There were premonitions in the wild winds.

Dahlia's senses quietly reached for them as she exited the Hogwarts Express beneath the silver moon. She lingered behind her two friends, discerning the distressed breeze. She wasn't able to decipher their billowing whispers, but the ominous force weighed her bones in a sickly foreboding. The gale lifted her skirt as she decidedly silenced it to press on.

Communing with nature was one of the more pleasant gifts Dahlia possessed as a descendant from a powerful line of seers. Their ancestry could be traced all the way back to the Delphic oracles according to her mother's propaganda, but Dahlia knew her words didn't count for much. She would often mumble in madness as she braided her hair in intricate styles, humming sweet nonsense while teaching Dahlia to listen to the wind and stars.

She hushed them now, as she had for years. Her mother was gone, and with her passing, Dahlia's desire to divine withered. She was terrified she would die younger than older just like her mother, with not enough time to leave a legacy nor enough days to love. Her tombstone said nothing but her name, Valeria Aldair, and listed three decades too short.

But it was no one's fault but fates. The universe was cruel to its creatures. All seers eventually descended into chaos as their minds fractured, unable to tell the endless possibilities of the future from their present reality. Just three years ago, her mother had succumbed to her Sight. Her mind crumbling into mayhem — and worse, her mother had nurtured the very gift that rotted her sanity dearly. She didn't withdraw when she sensed Death looming, instead she leaned farther into her mystic senses. Dahlia often wondered if it made her horrible that she resented her for doing so. She should have found forgiveness by now. She should be happier by now.

But Dahlia considered her mother lucky. Dark wizards went to great lengths to capture oracles, locking them in darkness and silence if only to enhance their Sight. They would force captured seers to prophesies their futures, all hoping to see their path to power. Although she was rather young, at least her mother had gotten to live out the last years of her life in peace before passing.

Dahlia contemplated what her mother might think of her now. She pictured her mother shaking her head, mumbling that she was growing too old to still be this blind. Then she would sigh and run a gentle hand through her hair, assure her it was for the best that the bloodline weakened.

Dahlia gasped with surprise as someone gently nudged her from behind, slipping their arm through hers and locking elbows.

"So much for summer love, Miss Aldair," Amelia Laurier whispered into her ear with excitement. She noticed Dahlia's startled jump as she had been lost in thought, focusing out the tune of the wind. Amelia quickly discarded her poor joke, referencing the handsome muggle Dahlia had to cut ties with only last night. Dahlia had climbed down the enchanted trellis of the Laurier's London home to achieve it. She scratched her arms just thinking of it.

"You know I think you would have been sorted into Slytherin, with me, if your mind wasn't always drifting in the stars," she said, hand waving to the night sky with a sly smile like she knew a secret.

And, she did. Amelia knew of Dahlia's supposed prophetic powers which had yet to properly manifest. Amelia's family had close ties to her own. They had grown up together far before their time at Hogwarts. They often spent their summer days lounging in the fickle sun and sneaking out under the phasing moon. They were only separable when they were at Hogwarts due to their house sorting. Amelia's cold blood ran emerald while Dahlia's thoughts were crystalized with a brilliant sapphire blue.

Dahlia returned a coy smile of her own and laughed softly. "You know I only asked that musty, old hat to put me Ravenclaw to spite my father," she lied. Her mother had been in Ravenclaw. To be sorted into her mother's legacy house had been her greatest wish at the time if only to make her proud.

While her mother was a descendant of oracles, the Aldair house of her father was prestigiously renowned for being pureblooded wizards with a long legacy of proud ministry officials, all of whom were proudly sorted into Slytherin. While her mother was light and warmth, her father was cold and detached. Dahlia never understood what her mother had seen in her father, or if he had simply grown colder with age.

Devereaux Aldair was never quite sure what to do with a daughter as he had wanted a son. He had tried his best to be loving when she was much younger — reading to her before bed and charting the constellations on the roof of their estate. However, as she had gotten older, he no longer had the energy to deal with her woes. He had only become more detached after her mother died, taking a piece of him with her to the grave. She was sure her father still loved her underneath the layers of his secrecy, but things had become increasingly strained as they grieved separately.

