December had gone by just as quickly as it had arrived. And although days rushed past Asteria quicker than they did before, her mind was still frozen at one place. The day she had arrived back from vacation, all three of her best friends could see the cloud of gloom that had settled itself above her.

Though they hadn't questioned it, knowing that if she wanted to talk about it, she would.

But now they were halfway through January; It had been a concerning number of days and Ria had not talked about what the actual hell had happened during Christmas.

She could be seen in the Slytherin common room, quietly sitting in a corner holding her guitar, staring into the fire or outside the window at the creatures from the Black Lake.. even though she once used to feel uneasy doing so.

And Sophie could hardly contain her growing anxiety as she watched her best friend like that. She behaved quite normal, like yes, she did her studies, researches, played Quidditch, trained with the DA, but she just wasn't Ria.

"Soph— Sophie." Blaise tried to calm her down. "We get what you're trying to say. But we don't want her to snap, do we? You know what happens when she snaps."

They had been sitting a few feet away from her in the Slytherin common room, as Ria had asked them, because apparently she wanted to get some chords right on her guitar, and they were distracting her a little.

But, of course, she was just playing that one song she knew perfectly, over and over again. Blackbird. And Sophie couldn't help but wonder if Ria's good for nothing father had broken her heart again.

"Yeah.. Yeah, I know. She snaps, she realises that she has powers, and then she feels guilty even though she shouldn't." Sophie muttered. "But— But look at her!"

"She's right, you know?" Theodore had been staring at Ria while Sophie had discussed her concerns with them. "It's kinda.. It's weird to watch her like that. D'you get what I mean?"

"Should we talk to Harry?" She proposed. "He'd know, wouldn't he? They were together this Christmas—"

"Soph! Soph!" Blaise pulled her back down. "Woman, calm down."

And the girl instantly glared at him. "I mean.. let's give her a bit more time. Maybe she's just—"

His voice instantly betrayed him once he saw the girl walk towards them. Wordlessly, she sat beside Theo and rested her head on the backrest of the couch, continuing to lightly strum the strings as she stared at the ceiling. The three could do nothing but exchange silent looks.

Sophie pulled herself together first. She had to do something for her. "So.. did you get those chords right?" she asked casually.

"Hm.." Ria played a little louder. "How does it sound? Is it right, now?"

Sophie, Theo and Blaise listened to her play, glancing at each other once in a while. When she looked up from her guitar, Theo just shrugged. "It sounds great, Ri.. But I.. I think it always sounded like that." He answered with honesty.

And she stopped. "Oh.. did it?" She asked. "I don't know. I'm pretty sure I was playing it wrong the entire time." She chuckled humorlessly. "And no one told me."

Sophie leaned down towards her, her hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Ria.. Can I talk to you?" The girl shrugged. "Alone?"

Ria looked at her. "I don't see why.. I don't have any problem talking in front of these two." She mused.

"Fine." Her curly-headed friend huffed, leaning away again. "But you'll tell the truth, right?"

"Crossed my heart, honey." She said mindlessly.

Sophie suppressed another expression of frustration. Why was she acting that way? "Did something happen with your father?"

"Yeah." Ria answered. "He died."

The answer made all three simultaneously choke on thin air, while Ria looked like she was just having a regular conversation over breakfast. "What?"

"Oh.. I should explain more. Silly me." She added, shaking her head. "He's been dead for the past 14 years. He died on the night of Halloween 1981; the same day as Harry's parents, and aunt Kora, died."

"He died at the hands of either some Death-eater— or Lagarde, we don't really know—  while attempting to protect me from her. Clearly, he failed." She chuckled humourlessly. "Which got me trapped with Lagarde, away from home.. till 1987, when Severus Snape rescued me."

"My mother got all desperate. She used Lagarde's enhanced time-turner to push us thirty years forward in time to protect me or something like that. We stayed there from 2017 to 2021 only, because McGonagall found us and brought us back. So.. yeah."

There was a beat of silence, where all three just stared at her with pure horror in their eyes. "What?!"

Ria sighed. "Right, I'll explain slower." She muttered. "My dad, my mother's fiance, Daniel Edwards, has been dead for the past—"

"No⏤ No, Salazar! That's not what we meant⏤" Blaise shook his head. "What the fuck?"

"What the fuck indeed.." she gave a nod of agreement.

"Are you.. Are you okay?" asked Theodore, but then cursed himself. "What am I, a bloody idiot? Of course, you're not okay. No one would be. I know I'd be mad if that happened to me."

"Ah.. that reminds me." Ria looked up at him. "What happened to your mother, Theodore? I never got the chance to ask you."

"You're just gonna brush past your answer? Just like that?" He asked incredulously.

"What?" She gave him a look. "I just wanna know. Is that so bad?"

