Francesca also felt sleep drift from her clutches the night of the full moon. She tossed and turned throughout the night, seeing every hour. Flashes and snippets of the past whizzed by her eyes, too fast to focus on, too vivid to ignore until they stopped. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't push it away. It was as if someone else was combing through her mind, searching for something she didn't know existed.

Francesca felt like she was watching one of the muggle movies Jack liked.

"Remus, where are you taking me?" Francesca giggled as he covered her eyes.

"Well, if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise!" Remus countered, stealing glances to make sure she wasn't peaking.

Francesca gazed at the pair in awe. She didn't remember any of this happening. The scene was foreign yet painfully intimate. Eager to see more, she followed them down a quaint alley.

Glimpsing around, she could vaguely recognise some shops; maybe she'd been here before.

"Stop peaking!"

"I'm not! Maybe if you told me where we were, I wouldn't have to - ouch, Remus!" Francesca's arm hit off a lamp post.

Remus winched, holding her closer," Oops, sorry."

"That did hurt," Francesca thought, rubbing her arm.

She followed them down until they stopped outside a small Italian restaurant. Peeking through the window, Francesca could see a few candles on the table, flickering light, and a smell of pasta escaping through the cracks in the architraves.

"Can I look now?" Francesca whined, tugging Remus' arm in excitement.

Remus chuckled at her behaviour, slowly removing his hands from her eyes when they entered the door.

The look on Francesca's face said it all. The server had set the table for two, rose petals covering the floor and a bottle of champagne waiting in ice for them.

Francesca stood aback in awe, turning slowly to take it all in. Looking back at herself, a tug in her heart pulled her towards the figures.

"What's all this for?" Francesca whispered, picking up the small handwritten menu on the table to examine it.

Her nose and eyebrows scrunched up in confusion," It's all gibberish!"

"And I thought you were supposed to be the smart one in this relationship," Remus poked fun, handing her a dial," Maybe this will help?"

"You made me a cypher? It's almost like you knew they're my favourite puzzle!" Francesca spent little time decoding the message.

"Dear... Francesca- oh, that's me. You are.. the only people, wait- person... I want to.. spend the rest of... my life with."

Francesca could see her expression shift, her eyes glossing over as she whispered, "Will you marry me?"

But as her gaze darted to Remus, his face blurred. The world around her began to distort, the table slipping further away with every step she took toward it.

"Wait! No!" Francesca ran, reaching out desperately, but everything faded into darkness.

She bolted upright in bed, her chest heaving as her heart threatened to break free from her ribcage. Sweat clung to her skin, chilling her in the cool night air. She rubbed her elbow absentmindedly, her thoughts a tangled mess.

Did she say yes?

The question haunted her all day as she worked. Her hands moved mechanically, restocking shelves at Flourish and Blotts, but her mind remained trapped in the memory. She had become so distracted that Mr Blott almost shouted at her to gain her attention.

"Sorry, Mr. Blott," she said quickly, taking the packed box from him. "I don't know what's gotten into me lately. Must be coming down with something."

Ted raised an eyebrow but didn't press further," Why don't you pop down to the chemists and get a potion? I think I can manage here on my own for an hour."

"Oh, I won't be gone an hour-" Francesca protested but stopped when Ted gave her a knowing smile," I'll bring back lunch!"

The bell above the door chimed as she left, her thoughts swirling again. Ted watched her go, sighing as he pushed his glasses up to rub the bridge of his nose.

"She's not herself, Teddy," Hiberna warned him, moving from her painting to a nearby frame.

"I know, but I-" he paused; the ding! of the bell caught his attention.

Ted's eyes widened in fear when he turned around, mustering what was left of his courage to face the formidable customer. Before he could formally tell the man to sod off, he had his wand inches away from Ted's throat.

"Where is she?"