Deep laughter echoed behind the girls. Amelia flipped her long black hair over her shoulder, eying the Slytherin boys she had become close with over the years. They slowly strolled behind. Dahlia turned to look behind her as she noticed her friend's glare toward one specific boy.

"Why are you staring at Blaise like you're plotting his slow, painful death?" Dahlia asked, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"Oh, I am. I want him to think I am capable of murder so I can scare him into an apology." She paused dramatically and kicked the gravel. "Blaise and I got into a fight on the train," she sighed.

"What happened?" Dahlia lowered her tone and leaned closer.

"There's something he's not telling me. He's being secretive. I'm sure you've noticed we saw less and less of each other over the summer. I could tell he was lying to me. He's always off with Malfoy doing god knows what, and in god knows where." Her face shadowed with melancholia.

Dahlia raised a brow. "Have you considered dumping him?" She was nonchalant as she straightened her uniform into pristine perfection. Dahlia readied herself to slip on the familiar mask of her persona, the all-too-kind ministry darling, as they neared the gates exiting Hogsmeade.

"Let's be single together this year." Dahlia spoke loudly. She flipped her hair and looked back at Blaise. He met her gaze with quick irritation as he gathered they were speaking about him.

Dahlia gave him a dazzling smile.

He shook his head as a smirk cracked his expression. Dahlia hadn't meant it seriously. She had only wanted to hold a flame to his feet in warning. She actually found them quite perfect for each other.

"Dahlia!" Amelia exclaimed, mouth agape. She lightly shoved her away, and they both laughed at the brash nature of her advice.

"No! We've been dating for over a year!" Amelia exclaimed in a whisper. "It's just a lover's quarrel — or battle," she sighed. The laughter evaporated and left Amelia with a cloud of worry once again.

"I would see where he goes if I could," she sighed. Dahlia had yet to experience her first vision, which was disappointing for a seer at her age. She felt somewhat relieved though since a seer's first vision is usually a foretelling of their own death. A pit of anxiety grew in her stomach just at the thought of it.

"I know you would." Amelia smiled earnestly as she stepped into the thestral-pulled carriage. She extended a hand to help Dahlia climb in.

They sat towards the back of the carriage as a few Slytherin students took their seats. Blaise, of course, sat on the other side of Amelia, trying to hold her hand. Amelia slapped him away.

Theodore Nott took a seat across from her. She knew little about him beyond his name and what was whispered about his legacy at social events. She heard nothing savory about the Nott house. Her own father had commented that he would never deal business with such cruel and clever men as Tiberius Nott. The risk of getting burned was too great of risk.

Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and two other boys she did not recognize filled the carriage. They stalled, waiting for Draco Malfoy. Blaise and Amelia shared hushed whispers. Dahlia turned to Pansy with a smile. They were on somewhat friendly terms.

"How was your summer?" Dahlia asked quietly.

"It was fair enough. I heard you and Amelia managed to sneak around quite a bit." She raised her brows quickly. "I would be more careful now of frequenting muggle bars if I were you." Her expression was ripe with sourness although her tone was pleasant.

Dahlia could feel curious eyes on her. The accusation was unfathomable to those who only saw the carefully curated, enigmatic facade. Dahlia smiled neutrally, neither confirming nor denying her whereabouts. It would only light potential rumors aflame. Plus, Pansy was right, with the return of the Dark Lord, it had become quite a risk.

Professor Snape approached with Draco, practically shoving him into the carriage. He shuffled into a seat across from Blaise and next to Theodore.

Dahlia felt mildly unsettled within the group, but knew they wouldn't be unkind to her. She was Amelia's friend and her legacy matched their own. She masked any sign of apprehension with a pleasant yet aloof expression.

Draco Malfoy gave her a peculiar glance as to question her presence. He appeared restless. The moonlight lit the angular features of his face and silver white hair. Dahlia noted how the summer seemed to have aged him a bit.

