𝐒𝐎 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐔𝐍; 𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫.

𝐥𝐢𝐯. 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤

𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥, 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥. "I should go," she said quietly. "Thank you for teaching me your song."

He looked like he was going to say something, but only shrugged with a half smile. "You're welcome," he said eventually. "Will you know your way back?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Amara opened the window and looked back at him. She felt foolish under his gaze. 

"What?" he said with a chuckle. 

"Fuck," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly and hugging him. She knew it was wrong. 

Strong arms wrapped around her waist instinctively. "We'll be back at Hogwarts before you know it, doll. Don't get all dramatic on me," he said, chest rumbling as he laughed affectionately.

"Shut up," Amara said. "You're being annoying."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she said. "I hate you."

"Liar."

After one final squeeze, Amara finally relaxed her arms and stepped back, placing one leg over the windowsill. 

"I'll see you in Hogwarts," Evan said. "Will you update me on Sirius? I think Regulus would like to know how he's doing. Even if he pretends he doesn't care."

Amara nodded. "Take care of yourself," she said. "I mean it."

And then she leaned, letting the cold winds catch her as she twisted into the familiar shape of a falcon.

Evan watched her go. Now that she was gone, he could finally unmask his appreciation and awe of her flying skill. He would never tell her, but he could watch her fly for a long time. 

Five successive raps sounded on his door. Him and Reg's signature knock.

"Come in," Evan said slowly, making to shut the window.

Regulus opened the door before the window was closed. He eyed it. "I knew she was some kind of bird," he said eventually. "Didn't see a broomstick anywhere."

"Nosy," Evan rebuked, collapsing in his chair and sighing, running a hand down his face.

"Mate," Regulus said, sitting on the foot of Evan's bed and facing him. He was holding a shoebox. "What are you doing?"

"Elaborate."

"I heard you playing the piano."

Evan swallowed. "She likes that song."

"That's nice," Regulus said, "but she's a shoe-in for the Order. You took the Mark. Oh, and she's a Mudblood."

"Don't call her that," Evan said. He frowned, as if surprised at himself.

Regulus's eyebrows rose so high his forehead hurt. "So you like her now?"

"Stop," Evan muttered.

"Remember your mission? To get a list of recruits, and proof? What are you going to do about her? Betray her?"