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AFTER THE FAITH INCIDENT, Albany started spending more time with her friends again and less with Merlin and Arthur, or researching soulmates and old magic. Frankly, she was ticked that despite everything she'd been through with the ghosts, they still felt the need to hide things from her. How could she trust them if they didn't trust her?

It had taken a while for her roommates to come back around and talk to her after the publication of Skeeter's lovely article, but after her return from the Hospital Wing, they had started making an effort. Albany still wasn't entirely comfortable with them, and had to take care discussing certain topics, but their support was appreciated nonetheless. Amongst their idle gossip, she discovered that while Phylis and Zoe were in fact going out, it was something they were keeping on the down low for fear of judgement; Phylis, however, had remarked on what a cute couple Albany and Carly had been, which cued the awkward explanation that they had just gone to the ball as friends.

"Aw, that's a shame," Phylis had sighed, though smiled nonetheless. "I thought your bravery to dance together in front of the whole school was very inspiring."

Viola rolled her eyes at the girl. "Of course they're not going out, Albany's obviously got a thing for Fred Weasley."

Albany raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth to explain that Viola might have had the twins mixed up — and then she caught herself and her face flushed a violent red at what she'd nearly let slip. I don't have a thing for George, she thought firmly, the heat in her cheeks distracting. I mean... it was just a dance.

"Merlin, you're right, look at her face!" Phylis squealed, flapping her wrists in excitement.

Albany just blushed harder and said nothing.

The day following her release from the Hospital Wing, she'd had a lengthy discussion with Fred, George and Carly about everything that had happened. She explained that Morgana was possessing Faith, and her leading theory that Faith was the sorceress' descendant, despite Merlin's objections. Reluctantly, she also confessed her worries over what Morgana had said about Evander; for some reason, even after Merlin had promised he didn't know anything about her brother's passing, it had still rubbed her the wrong way. It was eerie, how much sense it made — disappearing to chase destiny.

How could she trust Merlin when he told her nothing and expected her to follow him blindly?

"I think you should take a break from all that," George had gently advised. "It's clearly stressing you out."

Carly nodded vigorously in agreement. "The second task is happening in a month," she added, the volume of her voice a little loud with excitement at the thought. "I will help you figure out the egg!"

Fred snorted. "If you'll ever get out of the library with Hermione," he teased.

Carly flushed a deep pink. "She likes someone to study with," she explained, unable to hide her smile. She reached to fiddle with a small badge pinned to her robes. "And I help her sell badges and make stuff for the S.P.E.W.."

"S.P.E.W.?" Albany echoed, raising a mischievous eyebrow at the girl. "Spew?"

Carly pushed her glasses up her nose. "Not spew," she said, "society for the protection of elfish welfare. She's speaking up for the house elves."

Fred groaned. "She's not still on about that, is she?"

Carly shot the boy a firm look. "She's right about it."

"House elves like to serve, Carly," Albany explained gently; her family had never owned one, but she knew Faith's family did, alongside numerous pureblood households. She reached across the table to lay a hand on Carly's tense arm, but Carly retreated her arm, glaring at Albany.

"No creature is born owing anything to humanity," Carly snapped. "Thinking house elves only exist to serve you is very ignorant."

Albany swallowed, averting her gaze; even the twins looked guilty as they slouched in their seats.

"Well, when you put it like that..." George murmured, scratching at the back of his neck.

Carly sighed, standing from the bench. "I have to go finish something," she explained, at the concerned expressions of her friends. "But please consider joining. Albany, bring the egg to Weasley HQ after class."

"Okay," Albany replied softly, and would have smirked in amusement at what they were now referring to the classroom as if she wasn't still fighting a wave of guilt. "See you later."

"Going back to your girlfriend?" Fred called, grinning in his attempt to ease the mood.

Carly faltered, but continued walking as she glanced over her shoulder to him. "No, I — something else," she stammered, and hurried away.

"Are they?" Albany piped up, confused. "Girlfriends?"

Fred shrugged, and kicked his feet up onto the table. "Beats me. Looks like Curly Carly wouldn't mind it that way, though."

Albany grinned. They would be a cute pair, she thought.

As per George's advice, she did take a breather from all the old magic and destiny stuff. Faith kept her distance, and Merlin and Arthur didn't pester her about anything to do with the situation, so Albany was content to forget about the stress of those aspects of her life for another while. Though Morgana's grand entrance had left her on edge, she had seen Faith with Moody several times since, and it seemed the girl was finally getting help; her eyes looked brighter and her hair neater. Albany was happy for her, and happy to move past it. Well... for now.