"I was nine, when she collapsed right in front of me. Father wasn't home, and I... I didn't know what to do." He answered, his tone a bit reserved. "She died of heart failure."

Ria slowly nodded at his response. "I'm sorry." Her tone sounded genuine after a long time.

"Forget about me. That happened a long time ago." He shook his head, looking down at her unbothered expression. "Pardon me, but I really can't tell if you're being serious right now.."

"Well, I hope not.." Blaise muttered under his breath.

"Crossed my heart." She sang lowly.

"But.." Sophie spoke again after what seemed like a long pause. "But, why would Isabella hide something like this?"

"To protect herself.. Or she thinks that she's invincible, taking control of my life like that. That's what I say, at least." She answered. "Everyone else says that she was trying to protect me."

"I call bullshit." Ria finally sat straight. "Fate's been fucking me up ruthlessly, she hasn't protected me from shit. Oh.. that reminds me. I should probably tell you that Lagarde, my mother and I.. we're Azraels."

It took Sophie a while to register her words, while Theodore and Blaise exchanged a look. "You're.. As in.. the same Azraels—"

"The same Azraels that are forbidden to talk about and are cursed, now boys.." She turned to look towards those two, gently placing the guitar down and lacing both her fingers together with interest. "What was that look on your faces just now?"

They looked at each other once again before finally looking her in the eyes. "We— uh— we knew." Theo admitted.

"And we thought you did too." Blaise added, his voice low and sincere.

"How could you think that?" said Sophie, exasperated. She was panicking inside too. She had handed her the journal of a person that had ruined her life. What kind of a friend does that?

"She's never talked about it. Didn't you ever think of telling her?"

Blaise rolled his eyes with annoyance. "Azraels are not talked about for a reason, Soph." He said. "I assume they themselves don't like to talk about their bloodline because they hate it.. and other people.. Well—"

"Other people think talking about Azraels might bring bad luck to them." Ria completed, while her mind was wandering to places.

If Louis Bonheur really was the Carrow child, he knew what he was doing when he told Asteria all those stories about Lagarde and Azraels. He was setting the perfect trap that would break her down into pieces.

Or.. if Bonheur isn't Carrow, it could be possible that the real Carrow put him up to the task.

Ria leaned back into her seat. For all she knew, Bonheur telling her the story could be a coincidence in the end. But she wanted to keep all considerations in mind.

The blue-eyed girl then took a good look at all three of them.. and her stomach churned. "I don't mind, you know?"

"Don't mind what?" Sophie was quick to ask.

Ria shrugged mindlessly, trying to not think too hard. "If you.. if you wanna break it off. I don't mind. I understand." She said, bending down and scratching Cassie behind her ear to distract herself.

There was a beat of silence right before Theodore spoke up.

"I don't know if this'll hurt you.. but Blaise and I became friends with you in the first place, because you're an Azrael."

Ria's hand froze for just a second before she continued petting Cassie, still not looking at them. It's okay. She told herself. It's okay. I wouldn't want my company either.

"Nott." Blaise warned him with a whisper.

"Shut up, Zabini." He sneered. "It's time we came clean."

"Blaise, what is he talking about?" asked Sophie, her voice betraying her.

"Remember the day we met for the first time? At Madam Malkin's?" Theo asked, not really waiting for an answer. "My father knew your mother was an Azrael, so it's obvious, he knew you were one too."

"That night we went home, he told me to befriend you. If I did, it would benefit us when hell finally breaks loose." He admitted, his eyes not leaving her hand that was still petting Cassie. He was carefully watching her reaction.

"So I asked Blaise if he wanted to help me, because to be honest, Malfoy was unbearable, and both of us would rather do our own thing." He continued. "That's why we hung along with you."

"And it's not just us." He admitted. "Everyone that's been treating you like shit? They know that you're Azrael too. That's why those arseholes treated you like they did until you actually threatened them. Now they're terrified because they know what you can do.. and that you're not gonna hold back."

He watched as Ria lifted Cassie up from the floor and placed her on her lap. She was saying nothing, looking down at her pet while her open hair were shielding and hiding her face.

"We held on. We tolerated your annoying arse personality and everything that you pushed on us for the sake of brat-taming us—"

"Theodore—" Sophie started with a tone of warning, but he ignored her and continued speaking.

"And we finally got this close to you." He sighed. "Now.. do you think after getting this far.. after finding a.. a genuine friend like you— someone who wouldn't hesitate taking a life or two for the sake of us.. we're just gonna end it? Break it up?" His tone of speaking told her how ridiculed he felt.

And Ria had her eyes threatening to tear up, her heart almost beating out of her chest as she waited for him to talk further.

"Fuck no, Ria!" He spat out. "I thought you knew us better than that."

The girl bit into her lower lip to stop it from quivering. She could sense Theodore's determination through the silence.. hear the small sniffle Sophie had let out.. and also see the smirk grow on Blaise's face from the corner of her eye.

