These Dear, Unfinished Tasks

Chapter 11: All the Way Back

September 7th, 2020

Dusk was falling at the cottage.

Daphne and Cosette were curled up on the threadbare couch sipping mugs of herbal tea. They were both exhausted, having searched the house from top to bottom looking for clues on Sybil's whereabouts.

Well, Cosette had, Daphne had not been as eager.

She knew the search would yield nothing, and she had been right. Sybil was still missing without a trace. Headmaster Fontaine had owled them to ask if there were any updates, to which the girls had written back saying everything was the same.

They had wandered into town for an early dinner. Eating at one of the local diners along the main road. Like two normal girls, sharing fries and milkshakes on a Saturday night. Maybe the patrons thought they would be off to some party with other teenagers, or walking the streets late at night without a care in the world.

Maybe if they had been No-Mags they would have been.

"I just can't believe she's been gone this long," Cosette muttered into her cup. She had an old quilt tucked up around her, dark brown curls were coming loose from the bun atop her head. Daphne nodded her agreement.

"She'll be back. I know she will, I just don't know when," Cosette went on.

Sybil would never abandon her daughter, Daphne knew that. Whatever became of her, Sybil would always be there for Cosette no matter what.

There was a sound above the house, like distant rumbling. Something like thunder, but not quite...

"Is it supposed to rain?" Daphne asked.

"I don't think--"

FLASH!

The fireplace in the cottage, sparked green flames, coating the living room with thick black soot. The two girls jumped back, tangled in blankets, shattering their teacups and knocking over the couch.

A figure emerged from the ash, hunched over, caked with dirt and debris. It turned toward them, revealing its wild hair and familiar eyes. It was Sybil, she had returned at last. She was clutching something to her chest and was breathing hard. There was a cut along her eyebrow, a small rivulet of blood was sliding down her face.

"Mum!" Cosette screamed, rushing the figure.

"There is no time, Daphne, there is no time! They will be here any moment you must go!" Sybil waved her wand wildly, muttering a spell Daphne could not hear. The cottage locked down, the windows slamming shut, the doors bolting shut, the fireplace sealed, being fortified with magic.

So much magic, it hung in the air. Thick and powerful.

"Get the trunk quickly!" Sybil shouted.

"What trunk? Mum where have you been, I've been so worried. Me and Daphne we have been--"

Cosette was cut off by another boom, coming from above them.

The sound stopped right outside the front door, then the banging began to start.

"Sybil Trelawney, I, the Minister of Magic, command you, open this door, you are in direct violation of statute..." The shrill voice shrieked, followed by countless Alohomora-s to unlock the door.

" Accio , trunk," Daphne commanded, waving her wand. An ancient leather-bound contraption shot from the nearby closet and stopped at her feet. It held everything she was going to need. It was time. She was leaving.

This moment had come sooner than she thought.

She had to make the choice, it was now or never.

"Trelawney, I order you to open this door. You do not know the consequences your actions will have!" A thunderous voice came from the other side of the door. Whoever was out there was slamming things against the cottage door now.

The oak door groaned and was beginning to lift off the frame.

They would get in soon.

"Now, Daphne now! You are ready, ready as you will ever be. Take this," Sybil shouted, rushing Daphne, and throwing something around her neck. The necklace from the vision, bronze, and glittering, a small sand timer in the center. "Hurry, forty-three twist should get you there."

Daphne's hands shook as she twisted the pendant.

"Mum! Daphne, stop! What is going on? Who are these people, what have you done? Daphne, what are you doing?" Cosette shouted.

"Enough child, Daphne is fulfilling her destiny. She has been planning this for years."

Cosette looked over at Daphne, hurt flashing in her eyes.

"You've never told me about this, what destiny?"

"I couldn't Cosi, it wasn't my choice."

"You've lied to me, all this time?" The words ended in a choked sob.

"I never wanted to," Daphne responded. The sound coming from the other side of the door was getting louder. 37, 38, 39, 40...

"How could you, how can you leave me? Where are you going? What is--"

The door was splintered, exploding into a million fragments.

"Go!" Sybil shouted.

"Halt!" A figure commanded coming into the cottage. His forehead scar caught on the gas lamps in the living room. It was as if time had slowed, everything for a moment was clear.

Daphne looked into Cosi's eyes, slammed her hand down on the trunk, hooking it to her arm, and twisted the Time-Turner one final time.

"I love you, Cosi," was the last thing she said, before being sucked into darkness, where she fell, and fell, and fell.

Her screams filling up the empty space she was flying through.