Her tie rested rather messily against the surface of her neck, red and gold tied loosely and pulled apart by an action she had done while leaving her last class that day. She pulled half of her curled waves back with a silk, black ribbon that morning, charming it to stay in and glossed with the rest of her hair. Winnie Buldstrode had woken up with a plan that morning, after spending all of Sunday moping around in the back of the library, glaring at anyone who even glanced at her with whispered words about her formal disownment.

It was to be noted that she had barely slept, instead spent most of her night staring a leather cladded book with a certain level of pressure resting upon her chest. She had promised Theo she would open his mothers journal, but anytime her fingers twitched over the material she was left feeling like she was intruding rather than helping herself.

Yet, despite the lack of sleep she had still found herself staring at her freshly washed hair, her body wrapped in a white fluffy towel as steam coursed through the air, fogging the mirrors of the bathroom. She had decided then and there that she would stop moping around like a sad little puppy and actually do something.

It was half the reason she had styled her hair to be glossy and perfectly soft, using magic to make sure it didn't fizz throughout the day. She had also pulled out her forgotten blush compact and applied some to her usual pale cheeks, making her face glow with a certain look of life that she was missing. Winnie Buldstrode felt a little lighter as she practiced smiling in the mirror, her cheeks stinging with each way she twisted her glossed lips, trying to find the perfect, convincing smile.

She had left her common room with Lavender and Parvati, smiling at them both which caused the two to look at her as if she had blisters all over face. Though she brushed it off, and kept her face pulled into a fond smile, the one she perfected in the fogged smile moments before. She had fallen into a fairly practiced routine as the day grew on.

Smile. Laugh when someone says something idly funny. Wish people a good day as they pass by her, even help a first year if they need it.

There was a mild nudging in her mind that whispered to her, telling her she looked and sounded irly like all those pureblood girls she tried so hard not to be like. But Winnie was so quick to brush that off as awhile, she had realized that her life of showing just how pissed off she was, wasn't working. So her new mask would just have to do, no matter how many cracks or how false it could be.

Harry had asked her if she was okay in Transfiguration, which she replied with a twisted smile and a soft airy tone to her voice that could resemble something Luna Lovegood. She pretended not to notice the way the ebony haired boy shared a glance with a certain brunet slytherin, nor did she notice the way both Harry and Theo had been late to their Defence class.

Winnie Buldstrode was turning a new leaf, she told herself. Though the way her nails dug painfully into the palms of her hands multiple times during the day, I could say otherwise.

Winnie's cheeks burned from the constant tilting upwards of her lips, she was making her way towards the library, feet clicking against the floors as her robes bellowed out behind her. A gust of air swirled from her lips as she blew away a strand of light blonde hair that twisted in front of her face. It was the same time that a voice called out her name from some ways down the corridor behind her, the girl turned, feet freezing from the sound of her name on the same voice that inhabited her mind.

Theodore Nott was running towards her, one hand on the small leather bag he kept all his books on. His hair flopped like big puppy ears, touching his forehead and whisking around his skin. She eyed him closely, her head tilting upwards to look at his face as he came to a stop in front of her. A small smile floating onto his face, as her hazel eyes traced his features.

"I need your help," he breathed, his breath coming out as he shifted the bag on his shoulder up higher, the light of his family ring catching her eye as he tapped it against the leather strap.

"With what?" She questioned slowly, turning her gaze back to him as he sent her a tiny smirk, dimples forming on his cheeks. Dark green eyes rolled at her before his arm was slung over her shoulder.

"Now where would the fun be if I told you?" He questioned, teasing her as his hip knocked into her own. The blonde rolled her eyes, reaching up and lightly taking his arm off her shoulders, before crossing her arms against her chest.

"And who says I'm going to drop everything to help you?" She inquired, lifting an eyebrow as his eyes narrowed slightly. Though she smiled with a practiced grin, she knew that deep inside, she would drop everything to help no matter what he said. Simply because he had been doing the same for her all year.

"Because I'm your plant husband," he said matter of factly, tapping a finger to her nose as she recoiled slightly. Wrinkling her nose and swatting his hand away from her face, causing a soft laugh to leave his mouth.

"I did not agree to call us that, nor will I ever call you my ... plant husband," she warned, narrowing her eyes at him as he simply rolled his eyes. The two students standing in the middle of the hallway, decorated with portraits that idly watch them with both wonder and ignorance. "What do you need?" She sighed finally, watching their feet move in sync as they walked.

Just as fast as the change happened, his eyes darkened that vibrant juniper green once more. Black specks twisting and melting together, his shoulders rolled before he nodded. "You're going to have to come with me to the library," she eyed him casually, watching as his lips pulled to a tiny smile. It was almost as if he was nervous, suddenly his warm composure vanished and left behind a ghost in its past. It made her swiftly push her shoulders back, chipped blue nails digging into the fabric in her elbows, bunching up around the fabric of black school robes and white Oxford Blouse. He continued walking onward then, leaving her staring at his walking figure with narrowed eyes and an haggard expression. Biting down on her bottom lip, she took off after him, her arms falling down to her sides and hair flowing behind her shoulders. She swiftly caught up to him, though she suspected he slowed down his pace to allow her to catch up.

"Theo," she paused, twisting her ring on her finger as she glanced up at him through her lashes, their feet clicking against the floor at the same slow pace. "Are you alright?" She blurted out, rushing it out quickly, feeling her skin crawl after the words left her lips. Her face contorted into a frown, slowly realizing that this was the first time she had ever asked him that. It caused her fingers to wring together, her eyes staring hard at the corridor in front of her.

