"What happened in your room yesterday Cub?" Narcissa asks Ursa as Narcissa walks into the library.

     "Do not worry about it." Ursa replies as she tries to walk away. Narcissa grabs her arm and Ursa whimpers as she touches a few cuts. "Let go of me."

     "Do not tell me what to do. Your room was a mess and I see cuts on your face."

     "Apparently I shatter more fragile things when I scream okay!" Ursa snaps.

     "Why did you scream?"

     "I don't know, maybe because you yelled at me and are disgusted and embarrassed by me. Disappointed in me. Maybe because I have to abandon my friends. Maybe because you hit me." Tears start to fall down Ursa's face. "Maybe I am fucking heartbroken. Maybe I am frustrated that I can't live my fucking life how I want. I don't fucking know! I don't feel anything right now! Anything! Just... numb... I feel numb. I feel nothing. Just... I..." Ursa rips her arm from Narcissa's grip and runs out of the room.

***

(Numb – Linkin Park)

"I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.
Don't know what you're expecting of me
Put under the pressure of walking in your shoes.

Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow

I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

Can't you see that you're smothering me?
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control
'Cause everything that you thought I would be
Has fallen apart, right in front of you.

Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow
Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow
And every second I waste is more than I can take

I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you

And I know, I may end up failing too
And I know, you were just like me
With someone disappointed in you.

I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I've become so tired, so much more aware
I'm becoming this, all I want to do
Is be more like me and be less like you
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there
I'm tired of being what you want me to be"

     Draco comes into the music room where Ursa was singing. "You know you didn't soundproof the room right?"

     "Yep." Ursa replies.

     "You know none of them are going to like the lyrics."

     "Good."

     "What is wrong with you?" Draco asks.

     "You heard the song!" Ursa snaps. "Do I really need to explain?!"

     "Don't yell at me!"

     "Fuck off!"

     "Ursa! Stop it! I know you are in pain but you have to be careful! What will you say if Father or Auntie question your lyrics?"

     "Some bullshit about the graveyard!" Ursa says as she storms out and Draco follows her.

     "Talk to me Ursa!" Draco exclaims.

     "I'm not like you! I don't want to be like our parents! I don't want to be what they want me to be! I don't want to have to care about blood!" Narcissa hears the yelling and starts walking towards the library door. She stops at the door and listens. "I don't want to be a lady. I don't want to be some man's trophy wife or housewife. I don't want to be a 'proper pureblood wife' or whatever. I don't want to be a young mother. Hell I don't even know if I want to be a mother. I don't want to be married right out of school."

      "What do you want?" Draco asks and Ursa stops, right outside the library door Narcissa is behind.

     "I don't know... but I don't want that. I want to explore. I want to create. I want to have fun. I want to be me. Not who they want me to be." Ursa sighs. "I want to live my life not just... I wanna live not just survive! That's what every day feels like. A fight for survival. Faking who I am so I don't lose my family. You are the only one who has seen the real me and even then I haven't been the real me for years. I was forced to suppress who I was. And I mean forced. I told you Beatrice was strict. Every little thing had a punishment. Painful punishment." Tears fall down Ursa's face. "I don't even know who I am. I don't know who the real me is. I think the only times I am anywhere close to being me is when I am writing and playing my music, when I'm helping Hagrid with creatures, or when I'm with my friends. And I'm about to lose the last one and maybe Hagrid too. Do you know why they are my friends? Why Hermione is one of my best friends? Because she was the only person in the whole fucking school that was willing to give me a chance to prove I wasn't like you or the rest of the prejudice assholes in this house! All the Slytherins expected me to be like you and when I wasn't, they wanted nothing to do with me. I tried talking to people from every house. My whole life I've been judged because of my fucking name. She was the first person to ever give me a chance. Not the first person at Hogwarts, the first person ever in my 15 years on this earth! She was willing to look past it. Ron judged me for a little bit until he found out that Ididn't treat Dobby like shit. It took Harry the longest, but they are still the only people willing to look past my name and actually try to get to know me. That's why they are my friends. I would rather have real friends that would be there for me instead of pretending to be friends with 'the right people.' Just... I... I'm tired Draco." Ursa sighs and walks away. Behind the library door, Narcissa wipes tears from her eyes.

***

     Ursa stands in a hallway in the Ministry while Lucius talks to Fudge behind her. She hears footsteps coming down a connected hall. "And I'm confident, Minister," Lucius says. "That you will do the right thing." Ursa sees Mr Weasley and Harry.

     "Yes, but we must..." Fudge trails off as he sees Harry.

     "Hello Ursa." Harry says and Ursa discreetly shakes her head.

     "Now, now Ursa, do not be rude." Lucius says.

