Weeks had passed since Draco had left the textbook on Dahlia's bed. She couldn't figure out just how he had left the book for her. Eloise and Juliet swore they had nothing to do with it, scoffing at the idea they would allow him to enter their dormitory.

She had revealed everything — Draco's Dark Mark, his comment about her father, and lastly her date with Theo in the restricted section of the library. They praised her for attempting to distance herself from both Slytherins, but she couldn't help her thoughts. She glanced at Theo constantly in her classes. She became more socially involved, desperate to hear any gossip about him. Amelia was growing tired of the persistent topic.

"Don't let him crawl under your skin, Dahlia. You can do much better," Amelia had told her.

It was too late though. He had burrowed beneath her bones and weighed her down into his ocean of uncertainty. She didn't write in the journal he had given her, but she did draw. She drew how she might imagine their planets colliding and the stars she wanted to alight in his darkness.

His sweet nothing reverberated upon the page. He could be better. For her.

When his eyes found her in a crowded room, it echoed. He might change. For her.

Juliet often had to distract her, shaking away her daydreams and pulling her out of bed. She even tried to divert her attention with different boys whom she convinced to slip Dahlia notes in the passing hallways and quiet classrooms. They waited at midnight, but she never showed.

Dahlia didn't want distractions. She was more content with the notion of missing someone she had never really known. She only let Juliet continue the charade as she liked the way Theo's jaw ticked when he observed the notes being passed in class. She liked the hopefulness in his eyes as she would read it, fold it and then continue to doodle in her enchanted journal he had stolen for her instead of responding. Satisfaction touched his lips as he watched her tiny drawings emerge in his own journal.

It was the more romantic conclusion to these written and folded, hushed happenings. Draco would sometimes reach for the note as it passed him, annoyed it had dared to enter his personal space. He took it from the air and blew a fire charm, setting the parchment aflame. He often gave her a disgusted look as he watched it burn. He was steadfast in his attempt to keep her suffering. She never indulged him too much — terrified he would spill her secret.

She knew she needed to talk to Draco eventually, but not before she had the chance to find her own answers to get the upper hand. Both her and Eloise had poured over the cryptic book. It was written as a chronicle of the Moirai line of seers and their prophecies dating back to the ancient Fates themselves. It listed a brief summary of each oracle and their respective prophecies. As the lineage went on, the knowledge became more limited. The book seemed to have been written over ninety years ago, leaving the rest of the family tree a mystery.

Did Draco think she was descended from the Fates? Her own mother and grandmother had never shared factual, detailed information about her lineage before passing on, so how did Draco know? He must have assumed she knew everything — which couldn't have been farther from the truth.

She was sure it had been left as a gentle threat. But another scenario played out in here mind — that Draco had left this book to give her some sort of clue to help him, or herself. But why would he want to help her or vice versa? Regardless, he had left the book to make it known that he knew what she was. That, combined with the knowledge of his Dark Mark, was a warning.

And the warning had been well received. Dahlia had tried to set friendly boundaries with Theo and was ignoring Draco as much as she could, even though he enjoyed tormenting her. They were still seated next to each other in potions and she did manage to spill ink on his notes and move his ingredients around from time to time. She would apologize as if it was an accident. She reveled in her ability to annoy him so thoroughly. The dirty looks he reserved only for her satisfied Dahlia to no end. He would sigh and mumble that she was a curse and a thorn in his side. Pansy and Theo would watch them carefully as if chaperoning.

She spent most her nights in the Astronomy Tower, looking to test her abilities. She charted the stars and the planets, looking for clues of the future. She had even stolen enchanted string from Professor Trelawney and attempted to read destinies in-between the threads. She would write small predictions for the next day and see if they came true. She had become quite good at predicting quidditch game outcomes and sensing emotions from others. She had gotten a much better grip on silencing nature's premonitions the more she practiced.

On this clear night in particular, she let her legs dangle over the ledge of the Astronomy Tower. She leaned against the cold iron railing, most at peace when she was this much closer to the heavens. She tuned into the stars to listen to their lullabies, something she rarely allowed of herself.

She had just read, deep in the pages of the textbook Draco had given her, of oracles using animal bones and crystals to enhance their abilities, but details were limited. She had planned to talk to Professor Trelawney first thing in the morning to see if she could somehow leverage this information for herself.

It was nearly two in the morning when her journal from Theo briefly glowed. She carried the journal with her everywhere. He had kept a healthy distance as he only talked to her in class or in passing at parties, which she rarely ever bothered to attend anymore, but he would occasionally write to her.

He must tire of my senseless drawings, she thought. She sighed and opened her journal and read his latest note.

