It was a very long month. As fall approached, everything became colder. Scorpius left for several business trips. Sometimes he would be gone for over a week. Mara came by to play chess with her, but she never stayed long. Even Nolly was barely seen. The meals that came into her room were barely touched. She ate in small bits, only when her stomach was able to down the food, and that was rare. She hated the way each time she closed her eyes, he was there.