*~*~*~*~*

With her two sandwiches in hand, Francesca tried to calm her mind from the marathon she was completing. Why were all these memories resurfacing now? They can't be real; Remus would've said something! Shaking her head, Francesca halted momentarily to recover, resting against a nearby lampost. Her heart thudded in her chest as she stopped. The cold iron bit into her palm. She fixed her gaze on a loose brick in the wall opposite as her lungs searched for any loose air.

"Calm down," she willed herself," In and out. In and out."

The crisp air stung in her throat, and time seemed to stop. Francesca shook herself, adjusted her grip on her bag and forced her legs to move again. So absorbed in the chaos of her thoughts, Francesca didn't notice the world around her until she collided with something solid.

Or someone.

She went to apologise, already crouching to gather up her things when she was shoved roughly against the wall.

"Though I told you to leave my son alone."

Her breath caught. Mr Taylor.

A sharp spike of terror coursed through her, icy and suffocating. Her back burned where the jagged brick pressed against her spine. She tried to move, but his grip tightened, pinning her in place.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," she whispered, her voice trembling as her eyes darted to the floor, searching desperately for her wand.

"Don't play coy with me, Denbright," Mr. Taylor growled, his face a mask of twisted fury. His voice was venomous, dripping with contempt that made her stomach churn. He twisted her arm behind her back with cruel precision, drawing a gasp of pain from her lips. "If I catch you near my son again, you'll wish you were dead before I'm finished with you."

With one final shove, he released her, and she slumped against the wall as he stormed off, his heavy footsteps pounding in her ears. Francesca gasped for air, tears burning at the corners of her eyes, as she scrambled for her wand. Her fingers trembled violently, and she clutched it as though it were her only lifeline, her emotions wavering from fear to rage.

But then, against every shred of self-preservation, a surge of defiance rushed through her.

"At least I care for Jack!" she shouted, her voice breaking but filled with raw emotion. "More than you ever will!"

Mr. Taylor froze mid-step, his shoulders stiffening before slowly turning, his face a mask of cold, calculated rage. His wand was in his hand now, and he pointed it at her like a dagger.

"What did you just say?" he hissed, his voice low and dangerous.

Francesca's heart pounded so violently she thought it might tear free from her chest.

"You heard me the first time," Francesca stood tall, hands shaking but clasped around her wand," He's not just something you can use as a punching bag whenever you like! He's a kind, caring boy who's going to grow up to be a wonderful man, no thanks to you!"

Mr Taylor's face twisted into a snarl. He closed the distance between them in two long strides, towering over her like a storm ready to break. His wand pressed against her throat, the cold wood biting her skin.

"You think you're brave? That you can defy me and walk away unscathed?" he hissed, his breath hot against her face, "You've just signed your death warrant."

Francesca's heart thundered, but her eyes remained firm. A sharp voice echoed down the street, and they both turned towards the sound.

"What's going on here?"

Remus.

Mr. Taylor stiffened, his eyes narrowing as he glanced around. Francesca could see the tension rippling through Mr. Taylor's broad shoulders. His wand lowered, but the malice in his eyes didn't waver. He leaned in close, his voice barely above a whisper, meant only for her ears.

"This isn't over, Denbright," he spat, each word laced with venom. "I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me."

With that, he stepped back, smoothing his cloak practisedly. He shot one last glare at Francesca before turning on his heel, shoving past Remus as his heavy footsteps faded into the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley.

"Hey, are you alright?" Remus placed her hands in his, forcing her to look at him.

Focusing again, she smiled lightly," Y-yeah, think so. I don't think I've ever been that brave before. Must be all the time I'm spending with you," Francesca giggled, giving Remus a gab.

He brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek," As long as you're ok, that's all that matters."

Francesca blushed red like a tomato, trying to look anywhere but his dreamy eyes. Noticing his hand, Remus quickly drew it away, fidgeting with his cardigan as a distraction.

"Do you wanna go grab a butterbeer?" he asked nervously.

Latching onto his arm, Francesca rested her head on his shoulder and sighed," I'd love to."

❀❀❀

- I'm alive!!!!!

*The_lost_flower*