Chapter 40

"What are we supposed to do now Tom's gone?" Lestrange moaned. They all sat in the library, looking out the windows at the grass glowing orange in the sun.

"You heard Miss Delaney, we have to keep working." Nott rolled his eyes. They all flicked through the books Tom had stolen from the restricted section of the library, their eyes dulling at the complicated potions and long-winded histories. Anastasia looked over their weary faces and started biting her lip. Tom had left her in charge with very clear instructions, but she couldn't pretend to be him. She clapped her hands together, making them all flinch to attention.

"Mulciber how much of your dad's wine can we steal without him knowing?" The group looked around cautiously.

"I mean we have a whole basement filled with wine, I doubt he'll notice. If we take some of the cheap stuff we can always replace it I guess." Anastasia nodded.

"Right, you and Nott go and grab that, Avery and Rosier get some blankets and towels, and Lestrange and I will pack some food. We're heading for the beach boys!" She grinned proudly. They all looked at each other for a moment, but in unison they all shot to their feet and ran off to their jobs. Anastasia led Lestrange to the kitchen and they began packing cheese, crackers and grapes. Lestrange prepped some sandwiches and Anastasia complimented his skills.

"I was brought up right my lady." Lestrange grinned, taking a little bow. Anastasia laughed, seeing a bit of Elius in him for the first time. The group met out the back of the house and wandered through the long grass, all of their eyes set on the glistening blue line in front of them. As they reached the top of sand bank the six of them stood in a line for a second, feeling on top of the world. Suddenly Mulciber ran down the bank, his arms clanking with the bottles of wine. They laid down the blankets and the boys began stripping down to their briefs. At first Anastasia felt her cheeks grow pink, unsure what to do. The boys ran into the sea, laughing loudly as they dove under the small waves, Nott squealing at the chilly temperature. Mulciber turned back to see Anastasia frozen in the same spot.

"Come on Anastasia!" He shouted making all the boys turn their attention to the girl on the beach. Anastasia looked down at her dress, wondering if she could ruin yet another piece of clothing.

"Anastasia get in here!" Nott shouted, playfully splashing towards the beach. She looked towards Rosier, who stood still in the water.

"Anastasia just take your dress off, you're basically a sister now don't make it weird." Avery smiled, making Anastasia giggle in relief. They all laughed and turned back to splashing one another. Anastasia looked up to see Mulciber smiling at her, before waving his hand for her to join. Anastasia slowly lifted her dress up and let it drop on the sand. She ran towards the sea in her lingerie, and as the icy water hit her bare skin she shrieked in excitement. The boys all cheered, and Nott immediately swam over to dunk her head under the water. Her long dark hair spread around her and she felt weightless.

The group lay in the setting sun, drying themselves in the last moments of warmth. The boys set up a fire and they drank cheap wine and feasted on snacks. Everyone avoided the topic of Tom whilst sober, but as soon as they started getting tipsy they couldn't help themselves. They all tiptoed around Rosier's change in personality, but the rest told a story each. Some were funny, some scary and some intense, but each explained why they had decided to follow the dark prince of Slytherin. Once it was Anastasia's turn she was feeling anxious, but the wine helped her pick up some courage.

"I still have no idea why he chose me to be honest." She started, earning some suggestive looks between the boys. "But somehow he understood me and my aspirations better than anyone else ever has. We all know what Tom is like, he can be very persuasive." She laughed.

"I mean I have to ask-" Nott began but was interrupted by a slap on the arm from Mulciber. "One of us has to!" Nott argued. Anastasia shot him a questioning look. "Are you and Tom... I don't know, an item?" Anastasia burst out laughing, a sudden surge of awkwardness shivering through her body. Her eyes automatically fell onto Rosier, only to find him already staring directly at her. She averted her eyes to the sand and shook her head.

"No, Tom and I are not 'an item'. I don't think Tom can... feel those sort of emotions." Anastasia diverted, hoping that would be the end of the subject. The boys nodded, clearly unconvinced.

"Ok well while we're asking, did you kiss my brother?" Lestrange asked suddenly. The group all went silent before bursting out laughing again, all throwing bits of cracker and grapes at the boy.

"Merlin's beard Lestrange!" Anastasia squealed throwing a chunk of cheese at his head.

"Well?" He giggled, holding up his hands to shield himself.

"No I bloody didn't you little weasel." Anastasia took a swig of wine. "He wanted to though." She giggled quietly, making them all roar with laughter once again.

The boys began drunkenly singing old Hogwarts anthems, and Anastasia saw a chance to move over next to Rosier, who had still been mostly silent since they had arrived in Dorset.

"Are you ever going to speak to me again?" Anastasia whispered softly, looking down at her crossed legs, her fingers running through the white sand. At first when he didn't answer she felt as if she might cry, but her drunken state didn't allow her to give up. She turned and placed her hands on his.

"I know what happened Lawrence. I know Tom threatened you. The last thing I want is you to risk your safety for me, but I can't carry on like this. You were my only friend. You're the only person I genuinely trusted to have my back, and now you can't even..." Her words failed her, and her eyes desperately stared hoping to find his. She saw a small tear creep out the corner of his eye. She was about to give up and walk away when she suddenly felt his hands grip hers back.

"You need to be careful Ana." He whispered, his eyes still set on the black sea in front of him. "I want to run away from all of this, from him, but I can't now. I'll never escape him, and even though I know none of us ever will I'm still hoping that you..." His grip tightened. "I'm still your friend Ana, even if I can't show it anymore." Anastasia's fingers grasped tightly around his, but just as sudden as his words came they left. Anastasia was met once again by the new icy version of Rosier, who dropped her hands and stood up to head back to the house, his silhouette slowly disappearing into the dark.