He quickly tore his gaze away from Dahlia as Amelia and Blaise's hushed whispers escalated. He let out of a frustrated groan as he rubbed his hands down his face.

Amelia and Blaise were at each other's throats in no time — arguing to no end.

"Going to be another long ride," said Crabbe with a worn grimace.

Dahlia turned to Pansy. "Did they fight the whole way here on the train?"

Pansy parted her lips to reply but was quickly interrupted by a smooth voice.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Theodore Nott turned his gaze to her, shedding his flippant demeanor. His darkened curls fell into his eyes as he leaned his head back in frustration and spread his legs wider. He pushed his hair away from his face. Her eyes were drawn to the several golden rings he wore as he began whirling his wand across his knuckles. He gave the impression that he was not fond, or capable of, sitting still for too long. His eyes danced in the dim light of the stars through the carriage window as he held his gaze upon Dahlia a little too long, as if he had discovered something brand new and worthy of his undivided attention.

The intensity of his stare made her fidget. She flipped her long hair to the side in an effort to escape his gaze. She looked out the window to the night sky. She saw him grin devilishly in her periphery. Dahlia kicked herself — she had given him the exact reaction he had hoped for.

"Knock it off or we're throwing you two overboard into the Forbidden Forest!" He yelled in the direction of the fighting couple, attempting to quiet the carriage. Neither Amelia nor Blaise glanced away from each other. Dahlia shot Theodore a sympathizing look.

He took her glance as an invitation and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his thighs. He was closer than what was decent for strangers. "I don't think we've ever officially met." He armored himself with a sly, charming smile.

Draco Malfoy was quick to interrupt. "She was in both our charms and transfiguration classes last year," he scoffed, visibly displeased. He somehow managed to look both bored and angered at the same time.

Dahlia crossed her legs, uncomfortable with how close he was to her bare legs. She met Theo's eyes with a steeled confidence, ignoring Draco completely.

"I'm Dahlia Aldair," she said with her own beguiling smile.

He kept his wand whirling through his fingers. He was so close to her that the edge of his wand slapped her knee as it moved across his knuckles. She refused to scoot farther back into her seat or uncross her legs. His grin slowly widened as she refused to be intimidated.

"I know. And you know that I'm Theodore Nott." His voice was velvet and he grinned more widely to reveal a dimple, almost as if the timing was calculated.

He reminded Dahlia of a fox. It was as if he saw himself as a prince of hearts who had done this countless times and for no one at all. He finally pulled back, throwing his arms behind him to lean on the back of the carriage seat. He motioned lazily to Draco.

"Don't be rude, mate. Introduce yourself," Theo nodded.

"What's the point. She knows who I am," Draco sneered. He turned to look towards the road ahead.

Dahlia tried to let the arrogant remark roll over her with a slight roll of eyes. She knew how rude and hurtful he could be from Amelia's accounts. She had also spent one night with him in the Forbidden Forest for detention during her fourth year. To say he had been chivalrous was a stretch. He had left her to fend for herself when he had thought a pack of Centaurs were approaching.

She rallied against her need to uphold her reputation, pettiness fueling. She could barely contain herself as she shifted in her seat.

"Aren't you the one that got mauled by that sweet Hippogryph during our third year?" She blurted. She had tried to ask innocently, but she couldn't help the vindictive smile that formed on her lips.

The group snickered as they recalled his account with Buckbeak. Draco whipped his head and eyed her with solidified distaste. Dahlia held his gaze, until Theo shoved Pansy into the window of the carriage and took a seat next to her. He threw an arm around her. "Don't fret, love. He's always in a bad mood," he whispered playfully.

Dahlia narrowed her eyes as to communicate that he had overstepped her boundaries. She didn't shift away though. He winked, conveying that he was aware of his actions and that he quite liked it. Dahlia was ready to shove him away until he smiled genuinely for her. It was an apology and a promise. The kind of smile a friend shared after midnight in the heat of summer and sworn secrets. Dahlia had been mostly irritated with him until she saw such a brilliant look on his face. She slapped his arm away, but allowed him to stay seated next to her. She felt his muscles relax as if he had been holding a breath.

