Jacob Ladegaard:
Her
Emotions
Petrichor
Sebastian
He stared at the back of her head. Her hair resembled silk spun from cinnamon, and he craved to feel its softness. He towered over her as they ascended the stairs, close enough to inhale her scent—a fragrance that felt like home. It reminded him of weekends from his childhood when his late mother would pour herself a glass of wine with dinner—the sweet essence of merlot blended with a hint of vanilla, the type that was used for pastries.
He watched her navigate the winding staircase, noting how her robe swayed with each step. Occasionally, she glanced back to make sure he was still behind her. He enjoyed it when she did that; her large, doe-like eyes reminiscent of a fawn—pure and uninhibited.
He wanted to apologize for what had happened in the scriptorium. If he hadn't been so absorbed in the spellbook, he would have caught her before she had collapsed. He knew how insensitive he could be at times. He was taken away by the excitement of discovering Salazar Slytherin's hidden scriptorium; he had forgotten to check if she was alright.
Instead, he left her alone after hurling an unforgivable spell on her. Well, Ominis was there. He felt a tinge of anger rising up to his cheeks. Why hadn't he caught her? He was right next to her. He shook off the anger, trying to convince himself that he was being irrational. He was far angrier with himself than he could ever be with anyone else.
He opened his mouth to say something, but the words lodged in his throat, heavy with regret, and he kept silent.
She spoke first, "Do you have any plans this evening?"
"I was planning on visiting Anne. I got a letter that her condition has been getting worse." He said.
"I'm so sorry, Sebastian." She said. He wasn't sure why people felt the need to apologize. It's not their fault a damn goblin cursed his twin sister. If it were up to him, he would have all goblins eradicated; those kinds of creatures deserved nothing short of a dementor's kiss.
He dreaded seeing his sister in such a fragile state. The intensity of her pain had only escalated; he did not look forward to hearing her scream and sob. He felt utterly powerless, wishing he could bear her burden instead. Every moment, he battled with the tormenting thought that he would trade places with her in an instant, frantic to take away her suffering. He wonders if the fact that they had shared the same womb made him even more desperate to find a cure for his twin.
Wanting to avoid the subject, he asked her about her plans.
"I'm meeting Poppy later today; she mentioned a dragon egg. So, I'm looking forward to helping her." She smiled. Her eyes creased whenever she grinned, which Sebastian found calming. It warmed his chest like a nice cup of hot cider during winter.
Sebastion was captivated by her aggressively friendly nature. He always found her tirelessly aiding those in need, even at her own expense. There were moments when he noticed her dozing off in class after finishing one of her numerous favors. He had never encountered anyone so selflessly dedicated as she was.
"A dragon?" he asked quizzically. "First, a troll, then the poachers, and now dragons?" He chuckled. "You just love trouble."
"Oh, on the contrary, trouble loves me." she quipped.
She swished her wand before a large wooden armoire, its dials twisted and turned. Then, it clicked open. She stepped inside, and he followed close behind.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Sebastian?" she asked, facing him. Her voice was so delicate that he wished she would be harsher with him. He deserved it, after all. He hadn't even given her a proper apology. Yet here she was, still his friend. He had begun to wonder if she was even capable of feeling anger.
He stayed silent for a moment, gazing at her. Although she wasn't classically beautiful, she wasn't unattractive either; she was captivating enough for him to stare for an ungodly time. He has never seen her this way before; there have been small moments in the past, but nothing compares to this.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks. He assumed that it must be uncomfortable for her to be alone in a room with a man. She had reacted similarly the last time they found themselves alone in the Undercroft. Ominis would have told him it wasn't appropriate. In a sense, she was like him—proper and prim.
Yet, she remained a fiery spirit. She nearly knocked him out during a Defense Against the Dark Arts duel and defeated the troll that wreaked havoc in Hogsmeade—all on her very first day. To think she had the audacity to claim she'd never dueled before—that's just pure nonsense!
Catching his thoughts, he cleared his throat. "It's about what we found in the scriptorium." He said.
"What did you find?" She asked meekly.
"Salazar Slytherin's spellbook." He replied, "It was a little difficult to interpret, but it's fascinating." He had spent days going through it, searching for anything to aid his quest. The book felt like Merlin himself had crafted it; it contained everything he would need for a cure.
