Hii! This chapter was hard because Howl isn't the one in a position of power, unlike the movie, so I'm trying my best to keep him in character. There's lots of dialogue in this chapter which was good for me to practice. Feel free to tell me what you liked and how to improve! Hope you like xx

The young lady's eyes fluttered open and Sophie let out a sigh of relief. Noise arose once again as the crowd began to murmur. Sophie helped the woman up off the floor and carefully sat her back down onto her chair, asking if she was alright. The poor thing looked extremely confused as to what just transpired and was blushing due to the multiple pairs of eyes that now watched her.

"Give her some space, ladies, gentlemen", Lettie referred to all the customers who reluctantly turned back to their own tables. Lettie handed the young woman a glass of water and asked about her well being, "You fainted. You really must take better care of yourself!" she warned.

Sophie, now seeing the situation was under control, kissed Lettie farewell on the cheek and slipped out of the bakery. She didn't notice Howl's unwavering stare, and the smile that formed across his lips. As she walked back the way she came through the alleyways, Sophie prayed that nothing else out of the ordinary would happen. That had been enough excitement for one day. The tapping of her boots on the path was now paired with the clunk of another set of feet. She glanced behind her and was mortified to see Howl rushing after her. Why was he following her?! Sophie could have died with worry.

She quickly turned away and was about to quicken her pace when he called out to her, "Sophie!", she stopped and he reached her, "It's Sophie, right?", he smiled and Sophie turned around to face him.

"Y-yes, that's me. Can I help you?" she gingerly asked, as she found the man quite intimidating.

"Actually, I believe you can. I saw what happened in there", he stated, "You're a witch, aren't you?" he accused.

Sophie's anxiety increased, "I… I am" she avoided eye contact.

"That's great!" he beamed, a smile spreading across his face, "Then you can break my curse!" he assumed.

"Curse?" Sophie was surprised.

"I seem to have gotten myself into a bit of trouble. A nasty witch placed a curse on me and now I can't use my magic" he gave a forced smile.

Sophie's eyes widened, "You're a wizard?" she wondered and he nodded, "What is it that you did-"

"To anger the witch?" he finished for her, "I rejected her advances" he grimaced as he reflected on it. He remembered what she had told him:

Dear, dear Howl, your heart is truly bitter. You care more for superficial beauty than for one's character, and for that you will suffer. I'm taking from you the thing you value most, your magic.

Sophie brought him out of his reflection, "I see now. Only another witch can counter a witch's spell, that's why you need my help" she realised.

"There must be a potion you can make me. Please, I'll give you anything, money, jewels, dresses, you name your price. I'm extremely influential, what is it you would like?"

Sophie contemplated his offer. Her shop that was once her parents' was slowly running out of business, she was lucky to have two customers a day. At this rate, she was bound to have to close the shop down and find another form of work. Sophie couldn't stand the idea, she loved running the shop and creating all kinds of potions; it made her feel connected to her parents, and best of all, it made her feel important.

Howl noticed that Sophie was deep in thought, "Ah, so there is something" he prodded.

"It's my shop. It's going out of business" she whispered gravely.

Howl was surprised at her honorable request, "The war has left tough times for many people. I can help you, if, you can lift my curse", he bargained.

Sophie froze. She knew she couldn't do that. A curse that involves magic being stripped from someone by a witch with ill intent, can only be reversed by a witch who holds love in her heart towards the same individual. She didn't love this man. She didn't really like him at all, really. Yet, if she didn't help him, she knew the fate of her shop. If she were to refuse him, she would have no chance of saving her business. She had to do something. She went to agree to his terms but hesitated for a moment. Making a deal with the Howl? Ludicrous! Absolutely, a terrible idea, Sophie! Yet she found herself agreeing to help him despite her reasoning not to.

"Alright. It is a deal then" she held out her hand.

Howl shook it eagerly, "Excellent! Let's get started then, shall we?" he suggested, eager to have his magic restored.

Sophie had to think fast. She had to make Howl believe that she could cure him, otherwise he will never save her shop from its ultimate end.

She needed something that could buy her some time…"I need a specific herb for the potion. It can't be found here, it resides solely in Kingsbury" she blurted out on the spot, scolding herself for lying.

"We better start moving then" he grabbed her hand and started walking in the direction she had been headed.

"We?" she questioned, shocked at his forwardness.

"I'll be accompanying you until my curse is broken, lead the way", he declared and Sophie walked beside him silently as they backtracked her steps from earlier until they reached her little potion shop.

Sophie unlocked the door and flipped the sign back to 'OPEN'. She went over to her big black pot that sat on the fireplace. While she busied herself, Howl simply turned about the room, inspecting this and that. Sophie picked up her ladle and scooped the liquid from her pot, filling a vial with it and then tightly closing the vial with a cork. She noticed Howl watching and when she caught his eye he raised his brows in questioning.

"It's a beauty potion" she informed him just before the jingle of the bell on the door echoed through the shop and Sophie looked up to see a customer that had visited 3 days prior. She was a young woman of a similar age that had requested a beauty potion. Sophie found it difficult to understand why she would want such a potion, the girl was already pretty. As her customer and Sophie exchanged the vial and the payment between one another, Sophie couldn't help but feel that she would be better off with a potion like that.

"Now why would a beautiful woman such as yourself need a silly little thing like that?" Howl approached the customer and kissed her hand just as he had done with Sophie earlier. The girl blushed.

Sophie was insulted. Was he saying her work was silly? And does he just go around from lady to lady, kissing their hands? She couldn't believe she was stuck with this womanizer, a dangerous one, for that matter.

What had she gotten herself into?