Sera wove through the chaos of Knockturn Alley with practiced grace. Her senses were on high alert. She was used to navigating spaces like these—loud, bustling, and full of eyes. Places that made her feel small but this time it was different.
Theo's presence beside her was a quiet anchor, but she refused to let it comfort her. She had asked him to come back to the Ministry with her, needing privacy for their discussion, yet even now, she questioned if she could really trust him. He walked with an infuriating calmness, hands tucked into his coat pockets, as though the world around him bowed to his rhythm.
They moved past Flourish and Blotts, where a trio of witches in pastel robes paused to stare. Their eyes flicked between Theo and Sera, curiosity mingled with something else, something sharper. Sera straightened her back, forcing herself to meet their gaze head-on, even though her stomach knotted with anxiety. Her entire life had been an uphill battle to claim space where she wasn't welcome, to mask the invisible cracks in her armor.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Theo murmured, a low rumble that vibrated in the space between them.
Sera let out a breath. "Yes fine. Just on edge a bit," she said. "Thank you for asking. Once I update you I'm sure it'll help."
He tilted his head, about to reply, when her boot caught on a loose stone. She stumbled forward, a small gasp escaping her lips. Before she could catch herself, Theo's hand shot out, grasping her arm and pulling her back upright. The warmth of his touch, the solid strength in the way he steadied her, sent a jolt of something dangerously close to desire coursing through her.
Sera's cheeks flushed as she found herself inches from him. His breath ghosted over her skin, and her heart thrummed wildly in her chest, betraying her usual control. Theo's eyes searched hers, unreadable, and she felt an unwelcome rush of heat that had nothing to do with embarrassment.
The moment fractured with a sudden, harsh flash of light. Sera flinched, stepping back instinctively. A photographer was lurking in the shadows, a wizard with a sneaky grin and a camera enchanted to make the bulbs never run out. He gave them a leering look, as if sensing a scandal in the making.
Theo didn't even flinch. Instead, he turned back to Sera, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a wry smile. "Looks like we're front page material now," he said, his voice dripping with dry humor. "Rita Skeeter's probably beside herself with joy."
Sera's fingers clenched around the strap of her satchel. "Great," she muttered, her voice cracking with frustration. The last thing she needed was more scrutiny, more eyes on her, digging for secrets. "Just what I wanted: to be plastered across the Prophet."
Theo's expression softened, and he surprised her by saying, "Let them write what they want. I want to be seen with you."
The simple statement hit her harder than it should have. For so long, she had carried the weight of not being wanted, of being an embarrassment to her family name, a secret to be hidden. Theo's words touched something raw inside her, and she hated how much they mattered. Hated how much she wished they could be true.
"Come on," she said, her voice tighter than before. "We need to get to the Ministry."
She pushed forward, forcing herself to keep moving, to lock away the unwanted emotions clawing at her heart.
In the dimly lit conference room deep within the Ministry of Magic, Sera paced back and forth, her every step punctuated by the click of her boots against the cold stone floor. The room was stuffy and silent, a space rarely used, its dusty corners giving off the faint scent of old parchment and spilled ink. Theo leaned against the heavy wooden table, his arms folded over his chest as he watched her with a mix of concern and curiosity. His eyes followed her, taking in every detail: the way she bit her bottom lip in thought, the restless energy radiating off her, the tension etched into her shoulders.
Sera stopped suddenly and spread a stack of parchments across the table. "I got a hold of some of the redacted information from the attacks on Squibs," she said, her voice low but urgent. She didn't sit down, too wired to be still. Her hands moved deftly over the documents, pointing out the key sections she had carefully highlighted. "It's… worse than I thought."
Theo straightened, his gaze narrowing. "What did you find?"
Sera looked at him, her eyes fierce but clouded with worry. "I think it's a group of die-hard Death Eaters—fanatics who never let go of their prejudices. They've been targeting Squibs as a way to reignite their old ideals and gather support. These attacks? They're not random. They're strategic. A campaign meant to sow fear and solidify their presence."