"What did it say?" she asked, a little louder this time around.
"Evidently, he encouraged teaching Dark Magic at Hogwarts. Neither the Cruciatus Curse nor the Killing Curse was unforgivable during his time." She flinched at the words, likely reliving the pain she had experienced in the dungeon. Guilt stirred in his chest.
He wanted her to understand that he had to do it. Ominis and her wouldn't cast it; it was left up to him. He had no choice, and they knew that. He mentally chastised himself for thinking that. He should feel sorry for his actions, not justify them.
"He believed students should be prepared to use Dark Magic when necessary— not to fear it." he continued, "That's why we had to use Crucio to gain access to the scriptorium. He didn't want his knowledge shared with anyone who was afraid of the power of Dark Magic."
She opened her mouth and then closed it as if mulling over what she wanted to say to him. "I know we had to do it to open the scriptorium…" she finally said, "But it's not something I'd want to repeat." She added.
He didn't want to either, is what he wanted to say. Instead, the words that escaped his mouth came off hard and callous: "And I'm glad we did it. Because in the spellbook, I also found something else."
He gestured for her to follow him and led her to a corner of the Undercroft filled with barrels and wooden boxes. On top of one of them lay the book, wide open.
"There are references to a lost relic which, from what I can tell, grants the holders the power to reverse Dark Magic curses." He couldn't contain his excitement.
"And you think this 'relic' might be able to save Anne?"
"Precisely." His eyes grazed her face. "My plan is to search for this relic, but I don't think we should tell anyone. Especially Ominis. He wouldn't understand."
After their recent adventure, he and Ominis had a heated exchange; Ominis just didn't get it. If he found out, he would ruin everything. Sebastian knew he couldn't risk him knowing about his plans to seek out the relics. He was all too aware that he would have to use Dark Magic to obtain them. Ominis wouldn't understand that.
Celia's eyebrows furrowed, "We need to tell him. He's the reason we found the book, and he deserves to know what you've learned." she said. Sometimes, she reminded him too much of Ominis.
Sebastian returned a frown; he knew her too well. It didn't take much to persuade her. He wouldn't dare call it manipulation; it was simply a gentle nudge in the right direction. She always gave in eventually. He needed her help; otherwise, he might face the same fate as Noctua Gaunt.
"You've seen how he frets about the Dark Arts. I promise— I'll tell him when I've found the relic." he lied, but she didn't notice. "When I know more, I shall send an owl."
"I—I don't know, Sebastian," she hesitated. "But I trust you will keep your promise." she sighed. See, easy. He always knows exactly what to say to her.
"And don't feel sorry for Ominis. Keeping this to ourselves for now is for his own good." he brushed off.
"I will decide what's for my own good!"
Sebastian felt a knot in his stomach; he didn't even hear him enter the Undercroft. "Ominis— we were just about to get some air. Care to join?" he fibbed.
"You're a liar, Sebastian. I heard everything. You swore you'd never engage in anything to do with Dark Magic again." Ominis spat.
"No, I didn't." he lied again, "I said I understood you wanting that. I'd never swear to give up on finding a cure for Anne."
"You don't know when to stop, do you?" Ominis looked more incensed.
"I know when not to stop." he retorted. Unlike Ominis, Sebastian didn't abandon Anne. "Leave this alone, Ominis." he could feel his voice aggravating. Deciding it was best not to start yet another fight, he excused himself. He grabbed the book, closed it shut, and, without looking at Ominis, walked past him.
He sought to distance himself from Ominis. He initially wanted no part in his plans, but now seems intent on sabotaging them. Merlin, he really needs to sort out his issues. This wasn't the first time Ominis barged in on them while Sebastian was trying to discuss the book with Celia, and he was beyond fed up with it.
He could overhear both of them talking, and he couldn't wrap his head around how Ominis could so easily forget about Anne. They were friends—inseparable, for crying out loud. It was infuriating to think that they'd actually offered to let him stay with them during the summers, just so he could escape his awful family. It had been Anne's idea, yet here he was, acting so ungrateful. Why couldn't he just help?
He transfigured the book into the size of a pea and placed it inside his pocket. He had to find a way to communicate with Celia without Ominis finding out. He went into the first classroom he saw, and he practically ran to one of the desks, searching for a notebook. When he finally found one, he ripped out a page and began writing.
