A supernatural breeze curled through Ravenclaw Tower.

Abandoned parchment blew aimlessly amid the spiraling staircases with no one near to take hold. The wind shook the windows in a desperate attempt to wake one of their own. It carried rumors from the dreamscapes within the night sky that a butterfly had finally flapped its wing down to the spring flowers, blooming beneath the fresh winter snow.

The few cavorting students who had gambled, and dared to ignore curfew stilled with a sickly churning. Their intuitions had them peering up to the night sky — worried they might see it suddenly falling.

"Did you feel that?" They mumbled suspiciously as if the world had rumbled. They all beared a steadfast inkling that something unchangeable — a shifting of realities — had just occurred. Humbled, and feeling newly small in a strange world, they carried on to find their beds for the evening.

—

Dahlia gasped awake, fisting her lilac sheets. She sat up and wiped the sweat from her brow — she was drenched. She turned to find the moon shining brilliantly through her windows. It was still dark out.

How? It felt like she had just awoken from a decade long sleeping curse. She pulled her knees to her chest and rubbed her hands against her bare skin to calm herself. It wasn't real — she repeated to herself. She felt heated as she still shook from what Draco had taken from her. She almost wondered if it had been a sick nightmare instead of a prophetic dream.

Guilt dripped from her heart and into her stomach. It pooled and sloshed, creating resentment. It wasn't real, but it had felt so. She had attempted to skip into a better future only to find herself once more in Draco's chokehold. His distance all this time had given her a false sense of hope that this wouldn't be her life; that there wouldn't be consequences to the tying of their hearts.

She covered her mouth. He would never let her go, and he would never allow her peace. Dahlia was angry he had begged her to choose him as Theo had been cradling her in the idea of a happily ever after. It was selfish. No, Draco was selfish, manipulative, and bitter. He had cornered her only when she had laid the last of him to rest.

She reached for her journal under her pillow. She opened it only to discover that Theo had never written back. She had briefly forgotten they had fought. She needed him desperately, but she couldn't yet forgive him for insinuating that she was broken, ruined — far before he had ever crossed her path. Him not wanting to make better choices for her, but for the sake of public opinion in his place next to her, felt treacherous.

She closed the journal, stopping herself from writing anything more. She fell back with a huff into the sapphire silk pillows.

She found Theo's sweatshirt he had left behind one lazy afternoon within the mess of her blankets on the bed. Her mind drifted to safer places. That same afternoon, she had guessed the words he traced onto her bare stomach as she closed her eyes in the warm, golden light. The memory was a sweet nothing that meant everything. The way he smiled, more like a hero, when she finally opened her eyes. He often did so only when they were alone.

"Steal," she had guessed with the absence of his tracing touch. She grinned slowly, knowing she was right.

"I'm going to steal you forever," he had whispered, kissing her exposed skin above her navel. "Not even the stars will find us."

She watched the sunrise, unable to go back to sleep, as she clutched the sweatshirt to her chest. She breathed in his mossy scent, regretting such traitorous dreams.

—

Dahlia was early, for once. She sat knocking her knees together on a bench within the hall of the castle that led to the quidditch pitch. She sighed, patiently waited for Blaise so they could start their morning run. She looked out to the pitch through the large castle doors to spot Theo, but he was nowhere to be found. Unusual as he often started his days earlier than her.

He hadn't written her back, and it chipped at her sanity. She craved the sight of him, despite his sour mood last night. She wanted to be embraced in his warm arms, kiss him and apologize for abandoning him in the clock tower. She still wouldn't mind slapping him for speaking to her with such bitterness.

"Dahlia?" Blaise strolled over to her as if surprised by her presence. He shoved his hands in his pockets and approached her with peculiarity.

"Blaise," she beamed. She stood spiritedly. "Ready?" She smiled.

He furrowed his brow. "You nearly ripped your stomach in half the other night. You aren't running today, doll." He shook his head in disbelief that she would even dare to think such a thing.

Her face twisted in displeasure as her shoulders fell. She had practically healed overnight but she didn't want to argue with him. Blaise was patient with her, and ungodly stubborn. If she argued, she was sure he would simply walk away without her.

"What if we took a nice, pleasant stroll instead?" She suggested in her sweetest voice.

He narrowed his eyes.

"A promenade, if you will." She extended her hand out to him.

