Voices echoed in the mist as the memory wobbled into place, shimmering slightly like the surface of a lake, before becoming solid and real around her. Masarvas Manor towered over her, grey clouds thickened the sky and wind bit at her arms, as Mina pulled a woollen shawl over her head.

People arrived daily, witches and wizards rallying themselves to Arden's cause. They stepped out of their elegant carriages, their robes bearing the symbol of Ordo Lucis and gazed up at the stone Manor as if it were the answer to all their problems. Many of them she recognised, great Lords and Lady's she had been acquainted with since she was younger. Now though they seemed different, their faces set and stern, a coldness in them she did not recognise. Even as they passed their fellow magic users, those that had been brought in chains, they did not blink, did not falter. Instead, they pushed their shoulders back, noses thrust high in the air, walking with a pride Mina knew they did not deserve.

Mina wanted to recoil in horror, as a woman was pushed into the mud, screaming for mercy as she was dragged by her hair. She fought and clawed at her captors, till one of them lifted her, bringing the hilt of his sword down on her head. A gash opened up on her forehead, dripping dark blood down her pale face. She crumpled at their feet like a rag doll, limbs limp and her eyes distant. Mina turned away, guilt settling uncomfortable and unwanted in her gut as she remembered all those that had gone before, and all those that would follow.

Quickly Mina slipped through the side gate, casting one glance behind her, ensuring that no one was following. Walking along the outskirts of the wall, she made her way towards the forest, quickening her pace so that no unsuspecting guard would spot her. Her skirt clung heavily to her ankles as the rain soaked into her skirts, and the mud hindered her every step as it sucked at her boots and threatened to hold her in place. But once she was under the cover of trees the ground became soft, great layers of pines and leaves creating a carpet beneath her feet. The scent of the forest was fresh with freedom, tree trunks huddled close, their branches overlapping and blotting out the sky above her. It was dark in the forest; dark, quiet and safe, the soothing patter of rain was all that followed her here. Even only a few feet away, the shadow of the Manor still close, she felt as though she were somewhere else; a different time, a different world beyond the line of trees just waiting for her to join it. She shook her head when Edward crept back into her mind, her thoughts again wondering to the hopeless thought of What if things were different?

Fumbling with her dress, she pulled her wand out her pocket and Hermione marvelled at it. She had never seen anything more delicate or beautiful. It was white, the end of it carved like that of a tree trunk, with whirls and a small tree hollow. Branches stretched up decorating the length of it, pink blossoms blooming on the surface. Mina lifted it and instantly the world lit up, everything in sight glowing. She could feel Mina's power, strong and powerful and violet as it weaved into the air, tendrils of it mixing with the light of everything else. Suddenly Mina was standing in a cave entrance, the wood having completely disappeared from around her. Hermione found herself a little disorientated, the transition so smooth and seamless that Hermione began questioning if there had ever been a forest to begin with.

"Magiapero," Mina muttered, and a light green trail began to glow in front of her, leading into the depths of the cave. It wound through tunnels for what seemed like an age till it opened out in a cavern. A large clear pool sat in the centre, minerals glittering iridescently beneath its surface. Mina smiled when she heard the crackle of a fire and saw her friend standing at the entrance to another tunnel, her arms crossed.

"Took you long enough, I had the tea on when you arrived." Mina felt like collapsing at Sonyea's words, all the emotions she had been caging within her threatening to burst from their stronghold. As if sensing this, the small woman rushed forward and hugged her and Mina sank into her embrace, great sobs leaving her, their heaviness dragging her to the floor.

"Sonyea."

"Shhh, Shhh, it's alright, it's alright." Mina clutched at the fabric of her friends' dress, digging her fingers in and feeling how real it was. Everything she'd so desperately tried to cling onto rushed out of her at the sound of her friends' voice. She wanted so badly to tell her friend that it wasn't okay, to relay all that she had seen. But there were more important things they needed to discuss and Sonyea knew of the terrors, Sonyea had seen them too.

"I wanted to come sooner, but it-it - it has been so difficult. They bring people every day," Mina spluttered as her friend rubbed her arms, trying to chase away the cold and the pain.

"Oh Mina, you should have come with me. Come, sit down. You'll catch your death out here." She led her down the tunnel, just as Mina realised that she was shivering, the damp sinking into her bones and making her teeth knock together.

The tunnel ended in yet another cavern, somewhat smaller than the other one, adorned with various bits of plain furniture. Sonyea led her to a large wooden chair close a small fire, gently pushing on her shoulders, encouraging her to sit. Mina stared vacantly at the flames, watching the smoke curl up and out a small hole in the ceiling. Sonyea's wand was emerald green decorated with whirls and stars that shone as she moved it through the air.

"Siccununc." Mina's clothes instantly dried and the mug on boots crumbled and fell to the cave floor in clumps.

"Thank you."

"I mean it Mina, you should have come with me," Sonyea tutted, picking up a small cup and filling it with the steaming liquid that was bubbling way over the fire. Mina wrapped her hands around and smiled gratefully, the warmth of it sinking into her palms and travelling up her arms.