"I'm requesting your help. Meet me outside of Feldcroft two hours before midnight." he folded the note and shoved it into his pocket. He would have to find Poppy and have her deliver it to her.
Sebastian dashed back to his dorm. He threw open his trunk, hurriedly sifting through his belongings, grabbing anything he thought might be useful. He needed to be quick, as the school locks the entrances at sunset.
He informed one of the Slytherin prefects that he was going out to Hogsmeade to gather some ingredients for his potions class tomorrow. He intended to secretly use one of Hogsmeade's Floo points to reach Feldcroft.
As he made his way toward the entrance, he spotted Poppy lingering in the courtyard. He waved her down and handed her the note.
"Can you make sure this gets to Celia?" he asked.
"Of course!" Poppy replied, her fingers gently taking the note. She slid it into her satchel. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, just—got a few things to take care of." He said.
"Alright, be careful," Poppy said.
"Thanks, Poppy." He called back as he turned and jogged toward Hogsmeade.
Sebastian stood with his arms crossed and his hands tucked into his armpits. It was rather chilly in Feldcroft, and he had stupidly forgotten to pack his robe. He had been waiting here for several hours, and he was beginning to worry that Celia wouldn't arrive. To distract himself, he began to kick the light frost on the ground.
In the distance, he saw a small bobbing light. As it approached, he could make out Celia on her broom, on its end was a light blue lantern. She landed just feet from him.
"Good, you're here."
"Sorry I'm late! I had to walk Poppy back to our dorm." she breathed.
He motioned for her to follow him, and she ran to his side.
"I believe one of Slytherin's students stumbled upon the relic during an assignment to study the sarcophagi in this catacomb. From what I read in a report by the students, they weren't permitted to take it with them. So I must assume it's still here." he explained,
"That's incredible, Sebastian!" she exclaimed.
"As I mentioned earlier," recalling their tiff with Ominis in the Undercroft, "this relic grants its holder the power to reverse Dark Magic curses. If it's in this catacomb, I have to find it."
"What did the student discover?"
Sebastian grabbed the book and pulled out a loose page, handing it to her, "Have a look. Unfortunately, there's no name on it. But, I suspect if it was important enough for Slytherin to stash in his spellbook, it's worthy of further study." he said.
Celia took a moment to read the note, then gave a deep exhale, her tiny chest rising and lowering. "Then we should probably begin exploring the catacomb. Perhaps we can visit Anne when we've finished." She said intrepidly.
"You didn't mention anything to Ominis, did you?" Sebastian asked.
"I didn't. I promise." She said, biting her lip. Sebastian narrowed his eyes, instinctively catching the tell he had seen too many times before. Celia always found it difficult to maintain eye contact and bit her lip when she was untruthful, and that nervous habit of hers was a dead giveaway. A tight knot twisted in his stomach. She wasn't very convincing, but he wanted to believe her. He pushed the doubts aside, reassuring himself that Celia wouldn't betray him.
"Good, Ominis would be livid if he knew what we were about to do." He said.
As they stepped into the tomb, Sebastian illuminated the crumbling, dust-covered walls with his wand. Giant spiders the size of quaffles skittered across the stone. The stench was overpowering, a putrid smell of decay that seared his nostrils and made his eyes water. It was as if the air itself was thick with the scent of rotting flesh that had been left to ferment.
"At least now we know we're not alone in here." Celia chuckled, an edge of nervousness in her voice.
"Perhaps that was all of them, and the rest of the tomb will be insect-free." he replied, brushing off cobwebs from his shirt.
"Yeah, spiders aren't insects."
Sebastian felt his eyes roll to the back of his head, "Don't start."
As they ventured deeper into the cave, they stumbled upon a vast cavern. Its size was overwhelming, and at its center loomed a stone altar, topped with what appeared to be a skeleton. A chill slithered down Sebastian's spine, igniting a sense of unease.
"Now, this is the sort of great room I want to be buried in." he remarked, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Surrounded by grandeur?" she responded back.
"Grandeur and then some. Even an altar with a pile of bones— lovely." he emphasized the last part with mock enthusiasm.
She snorted, but her expression sobered almost instantly. "Bones outside of a sarcophagus? That's… unsettling…" she muttered.