"You were lucky by one second, Nott. I was about to knock your damn teeth off." He chuckled out with relief.

"You wouldn't have, you wuss." He taunted. "If you had one ounce of courage to do something like that, Potter would have proposed to Ria ages ago."

Sophie chuckled, hitting both of them at the back of their heads. "Boys.." She huffed, wiping tears that had raced down her cheeks. "You know, sometimes I really can't tell if you two are overly complicated.. or just some thickhead simpletons."

"Okay, ouch?"

"Come on, Soph!"

But the girl paid no mind to their offended selfs, she just walked to Ria and sat down on the couch beside her. "I assume you heard whatever Theo said right now. And he's made it pretty clear, so I don't think anything else needs to be said. But just in case you need to hear it again..."

She put both her arms around her, squeezing her tight. "We aren't leaving. You're stuck with us." Sophie scrunched her nose, fondly teasing her.

After what seemed like days, a genuine— small, but genuine smile adorned on her lips. She sniffled, playfully rolling her slightly teary eyes. "How unfortunate, you jerks.."

And the three just grinned widely, patting her head, jokingly pinching her cheeks.. not knowing that they were holding the broken pieces of her heart together, while being the loveable idiots they were.

The next day, Ria sat at the breakfast table with the Golden Trio. The night prior had been reassuring for her. Not peaceful.. not one where she got any sleep.. but reassuring and kind of calming, yes. 

And that seemed good enough for a while.. until the three Gryffindors told her it was not.

"It's— It is— Oh, Merlin, you wouldn't understand." she defended herself.

"We're just telling you that you gotta have some rest." Hermione emphasised. "You think too much, you know? And I don't care if it's necessary thinking, as you like to call it, but you got to have— some— sleep."

"Yeah.. your eyes are sinking in." At Ron's comment, she sighed.

Hermione smacked his arm. "That was rude, Ronald!"

"What? I'm just being honest!" He justified himself. "Sinking eyes are no joke, you know?"

Ria just rolled her eyes. "It's not that easy falling asleep, okay? At least for me." Her shoulders slumped. "I can't help it."

Harry leaned towards her. "Hey, if you want.. You can come to the Gryffindor common room."

"Every night?" She asked, and he shrugged. "And?"

"And.. we could hang out together.. talk.." He said, his hand inching closer to hers on the table.

She had been a little distant with him since Christmas. With everyone, really. And it was understandable. But of course, he wasn't gonna just sit there and do nothing. He needed to pick her back up again, but gently, while making sure she didn't get overwhelmed by anything.

"Talk about.. what?" asked Ria, her eyes on the table where their hands rested, their backs touching.

"Anything you want to.." He answered softly.

"What if I come to you and just start talking about studies.. Like Potions and Astronomy?"

He shrugged again. "Sure, we'll talk."

"Future-seeing?"

"Would gladly listen to you."

"My miserable life."

"I love me some romantic tragedy."

She ignored the slight blush on her cheeks. "My book boyfriends."

"I'm practically a professional."

Ria pursed her lips, hiding an amused smile. "What if I start talking about Severus?"

Harry blinked. "Well, you're adorable enough. So I'll endure it."

And all she could do was grab the goblet of pumpkin juice and sip on it to hide her pink-dusted cheeks. Though Harry's knuckles softly tapped on the back of her hand, making her look back down again.

He held a crumpled ball of paper in his hand, which he handed to her. With a small sigh, Ria opened it.

'Be my Valentine?'

"You have two options. Yes, or yes." He whispered. "Because I.. may have already started planning the date?" He gave her an apologetic smile, scrunching his nose. "So.. you'll have to bear with me."

Ria took a moment to admire him, and then nodded. And she only watched him as he smiled softly and turned back to his breakfast.

"I— I know.. that somewhere.. somehow, his death was my fault.." Her mother cried. "It was— It was my Azrael fate that took him away. And I'll never— ever— forgive myself for that!"

She looked back to her bowl of breakfast too, her smile disappearing. She gulped as she looked at the note, a faint outline of a body invading her vision only for a moment before vanishing.

"But I.. I loved him. I loved him with every cursed part of my being, just as I love you, honey. You two were some of the only blessings I ever had in my life."

Ria was onboard the overthinking express again.

"Ria? Ria!"

The girl looked at Ron and hummed. "Oh, you're with us. Tell her what happened yesterday, Harry."

She looked at him. "It was Voldemort. He seemed really happy." He answered.

Ria blinked in confusion. "I.. I don't think I'm Seer enough to figure it out. You'll need to explain more."

Hermione huffed. "Harry almost fainted, and then.. he started laughing madly. His scar was hurting too. V—Voldemort was probably messing with him again—" She threw him a little glare. "Ron, how many times do I have to tell you to stop reacting to his name like that?"

