Wyatt made his way to Umbridge's office, alone and somewhat apprehensive. Jenna hadn't said a word to him since she'd left the library. She'd sat next to him in Charms, but she'd walked far ahead of him afterwards, not looking at him. During lunch, she'd mysteriously wandered off, and he hadn't seen her again until Herbology. That had been tense, as had Transfiguration, where she had, once again, sat next to him wordlessly, staring straight ahead unless she was taking notes. (Judging from the look McGonagall had shot them during class, Wyatt had a feeling she suspected something.) Jenna had altogether skipped dinner, leaving Wyatt on his own.

He felt a rush of panic as he approached Umbridge's door.

Was Jenna truly that upset about him having tea with Umbridge? It was just tea. She wanted to talk about his possible future at the Ministry. It wasn't like it was a date. It wasn't even really "casual", as Davies had put it. It was strictly professional, strictly a professor speaking to a graduating student about his career choice.

But was it worth it? If it truly upset Jenna this much… Was having a cup of tea and chatting about what was considered one of the dullest Ministry departments really worth alienating his sister?

He'd known Jenna his entire life. Why would she suddenly start acting this way over some… woman she'd hardly spoken to? A woman that she had to know that Wyatt had no interest in. She was at least sixty, and was hardly what he would consider attractive. (He liked his women how he liked his coffee, after all: strong, black, and foreign… even better if one added a bit of firewhiskey.)

Or… perhaps it wasn't his meeting with Umbridge that had her upset… Perhaps it was about him? Wyatt tried to force himself to switch the perspective, to imagine that he was Jenna, and that she was him. It was their final year. They were both apprehensive, because they knew they'd have to rely a lot more on themselves than they'd had to in the past. If Jenna had been meeting somebody tonight, a Senior Healer from St. Mungo's, perhaps… Well, perhaps he would be a bit bothered by it. Because that would mean… that would mean that the end was coming closer, that they would soon have to face the realities of adulthood. And the Senior Healer would be the trigger. The Senior Healer would be the one, in Wyatt's mind, who was separating him from Jenna.

Throughout their entire lives, Jenna had never once gone this long without speaking to him. They were each other's lifelines, their tethers to reality. He helped her feel safe in a world where she perceived everything as threatening, and she helped him keep his focus on the big picture instead of panicking over every minute detail in life. They were a team.

Wyatt sighed.

Jenna was being silly. She had nothing to worry about.

Hesitantly, Wyatt knocked.

Everything would be fine.

Back in the Ravenclaw common room, Jenna was sitting sideways in one of the comfortable blue armchairs, her legs swung over one of the arms as her back rested against the other arm. Her Transfiguration book was resting against her knees as she tried to force herself to focus. She couldn't allow herself to get distracted. She had to study. She had to do well on her N.E. .

But all the same, her mind began to wander. Wyatt was meeting with Umbridge right at this very second. What were they talking about? What was he saying to her? Why had Umbridge invited Wyatt, but not her?

Jenna closed her eyes, leaning her head back over the arm of the chair.

Why was she worrying so much about this? She was attracted to Umbridge, sure, but… that was it. They weren't involved. Umbridge was a professor, and that was unethical. Professors didn't date students. And even if they did…

Jenna's stomach churned slightly. Was it really Umbridge she was concerned about, though? Or was she worried about Wyatt not being nearby? They'd always been a team, had always been together. Sure, they argued at times. They disagreed on a vast number of things. They were heading down different career paths, but… Jenna had assumed they'd still see each other every day. Was this how it would feel all the time after graduation? Would she constantly find herself worrying about her brother, about who he was talking to, what he was doing?

What if Umbridge said something to him that made him change? What if she convinced him to take different classes, or to move far away after graduation?

Jenna forced herself to breathe, to ease off.

He's my brother. She thought to herself. He can do as he likes, and I can do as I like. We're our own people.

Wyatt was sitting uncomfortably in a stiff, quilted pink armchair in Umbridge's office, sweat beading on his forehead as he clutched his cup of tea. Umbridge sat primly across from him, smiling widely. She sipped her tea delicately.

"So, from what I've heard about you, you're a very diligent student." She said sweetly. Wyatt smiled nervously.

"Thank you, Professor." He said modestly. "I do try my hardest."

"I'm sure you do, dear." She gestured to his tea. "Do drink up, won't you?"

Obediently, he took a sip of his tea.

"The Trade department certainly does appreciate wizards who work hard." She smiled. "And those who have such impeccable disciplinary records as yours. Not even a warning. How very impressive."