Sebastian stepped closer to the altar. At his feet, beneath the skeleton, symbols were inscribed into the stone.
"There's something here, Celia." He said, kneeling to inspect them further.
She glanced around before picking up a crumpled note from the stone floor. "This looks like… part of a diary," she said, her brow furrowing. "It mentions plans to return for a relic and conjuring barricades using… bones." Her voice trailed off.
"Of course, the student summary referenced a space beyond the Great Room, which means this can't be a dead end." He looked around for something that resembled an opening.
"It does mention something else. It says their next assignment was learning the Imperius Curse." she added.
"Really? Interesting." His eyes fixed on a door adorned with symbols resembling those on the stone altar. As he drew closer, he noticed that the door was made of human bone. It struck him that some areas seemed bare, as if something had been affixed there previously.
"Hmm. Leave no stone unturned. Or in this case, no bone." Celia joked. Sebastian smiled, she sure knew how to lighten the mood.
Something clicked in Sebastian's head. He read something similar in the spellbook. He grabbed his wand and aimed it at the altar. "Accio!" The skeleton flew to him. He jumped out of the way, allowing the bones to crash against the door. Slowly, they began to fix themselves into the empty notches, clicking and turning. As they settled in, the door disintegrated.
"You've done it!" Celia clamored.
"I knew we'd get through. I felt it in my bones." He smirked at her.
She lightly patted him on the chest. "Nice."
He heard noises creeping up from behind him. Whipping around, he yanked out his wand, adrenaline surging as he scanned the dim corners for any hint of a threat. His eyes narrowed in on the source of the sound. Suddenly, a spider darted into view, scuttling across the floor. He let out a rough breath and tucked his wand away. He turned and entered into the newly revealed room.
The room was getting thicker with cobwebs, and as Celia brushed past, the webs would snag strands of her hair, and she often had to stop to pull and disentangle herself.
"Before we proceed any further," Sebastian said, clearing his throat to mask his nerves, "The spellbook and the diary mentioned the Imperius Curse. I wouldn't be surprised if we'll need it here." Guilt gnawed at him for not mentioning it sooner, but he brushed it aside. This was for Anne; Celia would understand.
"What is the Imperius Cruse?" She asked, her voice a little shaky.
"It's an Unforgivable, but useful when you're outnumbered. Places the victims completely under the caster's control," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "If you'd like to learn Imperio, I can teach you."
Her expression hardened. "When did you learn the curse?"
"I taught myself. Don't tell Ominis that I've told you." he admitted, glancing away. "It's not exactly something I can brag about, but it may come in handy. I think you ought to know it." he added.
Celia's hand went to her neck; she rubbed the beads of her necklace as if drawing strength from them."I don't think learning the Imperius Curse is a good idea." she said carefully. He could see she was already piecing together why he brought her here.
"You might need it. But, I shan't press you. I'll have your back no matter what we face in there." he said truthfully. He was determined to protect her—not that she needed it; that was what he told himself, anyway.
They entered an empty room. More massive than the room they had left. Sebastian scanned the room, his hope deflating when he couldn't spot the relic.
"Great, a dead end." he muttered, frustration evident in his tone.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Celia move to the back wall. She gasped, her voice brightening, "Sebastian, look! The relic!"
He turned sharply, heart racing. "Could it really be?" Approaching the table, he picked up a pyramid-shaped figure, stone skeletons trapped inside its prism. "I can't believe it—we actually found it." A wave of exhilaration washed over him; this was it, the key to helping his twin.
Celia's fingers brushed the note next to the relic, and she read aloud, "What do you suppose is meant by 'the Dark sacrifice required to realize the relic's potential'?"
He hesitated, unease creeping in. "I don't know, but we're here for the relic." he forced a calmness into his voice.
She continued, her brow creasing with worry as she folded the note tightly: "The note advises us to leave the relic alone. Perhaps we should heed that warning." She bit her lip. Anger stirred inside him. Why was she lying?
"No, we were meant to find this," he shot back, his conviction hardening into a stubbornness. "I'm taking it. Let's go." He shoved the relic into his bag.
As he pushed past Celia, she stumbled back slightly but quickly regained her footing.
He could hear her footsteps hastening behind him, "Sebastian!" She cried out.
