The One With The Yule Ball

22

The next morning Edan woke up well before everyone else in her dormitory. She quickly dressed in her uniform and ventured down to the Common Room. It was so early that it surprised Edan to find Hermione, Ron and Harry sitting next to the empty fireplace. "Early risers, huh?"

Hermione looked up at Edan with a sad expression on her face. "Something terrible happened last night." Edan listened as the trio took turn explain the events that occurred down by the Quidditch field. It sounded like a rather scary experience for Harry. 

"I'm sorry you had to go through that Harry. Is Viktor recovering well?" Edan directed that question to Hermione. 

"He'll be okay. Karkaroff is being more protective than usual." She said quietly. Out of the corner of her eye Edan noticed Ron furrowing his brow at Hermione's concern for Viktor's well being. Edan found it obvious that Ron was jealous of Viktor. Although he might not know it himself it was clear he fancied Hermione. 

After chatting a bit longer Edan left the common room. Her hand grasped the pendant around her neck. She needed to figure out what it was exactly. On her way down to the dungeons Edan ran into Professor Dumbledore. "Oh hello Headmaster."

Dumbledore smiled down at her. "Ah. I see you've received your necklace."

Edan remembered then what the note had said. Dumbledore had been the one to recommend the charm. "Yes. Thank you. What is it exactly?"

He chuckled slightly. "It's a bit of rare magic that I recently discovered could assist you. Your curse will not be eliminated even while you wear it. It should lessen the severity of your episodes long enough for you to gain control after removing yourself from whatever stressful situation you may be in; without the need to injure yourself." 

"But.. how does it work?" 

Dumbledore motioned for Edan to follow him and the pair began strolling down the corridor in no particular direction. "Severus has explained to me the bond you share with each other. I've always been privy to your parents situation. It was only a matter of time before you found your bonded partner. Though I must confess - I never expected it would be our potions master."

"Will it always be him?" 

His eyes twinkled down at her as they continued on. "I've never known anyone in your family lineage to switch from one partner to another. I believe it will be Severus from here on." Edan remained quiet contemplating the information. While she was grateful for Severus it concerned her he would be the only person to ever calm her episodes. "Why does that bother you?"

"It's going to be difficult to explain that to anyone I am romantically involved with in the future. I would be a bit jealous if my boyfriend had to rely on another woman for whatever reason aside from me." Edan explained with a shrug. 

Beside her Dumbledore chuckled once again. "Anything is possible Ms Wilkies. Now, wear your necklace moving forward. It's not as effective as Severus himself but it has a small bit of him that will have a calming effect." 

Edan looked at her necklace once more. It struck her then what the red substance was. "Is this is blood?" She exclaimed slightly horrified. 

"It is. We will need to refill it on occasion but it should last until the end of term." 

It was a lovely gift. Edan recognized how important and helpful in was. Still, it was hard not to be a bit thrown off by wearing someone's blood around her neck. After another ten minutes or so of walking Dumbledore announced they should head to breakfast before lessons began for the day. Edan followed him to the Great Hall in a slight daze. 

Over the course of the next few weeks Edan endured her N.E.W.T exams. She felt confident in most of them aside from Defense Against the Dark Arts which she had mentally checked out in. Potions was, of course, a breeze for her. Edan was surprised at how easy she found her Transfiguration exam as well. All of those extra study sessions with Cedric and the other Hufflepuffs had paid off!