Mia and Theo made their way to the Quidditch Pitch, the familiar sound of broomsticks whooshing through the air and the shouts of players filling their ears. Mia was dressed in her typical Quidditch gear, and Theo followed closely behind her. As they approached, a group of boys started catcalling Mia, causing Theo to shoot them a disapproving glare.

Mia, undaunted, smirked at the boys and said, "Save your energy, boys. I'm here to talk to the team captain." She scanned the field for someone who might fit the bill.

A tall, lean boy with groomed dark hair, tanned skin, and light blue eyes approached Mia. He had an air of confidence about him as he extended his hand and said, "I'm Zain Shariq, the team captain." With a graceful motion, he delicately kissed the back of her hand.

Mia smiled, not missing a beat, and replied, "Mia Lucrezia Borghese. Nice to meet you, Zain."

Zain's eyes twinkled as he said, "Oh, I know who you are, Mia." Mia raised an eyebrow in surprise. Zain continued, "I saw you wipe the floor with Söderholm and Löfgren last year, and your performance in the War Games? Impressive. You could put many fourth years to shame."

Mia blushed at the compliment, her confidence momentarily shaken. She cleared her throat and said, "Well, I'm here because I want to try out for the team."

Zain leaned in, his interest piqued. "That's great to hear," he said. "What position would you like to try?"

Mia didn't hesitate. "Chaser," she answered.

Zain raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why chaser?"

Mia grinned mischievously. "Because, Zain, with me on the team, you'll have the best shot at winning every match from now on. Jace, Theo, and I are unbeatable together."

Zain matched her smirk with one of his own. "You're quite sure of yourself," he noted.

Mia didn't back down. "If you doubt it, care to make a little wager?"

Zain chuckled, appreciating her confidence. "How about this, Mia? If you, Jace, and Theo can score a hundred points in under ten minutes, you're in."

Jace, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected, "Zain, that's a bit much, don't you think?"

Zain turned to Jace and raised an eyebrow. "Do you have so little faith in your friend, Jace?"

Mia chimed in, her determination shining through. "Deal."

With a smirk and a nod, Zain extended his hand. "Then it's settled."

Theo, Mia, Jace, and the two twins, Nate and Archie, huddled together in a tight circle on the Quidditch pitch, their heads bent close to discuss their strategy for the upcoming match.

Theo turned to Mia and asked, "Mia, what's the plan? How do you want to approach this?"

Mia's lips curled into a mischievous smirk as she replied, "We're going to test out The Ace Nine."

Theo and Jace exchanged knowing glances, their smirks mirroring Mia's. Nate, one of the twins, couldn't help but voice his confusion. "The Ace Nine? We don't know that play."

Theo chuckled and explained, "Well, you see, Mia has a knack for coming up with her own plays."

Jace nodded in agreement. "That's right. Mia's plays are unpredictable, and they catch the opposing team off guard. But we need to know how good your aim is, Nate, Archie. Can you hit the target?"

The twins exchanged confident glances before Nate spoke up, "We never miss."

The Quidditch match was about to begin, with both teams ready for the intense competition. Zain, the team captain, had a sly grin on his face as he gracefully handed Mia the Quaffle. He leaned in and whispered, "Just to give you a little advantage, Mia."

With a nod of appreciation, Mia gripped the Quaffle tightly, her eyes locked on the goalposts.

Zain wasted no time and expertly maneuvered his broom, scoring ten points for his team.

Holding the Quaffle, Mia glanced at Theo and Jace, who were hovering nearby. They exchanged determined nods, and in an instant, they got into formation. Jace positioned himself above Theo and Mia, creating a pyramid shape in the air.

In a split second, two Bludgers surged through the middle of the pyramid. Theo skillfully turned his broom to the left, while Mia veered to the right. Jace, in a daring move, shot down toward the ground.

The result was spectacular. The two Bludgers careened toward Zain's Chasers, who had been marking Theo and Mia closely. With lightning reflexes, they swerved out of the way, leaving the path to the goalposts wide open.

The Quidditch match was a whirlwind of action, with players zooming through the air and the crowd on the edge of their seats. Jace had descended with lightning speed as Mia made a sharp turn to the right, passing the Quaffle to him with precision. He grabbed it firmly and shot toward the goalposts, but he had Zain hot on his tail.

As Jace approached the hoops, he dropped the Quaffle, a confident smirk on his face as he looked back at Zain. Just when it seemed like Zain might have a chance to intercept, Theo came out of nowhere. With a powerful burst of speed, Theo shot up from below and executed an upward curve shot that went sideways to the goal post, scoring brilliantly. The crowd erupted into cheers at the incredible display of teamwork and skill.

The game continued, and Theo, Jace, and Mia continued to score with an uncanny synergy that left Zain both amazed and frustrated. He didn't know which of them to chase after, and their tactics were proving to be a formidable challenge.

With the ten-minute mark approaching, Zain shouted to his team, urging them to focus on blocking Mia, who seemed to be the linchpin of their strategy. The pressure was on, and the clock was ticking.