Blaise and Amelia finally came to a silence as they interlaced their hands. Either they came to a resolution or they were both exhausted from fighting all day. Dahlia was sure to get a debrief later or tomorrow.

Draco was silent for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts, avoiding conversation. They all discussed the classes they had signed up for this year until the carriage finally came to a halt in front of the castle gates. They stood and began the shuffle out of the carriage. Theo swiftly reached for her hand to help her step down.

At the touch of hand, euphoric dread roared through her veins. The premonition was indistinguishable — a thread that couldn't be followed. It was sudden and sharp, her heart momentarily plummeting. She imagined this was how the great explorers felt when they discovered lost treasure, only to realize it had been cursed.

Dahlia quickly recovered, playing off her sharp inhale of breath as a response to the light chill in the air.

"Are you alright?" Theo's face fluttered with concern, questioning if he had done something wrong.

"Yes," she nodded with a smile. "Just a bit cold."

Amelia quickly exited the carriage and noticed her sudden change in demeanor. "What is it?" She whispered, placing a hand softly on her arm.

"I don't know. I just had a sudden sense. It was mesmerizing and, ghastly." Dahlia's face twisted with anxiety.

Amelia wore her usual blasé expression, but Dahlia saw something like unease shift beneath the surface. "It's alright. No need to worry. We're going to have a good year," she reassured her, but her smile seemed forced.

Dahlia turned back. She noticed Theo staring at the thestrals in the most intriguing manner, almost wishing to reach for them. Amelia slapped the back of his head to gather his attention. He grunted in response. "Rude," he muttered.

"Let's go," Amelia called to Dahlia, who had been stuck in place. They began walking towards the illuminated castle — home.

"We're having a welcome back party tomorrow night, aren't we?" Amelia said deviously, directing her question to Blaise and Theo.

"It's only tradition," Blaise responded with a sly look.

"You absolutely must be there, Dahlia. Please come!" Amelia begged.

Dahlia was hesitant to answer after her premonition.

Amelia sensed her lack of enthusiasm and swiftly hugged Dahlia as tightly as she could. "I'm not letting go until you agree to come!" Amelia lowered her voice so only Dahlia could hear and added, "I'll hold your romance novels hostage for the rest of the year."

Dahlia stifled a laugh. "Fine! Yes! I'll come!"

Theo gave her a wink. "Good." Before she could respond, he paced ahead to meet Draco as the rest of the group waved him forward to catch up.

Amelia turned to her with wide eyes. "Let's be single together this year," she mocked in a low voice.

Dahlia attempted to trip her. "I said single, not abstinent!" She quipped.

Amelia pulled her cloak and Dahlia screeched.

"Can't even make to the castle single, Aldair." She covered Dahlia's mouth as the group ahead looked back at them curiously.

"Behave!" Blaise called.

Dahlia pulled Amelia close, locking arms once more.

As they walked through the gates of Hogwarts, Dahlia was no longer pretending to feel a chill in the air. The winds spoke in a malevolent hush. If only she would interpret them and heed their warnings. She internalized her nerves as excitement for the new year. Then, Dahlia pressed on through the gates of the castle.

Dahlia stared breathlessly at the flickering candles and cosmic night sky as she walked through the doors of the Great Hall. They were almost late to the welcome feast as they had waited for Draco Malfoy to begin their carriage ride from the Hogwarts Express to the castle.

"Come to the boathouse tonight, yes?" Amelia asked giving her a small smile and a wave goodbye. She headed left to the Slytherin table as Dahlia made her way to the Ravenclaw table in the center of the hall. Her roommates waved Dahlia over to join them.

"Saved you a seat," Juliet smiled.

Her silky, light brown hair was thrown into a perfect messy bun atop of her head, surely in an effort to impress her latest crush. The summer sun had been kind to her, blessing her cheeks with more freckles and a glowing tan. Juliet had spent the past few months on holiday along the French coast with her family in an attempt to escape the dreary news of the Dark Lord's return.

