(An exciting chapter number for an exciting part in the story, love a good coincidence)

I signed off the letter that read:

To whom it may concern,

After much consideration I reject the offer of an arranged marriage and understand as a result I now must decide my own fate and will be expected to support myself. I thank you for the roof and food I was provided but must insist on experiencing my adulthood without submitting myself to plans that conflict my own. I will continue using our surname with pride and will never speak badly of our house, if the family also agrees to turn a blind eye. I wish you all the best and hope this letter offers relief and satisfactory explanation.

Artemis Black

I rummaged under my bed and stuffed the thick notebooks I had accumulated over the years into my stuffed suitcase. I grabbed a large bag and gathered anything else of mine, that wasn't furniture, that I could think of. Panicking about what I may need going ahead.

Narcissa grew impatient with anxiety.

"Kreature wakes up a lot earlier than you'd expect. We need to go NOW."

We quietly left my room after straightening it out and turning off the lights. Closing the door as gently as possible behind us. The floorboards were creaky so we had to make sure we tiptoed synchronised, so that it didn't sound as if multiple people were walking throughout the house. The house was ancient and made lots of odd noises and creaks throughout the night and so if we were careful, the noises we made wouldn't be noticed.

My heavy breathing sounded like it was the loudest thing in the house until we approached our parents room closer, the vibration of my mothers snores dominating.

I attempted to control my breath, though the anxiety and adrenaline that screamed inside my body made it impossible to control. I knew father went for frequent bathroom breaks throughout the night, we could be caught at any moment. We had made it past the bedrooms.

The stairs were our next task. Certain steps obnoxiously louder than others. Now wasn't the time to forget which ones to skip.

It was hard to see them properly in the darkness of the night and a suitcase that i aggressively gripped onto blocking the view of my feet.

Narcissa halted before attempting them, as if she was thinking the same as me. She began counting the steps, I could kind of see her finger moving with each number.

"Don't trip. I'll move a step, then take the case. Then you move a step and take it back. Got it?" She whispered so quietly, I didn't understand how I could hear her. My adrenaline levels almost heightening my senses.

Her plan was to avoid any mistakes with our footwork. She recognised how it would be difficult moving silently with a clunky object obstructing my view. We were going to take it in turns and slowly.

We were going to do this. This was happening.

I couldn't help but bite down on a smile in the darkness. I haven't felt this alive since Hogwarts.

All those years spent caged up in my room, walking on eggshells, keeping my voice low and opinion mild. Being seen and not heard, obeying orders, enduring a backhand when not...it was ending. It was ending now.

I never wanted to smell the cigar smoke of my Father's office,
The smell of dusty roses from my Mother's perfume,
The sight of uncle Orion's perfectly waxed moustache,
The sound of aunt Walburga's high-pitched laugh,
The darkness of these walls that held onto so much pain, ever ever again.

We finally made it down the stairs, with only one minor mistake that made both of our hearts slightly skip a beat. Something thudded lightly inside the suitcase as we manoeuvred it back and forth.

We were just about to approach the front door when.

Click.

The sound of footsteps.

We both stopped dead in our tracks, not moving an inch. Staring at each other like deer in the headlights.

I barely breathed and I could Narcissa was holding hers too...I could almost see her heart thump through her chest. Mine was racing just the same.

We listened as if we were being hunted like prey. The heightened senses of adrenaline being confirmed by how loud the silence suddenly sounded. I could hear a pin drop on the top floor if it were fall. I could almost hear the blood pumping around my body.

A toilet flushing.

A tap dripping.

And then more footsteps.

A door closing and clicking shut again.

We both stayed glued to the same spot for a while.

"Wait until we know he's asleep." Narcissa mouthed at me, too scared to even whisper.

We stayed there for what felt like an hour, but was probably only ten minutes. The silence and  fear making time feel against our side. An enemy.

Finally Narcissa reached out and unlocked the front door. We both winced as the door made a metal clunking noise.

She nodded at me to go, her face still in a wincing expression.

I still tiptoed outside.

There was a chilly breeze, the night was quiet and clear. The air smelt fresh and relaxing.

Narcissa quietly locked the door behind her.

"Let's go." She whispered but picked up her speed. We remained silent, not speaking, until we had wandered far enough away that the fear began to subside. I followed her down every twist and bend, without question. I was putting my whole trust into her and where she was taking me, which she never revealed.

Finally, after the quickest long walk I have ever taken, on the verge of jogging.

We arrived at The Leaky Cauldron.

Which felt strange considering we were only here earlier this week.

We pushed through the door, it being as empty as it was when we had visited prior...now the odd person being much drunker.

I still followed her and she led me around the bend, behind the beam and up the stairs.

Of course! She had told me travellers stayed here and this was a place I'd never be looked for because it would be embarrassing for my parents to enter.

It was in plain sight, close to the boutiques my mother loved, close to most shops...but I wouldn't be seen here. She was a genius.

She pulled out a key she had wedged in a small bag that was attached to her side. She really had got everything sorted for me.

I entered the room with her, closing the door behind me as Narcissa took my case and placed it on a chair in the corner, popping it open and straightening up the insides that had mixed about during our frantic travel.

I looked around. The room was almost bare. Small printed flowers were wallpapered around, tearing slightly at each corner.

The window was tiny and high up, suggesting I had been given a room that didn't look out at the main street.

The light above flickered every now and then and the walls appeared thin, as we could hear mumbled conversation coming from a room next door.

But it had a bed and it felt like freedom, despite how bare and dingy it was.

"What now?" I spoke, having to break the whisper that now felt natural.

"You get some sleep." She smiled warmly at me. Walking over to make the bed to her standards.

"I don't know how to thank you." I said sincerely, a heavy amount of emotion sitting on a chest that was previously so tight from fear.

"That's what you can sleep on." She lightly laughed.

I looked at her a little confused.

"I told you, you're not abandoning me. I've just gone through all that effort." She began, now going over to my case to rummage for the night clothes I had on only a few hours ago.

"Andromeda didn't say goodbye and I don't know where she is, I never got to..." she stopped herself.

"Sirius needed little help. James' parents were waiting for him outside, all I had to do was make sure he could leave safely." She explained.

"I'm not letting another person slip away so easily." She said, her eyes slightly turning red. She was holding back tears, which almost left me speechless. She never cried.

"I'll meet you downstairs by noon. That gives you enough time to get plenty of rest." She said regaining her composure.

She began to walk back to the door.

"And what will you do now?" I grabbed her hand before she could leave.

"Lucius is expecting me. Mother and Father believe I've been with him all day. I'll be fine." She smiled.

I pulled her in for a hug.

A hug we have never given each other before. One with intense gratitude.

"Just pray to Merlin Father doesn't see me destroy that bloody consent document." She rolled her eyes and lightly laughed.
"You've never made life easy."

And she left.

And I was alone.

I turned around and looked upon the room for the second time.

The bed perfectly made, with my pyjamas led out on top of them, by Narcissa.

"I've never had the opportunity for it to be." I mumbled to myself.

I did now.