An internal voice screamed at him to stop, to listen. But he buried that voice deep down. He had his goal, and nothing would deter him from it—not now, not ever.
He made it to the tomb's entrance, his face contorted in anger when he spotted Ominis pacing back and forth. His wand hung at his side, and his hands were balled into fists.
"What are you doing here?" he barked, turning to face Celia. His anger growing; he couldn't believe that she had actually told him.
"You gave me no choice. I had to follow you," Ominis responded, sounding concerned as he pleaded with him. "Sebastian, please. Leave the relic. We can find another way to help Anne."
"I'm sorry, Ominis, but I'm taking it." He gritted through clenched teeth. Why was everyone so against him?
"No, you are not. If you won't put it back, then I will." Ominis yelled as he pulled out his wand, aiming it at Sebastian. In turn, Sebastian returned the gesture.
"Hold on, both of you. Sebastian, just take a step back for a moment." Celia urged, her voice strained. In that instant, Sebastian felt a surge of culpability towards her. If she hadn't said anything, none of this would be happening. The anger boiled over inside him.
"This is your fault! You lied to me! You promised you wouldn't tell him!" he shouted, his face inches from hers, fury burning holes into her soul.
Fear flickered in Celia's gaze. "I didn't tell him anything, Sebastian." she whispered, her tone barely above a breath. He searched her face for any signs of deceit but came up empty, but that didn't stop his mouth from moving.
"I don't believe you!" he shot back, his voice thick with resentment.
"Sebastian, please!" She was more resolute this time, her voice rising with urgency.
"Fine," he spat. "But Ominis knows—I won't step back from a fight." He turned sharply, needing space to cool off. If a fight was what it came to with Ominis and Celia, then so be it. They had no right to dictate his actions.
"I can't believe this," he heard Ominis tell her.
"How much did you hear?" Celia pressed.
"Everything," Ominis replied. "I was relieved to hear you telling Sebastian to leave the relic behind."
It was all the confirmation he had to hear that they had conspired against him. Their voices began to blur, fading into the background as he struggled to process what he was feeling.
"I'm being taken for a fool," Ominis's voice cut through the silence enough for Sebastian to catch it. Did she deceive him, too? Typical—she weaves her web of lies until she gets what she wants. He paused, a sinking realization hitting him: he had done the same.
But this was different, he told himself. She had betrayed him, and all he had done was tell a harmless lie. He paced restlessly, resentment brewing within him.
Celia approached him. "Sebastian!"
He refused to look at her. "What is it?" he said venomously. "I haven't changed my mind."
"Ominis has. Let's go." She said. He looked at her dumbfounded.
"What Ominis?" he questioned, still not processing what she had just told him.
"Ominis and I found a compromise." she explained. Sebastian couldn't help but think that there wouldn't have been a compromise if she hadn't blabbed to him.
He couldn't deny that after the scriptorium, Celia and Ominis had been spending more time together. They talked behind his back and discussed things without him. As soon as he walked into the room, they would stop their little conversations. All of a sudden, she's a Gaunt-whisper. What was she trying to play at? Did she really think he was that stupid?
"Ominis simply needs a moment with you, and he changed his mind. Is that it?" he spat, feeling his heart grow heavy with anger. No—Not anger; it was something different, though he couldn't quite place the feeling.
She looked hurt, but he didn't care. "I told him we ought to give you this change—that the relic is too important to ignore." she said. He admits; it was not what he expected to hear. Honestly, he wasn't sure what he was expecting her to say.
"There has to be more to it than that," he growled. "Just tell me." he demanded, his voice low and taut.
"We agreed on what was needed. Sebastian, you have my word." she said, attempting to reach out to him. But her word choices only enraged him more; they intensified the heaviness in his heart.
He shoved her hand away. "Your word?" he scoffed. He wanted to shut up, but the words forced themselves out, "You're just a damn liar."
He could see the hurt in her small face; she looked on the verge of tears. But he couldn't stand to look at her. He turned away and headed toward Feltcroft, desperate to put distance between himself and the two of them.
After a while of intense walking, he heard footsteps quickening behind him. It had to be Celia and Ominis catching up, so he pushed himself to move faster. Reaching the summit of the hill overlooking Feltcroft, a horrifying sight awaited him—the sky was choked with smoke rising from the heart of the town.
