Hi, gang!

It's been a couple of months – I've had some wi-fi woes, as you can imagine, but have kept on writing. This in particular was going to be a very long chapter, but I've broken it in two just so you guys get something in the meantime.

11th March, 2009

6th Year Boys Dorm, Ravenclaw Tower

Seth sat up in bed during the early hours of the morning. The sun had barely began to rise over the horizon and bless the forest and fields with light. He pulled his duvet up, feeling the warmth surge through his chest and up his shoulders. His mind continued turning over on the picture he'd seen.

He didn't know much about this Holt, but he'd died in Azkaban after doing something with his students and blood magic. Seth knew Hogwarts had a few dark chapters in its history, but it was another thing being confronted with it; Aurora Tremblay was one of Holt's students – it was very possible she was involved with everything.

These weren't the issues that troubled Seth, however. What truly played on mind was the internal argument for whether or not he should tell Alessia. After all, she deserved to know more about who her mother was – to at least know what she looked like. But, then again, it wasn't exactly happy knowledge – and he'd seen how she reacted to finding out simply who the Tremblay's were… maybe she would be better off not knowing…

Regardless, Aurora had been holding a diadem. The diadem that supposedly belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, that was in McGonagall's possession, that this mysterious murderer was after. If Seth couldn't find out anything about Holt, maybe he could find out more about the boy in the picture – Godwinson?

Seth stepped out of bed, feeling his feet touch the cold floorboards. He quickly stepped over to the blue carpet on the floor and sat down in the blue armchair between his bed and Nathan Robertson's, turning to look out of the window and watch the rising sun and listen to the whistling wind. He stayed there for a while, feeling the warm sun begin to gaze upon his cheeks, as if it were melting away ice…

Something cold and wet tightened around his wrist. His heart leapt up into his throat as he turned to see a figure of shadows leaning in close to his face. Shadows dripped onto Seth, soddening his shirt and soaking his skin as Seth felt his entire body go cold. He didn't feel the weight of the ground beneath his feet, the warmth of the sun on his cheeks… He couldn't move away, and the figure leaned in closer.

Seth stared up at the shadows, and as the figure's face was an inch away from his, he could see that it was smoke – constantly billowing and emanating from deep within their head. They tilted their head to the side and spoke in a low, menacing voice.

"I warned you…" They hissed.

The Black Lake, Hogwarts Grounds

Seth's grey eyes shot open. He could see nothing in front of him. His arms and legs were cold and, as Seth tried to move his body, he found he was met with resistance – something slowed his arms.

Water.

His lungs began to ache as he began to swim up, and found his nostrils flooded with water. His head began to ache as panic settled into blood. Was he swimming down? He could feel the air swell within his chest – he had to breathe, else his lungs were going to pop like a balloon. He scrunched his eyes shut and turned his body around, kicking hard and swiping his arms forward…

Seth soared straight up as if he were on a broomstick. He arced out of the water and began to fall through the air, barrelling across the grassy bank and exhaling hard, then taking long, ragged breaths. He stayed like that, on all fours, gasping and wheezing, eyes scrunched shut. His arms and legs gave way and he collapsed there, feeling the sweet relief of breathing.

"Without a wand," a voice spoke again. Seth's heart hammered and he looked up to see the figure of smoke and shadow sat upon a large boulder. "That's very impressive, Galloway."

"Is this a dream?" Seth asked.

"Does it matter?" they responded. "I warned you I'd kill to get you to stop – do you need me to kill someone you know for that to sink in?"

"I've not done anything-"

"You know I can see into your head," the figure stated. Seth looked up at them and pushed himself up onto his knees.

"Are you Holt?"

"Holt is dead," they said flippantly.

"Then are you Godwinson?" Seth asked. The figure remained silent for a moment.

"You really are a smart boy."

"Godwinson," Seth nodded, looking the figure up and down, "why are you disguising yourself?"

"Well, because I don't want you to see me, obviously."

"Or do you not want me to recognize you?" Seth asked. "Are you at Hogwarts?"

"Maybe."

"Then you're a teacher. Or, or you're using the teachers. And the only teacher you could be is…" Seth frowned, staring at the figure. Fern and Kenton. Those were the two newest teachers, they had to be involved.

