After putting off weeks of going into town, we FINALLY got out. We rode our bikes into town. People were shopping and eating. Everyone seemed to mind their own businesses, which I liked. We walked in and out of shops, buying our food and some essentials. I walked into a art shop to buy some more paints and canvas since Im starting to get into painting now.

As Lucas and I roamed around the shop, a girl smiles at us, then giving a wink. Lucas scuffs, playing it cool, while I blushed, looking away from her. We both noticed and looked at each other.

"Shes very pretty. You think shes pretty, uncle Lucas?"

"I-um-" he started to stutter. i bursted out a little laugh.

"Aww he's tongue tie." I kicked him. "He cant answer." I sang as I walked away.

"Hey, um going to see someone, you okay being alone for a while?" Lucas chased after me.

"Go ahead. I'll see at home."

"Don't be out too late."

"Oh yes, I'm going to be with my hundreds of friends." I played around. We went our separate ways. I went to store to store. Men trying to give me flowers, one of them tried to ask me out. I stumbled upon a boutique. I do need to change my style, black isn't fitting the France vibe. Some dresses were cute, so were some corsets. Something I wouldn't wear but hey, I'm changing, why not. I walked out with four bags of clothes. I dumped them in the basket on my bike and pedaled home.

The clothes looked nice as i casted a spell to put them in my closet. I headed to bathroom and looked at the mirror. My hair, it was long. I found some scissors and snipped away. I felt relieved in a way. My hair was now on my shoulders, which was different for me. All my life I had long hair. Lucas sure will be surprised. Katherine would've had a heart attack.

I went to the kitchen and made myself a snack. Eating on the countertop, reading a book. The sunlight peaked in, warming up my skin.

"Im back!" Lucas yells out. I heard him drops the bags and coming towards the kitchen. "Oh!" I turned to him. He was shocked. "Your hair, you cut it."

"Yeah. You like it? Change you know." He just nods. I'm guessing he doesn't like it. Maybe just surprised thats all. I continued on reading and snacking on grapes as Lucas puts away the food.

"Im going to have a guest tomorrow, just letting you know." I tilted my head to the side.

"Wow, you have friends?"

"Oh haha." He faked. Lucas messes up my hair and stole a grape. "His name is Marc Laurent, we've been discussing business for awhile."

"Sounds old."

"He's my age, hes not old."

"Just a little old." I hopped down the countertop, squinting as I left. I spent my day in my room reading and writing/sending postcards back to Neville, Lisa and Blaise.

✷ ✷ ✷

Next Morning

I heard laughter from downstairs. It woke me up, then some ruckus. It was time to get up. I changed out of my pajamas and headed down. I made myself breakfast, which was just toast and jelly. I turned on the radio and played some music.

"Hello there." I jumped to see a tall man, curly black hair with round glasses. He gave me smirk, backing up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." He just chuckles. "Ms. Cox, Isnt?" He had to be Mr. Marc Laurent, the man that was meeting with Lucas today. I turned down the volume.

"No Mr. Laurent, Im not a Cox, Im a Snape. Just Daphne Snape." I corrected him. He was taller than Lucas. If I had to guess, he was about George and Freds height. He had moles on his chest and neck, a few more around his face, and an earring on his left ear. He was different. A lot different then the men back home.

"Im not Marc, he's my father, im just Wayne." He puts his hand out.

"Its a pleasure." I dusted off the crumbs from my hands and shook it. He flashed a smile, he had dimples.

"Nini." He said as I turned away. I turned back to him, humming. "A nickname, Nini." A nickname. Just as I was about to ask him something, a little girl came running in and bumps into my leg, letting me almost drop my plate. Wayne pulled out his wand and stopped it. He waved it to bring it back to my hands. "Sorry my sister. Say hello to Daphne, Valerie." She gives me a wave. It was good enough since he lets her go and runs around again.

"You're a wizard." I gasped. I found a wizard here.

"Im guessing you are to? I mean if you're not, i got to oblivate you." We laughed. I shook my head.

"No, im a witch. No worries here."

"Looks painful." He points at my arm. The burn hasn't healed completely yet since I really burned into my skin. "Cooking accident?"

"Something like that."

"I see you met my son Wayne." Lucas and Mr. Laurent came in. "Marc, its nice to meet you. Your uncle talks highly about you."

"I sure hope so."

"Say!" Mr. Laurent grabs Waynes shoulders. "Why wont you invite Daphne to eat tonight. Wayne is having a dinner with his friends, it'll be a great way to meet some people, so you wont be alone. It's nothing special, just a little get together."

"Oh I don't know, maybe next time. I got some stuff to do."

"No you don't." Lucas I swear. He caught on. Yeah, oops. "I mean, yes, she does." Wayne smirks.

"Well then, I'm afraid that we have to get going. Wayne needs to prepare for tonight." We shook hands and they called for Valerie. She comes running down and runs to their car. "It was nice to meet you Daphne."

"Same here sir." Just as I was going to close the door, Wayne comes running back.

"In case you are not busy later. Ill save you a seat." He handed me a piece of paper and winks and turns away. I looked to see the name of the restaurant and time. Should I go?

