The pain was unlike anything she’s ever known. She wanted to do anything to make it stop.

Even die.

But it felt like it would last for all eternity, just the pure agony of every cell in her body being stabbed, set on fire and ripped apart, all at the same time.

She was convulsing on the floor, weeping and her scream echoed across the room.

Then suddenly, it all stopped. It felt like as if a boulder being raised after it crushed her body. The girl was breathing irregularly and gasping, her entire body shaking and her skin completely drenched in cold sweat, on top of her still damp clothes and hair.

Her eyes, full of salty tears opened slightly and she saw both boys standing over her, staring at her laying there on the floor, with grave fear in both of their eyes.

She used her trembling arm to lift herself up and sit, leaning her back on the back of the living room couch.

‘Who… Which one of you… casted it…?’ – she asked shakily, in between breaths.

They exchanged looks.

‘Wait, you think that I would cast an unforgivable curse? Emilia, you must be out of your mind…’ – Ash seemed appalled by the thought.

‘I would never do anything to hurt you, Vay, you know that, I never even learned how to cast Cruciatus, I’m not…’ – he seemed more scared than angry, trying to reach down to grab her and make sure she was okay.

Emilia raised her hand to stop him and closed her eyes.

‘Just stop. Get out. Both of you.’

‘What? But, Love, we need to get you into some dry clothes and take you to the Hospital Wing, you must be…’

‘I said stop!’ – she yelled, more tears rolling down her cheeks. – ‘Get the hell out. I don’t want to see either of you. I’m so tired of the same fight happening over and over again. You’ve taken it too far. If you don’t want to tell me who did it, then get out and don’t talk to me again.’ – her voice cracked at the last part.

They both looked scared by how serious and angry she sounded. Atticus was the first to step back and just turn around and run out of the room, the door slamming loudly behind him.

Ash tried to kneel down in front of her.

‘Emilia, darling, I think if we just talk about it…’

The girl pulled out her wand and pointed it at him.

‘I will not say it again. Out.’

The Ravenclaw hung his head down in defeat and got back onto his feet, before silently walking out as well.

...

‘Emilia, I think it’s time you finally tell us what happened between you and Ash. And Atticus.’ – Ominis declared, fixing up his tie in the reflection of the mirror hung right next to the fireplace at the Three Broomsticks.

‘I don’t want to.’ – the girl kept on flicking the coaster that was next to her pint of butterbeer until it fell off the table.

The blonde Slytherin instinctively reached down to grab it and put it back on, giving her a look of disapproval.

‘You know you can tell us. You’ve been moping around almost three weeks. It’s worrying.’ – his light blue eyes drilled into hers but she looked away.

Sebastian was sitting to her right with his legs spread out on the only empty chair at their table.

‘Don’t worry, spending Christmas with Anne and us back in my home will cheer you right up. My uncle Solomon said he was going to see his sister this year so we will be at the house by ourselves for the entirety of the winter break. It’ll be a blast, you’ll see.’ – he took a big sip of his butterbeer, leaning back on his chair and wiped the foam off his lips with his sleeve.

Emilia sighed with resignation, going back to flicking the coaster with her head laying flat on the wooden table.

‘Are you sure that Anne won’t mind me being there? Not everyone would like a stranger at their house for Christmas.’ – she mumbled under her nose.

‘Oh stop it, you know she is very excited to see you, Em. If she wasn’t she wouldn’t have sent you an invitation letter.’ – Ominis reminded her, pulling the coaster away from her right before she would’ve flicked it off the table again.

‘I guess…’ – she gave in, raising her head back up to take another sip of the beer.

Sebastian stared at her for a moment, before asking in a slightly more serious manner.

‘Hey, just so that we are clear… We are still going to try and free her from the curse, right?’

The girl nodded without enthusiasm.

Ominis decided to cut in.

‘Just remember, we have to be very careful to not hurt Emilia in the process.’ – he stated with a serious look painted on his pale face. – ‘A curse is much different than just a wound or injury, we don’t know what will happen when it contracts with Em’s power, we have to make sure it doesn’t backfire or pass onto her in the process.’

‘Yeah, obviously, we have to be careful, very insightful, Ominis.’ – Sebastian rolled his eyes with a playful smile and finished up his drink in one big gulp.

Emilia’s eyes focused on the main door to the pub opening and Ash walking in alongside with Mattias and taking a seat in the booth right next to the bar. She felt a big lump form in her throat and a wave of sadness wash over her.

She felt more sad than angry, while feeling more conflicted than ever with her own thoughts.

...

