Harry held the door open to allow Rosalie to enter the manor.

Brushing the snowflakes off her arms and shoulders, Rosalie thanked Harry and began to make her way to the main sitting room, grateful the fire was already stoked and roaring away.

As they hung up their winter coats before entering, Penelope watched them as she slowly descended the staircase.

She continued to watch the happy couple now standing in front of the fireplace, Harry holding Rosalie's hands between his, rubbing them furiously to take the chill off them.

Penelope watched as a quiet anger began building inside her as Harry rested his forehead against Rosalie's.

She seethed as a seemingly invisible bubble encased them and they were in their own little world, their own little utopia.

She let out a gasp as she noted the glittering diamond on Rosalie's left hand.

He really had proposed.

It wasn't all in her mind.

Not her imagination.

Rosalie had taken her Harry.

She must have been louder than she realised as they both turned and looked at her as she neared them.

A bright smile instantly plastered on her face.

"What are you two so happy about?" she asked innocently.

Harry could not contain his joy, while Rosalie merely offered a more restrained, polite smile.

"I've asked Rosalie to marry me and she's accepted!" Harry said excitedly, "and I could not be any happier!"

As Penelope neared, Rosalie could not help but take a step closer to Harry.

Quite simply, she did not trust her.

"Well that is just the most marvellous news! Rosalie I am just delighted for you...for both of you," she said.

"Thank you, Penelope, that means a lot," Rosalie replied in a polite tone.

"As soon as tonight is over, we shall begin preparations at once for our wedding, what do you say love?" Harry said.

"Of course..." Rosalie replied.

"If that is what..." Penelope said.

Both women stopped as quickly as they had started together.

"You meant Rosalie of course, silly me," Penelope said in embarrassment.

"But I am quite sure Rosalie will need as much assistance as you can give her, is that not right my love?" Harry said to Rosalie.

My god, if he calls her 'love' one more time I shall simply lose my breakfast, Penelope thought.

"Absolutely, if Penelope can spare the time," Rosalie replied smiling at Harry.

Smug little bitch, Penelope thought, but not for long.

"May I see the ring Rosalie dear?" Penelope asked.

Rosalie hesitated slightly before holding her hand out.

Penelope walked towards Rosalie and Harry, suddenly tripping on the rug and stumbling.

Right towards Rosalie.

As Rosalie felt Penelope grasp her by the arms, she saw a small smirk on her face and her eyes narrow as she pushed her backwards towards the fire, letting go as she fell to the ground.

"Rosalie!" Harry yelled, having the presence of mind to see what had happened.

Quickly he reached out and yanked Rosalie back by the arm.

"Rosalie your dress!" Harry quickly took his jacket off and began hitting at the flames at the back of her dress.

Rosalie began screaming as she felt the heat on the back of her legs and did not stop until Harry held her in his arms.

"It's out Rosalie! It's alright love!" he shook her slightly until she looked him in the eye, finally focusing on him.

Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned down to Penelope.

"Penelope..." he said, shock registering in his voice as he held a hand out to his sister.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Penelope said as she stood before them, brushing herself off.

"So clumsy of me, Rosalie are you alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Rosalie could only nod that she was, too shocked to speak.

She now realised Penelope's true feelings regarding her, and that she was determined to act upon them.

Rosalie also realised that Penelope had indeed been referring to her when she was intoxicated last night.

And after what had just happened?

Rosalie knew Penelope wanted her out of the picture.

"Harry why don't you take poor Rosalie upstairs," she suggested, "perhaps a nice calming bath and a lie down would do her the world of good."

"Yes," Harry agreed, "let's get you upstairs darling, Penelope's quite right."

With his arm tightly around her, Harry began to lead Rosalie out of the sitting room and towards the staircase.

He kept his eyes firmly on her, whispering words to calm her down and keep her focused.

With Harry's back towards Penelope as they went up the staircase, Rosalie peered around his arm to look at Penelope, only to be met with an icy cold glare from the woman as she held the poker for the fire in her hand.