"Well.. I can't really do anything unless I learn Occlumency, can I?" Harry retorted, peacefully biting into his breakfast.

"Yeah.. and lessons with Snape can be a pain in the arse— no offence, Ria." Ron gave her a small smile.

"None taken. I know he can be very annoying." She sighed. "How are your classes going, Harry? Is he giving you a hard time?"

"He's as brutal as ever. I wish I could just learn from Ray.." He said with slight hesitation. "But then again, she doesn't know Occlumency. And Enchantress magic can't be learned, right?"

"Right.." Ria muttered, brushing over her mother's mention. "And if it could be learnt, it would be hard. Because even after being born with it, I haven't achieved shit in two whole years."

Before all three could open their mouths to give her some encouraging talk, numerous owls fluttered above their heads. "Oh.. Mails are here."

"Is that— Is that a broomstick?" Ron squinted his eyes, and the parcel dropped right in front of them. "Hey.. I know this one. I saw this back at the Grimmauld Place— a Christmas present."

"Must be Ria's, then." Harry said. "You didn't really open any of your gifts."

Ria bit the inside of her cheek, sighing and checking the parcel. 'For Captain Edwards'. There was also an envelope stuck to it. She detached it and took a good look at the name even know she had recognised the handwriting already.

Isabella Diggory.

She placed it back on the table. "I'll open it later."

"You're not gonna see what model it is?" Ron asked.

She shrugged. "It's not like I need it or anything. I still have the Nimbus that Uncle Amos gave me. It flies extraordinarily." She answered, uninterested. "If you wanna see, go ahead."

Hermione was quick to throw him a sharp look. "Ronald—"

"No, I'm not going to." He replied. "It's your Christmas gift. Why would I open it?"

"Alright, then. Just let it be."

Hermione was looking at him with an expression of surprise. "I really thought you were going to consider the offer." She whispered to him.

He looked at her, offended. "I'm not that emotionally daft, Hermione."

And she just smiled. "I don't know. You can have the emotional range of a teaspoon sometimes."

And although he would be enraged, he found the comment quite amusing. "Your vocabulary never ceases to amaze me."

The girl beside him just rolled her eyes and smoothed out the copy of 'the Daily Prophet' in front of her. But then she gave a yelp that caused everyone in the vicinity to stare at her.

"What?" said Harry and Ron together.

For an answer she spread the newspaper on the table in front of them and pointed at ten black-and-white photographs that filled the whole of the front page, nine showing wizards' faces and the tenth, a witch's.

Some of the people in the photographs were silently jeering; others were tapping their fingers on the frame of their pictures, looking insolent. Each picture was captioned with a name and the crime for which the person had been sent to Azkaban.

Antonin Dolohov, read the legend beneath a wizard with a long, pale, twisted face who was sneering up at them, convicted of the brutal murders of Gideon and Fabian Prewett, and Kora Diggory.

Ria gulped. So.. Katherine Lagarde, Jade Carrow, Antonin Dolohov.. Who else had been there in their house that night?

Augustus Rookwood, said the caption beneath a pockmarked man with greasy hair who was leaning against the edge of his picture, looking bored, convicted of leaking Ministry of Magic Secrets to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

But Harry's eyes were drawn to the picture of the witch. Her face had leapt out at him the moment he had seen the page. She had long, dark hair that looked unkempt and straggly in the picture, though he had seen it sleek, thick, and shining.

She glared up at him through heavily lidded eyes, an arrogant, disdainful smile playing around her thin mouth. Like Sirius, she retained vestiges of great good looks, but something— perhaps Azkaban— had taken most of her beauty.

Bellatrix Lestrange, convicted of the torture and permanent incapacitation of Frank and Alice Longbottom.

"Mass breakout from Azkaban.." Ria read the headline out loud. "Ministry fears Black is 'rallying point' for old Death-eaters?"

"Black?" said Harry loudly. "Not—?"

"Shhh!" whispered Hermione desperately. "Not so loud— just read it!"

The Ministry of Magic announced late last night that there has been a mass breakout from Azkaban. Speaking to reporters in his private office, Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, confirmed that ten high-security prisoners escaped in the early hours of yesterday evening, and that he has already informed the Muggle Prime Minister of the dangerous nature of these individuals.

"We find ourselves, most unfortunately, in the same position we were two and a half years ago when the murderer Sirius Black escaped," said Fudge last night. "Nor do we think the two breakouts are unrelated. An escape of this magnitude suggests outside help, and we must remember that Black, as only the second person ever to break out of Azkaban, would be ideally placed to help others follow in his footsteps.. Just the way he had been inspired by his prior master, Katherine Lagarde— the first prisoner to ever break out of Azkaban in 1974."

"We think it is likely that these individuals, who include Black's cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, have rallied around Black as their leader. We are, however, doing all we can to round up the criminals and beg the magical community to remain alert and cautious. On no account should any of these individuals be approached."