Besides, she currently had bigger problems. As Carly had cheerfully pointed out, the second task was drawing nearer, and she was no closer to deciphering the message inside the egg. Carly's theory was that in certain conditions, it wouldn't scream, but Albany was beginning to doubt even that; they had tried opening it everywhere, with no luck. If she ever heard the strangled screeching again, it would be too soon — but she knew she would likely hear it countless more times. What did it mean?

She was pondering the mystery as she sluggishly prepared herself for class one morning.

The cork pin board beside her bed now had on show numerous photographs she had taken with the Polaroid camera Carly had gifted her; still shot memories of the Yule Ball, Fred and George over breakfast, Carly searching for her glasses while they sat atop her head. She smiled fondly at the pictures as she pulled herself out of bed. Having the reminders of good times with her friends to admire every morning made getting up that bit more enjoyable.

There was a commotion in the common room as she left the dorms, rubbing at her tired eyes. A small crowd of Slytherins in her year had gathered around the notice board by the door; Viola was the first to notice her presence, and dragged her over insistently, grinning wide.

"What?" Albany echoed, too groggy to process what was going on.

"Apparition lessons are starting this week!" Phylis cheered, gesturing to the slip of printed parchment on the board.

Albany squinted at the words, blurry in her watery morning vision. She rubbed at her eyes and pushed forwards as Cassius and Graham left.

APPARITION LESSONS
If you are seventeen years of age, or will turn seventeen before the 31st August next, you are eligible for a twelve-week course of Apparition Lessons from a Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor. Please sign below if you would like to participate. Cost: 12 Galleons.

She had forgotten that sixth year was the year they would be given the opportunity to learn to Apparate — and provided you were seventeen by May, you could take the exam and get your licence. She was looking forward to the lessons, actually. Though the magic was going to be no easy task to perform, Apparition was a deadly handy ability for any wizard or witch. And considering that she was already seventeen, she didn't have to worry about the age factor in getting her licence. Just her actual ability....

Which turned out to be even more rubbish than expected.

She decided to blame it on the stress of the tournament. The second task was only a couple weeks away by the time the lessons began, and while Carly had as good as adopted the golden egg to constantly experiment on, nothing was working. Albany was walking into the second task blind; not something she could afford to do. Couple that with the endless background chatter of her mind pondering old magic and soulmates, and she was pretty distracted.

"Nothing's working," she groaned as the Apparition instructor approached her, eyebrows raised expectantly. Frustration was clouding her head and clenching her teeth and fists. "I've tried it a million times by now, but nothing is happening."

"Too tense," Wilkie Twycross pointed out, the condescending edge to his words only fuelling her fury. "You're inhibiting your deliberation. Remember the three D's."

"Yeah, yeah," Albany grumbled, dizzy from spinning on the spot. What the hell kind of magic required spinning to perform, anyway?

Twycross wasn't impressed with her tone. "Perhaps a partner would encourage you," he remarked dryly, and beckoned over a student from the front that Albany didn't dare acknowledge. "Mr....?"

"George Weasley," came the mischievous response, and Albany whirled around in surprise to meet her friend's grinning face.

"Ah, Mr Weasley. Give this girl here a hand, you seem to know what you're doing," Twycross instructed wearily, and left the pair to aid another Slytherin.

"Miss Albany," George greeted her in a mock tone of authority. His bright smile split his face, and Albany took a moment to tear her eyes from it — oh how contagious it was. "Having trouble?"

She elbowed the boy in the side, unable to do anything but laugh in response, frustration forgotten. "You dimwit. How am I supposed to learn from you if even that poor excuse for an instructor gave up on me?"

George waggled his eyebrows at her. "Well, for starters, I'm not a poor excuse," he began, chuckling, and then leaned down to her eye level. "Though I'll admit I am dashingly handsome. I hope that won't be distracting."

Albany's face had violently blushed before she could stop herself; she was instantly ensnared in those wonderful eyes and smile. "In — in your dreams, Weasley," she stammered, the retort a bit more breathy than she had intended. She turned away hurriedly. What the fuck was that, Albany?!

"Am I?" George pressed, smirking at her flustered state. "In your dreams?"

"No," Albany snapped hastily, folding her arms. She stuck out her tongue at him, and fought back for control over the situation. "Fred, maybe, but you? Nah."

George straightened again, holding a hand over his heart and looking thoroughly offended. "The betrayal!" he cried dramatically, and fell to one knee, defeated. "My own brother!"

Albany gave him a light kick, giggling. "Get up, you idiot. I'm trying to learn here."

"Sorry." George shot her a lopsided grin. "So what's the issue, Miss Albany?"

"Everything," Albany replied. "Why'd he send you over here, anyway?"