"We lost you once we got off the train!" Eloise, her other roommate, exclaimed.

Dahlia took a seat across from Eloise and next to Juliet. She considered both girls to be two of her closest friends besides Amelia. While she had grown up alongside Amelia, she had met both Eloise Dawson and Juliet Hart on her first day at Hogwarts. They had been assigned to the same dormitory and remained roommates for the rest of their school years. While Amelia made Dahlia more brave and adventurous, Eloise and Juliet filled her need for comfort and structure.

Juliet was more quiet and curious. She often disappeared without warning and never divulged too many details. Dahlia chalked it up to her insatiable search for romance. Eloise, on the other hand, was direct and strong-willed. She often skipped pleasantries and her words cut right to the bone. She was never afraid to give her opinion. She usually always gave unforgiving advice because she wanted the absolute best for her friends as she was fiercely loyal. She was quite focused on her studies, as well. Eloise's mother had been a professor here at Hogwarts and she always felt the need to impress her.

Dahlia couldn't help but notice Juliet smiling towards the Gryffindor table. She saw Cormac McLaggen smiling back. "Are you crushing on Cormac?" Dahlia asked with surprise.

"No, not quite. But I must admit he is looking quite dashing. I have my eye on the chosen one this year," she replied coolly. "You know how we like our men — with some controversy." She said with a grin as to insinuate Dahlia's own secret escapades.

Dahlia preferred to keep her romantics under the table to minimize whispers. She scoffed and haughtily replied, "you didn't even believe him about the Dark Lord returning last ye-"

"Dahlia," Eloise interrupted. She leaned closer, her copper hair and bangs falling into her eyes. "Don't turn around, but Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott are staring in this direction. I think they're having a conversation about you."

She was always the most perceptive and was quite protective of her friends. Eloise snorted as a wide smile graced her features. "Amelia just smacked Blaise in the back of the head for something he said to Nott."

Eloise gave a quick wave to Amelia as to give her stamp of approval for using violence to silence men.

"I rode with them to the castle." Dahlia buttered her bread innocently. "They actually invited us to their party tomorrow night," she added slyly.

"I'm in!" Juliet yelled before Dahlia could even take a bite.

Both girls looked at Eloise expectantly. Eloise could read in their faces that they wouldn't take no for an answer.

She sighed with defeat. "Ugh, fine. I'm only going to make sure you two behave though!"

Dahlia smirked wickedly. "A wise decision."

Eloise ran her hands down her face. "Honestly you both, I'm losing years of my life chasing you around. Juliet, you hardly remember to wear underw-"

Dahlia was about to cut in defensively when Dumbledore cleared his throat. The girls quickly went silent. Juliet kicking Eloise under the table and Dahlia suppressed a laugh before turning her attention to forward.

Dumbledore introduced a new potions professor and announced that Professor Snape would be taking over Defense of the Dark Arts. Wild whispers erupted through the hall. But he wasn't finished. He left them with a warning — the most powerful of dark wizards once roamed these halls only as students, and as the war loomed, we were the greatest weapons. Dahlia couldn't control her quickened pulse and the electric sensation on the back of her neck. She was still on edge from the agony in the winds she had sensed earlier. Her eyes quickly landed on Theo, who was casually staring, taking her in, jaw set. Dahlia squirmed beneath his gaze and averted her attention.

The mood had turned somber after Dumbledore's speech. The girls left the great hall, not wanting to linger. They made their way up the spiraling stairs to the Ravenclaw common room. They halted as the bronze eagle found life.

"The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?" The door spoke.

"Footsteps," Eloise replied quickly.

The door to the Ravenclaw common room swung open. Dahlia stepped over the threshold and was enveloped by the scent of aged books and cedar. She inhaled deeply. It smelled like true home and belonging.

