How long I lay on my bed, crying into the silks of my bed clothes, I wasn't sure. At some point I must have drifted into a sleep, one minute sunlight poured through my window and the next the moon hung low in the sky. I pulled myself from my bed and moved to my dressing table and mirror. My eyes were puffy and I no doubt had missed supper. My stomach rumbled but I didn't feel inclined to join the boats social circles yet. I began to brush through my hair, the brush catching on the occasional knot.

It was then that something caught my eye in the reflection, a slip of white stationary had been slipped beneath my door. I placed down my brush and moved towards the stationary. It was thin, almost like cooking paper and the handwriting was scruffy and far from the best that I had seen.

There wasn't much to read:

Meet me at 2 AM

Kitchens

Third Class

I had my suspicions as to who the letter was from, but despite my better judgement I was curious. If Victor was to see me again, I didn't know what he would do. If he was willing to strike a woman in public what was to prevent him from sending a nasty hex my way when he got the chance.

Was I really to be made the lapdog of the likes of Victor? Power and privilege he may have but that does not give him any kind of permission to lord over me.

I sat in my room, fighting back the hunger pains as I dressed and prepared for the meeting. I chose simple clothes, in hope that they will earn myself little attention as I passed through the ship. A long black skirt and white blouse, the very same that I had worn to Hogwarts and occasionally wear to church.

My hair was tied up in a simple but tight bun, my loose strands of hair pulled back with pins. It was one thirty when I left my cabin, greeted with the stark silence of the corridor. Through the doors there was the occasionally snore that escaped beneath the cracks of the door. Portraits hung, sleeping in their frames, all but the last portrait I came across which displayed a lively party with various dancers still burning the midnight oil.

There was barely anyone about, the sound of violins drifted from the ballroom. She made her way down the levels with little trouble. The lower down the ship she travelled, the more alive and awake it seemed. The kitchen was also empty with lights turned off and the door locked. I hung around unsure of whether I was late.

I hadn't taken too long to travel down, though the stairs had winded me and I had had to pause for breath. Travelling down was an interesting experience to say the least. All members of the Wizarding community were housed in the Upper Class area of the ship, and due to the extravagance of the cabins it cost a fair sum of Galleons. So as I journeyed deeper into the ships core, I spotted more and more of muggle culture.

The paintings that I did pass, which became fewer and far between as I got deeper, were so boring. I had never truly appreciated the animation of our world's artwork until I was faced with the boring and lifeless work of muggle painters. One canvas depicted the portrait of our dear Captain, but his eyes didn't blink and instead stared out into thin air. Passing him, I expected his hand to move or his posture to shift but he remained stoic as statue.

By the time I had reached the kitchens, I had worked up quite the hunger. I believe I could have ate the entirety of a roasted salamander all to myself, had one been placed in front of me. I loitered around, ever conscious that I shouldn't be here and if I was to be seen the news would travel rather quickly to the upper decks. Gossip was a plague on this ship.

I practically jumped out of my skin when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Behind me, to no one's surprise, was Charlie. He had gone through the trouble of cleaning his face and brushing through that unruly red hair. Had he truly gone through such effort for me? Surely not, he must have had some prior engagement that had called for this improvement of hygiene along with his clean shirt.

"Well?" I straightened out my shirt, despite there still being not a single crease in its material. He smirked and cocked his head at me a bit, his eyes running up and down my body "What?"

"Just a little surprised" he grinned, leaning back against a nearby wall "Even without all your silks and pearls, you look radiant"

I'll admit it I blushed. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks and I had to look away from him or he would see. The smug look on his face told me, despite my best efforts, he had seen my blush and seemed pleased with himself.

"Are you ready?" he asked pushing the door to the kitchens open.

"We can't go in there!" I whispered as I looked around, half expecting to see the ships constable turning the corner "its staff only!"

"I have methods and means, as long as you're with me no trouble will come to you lass"

I trusted him for some reason. Maybe the sea air was getting to me or perhaps it was a lifetime under my parent's rule that inspired a rebellious streak in me, but I followed him inside not giving a damn about the consequences. The kitchen was empty and the lights had been dimmed. On the counter however were two china plates with what looked like fish in a lemon sauce. There was a bottle of red wine, glasses and a bowl of fresh strawberries.

"How did you do this?" I was a little surprised to say the least. Perhaps a little touched.

"One of the chefs owed me a favour" he stood behind me, his hands in his pockets and his cheeks almost as red as his hair. It was his turn to blush now "I know you are probably used to much better Miss, but I couldn't let you go hungry on my account and this was the best I could arrange"

I leaned over and left a peck on his cheek, not entirely sure as to what had taken me over. There was certainly something wrong with the ocean air, it was turning my brain to mush and having me kiss common men. Whatever would my mother think?

Charlies face rushed with more blood, his skin taking on a deep scarlet tone. His hair and newfound complexion made him very much resemble a tomato or the victim of a bad batch of potions.

"Er, well, yes…shall we eat?"