The figure began to titter quietly. "Why do you believe me?"

"What?"

"About being Godwinson?"

"Because he was with Aurora Tremblay in that picture with Holt. She was holding the diadem- that's the next artefact, so…"

The figure laughed loudly. "You really aren't as clever as I thought."

Seth's face fell as he pushed himself up onto his feet. "What?"

"See, I thought you'd started to figure it out. But… clearly not."

"Figure what out?"

The shadowy individual climbed off the rock. "They're not pretty little collectibles, Galloway. They were owned by the most powerful witches and wizards of their era," the figure scoffed, "and you haven't the slightest idea what can be done with them."

Seth opened his mouth to respond, but the figure raised their hand, and pressed it to Seth's face. He felt a warm embrace flood down through his body, and as his eyes closed and his body turned limp and fell backwards…

He thumped back into the armchair in the dormitories, rubbing his head from the impact. Seth leapt out of the chair, looking around left and right for the assailant, and snatching his wand off his end table.

Everyone else was asleep. Gentle snoring and the wind whistling outside the window was all that could be heard. That and the dripping of water from Seth's clothes into the puddles of water that formed on the cold floorboards.

Gryffindor Common Room

Jamie didn't want to admit it, but Emil was growing on him. Well, that is, partly; Emil was still highly energetic and enthusiastic and entirely, utterly uncool whilst believing otherwise. But… well, some positive energy was nice. It was not, however, called for on that Tuesday morning, as Emil had told Dorian 'It's not like you did anything, just your mum.' Jamie had winced, knowing Emil had sealed his fate. Jamie had prepared himself for Dorian to hex the guy when, to his great surprise, Dorian had just left.

Jamie, along with Cormac O'Hare and Harrison McAllister, traipsed out of the portrait-hole with Dorian, following the gently-plodding crowds that descended down the staircase.

"Hey, awesome win, by the way," Jamie said suddenly, "I mean, what, like, half the team goes down and you still win? You've also taken us to the top of the league, mate." He slapped Dorian on the shoulder for good measure.

"Erm, we did a bit, too," Harrison said.

Dorian gave a grunt and a half-hearted chuckle. Jamie draped an arm around his friend's neck. "Listen, they're all morons, okay? It'll all blow over in no time – don't even waste the energy thinking about it. Just… don't let it get you down."

"Wow, thanks, Jay, why didn't I think of that?" Dorian said with an ounce of sarcasm.

"Alright, mate…" Jamie said, retracting his arm. "I'm just trying to help."

"Well, don't-" Dorian began, stopping on the steps and having Cormac bump into him. Dorian steadied himself and glanced around at the crowds moving around him, then back to Jamie, who was waiting for him a step below. "I'm sorry, Jay. Really, I didn't mean to-"

"Adler!"

The four Gryffindor boys looked down the stairwell to see Rupert Selwyn, flanked by a sneering Roman Blodwell and a somewhat shy Myles Evans, leaning over to call up to him from the floor below.

"How much did mummy pay to get you on the team here?" Selwyn shouted. Some people on the stairwell froze, waiting to see another escapade between the two groups. Dorian's hand went to his wand, but Jamie stood in front of him.

"What a surprise, Slytherin in third place, yet again!"

"Yeah, take a good look at that trophy lads, 'cos yous are never going to see it up close." Cormac chimed in.

"I don't care about quidditch," Selwyn scoffed as he walked up the stairs with the two other Slytherins. "What, nothing to say, Adler?" Selwyn jeered.

"I guess not," Dorian said coldly as he continue on to the Great Hall.

"I thought you always had something to say," Blodwell chimed in, seemingly giddy.

"I might have a word or two…" Cormac said darkly, a fist clenched as he kept between Dorian and the Slytherins.

"Mummy paying them off as well, Adler?" Selwyn asked loudly.

"Paying them off?" Blodwell chuckled, "With what?"

Jamie didn't play quidditch – his reflexes weren't that fast. However, because Cormac was stood between the two, Dorian had to move around him; He flung himself forwards, as if he was going to tackle one of the Slytherins to the ground. Cormac put his hands on Dorian's chest and Jamie grabbed one of his arms, pulling him back.