Dahlia,

I don't think you're paying mind to these messages but I must tell you, I dreamt about you again. I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week. This time we were at a beach. It appeared to be snowing though, and your hair was the most magnificent shade of white. It looked as if the stars rained down on you. I wished upon them to hold you again.

Yours unrequited,

Theodore Nott

She laid back on the creaking wooden floor of the Astronomy Tower. She thought about how marvelous it would be if he was here with her now. She had prayed that he would be in her dreams every night to no avail. The Fates wouldn't grant her one wish. She often fell asleep clutching her enchanted journal. If she couldn't have his heart, his disappearing words would have to do.

Hopefully Professor Trelawney could help her. If she could find a way to enhance her Sight, she would surely trigger a vision sooner than later, and she wanted to help Theo as soon as possible. The more time she spent around him, the more she saw the goodness in his heart. It seemed he had settled for this lovesick, distant, yet close friendship.

She knew she shouldn't, but she was growing to trust him. She often daydreamed of telling him the truth. She would confess what she was and he would pull her close and vow to keep her safe. He would spend his summers and holidays with her, instead of Draco, away from the Dark Lord's grasp. With his Death Eater of a father in Azkaban, he could start to heal and build something new — with her. He could be better, he had whispered it as a promise. His hot breath had sealed it into her skin. She couldn't stop herself as hope took hold of her heart. She wrote back to him for the first time in a few weeks. It was the most ridiculous thing she had ever thought:

Theo,

I've read all of your messages. No one else will do. I prayed you'd come to my dreams every night. If the stars and the snow fall upon me, then the sun and the salt air kneel before you. I whisper to the summer wind to carry me back to your arms.

With adoration,

Dahlia

The words faded as he read them. The only thing that appeared on the page were the marks of a pen as if he struggled to string together a response. Her smile faded overtime as the blankness of the page persisted. The stars confirmed his mind now drifted peacefully in a dreamstate, and he had given up.

————————————

"Slow down!" Professor Flitwick called in exasperation as Dahlia's sapphire robes billowed down the hall behind her. She practically sprinted to the Divination classroom.

"Sorry, professor!" She called back over her shoulder, maintaining her urgent pace. She flew past the courtyard that was filled with pumpkins for All Hallows' Eve later in the month. She had limited time to speak to Professor Trelawney before her first class of the day.

She arrived at the top of the tower, breathless. The long, rope ladder appeared before her. "For fuck's sake," she murmured to herself as she mustered the strength to climb. She was already winded enough.

A group of third-year girls giggled as they overheard her curse. They whispered emphatically about how she had just swore with their mouths agape. Dahlia shook her head; she had done much worse than that. They began discussing if maybe they should start dating Slytherins. Dahlia rolled her eyes. She began climbing as fast as she could away from the group of girls.

She reached the top, and finally entered the Divination classroom.

"Dahlia Aldair! What a pleasant surprise!" Professor Trelawney cooed with her back turned. She hadn't even glanced at who had crept up the stairs. "How can I help my star student?"

"Professor, may I ask you about something?" Dahlia was out of breath from climbing the ladder. Her health had been deteriorating lately as she pushed her power further.

"Yes, my Spring Child. What can I do for you?" She smiled.

Dahlia knit her brows together, mildly confused. Her birthday was in February.

"You are a flower in bloom, are you not?" She answered lightly as she sensed Dahlia's perplexity. She chose to ignore her ominous comment. It must have been clear to her that she was on the cusp of her power.

Dahlia smiled brightly. "Professor, I've been doing some research for a thesis I'm writing for my Magical Artifacts class. Do you know anything about seers and how they might enhance their Sight? I read they would use stones and different bones but I couldn't quite figure out how."

The professor stilled, then turned to face her. She delivered a curious look as she read between the lines. She clearly knew Dahlia was asking for her own gain.

"This is crucial for my paper," Dahlia reiterated. She was determined to get answers. Luckily, the professor indulged her question.

"It's only rumors, but it seems that certain seers with less diluted lineage can use elements from the earth to strengthen their powers. For instance, it is said that if the bones of an animal are fused with their own, they could not only see death, but they could have a hand in controlling it. Some oracles were said to have ground up particular crystals that called to them. They would melt them into their own skin so they could see multiple outcomes of one's life. They could predict multiple paths forward and see many lives." She finished with a grave expression.

"Would you happen to have any books on this, professor?" She inquired hopefully. It was a long shot, but it was worth a try.

Trelawney hesitated as if an awful realization was dawning on her. She then quickly moved to open the top drawer of her elaborately carved desk. She pulled out a small book from the obsidian drawer. "I've been waiting for you to come to me. It's as if the Goddess of Night herself has guided me to give you what you seek," she spoke solemnly — almost pushed to tears at the divine happening unfolding before her.