Wyatt couldn't help but frown. How did she know that? Had she… looked at his records?

"Well… I don't see the point in stepping out of line, Professor." He said carefully. "After all, we're here to learn and to better ourselves."

Umbridge looked pleased.

"Quite right you are, my dear! Quite right you are! But even so, I'm sure you might have felt just a teensy bit tempted to rebel, am I right?" She gave him a coy wink.

"W-well, no, Professor…" Wyatt nervously took another sip of his tea. "Jenna and I, we mostly stick to ourselves. We've got better things to do than waste our time on making trouble."

"Oh? What sort of things have you got to do? An intelligent, handsome young man like you must have so little free time." Umbridge cooed. "I appreciate you taking the time to come here, by the way."

Wyatt choked on his tea.

"I… I have loads of free time!" he said quickly, feeling his cheeks flush. "So much free time."

"I see…" Umbridge gave him a kind smile. "Well, nonetheless, I'm very glad you came."

Wyatt laughed, shifting uncomfortably under Umbridge's gaze.

"Yeah… it,er, it was a bit of a struggle."

Wyatt blinked, frowning. He wasn't… entirely sure why he'd said that.

Umbridge's smile widened.

"Oh? How so?"

"M-my sister." The words were forcing themselves out before he could stop them. "She got upset."

"Oh? Did she not want you to come?" Umbridge leaned forward, resting her hand gently on Wyatt's knee. He tensed out of reflex.

"No. I don't think so." He felt his skin crawl slightly as Umbridge's pudgy hand squeezed his knee. "I th-think she would've rathered it be her here."

Wyatt's jaw clenched as he realized what he'd said.

Umbridge's eyes widened in mild shock.

"Why do you think that?" she asked softly. Wyatt pressed his lips together in an attempt to keep the words in. "Mr. Harper? Why do you think your sister would have preferred to be here?"

"She's got a massive crush on you!" Wyatt's lips wouldn't cooperate with his brain. "She talked about you all last night, and at breakfast."

"About me?" Wyatt didn't miss the slight pinkish tinge her cheeks took on. "What… what sort of things did she say?"

"Please, Professor, she wouldn't want me to say…" Wyatt begged weakly, although he could feel the words trickling up his throat.

"Oh, come now. Just a teensy little bit of gossip won't hurt." She slid her hand off of his knee. "She told you she had a, er, massive crush on me? What exactly did she say?"

Wyatt felt sick as the words poured out, as he recounted the conversation they'd had as they sat before the fire in the common room the previous night once everyone else had retired.

"Seriously, though, Jenna. If you think you might like her…"

"Wyatt, she's a professor! I'm a student!"

"Yeah, but you're of age! It could work out..."

"I've just fucking met the woman, Wyatt! And I hardly said three words to her! I… I'm attracted to her, sure, but… I don't know her at all."

"That's why you should get to know her! I can see it now… you two, slipping each other little love notes in the hallways, sneaking kisses in the broom closets… Ow! Stop pinching me, you bitch!"

"Then stop fucking talking! Look, it's… it's just a crush. A tiny, miniscule crush. I'm sure it'll fade after a few classes, once… once I can associate her with something negative."

"Negative? Are you purposely sabotaging yourself, Jenna?"

"Wyatt…"

"Jenna, you haven't had… any sort of feelings like this for anyone since Olivia. And that happened quickly, too, remember? You saw her, and it was just…"

"Poof. That was it…"

"Oh, Jenna, don't cry… Come now, just think… If you really let these feelings for Umbridge develop, and if she… if she develops feelings for you…"

"But how do I know if she even…"

"I see…" Umbridge cut him off, grinning. "You two are very close, aren't you? You must truly care about her."

"Sh-she's my sister." Wyatt struggled to keep his voice from shaking. "Of course I care."

"So, you must tell each other… everything, then?" Umbridge leaned back in her chair, quirking a brow. "Every little thing you do?"

"F-for the most part, Professor." Where the Hell was this going?

"I suppose the both of you relied on each other a lot for comfort… after your father disappeared."

Wyatt's eyes widened, his blood going cold.

"I'm… I'm sorry?" he whispered.

"Oh, I was speaking to one of my contacts from the Trading Standards Body last night, and he mentioned that he had looked into your background, into your… family…" Her saccharine grin made him queasy. "Your father, he wasn't a very nice man, was he? I suppose it was… convenient, wasn't it, when he just… didn't come home from work one night?"

Wyatt didn't answer. He couldn't speak. He could feel bile rising in his throat. There was no way she could know…

But the smile on her face told him otherwise.