Blodwell and Selwyn weren't smirking anymore. Blodwell had turned pale, and hurried off into the hall. "Lunatic – it's the blood-mingling…" Jamie could make out Blodwell saying.

"They're not worth it, Ads," Cormac said, watching them over his shoulder, "they're just sore."

"Yeah, it's just Selwyn," Harrison nodded.

"Pricks…" Dorian hissed, moving away from Cormac and Jamie's hold, and walking into the Great Hall with them.

Though the snow had stopped, the frost still crept into the castle. Many students still wore scarves and cloaks inside. The older years, however, had perfected charms to stay warm.

Usually, Alessia would create a flame between the students to help them stay warm, but Jamie couldn't see her – at least, he couldn't for a second. He found that she was sat a table over, with Seth. Both of them held hands, arms wound together, as they talked with a deep sense of seriousness.

"Seems Ales and Galloway are getting cosy," Cormac snickered.

"Not the best time, Mac…" Jamie said quietly.

"Why?" Dorian asked firmly.

"Well…" Jamie glanced around to Harrison and Cormac for help and found none. "You know, you two have this…"

"Us two have this what?" Dorian frowned, completely obtuse. He let out a small scoff and looked back to his breakfast. "I've got nothing to say to her."

"Oh, don't tell me you two are in a tiff again…" Cormac groaned.

"Shut up, Mac," Jamie whispered.

"You should go over and talk to him."

Alessia looked back to Seth. His skin seemed paler when the sun wasn't around, especially when his fingers were woven between hers.

"There's more important things," Alessia said. "We need to figure out who-"

"We do, so it's important that the four of us aren't arguing."

"Seth." Alessia stared at him.

Seth's grey eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what he'd said wrong. "What?"

"You and him always argue!"

"Yeah, but we're not friends," Seth stated. "You've been friends with him for five years."

"'Friends' is being used very liberally there…" Alessia chuckled. "Besides, I don't think we're on speaking terms…"

"I'm sure he'd appreciate you going over there talk him more than me."

Alessia sighed and squeezed Seth's hand. "You know you're being way nicer than he ever is about you."

"No-one's always nice," Seth shrugged. "Look, he's… I have my own issues with him, but that's between me and him. And, contrary to what you say, you two are friends- best friends. It'd be a shame to lose that over… whatever you're arguing about."

Alessia knew it wouldn't be right to talk about what was going on between her and Dorian. Well, he was part-Veela – if it wasn't for that, maybe she'd find him as annoying as Seth did. In fact, she still did! It wasn't worth explaining to Seth that she might have harboured a feeling or two – she was sure every girl did, and it was wholly superficial. Seth wasn't just easy on the eyes – he was good for her. Scratch that, he was good.

Alessia gave Seth a gentle kiss on the cheek and squeezed his hand once more before picking up her bag and promising to see him in Charms. She walked across the Great Hall, weaving between the pupils that rushed in to grab some breakfast before classes started. She approached the group of boys, flanked by a gaggle of girls in Gryffindor, and made her way to the inner circle of Dorian, Jamie, Cormac and Harrison.

"Hey guys," Alessia forced a smile as she looked at the four boys. Harrison turned to face her and Jamie gave her a warm smile, but Cormac was too busy telling Dorian about a girl in the year above who was trying to study to become an animagus.

"Hey, nice win, the other day, Ales," Jamie said, raising a fist and knocking it into hers.

"Thanks – yeah, we did alright, didn't we, Ads?" Alessia asked with a chuckle. Dorian seemed completely oblivious to her, and sat there drinking his pumpkin juice, his food untouched.

"Could've done without the bludgers, I bet," Jamie said after a moment of tense silence.

"Yeah – how's your head, Mac? Faith did a number on you."

"Ah, didn't do me no damage," Cormac knocked his head for good measure.

"Yeah, not much in there to wreck," Jamie commented with a smile. The three of them gave a short chuckle. Dorian, however, was still quietly sipping his pumpkin juice, staring at the uneaten breakfast in front of him.

