THIRD PERSON POV

"I can't believe I have to witnessed my little sister being lower down in a cold, dark hole." Catherine sobbed next to Larissa and the whole family.

It's a very sad day for everyone who attended the funeral service for Carmen Larove. One of the great leader and loving mother to all.

After the whole family and friends threw fresh red roses inside the grave, Larissa finally gave her little nod so that the guards to finally closed the grave.

Fleur didn't say anything during, before or after the funeral. She just sat by Carmen's casket trying to make the pain go away. But it only got worse.

She knew in her head that her Great Grandma Carmen was "old" but in her heart Carmen was as young as Fleur was and right up to the moment she had her Heart attack she was so full of life and never acted old.

Once they got home, everyone was not themselves. When they entered, they all looked up to Carmen and Larissa wedding photo that they took on that meaningful day, years ago.

It's the happiest day of their life and Larissa can't help to shed her tears again. "Mommy..." Hope called out to her mother and hugged her. "You need to take care of yourself. Alle joined shortly.

"I know sweethearts. I know." Larissa was grateful to have such caring and loving daughters. Fleur was walking up the grand staircase when her eyes landed on a portrait of her and her siblings on the day they were born.

She smiled when she looked at how proud her great grandmother holding her in the photo. "I miss you grandma. I really do." Fleur felt another stream of hot liquid coming out of her swollen eyes.

She was there when Carmen fainted. They were talking about her future when her grandmother collapse on her. "I promise, I'll do what you wish." She said before walking towards her room.

Ever since Carmen passed away, Fleur has felt like a weight is sitting on her chest. "Fleur? Can we come in?" Fleur wanted to say no and be left alone but she knew if she told her mothers no that they would only worry and then she would never have time alone.

"Ok." Was all she said. Emerson and Antonia walked in and sat on the bed while they watched their daughter pack her things in a suitcase and trying to avoid eye contact. "Fleur can you stop packing for a minute and so we can talk?"

Antonia said. Fleur turned around and faced her mothers. "Why? What more needs to be said? I told you I didn't want to go to this stupid boarding school anymore but you said I didn't have a choice. So now I am packing my things and leaving just like you wanted!"

By the end of her rant, Fleur was yelling and tears were threatening to fall. Antonia looked to Emerson.

"Fleur you know this was the one thing grandma Carmen really wanted for you. You were excited to go before Grandma passed. I can understand why you aren't excited to go but why don't you want to go at all? If you tell us your reasons for not wanting to go, maybe then we can talk about it and come up with a solution."

Fleur turned around and tried not to let her emotions take over but she failed. Fleur fell to the floor. Her whole body shaking as she cried. Antonia and Emerson held her as she cried. They gave her the time she needed. They were not going force her to speak before she was ready.

"Grandma was going to go with me. As the time to go to the school became closer, I told her that I was having second thoughts about going. I told her I didn't want to be away from her or the rest of my family for so long. She said we would talk everyday and I could tell her how my day went just like I did before she died. She said nothing would change that much."

Fleur sobbed. "She told me that she understood and she would go with me until I got settled and if I hated it and didn't fit in there, she told me she would take me back home with her. It made me feel safe."

Fleur let her tears flow. "It made me feel like I could go and everything would be ok. Grandma always found a way to make me feel safe. It went beyond the safety you both give me. Its hard to explain."

Fleur stopped to catch her breath. "I feel like I cant breath. Ever since Grandma died, I feel like I cant breath. Everyone says that the pain will go away with time. That each day the pain is less and less. But every day I feel like the pain has gotten worse."

Antonia hugged her daughter. "Grief is different for everyone. We just had the funeral today. The pain is always worse when the truth of what happened has finally become reality to you but please don't give up hope. The pain really will get better. As far as the school goes, we will take you and do just as grandma Carmen was going to do. I believe that she was right. You are going to find your place there and you will love it. But you wont know if you don't try."

Fleur wiped her eyes. "That scares me even more. The thought that I might like the school and be happy there. It would feel wrong. She wouldn't even know."