     "Potter, Mr Weasley." Ursa says.

     "What are you doing here?" Harry asks.

     "I do not believe that is any of your concern."

     "Come on Harry." Mr Weasley says.

     "See you later Ursa." Harry says before Mr Weasley leads him away.

     When they get to the Manor, Lucius asks Ursa to join him in his study. "Sit." Lucius says and Ursa sits down. Lucius leans against the back of his desk. "Potter seemed friendly with you. Called you by your first name." He says. "Would you like to explain why he was nice to you but is rude to your brother?"

     "I have been nicer to him than Draco has been." Ursa replies.

     "I think there is more to it. Do not lie to me or do I need to get Veritaserum from Severus?"

     Ursa sighs and slouches. "His friend Granger tutored me in Charms last year. Him and Weasley were often there."

     Lucius stands suddenly and takes the few steps to Ursa. "You let a Mudblood tutor you?" He exclaims.

     "She is the best in our year in Charms. She's the only reason I got an O."

     "We do not associate with Mudbloods or blood-traitors!" Lucius draws he wand and points it at her threateningly. "You know this."

     "Yes Father."

     "Do not talk to them again. Find somebody else to tutor you."

     "But-" Ursa starts before Lucius interrupts her.

     "Find someone else to tutor you."

     "Yes Father."

     "Now get out of my study."

***

     "Well Father is suspicious of me and Harry." Ursa says as she walks in the garden with Draco.

     "What makes you think that?" Draco asks.

     "Harry was at the Ministry when Father was talking with the Minister. He heard Harry being nice to me and call me 'Ursa' instead of 'Malfoy.' He questioned why Harry's nice to me but an ass to you."

     "Why were you there with Father anyways?"

     "Part of my grounding includes not being home without a parent."

     "Will you get in trouble for being out here?"

     "No." Ursa says. "Mother said I could be in the garden as long as I am with you." Lyra flies down and lands on Ursa's shoulder. Ursa takes the letter from her and Lyra flies away. Ursa opens the letter and smiles.

     "Why didn't she take it to the owlery?" Draco asks.

     "I am not supposed to be sending letters right now. Well not without Mother reading them and sending them using her owl. Mother already told me to stop talking to them or she will tell Father and Auntie." They walk into the hedge maze and Ursa kneels at the entrance. "Vigilati." Ursa casts as she draws a line in the dirt with her finger and the line glows.

     "What are you doing?"

     "Making sure I know if anyone comes in." Ursa stands and they start walking down a path.

     "How do you know where we're going?"

     "They all lead to the center eventually. There are no dead ends. No matter how many times it magically changes." When they reach the center they sit on a bench.

     "What are we doing out here?"

     "I am practicing. You're only here so I could come outside."

     "You don't have a wand."

     "I don't need a wand. I am powerful enough that I can do some wandless magic remember. It is just safer and more powerful with a wand."

     "Safer?"

     "Easier to control. Don't worry. I don't plan on doing anything dangerous. Just waiting on something."

     "What?" Draco asks before there is a pop and Dobby appears.

     "Dobby has the item Miss Ursa requested." Dobby says.

     "What's the stupid elf doing here?"

     "Be quiet Dray." Ursa says as she pulls a Galleon out of her pocket and kneels to Dobby's height. "Thank you Dobby."

     "You're welcome Miss Ursa." Dobby says as he hands her a jewelry box sized chest. Ursa hands him the Galleon.

     "You're paying it!" Draco exclaims.

     "Be quiet Draco." Ursa says.

     "Miss Ursa was right, Mr Draco is still rude." Dobby says and Ursa laughs.

     "Why you little-" Draco starts.

     "I wouldn't do that Draco." Ursa warns. "He doesn't have to put up with you anymore and I won't stop him from doing anything if you try to hurt him."

     "Thank you Miss Ursa." Dobby says.

     "I'll see you at school Dobby." Ursa says and Dobby disapparates away.

     "Why would he bring you something?" Draco asks.

     "I found the advantage of being the only Malfoy that was ever nice to him is he'll do little things for me as long as I pay him."

     "Why did you need him?"

     "Because we wouldn't have been able to leave the manor with something without questions and I didn't have a wand to shrink something down to pocket size."

     "And you couldn't have done it without a wand?"

     "It's a second year charm. I am still working on first year charms."

     "Why would you see him at school?"

     "Dumbledore gave him a job in the kitchens." Ursa sits on the ground and sets the chest down in front of her.

     "That's why he was in the common room on Christmas." Ursa nods and points her fingertips at lock on the chest.

     "Alohomora." A purple spark shoots from her fingers and hits the lock. The lock clicks and Ursa opens the chest.

     "Wow." Draco says.

