Now my heart's a frozen lake where streams used to flow
Down to the forest of my mind where memory would grow
Now I walk amongst the trees where the last sun glows
The leaves are all golden and brown with nowhere to go

Oh think I'm gonna start a fire
Oh think I'm gonna start a fire

-Passenger


Skylar sat on the kitchen counter and threw her head back and laughed. "You twat!"

Solomon, who was lying on the floor, covered in blue paint, shot her a look of half-annoyance. "Twat?" he said with a snort. "You are so British."

"When you told me you could paint the apartment, I thought you would actually know how to."

Solomon stood up, brushing himself off. "Listen, if you're not going to help and you're just going to sit there and criticize—"

"It's my apartment!" Skylar said with a giggle. "Don't I have a say in how the paint job looks?"

"Our apartment," Solomon corrected her. He walked over and gave her a sweet kiss.

Skylar beamed. "You're right. I'm sorry. Our apartment."

"...rose colored bridesmaid dresses," Grace was saying, handing her a magazine. "And I was thinking either this style dress…" She pointed to a picture in the magazine before flipping it a few pages. "Or this one."

Skylar blinked. "Sorry, what?"

"Are you even paying attention?" Grace demanded impatiently. "I mean, these are your bridesmaid dresses, after all!"

"Right, sorry." She looked down at the photograph of the beaming bridesmaids.

Grace frowned at her. "Is everything alright, Skye?"

Skylar looked up at her and cleared her throat. "Erm…yeah…I'm just a bit tired, that's all…"

Grace nodded. "I know what you mean. I've been so stressed out about all these wedding plans."

Skylar hesitated. "Well, what's the rush, Gracie?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you two just got engaged. You don't have to get married so quickly. You could take a year or two to plan everything out. You don't have to get married in just a few months."

Grace shook her head. "No, we have to."

"But why?"

"We just do!" Grace snapped, irritated. "Look, it's what we want to do, alright?"

Skylar's eyes traveled down to Grace's stomach. "Grace, are you…" She gulped. "Is there a reason you're in such a rush?"

Grace narrowed her eyes at her. "What do you mean?"

"Are you pregnant?" Skylar finally asked fearfully.

Grace stared at her a moment before bursting into laughter. She glanced down at her flat stomach. "Do I look pregnant? Skylar, what kind of a question is that?"

"…only explanation…don't know what all the rush is for…" Skylar muttered lamely.

Grace rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm not pregnant. Nor do I intend to be for many many years."

"So, this need to get married so soon?"

"We're in love, Skye," Grace told her with a small smile. "That's it."

Two large dogs came bounding into the living room, wagging their tails wildly.

Grace looked down at the dogs in confusion. "What the hell are those?"

"Dogs," Sienna replied as she strode into the living room. "I'm sure you've seen them before."

"What are they doing in my mother's living room?" Grace asked warily, watching as one of the dogs slobbered happily on the clean carpet.

"Finn somehow roped me into watching them." Sienna shrugged.

Skylar bent over, patting the black dog's head. "Merlin, I'm surprised Finn's managed to keep them alive for four years."

"You and me both," muttered Sienna as she took a seat on Grace's couch. "You don't mind, right?"

Grace eyed the dogs warily. "They're potty trained?"

Sienna grinned. "Yes."

"Well, alright, then," she said uncertainly.

Sienna snorted. "Where's Vic?"

"Still at work," Skylar told her. "She'll come by after she gets off."

"We were trying to pick out bridesmaid dresses before you got here," Grace told her, handing her the magazine.

Sienna nodded and skimmed the magazine. "What color?"

"Well, I was thinking—"

"Why did you agree to watch the dogs?" Skylar asked, interrupting Grace.

Sienna looked up to find Skylar staring suspiciously at her. "They're cute," she replied with a small shrug as one of the dogs licked her leg.

"The dogs are cute or Finn's cute?" Skylar demanded.

Sienna rolled her eyes. "Not this again."

"Are you still sleeping with him?" Skylar demanded.

"Sometimes."

Grace tugged at her shirt awkwardly. "Let's get back to the dresses, shall we?"

"Great idea, Gracie," Sienna agreed, returning to her magazine.

"I think we should talk about the possibility of you two getting back together for good," Skylar said stubbornly to Sienna.

Sienna looked at Grace, who shrugged. "Skye's being particularly nosey today," Grace told her.

Sienna snorted and turned back to Skylar. "Okay, let's talk about it. Let's say Finn and I get back together right now. We'll be happy for a few months, the media will go into a frenzy, my parents will most likely be thrilled, we'll have a great time at Gracie's wedding…" She paused dramatically. "And then it'll be time for me to go on tour again and he'll start his Quidditch season. I'll be busy doing shows and he'll spend most of his time training. There won't be any time for him to come visit me, nor will I have any time to take off to attend one of his games or visit him. We'll hardly have time to even write or talk to each other and when we do have time, we'll be exhausted. We'll both grow miserable and miss each other and eventually break up…again." Sienna crossed her arms. "But, hey, maybe this time will be different."