Dahlia didn't feel frightened or even confused, only somewhat awkward. She knew her professor had always been privy to her secret, and her heart knew this was the way forward. She took the book and opened it. Inside was a detailed list and illustrations of different crystals and where to find them. Her professor had earmarked a page that detailed a cave somewhat near the grounds. It was a sacred site, both a portal of worlds and a graveyard of prophecies where a multitude of crystals were rumored to be found. Dahlia felt her stomach flip with excitement. This was it. This is how she could amplify her Sight.

"Thank you, professor!" She exclaimed with excitement. She snapped the book closed and quickly shuffled out of the classroom. She was ready to throw caution to the wind, overlooking the magnitude of her professor's speech.

"Child, wait!" She called after her.

Dahlia had to force herself to halt and turn back out of her annoying habit of politeness. Her professor was weary, wearing a falling smile. "I fear your path may be misleading you. Don't be deceived by your own divinations."

Dahlia nodded quickly. She was so thrilled to have found answers that she ignored her somber warning. Instead, she left the classroom giddy. She walked through the halls with her head in the book as she grinned wildly. The cave appeared to be too dangerous to hike to from Hogwarts. She would need to fly, but she had never really learned to ride a broom well. Luckily, she knew someone who happened to be very good on a broom and already knew she was a seer. It was time to find Malfoy.

————————————

Her first block that day, either by consequence or fate, was Advanced Potions.

She sat down at her station in much better spirits than usual. She noticed Theo walk into the classroom. She gave him an enchanting smile and motioned for him to come to her. He headed over, accepting her invitation for closer proximity.

"You look exceptionally beautiful today," he admired, leaning back against her desk with a relaxed, tempting smile. She crossed one leg over the other as she remembered what he had done the last time he had looked at her with an expression that wasn't meant for only friendship.

She could hardly contain her hopefulness and elation. She was going to find a crystal and use it to magnify her power. She would finally be able to tell him everything, including a foretold path for them, where he, they, could be safe from darkness. She no longer wanted to keep her distance. She had thought about their night together nearly every moment of every day.

"You look quite handsome yourself," she replied.

It was like a shattered mirror mended itself within his eyes. It made her own heart so delighted that she pulled him closer by his tie and kissed him. It was a soft kiss that willed the universe to write their happy ending. It revived their shared belief that everything between them would be more than fine. She pulled away and smiled up at him.

He was enraptured by her. He always had been, and alway would be. A cocky smile danced onto his face as he was quite pleased that she had kissed him so publicly. He was about to ask her to ditch this class — ditch this whole fucking life.

Dahlia jumped when she heard a textbook violently land on the desk next to her. "Class is about to start, mate." Draco gave Theo a harsh glare as he sat down next to Dahlia.

"Don't be a stranger," Theo murmured into her ear. He strolled to his own station, standing taller, after placing a kiss on her temple.

She looked over to Draco. His sneer seemed to be more permanent today. Dahlia needed to talk to him as soon as possible, but in private. She couldn't risk anyone overhearing her plan. They weren't on friendly terms, but they also weren't becoming progressively more violent with each other either. To her, this was a good sign that he would agree to her ridiculous request.

Class officially started as Slughorn gave them their assignments for the day. Everyone began prepping their brews. She watched Draco head over to Theo before starting his own assignment. Dahlia knew the potion they were brewing would require salamander blood, so she quickly grabbed it off the shelf and headed back into the storage closet. She masked herself in invisibility and patiently waited as she inspected her manicure. Like falling dominoes, Draco soon walked into the small stone closet in search of extra salamander blood.

"Colloportus," she whispered.

The door locked. She removed her invisibility charm as she fumbled to find the chain of the light in the darkness.

Draco shook the lock briefly before sensing he wasn't alone. He heard her breathy mumbles as she struggled to illuminate the closet and slowly turned. She finally pulled the chain and a soft glow filled the cramped space. He rolled his eyes when he finally brought his attention to Dahlia. He placed his hands on his hips and hung his head. He snorted in disbelief. The one person who he was desperately trying to avoid had locked him inside a closet with her. A wretched panic rose, suddenly concerned about what he might do with her in close, dark quarters.

"Aldair, you must be pretty fucking dense to lock yourself in a closet with a Death Eater," he scoffed.

Now that she had him to herself, Dahlia wasn't sure what to say, or ask first. She rolled her wand between her fingers nervously. He raised his brows at her as if annoyed that she was at a loss for words.