Emerson took Fleur's face in her hand. "Fleur your grandma knew you would be happy there even before you went. Its one of the reasons she wanted you to go. Do you think she would send you somewhere she thought would make you unhappy?"

Emerson smiled.

"She loved you so much and she wanted this for you because she knew it would be an amazing experience for you. She would never want you to feel sad because she is gone. She told you that herself before she died. This was important to her. But we have decided not to force you. We want you to make the choice to go on your own. We love you."

With that said Emerson held her hand out to her wife and helped her up. She then help Fleur up from the floor as well. "I know you are right. Grandma did want me to go." Fleur nodded her head.

"If I go, can I come back home if its too much for me to deal with?" Antonia smiled. "Of course you can. This will always be your home you can come back to."

***

"I'm going home." Fleur announced when she arrived in front of a castle like building. Emerson blocked the car door and Antonia turned her body to the building.

"Remember little Fleur, you promise us you will try to be here for a few months." Antonia smiled at her daughter. Fleur sighed. "Fine."

Fleur began to examined each detail of the school. Seven thin, square towers guard the weakest points of this castle like school and are connected by huge, thin walls made of light brown stone.

Small windows are scattered thinly across the walls in a seemingly random pattern, along with overhanging crenelations. Probably it old purpose was for archers and artillery.

A sizable gate with thick cemented doors and strong defenses guards the only passage into the school' build upon, but it's not the only way in, which fortunately only very few know.

Various large houses are scattered outside the school's gates, surprisingly the rich are comfortable with living outside the gates as well.

But it's probably for the teachers and workers. This school has clearly stood the test of time and its inhabitants are intend on making sure it stays that way.

"What do you think?" Emerson asked her daughter.

"Hogwarts is a better school than this." Fleur says and looked at her mother with pouty face. "Mommy do I really have to?" Antonia chuckled. "Yes baby. Come on. Your mom survive here for years." Emerson chuckled.

"Come on. Let's meet the headmistress." Emerson lead both of her princess to the oh so familiar hallways. "This seriously brings back memories."

Fleur was curious when she didn't sees or meet any student lingering around the hallways. "Oh my god." Emerson laughed and waved for Antonia and Fleur. "Look. It's me." Emerson chuckled and pointed to her portrait on the wall.

"Notable student of St. Miriam." Fleur read the plate out loud. "Emerson Larove." She looked at the portrait and her mother back and forth. "Geez mom. You've changed a lot." Emerson chuckled.

"Of course honey. I'm old now. Look."

Emerson pointed to another portrait. "This is your great grandmother Cassandra Larove." Fleur smiled. She's the sole reason why her late great grandmother wanted her to be in this school.

"And this is Natasha Christ. The person who build the Christ Empire, grandma Carmen's cousin." Fleur turned to a portrait of a blonde woman. She got to admit, she's one hell of a person.

Someone suddenly cleared their throats behind the Larove's and they all turned to a student in her uniform. "You must be Mrs and Mrs Larove? From the outfit and how sophisticated you all look, I can't be wrong."

The student gave them a very welcoming smiled. Fleur can't helped but to think how beautiful she looks.

The girl wore a black blazer with a white button up shirt inside, loose red tie, knee high black pencil skirt and black high heels. So that's the uniform? Fleur asked mentally. "Ahh, that uniform brings back memory."

Emerson smiled at the student. "But I don't recall wearing high heels? Aren't you suppose to wear black pumps?" The girl smiled.

"My name is Isabella Blackburn. The headmistress asked me to lead the Larove's to her." Fleur was mesmerised by the British accent.

"Emerson Larove and this is my wife, Antonia and my daughter Fleur Larove." Isabella offered her hand and shake their hands except for Fleur who seems to be in trance.

"Shall we?" Isabella says and lead them towards the headmistress office. Isabella removed her long brunette hair from blocking her view and knocked on a door when they all stopped.

"Miss Ville, your visitors is here." Isabella announced and opened the door when she heard the headmistress soft voice. The headmistress looked up when Emerson and Antonia made way towards her.

"Ahhh. Mrs Larove. It's so nice to finally meet you in person." Miss Ville shake Emerson's hand. Fleur was getting bored when her parents talk about safety measure.