     Ursa closes the chest and points her fingers at it again. "Colloportus." The lock clicks and Ursa smiles.

     "How do you do that so easily?"

     "No idea. It just is. Wingardium Leviosa." The chest lifts in the air and follows Ursa fingers. "I don't know why I practice this one. I can do it without an incantation or pointing at it." The chest falls suddenly and Ursa jumps.

     "What happened?"

     "Someone's coming." Ursa says as she picks up the chest. "Hide this." Ursa tosses the chest to Draco and he hides it in the bush next to him. Ursa stands and walks over to the fountain. She sits on the edge right before Narcissa comes into the center.

     "Hello Mother." Draco says.

     "What are you two doing out here?" Narcissa asks.

     "I just wanted to get out of the manor and it is a nice day." Ursa replies.

     "Alright. You father is looking for you Dray."

     "Okay" Draco says and he stands.

     "Guess that means I have to go inside." Ursa says as Draco leaves.

     "I can stay out here with you." Narcissa suggests.

     "It's fine." Ursa says as she stands. "I wanted to spend time with Dray." She goes back into the manor and up to her room. She walks in to see Bellatrix sitting on the couch. "Oh fun, you are here." Ursa goes over to her bookshelf and grabs her sheet music notebook.

     "I thought you would stop having an attitude with me by now." Bellatrix says. Ursa grabs a pencil off her desk and sits on her bed.

     "It takes a lot to get me to drop my attitude." Ursa says. She opens the book and starts working on one of her songs. "Actually, the more you anger or irritate me the more of an attitude I get. Now why do you want?"

     "Why are you grounded?" Bellatrix asks.

     "Why does it matter?"

     "Because I asked."

     "You are not in charge of me."

     "Why are you grounded?" Bellatrix asks again.

     Ursa rolls her eyes. "I talked back to Mother in public and went out without makeup and my hair done. Anything else?"

     "What are you doing?"

     "What does it look like I am doing?"

     "You look like you are about to get yourself in trouble if you do not drop your attitude."

     "I am writing music."

     "What is that strange quill you are writing with?"

     "It's called a pencil." Ursa says. "It's like a quill but you can erase your mistakes."

     "Where did you get that?" Bellatrix stands.

     "Why does it matter?"

     Bellatrix walks towards Ursa. "Because I have heard of this 'pencil' thing and I know it is a Muggle thing. How dare you bring Muggle things into this house?"

     Narcissa knocks on the door frame before Bellatrix can reach Ursa. "What is going on here?" She asks.

     "Auntie was just leaving." Ursa says. "Right?"

     Bellatrix glares at Ursa as she speaks. "She brought Muggle things into this house!"

     "It's a fucking pencil!" Ursa exclaims. "It is a writing utensil!"

     "And the piano thing." Narcissa says. "Also do not curse."

     "It's called a keyboard."

     "Stop bringing Muggle things into this house. It is bad enough most of the music you play is from Muggles."

     "Yes Mother."

***

     There is a knock at the door and Narcissa opens it. "Professor Dumbledore?" Narcissa questions.

     "Hello Mrs Malfoy." Dumbledore says. "May I speak with Miss Malfoy?"

     Narcissa notices Fang next to Dumbledore and looks disgusted at his drooling. "I will go get her." Narcissa closes the door and goes upstairs. She knocks on Ursa's doorframe and Ursa looks up. "Headmaster Dumbledore is here to see you."

     "What?" Ursa says as she furrows her brow. "Why?"

     "I do not know. He is at the front door."

     Ursa stands and goes downstairs. She opens the door and is jumped on by Fang. Ursa groans as she hits the floor before laughing. "Well hello to you too Fang." Fang gets off Ursa and she stands. "You wanted to speak with me Professor?" Dumbledore motions for her to step outside and she does with Fang following her.

     "Sorry. I do not want to risk your family overhearing." Dumbledore says.

     "Understandable."

     "First of all. I received you note about what Fudge told you. I've been a bit busy and forgot to reply."

     "That's fine. My mother found out about my friends so she's monitoring my mail anyways."

     "I appreciate you keeping calm in that situation. Fudge has this notion that I am trying to take over the Ministry."

     "That would explain a lot. My father is definitely fueling that flame."

     "I would appreciate it if you continue to keep calm if it is brought up again."

     "I will try my best."

     "Thank you. Now, Hagrid is going to be away for some time and couldn't take Fang. He wanted me to see if you would watch him and take care of creature problems when you return to school."

     "Of course. Though knowing my parents, Fang will have to stay outside." Ursa kneels down. "I think I can make the garden shed a comfy place for you."

     "Wonderful." Dumbledore says as he hands Ursa a bag. "This has everything you will need to take care of Fang as well as a key to Hagrid's hut."