"Hey, erm… Ads, me, Seth and Faith – we were going to talk about that homework thing at lunch-"

"I'm busy," Dorian said quietly, barely glancing up from the table.

Jamie and Cormac were quiet as Alessia looked between the two of them for help. When none come, Alessia looked down at her feet for a moment and sighed. She knew it was awkward – and yes, he was going through something, but that wasn't an excuse.

"You could at least look at me when you talk-" Alessia began. Dorian half-slammed the goblet back onto the table (spilling some across the table and onto Valerie Townsend's sleeve) and stood up fast, slinging his rucksack over one shoulder.

"Whatever," Dorian muttered, making his way towards the door.

Jamie stood up, grabbing his own bag and looking towards Alessia. "Ales, we'll see you in charms, it's just this stuff with his mum, y'know-"

Alessia turned around on the spot and marched back towards Seth, sitting down and focusing all of her attention on eating breakfast. She chewed angrily, nostrils flared and hacking an egg apart until yolk bled across the plate.

"I'm guessing it went well?" Seth raised an eyebrow. One glowering look from Alessia and he held his hands up in surrender, turning back to his own breakfast.

Charms Corridor, Third Floor, Training Grounds Tower

The bell rang and students began to flood out of their classrooms. The hall was covered in swarms of students, but barging shoulder-first through the crowds were Cormac, Jamie and Dorian, heralded by whispers of students.

Alessia lingered at the door, watching them walk away – he'd not so much as looked at her for the entire lesson. Even when Professor Flitwick put them in a group with Jamie Helstrom and Laëtitia Small. Sure, Alessia and Dorian had had their arguments, but one had never shut the other out before. It wasn't even as if she were a stranger, Dorian seemed to flat-out refuse to even acknowledge her.

Alessia's thoughts were interrupted as Seth nudged her in the arm. "I know that look," he said, pocketing his hands. He jerked out his elbow, offering it to her. Alessia looped her arm through his and they began to walk.

"He's such a…" she clamped her lips shut, waiting for a word insulting enough to suit him.

"He can be, yes," Seth nodded.

"Don't make me laugh, I'm angry."

"It won't happen again," Seth said quietly in his northern Irish lilt. "Maybe he just needs some time to-"

"No, he's just being self-obssessed," Alessia replied as they made their way to the Great Staircase. "Like, we have an argument, and now he just doesn't talk to me? Or look at me?"

Seth nodded, his eyes focused on the steps as his brow creased in concentration. Alessia recognized this as his thinking face. "Well, are you sure it's about the argument?" He asked.

"It's about the argument, Seth."

"But what about-"

"He was frosty with me before this stuff about his mum's bribery came out-"

"Alleged bribery," Seth quietly interrupted.

"-and he still talks to Jay! He still talks to Mac – it's just me he's freezing out." she scoffed. Seth opened his mouth, but Alessia continued, "It's like they're just his friends- they're my friends too! Like- look, no-one's parents are perfect, okay, I know that, and just because his mum was using her power-"

"Misusing."

"-to get more money and fame is-"

"Allegedly get more money and-"

"Why do you keep doing that?" Alessia asked, stopping on the steps, much to the annoyance of the pupils behind her. Seth waited, a few steps ahead, looking back to her with a slightly bemused frown.

"Doing what?"

"'Allegedly'."

Seth frowned. "Well, it's not been proven yet."

"What?" Alessia sighed – it was quite tiring having these conversations. She knew he wasn't doing it on purpose, but… well, Seth would think things through and forget to explain his process. It could get exhausting trying to keep up with him.

"Well, you're talking about this like it's a fact. It's not been proven, it's all just… rumours, really."

"There's an investigation."

"Exactly – that means no-one knows what's happened." Seth looked around to watch the other pupils passing them before climbing the steps to stand on Alessia's level, looking down on her slightly. "I guess it's never nice when people think badly about you or your family, but… it's got to really sting when it's the people close to you."

Alessia chewed her tongue. She hadn't… well, she supposed… it didn't make how he was acting okay. And Dorian was awful to a lot of people. Maybe it was time he was humbled. With his head deflated, he'd be a lot more bearable. Maybe he deserved a bit of misery.

