The Sanctuary of Yesterday

1.10 | left on read

Dear ferret,

I hope things are well with you, and everyone else. Tell me, how is NBM? I do miss her very much. I hope to be able to tend to the gardens with her again someday, especially the narcissus.

I talk to Teddy much more now that we have opened the door. We constantly annoy each other. It sometimes makes me forget life is not supposed to be this way. I wish I could communicate with you the same way. I miss you more and more each day that goes by. Both of you.

How are things going over there? Are there sunny days lately, with a bright light shining? Or is it gloomy, dark, almost evil with storms? I do love it when lightning hits, and it leaves a mark. Have there been any burn marks lately?

Halloween is soon. Do you have any plans? The school is throwing a party. I do hope it will be fun.

Well, ferret, I love and miss you! I will talk to you soon. Stay safe.

love, flower

Sage dropped her quill a looked over her letter one last time. She didn't think there was anything in there that could be traced back to her or the boys, but she wasn't certain, so she called for Grace.

Without looking up, she yelled over her shoulder, "Oh love? Are you busy?"

Grace floated over, "For you, Sagie, never." Her tone was playful, making Sage wink at her. "What can I help you with?"

"Could you read this and make sure nothing is too... you know?" She handed the parchment over and frowned at a small rip only she and Draco would notice, their need for perfection always seemed to make them notice these types of things.

Grace's eyes skimmed across the page, left to right, top to bottom. A small smile graced her lips, "I feel like I'm intruding on a private moment," she laughed, softly, "but it looks good, Sage."

"Thank you, Grace. We can never be too careful," she sighed quietly.

Grace's hand landed on her friend's shoulder, and Grace softly whispered, "They'll be okay. Nott Sr. will get what's coming to him," she paused, "and- and you'll be okay, alright? You'll be okay because we- I need you to be okay, Sage. I thought I lost you the night we found out about the bond and I- I need you-"

Sage stood up and pulled Grace into her arms, "I'm okay, nothing happened to me and nothing will Grace, I'm okay and I'll continue to be okay." She stroked her hair short chocolate-colored hair, "You'll be okay too."

Grace sniffed and nodded her head in Sage's chest. Her grip slowly loosened after a few moments of silence, "Shall we drop this off at the Owlery?"

Sage smiled, a soft loving smile, "We shall."

Sage knew Grace depended on her the way a child depended on their parent. She loved it, thrived from it, craved it like a drug. Sage needed to feel important, to feel wanted, and Grace made her feel that way.

Grace may have had the heart of an angel, but her parents didn't. Coming to Ilvermorny nine out of twelve months of the year, was a blessing for Grace. Her mother was a potions abuser and her father was an alcoholic. She truly drew the short end of the wand. Neither parent knew how to be a parent, nor love and care for Grace the way a child needed. So, Grace clung to Sage, the girl who had maternal instincts and who had saved her from the bullies their first year. The same bullies who pushed her hexed her, and belittled her. The same bullies who replaced her parent's abuse when she came to school. As the saying goes you replace one monster with another.

Grace held onto Sage and her love like her life depended on it because it truly did.

***

Sometime during the middle of the night, Sage was awoken by a tapping sound. She sat up and noticed Grace doing the same.

In the little moonlight that shone through the window, Sage could see Grace's face drop. Outside their window was Sage's owl, carrying her letter that was to be sent to Draco.

Throwing herself out of bed, Sage marched over and grabbed the letter from her owl and apologized he had to make that trip. She handed him a treat and ruffled his feathers before he flew off to the owlery.

The two girls quietly and quickly looked over the piece of parchment. It wasn't touched at all. They didn't know if they should feel relief that no ones had seen it, or panic that Draco never received it.

"Are you going to try to contact Theo?" Grace whispered, sitting down next to Sage on her bed.

Sage nodded and closed her eyes. She found her door and opened it, only to be met with a brick wall.

Confused, she went to touch it. There truly was a brick wall on the other side of her drawing-room door. It reeked of protection magic and that scared Sage enough for her to start panicking.

Theodore, she yelled into it. She waited a few moments and nothing happened until something did.

The words smacked into the door and came hurdling back at her with a force so hard it threw her out of her head.

"Sage? What's happened?" Grace asked worriedly, holding Sage's face in her hands. Her eyes were squeezed shut in pain and her lower lip trembled.

Sage shook her head, trying to pull her thoughts together. "Either my brother is occluding, he found out how to block the bond, or-"

She couldn't finish her sentence, but Grace knew what was unspoken. The thought made her shudder and tighten her grip on her friend.

The look on Sage's face only confirmed it. Her eyes were glazed over, but also vacant. Like she was going to cry but started occluding mid tear.

Grace looked at her best friend. She knew what Sage was thinking—either way, something bad has happened or is happening.

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I just realized I haven't been putting authors notes, oh well haha! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and have enjoyed the story so far.
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