“The real danger is that there's something you haven't told me. You have to tell me everything, important that is, and I'm not talking about the names of your professors. You have to tell me everything important, Val, or this will never work.” Valentina raised her eyebrows, as if the idea of telling Veradis everything was amusing.

Veradis had since she had first heard of the castle that was Hogwarts dreamt of walking its corridors, dining in its Great Hall and learning all there was to know about the magic that was, well... magic. However, as easily as dreams were born, they were easily crushed, and Veradis' dream had been crushed by the absence of a letter.

Veradis found it easier to eat now than that morning. Athan, Narcissa and Rabastan were discussing the recent disappearance of a high-ranking Ministry official. Veradis first tried to listen to the conversation, but found that she was too hungry to care. Plus, her thoughts were still mulling over what she had read and seen in the diary, trying to understand her sister better. It felt like Valentina was a whole different person now, a person Veradis barely knew. She was sure that no matter how hard she tried, she wouldn't be able to make Valentina laugh any more.