He crossed his arms. "No one promenades in the fucking winter, Dahlia."

"Look, I really just need the fresh air. I'm feeling extra seer-y today," she whispered dramatically. She was deflecting from her whirlwind of emotions.

He sighed in annoyance. He made her wait in anticipation for his response before a sly grin cracked his expression. He then held the door open for her and replied, "ladies first."

Dahlia put a skip in her step, thrilled to get her way.

"How was your tutoring with the chosen one?" He mocked, lifting his voice towards the end of his sentence.

Dahlia shook her head and snorted. "It was just wondrous. Until Theo interrupted. Scared him off, like the rest of the men who dare to spend time with me," she sighed, laughing softly.

Blaise chuckled like he expected nothing less from him.

"Blaise?" She shifted her body towards him, suddenly somber as she carried one too many secrets. Her mind was made — she wouldn't tell Draco what Harry knew, and she wouldn't help him with the cabinet. If Blaise carried her warning to him, then so be it. "Harry suspects something is amiss."

"What do you mean?" Blaise asked as he narrowed his eyes to her.

"He thinks Draco might be plotting for the Dark Lord," she answered quietly.

Blaise pursed his lips. Either he wasn't privy to the details of the vanishing cabinet or she wasn't up to speed on the latest developments. If he wasn't lying down his cards, she would keep her own close to her chest.

She peered at him earnestly. "I won't ask you what you do, or do not know. We all just need to be more careful. Keep Amelia safe." She nodded.

"What have you told him?" He asked with a cold edge.

"That Draco and I don't speak. Also, Theo and Draco had a falling out of sorts, so Theo knows nothing of anything either. Harry's clueless, but suspicious," Dahlia answered honestly.

He nodded in approval. She felt like she had gained more of his trust and acceptance. She smiled, but it never reached her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" He quickly changed the subject.

"I'm fine, really. The splinching was awful, but the vision I had was worse," she answered quietly.

"What did you see? If you don't mind me asking." He gave her an empathetic glance.

She hadn't been able to give it much thought yet, with Theo's outburst in the Great Hall and then their fight in the clock tower.

She sighed."Nothing pleasant. I was bound in chains, in some sort of dungeon. There was this man…" Her voice trailed off. "Actually, Blaise, have you ever met Theo's brother?" She asked.

He hesitantly nodded with confusion — worried how her thoughts might be connected. "A while ago. He graduated after our second year. Why?"

"What did he look like? The man in my vision looked so much like Theo," she replied quietly. The words were like poison to her.

Blaise's face dropped. A coldness slithered up her spine.

"It's been years since I've seen him. And if you're seeing something that might occur in the future, then it could even be a decade of time past. He could look incredibly different." He watched her face fall. He added, "I will say, Theo now looks similar to how his brother looked at this age. He's a bit taller than his brother was. Alex had darker hair, almost black."

"Was his face a bit rounder?" She pushed. She had a lead.

"I don't know? I mean, he didn't look nearly as devious," Blaise chuckled as if to lift the mood.

Dahlia said nothing. She crossed her arms and looked down to the frozen dirt of the trail. She was sure her expression was full of worry.

He grabbed her arm as they stopped walking. "Did he hurt you? In your vision?" Blaise asked, becoming lethally serious.

"No," she answered, shaking her head.

Blaise's eyes hardened, unsatisfied with her short answer.

"He said someone had been right about me. Then he went to cast a spell. I was so terrified that the vision ended. I just wonder what those words meant. I can't help but think he was smiling like it had been someone I trusted. It was the way he said it, as well. He taunted me like I had been betrayed."

She looked into his eyes searching for clues, but found none. His jaw ticked with hidden concern. She slowly began walking again. Blaise followed suit.

"Alexander is long gone. There hasn't even been many whispers of his whereabouts. He hated politics, and he hated his legacy. He only stuck around for so long for Theo's sake. He loved his brother. He would never betray him, and Theo would never betray you. None of us would," he stated with defiance.

Dahlia wore an unconvinced expression.

"Amelia would be absolutely wrecked if anything were to happen to you. I would do anything to keep her heart from breaking. Please, at least, know that," he admitted.

She smiled at him in approval for how much he loved her best friend. Dahlia didn't answer for a moment as the winter wind blew her hair. She had to trust that she was safe within her group of friends until proven otherwise. If they started doubting each other, everything would surely be lost.

