The dark family children gathered at Keith Manor on Friday morning. While the sky threatened rain, fortunately it held back. Morwenna had the garden fully prepared with blankets spread over the grass and cushions arranged along the stone benches.
Draco arrived first with Narcissa. His mother greeted Jane with a quiet kiss on the cheek and a few soft words before departing. Draco remained in the entrance hall with his hands in his pockets.
"Where is everyone else?" he asked.
"They're coming."
The Greengrasses arrived next. Daphne walked just behind her mother with her platinum hair pinned neatly back, while Astoria clung tightly to her mother's hand. The younger girl's gaze was wide as she looked around the hall.
"Your house is very big," Astoria noted.
"It's very old," Morwenna replied.
Daphne looked at her then, offering a brief glance that was measured and entirely unreadable. Morwenna held her gaze for a second before the she looked away.
Pansy arrived with her mother, followed by Theodore and his father. Millicent came with both of her parents, who immediately went off to speak with Jack while she lingered near the door with her arms folded.
Blaise arrived last. His mother left him with a quick kiss and no instructions. He stepped inside as if he owned the space, his dark eyes sweeping over the portraits, the fountain, and the staircase.
"This is nice," he said.
Morwenna led the group out into the garden to play a game of tag. The space was perfectly suited for it, with hedges enclosing three sides and paths winding between the flowerbeds.
Morwenna was the first one to be "it," and she quickly chased Draco around the fountain until she caught his sleeve.
"You cheated!" he complained immediately.
"How exactly did I cheat?"
He opened his mouth to explain, then stopped because he didn't actually have an answer.
The game continued as Pansy tagged Theodore, who then tagged Millicent. Millicent eventually caught Blaise, who ran with an easy, effortless pace thanks to his longer stride. He eventually tagged Daphne. She paused for a heartbeat before running, and while she wasn't the fastest child there, she was certainly the most careful. She doubled back, cut between the high hedges, and used the stone fountain as cover until she caught Astoria with a light touch.
"You're it!"
Astoria beamed with delight. She went after Draco first, and he let her catch him by slowing his movements just enough to be obvious.
Astoria didn't seem to notice the gesture at all. Then, she turned her attention to Morwenna. Morwenna ran, but she didn't use her full speed, giving Astoria just enough of a challenge to make her work for it. The girl's cheeks flushed and her breathing quickened.
"Almost," Morwenna encouraged her.
Astoria gave a final lunge and caught her sleeve. "You're it!"
Morwenna's gaze immediately flicked toward Daphne. The older sister was watching Astoria with a composed expression, but her hands were clasped tightly at her waist.
Morwenna lowered her eyes for a moment before looking away.
"Come on," she said lightly, taking Astoria's hand. "Let's play something else."
They moved inside a short while later, the children spilling into the morning room like a flock of restless birds. Draco claimed the space near the window and began explaining broom maintenance to Theodore, who nodded politely even as his attention drifted.
Pansy took over the settee with her ankles crossed, while Millicent sat quietly beside her. Blaise lingered near the door and watched the room without comment.
Daphne settled on a low stool near the fountain, and Astoria stayed close to her side, though her eyes kept drifting back toward Morwenna.
"Let's play hide and seek," Morwenna suggested, standing in the centre of the room.
Draco turned around. "That's a child's game."
"We are children, Draco."
Pansy let out a sharp snort of amusement.
"We can use the whole manor," Morwenna continued. "Except for the basement and the west wing on the third floor."
"The whole manor?" Theodore asked, sounding impressed.
"The whole manor."
Draco crossed his arms. "Fine. I'm seeking first." He turned around and began counting loudly.
The children scattered instantly. Morwenna moved quickly through the corridors she knew better than anyone else. She ducked behind a heavy tapestry, climbed a narrow set of stairs, and found a quiet alcove tucked away behind a stone statue. She pressed herself into the space with her back against the cold stone and held perfectly still.
Draco's voice echoed faintly through the halls as he began his search. She waited patiently before slipping out of her hiding spot and making her way toward the conservatory. She found Astoria there, half-hidden behind a large potted fern.
"You aren't very well hidden," Morwenna murmured.
"I know," Astoria whispered back. "But I like it in here. The leaves are very soft."
"Next time," Morwenna promised, "we will find a much better place."
"With you?"
"With me."
Footsteps approached the door, and Daphne appeared in the entrance. Her gaze went straight to her younger sister. "There you are."
"I'm hiding, Daphne."
"You are sitting in plain sight."
Astoria looked at the fern and then back at her sister. "The leaves are soft."
Something in Daphne's stiff posture seemed to ease. She stepped closer and gently smoothed Astoria's hair back. "Don't get too tired," she said quietly.
"I'm not tired."
"You will be."
Morwenna looked away from the private moment. "Draco is coming. We should move."
They found another hiding place in the library, pressing themselves together behind a tall rolling ladder. Astoria leaned lightly against her, while Daphne stood at the very edge of the ladder to keep watch.