"There you are, Harry," said Ron, looking horrified. "That's why he was happy last night.."

"I don't believe this," snarled Harry, "Fudge is blaming the breakout on Sirius?"

"What other options does he have?" said Hermione bitterly. "He can hardly say, 'Sorry everyone, Dumbledore warned me this might happen, the Azkaban guards have joined Lord Voldemort'— stop whimpering, Ron— 'and now Voldemort's worst supporters have broken out too.' I mean, he's spent a good six months telling everyone you and Dumbledore are liars, hasn't he?"

Hermione ripped open the newspaper and began to read the report inside while Harry looked around the Great Hall. He could not understand why his fellow students were not looking scared or at least discussing the terrible piece of news on the front page, but very few of them took the newspaper every day like Hermione.

There they all were, talking about homework and Quidditch and who knew what other rubbish, and outside these walls ten more Death Eaters had swollen Voldemort's ranks...

He glanced up at the staff table. It was a different story there: Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were deep in conversation, both looking extremely grave. Professor Sprout had the Prophet propped against a bottle of ketchup and was reading the front page with such concentration that she was not noticing the gentle drip of egg yolk falling into her lap from her stationary spoon.

Meanwhile, at the far end of the table, Professor Umbridge was tucking into a bowl of porridge. For once her pouchy toad's eyes were not sweeping the Great Hall looking for misbehaving students. She scowled as she gulped down her food and every now and then she shot a malevolent glance up the table to where Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking so intently.

"She's never going to realise." Ria muttered, and Harry wondered if she was looking at Umbridge too. "If there's ever a chance that I get to save her life, please remind me to not. And if I beg you and say 'she's human after all', better tie me to a fucking chair till she runs out of breath."

"Aye, aye, Captain." He said with a small sigh.

She bit the inside of her cheek. "And Harry?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

"Because I.. may have already started planning the date?" His words from before came back to her.

Oh.. there he goes.. making my life hard again. 

"What time's the date?"

Harry's lips turned into a smile. "I'll let you know."

January went by even quicker, and before everyone could realise, Valentine's was already around the corner. Buzz was spreading across the grounds of Hogwarts with students asking each other out for a Valentine's date.

And there was an interesting variety that could be seen.

Amelia had finally plucked up the courage and asked Daphne out on a real date. According to her roommates, she had to take a glass of firewhisky for the sake of nerves (which she had denied).

Viktor Krum, Hermione's pen pal, had sent her a letter. It wasn't really romantic or anything, but he did wish her a Happy Valentine's day, much to Ron's dismay.

Adrian Pucey had also finally plucked up the courage to write a letter to none other than Dahlia Montgomery, their prior Head Girl. Yeah.. He admired her a bit too much. It had actually been a dare from Amelia, who had ensured him that a three year age gap was nothing. That there had been worse case scenarios.

But Adrian had found a loophole! Amelia had only asked him to write a letter, not send it. So, he wrote it and then burned it right in front of her eyes, making her almost hex him into oblivion.

"YOU SAID YOU'D WRITE TO DAHLIA MONTGOMERY IF I CONFESSED TO DAPHNE!"

"Yeah! And I did that! So can you stop choking me?! I really can't breathe!"

Sigh. Anyway.. Blaise, unsurprisingly, had received a letter from the girl who he had met at the Ball back in 1994. Yeah.. the same girl who had become obsessed with him.

And guess what? He had written back to her.

"No way! What did you write?"

"That I was taken."

"Taken by who?" Theodore had asked, unfortunately setting himself up for the joke.

"By my male wife, Theodore Nott."

He had actually spit out his pumpkin juice. "Oh, Salazar.. Zabini, the joke has NEVER BEEN FUNNY!"

Again.. sigh. 

And there was a horrible attempt made by Draco Malfoy to take Sophie Scamander out on a date. The girl had turned him down before he could get the first word of the question out. And Ria could've sworn that she hadn't seen the boy smile for the next few days.

Not that she cared anyway.

Moving on.. the most interesting thing had happened on the twelfth of February, apparently. Hermione and Sophie had been sitting peacefully in the library, working on S.P.E.W. when Ginny, Luna and Amelia had rushed inside.

"This is library, for Merlin's sake—"

"So terribly sorry, Madam Pince!" Amelia carelessly apologised. "'Mione! Sophie! Breaking news! There's a breaking news!" She whisper-yelled as she spotted them.

The two looked up, alarmed. "What? What happened?" Hermione asked, and then gasped. "Oh, God! Did someone snitch—"

"No!" Ginny whispered, excited. The three sat around the table. "Luna! Tell them what you heard!"

The girl nodded. "I saw Harry at Professor Flitwick's office, talking to him about Charms."

"About what Charms, Luna?" Ginny playfully rolled her eyes.