"Do you think I should tell Theo?" She finally asked.

"If it would make you feel better about it," he answered.

She hated how pragmatic Blaise could be. He was too sensible for her convoluted thoughts. He was slowly but surely becoming her therapist of sorts. She didn't dare tell him that as he might never discuss another matter again.

"Theo and I got into a fight last night," she admitted, hoping this might push him to give her more thorough advice.

"Assumed so, he was in a shit mood last evening," he muttered. "Terrorizing children left and right until he knocked himself out with enough narcotics to possibly kill that enormous woman who runs Beauxbatons."

Dahlia hid her chuckle, knowing it wasn't polite to laugh at Blaise, who had obviously suffered the consequences. "It was about his fight with Draco at first. Then he said he doesn't feel worthy of me?" Her voice was small as the thought hurt to repeat out loud. What did it matter if he was worthy of her when he was everything to her?

"So show him he is worthy? He quite literally almost killed for you, Dahlia. Given, that is totally maniacal behavior, but I would do the same for Amelia. Just not so publicly, or grandiose," he laughed like they were talking about breakfast and not murdering one of his own friends.

He read her expression of concern. "Theo wouldn't have done it. Draco just likes to push him," Blaise assured.

She sighed. "He wasn't exactly kind last night either," she muttered, kicking the ground. Her side was starting to ache, but she pushed on.

"Amelia is not always kind in her words to me either." He smirked and shook his head.

"He'll apologize. You'll make up. Do something grand for him as I'm sure he's off doing something impossible for you. But make him sweat it first." He winked.

They strolled back inside the castle, heading towards the Great Hall. Students whispered as she passed, thrilled her and Theo had given them something new to talk about with her splinching and the huge fight. Blaise draped his school cloak he had on hand around her shoulders. He popped the hood up for her. "It'll blow over shortly, doll."

They entered the Great Hall. She searched for Theo who was still nowhere to be found. She did notice Harry and his friends nod to each other at her arrival. She didn't need to confirm that they were talking about Theo and Draco, and her involvement. She was already sure of it. She waved to Blaise and headed over to the Ravenclaw table, which was extra lively with buzz. She was reaching for a pastry when she overheard a group of third-year girls talking.

"Who did that to the common room, you think?" She grinned wildly.

"I have no idea, but he must be mad!"

Dahlia quickly snatched two muffins, hurrying out of the Great Hall. She knew only one person who was mad enough to attempt something on a house common room that was not his own — and he happened to be tall, handsome, too clever for his own good and wildly accurate on a broom. She practically ran back to Ravenclaw Tower, eager to see him. She took the stairs two at a time as she glided upwards, side aching. She came to a halt at the common room entrance.

"What is taller than trees but never grows?" The bronze knocker asked.

"A mountain!" Dahlia answered urgently with a muffin in her mouth.

The door swung opened.

Her eyes went wide. She was horribly overwhelmed by the scent. Thousands of purple hyacinths, cream dahlias, and pink peonies filled the entire common room. She coughed as she stepped through the petals. Students were sneezing as they waved the hanging hyacinth garlands out of the way so they could see forward to trudge through the common room. Dahlia laughed, in awe of it all. It was so beautiful, but so incredibly impractical. It was quite the grand gesture. She dredged through the cream petals upon the floor until she got to her dormitory. She opened the door and saw a brilliant bouquet upon her nightstand. A fresh bundle of dahlias had come early, and it was twice as big as usual.

"Dahlia, this is ridiculous! He must be stopped!" Eloise exclaimed.

"Was he here?" Dahlia asked with a ridiculous smile of her own.

"Yes! Like an absolute stalker, Dahlia!" Juliet yelled with a grin. she pointed to the latched window above her desk which looked as if it had been kicked into disarray.

"We screamed bloody murder! I thought we were being attacked!" Eloise added.

"Where did he go?" Dalia asked.

They both shrugged as if he had disappeared into thin air. She was sure that he probably had.

"Not a clue," Eloise answered.

"To get ready for the match, I presume," Juliet added lightly, not revealing how she knew the time of the Slytherin quidditch team gathering.

Dahlia walked up to the bouquet and smelled the fresh scent. She noticed a small black box on her pillow. She sat on her bed, then opened it. Inside was a pair of sapphire earrings. She removed them from the box only to discover he had drawn a sloppy medal inside. She smiled to herself, then opened her glowing journal. He had finally replied:

Your imperfections fit perfectly against mine. Nothing and no one will ever be worthy of you, not even the stars. I promise to kiss you sweetly for each cruel word that came out of my mouth. I will never drop your hand. I love you, forevermore. I love you, invariably. I love you, nevertheless.

P.S. I hope you do not have any allergies.

—

Dahlia stood in front of the bare wall of the Room of Requirement.

She closed her eyes and willed it into existence as she tapped slightly into her supernatural sense. A wide, delinquent grin slowly crept across her face as the doors appeared. She paused before she touched the door, tugging on her golden tether to sense where Draco was currently located as he had done the other night to find her. She confirmed the thin, golden string worked both ways as she sensed he was somewhere within the dungeons.

She proceeded to open the door. She strode into the hoarded room with towering piles of antiques. She remembered Draco had a stash of liquor within these walls. She walked ahead and flounced towards the cabinet where he had poured her a drink all those nights ago. If she could go back and tell herself to put down the drink he had offered her and run out of the room sooner than later, she would. She wished she had never touched the vanishing cabinet and seen the Dark Lord's face. Maybe then she could pretend Draco wasn't all that bad. Then maybe she would have never wondered 'what if' in the first place.

She opened the liquor cabinet and to her delight; it seemed to have been restocked. She poured herself a glass of firewhisky as she hummed to herself. She spun the amber liquid around as she started perusing the room. The honeyed color reminded her of Theo's eyes.

She sighed. She was looking for a valuable metal. She searched through the stacks of antiques for precious jewelry. She took a swig of her drink as she spun around holding a vintage ball gown in an old wardrobe.

Then, she found it. The jackpot — an old, decrepit jewelry box. She opened the box and a plume of dust filled the air. She wiped her eyes and set her drink down on the table. She gasped as she pried open the lid. An array of gemstones set in golds and silvers lay within the box. She slowly grinned to herself. She told the room she required a cauldron. A station appeared before her with a loud crack that resounded through the air.

"Diffindo!" she exclaimed. The silver necklace decorated with diamonds broke into pieces. She dropped the slivers of silver into the cauldron. She removed her own charmed necklace and put it into her pocket for safekeeping.

"Incendio," she whispered.

The cauldron began to heat itself. She watched the silver melt before her eyes and begin to bubble horribly. She proceeded to prick her finger with a broken, jagged shard from the necklace. A drop of blood welled and rolled off her fingertip and fell into the cauldron. It hissed.

Then she thought of her mother, and how much she missed her. She wondered what she would have made of all of this. Would she have liked Theo? Or wished she was more honest herself? Would she have even preferred Draco as she knew his mother? She couldn't dare to turn that thought over.

She thought of the last sandcastle she had built with her mother's wavering hands. Her hands trembling beneath the warm sun in the salted air. She built endless turrets in a growing circle, and when the sun set her mother had pulled Dahlia into her lap. She pushed her hair aside and kissed the top of her hair. "It's all for you," she whispered with the last of her energy. "An empire for my Dahlia."

She hoped that someone's embrace may one day bring her as much comfort as her mother's once did. A single tear fell into the cauldron. It sang a song of ancient whispers as it broke the surface. Dahlia pulled out the crumpled piece of paper from one of the books she had stolen on ancient divinations and objects. She read over the words of an ancient spell one last time. She began whispering with purpose, willing the object she desired to forge itself and come forth. She closed her eyes and repeated the ancient words she didn't quite understand. She rocked as she felt her bones start to vibrate. The table began to shake beneath her hands. The cauldron quickly hushed itself.

After a moment of anticipation, the cauldron fell on its side as if a phantom had knocked it over. A bone-white ring skittered out. Dahlia picked it up. There was a thin black indention that lined the inside of the ring. When she tilted it, she noticed rays of starlight danced, created from her own blood and tears. Dahlia grinned slowly, pleased with her work.

Dahlia turned, inhaling with surprise. The creak of tired wood echoed through the cluttered space — the door to the Room of Requirement.