She paused, and the weight of her words settled heavily in the room. Theo's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
"I've started to see a pattern," she went on, shuffling through the papers and holding one up. "Here. Notice how the attacks on Squibs are concentrated in areas with a high population of magical families. And here." She pointed to another page. "Reports of random muggings on Muggle-borns—no deaths yet, but it's only a matter of time. They're testing the waters, building up to something worse."
Theo's eyes flicked over the documents, but his attention never wavered from her. "You think they'll escalate?" he asked, his voice steady, but she could sense the tension underlying it.
Sera nodded, her fingers pressing against the edge of the table. "I'm sure of it. They're starting small, targeting Muggle-borns with petty crimes, but if no one stops them, it'll get worse. The Squib attacks are just the beginning. Once they feel emboldened, they won't stop there."
A silence fell between them. Theo's face was unreadable, but she saw the flicker of something—anger, fear, or perhaps both—pass through his eyes. He was grappling with the implications, she could tell.
"I don't understand," Theo finally said, his voice softer. "Why hasn't the Ministry done more?"
Sera gave a bitter laugh, folding her arms protectively over her chest. "Because some people in power don't see the lives of Squibs or Muggle-borns as worth protecting. And those who do care… well, they're stonewalled at every turn. It's why I've been trying to reach Harry Potter for help, but he's—" She broke off, shaking her head in frustration. "He's too busy or too unreachable. And time isn't on our side."
Theo rubbed the back of his neck, clearly troubled. "You're right. If they're planning something, it's going to be chaos. And we both know how fast fear spreads."
Sera's eyes met his, searching his face for some sign of his true intentions. This was where trust became a fragile thing, easily shattered. "I need your help to…see if you hear anything in your circles." she said, her voice soft but firm.
Theo looked back at her, his usual guarded expression melting into something raw and conflicted. "You mean pure blood circles. You want me to spy on them?"
"Collect information. That's all." She paused, unsure of what his response would be.
"I'm here," he said, his voice carrying a gravity that made Sera's heart thud painfully in her chest. "Whatever it takes."
"Thank you, Theo. Truly. I appreciate it, you have no idea how much this means to me."
Theo's brow furrowed in concentration. "Of course. Anything to help…in fact, I think I know someone who can help us get through to Potter."
Her heart skipped a beat at the possibility. "Who?"
"Draco." Theo's voice was steady, but Sera could see the wheels turning in his mind. "He's been friendly with Potter since his marriage to Hermione. If anyone has a chance of getting Potter to listen, it's him."
Sera felt a rush of relief.
"And you're sure he'll help? I know Granger is muggle born but—"
"He will." Theo cut her off, his voice firm. "Draco's changed. He's not the same person he was back in school. If he sees the threat you're warning us about, he'll want to help. Trust me."
"Okay. I trust your judgment," she said.
"I'll talk to Draco. I'll make sure he understands the urgency of the situation." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I'll let him know that if he doesn't act, the consequences could be dire—not just for Squibs and Muggle-borns, but for everyone who doesn't fit into their narrow definition of worth…and that now includes his wife."
Sera felt a swell of gratitude toward Theo, a warmth that spread through her despite the tension still crackling between them. "Thank you, Theo," she said quietly. "For wanting to help."
"Don't thank me yet," he replied, a hint of wry humor returning to his voice. "This is just the beginning. We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
Sera's mind raced with thoughts of the dangers lurking in the shadows and the allies she never thought she'd need. She felt Theo's presence at her side, a comforting weight, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to entertain the notion that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't have to face this battle alone.
"Let's go," she said, steeling herself for the challenges ahead. "We need to act fast."
With a determined nod, Theo fell into step beside her, their fates intertwined in a world that had never fully accepted either of them. They would fight together, and for once, Sera felt the stirrings of something akin to hope blooming in her chest.