As the final moments of the match neared, Mia, Theo, Jace, Nate, and Archie found themselves lined up for their ultimate play. Nate and Archie surged forward, expertly blocking the Bludgers, creating a protective barrier. Jace and Theo shot sideways, leaving Mia slightly behind.

Jace intercepted the Quaffle and swiftly passed it to Theo, who began making his way towards the goal posts. Suddenly, he shot up in the air narrowly missing a blugder as he shot the Quaffle high into the air.

Mia, now closing in on the Quaffle's trajectory, used the back of her broom to expertly strike it. Time seemed to stand still as the Quaffle made a breathtaking curve in the air, its path uncertain. Zain's keeper leaped to reach it but only managed to graze it with his fingertips. The Quaffle sailed through the hoops with precision, and a loud ringing signaled the end of the ten minutes.

With the match concluded and Mia's team victorious, Zain rapidly descended from his broomstick and approached Mia, who was wearing a triumphant smirk, surrounded by her jubilant teammates.

Zain, still catching his breath, looked at Mia incredulously and asked, "What in the world were those plays? I've never seen anything like it."

Jace, always ready to share their secrets, piped in with a grin. "What you just witnessed, Zain, was Mia's Ace Nine and Club Flush."

Zain raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed but also curious. "Ace Nine and Club Flush? I've been playing Quidditch for years, and I've never heard of those."

Theo, with a playful smirk, chimed in, "That's because Mia likes to create her own plays, Zain. She keeps us on our toes."

Mia, still basking in the glory of their victory, turned her attention to Zain and asked, "So, Zain, do you think I've proved myself worthy of a spot on the team?"

Zain bowed dramatically and said, "If you keep playing like that you can even take my Captain's badge. Welcome to the team."

As the other players left the Quidditch pitch, Mia approached Jace with a nervous expression. Theo, noticing Mia's hesitation, clapped Jace on the back and said, "I'll catch you both at dinner," before making his way toward the exit.

A small, awkward silence hung in the air as Mia gathered her thoughts. Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she blurted out, "Jace, I'm sorry."

Jace turned to her with a gentle smile and asked, "Sorry for what, princess?"

Mia took a deep breath, her voice filled with sincerity as she said, "I'm sorry for how I spoke to you in New York. It was insensitive of me to throw your feelings against you like that."

Jace's expression softened, "Princess, it's okay," he reassured her.

Mia, feeling the need to emphasize her apology, insisted, "No, Jace, it's not okay, especially when I know you were trying to move on."

Jace pulled her into a warm hug, holding her close. He placed a tender kiss on her forehead and whispered, "We're okay, princess. You don't have to worry."

Mia smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over a moment, Jace asked, "Are you going to tell me? I know Teddy knows"

Mia, slightly surprised, exclaimed, "I'm surprised he hasn't told you, Teddy is a huge gossip!"

Jace chuckled but then said, "When it comes to you, princess, Teddy keeps things to himself. He respects your privacy."

Mia took a deep breath and decided to confide in Jace. She shared with him what she had told Theo, all the fears and uncertainties that had been weighing on her mind.

As she finished speaking, Jace hugged her tightly, his words filled with warmth and reassurance. "Teddy was right, Mia. You'll always be our girl, my princess."

Mia gave Jace a playful nudge as they continued their conversation. She leaned in and said, "You know, Jace, all this princess treatment I'm getting from Theo and you is making your fangirl clubs look at me with jealousy."

Jace let out a hearty laugh at Mia's comment and, with a grin, responded, "Well, Mia, you deserve the world." He nudged her back gently. "You have your fair share of admirers. Don't pretend you haven't noticed"

Mia met Jace's gaze and chuckled. "Theo and you are certainly raising the standards when it comes to how men should treat me."

"Damn right we are, princess" he declared, "Your future boyfriend is going to have to deal with us if he doesn't treat you the way you deserve."

Mia retorted, "Oh, I'm perfectly capable of defending myself, Jace."

Jace, though, couldn't hide his pout as he responded, "Come on, Mia, can't Theo and I have a little fun with your future boyfriend? Just to make sure he's up to the task?"

Mia burst into laughter at Jace's antics. "Fine," she said, still giggling. "But only if I get to do the same with your future girlfriends."

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the streets of Godric's Hollow as James, the head of the Aurors, stood by the cordon surrounding the statue. His face was etched with worry and exhaustion as he watched his team of Aurors going door to door, questioning the neighbors.

"Have you seen anyone approaching the statue with a black rose?" one of his Aurors asked a resident.

"No, I've never seen anyone like that around here," replied the neighbor, shaking their head.

Another neighbor echoed the same sentiment, and so did the next, and the next. It was a recurring pattern—denial and confusion. James was growing increasingly frustrated as the month went on.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his disheveled hair. He had been hopeful when they discovered those letters and the black roses by the statue, thinking it might lead them to his missing daughter.

