The Forgotten House

Separation

We march up the stairs to the headmistress' office and see Peter and his uncle standing guard outside as the door swings wide open. Professor Whiteshield slams the door shut behind us as once again, she screams at us, "WHAT DO YOU 4 THINK YOU ARE DOING? THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 3 WEEKS THAT I HAVE HAD TO SPEAK TO YOU. WILL YOU EVER LEARN?"
"We're sorry Professor we-" I start.
"SORRY WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING! You have snuck out after hours to meet each other at the library. You have broken about 50 school rules and yet still don't seem to have a care in the world. CLEARLY DETENTION ISN'T ENOUGH!" We each look at each other in turn and hope that the worst doesn't come. Willow edges closer to her brother and holds his hand tightly. "The four of you are not to see each other. Ever. The corridors outside each of your classes and common rooms will be supervised at all times. Miss Hartford and Miss Malfoy you are not to be seated next to each other in class and you can only be together whilst INSIDE your dormitory. Mr Malfoy you are to stay with your classmates and I am sorry to say this..." she hesitates, "but you are not allowed to see your sister. You may be with her on weekends and at mealtimes but no other time. I am deeply sorry."
Willow and Liam look at each other with deep sadness. Professor Whiteshield turned to Jason.
"As for you Mr Zabini... I expected better of you. Your father was an exceptional student and he never broke rules. Yes at the end of the year a few but other than that. You are to keep your distance from your 3 friends and stick to your studies. The same rules apply to you. I am sorry it had to come to this but you must learn from your mistakes. I do expect to see any of you until the end of the year." She sends us on our way and we all head out of her office and down the stairs.
"We can't just not see each other. I won't do that."
"Ashley you have to. You think I wanna just watch my sister from across a table? She's my damn sister. You think I wanna stop going on adventures with you stupid first years? You're my friends. I don't wanna do this. None of us do. But we have to. We can see each other at meal times. Nothings stopping us do that but we can't keep meeting in secret. I'm sorry Ash. I wish there was more we could do," once again Liam tries to make me feel better but I'm not sure it works.
"I guess. But what about Jason?"
"I don't know what he's gonna do but I have my friends. Willow has you. He'll find someone." Liam gave Willow one last hug and then marched on down the hall and back to his common room.
"He's right Ashley. I have a few people I know. Don't worry about me. We'll figure something out. I promise," Jason gives each of us a reassuring look and heads down the hall.
"WAIT!" I shout, grabbing his arm. "Meet us by the kitchen doors tonight. We have to discuss a plan."
"Fine," Willow and Jason say in unison.
"But we can't be seen."

-TONIGHT-
Once again, Willow and I set off on a secret journey to the kitchens.
About 10 minutes later we meet Jason at the door. "Were you spotted?"
"No. Were you?"
"No." Jason ushers us into the corner. "We can't keep meeting here. On Saturdays and Sundays we leave messages and or notes inside the books in the cubicle we used to hang out in. We can't be seen."
"Sounds like you've got a plan already. And I'm ok with that."
"Brilliant. Now can we go back? I don't wanna get caught again," Willow says, nervously looking around.
"Yeah sure go. But I want you 2 to know that you are my friends. I know it seems otherwise and I know that this isn't the time or place but you've both been here for me more than anyone and you've believed in me. So thanks."
We smile and walk away slowly before Jason grabs my hand and spins me around. "Ash... be careful."

-THE NEXT MORNING-
Again I wake up bright and early. The chill of the ending autumn is here and I know winter is just around the corner. But something's different this morning. Not just the fact that its winter but I almost feel likes something is missing. I go back down the stairs and sit down on the couch waiting for Willow. She comes down not long after me but there is something wrong. Her eyes look sad and distant. She doesn't even smile when she sees me and says nothing as we head to breakfast.
We take our seat on the Ravenclaw table and I see Willow glance over at her brother in sorrow. Then I see her lock eyes with Peter and give the smallest smile. But she makes no convocation with me. I catch Jason's eye and look away quickly. None of this feels right.

Later in the day Willow goes back to the common room and I check the library to see if Jason has left a message. I spend hours looking through each book cover to cover and find nothing. Then there sitting in a corner is a small bit of parchment folded into a small origami fox. I unfold it slowly and carefully and read the small printed words:

𝔸𝕤𝕙𝕝𝕖𝕪,
𝕎𝕖 𝕞𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕜𝕖𝕖𝕡 𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤 𝕞𝕦𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕤 𝕨𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕟. 𝕎𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕒 𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝔸𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕕𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣.
𝕀 𝕕𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕚𝕥'𝕝𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕤𝕥 𝕦𝕤 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟'𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣. 𝕎𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕝𝕡 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕞.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪 𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕟'𝕥 𝕘𝕠𝕥 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕒 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕖. 𝕀 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕.

𝔸𝕟𝕪𝕨𝕒𝕪, 𝕓𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕝.
𝕁

ℙ.𝕊. 𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕡𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕗𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕚𝕥 𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕠𝕩. 𝕌𝕤𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕘𝕚𝕔 𝕚𝕗 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥. 𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦.

So I do just that. I write back and do exactly as he asked. I leave it on the window sill and head out. Then another note drops beside me. The parchment is teared but the writing is clear:

𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐢 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐱𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐚𝐲.