Shadow and Flame

In His Shirt

He took a long swig of tea, waiting for her at the counter. She'd been in there over an hour, and it took everything in him to resist checking in.

Finally the door clicked open. Eden emerged.

If it weren't for those eyes, he might not have recognized her at all. She'd clearly managed to find scissors. Her hair hung just at her shoulders. So different from the smooth curls that ran down her back in the memories.

As she stepped into the light of the kitchen, he realized he had bigger problems on his hand. It'd been an easy, if not impulsive decision to take in the homeless girl. But sitting in his shirt, something wild stirred in his soul.

She was still pretty. But it was more than that. She held the key to everything he ever wanted. He forced himself to look away.

Wet hair dripped a pattern down her back while she ate toast. She grasped a cup, taking a long sip. Eden sighed.

"I take it you haven't had tea in some time."

"Nor drank from china." Her fingers shook as she set the cup back onto the table. "Charlie, right?"

"Yes."

"Where are we?"

"I'll be happy to answer your questions. So long as you agree to answer mine." She didn't seem to like that, frowning into another bite.

"I suppose I don't have a choice in the matter."

"No, I suppose you don't."

"Very well." She set the half eaten bread down, brushing the crumbs off her hands in habit. She studied them for a moment, as if it'd been the strangest thing she'd ever done. "Forgive me. I've not been human for a good while."

"How long?"

"Years, I reckon."

"We're in Romania."

A gasp. "And why are we in bloody Romania?"

"That's not how this works." He took the final swig, sugary dregs tickling his throat. "What happened the summer before your final year at Hogwarts?"

"How do you..." She stopped, warning flashing in his eyes. He had to be stern. Had to be sure. "My parent's house burned down. I barely escaped."

"I work and live here. I think it's best you do the same. What caused the fire?"

She winced. "It was a Hungarian Horntail. Everyone thought it was an accident. Not long after... Wes had been experimenting with magical creatures, using the unforgivable curses on them." She held her middle. "Does anyone else know I'm here?"

"Only one. And they think it's best your identity remain a secret." He scratched his head. "Are you saying he forced the creature to attack?"

She eyed him, hesitantly. "He said so himself."

"But why? Why endanger you?"

"It was his twisted way of protecting me. My parents, they weren't easy to live with." She took another sip, clearing her throat. "How did you know I was an animagus? And what are you expecting from me?"

"Your memories." Her mouth widened. "They were given to a friend who asked me to help find you. And for now, I only expect you to keep answering the questions. What happened to Orson and Bennett?"

Her lips formed a stubborn line. "They're dead. What does it matter?"

"It matters because I've brought you into my home. I'd like a little peace of mind that I haven't invited a murderer to stay."

She squinted. "But you have. I've killed. Many times. And they stay right here." She reached for his hand, placing it onto her chest. "The ones I've killed are burned in me, their screams are my only and truest companions."

"Are you saying it was an act? That he didn't really use the unforgivable curses on you? That there was no torture or force, only the show of it?"

Pools filling in a stubborn gaze spoke for her. After a while, she looked away and sniffed.

"I felt the flames come from my own mouth. Bodies crumbling like paper in my own fists. It doesn't matter what he did. Only what I was capable of."

"Enough self loathing." Charlie scooted out, crossing his arms. "Tell me what became of them."

She fumbled over the words. "We destroyed Rafe's home. His family,"

"I know this already. Saw it. You saved him that day."

"I told him to run. But he couldn't hide forever."

"Why would Wes want him dead?"

"Because Rafe was the only one left to remember. It'd been a few years and the world had forgotten us. But he didn't. Wouldn't. Kept going on about it."

Charlie knew. "He loved you."

"I only ever belonged to Wes."

"You mean, he controlled you."

"Maybe. I don't know." She ran a hand through her short hair, almost shorter than his own. "They dueled. It went on forever. I couldn't move. He wanted me to watch Rafe die." She hugged herself.

"But Rafe was always the better dueler. Wes, his body was still warm. So still. I left him at his parent's estate. They might've been death eater's but they had a right to know what happened to him."

"Wes didn't kill his father?"

"He wanted to save him for last."

"And Rafe?"

"He found me a week later. That was the last time I'd been... me.

"We parted ways. Last I heard, he'd been killed in the war." She cleared her throat, standing up and spreading out her arms. "Now you must do what I've never been able."

"What?"

"Kill me."