"Fuck," she muttered. Her bones knew who it was before her mind could process it. Dahlia quickly pocketed the ring and threw back her glass of firewhisky, not wanting it to go to waste. She quickly moved from the center of the aisle and hid behind a massive pile of stacked dressing wardrobes and towerering books.

"Dahlia?" He called. His tone was unreadable.

She heard him lazily stroll deeper into the room to where she presumed he had expected to find her, near the vanishing cabinet. The air in the room shifted at his empty discovery. There was a pause where she sensed his contemplation. He knew she was here, yet she hadn't answered his call. How often did he reach for their bond to locate her?

She could almost sense the gleam in his eye as he grinned cruelly with excitement. The air buzzed with electricity, as he began to hunt. "Enjoy yourself last night?" He teased, tone biting.

He must have been irritated to not have found her here waiting for him. Of course he would assume she had no other purpose to come to The Room of Requirement.

She heard him shuffle through the liquor bottles. He laughed softly to himself, realizing she had taken a drink from his stash.

"Let's not play games, darling. You know I could find you anywhere." His voice was as smooth as ice. She began sweating in the tight space between wardrobes.

She could practically hear his grin widening at her rapidly increasing heart rate. Just how in tune had he become to their bond?

She moved silently, on light feet, towards the door. She shimmied her way between a set of bookcases as she waited for him to veer farther in the opposite direction so she could make a run for the exit.

"Dahlia," he called lyrically as to lure her out. "I just want to talk about last night," he added as to bargain with her.

"Don't worry, love. I won't tell," he mocked. He probably knew she felt awful about what had happened between them.

She closed her eyes, and steadied her breath. She had absolutely no intention of talking to him about last night. She had made a mistake that she wasn't ready to face. If she talked about it, it would make it real. It couldn't be real yet. It would potentially ruin everything she had built with Theo.

She heard him shuffle slowly in her direction. He was getting closer. she wondered if he could pinpoint exactly where she was and if he was only doing this for the sick thrill of it. She heard him push up his sleeves as he neared, as if he was about to get his hands dirty.

"He was right, you know…"

Cold sweat licked Dahlia's spine as she pressed herself against the bookcase. The image of the man who stood before her flickered across her mind violently — he was right about you. She quickly stomached the thought. She knew from Draco's tone, that he was talking about Theo in this instance.

"You make the most delicious sound when you come," he admitted proudly. She could imagine the horrid smirk on his face.

She held her breath and fought the urge to cover her mouth.

"Tell me, do you move against him like that? Or is it just for me?" His voice was a dance, inviting her to take his hand despite his taunts.

She closed her eyes tightly as the sound of his footsteps neared.

"Does he make you beg for it?" He chuckled darkly as if getting a thrill from stalking her out.

He was so close. She was terrified he would see a small movement from where she hid between the bookcases. She begged herself to not shake as she remained as still as possible.

"You wanted me on my knees? I wonder what for?" He taunted.

The draft carried his cologne to where she hid. She could practically reach out and touch his arm. He had to know she was here. She was too terrified to tug on their bond to find out — afraid she might expose herself. She could feel the heat of his breath as he sighed and faced the strewn about bookcases. She hid tucked in the dark between their sides and loose shelves.

"Did you want me to lick you until you shook? I'm sure I could please you better than him, I believe I've probably done so a thousand times. You were mine in all those lifetimes, after all."

Her eyes found his cruel grin through the cracks between the bookcases. She lowered her eyes, worried he would feel her gaze on him. They fell upon his dark mark as it lay bare, uncovered with his sleeves pushed up.

He groaned as if remembering how it felt to be intimate. He knew she was here. There was no doubt in her mind. He was horrible. She had given him exactly what he wanted, and he stood here, shoving it into her face. Would he reach for her?

He sighed heavily, then slowly walked past her as he strolled towards the other end of the room. He tossed an apple in one hand in amusement. As he moved farther away, she finally allowed herself to take in a bit more air. Her shoulders relaxed.

"I won't settle for anything less." He spoke as if it was a fact of nature.

This was her chance, she thought. She silently moved through the maze of bookcases. She padded on light feet as if she was a phantom, hurtling towards a stack of chairs closer to the doors.

"I will have you," he spoke boldly as she silently raced to the exit, "only when you whisper that you are mine."

She looked over her shoulder as she shoved open the doors to the Room of Requirement. Draco stood tall, grinning back at her regret-ridden face as she escaped like a mouse. An archer dancing with its prey.

