"You fucking bit me!" His voice was far too loud, working an excellent job of attracting unwanted attention from the other passengers. An elderly couple walked their dog in the cool night air. As they passed by they offered me a curious look, their eyes darted from me to him. I tried a demure smile, hoping it would convince them that there was nothing wrong but when you had an Irish Stalker following behind with a very colourful vocabulary…it was hard to pretend everything was normal "What kind of lady are you?"

"The kind that wants you to leave her alone" I muttered below my breath, still wearing the fake smile as I offered polite nods towards a fine gent that was headed towards the second class quarters. I couldn't return to my own quarters with this fellow behind me "Have you not got better things to do…sir"

"Charlie"

"Excuse me?" My brow furrowed with confusion and I stopped dead in my tracks, turning to face the pest. In proper light he was rather handsome looking. His ginger hair seeming to burn bright on his head like Prometheus flame. His eyes were a lot softer than I had given him credit also, rich chestnut shades.

"My name Miss" he said taking off his flat cap, revealing yet more fiery hair, and dropping into a mock bow "Charlie Flynn, at your service"

"Well" I said a little haughtily, having Charlie bowing rather than cursing was certainly better but still very far from ideal. I looked around aware that they were being watched. We were stood outside the windows that looked into the restaurant. The lights from inside flowed out onto the deck where we stood, and whilst most of the restaurant had retired to their rooms for the evening, it was still far from being empty. To the north side of deck, a man sat on a bench smoking and whilst it was too dark to identify him it was clear he was watching the spectacle. I straightened my posture and regarded Charlie with what I hoped would be a neutral expression "I am tired, so I bid you sir to leave me be. Goodnight"

I didn't wait for him to reply before I walked away and left him there, still bent into a bow. I was in the doorway about to enter the comfort and safety of privacy when I heard him call after me. I should have ignored him and continued, but for whatever reason, I didn't.

"Your name" Seeing my blank expression he took a single step forwards, still holding his flat cap in his hands, he explained "What's your name, miss?"

I hesitated, assessing what damage could a name cause.

"Adeline" I replied, wrapping my arms as a shield against the cold "Adeline Weasley"

"You're beautiful Adeline" He didn't even hesitate. The words seemed to float through the air, bringing with it a strange sensation of heat and warmth. Blood rushed to my cheeks as I watched him return his hat above his head and turning away from me. It took a while for the heat of his words to wear off and for the bitter cold of the night to wake me from the daze I had found myself in.

It was the next morning that I found myself drinking tea with Dorothea. Her hair tightly pinned to resemble a waterfall of ebony waves. The soft pink of her silks suited her in ways where it would make myself resemble a peach. The tea was sweet and hot and flowing freely, as was the gossip. Dorothea had heard all the news from all over the ship, and likewise the wizarding world.

The daily prophet had been delivered, telling the world of the ongoing trial between Morecombe and Foley, where the latter claimed that Morecombe had used love potions to make Foley marry his daughter. As it stands there is no physical evidence to support Foley's claim but nevertheless, Foley is adamant to fight the case.

If anything, I found the whole affair rather amusing. It sounded like something from a comedy sketch from Wizard Wireless or a comic strip from Witch Weekly. The conversation was going rather brilliantly, for the first time since I had arrived on the god forbidden ship I haven't had any time to let my hair down and just be myself with her. I was laughing, a horrible nasally laugh, and the sound of it alone would strike a chain reaction. First I laugh, then Dot laughs and before too long we are trapped in a cycle of laughter.

"Morning ladies" A shadow fell over the table and our laughter ended abruptly at the appearance of Victor "How are you both today?"

"Pleasant, thank you" Dot answered for me, proving much better at being civil than I would have done. It was easier for her though, I hadn't told her what had taken place in the drawing room nor did I plan to. She didn't need that kind of worry hanging over her "I was just enjoying some time with my dear sister, but I have errands to run. I'll leave the two of you to talk"

I tried to throw her a look, some sort of sign to beg her to stay. There was nothing I wanted less than to be alone with this vile man again. But she saw nothing, and waved goodbye as she exited the tea room. I took a sip from my cup, wishing it was something stronger, and avoiding his eyes. He dropped the pretence the moment my sister was out of the room, turning on me faster than the tide.

"I saw you last night" he said, his jaw clenched beneath his skin "With that third class boy, who is he?"

"No one" I answered briskly, not liking that I now seemed to answer to him. None of this was his business at all "Just some boy"

"Come along Adeline, I'm not blind" He said taking my sisters empty cup and refilling it with fresh from the pot. He shifted the cup in his hands, the tiny frame of the china not comfortable in his large, solid fingers "You must have made some impression on the lad"

"Impression?" I scoffed taking a drink from my own cup "I think not. We barely even spoke, could hardly call it a conversation"

You're beautiful, Adeline

The words had been repeating and repeating over my mind since I had heard them. Had I made an impression? The strange surge of heat rushed through me again, though I tried my best to ignore it. He was just a womaniser from low classes. Who knows how many women he had used that line on since boarding the ship?

"Really? Then why is he outside the fucking window?" I finally met his eyes. Was he serious? Charlie was now stalking her or something? Victor's eyes were black as coal and the vein in his neck was pulsing aggressively. I wanted to reply, but no words came. I didn't answer fast enough and he acted on it.

The palm of his hand hit my cheek in one swift movement and a different kind of heat burned in my face. Tears stung my eyes and it took every ounce of my self-control to not cry in front of him. I refused to let him see how much he had hurt me.

"If you want to flirt with men like that, please do so in the privacy of your own room. I couldn't care less if you were in love with him or the milkman but the way you act, slut, reflect poorly on me. Next time think, or it will be your father's job as well as your reputation"

He finished his tea and left the room, leaving me in a mess. I took a phew heavy breaths before I left also. Charlie was in the doorway, his face full of emotion but what kind I couldn't tell. I didn't want anyone to see me like this, especially not him. Not him who had caused this whole affair. I shoved him out of my way and carried on towards my quarters.