"I could not leave," Mina murmured taking a sip of the mint tea.

"So, you have said. There are other ways to help. Safer ways."

"This is safe?" She gestured to Sonyea's abode and the young woman laughed lightly, shaking her head. Sonyea's had actively voiced her disapproval of Arden, cornering the man as he brushed off his robes and the showering of praise he received from the far more zealous witches and wizards after his display of, as she had put it, utter cowardice and stupidity. Her stance had endangered her life and so she had fled, begging Mina to follow her. But then there had been Edward and all the hope his potential love had offered her. If she was honest, she had never expected things to get so bad. But they had and in the aftermath of Edwards rejection she had fought off her embarrassment and shame by helping in any way she could.

"This is safer than living with him. Mina, you have to leave. You are here now, why not stay?" Sonyea's words a temptation, a sweet glorious temptation. To be free from it all, to not have to see all that she had seen, to know all that she knew and better, to not have Arden hounding her steps every second of every moment, speaking of their love, their life and marriage, as if those were such certainties that the centaurs had foreseen in the stars. But she couldn't, when she closed her eyes, she saw the woman in the mud, saw the terrible gash on her forehead and imagined her chained beneath the cold brick of Masarvas Manor. Mina shivered.

"I cannot leave them, Sonyea, I have to-there is a way to save those people I know it, I just…" Sonyea sighed, falling into the chair opposite Mina.

"You're hopeless."

"I learnt this all from you." Sonyea smiled sadly.

"And I wish you hadn't. Mina what if he…" Sonyea held up a shaking hand. She did not wish to speak of what Arden could do to her, she knew it all too well herself. "How did you get here?"

"Apparated. Arden and Sornius are out running some errand. I could not hear the purpose of the trip. I managed to slip out however, the others are less watchful."

"Sornius Heert?"

"Hmmm."

"Oh, Arden." Sonyea's head sunk into her hand, "No good can come of this."

"They are doing something with the wands, they are taking them from people and hiding them somewhere within the Manor. I cannot find them, but I heard - I don't know what I heard but I know-I know he's kept them all."

"What could they possibly need with their wands, he knows he can't use them and there is no way he can destroy them."

"Something about the power within them."

"But that's impossible, only a witch or wizard can wield their own…"

"I know-I know, but I hear whispers of it, something big, something powerful. It could all be a ploy to mislead me, but I do not think that is the case. Arden, in spite of everything, seems to trust me."

"He still talks of marriage?" Mina froze, pulling her shawl around her more tightly, fingers gripping the material so hard they turned white.

"He does and I always tell him that he must wait, though I am not sure how long that will last."

"I won't let you go back there, Mina, you can't-you can't marry him."

"If not for me how will any of the council members know of Arden's plans. As of now, he suspects nothing and we will always be one step ahead of him, knowing his plans before he even has chance to put them into action. You know I cannot leave, Sonyea." There were so many lives that depended on the information that Mina had to offer and Sonyea was the only person that could get it to them, being hidden away as she was and knowing Mina as she did. Sonyea did not reply, but her silence was enough.

"What news is there?" Mina asked, gripping her cup ferociously in her hands.

"The council members have amassed in the North, they've taken up residence at Hogwarts." Mina nodded, the school had been emptied during the battle of Black Lake and had not been repaired enough for students to return, now Mina feared it never would. "From what I have heard, they do not intend to stand against Arden, but instead continue with their initial plan." Mina scowled at her words.

"How do they propose to do that, maybe it would have been possible with the magical world united, but that time has long since passed." She took a sip of her drink, meeting her friends gaze levelly. "What of all the lives that will be lost, innocent people, surely they are more important than hiding away?"

"The council claims that more life will be lost if they move against Arden, he does have some of the most powerful wizards rallying behind him." It was true enough but made ever more frustrating because of that fact. With some of the most powerful wizards acting in direct opposition to them, there was no chance of them ever hiding safely or effectively.

"Word has been sent, those wishing to receive protection should make their way to Hogwarts."

"But you cannot apparate…"

"I know, families have already begun to make the journey, most though have been cut off by Arden's followers. We have tried to help them, but it seems there are less of us by the day."

"I cannot believe this, are there not more that can help?"

"None of them wish to leave the safety of Hogwarts, not with Tharin Morax's men also hunting them."

Mina froze, gasping for breath as she thought of Edward, wondering if he was one of the men hunting those she was risking her life to protect. She felt guilty as her heart ached for him. The small taste of him still lingered on her lips and was destined to remain there forever it seemed. No matter how much she tried she could not seem to be free of him.

"Tharin Morax?"

"Hmm," Sonyea nodded, sipping her drink before placing it down the side of her chair, "from what I hear he's sent out small groups of men to scout the area, killing people, burning homes. Most have fled, but that those that remain…" They both fell silent for a while, the heavyweight of bad news settling on their shoulders. Mina had never believed that she could cope with such a burden, but every day she took on more, and every day she kept going.

"You have not spoken of, Edward." The direct mention of him set Mina's hands shaking.

