All The Magic We Made (Sebastian Sallow x Fem!OC)

Unsolved Murder 101

Mr. Eldrich Diggory had given me directions to a small cottage a little ways on the outskirts of Hogsmeade, away from the busy heart of town. According to him, this is where his niece lives, the Auror who was involved in the murder case. Already, I feel that can understand her; if I was involved in a case where I knew that the person who got convicted is innocent, I'd never let it go either.

With an inhale, I knock the rhythm of the Macarena on the wooden door and wonder in my heart of hearts how on earth I got myself into this situation.

The door opens slowly, and there stands a tall, poised woman, her placid expression bearing similarity to that of the portrait.

I clasp my hands behind my back, rolling on the balls of my feet. "Madame Helen Thistlewood?"

She smiles, a hint of warmth in her eyes. "Miss Isla Andrysiak?"

"That's me!" I beam. "You pronounced my last name perfectly, by the way."

"Polish, isn't it?"

Oh, yeah. I think I definitely like her.

She steps aside to let me into her home and continues, "Uncle Eldrich told me to expect you, said that you had a certain book that may be helpful to an unsolved case of mine during my time as an Auror. Is this true?"

"I do have the murder book, yes," I say, reaching into my bag and retrieving the book with the missing pages. "Here, have a look."

She takes the book and promptly has a seat at her small dining table, flipping through the pages. I join her right as she reaches the part with the missing pages, running her fingers over ripped edges. "Curious," she murmurs under her breath.

"Madame Thistlewood—"

"Helen, please," she says, her eyes glued to the book.

"Helen," I correct myself. "What exactly...is this case about? I wasn't given many details."

"Ah, of course. Not to worry, dear, you weren't expected to," she says. "Decades ago, a student named Richard Jackdaw disappeared after going to meet a girl named Anne. They never found his body...until his headless ghost appeared briefly in Hogsmeade, wholly unaware of how he died. Anne was the one who took the fall, convicted for his murder and sent to Azkaban." She pauses, thinking for a moment. "It was in large part due to the testimony of a girl named Apollonia Black. She clearly had no love lost for Anne."

I take a moment to comprehend all this information. Of course, the conviction makes sense. Anne would, logically, be the last to see Richard Jackdaw alive—if he was, in fact, going to meet her. But this girl, Apollonia Black? Her part of the story doesn't sit right with me. She clearly had bias...and what on earth made her eligible to give a testimony? She'd have to be somehow involved in order to do that.

"That's so strange. Is there any more you can tell me?"

"Anne's alibi was somewhat...labyrinthine." Helen shuts the book, her full attention how focused on me as I remain seated across from her. "She claimed that Jackdaw promised her adventure, following a map he'd found on some pages he had stolen from Peeves, the poltergeist."

"And you believe that Peeves ripped those pages from this book? From the Restricted Section."

"That is my great-uncle's claim," she confirms. "As well as the popular belief amongst several other portraits. They know more than we think, you know."

"So I've been told."

"Anne insisted that Jackdaw had asked her to follow the map with him, but only after she solved a series of puzzles he had created," Helen continues. "Odd way to woo a girl, if you ask me. But to each their own. I'm getting off track. Anne swears that she didn't even solve the first puzzle, so they didn't meet. Jackdaw's ghost vanished almost as soon as he appeared."

"And without any extra evidence---no puzzle, pages, or remains---Anne was convicted? All based on one biased testimony?" I conclude.

"Exactly."

"I don't understand," I say. "Where do I come in in all of this?"

Helen hesitates. "I have reason to believe Anne may have solved the first puzzle by now. But all that time in Azkaban...she's a shadow of her former self. Won't speak to anyone she doesn't trust---and she trusts no one."

Well, isn't that a great start.

"However," she muses. "If you, a student with a connection to the pages like Jackdaw had, were to speak to Anne, perhaps she'd reveal new information."

God, I'm not about to actually do this, right?

Yeah. Yeah, I am.

"If you think I can help." I pause. "Then I'll come."

Helen lets out a breath of relief, the weight visibly lifting from her features. "I am so pleased to hear that. This case, it has never sat right with me." She smiles at me. "You are to be commended for your kindness and bravery, Miss Isla."

"It's not an problem. I'm happy to help." I smile back at her, attempting at a bit of optimism. "When do we leave?"

"Right now, if you are willing," Helen says. "Being a former Auror has its benefits. We could Apparate right to her."

"Apparate?"

"Yes, Apparate," she says dismissively, hurrying around her home to ready herself for the trip. "I'll keep you safe, dear, no need to fret. I've never let a single travelling companion end up Splinched under my care."