"I needed to talk to you," she mumbled quietly. "Alone." She waved her hands around as to explain their current surroundings.

"I don't particularly care for what you need," he hissed dismissively. He tilted his head. "Unless Theodore can't fulfill them, then by all means..." He mocked, holding his hands out in front of his chest that was far too close to her own.

She shared a disgusted look and tried to suppress her blush. The pit of hate within her was endless, but he was quite handsome. She couldn't afford to engage in his banter, but she couldn't resist. "I am quite fulfilled, Draco, and-"

He interrupted, stepping forward so their chests might touch. "Say my name again," he smirked. He had waited weeks to hear it roll off her tongue once more, but he knew he might have waited ages.

"You disgust me," she retorted. She dramatically narrowed her eyes.

"Say it," he ordered, like it was a punishment.

Dahlia wasn't sure what his motive was. She'd bet it was to throw her off her game. There was clear contempt in his voice.

"I need your help…Draco." She would throw him this crumb if it meant she could get what she wanted from him.

He leaned back against the door and placed his hands in his pocket. "Why would you think in that pretty head of yours that I would help you, seer?"

A thrill of desire or disgust drifted down her spine. She wouldn't let him shame her for the gift that flowed through her veins. She could one day be his reckoning, if she so wished it once she had a crystal of her own. She didn't have time to play his games anymore. She had to keep this short and ask questions later. She couldn't get caught locked in a closet with Draco, especially with Theo so close by.

She stepped closer. "I need you to take me to a cave southeast of the castle grounds to help me find something to harness my visions. I can't fly that far."

Draco clenched his jaw, unspeaking. His irritation seemed to reach an ultimate high as she neared into his personal space, pressing her chest into him.

She touched his forearm. "Help me, so I can help you," she said softly, as sweet as summer. She looked up into his eyes, forcing hers to sparkle for him. She was hoping whatever type of moment she was contriving was working on him.

He grabbed her arm harshly and removed it from his. He held her wrist firm. "Do you have a death wish? You're asking me to take you a road trip to the remote woods? Alone?" His tone was incredulous, bordering insulting.

"If you wanted to hurt me, you would have done it."

He kept a strong grip on her as to insinuate that she couldn't so easily control him. "You don't think I'm capable of hurting you, Dahlia?" He leaned closer to her ear. "You don't know what I might be capable of," he whispered.

Her mind went blank. She wasn't sure why her pulse had quickened.

Was she afraid? Did she like this?

Regardless, he forced her hand. She revealed more of her plan. "I can't ask Theo," she revealed with exasperation. She removed her arm from his grip and shook it out as if he had hurt her.

"I haven't told him what I am, and he cares too much. The spell is risky. He wouldn't allow it. I also know whatever you are doing and the reason behind your mark is putting stress on you. Rumors spread. I could help you too." There was desperation in her voice.

Draco thought for a moment. Maybe he could use her to see how the vanishing cabinet could be mended. He didn't even know where to start with the piece of junk. He quickly regarded the other end of his concern — his father, who was in prison for now and wouldn't be around to follow up on his progress with Dahlia. They would be traveling away from the castle and gossiping mouths, as well. Worst-case scenario, after the cabinet was mended, he could have Dahlia obliviate herself from his memory and they would be safe from any Legilimens.

"Alright, but we go on my terms," he said firmly.

She smiled like he had just told her a delicious secret.

"We go this Saturday. Early. I won't waste more than a day on this. Meet me at the boathouse before sunrise."

"We'll be back before dinner," she promised with a smile.

He ran his hands through his hair like he couldn't believe what he had just agreed to do.

"Now let me out of this fucking closet," he hissed.

She threw him the salamander blood as a token of her gratitude. She disillusioned herself and unlocked the door. Draco stormed out. She waited patiently for a few moments as to not raise suspicions.

Across the classroom, Theo sat unsettled. It was all too quiet. The bickering of Dahlia and Malfoy had become the gentle background noise of the class. He looked up from his cauldron and spied Draco exiting the ingredient closet, but Dahlia was nowhere to be found.

————————————

Theodore sat in the Slytherin common room after quidditch practice that night. He stood from his chair and banged his fist against the table as he played wizard chess with Blaise. One of his pieces on the board had just been brutally slaughtered.

"That's not fair, mate!" He proclaimed as Blaise earned his victory. Theo sat down and dug out his wallet from his pocket. He threw a small bag of amethyst powder across the table.

"Dahlia wouldn't want me snorting this shit anyway," he happily admitted in defeat.

