making it instead of Professor Snape?" Umbridge asks.

     "Since I arrived at Hogwarts last year, I have made Professor Hagrid's potions, pastes, and creams for Professor Snape as my potion skills are those of a seventh year."

     "And how is that possible?"

     "My mother is a potioneer and I have been brewing potions for many years. I did not have to worry about the Trace in the States. As you can see we are doing nothing wrong."

     "Hmph." Umbridge huffs before leaving. A few seconds after the door closes, Snape lets out his chuckles.

     "She hates you so much." Snape says.

     "But I am a Malfoy so she will not punish me. The DA all hate me for it right now." Ursa says.

     "Why not?"

     "Mother threw a fit when she found out about the quill, which caused Father to throw a fit to the Minister who told Umbridge she was not allowed to use it on me anymore. Father is one of the biggest liners of Fudge's pockets so Fudge isn't going to risk angering Father. Back to our conversation. Father is thinking about arranging a marriage for me to make sure I marry."

     "What do you think about that?"

     "I told him who I preferred and he's agreed to try to follow my preferences."

     "And who would that be?"

     "Goyle because he's terrified of me and wouldn't try to control me. His parents as well as some others have been trying to arrange something since we were little."

     "Who were the other options?"

     "Flint, MacMillan, Nott, and Crabbe. Apparently Achilles's father and mine where talking about it before my father found out Achilles was the boy from the ball. They lost any chance once my father knew."

     "I agree Goyle is your best bet."

     "Yeah." Ursa groans as she looks at her potion. "What am I missing?"

     "Not using a book?"

     "I thought I had it memorized." Ursa says as Snape glances at the inside of her cauldron.

     "Lionfish spines. Ten."

     "Thank you! Now I remember." Ursa goes to the store room and gets the spines. She adds five to the potion and turns up the heat. Ursa turns to Snape. "So what are we doing in class today?"

     "Reviewing Wide-Eye Potions." Ursa adds the rest of the spines once the potion turns yellow. "Some of you classmates have yet to make a proper one."

     "Longbottom?"

     "Will you help him today? I don't think I can stand another bad potion from him." Ursa chuckles.

     "Planned on it anyways."

     "I'll make sure you're partners." Ursa stirs the potion.

     "Can you get the natural balsam for me please?" Snape sighs and goes into the storeroom.

     "Tell anyone I do anything for you and you will regret it." Snape says as he sets the balsam next to her cauldron. "Did you remember the octopus flesh?"

     "Like anyone would believe me. He needs the paste for the little creatures so it doesn't need octopus flesh." Ursa stirs in the balsam until the potion turns into a paste. "Do you think I have enough time to take this down the Hagrid?"

     "No. The bell should ring any minute." Ursa nods and transfers the paste to a jar. She puts it in her bag and cleans up. She's finishing up when Snape opens the door to let students in.

     "Of course you were here." Draco says as he walks by Ursa.

     "Due to the sorry state of your last potions, you will be brewing the Wide-Eye potion today." Snape says after the bell rings. "I may need one myself to deal with your boring questions. Some of you will be brewing with a partner so that there is a chance, no matter how small, you may make an acceptable potion. Miss Malfoy and Mr Longbottom," Neville smiles softly. "Miss Granger and Mr Malfoy," Ursa chuckles.

     "Good luck Dray." Ursa whispers.

     "Mr Weasley and Miss Parkinson, Mr Finnegan and Mr Crabbe. Instructions are on the board. Get to work." Ursa gets up from her spot and goes to Neville.

     "Maybe I'll get a good grade today." Neville says.

     "We shall see." Ursa says. "I am only here to help you."

     "I know."

     "Let's get started." Ursa smiles as she watches Neville concentrate.

     At the end of class Neville's potion is green with a hint of blue. "Looks good." Ursa says.

     "It's not the right color." Neville says with a frown.

     "It's close Neville, enough for an A."

     "You think so?"

     "I know so. Bottle it and go put it on Snape's desk." Neville nods and Ursa communicates with Snape through the connection. "Give him an A, it's pretty good."

     "I will give him what he deserves." Snape replies.

     "Severus..."

     "Fine."

     "You know you love me."

***

     Ursa sighs as she reads the letter Lyra just brought her. "What?" Draco asks.

     "It's official." Ursa says. "When I graduate, I am marrying Goyle."

     "What?!" Draco exclaims. "When did this happen?"

     "Umbridge told Father about Pansy and I. I told Father to arrange something if it made him feel better. Securing a future child or whatever."

     "Ursa you can't seriously be okay with this."

     "I'm not! But its what I expected. At least he listened to my preference. I'll still be free."

     "What do you mean?"

     "Goyle is terrified of me. He wouldn't dare do anything to me. Like force our duty or keep me from doing what I wish. Besides, Goyle really was my best option."

     "I heard your father turned down my parents marriage proposal." Theodore Nott says as he stands behind Draco. "Too bad. I would have liked the challenge." Nott winks before walking away.

     "See? Goyle wouldn't dare do that."

     "Ursa?" Hermione questions later. "You've been quiet today."

     "Just still processing the news I got this morning." Ursa replies. "I knew it was coming but it's still a lot."

     "What news?" Ron asks.

     "That I am marrying Goyle when we graduate."

     "What?!" Harry, Hermione, and Ron all exclaim.

     "Why?" Hermione asks. Ursa explains everything that happened and her family's expectations of her. "That's insane."

     "It's whats expected of me." Ursa replies with a shrug. "I grew up knowing this would happen one day."

     "So glad my family's not like that." Ron says.

     "Lucky you." Ursa replies with sarcasm. "Don't feel bad for me."