I do not own Howls Moving Castle or any of its characters.

"I was taken in by Madam Sullivan as her apprentice shortly after their deaths and I was taught wizardry. A few years after beginning my apprenticeship I found out why. Madam Sullivan was training a number of wizards and witches so she gained higher standing with the monarch. She didn't wan to fight in the wars so she trained people to take her place. I rebelled and left not wanting to fight in the wars. I'm still being hounded to this day to take part in the wars that are tearing our lands apart. Calcifer is a good and loyal friend though and has kept me safe to this day inside our castle."

Sophie had tears in her eyes again but they were now tears of sorrow for Howl.

"Please don't cry for me my love I have dealt with my sorrow along time ago. I know this will be hard for you, but at least when we leave you will know that your parents are still living. I promise to look after you Sophie, I promise with everything that I am."

Sophie spent the next three days with her parents visiting places that reminded her of her childhood and the good memories she had with her parents. On the final day Sophie's mum pulled her aside while Sophie's dad was keeping Howl occupied with the different appliances in the house.

"Sophie are you ready for this? He doesn't know anything does he?" Sophie's mum asked.

"Mother, everything is going as the oracle said, I have given him no reason to suspect anything is different about me or the family. I think I have acted in the way that someone with no knowledge would. He will be able to keep me safe in his world and I think my skills will progress while I am there I can already feel my reading skills increasing. I can sometimes get clips of what he is thinking but it's usually protected by a wall because of his magical skills. I think if we have both managed to keep this from dad for so long that I can keep it from Howl for a while at least."

"Good it's those skills which will keep you safe from the hunter's, I don't think they will be able to travel through the crack and with your light being gone from this world they shouldn't last more than a few weeks. The shadows can't survive without the light."

"Mother there are shadow people in Howl's world but they are unintelligent beings and are being used as slaves. That stupid old witch tried to use them and a yoogle on me, I let it into some parts of my brain but I kept a shield up in the necessary parts. The worst of it had to allow her to use her powers. Seriously pain spells like that shouldn't be allowed."

"She should be no trouble for you at the right time but lay low at the moment. I am going to miss you. I would like to come with you but I can't leave your father, I love him too much."

"Please don't mum your going to make me cry."

"This is going to be the last time I see you until your powers have progressed to a stage that you can cross the barrier at will. Who knows how long that will be."

"Oh mum I'm sorry but I have to go. Please look after yourself and dad, I will see you soon." Sophie turned away from her mum as tears filled her eyes she headed towards the bathroom to get rid of the tears. Howl saw the tears in her eyes but just thought that it was because she was having to leave her parents with no option of coming back. Two minutes later she left the bathroom looking a little red in the eye but not so much that anyone would know she had been crying.

"Hey dad I am going for a walk with Howl, I will see you when I get back, Love you."

Sophie said as she left the house for the last time and put her hand in Howls as the walked towards the crack.

"Are you ok Sophie?"

"What to you think HOWL? I have just had to leave my family with the prospect of never getting to see them again. Really is that a question you want to ask me at this time?"

"I just want to let you know I am here for you if you need me. Please talk to me."

"Howl just drop it at the moment, I need time to think and sort out things in my head."

With that being said Howl and Sophie disappeared through the hole separating the worlds leaving everything that Sophie was used to behind.