He had been leaning heavily into Xavier's supply of narcotics as of late, but now that Dahlia had kissed him, he found that his world had righted itself. He would quit everything he possibly could to be someone worthy of her life. People had been whispering for weeks that they were secretly together, assuming Dahlia had been too resistant to tarnish her image by dating him more publicly. While his last name held pureblood legacy with the fortune to back it, his family history was written in blood. The Nott men had all carried an air of arrogance, incivility and disrespect.

However, he was the captain of the quidditch team and had outstanding grades. He felt an image rehabilitation was within his means. And if it turned out that he had been born awful, at least he now had Dahlia. It wouldn't matter what they whispered if she could love him.

Blaise took the bag and placed it in his pocket. "So it's true? I've heard from nearly everyone that you two are officially dating. The second-year girls in study hall wouldn't shut the fuck up about it."

Theo grinned as he lit a cigarette between his lips.

One more couldn't hurt , he thought. He would stop tomorrow.

"I don't know what changed. She wrote me back last night and then kissed me in class, not that I'm complaining about it." He blew out smoke in the direction of a pair of first-years studying at a table next to them. Annoying children was his favorite pastime.

"We should hang out together since Amelia and Dahlia are so close. I'm sure Amelia would love that," Blaise replied as he spotted his girlfriend entering the common room.

Amelia slung her arms around Blaise's shoulders and kissed his cheek. "I would love what?" She smiled curiously.

"I was just mentioning that we should hang out with Dahlia and Theo now that they are dating," he answered with a smirk. He placed his hand on her arm affectionately. Her raven hair always shined most spectacularly in the aquatic hue of the Black Lake.

She looked at Theo with an ill-omened expression. "Ah, I heard. Beware though, my precious princess Theo. Dahlia's romantics are wildly exhausting on most men."

She turned back to Blaise and answered, "and I absolutely love that idea!"

"Most men?" Theo questioned as he removed the cigarette from his lips. He had been too terrified to ever approach Amelia on the topic of Dahlia's previous love life. He was grateful that she had brought it up, and only slightly murderous.

"You wouldn't know them," she giggled lowly.

She noted that he didn't share her laugh, and then added in a more serious tone, "don't worry, she's absolutely smitten with you, Nott. In fact, I think you should finally stop being so stingy and give her jewels instead of dusty journals." She shrugged and held up her own adorned hand. She would run Blaise's inheritance dry if he wasn't careful.

Theo rolled his eyes and scoffed at her. He stood up and blew out smoke.

"As you wish," he mused lightly.

He burnt out his cigarette and began heading towards the owlery to send a note to his house elf. He would have him send a few sparkling things for her. He skipped up the steps, taking them two at a time. The slithering door of the common room was closing behind him when he heard Draco call his name from the far end of the dungeon. He heard him approaching as his shoes met the damp floor.

"What do you want?" He sighed as Draco strode towards him in the near darkness. Only a few flames lit the dungeons in the evenings.

Draco had been livid in class after Dahlia had kissed him. He wasn't sure why Draco cared so much since he didn't seem to want to pay his father's request any mind. He wondered what Dahlia mattered to Draco anyway. Their friends had to supervise them like children, afraid they would pull each other's hair out if left alone. Theo hadn't been able to decipher the root of their hatred, afraid to look at it too closely.

Theo rolled his eyes at Draco's dramatics. He was puffed like a peacock.

"If you fuck this up. If you get her fucking killed, I will make sure you join your cursed mother in hell by the worst means possible," he remarked venomously. His voice was low to avoid any listening ears.

"What are you fucking talking about?" Theo bristled, stepping back casually. "Is it that intolerable to imagine that I might be less miserable than you?" Theo countered.

He rolled his eyes for the second time. Draco would never allow him to have something better than what he had.

Draco paused, calming himself. "The Dark Lord will have her, and that will be on your hands," he whispered. Then he was gone, slipping into the shadows like a phantom.

————————————

In a cozier atmosphere within the castle, Dahlia sang along to one of her favorite songs. She was lying in bed doing some homework when she had the most wonderful idea. She grabbed her enchanted journal and wrote to Theo in an instant.

Theodore,

If you would be so kind, please accompany me to Hogsmeade this Friday evening. I desperately want to get away from the castle.

Yours,

Dahlia

She adored writing to each other as if they were romantic letters. Juliet smiled at her as she noticed her love-struck grin from across the room. Eloise shook her head as she thought Dahlia was being too impulsive. Everyone had asked her today if she was officially dating Theo. It gave her the romantic notion that he might take her out on a real date with their Hogsmeade weekend coming up soon.

It comforted her to see how quickly she received his response. She read it in a flash:

My Dahlia,

I would be delighted to steal you away from the castle this Friday. Let's talk, or not talk, soon.

Only Yours,

Theodore Nott