"As far as I remember, he was asking him whether the Great Hall's ceiling was a part of the castle, or if it was separately enchanted by some spell—"

"Do you realise where this is going?" Amelia asked, barely able to contain herself. Hermione and Sophie just stared at her.

"I could bet on my life—" she hissed, looking around. "That he's going to learn that charm and enchant whatever ceiling under which he's planning his date with Ria."

The two girls gasped simultaneously. "I know right?!" Amelia whispered. "I thought that little shit was just oblivious! But turns out he's cute too!"

Hermione was beaming at his best friend's actions, while Sophie now had her hand resting on her chest. "Oh, Helga, bless him!" She suddenly found herself admiring him a little more, knowing he was doing his best to make Ria happy.

"D'you know where we could find Ria?" asked Ginny.

"No. Why?"

"To tell her, obviously!"

"What? No!" Sophie was quick to say.

"Come on!" Amelia pleaded. "Nothing wrong with that! She'll be a little more prepared for the date!"

"But Harry's working so hard!" said Hermione, her eyebrows scrunched. "It'll ruin his surprise.."

"He doesn't have to know." Amelia winked. "We'll tell Ria not to tell him. She can surely do—" She suddenly fell silent, feeling a deadly glare in the back of her head.

"He's right behind me, isn't he?"

"Hello there, Amelia. Hey, Ginny." He addressed them with a sarcastic smile, his arms crossed over his chest. "What's going on?"

The two girls looked at him, waving their hands dismissively. "Nothing. Nothing. Just the usual chat—"

Harry's smile dropped, and for the first time, they felt threatened by the bespectacled boy's expression.

"Sorry.."

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen, I know you didn't mean it with the intention of ruining the date. But please— don't tell her."

"Don't worry, Harry. Nobody's ruining this date." Hermione assured him. "Have you figured out the spell? If not, I can totally help you."

"Me too—" Amelia spoke up, but another glare from him made her look down. "Yeah, sorry again."

Harry hummed in thought. "Well.. now that I think about it, I do need some help." He said, making Amelia curiously smile and wiggle her eyebrows.

"Ria..."

"Asteria..."

"Sunshine.."

Ria opened her eyes with a sigh, looking at the two girls who were peeking inside the drawn curtains. 

"Happy birthday."

"It's midnight." She whispered.

"Yeah.. it's officially the fourteenth of February. So.. Happy birthday!" Sophie whispered back.

The girl in bed sighed again. "I thought I told you I didn't like having birthday parties.. back in third year." She just couldn't stand the awkwardness behind cutting a cake while everyone sang for her.

"Yeah, we know. But we aren't here for that." Amelia said, and then Ria finally realised that she had been holding the Marauder's Map.

"Wait.. I thought Harry had the Map."

"Yeah, he did. I borrowed it for one night." She answered. "Now get up! We're planning to piss Umbridge off."

Ria sat up in her bed, eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Piss her off? How?"

And the reaction Amelia gave was one she hadn't expected. She held out a black dress in front of her.

Minutes later, dressed in a knee-length black dress and all readied, Ria was walking somewhere with the two girls. They were also all dolled up in knee-length black dresses, which only confused Ria furthermore.

"Can you at least tell me how long it's going to take? I have a date later, I don't wanna look too tired."

Amelia could barely hide the smile on her face as she looked back at her. "Ooh.. where you going?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ria shrugged. "To Hogsmeade, of course. Where else?" She answered.

At this, the two other girls exchanged a glance. "Hmm.. nice." Sophie hummed.

"Are you sure you don't want the pearl necklace?" Amelia asked again. "I feel like the dress would look better with it."

"Nah.. it's fine. My pendant's black too." She answered. "I just— Couldn't I have just worn one of my dresses?"

Amelia looked at her, appearing offended. "Why? Don't you like my choice?"

"It's not that, obviously. The dress is really pretty." She said quickly. "But I just.. I don't wanna ruin it."

"Ah.." She waved her hand. "I know you won't. Besides, I don't think it even fits me anymore."

"Oh.. okay." Ria muttered. "But honestly.. Can you at least tell me what we're gonna do? Are we arranging a secret funeral or something? Because—"

"Oh Merlin, can you just shut up and follow us?" Sophie snapped, and the girl opened and closed her mouth like a fish in water.

"Okay.." She mumbled.

"Okay— okay, we're here. We're here!" Sophie chirped with excitement. And Ria looked around the familiar corridor. The Room of Requirement?

The wall in front of them turned into a door. "Come on, let's go." Amelia held her hand, walking towards the door. But then, she opened it and pushed Ria inside, quickly closing it behind.

"What the—" Before she could turn around to cuss her out, her eyes caught Harry standing in the corner of the room. He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. "Harry? What are you doing here? Wait— are you a part of—"

Her words drowned when a balloon popped somewhere, and she saw rose petals rain down around her. Her mouth flew open in realisation, and she could barely hide the smile on her face.