"Maybe it will," Skylar said quietly.

"Maybe it won't," Grace countered.

Sienna sighed. "Why would I put myself through that again? Finn and I are fine now. We've accepted it won't work between us. He chose Quidditch and I chose my music. We're happy with our decisions."

"Are you?" Skylar asked her dubiously.

"Yes," Sienna said forcefully. "Look, maybe I shouldn't be fucking around with Finn. Maybe it is a bad idea. But both of us know it won't go anywhere and we're just having fun. For old time's sake."

"Okay, I know I'm late, but please tell me you haven't picked out the bridesmaid dresses yet," Victoire said as she strode into Grace's living room. She paused, sensing the tension. "Is everything okay?"

Sienna glanced up at her. "We were talking about me and Finn."

Victoire smiled slightly. "Some things never change, huh?"

"Oh, shut it," Sienna grumbled.

Skylar walked into the apartment, carrying a large paper bag. "I got us Chinese for dinner," she announced, setting down the food on top of the kitchen counter. She looked up from the food and found Solomon examining the closet by the front door.

"Hey, Skylar, is there a key to this closet or something?" he asked, turning to look at her.

Skylar felt her heartbeat quicken. "Key?"

"Yeah, I've been trying to open this closet door for ages but it's locked!"

"Well, what do you want to open it for anyway?" Skylar demanded, a little aggressively.

Solomon shook his head. "I'm trying to figure out where to put my camera stuff," he muttered, frowning at the door. "Listen, I've searched the entire place for the ruddy key!"

"Have you?" Skylar asked airily.

Solomon nodded. "And you know what else? In all the time that you've lived here, I've never seen this closet door open. What's even in there?"

Skylar shrugged. "I just use it for extra storage. Listen, why don't we clear out some space in the bedroom closet for you to put all your stuff. I'll look for the key to that closet later." She smiled easily at him. "Come on, I'm starving."

Solomon gave her a suspicious look before shrugging and joining her in the kitchen.

"Skylar, I swear, where has your mind been today?" Grace said, sounding annoyed.

Skylar shook her head. "Sorry, all this wedding planning and talk of love…"

"It's got you thinking about Solomon?" Victoire asked quietly.

Skylar sighed. "Well, yeah…"

"What exactly happened between the two of you anyway?" Sienna asked before taking a sip of her tea.

Grace put down the bridal magazines and looked over at Skylar with sudden interest.

"We just…we were very different people," Skylar said evasively. "He wasn't who I thought he was and I wasn't what he thought I was."

Victoire stared at her. "Yeah, that really clears it all up," she said sarcastically.

Sienna's Witch Mirror suddenly buzzed and she quickly pulled it out of her purse. "Finn, what's up?" she asked. "We're in the middle of wedding plans here."

"I miss my puppies," he whined.

The dogs' ears perked up suddenly, hearing their owner's voice.

"And you, of course," Finn added, grinning at Sienna.

Sienna sighed and looked up at Grace. "Do you mind if I head out and return the dogs to Finn?"

"Go ahead," Grace said, tossing the magazines aside. "I'm tired of looking at color palettes anyway."

"Excellent!" Victoire clapped her hands together and stood up. "Anybody fancy a drink at the Leaky Cauldron?"

"S is coming over to Grimmauld Place!" Finn protested from the mirror.

Sienna smiled at Victoire apologetically. "Sorry. Maybe tomorrow night?" She paused and called the dogs' names.

"Yeah, alright," Victoire said, sounding a little disappointed, as Sienna left with Finn's dogs. "What about you two?" Victoire asked, appealing to Grace and Skylar.

"I've got to have dinner with my mum," Grace said.

"How about you?" Victoire asked Skylar.

Skylar considered it. "Yeah, okay."

Skylar peered out the window onto the crowded street below. She could make out the top of Solomon's head, but only because he was snapping pictures of the streets and random people. Skylar watched as he crossed the street and slowly made his way down the sidewalk, getting further and further away. Skylar ran toward her desk and pulled open the drawer. She reached into a small box and pulled out a golden key before running to the hallway. Skylar halted in front of the closet door. Solomon, since the day he'd moved in, had continuously asked her if she had found the closet door key yet. Every time, Skylar lied and told him not yet. Solomon, growing frustrated, had even suggested breaking down the door.

Knowing that she would eventually have to tell Solomon the truth and reveal her magical past, Skylar unlocked the door and opened it. "Not yet," she muttered to nobody. "I'll tell him one day. Just not yet…" Grinning, she reached inside the closet and pulled out a butterbeer bottle. Her textbooks and old school robes were all stacked up neatly near the back of the closet. There were several boxes containing firewhiskey and butterbeers. Her old wand and photographs were hidden beneath the floorboard in her room. Skylar was sure Solomon would never find those, but the closet? He'd been dying to pry open the door for ages. It was only a matter of time before Solomon found her stash of butterbeer and firewhiskey. She could lie, tell him they were just British drinks. But how would she explain the robes and textbooks? Sighing, Skylar knew it was time to get rid of them.

