The conservatory held the evening like a glass jar trapping fireflies. The amber light that had flooded through the walls faded slowly, turning first to gold and then to bronze, before settling into a deep, bruised purple at the edges.
The koi drifted in the fountain, their orange bodies catching the last sun before it slipped behind the trees. Standing lamps burned near the piano, casting soft pools of gold across the floor.
Children scattered across the space. Susan sat on the windowsill with a book, her back to the glass. Ernie and Millicent sat near the fountain, talking. Theodore hadn't moved from the shelf of old books. Three volumes lay open before him. He flipped through them, absorbed, the room forgotten.
Pansy sat on a velvet stool near the door. Her dark eyes moved from Draco to Daphne to Morwenna and Fleur. She didn't speak.
Draco had abandoned the piano after twenty minutes and stood near the window with his arms crossed, his pale hair catching the light of the fading light. He looked bored, or rather, he looked like he was trying very hard to appear bored. The effort was visible if one knew where to look.
Neville hadn't left the fern. He stood with his hand resting on one of its broad leaves, his thumb moving in small circles against the surface. The plant seemed to lean toward him. He wasn't hiding anymore; he was simply standing there, touching the leaves and looking calm. Morwenna noticed but didn't say anything to disrupt his peace.
Daphne sat on a low bench near the fountain. Her posture had lost some of its stiffness. Astoria stood beside her, watching Susan read with a curious tilt of her head.
Fleur stayed near Morwenna. She wasn't touching her, but she remained close enough that when Morwenna moved to check on a guest, Fleur moved with her, staying a half-step behind.
Morwenna circled the room twice. She asked Susan about her book, Ernie if he wanted to see the piano. She asked Theodore what he had found and offered Astoria another strawberry. She didn't ask Draco anything.
The light eventually grew thin.
Bitsy appeared at the door with a soft pop, her hands clasped. "Little miss," Bitsy said. "It's time to return. The gift-giving will begin soon."
Morwenna looked at the other children. They gathered themselves, smoothed their clothes, straightened their posture.
"Thank you, Bitsy."
The house-elf disappeared, and Morwenna turned to the group. "We should go back."
Susan closed the book she had been pretending to read, and Lavender smoothed her dress. Ernie stood up and brushed off his trousers, while Astoria pouted. "Already?"
Daphne touched her sister's shoulder. "We will see more later."
They walked together through the long corridor. The portraits watched them pass. The ballroom had changed. The chandeliers dimmed to a warmer gold. The long table in the centre held a row of wrapped packages, each tagged with a small silver card. Adults stood in loose clusters around the edges of the room. They turned as the children entered.
Morwenna walked to the centre of the floor and stopped.
Lady Selene Greengrass stepped forward, a small velvet box in her hands. "For Nimue, from our family."
Morwenna opened it. Inside lay a silver brooch shaped like a crescent moon, tiny sapphires along its curve. "Thank you, Lady Greengrass."
Selene inclined her head. Daphne stood behind her mother's skirts.
The Malfoys came next. Narcissa handed her a package wrapped in dark green paper. Morwenna unwrapped it. Silver hair combs set with emeralds gleamed in the low light. "For recording your studies as well," Narcissa said.
She added a leather journal embossed with the Malfoy crest. "Every young witch needs a proper journal."
Morwenna held the combs and the journal. "Thank you, Lord Malfoy. Lady Malfoy."
Augusta pressed a small wooden box into Morwenna's hands. Her eagle shifted its weight. The wood was dark and smooth, worn soft by years of handling.
"It belonged to my husband's mother," Augusta said. "She would have wanted it to go to someone with potential."
Inside was a silver locket, empty and waiting. Beside it sat a small potted plant that shimmered in the low light. "From our greenhouse," Augusta added.
"Thank you, Lady Longbottom."
Neville stood behind his grandmother, his eyes on the floor. He glanced up, caught Morwenna's gaze, and nodded. She nodded back.
The Macmillans gave her quills in a silver case. The Browns gave hand cream that smelled of roses and honey. Ernie gave her his own quill set, Lavender a box of sugar quills. Susan gave her a bookmark embroidered with her initials, Theodore a small crystal that caught the light.
Millicent gave honey from her family estate, the Bulstrodes a scarf in deep green wool, the Rosiers a book on French magical history with yellowed pages. Pansy gave her a silver bracelet.
Morwenna thanked each guest, her smile in place and her voice steady.
Then, Apolline Delacour stepped forward with a small white box tied with a silver ribbon. "Nimue," she said. "From our family."
Morwenna took the box. Inside lay a small glass vial on a silver chain. A single strand of pale silver hair coiled within.
"Veela hair," Apolline said quietly. "For protection. For luck. For whatever you need it to be."
Fleur's ears were pink. Morwenna met her eyes. "Thank you." She placed the chain around her neck. The vial rested against her chest, cool and light.
Fleur approached last, a small box in her hands, wrapped in pale blue paper with a white ribbon. "Happy birthday, Nimue."
Morwenna opened it. Inside was a silver locket, smaller and simpler than Augusta's. She pressed the catch. It opened to reveal a tiny photograph, Fleur smiling, her silver-blonde hair loose around her face.
Morwenna looked up.
"Now you can carry me too," Fleur said.