—

"Theo!"

Theodore jumped out of his seat, then quickly shut his book. He had been quietly focused in the depths of the library before his quidditch match. He turned to see Eloise seated in the chair next to him.

He didn't like the way she was so easily able to creep around the castle like a hidden ghost, or a rat. She could be quite stealthy if she so desired. He didn't know how Xavier dealt with it.

"Yes?" He answered pleasantly, plastering a smile onto his face. He had been in the middle of something rather important.

"I think I've cracked it," she grinned proudly.

He noted her copper hair was less managed than usual. He wondered if she had fallen down a rabbit hole and been up for hours.

He crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat as he narrowed his eyes at her. He was skeptical that she had fully translated Dahlia's markings.

"Tell me, did Dahlia like my apology this morning?" He inquired with a grin.

She looked at him as if perplexed that he wasn't dying to know what she had discovered.

He had to admit; he was mildly curious, but he was planning to discover something far greater to contribute to their cause.

"I believe so," she chirped shortly as she inspected her manicure. "But If you ever show up unannounced in my room again, I will break your broom in half," she added, deadpan.

"Noted," he rolled his eyes. "Continue," he ordered as he waved his hand boredly.

"So we know the incantation for the spell," She started.

"We do?" He tilted his head as to question her.

"Were you not listening last week, Theo?" She lashed. She hit him with a book. "This is important!" She chastised him.

"Sincerest apologies," he muttered. He had been practicing verbal apologies as of late to be more respectable for Dahlia's circle.

"The incantation called upon both land and stars, blood of life and time to strengthen her sight. So," Eloise smacked her drawing of Dahlia's tattoo on the table.

"It's a story," she grinned triumphantly. "See the repeated glyphs? It's in a single line that can be traced almost as if chronologically, like a folktale. And look," Eloise pulled out a torn page.

It seemed to be from Devereaux's accounts of his wife's prophecies. She handed it to him as he might compare the words to her drawing, but he was instead focused on the circled prophecy:

child of the chasm, my daughter of a thousand ripped tongues, the dragon's flower, heir apparent of the void, the forger of new fates will be bathed in starlight and remade from onyx and the fury of the upended no-name prince.

He read it four times. He was now certain that Dahlia hadn't told him all of it.

"Eloise, Dahlia never mentioned a no-name prince when she read the prophecy aloud to me." He looked up her as to question why that would be.

Eloise paused. "I don't know, Theo. Maybe she just didn't want you to worry?" She murmured softly.

He looked back down at the prophecy in silence. Eloise sensed his anxiety.

She continued quietly, "It's not you, Theo. Your house is one of the sacred twenty-eight. Plus, you aren't a prince. Don't be ridiculous. Maybe she just didn't want you to worry about another opposing danger."

He nodded as he grappled with Eloise's rational words.

"Add him to the list then," he muttered in distaste.

"It's never ending," she sighed in agreement.

He threw the page back to her. It floated down on the desk.

"So, you going to read me the bedtime story or what?" He asked cheekily as he slumped further into his seat.

She glared back at him, admonishing him for not taking this seriously.

"I haven't gotten that far, unfortunately," she sighed. "Keep it," she nodded towards the drawing, "I want you to take a stab at it, too."

She stood and gathered her book bag. She stuffed the stolen page into her pocket. She began walking away from him wordlessly.

"Always a pleasure, Dawson," he yelled across the library. Once again, practicing his manners.

She flipped him off without turning her head.

Theo turned back to what he had been working on before Eloise's interruption. He had been bantering in his mind whether to have his house-elf go on this mission for him. They had been thick as thieves since their reunion over fall break. Eloise had nearly confirmed his own suspicions when she read aloud the incantation for the spell Dahlia had casted — that Draco is tied to her through time, via advanced or cosmic blood magic. To call upon blood, in addition to the stars, and time in order to strengthen a seer's sight was much too curious to be coincidence. He needed to talk to someone who was far more clever than himself.

He snapped his fingers, and a small, enchanted piece of paper with crisp edges appeared before him.

He spoke to it. "Tatters, I need you to find Alex. If you do, tell him father is gone. It's time to come home."

He blew into the note delicately. It disintegrated, sending his words back to the Nott Manor.