"Did you just ask me if I was alright? Merlin, are you alright?" He teased, chuckling as she frowned further. The slight sound of him laughing caused her stomach to drop and erupt in tiny boulders, punching and stabbing at every surface of her insides. She strolled to a stop, lips pressing into a thin line, he had stopped the exact same moment she had done, while his eyes snapped to her face, her eyes stared down at her feet.

"I wasn't trying to make a joke, you know?" She questioned suddenly, her tone bitter compared to the nonchalant attitude she had twisted into her words all day. She kept her eyes on her shoes, arms forcing themselves to cross around her chest once more, boxing herself in. "Why does everyone always assume I'm joking. I can care about how people are doing, I can ask that question! It doesn't mean I'm joking," she shot out, pausing as she breathed in deeply, sucking in a sharp breath of air before her eyes snapped up to him.

His eyes swam in the same deep green, staring hard at her as his lips fell open slightly. Eyes furrowed downwards, she could tell he was opening his mouth to speak, she could tell that he was suddenly going to go back on his comment, erase all of his words and try to take a new road. Winnie was a new force that day, but for all her purposes and all her attempts, she was still herself. No amount of perfectly masked smiles in the mirror, or whispers words that she could be better could change that. So, she did one of the few things she had started to do now to avoid any situation that she believed she stumped.

All day she had tried to be happier, more approachable, and all day she had felt nothing but confusion and slight uneasiness from the people she held close to her heart. It felt that despite her very best attempts, nothing was good enough and she was bloody tired of it.

She laughed, her lips tilting into a smile as she tucked her hair behind her ears. "It's fine Theo, forget I said anything, I'm tired, with O.W.L's coming up?" she chuckled, forcing a smile on her lips as she uncrossed her arms, letting them fall from her chest and towards her sides. "Anyway, you said the library right? Let's go," she turned to start walking again, only for her arm to be snagged back and her body to come to a halt.

"Winnie, I—" before any more words could leave his mouth, they erupted by the sound of footsteps and voices. Two voices Winnie Buldstrode knew well enough, Winnie's head snapped to the left side. Her hazel eyes landed on the figures of Cordelia Flint and Harry Potter, for a minute, the blonde felt like she was back in the Astronomy Tower. With the moonlight falling against her skin, bunny slippers on her feet and vile words leaving the surface of her lips, all aimed towards her cousin. Eyes sparking and wands trickling with angered magic, all built up and reflecting off each other like mirrors. Where Winnie had landed with a harsh slap against the concrete just after she uttered the words of Max, something she was sure she would have never done. But the truth was, Winnie wanted Cordelia to hurt just as much as she has. She wanted the brunette to feel the pain she had felt the past few weeks, to feel the pain of being left, without ever understanding.

But then Theo's hand pressed into the small of her back, bringing her back to reality. She narrowed her eyes, squaring her shoulders and stepping back closer to Theo. As if her cousin was a disease, and stepping closer would cause her to become infected. Her hand moved, grasping Theo's forearm just as she had done during the day on the train. Holding onto him to hold her to reality and away from the harsh words and events that had taken place between her and her cousin.

"Harry," Winnie spoke softly, offering the boy a smile, she turned her attention to Cordelia then. Eyes narrowing ever so slightly, as she sniffed, nose in the air and her shoulders squared. "Cousin," she spoke sharply, though the sweet smile she had twisted on her features had never vanished. She turned to look at Theo then, opening her mouth to suggest they leave for the library, though her words were cut from his mouth as suddenly her body was picked up. Theo's arm twisting around the middle of her waist, back pressing against his chest, as he heaved her up. "Wha— Theo!" She yelped, her eyes wide and her hands squeezing the arm he had wrapped around her waist, before she could utter another word, she was placed down once more.

This time, she stood on the surface of an empty classroom, her feet stumbling as she stumbled backwards from the quicken pace she was placed down. She blinked for a moment, stunned by the series of events that had happened too quickly over her head, until a click of a door closing swirled around her. She snapped her eyes up to the door, noticing that it was shut, her feet pushed themselves forward, only then noticing the swirl of brunette hair to her right. Her feet paused, snapping her head to look to her right only to see a rather furious looking Cordelia Flint.

The pieces slowly clicked into place then, Theo had never needed her help. Instead, he tricked her in order to get her into a room with Cordelia. Rage trickled from her insides, trailing to the tips of her fingers as she surged forward towards the door. Her hand wrapped around the handle, determined to leave as she twisted the cold brass. Only to find that it wouldn't budge, locked and stilled in a constant state. Uttering a growl from her lips, she stuck her hand into her robe to try to find her wand, only to come up empty. Her eyes widened, her hands suddenly moving everywhere and patting herself down in hopes to find the wooden wand she kept on her person ever since she received it.

Only, she was never met with the familiar feel of it, leaving her without a wand in a locked room with a cousin she was positively pissed at.

"Guessing you don't have a wand either?" Cordelia suddenly spoke, breaking the silent tension that trickled around them. Winnie clicked her tongue on the top of her mouth, closing her eyes and breathing out heavily through her nose. As soon as she managed to leave this classroom, she was going to find Theo Nott down and hex him all the way to bloody fucking azkaban.

"Clearly not," she snapped, shrugging off her outer robe and discarding it on a chair. She hadn't yet looked at her cousin further from when they first entered into the room, instead choosing to ignore everything she did. The female huffed, pulling off her tie and leaving it on the fabric of her ebony robes once more, before finally she pulled out a chair, directing it to face the door before she finally flopped down on it.

"So are you just not going to look at me?" The brunette questioned, the sound of feet shuffling around behind the blonde whizzed around her.

"Nope," Winnie replied quickly, popping the 'p'. Her leg bounced against the floor, as she leaned back, crossing her arms across her chest once more as she pressed her lips into a line.

