Rosalie was already awake, thinking about Penelope and the night before, when the arm around her waist tightened, drawing her closer to the warm, naked body behind her.

She felt Harry's lips against the back of her neck and along her shoulder.

Ignoring the revelation from Penelope the night before, Rosalie focused her attention on the man who had put more than a smile on her face during the night.

And she had certainly done much more than smile.

She had moaned, begged and screamed, all under Harry's touch until they had collapsed, both exhausted and sated, feeling nothing but contentment after their love-making.

"Harry," Rosalie giggled, "are you not wary after last night?"

He merely smirked and continued kissing along her shoulder as his fingers trailed down her back and over the curve of her bottom until they were between her legs, massaging back and forth until he could feel she was wet.

He lined himself up and, holding onto her hip, slowly pushed himself in until Rosalie hissed, still sore from their last session, but it was a pleasurable pain.

She fisted the bedsheet in her hand and pushed her bottom back to meet Harry's hips, grinding against him.

Harry moved slowly as he thrusted deep into Rosalie, forcing a moan to escape her mouth each time he did.

He reached up and threw the covers off them both, unashamedly watching her body react before grasping her by the hip again.

"Harder," Rosalie whimpered as she moved her hand to grasp Harry's thigh, her nails digging into his skin...

~~~~~~

Penelope groaned as she buried her head under her pillow.

She wasn't sure what was worse, the thumping in her head or the thumping of the bed down the hall. Both left a foul taste in her mouth.

She sat up and instantly regretted it, gingerly massaging her temple.

Just how much did she drink and how did she get into bed and in her nightgown?

A shiver ran through her.

What if it was Harry?

She shivered again thinking his hands would have been over her body, undressing her before placing her nightgown on her.

Knowing he must have seen her naked made her body tingle and she smiled at the thought.

Perhaps waking up under the weather due to her self-inflicted behaviour was not so bad after all?

She noted the thumping had ceased from Harry's room and Penelope grimaced, knowing full well what they had been up to.

She groaned as she flung the covers off and stood up from her bed, slipping on her dressing gown and slippers.

Penelope decided a decent breakfast would be in order and she quickly braided her hair before leaving her room and heading down to the kitchen.

As she descended the staircase, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She realised what day it was.

The full moon was due that very evening.

She continued walking down the stairs.

Tonight, she would be rid of Rosalie once and for all.

~~~~~~

Harry and Rosalie laid together, a tangle of arms and legs, their bodies covered in a thin sheen of sweat as they waited for their breathing to return to normal.

He nuzzled Rosalie's temple before placing a gentle kiss, causing a sigh to escape from Rosalie.

She was debating with herself internally as to whether to ask Harry about Penelope's confession he was not her brother.

"I can hear you," Harry said before smiling.

"What?" Rosalie replied.

"I can hear you thinking, the wheels are turning in your head love," he said, kissing her temple again.

"Oh, I was thinking about last night," she said, which wasn't really a lie, "how much I enjoyed meeting your friends Harry, they were just lovely."

"They are," he agreed, "but not as lovely as you," he said, nipping at her earlobe.

"Harry," Rosalie blushed and giggled then stopped, "can you smell something? It smells heavenly."

"Penelope must have cooked breakfast," he mused, "and she rarely does that, only when she is in an extremely good mood."

What could she be so happy about? Rosalie wondered.

She had drunk herself to the point she passed out, so she couldn't possibly be feeling the best.

The aroma was starting to make their stomachs rumble, so they decided to dress, Harry in casual pants and shirt, and Rosalie in her nightgown and dressing gown.

They walked down the stairs together, the delicious smell greeting them again as they entered the dining room.

Penelope was just setting the last of the table wear down.

"Oh wonderful! You're both up," she said, a bright smile on her face.

She gestured to the seats.

"Please sit down, eat!" she exclaimed brightly.

They all sat down, and Harry picked up the glass pitcher of orange juice, filling up everyone's glass.

"This looks amazing Penelope," Rosalie said as she looked at all the food set out before them.

Eggs, bacon, beans, waffles, fruit and accompanying condiments.

"This must have taken you ages to prepare!" Rosalie exclaimed.

"Yes, I agree," Harry said, "what is the special occasion Penelope?" he asked, "not trying to soften the blow from last night's indiscretion?"

Penelope's smile faltered slightly.

"Indiscretion?" she said, "if you mean the two little beverages I consumed..."