Panic surged through him as he sprinted downhill, his heart pounding in his chest. Goblins! A dozen of them surrounded the village, viciously attacking the villagers. 'Please, Anne! Solomon!' he thought, desperation driving him onward.
As he neared the chaos, he spotted his uncle Solomon firing off spells at the encroaching goblins. Behind him, he could see his twin sister. She was dragging her frail body away, attempting to seek refuge in their home. Fueled by adrenaline and rage, Sebastian drew his wand and charged into battle, unleashing spell after spell with cruel intensity. Each incantation shot forth from his wand, striking down goblins one by one. He cared not if the spells were lethal, he wanted to exterminate them.
A goblin had cornered Anne, its gnarled green hands clutching a sword, poised to strike. In a surge of primal instinct, Sebastian raised his wand, his voice a desperate roar: "Imperio!" The spell shot forth, slamming into the goblin's chest. He could feel an intense heat radiating from his bag.
For a heartbeat, time froze as the creature's eyes glazed over, its will snatched away. Then, in a grotesque display of obedience, it lowered the blade, turning it upon itself. With a sickening slowness, it dragged the edge across its throat, a shimmering, inky blackness oozing out and spilling onto the floor underneath it.
Anne's eyes widened in horror, her breath hitching as the goblin's life ebbed away, its body collapsing in a heap, a lifeless marionette severed from its strings. A scream tore from her throat, raw and piercing.
Sebastian rushed to her side, extending a trembling hand, but she recoiled, her gaze filled with revulsion.
"Boy! What have you done!?" his uncle bellowed, fury igniting his features. He seized Anne, cradling her as if she were a fragile doll.
"I saved my sister! I—" Sebastian stammered, desperation clawing at his throat.
"With an unforgivable curse? From that damned book, no doubt." he growled. "Your father would be ashamed. You've gone too far, Sebastian. Stay away from her. From all of us."
"I—All I wanted to do was—" he heaved.
"If I ever see you here again or suspect you of using dark magic, I will notify the Headmaster. I'll ensure you never set foot in Feltcroft or Hogwarts again!" he threatened.
Sebastian stood paralyzed, rooted in place. His uncle and sister turned away, leaving him in a storm of delirium. He felt his world shake beneath him, the walls closing on him. He could not find his breath; the air felt almost like poison, choking him.
What did his uncle expect him to do? Let her die? That goblin was going to kill her, and the Imperius Curse saved her!
"Anne!" he screamed after her. But she wouldn't glance back. He kept screaming her name, yet she never once turned to face him. He felt his knees give out.
If his heart was made of glass, then it had been ripped out of him and shattered into a trillion little shards that no amount of magic could ever mend. For the first time since he took his first breath of life into this world, he felt the unique connection he had with his twin severed. It was as if an invisible thread that had always linked their souls had finally splintered.
He did it for her. He did it to save her.
The sun had begun to rise, its light touching the lifeless bodies around him. He felt a small hand on his right shoulder. Not daring to look up, he rose to his feet and let the hand lead him away.
As they reached the outskirts of the town, his anger returned.
"What did my uncle expect me to do? The Imperius Curse saved Anne's life. That goblin was going to kill her." he snapped.
"There was little time to react, but it was an Unforgivable Curse." she remarked, her tone steady but cautious. "Even so, you did what you thought was right." she added.
"I acted in the moment. That's all." he insisted. "I shall make my uncle see reason. He cannot banish me from my own home. From my sister." His voice cracked on the last words, pain creeping in.
"It might be best to let him calm down a while." she said softly, her hand gently squeezing his arm. When he looked at her, he saw the worry etched in her delicate features, and in that moment, his anger transformed. It was no longer aimed at her but directed squarely at his uncle. Despite his outbursts and the harsh words he had thrown her way, she stood unwavering by his side. A rush of conflicting emotions flooded through him—he found himself at a loss for words to express the depth of what he felt for her.
"You may be right," he admitted, struggling to contain his turmoil. "Very well. Probably best if I get away from here for a while. I'll head back to Hogwarts."
"Ominis left to return to Hogwarts after you departed from the tomb. I thought you should know." She replied quietly.
He couldn't bring himself to care about Ominis's whereabouts. At that moment, all that mattered to him was the relic he had finally secured and his plan to cure his sister with it—whether she wanted him to or not.