Once she arrived to her dorm, Dahlia breathed a sigh of relief. The pale stone walls were adorned with velvet and silk fabrics in shades of light and deeper blues. She stepped across the circular, golden oriental rug that was fitted to the dorm as it sat in a high turret of the castle. She sat upon her bed, framed in white wood and adorned with silk periwinkle curtains. She noted her trunk had been placed beneath the massive stain glass window next to her bed. She embraced the cleanliness of the space, knowing they would soon fill it with books and discarded clothes. She popped open her trunk and shuffled through it. She quickly changed into a black, knit sweater.

"Going out?" Juliet asked as she laid on the bed to the right of the circular room.

"I'm going to the boathouse to see Amelia. Care to join?" She grinned mischievously.

Juliet hesitated.

"I think the boys are coming," she grinned. She was desperate to end this infatuation with Harry Potter and what better way than to dangle Slytherin boys in front of her.

"Well that settle it. Let's go!" Her voice hit an octave higher as she threw clothes out of her own trunk and onto the oriental rugs. The tidiness deteriorated quickly.

Dahlia rushed her out of their room as she was still braiding her hair. The girls snuck their way through the castle as they quickly disillusioned themselves. An advanced spell they had learned rather quicker than usual. The breeze welcomed Dahlia as they stepped outside of the castle. The stars above Hogwarts welcomed her home, glowing brightly.

Feeling bold, Dahlia removed the charm as they made their way down the winding stairs of the cliff that led to the boathouse. She felt the wind carry off the lake and dance in her hair. They were both giddy and skipping steps as they had finally been reunited — two partners in crime.

"Dahlia," Juliet feigned seriousness as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs, "I think I'm having a vision." She pretended to shake dramatically.

"Stop it," Dahlia laughed as she turned away from her.

"Your future holds a great amount of cock tonight," she said in a deep melodramatic tone, swooning over the railing. She giggled wildly, thrilled with her own joke.

"I'm pretty sure you failed divinations," Dahlia snorted.

They finally arrived at the boathouse after running in fear as they both attempted to push each other into the Black Lake. Their laughs carried in a sweet echo to the rest of the group. Amelia approached the girls giving them both big hugs.

Theo approached casually, as if he hadn't noticed her arrival almost immediately. He snuck a bottle of beer into her hand before Dahlia could even ask herself if she wanted a drink. He leaned down to hover above her ear. "Come with me, yeah?" His breath was warm against her skin.

She turned to find his glimmering eyes. They were honeyed like whisky — and hardly sober. She almost thought better of it until he smiled with boyish sincerity, a nervousness flickering in his expression. A quiet voice locked away in the depths of her mind dreamed briefly of what it must be like to be loved by him. She realized with a heart crumple that everyone he crossed paths with most likely imagined so, if only for a moment.

She hesitated too long and a vulnerable smile had accidentally fallen on her lips. He took her hand and pulled her away from the two girls. Amelia gave her a quick wink without breaking conversation with Juliet.

With her hand in his, she followed him through the back doors of the boathouse and to the outermost edge of the dock. She took a seat next to Theo who leaned back on his hands and dangled his legs over the dock. They were still somewhat near the rest of the group but far enough to have a private conversation. She was afraid to put her feet in the water, so instead she crossed her legs and looked up to the sky for comfort.

"I see you brought Juliet?" He asked trying to spark conversation. She had always noted his unimpressed expression in passing, but he smiled for her again.

"Yes," she sighed with a small chuckle. "She thinks she has a crush on Harry Potter. I needed Amelia to distract her with someone else, immediately."

He snickered, "You don't like Potter?"

"I'm neutral, uninvolved," she said lightly, almost lyrically to butter the answer. She knew he was attempting to gage where she fell on the spectrum of ideology.

"But you're a pureblood," he stated more of a matter of fact than a question.

She paused and slowly smirked. He grinned back, misunderstanding her clever discovery.

"Have you been asking about me?" She whispered as if she had caught him with a secret.

He blushed and didn't answer. He looked up to the stars instead. She quite liked the silence between them, but wanted, needed, to pull his eyes back to her. She answered his original question. "I just know wherever Harry goes, unfortunate things happen. I wouldn't want that for Juliet," she pointed out. She took a sip of her drink.