She didn't feel proud of that thought.

"Well, he still should've talked to me," Alessia argued.

"I wholeheartedly agree," Seth nodded, "but something tells me you two aren't really big on talking about your feelings."

Perhaps she had been a little hasty in believing the article. Well, it wasn't that unbelievable, in her defence, but… well, maybe he did need a bit of space. He hadn't been his usual self, talking out in class or making jokes. He didn't even seem to be happy around Jamie.

Alessia looked back to Seth, who was examining her face with great focus. Finally, finding his grey eyes, her lip curled. "You're pretty smart."

Seth shrugged. "Faithy helps with the empathic parts."

They resumed descending the stairs with the last of the pupils, arms linked once again. "That reminds me," Alessia said slowly, "what have you told Faith?"

"About what?"

"About us."

Seth opened his mouth. Then closed it. "I didn't know… what to tell her. I'm not good with saying… this."

Alessia frowned. "Saying what?"

"What this is," he said, nodding to her arm.

"Oh." Alessia gently retracted her arm. "Okay."

They slowed their pace together, staring ahead in silence. "You know-"

"I have history, next," Alessia said.

"Right, yeah, this is… bad timing," Seth cleared his throat.

"Yeah, we should probably have this conversation at another time…"

"Right, yeah, of course- wait, is it… is there a lot to say?"

"Yeah," Alessia nodded. Seth's grey eyes grew wider in alarm as he began to nod repeatedly, looking back down to the steps. Alessia quickly realized what was going on in his head. "No, not like- not in a bad way. In a good- there's always a lot of stuff to figure out. I… I like what's happening."

Seth's nodding ceased and she caught a slight smile on his lips. "Okay," he said, breathing a silent relief. Alessia gave him a small peck on the lips before turning around to head to her next class early.

Classroom 1B, Ground Floor, Middle Courtyard

Dorian was dreading this class. No Jamie or Cormac. No friends – just Rupert Selwyn, Genevieve Dankworth and Myles Evans.

Dorian was sitting at the back of the class, staring at his notebook with the date scrawled in the top right-hand corner. He could just walk out. He didn't need to sit there, trying his best to ignore Rupert Selwyn's comments. He heard the boy snicker and balled his hand into a fist.

In his mind, he'd hexed him already. He'd done it in every sense except the physical. He could curse him there and then – he didn't even care if Myles Evans knocked his teeth out. Anything to wipe that smug smile off Selwyn's stupid-

"So, I've been doing some reading about that disappearing door," Seth said, sitting down next to Dorian and placing his bag down next to him. The first thing Dorian registered was the fact he smelt of Alessia's perfume. "I don't think it's a hidden passage – I mean, it could be, but I heard mention of this room on the seventh floor which-"

"Seth," Dorian turned to face him, "I don't care."

Dorian turned back to face his notebook, doodling idly with his quill. Nothing in particular, just a broomstick and a snitch. Then some hoops. He imagined himself playing quidditch, with the wind in his hair, spiralling in a dive at top speed, the feeling of his heart hammering in his throat as he-

"Come on, Ads," Seth said in an upbeat manner. Dorian loudly ripped the page out of his notebook. "Don't you want to find out what F-freaky Fern is doing? And uncover the mysteries of Hog…" Seth sighed. "I'm terrible at this."

"Yeah, clearly."

"Okay, are you upset because of your mum, or what me and Alessia are doing?"

"I really couldn't care less," Dorian scoffed.

"Well, if it is about us, you should really talk to-"

"Stop talking," Dorian grumbled under his breath.

"Look, you're Alessia's friend, so I really want to-"

Dorian stood up, grabbing his notebook, quill and inkpot, and kicked his rucksack over to another table and sat down there without a second look back to Seth. He turned to his right and found the table was not empty at all – Levi Moore was sat there.

"Oh, Merlin's…" Dorian sighed and opened his book.

"Hello?" Levi frowned at Dorian.

"Just…" Dorian waved a hand and turned back to his book.

"We're not friends, are we?"

"No," Dorian grunted.

"Then why are you sitting there?"
"None of your business."

"Debatable."