"Well that isn't childish at all," Cordelia muttered under her breath, though it was fairly loud enough for her to hear from where she sat. Winnie, bristled, her fingers clenching slightly against the white fabric of her blouse, her grey v-collar vest itched slightly on her hands. She bit down sharply on her tongue, holding herself back from speaking. She wouldn't speak at all if she had to, quite frankly, Winnie couldn't care what her cousin did. It was made fairly clear the other night how the brunette felt, she wanted her to sod off, and sod off she will.

Winnie was only slightly aware of the fact the brunette had caused a chair to screech across the floor from somewhere behind her. Causing the hair on her neck to stand on edge as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her teeth gritted in annoyance, hating the sound of chairs screeching across floors, something she knew Cordelia knew.

It was unsettling, just sitting there with her bones rigid and her foot tapping a mile a minute. It was the only sound that could be heard in the tiny classroom, the heel of her shoe clicking like a muggle pen. Winnie's fingers curled into fist against the crook of her elbows, nails digging into the already formed crescent moon marks in the palm of her fingers.

Winnie Buldstrode used to have only one favourite person. It was her grandfather for years, with his smell of bitter firewhiskey, scratchy greying beard and hazel eyes that flickered with so much bitter cold hurt it could pierce you through the heart and all. He was always her favourite person, always the one she went to as a child when things got a little tough, when she had questions about her parents' work. He was the person who pushed her to be different, the one who gave her a new bridge over a sea of crimson deep claws.

But then he died, and she was left alone on that bridge. Harsh winds slapping her in the face, causing her bones to quiver and her heart to feel all too small for her body. She was a burning flame in the middle of a sea that wanted to choke her dry, that wanted her to follow order, to be something she could never truly be on the inside.

But then there was Cordelia.

The one who offered her an anchor when she tilted over the edge, the one who shined a light on her darkened path, holding her to the ground of her ideals. Cordelia Flint had been the first person she had told about her Grandfather dying, in fact, she was the only person she had ever told. The only person who had truly seen her cry, who had seen her with red cheeks and a trembling lip, she was the only one who had hugged her and told her that everything was going to be alright. Cordelia Flint was her light in the dark, and for a very long time, she was her favourite person.

Winnie never knew it at the time, of course, but she felt it in the way the silence twirled around them in that tiny room. Cordelia Flint was Winnie Budstrode's favourite person in the whole world. The blonde never enjoyed telling people how much she cared for them, it made her feel small, it made her feel like her heart was bursting out of her chest, exposing every little secret and every little feeling she ever felt. It was too raw, too real and far too real for her. She realized she had never told Cordelia how much her cousin meant to her, but the brunette assumed it never mattered.

She assumed it never mattered because they had promised each other they would never leave each other.

But the world had become far too wide and far too scary, and before she knew it, Winnie was left alone with all her secrets. They weighed down on her like chains, holding her heart heavy and her chest clogged to the point where she could no longer breathe clearly. She had been left once more, her favourite person in the world leaving her. But unlike the last time, the ghost of Cordelia Flint followed her, because she was alive and in every surface of her life.

Winnie Buldstrode perhaps loved her cousin more than she loved anyone else in her family, she was so used to her being there, that when she wasn't there, Winnie felt as if her heart was broken.

The feeling crawled back into her chest as they sat in silence, the beloved cousins had done this numerous times before. Sitting in silence had grown to be a comfortable thing for them, they didn't always need to speak when around each other. Sitting in silence with Cordelia was one of the few things that had always calmed down the blonde, she often looked forward to times when they sat in the library, or when they managed to find time in each of their homes to be their normal selves without trying to please someone.

Now, now it felt like she was sitting in a room with a stranger. Her skin prickling and her heart pounding painfully in her ears. She wished to leave, she didn't want to spend another minute in the condensed space of the classroom, she could have the weight of the sitcom brace down on her. Every false smile, every kind word she forced out of her mouth in order to keep herself sane that entire day floated away in the wind, leaving nothing behind but the truth she tried so hard to bury.

"Glad you decided to tell someone the truth," Cordelia spoke finally, her voice nearly a quick whisper throughout the room, reaching Winnie's ears like snake venom. Nipping at her ears and leaving a stale taste in her mouth, Winnie shifted in her chair. Hands clenching tightly and her lips pressing into a line.

"Don't know what you mean," Winnie muttered, a bitter tone leaving the surface of her lips as continued to stare bitterly at the surface of the door, imagining it opening at any minute so she could bolt out and find a certain brunet Slytherin male.

"I think you do," Cordelia commented quickly, Winnie shifted in her seat, hearing the sound of footsteps across the floor once more, Winnie almost could imagine her pacing from right to left.

"Yeah sorry, forgot I can read minds," the brunette scoffed, pressing her lips into a line once more. They were quiet for a few minutes after that, sitting in a tension filled silence that drifted around the room like fire. Winnie's foot continued to click against the floor, tap after tap until that was all that twirled through the room. Until finally, a chair clasped to the ground, causing a loud crash to emit through the classroom and Winnie's body to suddenly jump up from her chair. She swirled around, hair swirling behind her with her eyes wide.

Cordelia Flint stood with her hands balled into fist, the chair Winnie suspected she was sitting in was toppled to the floor behind her. The brunette's face was a wide range of tickled crimson, dots sputtered across her cheeks, blue eyes sparking a deep cerulean as she stared harshly at Winnie.