Skylar and Victoire were seated at the bar of the Leaky Cauldron.

"So, since you've had a few drinks, can I ask you something?" Skylar said, watching Victoire carefully.

Victoire looked at her suspiciously. "Not if it's about Teddy."

"Well, that's too bad, because it is."

Victoire rolled her eyes. "Fine. What is it?"

Skylar cleared her throat. "Do you still love him?"

Victoire stared at her. "I'm with Omar."

"That's not what I asked you."

"Skye, I think I will always love Teddy. He'll always be my best friend, but that doesn't mean we should be together. Omar makes me happy and I love him. I really do."

"Do you think it's possible to be in love with two guys at the same time then?" Skylar asked her quietly.

"If you're talking about Solomon and Alexander—"

"What makes you think I'm talking about them?" Skylar snapped, her face turning bright red.

Victoire didn't answer, though, because, she was suddenly distracted. She pointed to the other side of the bar. "Alexander's here…"

"What?" Skylar gasped before whipping her head around. Alexander was walking toward them, an easy grin on his face. "Alex…what are you doing here?" Skylar said nervously.

"Nice to see you, Professor," Victoire said with a smirk.

"I reckon you can call me Alex now," Alexander told her. "Considering I haven't been your teacher in five years."

"Just in the area?" Skylar asked, her voice high.

Alexander nodded. "Yeah, I came with a friend and saw you sitting here…I thought I would come over and say hello…"

"That was nice," Skylar said sheepishly, her face still bright red.

"Besides," Alexander said, turning to Victoire, "I had to come over and talk to Weasley."

"Why is that?" Victoire asked, surprised.

"You were one of my star pupils! I have to know…did you do it? Did you become a cursebreaker?"

Victoire looked rather pleased. "In Egypt. Just like I always wanted."

"Excellent!" Alexander beamed.

"Although, I think you're remembering wrong about the star pupil. I think you meant Gracie."

Alexander shook his head grimly. "Gracie was top of the class, yes, but you underestimate your own abilities, Victoire. You always have."

Victoire blushed. "You were a great teacher, you know that?"

"Well, despite the whole sleeping with a student thing," Alexander said with a sigh.

"Everybody makes mistakes," Victoire said with a shrug.

"Excuse me!" Skylar said furiously. "I was not a mistake!"

"Right. Sorry." The corners of Victoire's lips twitched.

Alexander glanced back. "I should get back to my mate. Come say goodbye before you two leave?"

"Yeah, definitely," Victoire said cheerfully.

Skylar was positively beet red by the time Alexander left.

"What's the matter with you?" Victoire demand before bursting out into a fit of laughter. "I have never seen you, Skylar Grey, so awkward around a bloke."

"I can't help it! I feel like I'm still sixteen years old again whenever Alexander's around. I'm out of my element." She motioned for the bartender to bring her another drink.

"You know, you're not sixteen anymore," Victoire told her.

"I'm well aware," Skylar muttered as the bartender handed her a cocktail.

"It's allowed now, isn't it?"

"What is?" Skylar asked before sipping her drink.

"A relationship with Alexander," Victoire said quietly. "You're not his student anymore."

Skylar blinked. "Vic, I can't even go there…"

"Why not?"

"Because I loved him! Alexander wouldn't be just a rebound…"

Victoire frowned. "Who says you have to have a rebound?"

"Because you do! You can't just jump from one serious relationship to the next!"

"I did," Victoire said quietly. "It worked out pretty well for me."

"Did it?" Skylar raised her eyebrows.

"I know you don't want to believe it because you feel some weird loyalty toward Teddy, but Omar is a good guy, Skye. He makes me happy and he's good to me. We're happy. Was it hard jumping into a relationship so quickly after Teddy and I broke up? Of course it was, but it would've been harder for me to just sit there and think about how much I missed Teddy."

Skylar glanced back. Alexander was sitting with his friend in a booth. They were drinking beers and chatting easily. "You reckon I should go talk to him?"

"It wouldn't hurt," Victoire said gently.

"You're right." Skylar stood up and took a deep breath. She glanced at Victoire. "Aren't you coming?"

Victoire grinned. "Merlin, this is great. I've never known you to be nervous about a guy. It's usually the other way around."

"Yeah, well, Alex isn't just any guy," Skylar muttered, finishing her drink.

Victoire hopped out of her seat. "A little advice? I think we're done with the cocktails."

"Yeah, alright," Skylar muttered. She started toward Alexander and Victoire followed.

"Hey, Skye?" Victoire asked.

"Yeah?"

Victoire decided to copy Skylar's tactics. "Since you've had a few drinks in you, I'm going to ask you this question again and maybe you'll actually answer: what happened between you and Solomon?"

Skylar froze. She turned around and faced Victoire, a bitter smile on her face. "You haven't guessed it yet?"

Victoire shook her head.

"He found out I was a witch," Skylar said simply before turning around and continuing toward Alexander's booth.