Amelia Phelps was an anomaly-a rare Muggle-born in Slytherin, never expected her sixth year at Hogwarts to spiral into chaos. A chance encounter with a mysterious woman in a dark alley unlocked secrets she wasn't ready to face, and falling for Cedri...
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The empty classroom near the Prefects' bathroom felt untouched by time, its dusty air still and heavy, illuminated by thin shafts of pale light filtering through the tall windows. The faint smell of parchment and old wood lingered, the kind of scent that hinted at years of forgotten conversations and secrets. Amelia stood by the desk, her fingers tracing the grain of the wood as if grounding herself. The letters, now soft from her constant handling, was in her pocket.
She glanced at the door, heart thumping louder than it should have. She had sent Cedric a hurried note at breakfast:
Cedric, I've figured it out. Meet me where we last met.
The door creaked open, and in he stepped, his tie slightly askew, his usually neat Hufflepuff robes looking a little rumpled. Cedric's expression was a mixture of curiosity and concern, but it was his hurried stride that gave him away—he'd come straight from whatever task he'd been immersed in.
"Amelia," he said, shutting the door behind him with a firm click. "You've cracked it?"
She nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of her discovery again. "I think so," she said, her voice steadier than she'd expected. "It's been gnawing at me for days, but I finally made sense of it last night."
He stepped closer, standing on the other side of the desk, his tall frame towering just enough to make her feel the slightest bit off-balance. "Let's hear it, then," he said, folding his arms but leaning slightly forward, his usual calm demeanor tinged with anticipation.
Amelia pulled the letters from her pocket and spread them out on the desk. The words stared back at them, cryptic and unyielding:
Amino dated. Dolye he unripe.
She swallowed, steadying herself. "If you unscramble them," she began, her voice just above a whisper, "they say, I am not dead. I need your help."
For a moment, he said nothing, his eyes fixed on the letters. His lips moved silently, as though testing the phrase. Then he straightened, his expression turning grave. "You're absolutely sure?"
Amelia nodded, her voice firmer now. "Positive. I've checked it more times than I can count."
Cedric exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Well," he said slowly, "that's certainly... something." His gaze shifted to her, his features hardening with quiet determination. "Someone's reaching out to you, Amelia. This isn't just a bit of nonsense someone's cooked up for fun."