She felt Cordelia's emotions as molten lava waves, flickering between each other as she stared at her cousin, finally allowing her magic to reach out uncontrollably towards Cordelia. Anger was the first, most obvious feeling. Exploding in her mouth as if a brandy iron was stuffed down her mouth, it burned, causing her fingers to crack as she swallowed the acidic taste. Anguish came next, tasting like sour milk, as it punched Winnie square in the gut. Lastly, distrust rolled into her bones, making her fingers clench painfully to hold back the heat that burned her palms painfully. The taste of vinegar, like bitter liquid trickled down her throat as she breathed in heavily through her nostrils, narrowing her eyes at her cousin before finally going to turn around once more.

"No! You don't get to do this to me," Cordelia snapped, rushing forward and grasping Winnie's hand. The blonde quickly snapped her hand away, as Cordelia screamed. Winnie's eyes widened slightly as she pressed her hands to her chest, ignoring the magic that now electrified itself into her chest and instead on the way Cordelia cradled her own hand to her chest. "Did you just fucking burn me?" The female snapped, eyes wide as Winnie shook her head, trying to take a step forward to see what she was sure would be blistered skin upon Cordelia's hand only for her cousin to step harshly away from her.

"Cordelia I-" all anger and frustration seeping away into exhaustion as she spoke, finding dead words to form on her lips as she stood with her lips open. Watching Cordelia stare at her with such intense hatred and fear, feeling it wash over her in such a bitter wave it made her recoil into herself. Her hazel eyes falling to the shape of her hands, where her palms lay a feverish red, twitching and shaking. "I- I can't, you-" She stuttered, pressing her lips into a line to hold in the sudden, unbidden urge to cry.

"What the hell is happening to you Winnie? You just burned me!" The brunette snapped quickly, her words thumping out of her lips with so much emotion Winnie couldn't possibly pinpoint one from the next. "Who the hell are you? You always push people away and I-" Winnie flinched, her fingers clenching as she pressed them to her chest, shaking her head as she sucked in a sharp breath.

"Don't you dare pretend you know what happened to me or that I kept things from you at my own choice," the female seethed, voice hoarse and shaking slightly. Winnie continued to take in deep breaths between each sentence, reminding herself to not get too lost in the emotions radiating off of her cousin at the moment in fear of burning her again. "I tried to talk to you, I've tried multiple times but each time you've pushed me away. So don't come at me for pushing people away, when you've done the exact same thing with me." She defended, fingers turning white for the tightness of her grip.

"I was angry at you—"

"And I needed you!" Winnie snapped, her eyes wide and her lip trembling slightly. "I was told that I have some type of fucking magical gift that literally could kill me and before I even had the chance to figure anything out I was disowned from my family, I was almost killed, and you weren't there. You took one look at the situation and decided to leave, you blamed me for hanging out with blood traitors Cordelia! You asked me to go back to my family, my family! You wouldn't even listen to one word I had to say because you already decided in your own head that I did this on purpose, and yes I kept it from you. But you never bothered to ask why either." Winnie breathed heavily, her face flushed and heated with rage as she pointed her finger towards Cordelia, her lips twisting as she swallowed thickly. She watched as Cordelia's eyes widened, her body taking a faltering step backwards. "I needed you, and you left me." Her words left her mouth at a much quicker pace then, less anger and more of the deep suited sadness and guilt that bounded in her heart for so long twisting out.

"Did you ever stop to think that I needed you too?" Cordelia whispered after a few moments, Winnie's eyes snapping up from her feet and towards Cordelia's face. Winnie's lips fell open slightly, watching as her cousin's eyes glistened in the light of the classroom. Fat tears fell down over the course of her cheeks, still flushed crimson, "what was I supposed to think? We told each other we'd always be there for each other and then I come to your Manor and you're gone. Your room looks like it has been ruined, your face and name is blown off your family tree. Millicent is acting as if you're dead, and you —," Cordelia sucked in a sharp breath, her lips trembling as tears continued to run down her face. "You... I thought you were gone like M-Max," she trailed off again as a choked sob rushed through her lips. Both of her hands coming up to cover her mouth as she squeezed her eyes shut, she stood, curling in on herself as if she needed to protect herself. As if curling into a ball could save herself from everything terrible and horrible about the world.

Winnie had no realization of how or when she started to cry, but tears strolled down her own cheeks all the same. Dripping down the surface of her chin and into her clothes, her eyes wide as she watched the brunette girl sob openly in front of her, Winnie couldn't imagine at one point in her life when Cordelia ever cried in front of her. She knew her cousin always bottled up her emotions, corking it off and stuffing it down inside of her until there was nothing left. Just as fast as lightning, Winnie's anger disappeared and replaced itself with guilt. Before she knew it, her arms were wrapped around Cordelia, pressing her close and holding her tightly.

"Shh Lia, it's okay. I'm okay," the girl whispered, hugging the girl tightly. One hand tangled into Cordelia's hair around her shoulder, Winnie's eyes squeezing shut as she felt her cousin's chest heave and raver against her own. "I'm not gone, I'm right here, I promise. Nothing's going to happen to me," the girl reassured as Cordelia's arms came to hug the blonde back. They had stood like that for a few minutes, Winnie whispering quietly in Cordelia's ear as the girl cried openly, causing wetness to form on Winnie's left shoulder, though she barely cared. All she cared about at that moment was Cordelia, wishing for her cousin to stop crying.

"Sorry," Cordelia mumbled as she pulled away, her hands coming up to wipe furiously at her face as Winnie snorted.

"Sorry for crying? I cry everyday, it's fine," Winnie tried to joke, but it was sourly misplaced as Cordelia simply sniffed and pulled out a seat, sitting down on it. Winnie watched, still standing as Cordelia's shoulders slumped forward, her head falling to her hands. The blonde sucked in a breath, wiping away her own tears before she grasped a chair, pulling it over to sit it in front of Cordelia. The blonde''s fingers clasped together, her eyes casted downwards towards her ring. The sound of Cordelia sniffling filled the room once more, no longer filled with anger but now with guilt and secrets built upon both of their shoulders, itching to be plucked off.

