The warm evening of the first day of spring that year was surprisingly pleasant, and allowed Emilia to relax a little bit as she laid on the grass with her Herbology book in hands, studying for the upcoming end-of-the-year exams.

Jaz was sitting close to her, leaning her back against the big willow tree that grew right next to the Black Lake, with a big scroll of parchment, finishing up her own notes for the exams and with Rosie, completely carefree, sitting with her legs crossed in between them both, making what seemed to be a flower crown made out of lily of the valley’s and daisies she was picking from around them.

Emilia kept on catching herself on looking at the other far end of the Lake, remembering that uneventful night with Atticus and how horribly it had escalated, and couldn’t help but shiver and feel her heartbeat quicken.

During the past several weeks she was feeling extremely anxious and almost paranoid, barely leaving the castle and doing anything besides attending her classes. Even in such a peaceful and seemingly innocent moment she was not entirely relaxed, a sudden sting of fear appearing in her heart every now and then, causing her to feel as if she was being watched or something bad was about to happen.

Therefore when an owl suddenly landed right on her Herbology book, she let out a panicked screech and jumped away in fear, also distressing both of her friends.

‘Shit! Sorry, I didn’t expect you here, little guy.’ – she apologetically caressed the birds feathers and took out the rolled up piece of paper it was holding, only to watch it fly away the very next moment.

She unrolled it and saw a quick note written in elegant cursive.

Dear Emilia,

I really miss you. I wish we have gotten the chance to properly talk about what happened before the Christmas break. I want to fix things. I hope you do as well. Could we please meet tomorrow, in our special place? I sincerely hope I will see you there. I will be waiting for you at sunset.

Love, Ashton

‘Who is that from?’ – Rosie asked curiously and peeked from behind her at the note.

‘Ash. He wants to meet with me so we can talk.’ – Emilia answered plainly, not yet knowing how to feel.

‘Will you go?’ – Jaz asked, also interested.

‘I… I think so.’ – the girl bit down on her lower lip.

‘What’s the matter? I thought you missed him. And you never said what happened between you two. And Atticus as well, although, I have to say, I’m glad you two aren’t hanging out anymore.’ – Rosie stated.

Emilia sighed deeply.

‘I don’t know. I do miss him. But I’m terribly scared of confrontation.’ – she admitted quietly, grabbing a stick and tapping the surface of the water with it.

‘You don’t need to worry about that.’ – Jaz tried to cheer her up. – ‘It’s obvious that Ash loves you, he probably cannot wait for you two to be back together.’

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‘How do you know…?’ – she looked at her friend with a doubtful look on her face.

‘Well, uh…’ – her cheeks reddened slightly and she smiled which was unusual compared to her usually reserved behavior.

Em and Roz exchanged amused looks and looked back at her, awaiting an explanation.

‘I just got a chance to talk with Matt a bunch of times in between trainings, he says Ash looks like a ghost most of the time and keeps on missing classes or Quidditch trainings and is nowhere to be found most of the time.’ – she explained. – ‘He obviously he isn’t doing great.’

She just got onto her feet quietly, and walked off without explanation, leaving both of her friends confused.

Walking back to the castle, she kept on squeezing the notes in her hands tightly, feeling fear building up within her. She knew that Ash’s disappearances were more than just him being sad over their breakup, but oh, how badly she wanted to believe that she’d be wrong.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t even see a pair of yellow eyes watching her from the darkness of the forest as she walked back inside.

...

‘Em! Wait up!’ - Sebastian caught up with her, seeing her walking down the Grand Staircase the next day.

‘Oh, hi Seb. What’s up?’ – she asked, trying to hide her anxiety.

‘I need to show you something.’ – he revealed.

The boy reached into his school bag and pulled out a bunch of familiar looking scrolls and handed them to her.

‘I found these letters in Atticus’ drawers in the dormitory.’

She looked at him surprised and annoyed.

‘Why were you going through his things?’ – she questioned, scolding him.

‘Just. Read. Them.’ – he pressured.

‘I’m not going through his private correspondence, Sebastian.’

‘Merlin’s beard, Emilia!’ – he looked at her with anger and pulled her to the side to whisper into her ear. – ‘He is planning to hurt you. He is going to deliver you to Downer.’

Her heart dropped in fear but her mind refused to believe it.

‘Oh, what are you on about, that’s stupid…’ – she tried to protest but he pulled out one of the letters and almost shoved it in her face.

C.D.

I RECEIVED YOUR MESSAGE.

P.B. KEPT HIS PART OF THE PROMISE.

THE GIRL WILL BE DELIVERED SOON.

YOU KNOW WHERE TO MEET ME.

A.E.

She stared at the piece of parchment blankly.

‘I… it’s not possible.’ – she mumbled, shaking her head.

‘You have to tell someone. Quickly.’ – he looked at her with worry.

‘B-but who?’ – she stared at him with tears in her eyes.

‘I tried to go to Headmaster Black as soon as I found out but Professor Weasley told me he was away for a couple of days, some business to do in London. I tried to tell her but she was busy with preparations for the exams and told me to wait with it until Monday.’ – he revealed with frustration.’

Her breathing became irregular as panic began setting in.

‘I can’t fucking believe him… I-I have to tell Ash, I was supposed to meet with him right outside of the castle.’ – she gasped out in between breaths.

‘I’ll walk you there, to make sure you’re safe.’

‘No.’ – she stopped him. – ‘I’ll… I’ll be fine.

She rushed off quickly and left the staircase.

...

Emilia practically ran all the way up the hill, unphased by the beauty of the nature around, her eyes watery and her heart beating rapidly in her chest.

‘Ash? Ash?!’ – she called out, finally reaching the top and seeing the hollowed out tree casting a big shadow over the hill.

‘Emilia!’ – the Ravenclaw boy came up to her with his arms spread out wide and welcomed her in a hug. – ‘I’m so glad you came. I was beginning to worry you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore.’

‘Ash… Ash…’ – she breathed out tiredly. – ‘I have to tell you something.’

‘What is it, Love?’ – he looked at her with worry and a gentle smile.

‘It’s Atticus…’ – she cried out, still in his embrace. – ‘I just found out he wants to sell me away to Downer…’

‘Is that so?’ – his voice asked in a plain manner.

‘Yes, Sebastian just showed me a bunch of letters he found in their dormitory, confirming that he made a deal with him… Look.’

She pulled out the letter and showed it to him, awaiting a response.

To her surprise a smug smile spread on the boy’s lips and he chuckled lightly.

She sniffled and looked at him with narrowed brows.

‘Huh?’ – she mumbled.

‘I just think it’s funny… did you ever notice me and Atticus have the same initials?’ – he laughed and crumbled the letter in his hands.

‘W-what?’ – she breathed out in panic.

‘Imperio.’