She tilted her head in question as she looked at him. "Are you serious?"

Harry copied her action, leaning against the wall beside him with a sly smile on his face. "No, that's my godfather. Why d'you ask?"

The girl playfully rolled her eyes. "So.. there's no plan to piss Umbridge off?"

"Unfortunately, no.." He hissed, walking towards her. He took her hand in his and looked sincerely into her eyes. "But we can arrange one if you want." She chuckled.

Harry then lifted her hand to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Happy birthday, love." He said. "And a Happy Valentine's day."

And although her heart raced rapidly at his actions, she said, "Harry.. you didn't have to.."

"No, I had to." He said, his voice soft.

Ria's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, fearing that she would start crying. But she reminded herself. Not today, Asteria.. not today.

Harry cleared his throat. "Shall we?"

She nodded. "Yeah, we shall."

He walked her to a small decorated table in the middle of the room. Ria's face instantly warmed up upon seeing a little vase with daisies in the middle. How thoughtful. He pulled a chair aside for her to sit, and then sat across her.

"So.. love, what do you wish to eat?" He asked.

Ria looked down at the closed platter in front of her. "Whatever that is under this..?"

"Of course.. That's exactly what we'll eat. But what do you want?" He had a sly smirk on his face as he rested his chin on his hand.

Ria pouted, thinking. "It's been a while since I've had some pizza." Harry raised an eyebrow. "Pepperoni."

"Pepperoni pizza it is." Harry took the lid off, and Ria chuckled in surprise as she saw exactly that. "I know, I know. Crazy how good I am at magic.." Harry joked.

"Hmm.." Ria propped her chin on her hand as she fondly watched him serve the slices. "Tell Dobby I said 'thank you'." She mused.

"Already did so, m'lady." He gestured her to start. "By the way.." His hand dug inside his shirt and he pulled out a silver chain, making Ria's face turn red. "I've never gotten a better gift.. thank you."

"Oh, Lord. I didn't realise how corny it was.." She bit into the pizza instead to hide her embarrassment. "'I pick you' on a metal pick. What was I thinking?"

"Hey.. I really liked it." He said, appearing slightly offended on behalf of her. "Besides.. I'm glad to be picked by you."

"I bought it back in fourth year, I don't know why.." She watched him closely for his reaction. "But, of course, I couldn't give it to you."

Harry just dramatically slapped his hand to his mouth and closed his eyes, making her chuckle again. "Asteria Edwards, how crazy were you to start liking me in that year out of all?" She was laughing now, her shoulders shaking as she hid her face behind her palm. And Harry just couldn't seem to take his eyes off her.

How could one look so effortlessly beautiful?

"No, because I was a moron back in fourth year. I know you know that." He said after a bite.

Ria shook her head. "I feel like every girl has fallen for a moron at least once in their lifetime."

Harry blinked blankly at her. "Wow, I really thought you'd disagree. Ouch."

The girl just playfully rolled her eyes. "You're saying you weren't a moron, last year?"

"I was.. but morons don't try this hard to make it up to their girls, do they?" Harry shrugged suggestively. And Asteria just smiled as she looked down at her plate.

'You know how my mother watched Daniel Edwards die for Isabella Diggory? I feel like I'm destined to watch the sequel.. where Harry Potter dies for Asteria Edwards.'

Her smile disappeared, and she stared hard at the vase of daises in front her. The white petals suddenly appeared to be smeared with blood, and Ria couldn't find courage in herself to look up at Harry.

No.. No, please.

Harry's hand on hers made the blood disappear, and she finally looked up at him. He was perfectly alright, his green eyes were gently gazing up at her. And she felt her soul return back to her body.

Why did I feel so terrified for a moment?

"Do you want something else to eat?" He asked, his voice was softer now, less playful and more caring.

She just shook her head, grabbing a tissue and wiping her hands. "I'm done." She took a hurried sip of water and looked back at him. "I— I loved the date, Harry—"

"Oh— no, we're not done yet." He said, getting up from his chair and offering her a hand. And she just took it, finding no other option.

"You remember the specific moment in fourth year where I had been the biggest dick?" He asked, and Ria shrugged in question.

He took his wand out of his pocket and with a swish, pushed the table and the chairs away. "The Yule Ball." He answered.

"You looked so.. so beautiful that day." He breathed out with a chuckle. "And I know you felt absolutely perfect, and you wanted to enjoy that day to the fullest, but then.."

"Then I ruined it."

Ria's smile was back again, but it was small. The bloody daisies were still in her mind, and she was trying hard to get them to disappear forever. "You think so much about me, Potter. It's unhealthy." She tried to taunt him, and felt her heart flutter when he smiled.

"Well, of course. You're my girlfriend." He replied cheekily.