"I know about Max," Winnie started, speaking slowly and abruptly. Her eyes stayed casted to her hands, a finger slowly turning her silver ring. She avoided looking at Cordelia at this point, not because she was angry anymore, but because she was terrified to see the brunette's reaction. "I uh ... Marcus told me, don't get mad at him, I asked him to," Winnie breathed, chewing on her bottom lip as she squeezed her fingers together into a fist once more.

"What do you know?" Cordelia questioned quietly, if it wasn't as silent as it was in the classroom, Winnie would be sure she wouldn't be able to hear.

"Your father killed him," she breathed out heavily, her lips pressed together as slow rage filled her once more. "I didn't try to find out because I was curious, I only did because Millie mentioned something about Max one day and I will ... with the context I needed to know." She admitted quietly, twisting her ring once again as she unclenched her ring.

"I saw it happened," Cordelia admitted quietly, her words a quiet murmur as Winnie snapped her head up towards the brunette then. Being caught with nothing but the sight of Cordelia looking at her laps, her fingers twiddling with a thread of her Slytherin robe. "I saw his body hit the floor and his blood soak into the wood, I —," she paused breathing in deeply as she clenched her hands together on her lap. Winnie wondered if she had ever told anyone before, and by the way her cousin's head stayed glued downward, she doubted it much. "Father saw me, I told him I saw nothing, but ... I did. I saw it all," she bitterly laughed then, her voice choked as if she were going to cry once more.

"Lia, I —," Winnie paused, she had been about to apologize, about to say the words that she was sorry. But she realized that no amount of apologizing can fix the pain and hurt of seeing that. There was simply no going back from that, "I understand why you didn't tell me, that's not something that comes up easily," Winnie whispered, placing a small smile on her face despite the fact Cordelia wasn't looking at her.

"Why'd you ask about it anyway?" Cordelia questioned suddenly, swiftly changing the subject onto the next problem. Winnie sighed, reaching behind her head to tug the black ribbon out of her hair, leaving the pieces of hair she pulled out of her face that morning to twist downwards around her face. She twirled the black ribbon in between her fingers, before finally speaking. "I received a letter that was meant for Millie one day at lunch. So, I decided to deliver it. So uh ... she started saying things that I needed to get in line, that we had an important guest coming and if I didn't act accordingly I could end up like Max," she admitted quietly, wrapping the ribbon around her fingers, before unwrapping it. She continued to repeat the action, until Cordelia's hand suddenly reached forward and clasped down on her hand with her own. Instantly, Winnie twirled her hand over, holding onto Cordelia's hand like a lifeline, the brunette squeezed back just as hard.

"The important guest... was it, You-Know-Who?" Cordelia questioned quietly, as Winnie sucked in a breath. Closing her eyes shut as images of red eyes and the stone cold feeling of his hands wrapped around her throat came back over her. She squeezed Cordelia's hand tightly, using that as an anchor to hold her down, keeping her balanced from the familiar fear that tried to crawl back into her system.

"It was Voldermort," she felt Cordelia's hand twitch in hers at the use of the full name. Winnie sucked in a deep breath, breathing out slowly before she turned her head upwards. Locking eyes with Cordelia before continuing to speak, "my parents wanted us to join the cause I think. Either way he was there, and Cordelia it was ... it was the most frightening thing I ever had to sit though. He was going to do something awful, and I realized I could help you know. You lose someone already, and I couldn't let you lose someone else. I tried to help stop it, Cordelia, I promised I tried ... I would've died if it meant ... I tried and I failed," Winnie broke off, her eyes trailing away from Cordelia's face and eyes, images of Marcus laying dead on the floor from her dreams floating to her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the images to leave.

"Wait ... what do you mean? I don't understand," Cordelia spoke slowly, causing Winnie's eyes to open and to glance back at Cordelia. She watched silently, as the brunette's eyebrows frowned downwards, blue eyes narrowing in confusion with her lips pressed into a line. Winnie's eyes traced her face, slowly realizing that she had no idea about her brother.

"He didn't tell you," Winnie whispered, her eyes wide and her heart thundering.

"Tell me what?" Cordelia questioned quickly, inching closer on the edge of her chair. Her hand squeezing wes tighter as her eyes widen like stars, "Winnie tell me right now." She half ordered, her voice wavering with clear panic as Winnie's own heart twisted. She had told Marcus she didn't tell Cordelia, that was something she felt like he should tell her herself. But yet, as she stared at Cordelia who continued to squeeze her hand like it was a blanket keeping her warm from the cold, she realized she couldn't lie anymore.

"He ... he took the mark," she whispered, her demeanour crackling like fine glass as she watched Cordelia's reaction. Watched as Cordelia's eyes flashed, her head shaking, ready to deny it, until her lip trembled. Winnie wondered if she noticed things were off about Marcus from the night, Winnie had. She noticed the way he itched at his arm even when he thought no one was looking, she noticed how he seemed more translucent, less alive and simply just a body with a heart. "I tried to stop it, Cordelia, I swear. I tried to send him away, I would've d—"

"No," Cordelia spoke sharply, cutting her off as she shook her head. "No. You would've died, you could've died Winnie. And where would we be then? It would've solved noth—"

"But you don't understand!" Winnie cut her off, shaking her own head as she pleaded. "I had a port key of sorts," she paused, her free hand reaching up to pull the chain off her neck, showing Cordelia the silver pendant. "It was connected to Harry, he ... he could've gotten out and would've never gotten the mark."

