"Are we all ready?" Regulus asked, his voice steady as he adjusted an earpiece.
"I think so," Mia replied, her nerves tingling with anticipation.
"Everything is going to be fine," Enzo's voice reassured them through the earpiece. "Magnus and I are ready."
With just a week remaining until the third task of the Tournament, Mia had hatched a plan with her godfather, Regulus, and her friends. They were going back to Azkaban to figure out how to help Barty, and they were determined not to leave anyone behind this time.
"Let's go over the plan," Regulus said, his gaze fixed on his goddaughter and her friends. "I'll fly with Mia on Vhagar, and Jace and Theo will follow us."
Mia, Theo, and Jace exchanged nods as they climbed onto their dragons, gripping the reins tightly.
"Eloise, Isabelle, and Thoros are each in a Teseo Tesei patrol boat," Regulus continued. "They'll provide tactical and rescue support in case anyone, Salazar forbid, ends up in the water."
"Understood," came the voices of Thoros, Isabelle, and Eloise through their earpieces.
"Meanwhile, Magnus and Lorenzo will stay by the rocks," Regulus said, "in case we need an emergency evacuation and to maintain a global view of the situation."
Magnus and Lorenzo acknowledged their positions.
"Perfect," Regulus concluded, mounting Vhagar and standing behind Mia. "I remind you all that this is a reconnaissance mission. No one knows we're here, so let's not draw too much attention. In a matter of seconds, we could have the entire Auror Department on our tails."
With a shout of "SŌVĒS!" the dragons took flight, cautiously approaching Azkaban.
"Princess, don't take a dip this time," Jace's voice teased Mia through the earpiece.
"If I fall, you'll come after me," Mia retorted with a chuckle.
"That's always the case, princess," Jace replied playfully. "Do you prefer me with or without a shirt?"
"Whatever you prefer, Romeo," Mia said dramatically.
"Guys, stop fooling around and concentrate," Theo chided them.
"TEDDY, SHUT UP!" Mia and Jace yelled in unison through their headphones.
But their playful banter was cut short when Enzo's voice came through urgently. "Guys, the Dementors have just spotted you, and there are four of them closing in."
Four Dementors were closing in on the Targaryen dragons at an alarming pace. Regulus swiftly drew his wand.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
An eagle erupted from Regulus's wand, flying toward the Dementors and temporarily driving them back.
"DRACARYS!" Theo shouted, causing two Dementors that had come close to him to retreat.
Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar followed their riders' orders, flying over Azkaban, carefully studying the topography as they considered how to sneak Barty inside.
"Guys, Enzo said in an alarmed voice, about twenty more Dementors just emerged from Azkaban. Where the hell did they all come from?"
Mia, Jace, and Theo looked up and indeed saw twenty Dementors surrounding them, closing in. They swiftly drew their wands and cried out in unison.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
But something astonishing happened instead. Instead of three separate Patronuses, a single massive direwolf began to take shape in the sky, towering at least three meters tall. The silver light of the Patronus momentarily blinded Theo, Jace, Regulus, and Mia. The Dementors shrieked in agony and fled.
"What the hell was that?" Theo's voice asked in shock.
"I don't know," Mia replied, her voice filled with awe.
"That was amazing!" Jace exclaimed. "I don't care what it was. It was spectacular."
"That, darlings," came Magnus's playful voice, "was Fenrir. Your Patronuses have merged to create Loki's son."
"Guys, we're leaving," Regulus announced. "We're done here."
The Targaryen dragons quickly changed course, landing softly near where the rest of the team was waiting.
"What's the plan now?" Isabelle asked.
"We can partially breach the south corner," Mia explained, "and sneak Barty in through there."
"Is he going in alone?" Magnus inquired.
"Yes," Regulus replied firmly. "This is something important to Barty. We'll provide him with support and ensure he makes it out of Azkaban alive. I won't let him die there. Evan wouldn't have wanted that."
Draco had become the school's outcast ever since word had spread about his attempt to 'murder' Harry's sister's best friend. Even though his friends still spent time with him, the atmosphere was no longer the same. Awkward silences hung in the air, and they often struggled to find things to talk about.
Being a Slytherin and a Malfoy didn't help his situation. Slytherin house was notorious for producing pureblood dark wizards, and Draco felt the weight of that reputation. Many students looked at him with fear and disgust, their judgment evident in their eyes.
When Draco had seen Jace lying on the floor, bleeding and near death, he had never intended for that to happen. The voice inside him that sounded eerily like Harry taunted him, That's what you get for using a spell you don't know. He had been blinded by jealousy and humiliation, never thinking twice before casting the curse.