Jaz and Rosie were already packed and as their friend appeared in the doors of their dormitory.

‘I see Natty’s already gone.’ – Emilia stated, seeing the empty bed on the left of the room.

Rosie nodded.

‘Yeah, her and her mom had to catch an early train, they have a long way ahead of them.’

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‘What about you? Leaving with the boys today as well?’ – Jaz asked, dragging her massive suitcase off the bed.’

‘Mhm.’ – Emilia confirmed, opening her closet to start packing her own clothes.

She saw Rosie pull out something from underneath her bed.

‘Do you think Ominis might already be waiting for you outside the castle?’

‘Probably, he said he was packed already when we were at the Three Broomsticks earlier today, so I’m guessing he will just be waiting on me and Seb. Why?’ – she asked curiously.

‘Uh, just wanted to give him something. I’ll go look for him now.’ – her friend quickly skipped with the small package in her hands and left the dormitory.

Emilia and Jaz exchanged looks and giggled.

A while later, after saying goodbye and wishing a Merry Christmas to all of her friends, including Elle that was also returning to see her Muggle family over the break, Emilia and her two Slytherin friends took off on the three school brooms and began their journey through the Highlands.

Managing to balance on the broom was much more challenging than usual, with the massive luggage hanging on the back of it, but Emilia tried to not complain, focusing on the beautiful landscape ahead of them, the huge fields, forests and villages covered by a gentle layer of snow reflecting in the light sun peeking at them from the sky.

She would have much preferred a ride on the train but since Feldcroft, Sebastian’s home hamlet was just on the other side of the mountain lane surrounding Hogwarts, the flight there was only about two hours long, so it seemed much more reasonable to get there that way.

Emilia sighed in relief as they finally approached the ground and moaned in pain as she finally got to stand back up once they arrived, her thighs and bum sore from the uncomfortable ride on the raggedy school broom.

All three of them approached one of the smaller houses right outside of the main circle and were immediately greeted by a pale, brunette girl that was a spitting image of Sebastian himself.

Anne happily wrapped her arms around her brother, then Ominis, and finally approached Emilia and also greeted her with a cheerful hug, like an old friend.

They all walked into the small, yet warm and homely house and Anne showed them to the upstairs where there were two bedrooms.

‘I’m sorry we don’t have all that much space here for everyone, I figured Omi could sleep with Seb and we would stay in the other bedroom. If you wouldn’t mind, of course.’ – Anne explained with a sweet smile.

‘Not at all.’ – Emilia’s lips curved up in a polite manner and she went into the bedroom on the left to leave her bags in and they all went back downstairs.

...

As Emilia quickly realized, Anne was an unbelievably sweet girl that treated her just like her sister the entire time, being a perfect host despite her being visibly ill and weak, but putting on a brave face and a wide smile the entire time.

After a lovely Christmas dinner, the four of them were sitting at the kitchen table, nicely tired after consuming a ton of food, listening to the pleasant cracking of the fireplace and an old piano in the corner enchanted to play Christmas carols.

While chatting about silly nothings and cracking jokes, Anne had to excuse herself because she felt nauseous and her new worried friend decided to follow to make sure she was alright.

She found her right outside the back door, leaning against the wall of the house, drenched in cold sweat and holding onto her stomach tightly.

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’ – Emilia asked hesitantly, gently placing her hand on Anne’s back in a caring manner.

‘Actually, yes, Emilia. Would you mind getting me a glass of water?’

She quickly ran back in to pour her a cup of water from the kitchen sink and went back out and handed it to her.

‘Thanks.’

Anne slipped down and sat on the bench right outside the door. Emilia joined and stared her down with worry.

‘It must be horrible having to live with a curse for such a long time.’ – she observed.

‘Well, it certainly isn’t easy. But you begin to manage with time.’ – she tried to smile through the pain. – ‘But still, having to leave Hogwarts felt terribly, I was really excited to come back for my 10th year. Though, I guess, there isn’t really any job that I would qualify for now…’

‘What would you want to do with your life if the curse got lifted?’ – the girl asked with a curious smile.

‘I’d love to be a doctor. I have so much knowledge now after having to tend to my own illness for so long that I think I’d do great at St. Mungo’s.’ – she revealed.

‘That does sound great. You seem like such a sweet and selfless person.’

‘So do you.’ – Anne looked at her.

A bittersweet smile sneaked on Emilia’s lips.

‘I try to be. It doesn’t always go well though.’ – she sighed and changed the subject. – ‘Do you remember Sebastian’s letter? About us wanting to try and help break the curse?’