"You like them?" I crumpled the paper in my hand so he wont see.

"Yeah, they seem like nice people. Wizards." I hummed as I headed back upstairs. I looked at the piece of paper. Just for go a little bit. No! You just met them! But it would be nice to meet new people. What can go bad? They did invite you. Just go down there and if you don't want to be there, you can leave. Hm? Okay.

I spent the whole day looking for outfits. I want to make a good impression. I found and changed into a white mini tank top dress with pearls around it. Did some makeup and my hair. Was I doing too much? Its just a dinner. I slide on my shoes and went to the door.

"Uncle Lucas! I'm going out!" I hollered.

"Just be careful!" I closed the door and went to my bike and rode into town. I found the place, hopped off my bike and put it against the fence. I started to pace. Why am I nervous? I was never this nervous back home! You were known as Daphne Snape, here, you are nobody.

Daphne saw Wayne, sitting back, drinking wine. She saw the big group, now debating if this was a good idea, she was going to leave. Wayne looks at her, nearly spitting out his drink. She looked amazing.

"Daphne! Over here!" He calls out. It was too late for her to leave. Daphne pushed down her nerves and headed in. Everyone looked at her. "Everyone, this is Daphne Snape, shes new into town." He pulls out a chair for her and pushed her in. Daphne waved at everyone.

"Hi."

"Where are you living at Daphne?" One girl asked me. "Claudia by the way."

"I live out of town, just 10 minutes from here." I took a sip of water.

"Wait, you live by the lake right?" I nodded. "Cox's, heard they're rich. That house was been abandoned for years! Glad to see it alive again."

"My mothers side yes." Again, referring Katherine as my mother.

"Where'd you moved from?"

"London."

"School? Where did you go?" I looked at Wayne. I couldn't say Hogwarts, what if they were muggles? He just cracks a laugh.

"Its okay Nini, we all are wizards and witches here." What a relief. Everyone took out their wands.

"Most of us girls are from Beauxbatons." Claudia smiles.

"Im Leo. And all us men are from Durmstrang!" They pounded their chests, chanting. Wayne joined and pounded his. They all stood up, doing flips around us. "Enough about us, where did you go?"

"Hogwarts." Everyone went silent.

"Is it true what happened? The battle?"

"Yeah." Everyone was now intrigued.

"Can't believe that happened. Imagine losing everyone you love." My head went down. Yeah Im not over it. "Im sorry, did you lose someone?"

"Yeah, my mother and father." I couldn't bare to say Draco's name. I had a lump in my throat.

"Those deatheaters got what they deserved. They all deserved to die." Wayne started to notice how uncomfortable I got. I covered my arm.

"Alright, lets change the subject, ya?" He clears his throat. He stands up and raise his glass. "I want to make a toast. To our new friend, Daphne. Welcome to France."

"Salud!" They cheered, clinking their glasses. Wayne gave me a glass and we clinked cups. Leo started to shake me with excitement. We spent the whole night chatting and all and it was time to go.

"It was nice to meet you Daphne." Claudia waves. Leo kisses me on the cheek and kissed Wayne. He wipes his saliva off of his lips. I chuckled.

"What are you laughing about?"

"Oh nothing." I picked my bike from the fence.

"Let me walk you home. I insist. I cant have you walking these streets alone."

"I guess you can." We started to walk towards home. "Thanks for tonight, I haven't had this fun in years."

"Yeah no problem. Sorry about Leo, he gets a little crazy at times."

"No worries. I've seen crazy and that's nothing."

"You were a deatheater." I stopped and looked at him. "Im sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Its just that i know they had a mark on their forearm and you kinda felt uncomfortable when Nico was talking about them."

"No. I mean yeah, was. Me and Lucas. We kinda didn't sign up for that." We began to walk again. "Thats why I burned my arm, i tried to get rid of it. What it means, I just don't want to defined as one of them. I never did horrible things like they did."

"Nini, I'm not judging you. I get it." He looks at me. "You fought-"

"Against them. I wanted to see him lose and it cost half my family. Lucas is all I have. Thats why we came here, to get away from there. A fresh start." We made it to my house.

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Had. I didn't get say goodbye. He also died in the battle." I took a deep breath and looked at him. "I promised myself i wont cry. I don't why I am." I wiped my tears. This was embarrassing, crying in front of someone I just met. Real way to show who you are Daphne, a broken girl.

"Because it still hurts." He looks at me. "I know how it feels to lose someone you love. I lost my mother just a year ago."

"Im sorry to hear that."

"Her name was Faye, she was beautiful. She always had this smile that just makes you feel better. My mother, she was ill. I know where you are coming from." He coughs, trying not to tear up. "Everything is going to be fine. Just try your best and make it worth it. Can you promise me that?"

"Sure."

"See, i need a yes or no. A sure isn't going to cut it."

"Yes."

"There we go. Why wont you go to bed. Clear your mind." He nods. "Ill see you soon."

"Thank you again." He waves and i watched him go into the darkness. I entered the home and went to backyard and sat by the lake. I kicked off my shoes and dipped my feet in the cold water. I opened the locket and watched Draco smile, then up to the night sky. Stars, our favorite. The Draco constellation appeared. "I love you."