Draco had crossed paths with Theo and Jace a few times in the hallways of Hogwarts, but they never discussed the incident. Theo would shoot him disgusted glares, and Jace would visibly tense up, trying to avoid eye contact. However, Draco had yet to encounter Mia. According to Harry, Mia preferred to be outdoors near the Black Lake, which essentially meant that Mia wanted nothing to do with Draco.
One day, Draco was walking down the hallway when he spotted Mia on the other side. He froze in his tracks, unsure of what to do. As soon as Mia noticed Draco in the same hallway, she attempted to change her course and avoid him.
"MIA, WAIT!" Draco shouted, desperation evident in his voice.
Mia quickened her pace, determined to distance herself from him.
"Mia, please," Draco implored, taking her arm gently.
"Don't touch me, Malfoy," Mia spat, her glare piercing.
"Okay," Draco conceded, raising his hands in a placating manner. "But please, just listen to me for a moment."
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say," Mia retorted sharply.
"Mia, I'm sorry, okay?" Draco's voice quivered with desperation. "I'm really, truly sorry."
"It's not me you have to apologize to," Mia replied curtly.
"I've already spoken to Harry," Draco offered in explanation.
"I'm not talking about my brother," Mia said with a hint of annoyance.
"Then who are you refering to?" Draco inquired, genuinely puzzled.
"Jace," Mia replied scathingly. "You should apologize to Jace."
"Why should I care about him?" Draco asked.
"Because I care about him," Mia said with fierce determination. "Morning, noon, and night, I care about him. And if you hurt him, you hurt me. Jace is who I want. That's where my loyalty lies. That's who my priority is."
"Not your family? Not your brother?" Draco challenged.
"Don't you dare bring my family or my brother into this," Mia hissed, her anger palpable and her voice carrying through the corridor, attracting the attention of passing students.
The students leaving their classes had heard the heated exchange between Draco and Mia echoing through the hallway. As the commotion escalated, a crowd began to gather around them, forming an impromptu circle.
"Because of you, my family is divided!" Draco's voice resounded.
"Because of me?" Mia shot back, her voice filled with disbelief. "This is not my fault!"
"I don't even know why even mentioned your family, considering you hardly spend time with them," Draco shouted.
"You don't know anything about me, Malfoy!" Mia retorted, her anger palpable.
"Tell me a time you've spent with James and Lily, or even Sirius, other than this year," Draco challenged, his voice rising.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Mia shouted, her face flushed with anger.
"Why don't you go back to Durmstrang with your perfect fucking family and leave us all alone?" Draco yelled at her.
"Believe me, that's what I want the most, but I'm here for Viktor and my brother," Mia declared firmly.
"Harry and I were fine before you showed up," Draco shouted, bitterness seeping into his words. "Since you showed up, all you've brought is trouble."
"Shut up, or I swear I'm going to break your face!" Mia threatened, taking a step closer.
"By the way," Draco taunted mockingly, eyeing Mia with a cruel smile, "does Jace know that you're in love with him, or have you said 'just friends' so many times that he finally bought it?"
"Don't you dare bring Jace into this!" Mia yelled furiously.
"What's the matter?" Draco jeered, laughing cruelly. "Are you too embarrassed to admit it? Mia Borghese has a crush on her best friend"
Before he could finish his sentence, Draco felt a powerful punch connect with his jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. Mia, fueled by anger and insult, was on top of him, delivering blow after blow.
"I knew it," Draco whispered with a cruel smile.
Suddenly, Theo intervened, grabbing Mia by the waist and forcefully pulling her away from Draco. Harry stepped in to help Draco to his feet.
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, MALFOY!" Mia roared, still struggling against Theo's strong grip.
"THE SHOW IS OVER!" Theo bellowed at the onlookers, attempting to disperse the crowd. "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!"
Theo had been at the library momentarily, picking up a book Magnus has told him, when he had noticed a stream of students heading toward the hallway where the yelling had erupted. He followed the commotion, his concern growing as he recognized Mia's voice. He pushed through the gathering crowd, arriving at the scene just as Mia was on the verge of attacking Draco.
Theo had acted swiftly, using all his strength to restrain Mia and keep her from escaping his grasp. He whispered urgently in her ear, "Mia, please calm down."
But Mia was too consumed by rage to heed Theo's words. She continued to hurl threats and insults at Draco.
"HARRY, TAKE HIM OUT OF HERE!" Theo shouted to Harry, who was still by Draco's side.
Harry nodded and grabbed Draco's arm, attempting to pull him away from the volatile situation as Draco and Mia continued their heated exchange. Slowly, the students began to disperse, leaving behind a tense and uneasy atmosphere in the hallway.
"Are you going to tell me what that was all about?" Theo asked Mia when they were finally alone.
Mia hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "I... I..." She began but couldn't continue.
"You like him," Theo said abruptly.