"Yes, but you'd be dead!" Cordelia snapped, eyes wide with fire as she stared sharply at Winnie, her hand squeezing so tightly onto Winnie's, the blonde was sure it was almost breaking. "You would've died like Max, and you ... you're like a sister to me you bloody idiot! You can't die and leave me alone, you can't do that! If you died, it would've torn me apart," Cordelia finished, her words less sharp and more broken as tears fell down her face silently. Winnie trailed her tongue along her teeth, holding back the urge to cry. She didn't get to cry right now, not when Cordelia was, not when Cordelia needed her. She would be the strong one now, she would hold them up and worry about herself later.

"You're right, I'm sorry," she whispered, squeezing her cousin's hand before letting her hold go slack. Holding on but barely there.

"Why didn't you tell me? About the letter and what Millicent said? And what do you mean 'connected you to Harry?" Cordelia questioned once she calmed down once again, Winnie's hand still in hers as the two sat facing each other.

"I wanted to but ... I knew you'd be worried, especially after I knew about Max. I didn't want you to be worried about me," she paused, watching as a flick of rage drifted through her cousin's face. "I know that's wrong, I should've told you, I just thought I was doing the right thing. I had no intention of telling Harry, but Hermione found me after what Millie said and she ended up telling Harry. It's how they gave me this, Harry has the other part, when either one of us is in danger it'll bring us to the other. It worked, though I'm not sure why I wear it anymore, I doubt I'll need it again."

"Keep it on," Cordelia ordered, shoving the hand that held the necklace in it back towards Winnie. Her face was pale, almost as if she had imagined another scenario where the necklace would be needed. "It's good to have, you never know what might happen," she whispered as Winnie nodded, sliding it over her head with one hand. They were quiet again, the air drifting around them with the weight of their secrets coming undone, slowly becoming clearer and more and lighter.

"Gilderoy Lockhart is Max's dad," Cordelia whispered, and for a moment Winnie thought she heard incorrectly. Because the idea of their second year Defence teacher who turned out to be nothing but an impulsive, narcissistic liar being her deceased cousin's father was bollocks.

"Good one, Lia," Winnie snorted, a smile on her face as she looked up to Cordelia's face, expecting a small smile, instead she was faced with a very sullen frown. The girl's lips pressed downwards and her eyes casted towards their hands. "Oh! You're being serious. Merlin I— Sorry, I mean ... how did that happen?" She asked breathlessly, tilting her up as Cordelia snorted softly.

"Mum brought me to St.Mungo's Christmas morning and told me, didn't even hesitate. I thought she was mad, but no, he's Max's father," Cordelia broke off with a laugh then, her lips pulling into a smile as she started giggling. "Oh god! My dead brother's father is Gilderoy Lockhart!" She announced loudly, looking up at Winnie with wide bright blue eyes, her lips titling up to a grin as she laughed. Winnie blinked, wondering if Cordelia was having some sort of mental breakdown, before her own lips suddenly started to twist upwards. Her own laughter pools from her lips at the idea of Lockhart being anyone's father.

"That's completely mental," Winnie laughed, her face breaking out into a wide smile that truly meant for the first time in days. The only time she ever truly smiled like that since her fallout with Cordelia had been with Theo, which was a very rare time that they ever stayed long enough around each other for them to be smiling. Cordelia nodded in agreement, letting a sigh fall from her lips as she stared down at their hands. Her face fell, losing it's smile and carefree expression, becoming gloomy.

"My mum is sick," she admitted quietly, causing Winnie to suck in a breath. Her eyes wide and her smile floating off her face. "It's pretty bad I think, she's in St.Mungo's at least," she chuckled bitterly, twisting her mouth into a sour expression as Winnie frowned. Before she unclamped their hands and surged forward on the edge of her chair, pulling Cordelia into a hug as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you," she whispered quietly, feeling Cordelia hug her back tightly. Her cousin's chin resting on her shoulder as the blonde rubbed the lighter brunette's back reassuringly.

"You didn't need to apologize, I wasn't there for you either," Cordelia whispered back, before the two pulled away, watching, sharing a small, pitiful smile on their face. Winnie sighed, running a hand through her waves as she wrapped her black ribbon around her wrist, tying it.

"Do you think she'll get better?" Winnie questioned quietly, tracing her finger against the smooth silk as she heard Cordelia suck in a shuddering breath.

"I'm not sure," she mumbled, while Winnie frowned, wishing there was more that could be done for her cousin. She never knew her aunt much, besides for the small hugs they shared during holidays or the occasional 'how is school?' when they spoke. But she knew her aunt was far nicer and kinder than most of their family, she didn't deserve to be sick.

"Well, no matter what happens I'll be here okay?" Winnie sighed, offering a smile as she looked up at Cordelia, reaching out to grasp Cordelia's hand this time. "I promise to always be honest with you, no more keeping things from you. You're like my favourite person, or whatever," the girl rolled her eyes, smiling as Cordelia squeezed her hand, uttering a small snort.

"And you're mine too, I guess," Cordelia replied, grinning as the two girls shared a small laugh. Leaning back in their chairs as they sighed, Winnie's head leaning back as she shut her eyes. "There's been something I've been wondering about actually," Cordelia paused as Winnie hummed quietly, keeping her eyes closed as she relaxed. "Why was Sirius Black behind you in the mirror? Isn't he like a mass murderer?" Winnie's eyes instantly shot open, her mouth falling open as she sat up straight, clearing her throat she stifled a laugh, looking sheepishly at her cousin who was staring at her with one eyebrow raised

"Well see, funny story actually. You see, it wasn't actually him, it was Peter Pettigrew. And well, he's Harry's godfather and Harry went to his house or ... where he is hiding during Yule break. He kinda, actually offered me to go and live with him now that I have no family or anything," Winnie laughed awkwardly, running a hand through her hair. Cordelia sat, blinking several times as she opened her mouth before closing it once more, leaving Winnie to shift in her seat.