‘I do, but, Emilia, I don’t see how you’re going to do that, trust me, a lot of people tried before but…’

‘Let’s just go inside and me and the boys will explain everything to you.’ – Emilia stopped her and helped her get up with a kind smile.

Anne nodded in agreement and they opened up the backdoor to go back in.

‘Just one more thing, Anne.’ – the girl stopped, as a sudden thought crossed her mind.

‘Yes?’

‘When you got cursed… What color was the spell?’

‘Green. All curses come out as green bolts. Why?’

Emilia breathed in heavily.

‘No reason.’

...

The first ray of the faint winter sunshine left a warm kiss on Emilia’s cheek as it creeped through the window of the bedroom. Her heavy eyes fluttered open and she coughed as she felt her throat hurting badly.

Sebastian peeked in through the door, summoned by the sound of his friend being up and awake and smiled at the sight of her.

‘How’re you feeling, Em?’ – he sat on the edge of the bed with a cup of warm in his hands, before handing it over to her as she tiredly sat up on the bed.

‘A bit better, I think. Although I still feel like I’m about to spit my own lungs out.’ – she chuckled which caused another series of heavy coughs.

‘Listen…’ – he started, with a sad smile on his lips. – ‘I feel so terrible for letting you get so ill from healing Anne. And she feels even more guilty, she keeps blaming herself for causing you all this pain and is afraid to even come up here to see you.’

‘She shouldn’t be. And neither should you. We couldn’t have predicted it. Even Ominis didn’t expect it, and you know how much he tried to think this through.’ – she tried to cheer him up.

‘Are you sure that you will manage to fly back with us today? I know you don’t like long flights.’ – he bit down on his lower lip with worry.

‘I’ll be okay. I don’t want to be a bother anymore, I’ve already used up enough of your hospitality.’ – he tried to protest but she cut back in immediately. – ‘Besides, didn’t you say your uncle is coming back later today?’

‘Yeah…’ – he admitted in defeat.

‘Exactly. So we need to get going, school starts in a couple of days, and we’ve already stayed way longer than we were initially supposed to.’

He gave in and helped her get up. Despite her legs almost giving up under her own weight, she stood up and began packing her things with Sebastian’s help.

Later that day, they finally said goodbye to Anne, who kept on both thanking and apologizing to Emilia repeatedly, almost crushing her with a tight hug and happy tears running down her much more healthy looking face.

The flight back was indeed terrible, but once they did manage to return, Emilia welcomed her bed in the dormitory with pleasure, plumping down and almost immediately falling asleep, only to hours later be woken up by all three of her roommates returning once the Hogwarts Express had arrived back from London.

They were all appalled by her poor state but she insisted that she was feeling fine and just went back to sleep after a quick chat about their Christmas breaks and slept through the whole night, up until the very morning.

After going to breakfast the next morning she sat with Ominis at the Slytherin table, barely even listening to him and watching Atticus sitting by himself at the very end of the table, going through a bunch of scrolls whilst sipping tea and visibly distraught.

Ominis caught her being distracted and snapped his fingers right in front of her face.

‘Huh?’ – she blinked and turned back to him, awoken from the trance.

‘Are you even listening?’ – he asked with annoyance.

‘Yes, yes, sorry, I just got lost in thought. What were you saying?’ – she apologized before letting out a light cough, covering her face with her sleeve.

He sighed and shook his head slightly.

‘I was saying, considering how quickly your sickness is fading, I reckon you should be feeling just fine in a couple of days, it seems like the worst part is already over so it shouldn’t take long before the remains of the curse wash off. Still, try and be careful since I’ve tried searching up cases of curses being passed on to other people, but there aren’t any records of that happening so I can’t predict it completely.’ – he explained, still visibly worried.

‘I know, I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’m not that worried.’ – she lied.

Her thoughts trailed off again and she stared down at her bowl of cereal.

She was indeed extremely worried, but it seemed like her ill condition after freeing Anne from her curse was the least of her concerns at that moment. What she was actually worried about, was the fact that Downer knew her identity already, and didn’t hesitate to send two of his loyalists so close to the castle’s grounds to try and capture her. So what else would he try to attempt? Was she safe inside the castle?

And would she have anyone to protect her if she wasn’t?

She knew she would’ve jumped into flames for her own friends… But would they do the same for her?

And the girl still wasn’t sure what was her and Ash’s relationship like. Were they still a couple? They haven’t spoken in several weeks. She missed him. And Atticus. Yet she still was shocked by the fact that he would use an unforgivable curse, especially against his own brother, adoptive or not. As it turned out, he was not the sweet, overly perfect boy she thought she knew.