Ominis,

How have you been? It's been a few weeks since I wrote to you or Sebastian. I hope you're both doing alright.

My research has been troubling, I managed to go to all of Isadora's secret spots that Sebastian and I found earlier in the year, collecting anything of importance to study it over. I've found her old Spellbooks, journals and her research papers. Seems she had been doing much more than just taking people's pain, perhaps before she let the power take control of her she had been attempting healing spells.

Anne and I have gotten closer, we tend to spend a lot of time together. I only tend to leave the area if I need to go out and get us food or other supplies. Please write back to me if you wish to get together at Hogsmeade.

With Love,

Ada Marrow

Sebastian,

I figured with your lack of reply to my letters you're still cross with me or you're continuing the earlier treatment of ignoring my entire existence. I wish to just inform you that your sister is doing fine. Only difference is that she's much more tired each passing day and she's insistent that I take more breaks with my research.

Sincerely Yours,

Ada Marrow

Ada,

I would love to see you for a Butterbeer in Hogsmeade, perhaps next weekend and I think it's best you stop sending Sebastian letters. He doesn't read them, only tosses them in the fireplace. I've tried talking with him but he only tends to shut down and ignore me.

I'm also pleased that you and Anne have gotten closer, Sebastian was right that you'd fit with our Trio and make us a Quartet, I can only hope he stops being a snit and gives you some resemblance of an apology.

Forever Yours,

Ominis Gaunt

POV ANNE SALLOW

I stepped out from mine and Ada's shared room, I held a lamp in hand and walked a bit down to her writing desk.

It was already approaching the middle of August, just a few more weeks until school started again in September first. Ada's hair had grown long, from her shoulders now to her shoulder blades and I had seen her round face edge out and become more gaunt. She didn't eat when she was stressed so she lost some weight much to my displeasure. I saw her leaning over her desk, head resting on her hand as she made notes of those journals she brought. Her body rocked forward a bit in her seat, obviously on the verge of passing out. Her wand rested on a stand, casting Lumos to light up her work area. I set the lamp down on the table and slowly walked up behind her, my hands rested on her shoulder. I felt her jump in her seat startled by my touch.

"Oh, Anne. Sorry, is it that late already?" She murmured, "Did I wake you up?"

"No I woke up on my own, just another bout of pain... You should really go to sleep, Ada." I muttered quietly to her, "Please?"

She sighed, hand rubbing over her face.

"I feel it, I'm so close to the answer but I keep hitting roadblocks..." She murmured.

"Perhaps you're hitting these blocks because of how tired you are." I suggested, hands lightly rubbing her shoulders. "Come on, come back to bed."

"Alright, alright I'm coming." I let go of her, watching her raise up. She had changed into her Nightgown before sitting down at the desk. I led her back to our room. I could feel the curse taking a greater toll on me and if I'm to be honest with myself. I do not fear death. At this point I welcome it, I will gladly fall into its embrace to escape this pain but until then I wish to spend it with someone that makes me happy.

I had wanted that to be my brother, but Ada was a close second tied with Ominis. I had the letters written to the three of them, having given them to Deek to keep safe. Having asked him, if I die, he was to give the letters to Ada. He, rather sadly, agreed to do my request. I slipped back into my bed and she slipped into hers. Taking her sleeping medication. It wasn't long until I heard her soft snores fill the room. Letting sleep over take me, for perhaps the last time.

POV ADA MARROW

I had slept through to Noon, still rather groggy I got to my feet leaving the bedroom for the kitchen. We started our mornings with a freshly brewed kettle of tea, eggs and bread. I tended to be the first one up, but as I cooked the food, I was oddly curious why Anne wasn't up before me. Perhaps her condition grew worse or the bought she experienced last night sapped away at her energy.

I plated out the food for us and started to make our tea. Creme and three cubes of sugar for mine and two sugar cubes for hers. I glanced at the clock seeing it was nearing one in the afternoon. She still wasn't up. I walked back to our bedroom, seeing Annes' back facing the door away from her bed. Her hair tied back in a small braid. I went and sat on her bed, hand resting on her arm shaking her.

"Anne, Anne it's time to get up. Breakfast is ready." She didn't respond, so I shook her shoulder again.

"Anne?" She looked so pale, no…

"Anne?" My voice broke, hand going to my mouth to cover it. "Anne!?" She was dead, her cold body curled up in her usual sleeping position. She'd passed away in her sleep.

"Oh dear God." I murmured, I sucked in a quick breath holding back tears. "I... OH Merlin I need to send a letter to Ominis. I... I need to get Sebastian here." I covered Anne's body fully with her blanket and shut the door to be sure none of the beasts could get to her.

The letter was sent now only waiting on Ominis to bring Sebastian via Floo. I was trying to compose myself waiting outside the Vivarium for them, I was still in my nightgown, a robe wrapped tight around me as I paced. Trying to get the image of Anne's pale dead face from my mind.

"Where's my sister!?" My head snapped up seeing Sebastian striding towards me, face mixed with rage and grief.

"She's in the Vivarium, in the cottage back room where our beds are." I murmured, I couldn't cry in front of him, he was already angry as it was. He pushed past me through the Vivarium door. I felt hands on my arms.

