Up and Down

Now and Forever

"Next time I'm pulling together intricate plans right before a terribly acronymized series of exams, stop me."

"Noted," Ominis responds, a wry smile tugging on the corners of his lips. His wand moves steadily across the page, sensing the words printed upon it.

"At least this time nobody is dying right this second. We've got breathing room," Sebastian rests his chin on her shoulder as she scribbles away on a mile-long list of things she needed to do to prepare for the upcoming months.

"Not if my father has anything to say about it," Ominis shakes his head, disdain writ plain in his face, "but... I have my own way of finding information. And it appears that Marvolo is terrified to set foot outside the Gaunt manor. Afraid I'd be there, in the shadows, waiting for him."

"And just how did you do that?..." Anna raises her head from the list.

"A little snake told me," Ominis smirks, "quite literally. My family, despite their connections with the serpentine imagery, is... sick. My brothers liked to torture animals, snakes included. They liked hearing them scream. I was the only one who wouldn't hurt them. In fact, quite the opposite... and they remembered. So, when I showed up there for a few minutes one night and asked them what was happening in the grounds, beyond the wards, they were happy to tell me..."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Sebastian looks hurt from being excluded from such an endeavour. Ominis sighs.

"I wasn't sure I would be able to Apparate to the place. It's been seven years since I left that house. Besides, it wouldn't have been all that exciting for you, not with me speaking Parseltongue the entire time."

"Not the point, Ominis."

Anna lets them quibble over this as her quill scratches softly against the paper.

They don't have many possessions between the three of them so that part is easy enough. Arranging a Portkey was out of the question - the little bit of research she did indicate that Blacks and Carrows both had family members working in the Department of Magical Transportation, and they would know at once that they have gone across the pond, and where to.

Too easy to follow.

That only left them one option - Muggle travel. Not that she is opposed to that. But that means getting the tickets to get first to and then on an ocean liner.

Some light disguises probably won't go amiss either. But she is more than decent at human transfiguration to make that work.

Not to mention, their voyage will come after...

It isn't common for the betrothed to marry so soon. But their whole relationship has been anything but common or mundane. No, she could not picture her life without them. Plain and simple.

The short guest list, the date set, the owls sent, Portkey arranged.

Much to do, if they are also not failing their NEWTs that are swiftly approaching.

Oh, and there is also a bloody Quidditch match against Gryffindor...

Anna smiles to herself. Despite it all, she will miss this. She will miss it all.

These two years have been the best and the worst of her life. Full of trials and pain, joy and happiness. Beautiful and ugly, hopeful and desperate. All of it, and more.

All the ups and downs this road has taken them on, but they are still here. They are still able to dream.

In the end, it didn't even matter what score the match ended - Slytherin thrashed Hufflepuff so thoroughly it was only a question of a second place, and Ravenclaw managed to get it. That was good enough for Anna, and she was happy to scream her support for Imelda and Sebastian from the stands as it happened.