TORMENT

the offers.

"I — " I crashed into the wall just by the stairs and he furthered so that his face was just infront of mine.

"Now would you like to take my offer? Or...would you like to never know where on earth your brothers could be?"

"Okay." I breathed, trying to get around him but he stopped me with his arm.

"Okay, what?" He licked his top lip then brushed his lips against mine in a teasing manner and I held him back by his chest.

"Okay, I'll bring Mattheo to the dungeons." The words coming out of my mouth didn't sound right but I knew it was my only option, to possibly ever find out where my brothers are.

"Lovely." He smiled then moved away from me, "I'll see you at school, Ophelia."

He winked then apparated, leaving me alone and confused in the entrance hall of the manor.

I apparated too, back home.

•

"Heyy, how was it?" Cedric asked as I entered the house, my eyes aching from the shitty hangover I was experiencing.

"Interesting." I walked straight past him and up the stairs, "Very interesting."

"Clove! Diagon alley, remember?" I turned around to face him and grabbed my sunglasses before going back to the entrance hall.

"Oh yeah. Where's Amos?" I looked around, not seeing him anywhere.

"He wanted us to meet him there." He looked down at the sunglasses in my hand, "Are you hungover?"

"Well— Yes." I groaned and desperately put on the sunglasses.

"You're going to look pretty weird wearing sunglasses in the winter." He laughed. I stood by him and scratched the back of my neck, "Here," he waved his wand by my glasses and nothing happened, "They look like normal glasses for me now."

"Guess I'll have to pretend I need reading glasses or something." I giggled and he beamed.

"We should go." He muttered, taking my hand and apparating us.

•

Diagon Alley was filled to the brim with all kinds of students and their family members. I really loved Diagon Alley; all the unique and interesting shops scattered around made me want to stay there forever, to look at every single thing furnishing the loaded shelves.

I saw a group of gingers in the distance, the Weasley's. I hadn't really spoken to them much but I gained a liking to Fred and George. They reminded me of Xavier because of all their crazy pranks. They waved at me and I realised I was staring too much.

"Ced?" He turned to face me, "I'll be okay on my own, I need to get some things."

"Okay. Meet me at flourish and blotts at 9.45." He kissed me on the forehead then went down a street, leaving me on my own, crowded by witches and wizards.

I focused on where the Weasley's were and began to walk in their direction.

THUMP!

A figure bumped into me and dropped his books all over me. I looked up to see green eyes and a lightning-shaped scar. He took quick breaths and began to pick up his things in a hurry.