Chapter 2

Wilhelmina had disappeared behind another newspaper. This time however, there was no intention to ignore the other party. Instead it was a simple fact of growing curiosity of what had happened since she had last read it. A need to keep on top of things and aware of her surroundings.

Blaise watched her out of curiosity. It wasn't everyday one waked up in their thirteen year old body forced to go through their past once more. At first he had assumed a dream. A hallucination due to the smoke wafting out of his daughter's cauldron, she had inherited that unfortunate habit of experimentation with various potion ingredients from her mother, and so he had made his mind to simply wait until it wore off.

Then he had seen a younger Wilhelmina and suddenly it was very real. Very irreconcilable real.

"What?" Swallowing thickly he focused on her.

Trying to hide his surprise he raised an eyebrow in question. She pursed her lips and folded and closed the newspaper she was reading. Placing it on her lap and licking her lips. Her eyes had drifted from his face and landed on the paper folded in her lap. They then flickered back up to him.

"You're distracted. You've been staring at me for the past five minutes." She stated softly.

"Sorry." He intoned politely and dismissively.

Wilhelmina sighed. She bit the inside of her mouth and inhaled heavily. Her fingers rested on top of the newspaper on her lap. She glanced at him and then looked outside at the already dark landscape. She allowed for a few minutes of silence to pass between them.

"Would you like to talk about it? I mean if we are going to be civil to each other," here she paused and glanced up at him. He smiled cheekily at her and nodded leaning forward and stared at her, " of course."

"Then I suppose it would be proper to ask if wished to talk about whatever is bothering you." She stated watching him.

"Your concern is appreciated. Misplaced but appreciated. I'm not worried about anything." Blaise lied smoothly.

It was an ingrained part of him. Even if she was the most important person in his life there was always apart of him that could never admit that he was even remotely out of his depth. He had to always be the one in control. His mother taught him that. Even if the situation was not going as he intended he had to always present the front that he controlled everything. Whether it was truthful or not.

She nodded. Accepting his answer. Silence lapsed once more. Awkward and tense. Neither knowing what to say to each other.

"Why are you really here, Blaise?" She asked dryly.

He didn't answer her right away. He stared at the dark shapes of the trees rushing by the train. Why was he there. Besides the obvious reason. He could have gone with Draco. Sat in the same seat and listened to the same drivel he had done before. He could have just walked past her and not cast her a single glance. Why would he have to? She wasn't that interesting that first time around. He had only noticed her because of Snape's favouritism to the only person outside his house. That was why he noticed her.

But so had all the others.

Yet, none of them had made to befriend the self made pariah. She had stood alone. She had done all she needed to and she got by noticed but ignored. So why? And it wasn't because he loved her. That was part of the reason.

Unconsciously he had done what he hadn't done the first time around. He had chosen her instead of his values. He chose her instead of the obvious stereotype that he had chosen to step into.

"Because I want to be." He stated and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before focusing on the dark exterior of the train window.

"I would ask Why but something tells me that it would be a general waste of my breath." She intoned dryly.

His lips turned up into a small smile and he chuckled, "No, please I insist. I'm always a reason to waste breath on."

She snorted. Staring at him with a look of complete incredulity. She gave a little laugh before stating, "well aren't you an arrogant little pri-"

The end of her sentence was cut off by the train suddenly jerking to a stop. A small shriek escaped her as she flew forward and back so suddenly. Her eyes flickered to the window and then to Blaise and back again. Her hands against the seat as she tried to calm her racing heart. Blaise reached out and touched her gently on her knee.

"Are you hurt?" He questioned softly gazing at her in the dark.

"No, I'm fine. A little startled but fine." She whispered back.

Then her fingers dove for her bag and she rummaged through it searching for something. Finding what she was looking for she pulled it out and whispered an incantation, "Lumos". Within seconds the soft rays of wand light enlightened the dark compartment. Wilhelmina cleared her throat as she realised just how close she and Blaise had gotten.

"You might want to get your wand." She muttered and Blaise tilted his head and stared at her.

"Or not." He smiled.

"I really think that you should." She gritted out her fist tightening around the hilt of her wand.

As he moved to argue as why he needn't do such as thing a chill settled in the small space. Their breaths became little puffs of visible smoke. Their eyes flickered to each others for half of a second before they both slowly turned to the compartment window.

They watched as frost started climbing up the glass. Creating beautiful rose patterns on the glass. Making it seemed as though it had been delicately and deliberately frosted. Wilhelmina's breaths became jagged and short. She reached out and gripped Blaise's arm. Fear crawling up her spine and dancing at the forefront of her mind.

"What's going on? Why have we stopped?" She whispered harshly.

Blaise ignored her. Instead turning to the compartment door and watching it. Waiting for what he knew would be right around the corner. The temperature continued to drop and the cold becoming completely frigid. Frost curled on their breaths and suddenly the glow of the light on the tip of the wand seemed feeble and dull.

"What are you waiting for? Why are you…?" Wilhelmina's voice died softly as the compartment door slid open.

"Give me your wand." Blaise hissed softly.

"What?"

"Wand. Now."

"Or what?"

Then as a black rooting skeletal looking hand curled around the edge of the compartment door Blaise felt as a wooden cylindrical object was shoved abruptly into his hand. Glancing out of the corner of his eye he noted the fact that Wilhelmina had shoved herself backward. Pressing her body onto the cold glass of the window before sliding down into fetal position. Fear coating her face.

He slid in front of her and glared at the hooded creature that stood before him. He raised the wand and stated evenly, "He's not here. Leave."

Yet the creature made no move to enter any further than it already did nor did it leave. It stood at the door staring in at the floor, at her. Blaise took a step forward ignoring the whimpers from the girl crouched on the floor.

"I said leave." He hissed and the creature turned to him.

Blaise's throat dried and his hands turned clammy. It stepped forward gliding towards him. His vision swam the light dimmed. His breaths became shallow. His heart pounded in his ears. His vision swam and fear settled in his mind. His body stilled and he heard nothing but the blood rushing to his head. He gripped the wand tighter. He heard the hallow yells of petrified individuals. He saw the flashes of red and green swirling around him in the air. Then silence punctuated by air piercing scream. His grip loosened and the creature glided another step further inwards. It's bony hands raising to the hood that covered its face.

Blaise extended his hand slightly and drew a shaky breath. Before closing his eyes and gripping the wand a little tighter and began whispering an incantation aloud.

"Expecto