"Two?" Harry cut her off, "two does not render you into a state of unconsciousness Penelope," he said sternly, "be thankful you did not make a spectacle of yourself and that the matter was able to be handled discreetly."

Rosalie looked down at her plate, feeling uncomfortable and sympathetic towards Penelope.

"Harry, she has gone to an awful lot of trouble..." she began but was soon silenced by the look on Harry's face.

Penelope began to tear up.

"I just...I just simply wanted to do something nice for you both, considering what today is," she shuddered dramatically.

Harry and Rosalie looked at each other, realising that tonight was the full moon, the gravity now weighing heavily in the room.

Harry was the first to finally speak.

"I have every faith in Rosalie that after tonight, everything will change for the better!" he said smiling at Rosalie.

"You have such confidence in me Harry, I can only pray I do not let you down," Rosalie replied.

She wished she could share Harry's belief in herself, the faith that he believed she had.

She knew what they were asking of her, but when push came to shove?

In the actual moment of facing the hideous demon?

Would she prevail?

"Oh yes I am sure there will be great change," Penelope agreed with Harry.

Three is definitely a crowd, she thought to herself.

~~~~~~

After breakfast was finished and the table cleared, Harry and Rosalie headed upstairs to dress for the day when Rosalie remembered last night.

"Actually Harry, please go on ahead, I forgot to thank Penelope for the lovely and thoughtful breakfast," she said.

"You already thanked her darling," he said.

"I...I really would like to thank her properly, she did go to so much trouble for us all," she implored.

Harry smiled at his lovely Rosalie and her thoughtfulness.

"Of course, love," he said as he continued up the staircase.

Rosalie turned and bounded back down to the kitchen as fast as she could, not wanting Harry to overhear the conversation she was about to have.

"Penelope?" She said as she walked in.

"Goodness you startled me!" she exclaimed, her hand flying to her chest.

"Penelope, I wanted to ask you something, if you do not mind," she asked, straight to the point.

Penelope stopped her cleaning and looked at Rosalie.

"What?" She asked.

"Last night, when I helped you into bed..." she began.

"You helped me into bed? Just you?" she cut her off.

"Yes, I offered to undress you, I did not think it appropriate for Harry to, so I insisted," Rosalie said.

Penelope was seething.

So, it was Rosalie that had been with her last night, not Harry.

Harry hadn't touched her, felt her skin, undressed her as she had so happily assumed.

It was Rosalie.

"You said something strange in your sleep," Rosalie pressed on, "something about Harry."

Penelope turned her back to Rosalie and began wiping down the counter top.

When she didn't answer, Rosalie took a breath and went on.

"You said Harry was not your brother," she said.

Penelope's eyes went wide.

Had she?

How else would Rosalie know that?

What else had she said to her in her drunken state?

Fixing a smile on her face she turned to Rosalie.

"What silly babble on my part," she tried to look embarrassed, "I know what I was most likely trying to say, and it is really quite silly!" she went on.

Rosalie waited patiently for Penelope to continue.

"Why, when we were younger, Harry could be a most dreadful and annoying creature and I would often mockingly say that he was not my brother because if he loved me he would not treat me so," Penelope said, "of course if I was slightly tipsy I may have muddled my words Rosalie dear."

Rosalie regarded Penelope with a quiet scepticism.

"You also said that you would be 'rid of her.' Who were you referring to?" she asked.

Penelope hesitated for a minute, before the smile was back on her face.

"Oh, I'm quite sure I would have been talking about the witch," she said, her hands spread out as she shrugged her shoulders, "I mean, who else would I be talking about, you?" she laughed as she turned her back on Rosalie again.

Yes, Rosalie thought, I believe so.

"Does Harry know?" she pushed Penelope again, "that he is not your brother?"

Rosalie saw Penelope's back and shoulders stiffen.

"I've no idea what you are referring to and I shall ask you not to mention the silly ramblings of an intoxicated woman!" she replied, her tone cold as she threw the dishrag into the sink.

She fixed Rosalie an icy glare as she exited the kitchen.

"Good morning Rosalie," she said as she left.

Rosalie's mind was racing.

Harry and Penelope are not siblings!

Should she tell him?

Would he believe her?

Inside her, she waged an internal battle as she returned to their bedroom, deciding that she was going to, he deserved to know the truth.

Why feel bound to someone that he did not need to be?

It seemed absurd.

And she did not trust Penelope, not one little bit.

As she entered the room, Harry was waiting for her, a smile breaking out over his beautiful features.

