AN: Hey guys... Today's chapter is actually a tad longer than normal! It all evens out doesn't it?

By the way! If you read the last chapter straight after it was posted (as I'm sure some did) then you might want to flip back to that one again, I added an extra couple paragraphs the day after uploading it, thanks to an idea from a guest reviewer x It's not essential but I didn't want you guys to miss it x

Enjoy today's chapter :)

The summer began to pass quicker than before as Arianna returned to her daily routine. Anyone looking at the two of them would have noticed no different in their behaviour to one another.

However, there was a shift in the air between them, like a silent agreement. While before Arianna had been unsure and nervous, now she felt only contentment and a warm glow that permeated her entire being whenever they were together, a feeling that she hoped her husband shared. He was still harsh and blunt, but she was used to it and now she wasn't afraid of loving him for it. Of course, she wouldn't voice it.

Despite his actions in the church, she knew he would probably reject such a display from her. He had been informed, multiple times, of her affections, and she was surprisingly patient. Besides, why ruin a good thing?

Tuesday August 19th 2014

Dear Diary,

You know, I'm gonna miss having Hieronymous teach Red Magic… I'm sure Professor Finch is a brilliant teacher, but I think I'll miss the way Hieronymous teaches the subject. He always sounds like he's trying to put us off it, telling stories about how dangerous it can be, suggesting we can't control it…

But I know (even if nobody else does) that he's trying to protect us, to stop us from getting hurt. Nobody else sees it… but he cares a lot. He's just got his own way of showing it.

Ah well, I'm quite happy knowing I'm the only one that knows him like that. It's like our own little secret.

That sounds so childish, doesn't it? Oh well… Nothing to be done about that, really. I am childish; I'm seventeen for God's sake… Seventeen and married… I'm mature, but I'm no adult yet.

Wednesday August 20th 2014

Dear Diary,

Hieronymous seemed tired today. Thinking about it… He was tired yesterday too… I hope he isn't making himself ill. He's been so busy lately, he barely has time to eat. He still comes to breakfast and everything with me, but he only eats about half his food before he has to dash off to some meeting or something… I know it's only a few weeks until term starts, but they shouldn't work him so hard.

Maybe I'll have a word with Potsdam…

Thinking of Potsdam, I never actually asked about the yearbook… Or the dress. I guess with everything that happened it kind of slipped my mind.

I still miss my parents; of course I do. But I'm used to it now. I haven't cried about it in over a week this time; it's a new record.

I can't help being upset about it. I know that it won't change anything, but sometimes it just makes me feel better to let it out. If I hold my emotions back, all I'll do is stress myself out, I reckon.

Oh, I should sleep… Ellen is getting into bed.

Thursday August 21st 2014

Dear Diary,

I know it's only morning, and I don't usually write to you (when did I decide I was writing to someone…?) but I'm worried, and I need to write it down.

Hieronymous didn't show up for breakfast. I arrived at my usual time, and I waited for the entire sitting, but he never appeared. I'm worried I was right before, about him overworking himself… If he's ill, maybe I should take him some food… And some medicine if I can find any.

Okay, I'm panicking. I need to calm down and go and see Potsdam about it.

She closed the book and returned it to its spot under the pillow before springing from the bed. Ellen looked up from her desk.

"You okay? You've been muttering ever since you got back." She asked.

"He didn't show up this morning…" Arianna murmured distractedly as she slipped her shoes on. "I think he might be ill… I'm gonna go see Professor Potsdam." And she was out of the door before Ellen could reply.

A small smile alighted on the blonde girl's face as she turned back to her latest thesis. It was obvious how much Arianna cared about him, even though their marriage had been in order to save her life.

But Ellen couldn't help but worry… If others started to notice her affections towards him, she couldn't see things ending well for her friend.

Arianna tentatively knocked on the door to Professor Potsdam's office. When the headmistress opened the door, she was all smiles as usual, but Arianna was too worried to return it.

"Arianna, dear, what can I do for you?" her chirpy voice cut into her ears, but she didn't show it.

"Um… I just… is Hieronymous alright? He didn't show up this morning…" she muttered, suddenly realising with a blush how obsessive she sounded. He was probably fine, he didn't have to meet her for breakfast after all. But after so long, it had become normal, and the fact that he hadn't shown up was unnerving to her. So she forced herself to hold her ground.

Petunia Potsdam frowned slightly, although the bright smile remained on her face. "It's lovely that you're concerned dear, but he hasn't contacted me. Normally, he tells me if he is ill…" She seemed to mull it over. "Come, he has a History class this morning, we shall see if he arrived for it."

Before Arianna could protest, the Professor had grabbed her by the wrist and was dragging her through the halls. For such a delicate looking woman, Petunia Potsdam had a surprising amount of strength. It wasn't really necessary; Arianna would have followed her anyway… She just rolled her eyes and resigned herself to the possibility of a dislocated shoulder in silence.

When they reached the history classroom, Potsdam shoved her nose up against the class to peer into the classroom. It was empty, save a snake girl and toad boy who were sat at the back of the classroom, hands folded atop their books as they conversed animatedly. They looked up when the Headmistress pushed the door open.

"Amelia?" the girl in question cocked her head questioningly, her bright green hair bobbing a little at the movement. "Where is Professor Grabiner?"

