Her Single Rose (Remus Lupin)

Ninety-Three

It wasn't long before Aries woke up on a comfortable couch feeling the wet sensation of a washcloth being dabbed around her forehead and face.

It was such a gentle touch, that Aries could've fallen right back asleep if it weren't for the cold cloth.

"Ah, you're awake. Next time you feel like fainting, would you mind giving us a five second warning? Or even wait till we got home?" Euphemias words made Aries let out a breathy laugh.

"Where's the fun in that?" Aries questioned.

Euphemia smiled, though Aries saw right through it, "I'm alright, Mia, I really am." Aries sat up and gave the woman a hug, which Euphemia didn't hesitate to return. The motion shocked Aries, as that was never a first response from her. She blamed Remus for making her soft.

Euphemia released Aries, but voiced the thought that had been nagging her, "why did you faint, Aries?"

The raven haired girl sat back, leaning against the arm of the couch and sighed. Her hands played with themselves to keep her nails from her arms, "I'd like to say I was merely dehydrated, didn't eat or sleep on the train, which would be the truth but..."

"It's not the whole truth." Euphemia finished, allowing Aries to continue.

"Truly? I'm quite terrified of my mother. I wasn't always, but I am. My mother has connections, she has a way with words. No matter how you look at it, she is a very powerful witch. A vile and disgusting woman but powerful nonetheless."

Behind her, Sirius crept down the stairs with James. This would be there fourth time coming down in the past twenty minutes to check on Aries. The voice of Sirius' sister led him to believe she was better and awake, but her words stopped him, signaling James to pause and listen too.

"My worst fear at night is to see Walburga or...even Orion...do to Regulus what they've done to me. But now that I'm here and Regulus is grown, that's no longer my fear. I'm afraid that because I'm here, they will come here and take me back. I'm terrified that Walburga will find a way to bring me back." Aries scratched her arm once but that was a mistake, the desire to itch only increased.

"Why wouldn't they have come for Sirius? If they have that much power?"

"Walburga gave up on Sirius before he even left. It doesn't make much a difference if there is a whole other son to do the bidding of Walburga. However, I was the only daughter, which means the fact that they can get twice as much money off of marriage makes me valuable. Walburga is greedy and she does everything she can to make sure she gets what she wants."

"All Walburga wants is money and to continue the PureBlood lineage. The only thing she doesn't know is that I can't do one of those things." Euphemia placed a wobbling hand over her mouth, pure shock and disbelief and another emotion Aries couldn't quite decipher. Suddenly Aries was engulfed in a bone crushing embrace.

Suddenly it felt like the life was being sucked out of Sirius. How was it that he didn't know?

"Oh my sweet girl." This was the first time Aries ever said those words. Ever admitted them. Doing so and feeling the tender care from Euphemia released emotions Aries hadn't even had time to process until now. Tears began beading in Aries eyes and dropping one by one until it became a current of tears.

Still holding the girl Euphemia asked, "how did you find out?"

"Every kid gets checked out around eleven years old. Kind of like a prerequisite to call yourself a PureBlood. That's why most PureBloods have more than one kid. Just to be safe."

Just saying those words made Aries sick to her stomach how could she have not realized sooner how disgusting they were as parents. How disgusting it all was.