"There is nothing to say, he has made his choice and I have made mine," she stated, attempting a conviction she knew she could never muster.

"Oh Mina," Sonyea sighed, tipping her head in sympathy - Mina's bottom lip began to wobble, "what happened?"

Slowly Mina told her everything, relating every detail in the deafening clarity with which it lived in her memory, letting it break her heart all over again. Sonyea listened, her face betraying nothing of what she felt, and when Mina finished, she was silent for some time. She watched as her friend rose from her chair, walking slowly towards the fire, where the metal pot hung suspended.

"I'm going to tell you something that...that I've never told anyone before," the small woman sighed, squaring her shoulders resolutely and turning to her friend. "I am in love with Arden Masarvas." Mina opened and closed her mouth as she struggled to process the information.

"What? But...But that cannot be - you're fighting him." Sonyea nodded, smiling sadly.

"It is and has been for such a long time. I…" Sonyea sighed, falling back into her chair and staring at the cave walls, the water dripping down them, glittering in the firelight, "I fell in love with the Arden we both knew and, even now I…" She wrung her fingers together in her lap before meeting Mina's gaze. The blonde woman knew that look, knew the feeling it betrayed, the heart-wrenching agony of having so much feeling and love for someone who would never reciprocate.

"Sonny I am so sorry." She laughed waving her hand in front of her face as if the name came with a bad smell.

"You have not called me that in so long, I thought you'd finally forgotten it. Do not be sorry. My point - the point in me telling you this is that, we all have reasons for living as we do, for fighting as we do. I cannot condone the actions of the man I love, and I will do everything within my power to stop him. But I remain here,' she gestured around her, to the cave walls, 'in case he changes his mind and becomes the man I know him to be." Sonyea knelt in front of Mina and took her hands in her own. "Perhaps, the Commander felt he needed to push you away because he loves you."

"Sonny don't defend him. You wait for Arden because you're a good person because you see good in him. Edward is not waiting for me, He does not want me, or care for me. He's made it all abundantly clear."

"And who do you think he was trying to convince?" Mina didn't want to believe it, but hope flickered inside of her.

Hermione felt like flinging her arms around Sonyea, thanking Merlin that Mina had a friend that was wise. Sonyea is right, he loves you. She knew that Mina couldn't hear her, but she repeated it over and over regardless, hoping that it might sink through the ages and somehow change the memories she was witnessing.

"It seems pointless now to think of it, we both have our places in this world." Sonyea scoffed at Mina's words.

"I do not think you believe that any more than you believe your place is next to Arden. Mina," Sonyea squeezed her hands, looking up imploringly into her eyes, "promise me something?" Mina nodded, signalling that the young woman should continue. "Promise me that if you see him again, do not let him go. You have to promise me."

"I would risk making a fool of myself."

"Then make a fool of yourself, but please, I would not see you hurt as I have been. Promise me." Mina wanted to point out that she had already been hurt, but she could see that it meant so much to Sonyea, she could feel it in the desperate way she clung to her hands.

"I promise." She said it with relative ease because she was certain that she would never see the man again, no matter how much she wished that she could. Sonyea nodded, releasing Mina's hands and sitting herself back in her own seat, shifting her skirts uncomfortably. Mina dug her hand into her pocket hoping that the secrets she had gathered would clear the air.

"This is all I could learn. It's not much, but it's enough. Everyone seems to have become more secretive as of late." Sonyea took the scroll from her, her mouth turned downward. Mina knew that her friend did not agree with what she was doing, did not agree with her being so close to danger, but it was necessary.

"Sonyea, I am sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry for, I have told you. Just please, I beg of you, be careful. Arden is swiftly turning into a more dangerous man than any of us could have imagined."

"Save all that you can, and I will save who I can," Mina muttered, rising from her chair and wrapping her shawl around her head. Sonyea hugged her close.

"Make sure you come back to me safe." She whispered it into Mina's ear, and she felt the overwhelming urge to stay in the cave, to let the rest of the world fade away. But she couldn't, there were people who needed her, and she had to muster the courage from somewhere.

"I will."

"This is very Gryffindor of you," Sonyea joked with a grin, and it sent Mina back to simpler times when the world was all books, magic and mysteries. When stakes weren't as high and being friends with a Gryffindor was the only mildly taboo thing she had ever done. "I always wondered why you were sorted into Slytherin." Mina, in spite of how she felt, grinned, gesturing to the scroll of paper in Sonyea's hands.

"That would be because I am conniving."

"Conniving and incredibly foolish. Remember our promise," Sonyea finished, sobering quickly.

"I will, always."

It took Hermione a moment to realise she was no longer inside the mountain, but instead in the room with the Sensieve. Rain was falling from the ceiling in great heavy drops that were warm as they soaked into her clothes. She glanced around and gasped when she noticed that Draco was lying on the floor, struggling for breath.

"Malfoy," she shouted, rushing to his side, tucking her bushy hair behind her ears. After a moment he opened his eyes, blinking at her a couple of time, relief flooding his eyes when he realised where he was and who he was looking at.

"I swear that thing has got it in or me."