The Hogwarts Descendant

Chapter 35

Dahlia got no sleep after Malfoy's message; rather she stayed up all night, tossing and turning, mind spinning to try to interpret what bad news he possibly could have gotten. It hadn't even been a day and they were already getting bad news? Her stomach tightened at the thought - mind running wild with scenarios, each worse than the next.

She'd discovered the shack on her walk with the twins - she was pretty sure it was a muggle's old hunting cabin. She'd told the twins she needed to relieve herself, breaking away from them to explore deeper into the woods. She had continued to walk further into the woods, driven by the need to find a safe place to meet more than the urge to relieve herself. She didn't know how long she walked until she stumbled into the clearing - it was hidden deep in the woods behind the Burrow. The cabin sat on the far side and needed repairs but seemed sturdy enough. The first floor sported a small kitchen and living room, bare to the bone. There was a hallway that led to a back room with a back door and a small room that could be sleeping quarters. Layers of dust coating the floors and windows, indication that no one had occupied it in years. The kitchen sported an odd table with mismatched chairs, but that was the only furniture the house was graced with. Overall, it was decent. Nothing a Scourigy spell couldn't fix. The clearing surrounding the cabin would provide adequate space to train, and the house would provide cover should they need it.

She'd immediately sent a message via her locket to the others, not expecting a response back. Dahlia hoped the boys would find this place acceptable - she wasn't sure what other options they had. After lingering a few moments in the clearing, Dahlia tucked the necklace back under her shirt, stuffing the disappointment at not receiving a response, though she knew it wasn't likely. Dahlia had been halfway back through the woods, calling out for Fred and George when she'd felt the necklace pulse. She stumbled to a halt, glancing around her to ensure she was alone before opening the clasp and watching a green orb float up to eye level, his voice ringing out.

"Bad news - meet soon." It was Malfoy's voice, calming and exciting her all at once. He sounded upset, though it was hard to tell behind his usual cold tone.

The words had her heart racing. His voice had been comforting, causing her to yearn for him in a way she hadn't expected. She replayed his voice in her head, hearing the underlying notes of despair and urgency. Something was truly wrong. She fumbled with the locket in her hands, trying to figure out how to show them. Her guardian's actions before disappearing after Dumbledore's Army was busted flashed through her mind. The way Albus had used Legilimency to implant a picture of his safe house in her mind.

Dahlia stiffened, closing the locket and holding it tightly in her palm. She pictured the clearing with the cabin, focusing on the run down details, the forest surrounding the clearing, the stream behind the cabin. She whispered the words, "Friday, 3am," softly, feeling the message pulse from her locket.

She was still holding her onyx locket in her hand willing it to pulse when she heard shouts from ahead of her. "Dahlia!"

Quickly she stuffed the locket back under her shirt, sprinting towards the voices. "Fred! George!" She called out, pushing through bushes and tree branches, ignoring how the branches grabbed at her hair and clothes. "I'm here!"

"Dahlia!" The voices were getting closer. Dahlia kept running towards the voices, dodging trees as swatting at tree branches in her path until she accidentally slammed into a body, knocking them both to the ground.

"Oof!" George exhaled as Dahlia's full weight landed on him. They were a tangle of limbs for a few moments before Dahlia stumbled to her feet, apologising profusely.

"Shit! Sorry, George! I didn't see you!"

"It's alright," George groaned as he pushed to his feet, brushing twigs and leaves off of his shirt. "We've been looking for you for an hour!"