[✓] 𝘗𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 ,𝘋.𝘔𝘹𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳,

19| Ghosts

''𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪.''

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲. There was a trial held yesterday, Joseph being as obnoxious as I thought he was. I didn't know where Hermione went, but I didn't ask. But without her, the trial went a little awry. In the end, I had won and Theo was able to leave. Now he's staying with me until further notice. 

Currently, he's asleep on the couch. One arm draped over the side of the couch as he lays on his stomach. His face squished against the pillow beneath him. I smiled at him and carefully threw a blanket over him. He moved a bit, but only stuffing his face further into the pillow. 

I already ate earlier and Theo still wasn't awake. Then again, it didn't look like he slept well in the cell back at the Ministry. I let him sleep soundlessly on the couch for the morning. I thought over what I could do today. Teddy was at Hogwarts, so I couldn't do anything with him. Draco was out of town, so that was a no. 

Then my eyes landed on the small, square box on the counter. The one I had gotten from Hermione back at the Ministry. Neither of us had figured out who sent it. 

With another glance at the couch, I took the box and stepped outside. I walked away from the house for a few good seconds, finding myself a small clearing with the trees surrounding in a sloppy circle. The trees above had covered some of the sun beams that shines through. 

I opened the box, carefully undoing the fabric wrapped around the tiny stone. The dark colors contrasting against the little bits of sun that came through. I carefully set the box on the ground, leaving the stone inside. 

''This is a bad idea.'' I mumbled to myself, standing and wiping my hands down my face. My back was turned to the box, my arms crossed against my chest. I looked back over my shoulder at the box, contemplating my options. ''Damn you.'' I turned back to the stone, taking it in my hand. ''You and your stupid, little, intriguing self.''

The cold from the stone had ran through my hand. I fidgeted with it for a few, before I sighed and looked around. 

''Waste of time.'' I murmured, turning to put the stone back in the box. 

''Is it now?'' I jumped from the sudden voice, almost dropping the stone in the process. I thought it was a Patronus at first, but a closer look had told me that it was a person and not an animal. 

I squinted to see into the faint blue light, which had temporarily blinded me in the process. ''Dumbledore?'' 

He gave a slow nod with a smile. His hands were held in front of him, one folded over the other. And he acted as if he hasn't died years ago. 

Then everything had clicked. 

''You gave this to me?''

''Indeed I did, Miss Granger. Do you still go by that name? I've learned it's been Diggory recently.''