❝ MERLIN'S GHOST! ❞
❝ I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT WRONG. ❞
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Albany Bronwen was no Chosen One by any means, but being haunted by the ghosts of the greatest sorcerer of all time and a former king had to count for something, right?
❃ in which a lone...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
▬▬▬▬
AFTER THE FAITH INCIDENT, Albany started spending more time with her friends again and less with Merlin and Arthur, or researching soulmates and old magic. Frankly, she was ticked that despite everything she'd been through with the ghosts, they still felt the need to hide things from her. How could she trust them if they didn't trust her?
It had taken a while for her roommates to come back around and talk to her after the publication of Skeeter's lovely article, but after her return from the Hospital Wing, they had started making an effort. Albany still wasn't entirely comfortable with them, and had to take care discussing certain topics, but their support was appreciated nonetheless. Amongst their idle gossip, she discovered that while Phylis and Zoe were in fact going out, it was something they were keeping on the down low for fear of judgement; Phylis, however, had remarked on what a cute couple Albany and Carly had been, which cued the awkward explanation that they had just gone to the ball as friends.
"Aw, that's a shame," Phylis had sighed, though smiled nonetheless. "I thought your bravery to dance together in front of the whole school was very inspiring."
Viola rolled her eyes at the girl. "Of course they're not going out, Albany's obviously got a thing for Fred Weasley."
Albany raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth to explain that Viola might have had the twins mixed up — and then she caught herself and her face flushed a violent red at what she'd nearly let slip. I don't have a thing for George, she thought firmly, the heat in her cheeks distracting. I mean... it was just a dance.
"Merlin, you're right, look at her face!" Phylis squealed, flapping her wrists in excitement.
Albany just blushed harder and said nothing.
The day following her release from the Hospital Wing, she'd had a lengthy discussion with Fred, George and Carly about everything that had happened. She explained that Morgana was possessing Faith, and her leading theory that Faith was the sorceress' descendant, despite Merlin's objections. Reluctantly, she also confessed her worries over what Morgana had said about Evander; for some reason, even after Merlin had promised he didn't know anything about her brother's passing, it had still rubbed her the wrong way. It was eerie, how much sense it made — disappearing to chase destiny.
How could she trust Merlin when he told her nothing and expected her to follow him blindly?
"I think you should take a break from all that," George had gently advised. "It's clearly stressing you out."
Carly nodded vigorously in agreement. "The second task is happening in a month," she added, the volume of her voice a little loud with excitement at the thought. "I will help you figure out the egg!"
Fred snorted. "If you'll ever get out of the library with Hermione," he teased.
Carly flushed a deep pink. "She likes someone to study with," she explained, unable to hide her smile. She reached to fiddle with a small badge pinned to her robes. "And I help her sell badges and make stuff for the S.P.E.W.."