Down below, they could hear Draco's voice rising in irritation, followed by a sharp answer from Pansy and someone's muffled laughter. Astoria covered her mouth to keep from giggling, and Morwenna couldn't help but smile. Daphne glanced at her.
Draco found them a few minutes later, looking flushed and dishevelled. "There you are!"
"We aren't hidden," Morwenna noted.
"You are behind a bookshelf."
"In the middle of the library, Draco."
He didn't have a reply for that, and his ears turned pink once more. Astoria laughed, a bright and clear sound, and even Daphne's mouth curved into a slight smile.
Morwenna rose to her feet. "It's your turn."
Draco blinked. "What?"
"It's your turn to hide."
He turned and hurried off, nearly stumbling on the stairs in his haste. The other voices followed him as Pansy began correcting his path and Theodore laughed softly. Astoria tugged at Morwenna's sleeve. "Next time, can I hide with you again?"
Morwenna looked down at the younger girl. "Next time, we will find a place Draco will never think to look."
Astoria beamed at the promise. Daphne watched them, and while she remained quiet, the tension in her shoulders had noticeably eased.
Below them, laughter echoed through the manor once more. Morwenna leaned lightly against the railing and listened, a small smile settling on her face.
Later, they moved to the lawn near the conservatory. Draco brought out a set of enchanted hoops that floated in the air and shifted positions every few seconds.
The goal was to throw a small leather ball through the centre of the hoops before they moved again. He demonstrated the game, but while the ball sailed through the first hoop, it dropped too quickly and he missed the second.
"Your aim is bad," Pansy said.
"My aim is perfectly fine. The hoops are clearly rigged."
Morwenna took the ball and threw it. It passed cleanly through the first hoop, then the second, and finally the third. The enchanted hoops stopped moving immediately. Everyone stared at her in silence.
"How did you do that?" Theodore asked.
Morwenna offered a shrug. "I just watched the pattern."
Draco's mouth tightened, but he didn't say anything.
They ate lunch on the blankets spread over the grass, enjoying lemonade, small sandwiches, and cakes topped with pink icing. Astoria sat much closer to Morwenna than was strictly necessary, her small shoulder pressing firmly against Morwenna's arm.
"You're very warm," Astoria noted.
"It's just the sun."
"No. You're just warm."
Morwenna looked over at Daphne, who was watching them with a careful expression, though something unreadable moved behind her eyes. Morwenna wasn't sure what to make of it, so she turned back to the younger girl.
"Eat your sandwich, Astoria."
The girl took a dutiful bite.
After lunch, they returned to the garden for another game of hide and seek. Morwenna knew every corner of the grounds, so she hid behind a tall hedge near the boundary wall. Draco was the first to find her.
"You isn't hiding," he said.
"I am."
"You're standing in plain sight, Nimue."
"The hedge is covering me."
He crouched down beside her. "Move over."
She made room for him, and they sat together behind the hedge to listen as the others called out for them.
"This is boring," Draco decided.
"Then go and find someone else."
He didn't move. Morwenna heard Pansy let out a shriek followed by laughter, indicating that Theodore had found her.
"Your house is very nice," Draco admitted.
"I know."
He looked at her pointedly. "You are supposed to say thank you."
"Thank you."
He shook his head at her. "You are very strange."
She almost smiled. "I know."
Astoria eventually found them behind the hedge, looking out of breath with a flushed face. "You are supposed to be hiding!"
"We are hiding," Draco insisted.
"You are talking."
Morwenna looked at Draco, who simply shrugged.
"Fine," Morwenna said, standing up. "We will hide somewhere else."
She took Astoria's hand and led her toward the conservatory. Daphne appeared from behind a tree and fell into step beside them.
"Don't run too much," Daphne warned Astoria. "You'll get tired."
"I'm not tired, Daphne."
"You will be."
Morwenna looked at Daphne and then at Astoria. The younger girl's cheeks were a deep pink and her breathing was slightly fast, though it didn't look serious yet. Even so, Daphne was watching her with a constant, protective intensity.
She squeezed Astoria's hand. "Let's hide in the conservatory, right behind the piano."
Astoria nodded, her smile bright and eager.
The three of them hid behind the grand piano with the keys pressing against Morwenna's back and the cold floor beneath them. Astoria pressed a finger to her lips. "Shh!"
Daphne and Morwenna looked at each other for a long moment in the quiet conservatory. The fountain murmured in the background as the koi fish drifted lazily through the water. Astoria couldn't help but giggle.
"Shh," Daphne whispered.
"Sorry."
Morwenna smiled, and then a laugh escaped her before she could stop it. Astoria joined in, and even Daphne's mouth curved until she was laughing as well. It was a quiet, careful sound, but it was entirely real. The three of them sat behind the piano, laughing together, until Theodore finally found them. Then, they all ran.