George puffed out his chest, smirking. "You're looking at the first student to apparate successfully."

Albany's jaw dropped. "What — you? It's the first lesson!" She folded her arms, skeptical. "You did not. Fuck off."

George pouted. "That hard to believe?" he sighed pitifully.

"Uh, yeah," Albany deadpanned, rolling her eyes. "Alright then. Do it again, if you really can."

"No! I'm a beginner, I probably just got lucky."

"So it didn't happen."

"It did! I solemnly swear it!"

"Sure, Gred, whatever you say."

"Really?"

"No. Can we get on with my lesson now?"

George pouted at her. "You are so mean to me."

"You love me," Albany teased.

George smiled to himself, but didn't reply. Somehow, this reaction brought more of a flush to Albany's cheeks than she'd anticipated, and she glanced away, clearing her throat.

"Right," George said, clapping his hands together. He acknowledged the hoop in front of Albany with a nod. "So that's your destination."

"Sorry, but if I hear any more about the three D's from anyone I'm gonna lose it," Albany interrupted, and then added in a mocking tone, "destination, determination, deliberation!"

George laughed, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Fair," he said with a grin. "Can I call them different things?"

Albany shrugged. "I guess." She narrowed her eyes. "As long as it's not a pun."

"No puns," George relented, raising his hands in the air. "So the hoop is where you wanna be. You have to want to go there, yeah? And you gotta think only about going there."

"Makes sense, I guess," Albany admitted. "What's the spinning about?"

"Well, since there's no wand waving involved, you're kind of using your body as the magic instrument."

"Oh," Albany realised, raising her eyebrows at the redhead. "Like...?"

George nodded slowly, catching her unspoken words. "Yeah, like... that." He smirked. "So you should be a pro, really."

Albany rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."

"Come on, Merlinson," George teased, lowering his voice carefully on the last word. "Your magic is gonna be so powerful once you start believing in yourself."

His words caught her so off guard that she was left staring blankly at him for a long moment. He said it so confidently, like it was the key — was it? Was he?

"Earth to Albany?"

Albany blinked, focusing her vision. She was staring right into his warm gaze, and felt her worries melt in it. Felt her heart melt in it. It was so calming, and comfortable — what was she doing? She shook her head, glancing away with a shy smile.

"Sorry," she chuckled. "So, uh — I'll give it a try?"

"Do," George encouraged her, stepping back with a smile.

Albany focused on the hoop before her as she kicked off into a spin, but knew her heart wasn't in it ever before she began turning; her mind was lingering in those hazel irises, bathing in his laughter lines, counting the freckles that danced over his nose and across his face. And she was smiling before she could help it, happiness bubbling and blossoming in her chest. It was the most peculiar, pleasant feeling; so consuming that not only did she fail to apparate, but she failed to keep her balance in the spin and tripped over her own feet.

She fell into a pair of strong arms and was pulled against a warm body. Its scent was familiar, and if anything, made her smile even broader; sour candy and gunpower. George.

"Nice catch," she breathed, leaning her head back to glance up at him. He had a nice jaw.

"Nice fall," George chuckled, helping her back to her feet. "Lucky I was here to catch you."

"I'm pretty clumsy," Albany found herself saying, a blush taking to her cheeks. "You better stick around."

George laughed, and her heart soared at the sound. "I'll always be here," he murmured, so softly that Albany wasn't sure she was meant to hear it. "I swear."

Albany didn't succeed in Apparating that lesson, or the next few — she didn't even come close. But she watched George succeed several times, and tripped "accidentally" twice more. She couldn't find it in her to be frustrated with her failure; she was constantly distracted. Her mind had become preoccupied — obsessed — with George, and every little thing about him. How her stomach flipped every time she met his gaze, and her heart fluttered when he used his hands to guide her motions. The feelings strayed from just Apparition lessons, too, though she couldn't find it in herself to complain. He made her happy, so happy. Her heart sang in his presence, and felt lonely when he left. She recalled the night of the Yule Ball, and the flickering thought that had crossed her mind, just for a moment.

The thought that maybe she was in love; and if she was, how wonderful it was.

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❃ a/n:

hey all!! i am so so sorry for the delay in this chapter — in case you didn't hear, my grandmother broke her arm so i was staying with her for a while to help her out. i wish i could say updating will be back to normal, but i'm back to school tomorrow, so updates will probably be slow — though i do plan on getting updates out whenever i can, so don't worry ♡

also, huge thanks to whoever recommended this book in a tiktok??? dudes i don't know why that left me so shook but i'm constantly surprised by everyone's support! thank you everyone so so so much for all your reads, votes, comments, and shares, i appreciate each and every one of you ♡♡♡

- A x