"And you would rather throw your lot in with this crowd?" He joked with a sideways grin.

She lightly shoved his shoulder in response, unable to resist the urge to touch him. "Are you that bad, really?" She asked, bantering.

He tilted his head back a bit as he pretended to ponder the question. "Probably." He laughed softly then paused. He turned to her. "But I'd be good to you."

Sincerity warmed in his eyes. He grinned nervously as if he had gambled. He was spinning her rapidly in a dance of flirtation that she usually stepped to slowly. It was a whiplash. She let a moment linger between them as she sipped her drink. His smile slowly fading with her silence. She turned back to face him. "I've never seen you smile much. It's such a shame."

He quickly looked away as if she had caught him off guard and he hadn't prepared a response for such a compliment. "No," he shook his head. "The real shame is that the sun has to rise every morning. You are devastating in moonlight."

Warmth wildly gathered in her cheeks and she held her mouth closed. No one had ever complimented her in such a way. Every beat of her heart murmured that this could be the beginning of something, either enchanting or heartbreaking. It could never be, but she would keep this feeling locked within her and guard it like a precious secret. She didn't dare move, afraid this might end.

Blaise called Theo inside the boathouse, breaking their suspended moment in time. Theo sighed and stood up. He raised a brow and left without a word — inviting her to play a game if she so wished. She watched him leave, hoping he might dream about her now, too.

He left her outside the boathouse with Draco, who lingered farther down the dock. He leaned against the rough wood and watched her for a moment as the stars drenched her in gentle light. She looked back at him sensing his gaze. Clearly caught, he stepped forward. She wondered if he remembered that night he had left her with the Centaurs.

"Do you remember that night in the Forbidden Forest?" She asked.

He didn't speak for a moment as he refused to actually engage with her. His stomach roiled as he looked down upon her sweetened eyes. He thought her a fool.

The serene light she radiated irritated him to no end. He always thought her seraphic aura was part of her pristine facade. It annoyed him more now, after he had watched the night sky gravitate towards her, and realized it wasn't. Theo had looked like nothing more than a void of blackness next to her.

Draco took a long sip of his drink and chuckled at her kind attempt to speak with him. "Yes, and you're a fucking idiot." He shook his head, amused.

Dahlia was momentarily stunned that a man had spoken to her in such a manner. She then rolled her eyes and laughed. It reminded her of how the muggles would yell at her out their cars as her and Amelia ran through the city streets.

He didn't make to move inside but he was visibly pained by her presence. She grinned at his discomfort and chose to ignore him as she leaned back and listened to the stars gossip. She let a breathy sigh escape her, somehow knowing he would hate it.

Draco noted how curious it was that her hair seemed to almost glow in the midnight hours.

After a while, Dahlia and Juliet headed back to the castle. They whispered wildly. Juliet had been absolutely smitten with one of the Slytherin boys. Theo had introduced her to a quidditch player named Lucas. Dahlia smiled to herself, knowing that he had taken action based on their conversation.

Once back in the safety of her dorm, Dahlia immediately climbed into her bed. It was a relief to be back at Hogwarts. Her thoughts drifted to Theo, but she shoved them down. She didn't want to get her hopes up, and she wasn't sure if getting involved with him was the best idea. The way he looked at her, she had known it immediately — it wouldn't be a strictly physical involvement. It was the last thing Dahlia wanted, or deserved. Her eyes fluttered shut.

Dahlia soon found herself tossing between waking and dreaming as a new face emerged. It flashed rapidly. An iteration of Draco Malfoy's face fluttering through times as he turned to face her slowly. She jerked away, but the Fates blanketed her forcefully with soothing mumblings.

That night, she dreamed wildly and vividly for the first time. She sat in an elaborate garden of cream dahlias. She swam in a pond of starlight under a blooming willow tree, the shadow of a colossal structure in the distance. There were only sweet nothings on the wind here. She sighed as a loneliness found her. Her soul whispered that this place wasn't meant for only her.

Dahlia had been breathless when she woke in the morning, but all she could remember was the imprint of a gilded manor in her mind.