"You know, how I felt that day? When you walked down the stairs?" He asked.

She raised a curious eyebrow. "How did you feel?"

He flicked his wand, and a track started playing on record. Asteria's eyes slightly widened, and she chuckled out in disbelief, hiding her face into her hands.

'There was a time
I was everything and nothing all in once'

"And I thought I was corny.." She made a comment to hide the fact that she was profusely blushing. "Turns out you're the corniest of them all, Potter."

"What? It's true!" He made her come out of hiding and placing his wand back into his pocket. "You should ask Carrow. They must've heard the song playing in my head." He suggested. "But they'll just probably end up lying, so fuck them."

Much to Ria's surprise, Carrow's reply came. 'Yeah.. he's telling the truth.'

What the hell..? She must've been too good at hiding her expression, because Harry hadn't noticed anything.

"Anyway.. Asteria Edwards. Now that I'm not the stupid moron I was, a year ago.." He cleared his throat. "May I have this dance with you?"

Ria's smile widened, her eyes crinkling at their ends. "Yes, Harry Potter. You may."

Harry kissed her knuckles again, spinning her once and holding her by her waist. Ria placed her arms on his shoulder, swaying in rhythm, her joyful, adoring expression never leaving.

And when the chorus hit, he hissed, "Ah.. here comes another cliche." He sighed. "Have I told you how pretty you look tonight?"

Ria shook her head, amused. "No." she answered. "But go ahead."

"I can't." He mused.

She scrunched her nose. "Now I want to hear it." she demanded. 

Harry pursed his lips. He had come prepared. His objective of today was to make her happy.. to make her smile. And he would do it, no matter what.. even if it came to a cringe-worthy compliment that amused her.

"How do you think I can.. when the poets themselves cannot find words worthy enough for you?"

Not at all expecting it, Asteria felt her face heat up. She hid her face into his shoulder again, laughing as her own shoulders shook. "Merlin, I hate you.."

"Thank you for the compliment." He whispered to her.

She rested her chin on his shoulder and sighed in content. This was perfect; he was perfect. He had practised the dance too, she could tell. He had not messed up once, keeping up perfectly with the song. He led the dance, and she just followed his melody like she was meant to.

"Oh.." He suddenly voiced. "Look, a shooting star. Make a wish."

Ria lifted her head from his shoulder and found him looking up at the ceiling. When she followed his gaze, her mouth fell open with a gasp, mesmerised. She stared in awe at the enchanted night sky etched on the ceiling of the room.

"How.. How did you—?" She looked back down at her boyfriend.

He had a proud smile on his face. "How did I do?"

With eyes brimmed with tears of joy, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Harry melted into her with ease, hand cradling her face as he kissed her back lovingly.

"Nothing could've been better." She whispered. "Thank you, Harry."

He leaned down to kiss her again. "Anything for you."

Miles away, in a silent Manor, a woman looked out at the hazy sky. She had been standing there for a while now, yet she seemed patient as she waited for her family member to come home.

A crack echoed in the room next to hers, and footsteps made their way to her. "You're late." She said, without facing them.

"Come on, Aunt." They rolled their eyes. "It's Valentine's Day. I had a date."

Alecto Carrow spun in her place, looking at her brother's child. "Don't you look happy.. I'm assuming the date went quite well."

"Oh, it went perfectly." They said with a mocking smile. "Everything was beautiful. Love was in the air."

The two chuckled in sync. 

But then, Alecto shook her head. "You're fortunate your father isn't here to hear this."

They rolled their eyes again. "He's no fun anyway." The young Carrow plopped down on the couch. 

"'Focus on your magic! Don't disappoint the Dark Lord!' It's like he thinks I'm incapable or something!" They scoffed. "Like, of course, I'm not going to disappoint anyone here. Look at me! I work so hard! And he doesn't even acknowledge it!"

Alecto sighed, walking closer and putting a hand on their shoulder. "He only wants you to succeed."

They scoffed. "Sure."

The woman tightened her grip slightly, making the child look at her. "And I agree. I appreciate you having fun, but—"

"Oh, you think I didn't ruin their date because I wanted to have fun?" They sniggered in disbelief. "Heavens, you really are his sister. I forget it sometimes."

They left the couch and walked towards the window. Staring out of it, the words left their mouth. "Yeah.. I'm doing it for fun. But you don't understand."

Their aunt could see the maniacal smile in the reflection of the window glass.

"You know, what's more fun than shattering broken pieces of glass, Aunt?" They turned around to look at her. "Letting the owner try mending them back together."

A smile grew on Alecto's face too. She could see where the youngest Carrow was going with this.

"Now, you get what I mean, don't you?"

They smiled. "And when she'll get all hopeful, thinking that she has almost put herself back together again.."

The colourless eyes in the dark glinted with madness. "Shatter again."

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[word count: 7250]

a/n: meme time hehehe