"Dress warmly darling, I'd like to walk with you to the gardens," he said.

"But it is so cold Harry!" she pretended to be stern with him.

"Please love," he said, coming closer and wrapping his arms around her before picking her up and twirling her around.

"Oh Harry! What has you in such a fine mood?" she laughed.

He was happy.

Knowing what tonight was, he was still happy.

Should she spoil it with her revelation?

She decided to wait, that she could tell him later what she suspected.

"Okay Harry, okay," she said, "if you really want to!"

He bounced on his heels like and excited child, his eyes lit up.

He let go of her so she could dress, walking over to the window and looking outside, leaving her to put her clothes on.

He watched as a light smattering of snow fell outside, nothing overly heavy, just light little flakes.

For the first time in, well, a very long time, his heart felt light.

All these years of heaviness and guilt weighing on him for what he was.

Today he felt hope and it was all due to Rosalie.

He continued to lose himself in his thoughts as he watched the snowflakes fall.

"Harry? I can hear you thinking..." Rosalie's voice eventually brought him out of his daydream.

"Ready love?" he asked, laughing as she repeated the words he had said to her that morning.

Rosalie nodded and smiled as Harry walked towards her, offering his arm for her to take as they headed out of the bedroom and downstairs.

Harry led Rosalie outside the back of the manor and along a small winding path that was slowly being covered with snow.

Neither of them aware of Penelope watching them from the attic window, anger slowly boiling up inside her.

Rosalie shivered slightly, and Harry brought his arm around her to draw her close to him.

"This is madness Harry! What is it you want to show me?" she breathed, a white line of fog coming from her mouth when she spoke.

"Nearly there...not far," Harry said as he led her through a small group of trees until they came out the other side, a small hidden lake that had frozen over, surrounded by what would be lovely flowering shrubs in the springtime.

Penelope could see them stop and wondered what on earth he had brought Rosalie out for in the freezing weather.

It was just a stupid lake he had always run off too as a child...

"Harry!" Rosalie exclaimed, "what a lovely little spot," she said, taking it all in, "but what was so important that we needed to come here today?"

Harry turned to Rosalie and held both her hands in his.

"I used to come here a lot as a child, to escape," he began, "my own little hideaway from the world," he looked almost wistful as he explained it to Rosalie, "hardly anyone knows it exists, and even if they did, they never cared. I just...with tonight...I wanted to share it with you," he finished in a whisper.

Rosalie could almost picture Harry as a child, seeking refuge here and it saddened her, no child should have to seek refuge from their home.

"Thank you for bringing me here Harry," Rosalie was touched he wanted her to see something that clearly meant so much to him.

"There's one more thing," he said, "why I really brought you here."

He let go of Rosalie's hands and dropped to one knee.

Penelope let out a shriek at the same time as Rosalie brought her hands to her mouth.

"Rosalie, love," Harry said, "I know we've only known each other for days, but you are the one I have spent years waiting for, dreaming for, and," he paused, "I had all but given up hope that I would find you. Quite simply, would you be mine? Forever? Would you be my wife?" he asked, hope written all over his face.

Rosalie took a moment, looking at the diamond he held within his shaking hands.

She leaned forward and cupped Harry face within her hands.

"I would love nothing more than to become your wife!" she laughed in delight.

Harry stood quickly, pulling her glove off and placing the ring on her finger before picking her up and twirling her around in the snow as he kissed her.

"Rosalie you've made me the happiest man alive!" he cried.

"Harry!" Rosalie laughed breathlessly, "as happy as I am, and as happy as you are, can we please go back inside? I'm freezing to death out here!"

Harry put her down and took her by the hand and the two of them walked quickly back to Harlington Manor.

~~~~~~

Penelope, who had been watching the entire time, fell to the ground and began screaming in anger, pounding the floor with her fists before she leapt to her feet and began pulling things off shelves, throwing them around the room.

"Noooooooooo! No No No No No!" she yelled, "not that little bitch!"

She seethed as she finally stopped pulling at the objects around her.

Tonight, she thought, as she tried to calm her breathing.

Tonight, she would kill that perfect little interfering bitch before she had a chance to help Harry.

Then he would remain hers forever.

Hers forever.

Hers forever she repeated in her head.

Harry would be hers.