When she turn to Isabella, she quickly turn away when the brunette smiled at her. "Isabella, show our new student the school. And, please follow the school rules. You're not allowed to wear high heels."

Isabella smiled and stood up. "Oh come on Miss Ville. It's just for today." Isabella turned to Fleur. "Follow me please." Fleur looked at her parents who nodded. "Go on. We have a lot to discuss with your headmistress." Emerson smiled.

Fleur sighed and nodded. She followed Isabella outside.

***

"First of all, we, at St. Miriam, required to wear a uniform. Such as mine. Although we're in an all girls school, the student can choose between knee high skirt or trousers."

Isabella started to explained the school regulation to Fleur.

"The tie we're wearing telling us how old we are. Green tie mean she's 13. Silver, 14, yellow 15 and red, our age, including 17 & 18, the sixth form."

Isabella stopped in front of a counter and rang the bell. Seconds later a middle age lady greeted them and asked Fleur for her prefer uniform. Fleur asked for a trousers instead of skirts.

The lady gave her 2 set of blazer, white button up shirt, trousers, and a pair of black leathers shoes. "It's not designer." The lady announced and smiled. "Welcome to St. Miriam."

Fleur thanked her and followed Isabella to a golden bright hallways.

"This hallway lead to several places such as the main courtyard, cafeteria, book shops, library, and even the Olympic size gymnasium. This way please."

Fleur looked around and everyone's eyes on her. She felt embarrassed for second. Isabella opened a door that lead them to a stone pavement outside.

"This path will lead you to the dormitory. In each room, you will have 2 roommates. So 3 person per room." Fleur was actually loving the scenery. It's so peaceful and green.

"That building is for our year 7 and 8 students. Over here we have the year 9 student dormitory. And the last two buildings upfront is for us older student. Don't be scared that we're near the forest. It's easier for us to go on a date or just escape to the village."

Isabella chuckled. "The all boys school just few kilometres away. Well if you into them." Isabella winked and pressed a number combination of a keypad outside the dormitory main entrance.

Fleur was actually impressed by this.

"The password is your student ID number. That will be given to you after this mini tour. Since this boarding school is home for several important people and royalty, safety measure is important." Fleur nodded in understanding.

"Any question so far?" Fleur shake her head. Isabella smiled and lead her to a stairs. "Your room is on the first floor. Room 205." Fleur nodded and followed her to the first floor.

Isabella stopped in front of a 205 door and knocked. No respond. Isabella reached for a spare key in her pockets and opened it.

"Since we have classes now your roommates is no where to be found. But I know them. The blonde girl who seems to be brutally honest, that's Poppy Kingsley. And the brown hair girl who's seem to be not so friendly, that's Natalie Camden."

Isabella showed showed Fleur an empty bed at the corner and smiled.

Fleur place her hand on one of the three chestnut color clothes drawers that are adjacent to each other and are attached to the wall. A white printer, stereo, cards, and other accessories are mounted on top of these drawers.

Opposites of the drawers are three working areas, or desks. On one side, she noticed a charcoal colored brand new computer, alongside a desk light, and school supplies.

On the other desk, which belongs to her roommate, consists of her computer, pictures, papers, books, and anything else a person can think of. Then there's an empty desk for Fleur.

Fleur went to the empty bed and smiled when she noticed on the underneath two brown cushions, that are also storage areas. A few more steps into the room, Fleur notice two-half mirrors. They are perpendicular to the desk area.

The person must sit in their desk chair to freshen up in the mirror.

On the way out the door, Fleur entered to see a walked in closet that attached to a private bathroom. Fleur noticed an empty side of the closet for clothes and shoes.

One closet has shoes and clothes piled on top of each other, while the other has shoes that are scrambled. Also, Fleur realize that a lot of bins and boxes that were used to move the items in the room from home are located in the closet.

The closets also have shelves that are used for snacks and appliances. When Fleur walked out, Isabella was waiting for her by the door. "So, perfect?" Fleur nodded.

"Great. Here's your room key. Now, let's meet the headmistress again and asked for your class schedule and say goodbye to your parents.

Fleur followed her with a heavy heart.