Meanwhile, Sirius had was teared through the Potters' house in search of any clue. He overturned furniture, rifled through drawers, and scanned every inch of the place, but nothing relevant emerged.

Back at the statue, James's frustration reached a breaking point. He couldn't hold back the tears any longer. His shoulders slumped, and he began to sob, begging for his daughter's forgiveness as he stood before the monument.

"Is it you?" a frail voice interrupted his grief-stricken moment.

Startled, James turned around, his tear-streaked face showing confusion as he locked eyes with an older lady in a dark blue suit. She held a bouquet of roses in her hands.

James blinked and swallowed hard, trying to regain his composure. "I'm sorry, what did you say?" he asked, his voice quivering.

The lady repeated her question, her voice wavering slightly, "Is it you, Edward?"

James shook his head, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand. "No, my name is James."

"Sorry, I thought you were someone else." The old lady quickly excused herself, her frail form moving with a surprising grace as she went around the statue to place the bouquet of roses at its feet.

As the lady was about to leave, James hurried after her, his heart racing with newfound hope. "Excuse me, ma'am," he said, "but have you ever seen a person with a black rose approaching this statue before?"

The lady paused, her eyes distant as if she was retracing her memories. After a moment, she turned to James and replied, "Yes, indeed, dear. There was a young boy, a little younger than you, who used to come every year. But this year, he hasn't shown up."

James's excitement grew. "Did he ever tell you his name?"

The lady's gaze shifted to the ground for a moment, lost in thought. Then she looked up and nodded. "He did. He said his name was Edward."

James jotted down the name Edward in his notebook. "Can you describe this young man, ma'am? And what was he doing when he came here?"

The lady took a deep breath and began to recount her memories. "The first time I saw Edward was thirteen years ago," she started. "I had come to visit my husband's grave, and there he was, crying in front of the statue." Her voice trembled slightly as she recalled that moment.

"I went up to him and offered him a rose, thinking he was mourning the loss of a loved one," she continued. "But what happened next was quite extraordinary. He touched the rose with his hand, and it turned black, as dark as midnight. Then, he tied a letter to it and left it here. He did it every year, without fail. I never asked him what was in those letters, and he never told me. But I could tell that he carried a heavy burden in his heart."

James was determined to gather as much information as possible. He leaned in closer to the old woman and asked, "Did you ever ask Edward where he was going after he left the black rose?"

The woman shook her head, her eyes distant. "No, dear. I never did. It was as if he disappeared by magic, right after leaving the rose. I didn't want to pry into his business."

James respected her decision and pressed on. "Can you describe Edward physically, ma'am?"

The woman furrowed her brow, trying to recall the details. "He was quite handsome, with a straight nose and a pronounced jaw. He appeared to be a bit younger than you," she said. "But I couldn't see his hair because he always wore a jacket cap, pulled down low."

James noted down the description and continued his questioning. "What was he wearing, if you remember?"

The woman's eyes sparkled with a hint of nostalgia. "Edward always dressed in black, quite smart for a boy his age. He had a long black woollen coat, a matching scarf, and gloves—expensive ones, mind you."

James raised an eyebrow. "Expensive? How could you tell?"

The lady smiled warmly. "I've been a dressmaker all my life, dear. I can recognize expensive, bespoke clothes at first sight, and Edward's attire was certainly of high quality."

James nodded in understanding. "Thank you for that. One more thing," he said, leaning in closer. "You mentioned earlier that Edward hasn't come this year. Can you tell me why that's significant?"

The lady's eyes welled up with sadness. "Edward never forgot to come. He's been here every year on the same date without fail."

James took a deep breath. "And what date was that, ma'am?"

The woman's voice quivered slightly as she replied, "He used to come at the beginning of August, on the eighth of August, to be exact."

James made a mental note of the date. "Did you ever see him with anyone else?"

The lady shook her head. "No, dear. Edward always came alone. It was as if he carried his burden in solitude."

"Was there anything else that struck you as strange about him? Did he ever do something out of the ordinary?"

The old lady took a moment to gather her memories. "Well," she began, "the first time I saw Edward, he did something quite odd. He grabbed his left forearm, as if he wanted to tear it off. It was a fleeting gesture, and I thought it might have been a moment of intense emotion."

"Thank you for sharing that," James said sincerely. "Here's my card with my name and phone number on it. If you remember anything else, no matter how small, please don't hesitate to contact me."

The woman took the card and nodded gratefully. "I will, dear. I hope you find the answers you're looking for."

Just as James was about to turn and leave, the woman's voice stopped him. "Wait," she said, her gaze distant as she recalled a memory. "The year I met Edward, I saw him twice. Once in August, as usual, on the eighth. But there was another time, in the middle of September."

James's eyes widened in surprise. "In September? Do you remember the exact date in September when you saw him?"

The woman closed her eyes for a moment, trying to recollect. "It was around the fifteenth, I believe," she finally replied. "I remember because it was quite a cool evening for that time of year."