"Well ... I guess that's good then?" Cordelia replied after a moment, her tone borderlining on more of a question than a statement. "He's wrong though, Sirius," she added as Winnie raised an eyebrow at her in question. "You do have a family, I'm your family," she smiled, as Winnie rolled her eyes.

"I know you git," she smiled, causing Cordelia to roll her eyes before her eyebrows furrowed, the side of her cheek sinking in as if she was chewing on it from inside of her mouth.

"Are you going to move in with him?" Cordelia questioned slowly, her gaze looking over Winnie's face. The blonde herself slumped forward, her hand twisting the ring on her finger as she shrugged, running her tongue across her chapped bottom lip.

"I don't know, I mean, if my parents find out I'm with him... they'll kill him, Cordelia. And I can't do that to Harry, it's just not logical," Winnie shook her head, twisting her ring on her finger as Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"And being homeless is?" Cordelia questioned, raising an eyebrow. Winnie opened her mouth to speak, before realizing she was right, heaving a heavy sigh, she leaned forward. Her elbows pressing into her knees, with her head in her hands.

"I just don't know what to do! I'm fifteen! Sure I'll be turning sixteen next month but I still shouldn't have to worry about someone being killed if I decide to live with them! I shouldn't be having nightmares of a fucking man that's literally suppose to be dead, but apparently he can live forever, which is some real freaky arse shite," she burst out, heaving a heavy groan as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"True, but, you should go. You should live with him, he offered. You need a place to stay Winnie, and will ... you can't go back home. I was wrong, you can't fix it, they'll hurt you. I suspect You-Voldermort..." She paused as Winnie glanced up at her, her hands over her face and eyes peeking through her fingers. "He'll probably want to punish you for leaving. And I ... you'll be safer with Sirius, so take it. It's a home Winnie," Cordelia smiled sadly, tilting her head as Winnie's lips pressed into a line, chewing the side of her lip before she nodded.

"You're right," Winnie sighed, leaning back in her chair as she dragged her hands down over her face. "I'll accept his offer, only because you told me to though," she grinned, narrowing her eyes jokingly at her as Cordelia snorted.

"Stubborn witch," Cordelia muttered, causing Winnie to flick her on the shoulder just as Cordelia's eyes flickered down the palm of her hand. Winnie's own body stiffened at the action, shoulders brushing against the back of her chair as she suddenly wrapped her hands together, as if keeping them to herself would protect Cordelia from her magic. The blue eyed female glanced up then, lips pressed into a line as her eyebrows knitted together, Winnie could practically hear her mind working, and though while she had a funny feeling what her cousin would say next, the words still made her flinch and screw her eyes shut as they were spoke. "What did you mean by discovering you had a magical gift that could kill you?" The golden brown female questioned slowly, timidly as she stared at her cousin.

Winnie's eyes opened, but instead of looking down at her cousin she stared instead at her hands sitting in her lap. Cordelia's panic washed over quickly, like a rush of agency that made the chocolate brown haired girl bite her lip.

"Winnie? What the hell is happening? Are you dy-"

"Merlin, Theo would surely kill me for making this more dramatic than what it is," Winnie breathed, cutting her off as she lifted a now shaky hand to her hair, running her fingers through the silk locks as she casted her eyes to Cordelia. Feeling the moment confusion trickled into her bloodstream at Winnie's words.

"Theo? What I... what does he have to do with this?" Cordelia questioned quickly, as Winnie let out a bitter snort, sucking in a deep breath/ She had come to the realization that she could no longer prolong it, her safety of having only one person know her secret would vanish the moment she opened her mouth. Winnie could no longer avoid this anymore, even if she told herself she wasn't avoiding it in the first place.

"It appears I'm an empath," her tongue clicked on the roof of her mouth at the way her cousin frowned, lips sticking out as she tilted her head. "Which means. I can sense and feel every emotion of every single person I meet. Including you." She paused as she watched Cordelia sit back in her chair, feeling that wave of embarrassment taste sour in her mouth, radiating from Cordelia herself. "No need to feel embarrassed, really, but you can see how this can be a problem especially when I can no longer feel my own emotions half the time."

"So you can feel ... everything? Like you can just walk into a room and understand every emotion every single person is having?" Cordelia questioned slowly, lips pressed into a frown as Winnie sighed.

"I would use the word understand very loosely, but essentially yes," she nodded, twisting her ring as Cordelia's blue eyes stared at her. Dainty eyebrows still pinched against her forehead.

"Okay sure, I don't see how any of this has to do with you possibly dying," Cordelia added, eyes narrowed slightly as Winnie breathed heavily through her nose. Her teeth chewing on the inside of her left cheek as she twisted over every word Theo has spoken to her since that day she burned her hand into the wall. ( Which the house elves had apparently fixed for her handprint was no longer there when she walked by the stone hall. )

"I may have been over dramatic, slightly," Winnie started, watching as her cousin glowered at her, making the female's lip press into a deep frown. "With this gift, or whatever you wish to call it, if I don't learn to control it, flares happen, hence your hand," Winnie pointed to red., blemished palm of Cordelia's hand. "If these flare ups continue to happen, then it will interlitize, or whatever. I could start having some troubles with my organs I guess, my magic will burn me from the inside out," she finished, shrugging just as Cordelia's eyes widened, her lips falling open to form a small 'o'. Looking at all like she was insane for shrugging at such a topic.

Which, Winnie supposed she may just be. For while her magic has continued to flare, it hadn't registered yet inside her tiny brain that one day that may just stop.