"Just…" Dorian trailed off before finally shrugging, "okay?"

Library, Library Corridor, First Floor, Training Grounds Tower

Faith set her bag down on the table and sat down with her brother and his… whatever Alessia was. Alessia was sat on the table, feet resting on the bench that Seth was sat on, resting his head against his hand, and completely oblivious to Alessia's, which was placed very close to his book, palm-up.

"Is that for class or…?" Faith asked her brother. He looked up at her and showed the book. Faith squinted as she read the title, "Five hundred wizarding families of Great Britain… have I missed something?"

Alessia handed her a folded-up page from a newspaper. Faith frowned and unfolded it, finding an article about Professor Holt. "What's-"

"Aurora Tremblay's holding a diadem. It's… probably the one that belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw…"

"Tremblay?" Faith asked. Alessia nodded. Faith's grey eyes fell back down to the picture of the girl. She could see the resemblance – the same curly hair, the same nose, the same bow-shaped lips…

"Apparently the Godwinsons were an old family, but there's no mention of William Godwinson," Seth explained.

"Who?"

"The boy in the picture." Seth nodded to the page. "I think he's the one behind the attacks."

"What about the Pryomancer? Or Professor Kenton?" Faith asked.

"It's… it could be," Seth said, rubbing his brow, "but if we can track down Godwinson, maybe we could… get someone involved. Like, the ministry."

"Well, we do have a through-line to the Minister," Faith said, looking up and down the library before sitting down. "Where's Dorian, anyway?"

Seth's grey eyes flitted over to Alessia, who was looking away, putting a grape in her mouth. "He's not really speaking to us anymore."

"Why?" Faith asked.

"Who knows?" Alessia muttered darkly.

"I thought it was…" Seth began before clamping his lips shut and swallowing. "… that as well."

"You're an abysmal liar, Seth," Faith stated.

"Look, we can't wait around for Dorian," Seth said, leaning forwards, "I think I met him."

"Who- Dor-"

"No, of course not. This morning I…" Seth shook his head, "I don't know what happened. I was in the common room, then I was in the lake-"

"The Black Lake?" Faith frowned. Alessia placed a hand on Seth's shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. When I got out, I saw a guy there – made of smoke."

Alessia straightened up. "The one who attacked us at Gringott's."

"He said he was Godwinson. And he also said-"

"He used those words?" Alessia narrowed her eyes.

"I mean, he then asked why I believed him, but-"

"Then why believe him?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"He's not exactly a credible source, Seth!"

"Then why even bother telling me in the first place?"

"To play games? To mess with your head," Alessia emphasised her point by prodding his temples.

"What else did he say?" Faith asked.

"He said he… might be at Hogwarts."

"Well, Fern's involved, we know that," she murmured.

"And he also said that the artefacts aren't… collectibles. He mentioned that… something could be done with them."

"Something like what?"

"I don't know," he shook his head. "So, we need to read up on this-" Seth was about to stand up when Alessia gently laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to wait until we were all here," Seth began, only to be cut off by Faith.

"But we're not. All here, I mean."

"I tried to get him to come this morning, he didn't want to hear about it," Alessia said with an exasperated sigh – it was clear that she didn't like talking about it.

"Four heads are better than three," Faith pointed out.

"Debatable…" Alessia scoffed. Faith clutched her bag tighter to her body and stood up from her bench. Alessia and Dorian had been friends for years. She'd seen how close they were. And, when he needed a friend, she seemed perfectly happy to let him deal with everything on his own. Was that the sort of person Alessia was? Was that the sort of person that was dating her brother?

"I'll see you both after class? Before dinner."

"Oh, we've got plans," Seth said.

Faith frowned. Seth was prioritising his 'plans' with Alessia over this thing with the founder's relics? That wasn't like him. Faith knew that this was good – that he should be able to have an actual life beyond grades and… she was just being protective, right? Yeah, it was good that he was doing that, he needed to, for his own sake. She should've been happy that he was making headway and learning to live his life.

Well, that's it for now – I hope you guys enjoyed. Be sure to leave a review to let me know you're still reading and I'll see you guys for the next chapter (It's gonna be a good one!)