With hatred in her eyes, she turned and began stoking the fire viciously with it.

Rosalie's eyes widened and her grip on Harry tightened.

She knew from that moment on that she would not leave Harry's side.

~~~~~~

Rosalie made sure Harry did not leave her as she bathed, asking him to wash her down, any excuse to get him to stay.

Luckily it did not take much to persuade him.

After she had bathed, Harry dried her off and carried her to their bedroom, helping her to dress though she told him she was perfectly capable of it, he insisted, and Rosalie let him since it made him happy.

"Would you like to lie down?" Harry asked her.

"Only if you stay with me?" Rosalie replied.

"That accident certainly rattled you didn't it?" Harry said.

Rosalie nodded.

"A little," she replied.

Though it was more the fact that it was no accident and your sister tried to push me into it, she thought.

"I'm sure you'll feel much better after a nap darling," Harry said, lying down beside Rosalie and pulling her to him.

"I hope so too," she said, though it came out more of a whisper.

~~~~~~

Rosalie lay on the bed for some time, trying to find sleep.

She listened to the slow rhythm on Harry's breathing next to her.

She didn't care if she didn't sleep, as long as Harry remained by her side until this was all over, then she'd deal with Penelope.

Yes, she thought, after tonight, she would tell Harry what she knew.

He had more than enough on his mind, and he was so happy she'd accepted his proposal, why add to his troubles?

It could wait.

~~~~~~

Rosalie sighed as her hand reached out towards the other side of the bed, reaching for Harry.

She kept her eyes closed as she did, but her heart skipped a beat as she realised he'd left her side, but when she suddenly heard the soft creak of the door she feigned sleep, thinking Harry had returned.

The quiet steps came closer to her and she waited for the bed to dip under his weight as he laid down beside her again.

Instead, she found her face suddenly smothered with a pillow.

Her hand flew up to pull it off, but the person was too strong.

Rosalie's screams were muffled as she fought to breathe, her body thrashing as she kicked out with her legs, her arms hitting out when she found it futile in pulling the pillow away.

Eventually she struggled to breathe.

She tried to scream for Harry.

She couldn't.

~~~~~~

Rosalie sat up with a start, gasping for air.

Harry moved with her as he reached out to steady her flailing arms, seeing the panic in her eyes as she struggled to breathe.

"Rosalie darling! It's a dream! It's all a dream!" Harry said as he tried to calm her.

"I couldn't breathe! I was...I was suffocating!" Rosalie cried.

Harry held her close to him, rocking her until she had calmed considerably.