"Malfoy?" Mia asked incredulously.
"No," Theo replied softly, "Jace. You like Jace."
Mia fell into a heavy silence, unable to respond.
"I don't know what happened when you were in a coma," Theo continued carefully, "but something happened because you've been acting strangely."
"What do you mean, Teddy?" Mia asked, hugging herself tightly.
"That you're in love with Jace or you're starting to fall in love with him," Theo said gently, trying not to alarm Mia.
"What are you saying, Teddy?" Mia scoffed, her expression defensive. "Jace and I are just friends."
"Who are you trying to convince: you or me?" Theo asked knowingly.
"We're just friends," Mia insisted, although deep down, she was trying to convince herself that her feelings for Jace were nothing more than friendship.
"It's not true," Theo asserted, moving closer to Mia. "And you know it. You look at Jace differently, you're more aware of him, and you think no one has noticed, but I have."
"It's impossible," Mia protested weakly, her eyes welling up with tears. "And you know it. You know why"
Theo's heart ached as he saw the fear in Mia's eyes. He had never seen her so vulnerable. She looked as if she might bolt at any moment. Wrapping his arms around her, Theo held her tightly as Mia began to sob. He held her close and whispered comforting words in her ear.
"You're okay," Theo reassured her, his voice gentle. "You're okay."
Theo didn't know what else to do but hold her. He held her just like he had countless times before, placing small kisses on the top of her head. At that moment, Theo remembered a conversation he had had with Mia not too long ago, and he inwardly cursed himself. Mia was facing something she had never faced before – the fear of loving someone and being rejected.
"I've got you," Theo told her as Mia continued to cry, "I won't let you go."
Mia had once told Theo that she and Jace would have been infinite in another life. What if it wasn't in another life but in this one? Mia and Jace. Jace and Mia. It was as true as the sky was blue. They were written in the stars. They were infinite. They could slow it down, but they couldn't stop it. They were beginning and ending. It was inevitable.
In that hallway, as Mia cried into his chest, Theo made a silent promise to himself. He would do whatever it took to bring his two friends together.
Jace was sitting on a secluded spot on the grotto, writing a song with his guitar. His dragon, Meraxes, was his audience, observing him curiously while Balerion and Vhagar slept nearby.
"Do you think she'll like it?" Jace asked his dragon as he strummed a few chords on his guitar.
Meraxes growled softly, as if to convey her approval.
"We were both young when I first saw you," Jace sang, his fingers dancing on the guitar strings. "I close my eyes and the flashbacks start, you're standing there on a balcony in the summer air."
"See the lights, See the party, the ballgowns," Jace continued, "See you make your way through the crowd and say: 'hello'"
Jace set the guitar down for a moment, jotting down some lyrics in his notebook. Then, he picked up the guitar again and resumed singing, "Little did I know that you were Juliet, I was throwing pebbles... What do you think, Meraxes? It's kind of like our story, mine and Mia's."
Meraxes grunted in what seemed like approval, and Jace chuckled.
"I didn't know you played the guitar," Mia's voice suddenly interrupted.
Jace looked up, and there was Mia, standing in front of him. Blushing, he stammered, "I'm trying to impress a girl."
"Little JayJay has a crush?" Mia teased playfully.
"No... well, yes," Jace admitted, his cheeks reddening. "This girl is special."
"Are you writing a song for her?" Mia inquired curiously.
"Yes," Jace replied. "Would you mind... would you mind singing it with me? I need another opinion apart from Meraxes'."
"Sure," Mia agreed with a smile. "I'd love to help."
Jace resumed playing, and the two friends sang together softly:
"We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I'm standing there on a balcony in summer air"
"See the lights, see the party, the ballgowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say: "hello""
Jace then motioned for Mia to take the lead, and she began singing:
"Little did I know
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, "please, don't go""
As Mia sang, she felt her eyes filling with tears as she read the lyrics, and it felt as though her heart had been stabbed.
"And I said
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all that's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby just say yes"
Jace smiled at Mia while she sang, not realizing that his best friend was crying.
"Do you like it?" Jace asked eagerly. "Do you think... Do you think she'll like it?"
Mia, her voice trembling, replied, "She'll love it. The lyrics are beautiful."
Jace blushed, and his heart swelled with hope. "Do you really believe that?"
"That girl must be very special," Mia said with a broken voice.
Jace nodded, not fully grasping the depth of Mia's emotions at that moment.
"I... I have to go," Mia suddenly said, standing up abruptly.
"Why?" Jace asked, looking puzzled. "Are you... are you crying?"
But Mia had already taken off running, trying her best to hold back her tears. Jace scrambled to his feet, wanting to follow her.
"MIA!"
As Mia disappeared from his sight, Jace couldn't help but scream in frustration, "FUCK!"
