As Aideen and the unicorn rode into the castle, she noticed that the unicorn seemed to be sapping the strength of the dark wizards, and giving more strength to the magic of resisting students and teachers.

All around her, Aideen saw hope restored to Ilvermorny, after such a shadow had fallen over it.

She only hope that whatever the unicorn had in mind for driving the Dark Serpents out of her school, that she would have the strength to do it.

The unicorn led her through the library, where Ondine, Rhys, and Saga were still fighting.

Aideen jumped off of the unicorn's back and drew her brand new wand.

"This is between you and me, Adele," Aideen said.

Adele didn't look up, but Kyla did.

"You were always too meddlesome for your own good," Kyla muttered. "Too bad for Rionach. Then again, after your little running-away-stunt, I was forced to tell our master that you had chosen your life over your sister's."

Aideen felt as if she'd been punched in the gut. She stumbled forward, doubling over. It couldn't be real— it just couldn't—

Red fury filled her vision, and she screamed out every hex she could think of. All she wanted was to make Kyla pay for what she had done. While Kyla was managing to defend herself, her shields were wearing down, and she was being backed further and further into a corner.

"Flipendo!" Aideen roared.

Kyla went flying back into the bookshelf, breaking it and sending several bookshelves on her head.

With a running leap, Aideen landed on top of her, and raised her wand to do something awful, something—

Something like what they'd done to her.

As soon as the thought was complete, Aideen lowered her wand in shame.

"Stupefy."

Kyla went unconscious, and Aideen heard footsteps behind her.

"For once, you're right," Adele said. "This is between you and me."

Aideen rose to her feet. "Then we should duel like proper witches and wizards."

Adele shrugged. "It makes no real difference to me. My master will reward me for taking you out. They wanted you captured and subdued, but I knew that you were more than even Kyla Grimsditch estimated. You have a strong will, Graves-Scholt. We could never have broken you."

"Because I'm already broken," Aideen said, a sadness in her eyes. "Why Rionach? Why?"

"Because we made a deal," Adele said. "Now, let's not just talk, shall we?"

But before Aideen could raise her wand, several gold glowing ropes came from behind the bookshelf. Aideen cast. A spell for one, herself, and immediately Adele was restrained.

Ondine, Saga, and Rhys came from around the bookshelf.

"You lasted a lot longer than I thought you would," Aideen admitted.

"We don't go down so easy," Saga said.

There was an awkward silence.

"Do you trust me now?" Aideen asked, gesturing to the unicorn.

"Yes," Saga exhaled.

"We're with you till the end," Rhys said, linking arms with Ondine and Saga.

Ondine blinked unnervingly. "Always."

"Then it's time for us to save the school."

Within moments, they had a plan. All they had to do was get to the Owlry, and summon the Aurors. That was all they would have to do.

With Saga on horseback, she would distract the Dark Serpents. Rhys would run alongside her, using one of the magical torches as a weapon.

As for Ondine and Aideen, they started down a secret passageway that Ondine had discovered as a little girl, living on the grounds of the castle.

"Ilvermorny's never seen an invasion on this scale," Ondine said. "We don't know what we'll find."

They crawled out from behind a statue. There was no one on the floor of the aviary.

"We'd best get this battle over with," Aideen sighed.

The aviary at Ilvermorny was a giant golden birdcage, essentially, with only charms to protect from the cold and the rain. And naturally, the night of the Battle of Ilvermorny, there was rain and a proper thunderstorm.

As Aideen's eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized in a flash that it wouldn't be as easy as she thought.

They weren't alone.

There was a man in a dark cloak, holding a wand to an unconscious boy's head.

When lightning turned night today, it illuminated Angelus Quill as the unconscious boy.

"Put him down," Aideen commanded.

"Ah, I'm afraid not, Graves-Scholt," the dark man said. "I've already taken one thing of value from you. I'd hate to take another."

"My sister is not a thing, and neither is he," Aideen said. "It's me you want, take me instead."

"No, you can't join them," Ondine said, refusing to lower her wand. "Angelus wouldn't want this. Your sister wouldn't want this."

"This is the only way," Aideen said, looking over her shoulder. Then she winked.

Ondine's expression faltered in confusion.

Then Aideen used the gift she'd learned about from the unicorn.

Owls, attack this man— but don't harm Angelus— please!

The effect was instantaneous. Hundreds upon hundreds of owls opened their eyes and flew at the dark man, clawing at him. He dropped his wand in pain and pure terror, and stumbled backward out of the aviary— falling off of the parapet.

Angelus Quill fell to the floor, and Aideen rushed to his side. She then looked to Ondine.

"We have to get the message, now!"

Ondine was quick to write, and gave it tot the only owl Aideen trusted for the job— Freya's.

Once it had been sent, they locked themselves in the Aviary, until the Aurors came to save them.