"Ada? Are you alright? How did you find her?"

"I... She was fine last night, I stayed up too late and she found me hunched over my writing desk and had me go back to bed... I took my Sleeping draught and I was out cold until... until Noon. I woke up and thought... thought she was just sleeping in. So I went and made our tea and our breakfast." My voice started to crack, tears trailing down my face, "And... And after she still wasn't up I went to wake her up.. She was - was dead, I don't know what happened." I sobbed, my hands going to cover my face.

I felt Ominis draw me in, hugging me close to him. "It's okay Ada."

"N-No it's not... I couldn't cure her. She's dead."

His arms squeeze me tighter, "It will be alright." He stated firmly again, hand rubbing my back.

POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW

I saw my sisters lifeless body, laying on the bed looking so peaceful. My hand went to cover my mouth, she was dead. I felt anger bubbling over the pit that had started forming when I learned Ada was helping Anne hide from me. All those letters she had sent, did they contain updates on how my sister was? Had my refusal to even read Ada's delicate handwriting caused me to never say good-bye to Anne?

I left her in the room, I'd need to bury her. I made my way out of the Vivarium, only to see Ominis holding her while she sobbed away.

"It will be alright." he murmured to her, I felt that anger warp to jealousy.

"Like bloody hell it is!" I snapped out how he had grown so close to her. So close that she'd cry in front of him and let him hold her. "My sister is DEAD." The last word held a growl to it, "If she had told me where she had taken Anne I would have been able to see her!"

I saw Ominis shift Ada behind him, eyes holding a glare, "Ada is not to blame for your awful decisions." He snapped out, "How many times did I tell you that you should read her letters? Not even breaking the seal, you just chuck them into the fireplace."

"Don't act like she's some innocent girl! You and I both know what she can do, that fact you think I can hurt her is laughable!"

"You've already hurt her enough! The fact you think she'd defend herself against you is asinine!" I couldn't help the flinch, she wasn't even looking at me. Just staring down at the floor, she was still wearing her bed clothes. Her hair is a mess and her face red and eyes puffy from crying.

My jaw clenched, letting out a shaky breath, "I'm taking my sister home with me." I didn't wait for a response, only entered back in to retrieve her body.

POV OMINIS GAUNT

I arrived back at the Sallow cottage after spending some time comforting Ada. The house elf, Deek, had arrived and handed letters to Ada. They had been addressed to all of us from Anne.

"Sebastian?" I called out, I heard footsteps coming around from the back of the house.

"I didn't think you'd come back." He stated rather coolly.

"Yes, well, Anne left us letters. I figured you'd be more likely to read it if I was the one to hand it to you." I held out the letter to him. He so gingerly took it, "I also think it's best for you to think about your actions today, alone. I'm going to take my things and stay with Ada for the last few weeks."

"What?" His voice held a bit of surprise to it.

"What do you mean, 'what'? Do you think I can just pretend what just happened didn't happen? How you blamed her for all of this."

"She's the reason-"

"No Sebastian she's not... Anne is the reason why you didn't get to see her before. Ada was doing this all for Anne so she'd be safe and we'd know where she was. Can you imagine if she had left on her own? How frantically you'd be out and about in the highlands searching for her? She was meant to die soon Sebastian, be happy you got to bury her body." My words were more harsh than I'd like but he needed to listen.

"Be grateful that Ada was the deciding factor of neither Anne or I turning you in, be happy she wanted me to preserve my friendship with you and the best way I can see myself still considering you as my friend let alone my brother is leaving you here to stew. Remembering that both Ada and I told you to spend more time with her while you had the chance, that your actions are what led you to not being able to say goodbye to her." I smoothed my hands over my vest leaving him alone as I went to pack my things.

Ada,

I must apologize to you for how you may find me. For how my brother may react to my passing. I knew I wouldn't make it through the summer. All I wished to do was spend time with you and to feel a sliver of peace and comfort.

I am happy I agreed to stay with you, it was a pleasure being your Companion over the last month.

I can see why my Brother was infatuated with you and how you have such a grasp over Ominis heart. Please do not tell him that I told you, as I am aware he's giving you time to grieve before he confesses.

With Love,

Anne Sallow

Ominis,

It's a heavy heart that you have received this letter, I was sure to enchant it with that Braille spell that you taught me so that only your eyes can see it.

I may be dead but I have hope your group won't grow apart, it shouldn't grow apart. I hope now with my passing Sebastian can start grieving properly.

I wish to remind you of my words about you pursuing Ada. You should confess to her, maybe not now but definitely when you three return to Hogwarts.

Forever yours,

Anne Sallow

Sebastian,

I have left you with this letter to remind you that I still love you. I'm regretful I won't be able to see you before my passing but I felt it was best.

Stop blaming yourself for what happened to me, it was entirely my fault for rushing out to that old house.

Do not blame Ada, she made my last months enjoyable. She has a Niffler called Pilferer. He's the most adorable thing and I've caught him a few times going through my jewelry box but I really can't be mad at him. They are attracted to such things, like how you are attracted to things kept out of your reach.

You must stop hiding behind your anger and let your friends guide you to your next chapter. Start your grieving now so that they may stand by you.

Your Adoring Sister,

Anne Sallow