"He never showed up." The girl muttered with a nonchalant shrug, turning back to her friend. Arianna drew in a shallow breath as Potsdam thanked the girl and dragged her out.

Within two minutes, they were before Hieronymous' door, and Petunia was hammering on it.

"Hieronymous?" she called. No answer. Arianna let out a shaky breath. Why wasn't he answering? "Arianna, dear, you'll have to open the door."

"Huh? Can't you?"

"No. There are special wards in place that prevent anyone other than Hieronymous from opening it. Those wards do not affect you, since your souls have been linked through marriage."

Souls? Arianna's thoughts echoed the headmistress. She frowned, but decided now was not the time for complex explanations. If her husband was too ill to come to the door, he must be in a terrible condition and obviously needed urgent attention.

She tried to calm her erratic heart by breathing very slowly as she reached for the door handle and twisted.

Carefully, she pushed the door open, peering through the gap.

"Hieronymous?" she asked tentatively. A weak groan answered her and her eyes flew to the bed, where her husband laid, covers drawn up to his chin and shaking like a leaf. She threw the door open and hurried over to him. "Oh my god… Hieronymous, I knew you were overworking yourself." His brow creased slightly. "You've been looking so tired." She let her hand rest on his forehead lightly, ignoring the light footsteps behind her. "You're burning up…"

Suddenly, his eyes flew wide as he focussed on something behind her. She looked around, but there was nothing there.

"Hieronymous?"

"V-v…" he stammered, breath raspy and quiet.

"Oh dear… He's hallucinating. Duckling, go and get him some soup… I'll sort this." Potsdam was more serious that Arianna had ever seen her, and she gulped before nodding and hurrying from the room.

It took all her effort to stop her hands from shaking so she didn't spill the hot liquid as she hurried back towards the room where her husband was so ill he was hallucinating.

But what was he seeing?

She stopped, nearly dropping the tray in her hands at the sudden need to slap herself around the face. V… Violet… He saw Violet. Oh my god… She felt tears welling in her eyes at the thought of him seeing her, probably ghostly white, or perhaps being held against the wall by the goblins, having to watch her soul be destroyed all over again.

Trying to swallow the thick lump in her throat, Arianna pushed her foot to step forward, and eventually was hurrying along the halls again, ignoring the worry in my mind. The quicker she got the soup to her husband, the quicker he'd be better.

When she entered the room, he was sat up in bed, eyes closed with his fingers pressed to his temples, moving in slow circles. Potsdam was nowhere to be seen, but there was a bright pink bottle on the desk with a note taped to it.

Arianna,

Pour this potion in the soup; it will help him.

Petunia.

She narrowed her eyes at the suspicious little bottle as she turned to her husband.

"Hieronymous? Are you okay?" she asked. He started, eyes flying open as he stared at her. "I- I brought you soup…" she stuttered, nervous under his gaze. He sighed. "Can you move to eat it at the desk or…?" before she'd finished, he had attempted to stand up, swooning and clutching his head as he fell back onto the mattress with a groan. She hurriedly placed the tray on the desk and rushed to his side. "That's a no." she insisted, pushing him back against the pillows against the headboard. He scowled. "Don't give me that look. You aren't well."

"I'm not…" he coughed. "…that ill."

She shook her head. "You have a fever… A high one. For goodness sake, you started hallucinating!" she cried. He gulped, but otherwise remained silent. Arianna went to get the soup, putting the potion beside it on the tray, before walking over to place it on his lap carefully. "Potsdam left a note saying I should put this in the soup? I don't know what it is."

He reached a shaky hand to grasp the bottle and lifted it to eye level, narrowing his eyes as he examined it, before shoving it back into her hands and nodding.

"It's okay?" he nodded again, and she poured it into the soup, picking up the spoon in order to mix it a little, then stepped away when he flicked his hand weakly. He took the spoon in his pale hand and tried to lift it to his mouth, but gave up as the gloopy substance began to slop over onto the tray. Nervously, Arianna brought the chair from the desk next to the bed and lifted the spoon.

"What are you doing…?" he growled, and in any other circumstance, she'd have flinched away, or dropped the spoon. But his voice was so weak as he said it, that it rather lost the effect he'd been trying for and she shook her head, smiling slightly.

"Feeding you, you big baby." She teased. He scowled, and she laughed lightly. "Would you rather be covered in soup? 'Cause that's what gonna happen if you try feeding yourself."

Eventually, he allowed her to put the spoon in his mouth, pouting like a small child after each spoonful.

"This is degrading." He grumbled.

Arianna chuckled. "It wouldn't be if you didn't pout like a little kid. I'm your wife; let me look after you."

"It shouldn't be necessary." He repeated his words from the first time she'd brought him soup. She sighed.

"It wouldn't be if you took better care of yourself." She scolded. "You've been overworking yourself, and now look what's happened."

He was silent at that.

When Hieronymous had at last ingested all of the soup, his eyes slid shut, and Arianna realised the potion was probably a sleeping draft or something similar. Green magic administered more directly using Black Magic. She smiled as the lines of stress faded from his face, and she removed the tray, before sneaking quietly from the room.

Yeah, are you really surprised he made himself ill?

Hieronymous: You make me sound like a workoholic...

MysticPuma: That's because you are one...