"It was all just a dream darling," he repeated to her, soothing her, until she fell asleep in his arms again, swayed by his gently rocking.

~~~~~~

Rosalie was woken by a gentle touch to her face.

Opening her eyes, she was met with a familiar pair of green ones.

"You need to wake my love," Harry said, "the sun is going to set soon."

Rosalie looked out the window and sure enough, the light was fading.

"Harry," Rosalie said as she turned to face him, "is it wrong for me to admit that I'm scared?" she asked.

Harry looked at her solemnly.

"I think it is safe to assume we're all scared love," he replied, "the gravity of this evening..." he trailed off, "just know that I love you sweetheart, no matter what happens. If you ended up leaving, I would not blame you..."

"But I will not!" Rosalie protested.

"But if you did..." Harry continued, "I would bear you no ill will love."

Rosalie held up her hand where the diamond ring sat, smiling as it shone in the light.

"Never," she whispered.

Harry kissed her tenderly before pulling away.

"Let's go and see where Penelope is shall we?" he said.

Rosalie hid the shudder that threatened to run through her body at the mention of Penelope.

"Of course," she whispered, taking hold of the hand that Harry offered her.

Harry and Rosalie finally found Penelope in the library, sitting in the corner in a winged chair, calmly reading a book.

"Are we feeling any better?" Penelope inquired as they walked in.

"Much," Harry replied, "though poor Rosalie had a bit of a nightmare."

"That's a shame," Penelope said, "though really, our nightmare is going to get a lot worse before it gets better," she said.

Penelope suddenly frowned at Harry.

"You actually look a bit worse for wear still Harry," she said, "why don't you freshen up with a nice hot bath whilst Rosalie keeps me company here?" she suggested, smiling sweetly at them both.

Harry pondered for a moment before agreeing with his sister.

"You could be right," he said, "I need to be alert for tonight," he planted a kiss on Rosalie's cheek, "I shan't be long my love, then we'll talk with you about what you can expect this evening."

He looked out the library window.

"I'd best hurry, the light is fading fast," he said, smiling at Rosalie before turning and going back up the stairs, leaving Rosalie no choice but to stay with Penelope.

Rosalie stood for a few more moments, wringing her hands together nervously when Penelope spoke.

"I must wholeheartedly apologise for my clumsiness earlier today," she said, "I was absolutely mortified at what almost happened to you."

She sounded so sincere, but Rosalie wasn't fooled.

"I guess I was just incredibly lucky that Harry was there to catch me," she replied.

"Yes," Penelope agreed, "I would hate to think what could have happened if he had not," she smiled at Rosalie.

"Well I suppose we sit and wait for Harry," Rosalie said, changing the subject.

"Actually," Penelope began, "there was something Harry was going to retrieve from the attic for you, what say we head upstairs to get it and bring it back down here?" she asked Rosalie.

Alarm bells began sounded in Rosalie's head and her inner voice screamed 'no' at her.

"We could just wait here for Harry and then go with him perhaps?" Rosalie suggested.

Penelope stood up from the chair.

"Well it's a book that might take a while to find, we could make a start," Penelope said, "Harry won't be very long I'm sure," she walked over to Rosalie and linked her arm through hers.

"Let's go Rosalie dear," she smiled at her.

Rosalie felt Penelope pull on her arm and had no choice but to follow.

She knew Harry was in the house and would be joining them momentarily.

Penelope led Rosalie up to the third floor and to a door at the end of the hallway.

"It's a bit dusty in here," Penelope warned as she pulled a set of keys out of her dress pocket.

Rosalie watched as Penelope unlocked the door and opened it.

It was indeed dusty and very dreary, and she noticed lots of boxes around the room and various items covered in musty old drapes.

"Should we perhaps open a window to let some air in?" Rosalie suggested.

"Good idea," Penelope agreed before walking over and flinging the drapes open, revealing a balcony and lighting up the large attic.

She opened the French doors, letting the cool air waft in.

"Much better!" Penelope turned to Rosalie.

"Um...where do you think this book might be?" Rosalie asked.

"Oh...I believe Harry said it was over there somewhere," Penelope pointed, "under those covers."

Rosalie walked over to the corner and pulled off the drapes, seeing only empty boxes.

"Penelope there's only..." Rosalie began before she slumped to the ground.

Penelope stood behind her, a silver candlestick clenched in her hand.

"Stupid girl," she muttered as she looked down at Rosalie lying unconscious on the floor, blood beginning to seep through her hair, the crimson liquid mixing with her hair.

"I told you Harry was mine, I warned you!" her eyes flashed as she sneered at Rosalie, unaware that some of the blood had marked her pale blue dress as she threw the candlestick away.

Stepping over Rosalie, she walked out the attic door, locking it behind her and returning to the library.

~~~~~~

Soon after, Harry returned to the library to find Penelope quietly sobbing in the chair.

Harry rushed to her side.

"Penelope what is it?" he said, "what's happened?"

"She's...she's..." she stammered.

Harry pulled her up from the chair, holding her tightly by the arms.

"Tell me!' he yelled.

"She's gone," Penelope whispered, "Rosalie's run away!"

Harry paled as he took in what Penelope was saying.

"Our only chance to save you, and she's gone!"