Morwenna closed the locket. Her throat tightened. "Thank you." She put it around her neck. It settled beside her parents' locket and the Veela hair vial.
The final dinner was served in the Great Hall. White cloth covered the long table, silver candlesticks spaced along its length. The guests sat in careful order. Dark families claimed one side, neutral families the middle, Dumbledore-allied families the far end.
Morwenna sat between Jane and Fleur. Daphne sat on Fleur's other side, Astoria next to her sister. Draco sat across from Morwenna, Pansy beside him. Susan, Lavender, and Ernie filled the remaining spaces. Neville sat at the end.
The meal was long. Soup, fish, roast meat, course after course. Morwenna ate what was put before her. Fleur's shoulder pressed against hers, and her knee pressed against Morwenna's under the table.
When the plates were cleared, Jack stood and made a short speech, followed by Jane, who spoke of family and tradition.
Then, the farewells began.
The Longbottoms left first, with Augusta shaking Jack's hand and kissing Jane's cheek before clasping Morwenna's hand. "You did well tonight," Augusta said.
"Thank you, Lady Longbottom."
Neville lifted his hand in a wave before the Floo took them. Morwenna waved back.
The Bones followed, then the Macmillans, the Browns, the Rosiers. Each family stepped into the green flames, the fire swallowing them one by one. The dark families stayed longer.
The Greengrasses were among the first of them to leave. Daphne paused in front of Morwenna. "Thank you for having us," she said.
"You're welcome."
Daphne held her gaze a moment, then nodded and walked to the Floo with her sister.
The Malfoys followed. Lucius offered measured words while Narcissa smiled. Draco looked at Morwenna. "We are cousins," he said. It isn't a question.
"We are."
He nodded once and followed his parents into the green flames.
The ballroom emptied, and the house-elves moved through the space to collect glasses and extinguish candles. The Delacours were the last guests remaining. Morwenna watched them gather their things before she walked to Fleur and tugged at her sleeve.
"Can you stay with me? For longer?"
Fleur looked at her mother. Apolline's eyebrows rose, and she glanced at her husband, who simply shrugged.
Apolline turned back to her Fleur. "Three days," she said. "We can stay three more days. Not longer."
Margaux picked up her bag. "Elodie and I will go back to Paris tonight. We have things to do."
She kissed Fleur's forehead. She hugged Jane, and Elodie followed her into the Floo.
Fleur looked at Morwenna. "Three days."
"Three days," Morwenna agreed.
Philippe touched Apolline's arm. "We should let the girls say goodnight." They walked toward the guest wing with Jack and Jane.
Morwenna grabbed Fleur's hand. "Come. I want to show you something."
She dragged Fleur through the corridors and up the stairs while Cinder trotted behind them. They reached the nursery, and Morwenna pushed the door open. The fire had already been lit, casting a soft orange light across the room. The green velvet snake lay on the pillow, and the rug felt thick and soft underfoot.
Fleur stopped in the doorway. "This is your room," she said.
"Yes, it's mine." Morwenna pulled her inside and showed her the snake first.
"What is its name?" Fleur asked.
"It doesn't have one. It's just Snake."
Fleur laughed and picked up the heavy velvet toy. "Everything should have a name," she said. "Vert"
Morwenna repeated it. "Vert. That's a good name."
She set the snake back on her pillow.
Morwenna showed her the books with moving pictures and the ones in French she barely read anymore.
They sat on the bed while Cinder curled between them. Morwenna showed her the locket her parents had given her, and the tiny portraits inside moved as Jack winked and Jane blew a kiss. Fleur touched the silver surface. "They love you very much."
"I know."
They built a tower with wooden blocks, though Morwenna wasn't as careful as Fleur, and it fell three times. The fourth time, it stayed standing.
"You aren't good at this," Fleur teased.
"I'm good at other things."
"Like what?"
Morwenna held out her hand, and frost bloomed across her palm in a silver, cold spin. The crystals caught the firelight and scattered it across the walls.
Fleur stared in wonder. "It's pretty."
"It's mine."
The frost faded, and Morwenna closed her hand. They sat together as the hours slipped past until a soft knock came at the door.
"Fleur. Time for bed," Apolline called.
Fleur stood and looked down at Morwenna. "Goodnight, Nimue."
"Goodnight, grande sœur."
Fleur left, and the door clicked shut. Jane appeared in the hallway soon after and led Morwenna to the bathroom, where a deep, hot tub was already waiting. "Bath first," Jane said.
Morwenna let her mother undress her and stepped into the water. Jane washed her hair with lavender soap while Bitsy appeared with a soft cloth and warm oil. The house-elf massaged Morwenna's shoulders and back, pressing the tension out of her muscles.
Morwenna's eyes kept closing. Jane helped her out of the tub, dried her with a thick towel, and wrapped her in a clean nightgown. She carried Morwenna back to the nursery, where the fire had been stoked.
Vert lay on the pillow, and Cinder was already curled at the foot of the bed. Jane pulled the quilt up to Morwenna's chin, and Morwenna pulled the snake against her chest.
"Sleep," Jane said.
Morwenna nodded, her eyes already closing. She thought of Fleur's hand in hers, the lockets against her chest, and the soft weight of the snake. She smiled.