'Well, do you know how to control it?" Cordelia questioned, voice sharp as Winnie sent her a glare, raising a single eyebrow as she glanced down at her cousin's hand.

"What the hell are you doing? Why haven't you-"

"Oh Cordelia honestly, as it looked like I've had time to try and figure this out? My life hasn't been quite easy lately and-"

"Oh well poor Winnie Buldstrode, who got kicked out of her home but just so happened to have a new one waiting for her the very next day," Cordelia snapped, cutting off Winnie mid sentence as the brunette narrowed her eyes, sitting up straighter as Cordelia glared over at her. "We all have shite to deal with Winnie! That doesn't mean you can just ignore something as serious as this," Winnie opened her mouth to agree, only to have Cordelia point a finger at her. "Don't you dare say this isn't serious because it is, you have to start dealing with this," Cordelia finished, no disdain or fear admitting from her, only anger that Winnie could easily point at where the blame for it comes from.

Winnie frowned, folding her arms across her chest as she sat staring down at her shoes, she knew her cousin was right. She had the same conversation with Theo two times before this. Ignoring the situation could no longer work, she would become sick one day if she didn't deal with it, and she would only have herself to blame for the blood that would splatter her palms.

"I know," she whispered, defeated as she ran a hand down her face, leaning forward to place her elbows on her knees. Her eyes shut, breathing in through her nose as she felt her magic flicker, almost like a crackling heat of a fire. It settled over, basking her in warmth that made the skin on her neck prickle. Cordelia's colder fingers wrapped around her cousin's forearms, the top of her head resting against Winnie's.

"You don't have to go through this alone," Cordelia whispered, and while Winnie supposed she was never going through this part alone, thinking of a brunet slytherin she dearly loved to hate, her body sagged in relief because Cordelia would be there. Opening her eyes, her hazel gaze locked with Cordelia's icier ones, and both female' let their lips pull into a smile before Cordelia sighed, squeezing Winnie's forearms once before she stood. "Think they can keep us here forever?" Cordelia questioned as Winnie stood up, coming over to stand beside her as both witches stared at the door.

"Probably, they might have forgotten," Winnie snorted, walking over to grab her robe and tie, slinging it over her forearm as she walked back towards the door and beside Cordelia. "Think they're out there?" Winnie questioned as she turned her head to the side to look at Cordelia who shrugged.

"I guess we can just knock at the door and maybe they'll open it?" Cordelia questioned, running a hand through her brunette locks before Winnie shrugged.

"Worth a shot, I guess," she stepped forward then, raising her hand to knock just as the door came barging open. Causing her to stumble backwards and hit her back against a desk, she blinked, missing the sound of gasps and a half shouted Theo Nott while she righted herself. Ignoring the stab of pain in the middle of her back, she looked up towards the door once again, finding both Theo and Harry standing in the doorway. A sheepish look painted across Harry's face as his eyes darted between both Cordelia and Winnie, while Theo stood proud, his shoulders straight and a wide smirk twisted on his features. The emerald in his eyes was back and sparkling with amusement

"You bloody idiot!" Winnie screamed, marching forward and sticking a finger in Theo's chest, before turning her gaze to Harry who stiffened, "and you! What the bloody hell were you both thinking?"

"What if the room blew up? Huh? What if something happened to either one of us and nobody could help us because you two idiots locked us in a room without our wands?" Cordelia shrieked, apparently picking up on the act Winnie was trying to play off. The very angry and over dramatic act.

"Well .. I," Harry started as he looked between the two girls, Winnie's eyes never trailed to him though, for she was staring intently at Theo. She was still standing in front of him, her hands on her hips and her head tilted upwards to look him in the eye, a single bushy eyebrow was raised on his face, while his eyes traced over both girls before landing on Winnie.

"So, my perfect planned work then?" He questioned cockily, smirking as Winnie narrowed her eyes at him. Taking a step closer she raised her chin, the smell of cinnamon and spice swirled around her, and for a moment she almost faltered from her act, her eyes wide and locked into his as she stared at pools of deep emerald. Bright and illuminating as they stared down at her. For a moment, she almost thought that his emotions were open. But as a wind of nothing hit her square in the chest, save for the slight guilt that poured out of Harry Potter, her thoughts were proven wrong.

"No, I hate her guts," Cordelia spoke suddenly, causing Winnie to remember where she was. Stepping back, she let Cordelia hook her arm in her own, the two girls standing arm in arm next to each other.

"Yeah, I actually killed her. She's a ghost right now," Winnie replied, smirking as she glanced over at Harry who was staring at them, ( more like Cordelia ) before Cordelia started to pull her out of the classroom and in between the two boys. As they passed, Winnie took one glance up at Theo, seeing him watching her already. Her face grew warm like a thousand suns, only to worsen as he winked at her. She looked away sharply, blinking furiously and willing her face to cool down. Oh Merlin, what was happening to her?

The two cousins continued walking down the hallway together, their arms linked and a new profound sense of peace and happiness trailing on their shoulders. The weight of their secrets finally vanished away with every step until they were simply Winnie and Cordelia once again.

"So ... Theo huh?" Cordelia questioned in a sing-song tone, causing Winnie to snap her head towards her cousin, seeing her lips titled into a smile. The brunette blushed once again, clearing her throat and narrowing her eyes slightly before a certain memory of a duo stumbling upon her in the moonlight hit her brain.

"So Harry huh?" Winnie smirked, watching in joy as Cordelia's face flushed a brilliant pink, the blonde laughed then, smiling widely before placing her head on her cousin's shoulder. Feeling the first burst of peace settle over her for the first time in a while, oh how she missed Cordelia Flint dearly.