Walking back to my cabin was surprisingly blissful. The deep purple sky was like a comfort blanket, pricked with sleepy starlight and the horizon smeared in amber. I sat with my hands on the rail for a moment staring out into the endless horizon. Below me, the ship cut through the ocean making crests of white seafoam dip and dive beneath our movements.

The air was cold, and despite my blouse being thin, I didn't seem to mind. My face felt warm and my hands were clammy. It felt like the day I had received my Hogwarts letter. That strange feeling of excited anticipation.

Charlie was my secret. When the ship docks in America I may never give him a second thought again, but for now he was an escape. With him I didn't need to fake a smile or talk politics, I could laugh or cry or scream and he wouldn't care. Or at least that was the impression he gave.

It was very liberating to be around someone who didn't expect anything from you. It was a liberty I was not accustomed to.

I took in a deep breath, the salty air tickling my nostrils, before heading back to my chamber. I had been out all night and if I wasn't careful someone would notice my absence. I may behave properly, but just like the other students there I had done my fair share of sneaking around Hogwarts at night. This practice made it easy to enter the sleeping quarters undetected. Soundlessly I opened my door and closed it behind me. But as I reached up to release my hair, the small lamp beside my bed switched on.

Sat on my bed satins, my sister Dorothea waited for me. She was in her night gown, her hair tumbling behind her like a waterfall of auburn curls. Her green eyes, like my own, pierced into me. Despite the suspicion in her eyes, she smiled and her demeanour seemed far from threatening.

"So, dear sister, where ever have you been?" she said, crossing her arms over her chest, as if daring me to lie to her "I've been sat here trying to figure out why my dear little sister would be sneaking out her room at such an hour. The last I saw you was when I left you with Victor in the tea room, now are you going to tell me? Or do I have to put the pieces together myself?"

I shrugged my shoulders and averted my eyes, moving to my dressing table. My hair came out easily and wasn't as time consuming as my usual hairstyles would take. There were no pins or slides to remove, and whilst felt quite nice it meant I had no time bought to delay answering Dorothea. "I don't know what to tell you, I felt ill so I went out for some air"

"Hmm" She didn't sound convinced at all "It usually takes 3 hours to get some air, does it?"

There had once been a time when my sister knew literally everything about my life and what was going on in it. There was no element of my life that I didn't share with her. But then she became a woman, busying herself with a career and her marriage. Since arriving on the ship we had barely spoke, I had barely been aware of her presence. This wouldn't be such a huge issue if it wasn't for the fact we have been sharing a room.

"I don't recall seeing you as I left" My hands busied with hair whilst my eyes focused on my sisters reflection. I tried to sound casual as best I could, but I really wanted the topic to be dropped "Perhaps you have your own explaining to do"

"No need for you to fret about that" she chuckled "I had fell asleep in the reading room, book still open in my lap and my tea ice cold. I had to be woken by a steward, how embarrassing. Now, no more topic changes. If you want to go on moonlit walks with Victor feel free, but please don't lie to me about them, I am supposed to be your sisters for Christ sake"

"What?" She had caught me off guard there, I wasn't expecting Victor to be a part of this conversation. Had she really believed I had been out all evening with the likes of him? The very idea made me nauseous "No, you have it all wrong…I was out, I'll admit that, but it was not with Victor"

My sister's face dropped and finally she uncrossed her arms and moved to my side. She looked annoyed, perhaps it was the fact I had ruined her fun.

"Now I'm more confused than ever" she stood over me, her long night gown flowing to her feet "Please, what's going on?"

I gave in, vowing her to secrecy and telling her the whole story. Explaining Victor's threat, the slap and Charlie. In my sisters credit she was a brilliant listener, never interrupting and her face remained passive. There was no sign of judgement in her features. It felt like we were children again and once I started to speak the words simply fell out with ease. I had missed this.

When I finished we sat in silence for a moment, both transfixed in contemplation. The last two days had been more eventful for myself than the last ten years had been.

"Oh Addie" she said solemnly "You can't marry such a man!"

"What choice do I have?" My eyes stung from tiredness and emotion. I felt like crying into my Dorothea's shoulder, letting her hold me like when I had most days of my first year of Hogwarts. But was not eleven years old anymore and I had to resist.

"What about Charlie?"

Her question caught me off guard and I hesitated for a moment "What about him?"

"How do you feel for Charlie?" she asked and I turned away focussing on the mirror again "He clearly feels something for you or he would never have gone through such effort. What are your feelings?"

"I feel he is in third class and below my status in life" It wasn't a lie but seeing my sister's eyes in the mirror I could see that she knew I wasn't being fully sincere "And…he makes me feel alive. It's odd, but he is like nothing I have come across before. With him there is no pressure to be perfect. I don't need to watch my words or conceal my thoughts. I can be honest with him…I can be free"

When I had finished I turned and saw my sister smirking at me. I blushed with embarrassment and turned away from her and headed to bed. Sleep came easily enough but sadly did not last long.