The Buddy System. *Updating In Process*

Read My Mind

"Now, no more talk of that retched girl and back to the celebrations." Mrs Malfoy said slapping her hands again. By the time the other three arrived home from school and we had dinner, Mrs Malfoy and Mrs Weasley had almost the whole wedding planned never mind the engagement party.

I was leaving them to it. The whole concept was making me nervous. I was a real people pleaser and I knew if I took the reigns it would become about everyone else and not me and Draco. To be honest, I just wanted to marry him.

I didn't care about where it was or what we wore. I was happy to let the three women take the lead.

But when they began to discuss flowers and gazebos I decided to slip out and head out to the garden for a walk.

It had been a crazy day. From being thrown into furniture, to Draco trying to break up with me and then to propose. Lots of emotions for one day. I walked to the edge of my garden and opened the little gate which took me down to a little stream that ran along the back of my grounds.

I had a little wooden gazebo here, decorated with fairy lights. Actually it was here when I bought the property and I couldn't bear to part with it. So it was painted and spruced up.

I sat on the garden sofa and took a deep breath.

I loved out here. During the summer I sat out here most evenings with a book and a gin, getting lost in literature.

Tonight I was lost in my own thoughts. I was so preoccupied I never noticed a tall handsome guy approach me.

"Mind if I join you?" Theo smiled. I moved over to the corner of the sofa and patted the seat cushion beside me as Theo plopped down. "It's beautiful out here." He muttered.

"It is. One of the many little things that made me fall in love with this place." I smiled.

"It's suits you. You look happy here. So much so I think you are crazy for letting us hallions move in."

I shook my head. "You guys are family to me. I'm delighted you moved in. This past summer was nice but it was lonely. I had no one to talk to. As much as I loved my house I was glad when school started just so there were people around."

"So you aren't regretting asking?" He asked.

"Not even a little bit." Theo sighed at this and tilted his head back.

"You ok?"

"Just...thinking." He murmured.

"Am I allowed to ask what about?" I enquired.

"Just how everything turned out. I mean when I first met Azaleah, I fell head over heels in love with her. She was funny, sweet and shy. She laughed at my stupid jokes. I will be forever grateful that Teeny landed you three in detention that evening." I giggled. "And when we started going out and she introduced me to you, I knew that we would be friends. You were too likeable and adorable. You became a sister to me."

"I like that," I smiled and leaned ny head on him.

"When Azaleah was arrested, I felt like I had failed you both. I had lost her and I had broken my promise to you about keeping her safe. It's the one thing you asked of me and I didn't do it. And then I came back to school and I saw you weren't your usual self. I knew something was up with you. I could see it but I thought it was loneliness. All this time I was fixated on getting Azaleah out of Azkaban that I didn't notice you were sick." I shrugged. "No I did notice. You have been pale all year. You clutched your chest or your head quite a few times. I should have asked what was wrong. I should have demanded you visit the nurse. What kind of friend am I?"

"Theo even I didn't know I was sick. No one knew. You're being too hard on yourself." I shrugged.

"I cannot lose you Raelyn! You have been like a rock for me these last few years. You are more family than any Nott. I WILL NOT lose you." I wrapped my arm around him and rested my chin on his shoulder.

"You will be fine. You have Azaleah. And Draco, Pansy and Blaise. Our little family."

"Who would have thought it?" He chuckled.

"Well I always knew you and Azaleah would be together forever. Soul mates. And I wouldn't let you get too far without me so we always were destined to be family. The other three were a nice surprise though."

He chuckled. "Aw my little Rae, you are maybe the kindest soul that has ever graced this earth. You deserve all the happiness in the world. Not this...just wait to I get my hands on whoever did this to you. They will bloody pay."

"It could have been a complete accident." I shrugged.

"Whoever cast this knew what they were doing."

"But maybe it wasn't intended for me. Maybe I got in the way. In which case I am glad to be able to spare someone else's suffering."

"Only you would say that." He rolled his eyes and looked down at me. "So how are you feeling? I am sure you are sick if people asking that. Sorry."

"Not at all. It's nice so many people care. I am feeling OK actually. Its weird most of the time I feel perfectly normal. Then there's times I feel like I've been hit by the Hogwarts Express."

"Sounds nice."

"I hope you never have to feel it. I hope no one does." I sighed.

"Too nice for your own good."

"Oh hush!" I giggled.

I looked up at the stars, once again lost in my own thoughts.