The Daughter of Valancaire

Jace's POV

Jace sat at the edge of his bed in the Slytherin dormitory, staring at the letter in his hands. The familiar, neatly folded parchment seemed to weigh more than it should, the ink on the page scrawled by his father’s hand, a firm but loving script that sent a deep pang of longing through him. He had hoped, prayed even, that this letter would say something different—that it would tell him he could go home, that he could see his twin sister, Jessa, now that she was awake.

But no.

With a sigh, Jace tossed the letter onto the bed beside him, rubbing his eyes with frustration. The light in the common room flickered softly as the shadows stretched across the walls. He could feel the walls of Hogwarts pressing in on him sometimes, especially when he thought about Jessa. She was awake, and yet he couldn’t even write to her. Not properly. Not yet.

His father’s words echoed in his mind: *She needs time, Jace. And you need to give her that. It’s been a long seven years, and she must find her own way.*

Jace didn’t like it. He didn’t like it one bit. How could she need time? She was his twin. The bond between them had always been undeniable—he felt her absence like a missing limb. She had been taken from him, and now that she was back, why couldn’t he see her? Why couldn’t he *help* her?

He picked up the letter again and reread the last part.

*You will be reunited soon enough. She will join you at Hogwarts this year. Her path is her own, but it will be good for her to meet others and be among her peers. When she arrives, be patient with her. I know you’ll understand.*

The words stung, but they also filled him with a strange kind of relief. She was coming to Hogwarts. Finally. He had heard the news about her waking up, but knowing she would be here, in the same place, soon... it was more than he had dared to hope for. It was everything.

Still, the distance between them seemed unbearable. There was so much he needed to say to her, so much he needed to share.

Jace let out a breath, his gaze wandering to the window. Outside, the moon was high, casting a silver glow on the grounds. He could almost see her out there, somewhere. Could almost feel the faint echo of her presence through their twin bond. It wasn’t as strong as it had been before she was lost to the world. The connection had dulled over the years, but Jace could still sense her, like a flicker of warmth in the cold darkness of the night.

How much had she changed? How would she react to him?

*She will need time*, his father had said again, and again, as though the words themselves could somehow make it easier.

Jace’s thoughts drifted to the last time they’d been together. He was only nine years old then—so young, so unaware of how the world could twist. How suddenly the sister she talks and plays with everyday was taken from her. Taken by that damn curse. 

Now, she was coming to Hogwarts.

And he would be there to greet her. To help her find her way. To remind her that she wasn’t alone.

But there was one thing his father had made clear: he wasn’t supposed to make any direct contact with her just yet. No letters, no visits, no questions asked. *She needs time*. The words played on repeat, and each time they did, the knot in Jace’s chest tightened.

He stood abruptly, pacing across the room. His breath quickened, frustration boiling beneath the surface. He wanted—no, needed—answers. He wanted to know what had happened to her. Why had she been taken? Why had his parents kept him in the dark for so long?

Jace had always been curious. Always the one to ask questions, to dig deeper. But when it came to Jessa, it was like the answers didn’t exist. There were only shadows and silence. And that silence had grown into something suffocating.

He sighed again, running a hand through his messy blond hair. It was long enough now to fall into his eyes, but it never bothered him. His hair was a lighter shade than their mother’s, almost golden, and had always set him apart in the family—his father's son in that regard. But tonight, it felt like just one more thing that kept him isolated. One more thing that separated him from everything he wanted.

“Damn it,” he muttered to himself, looking down at the letter once more. It was frustrating, this waiting. All he wanted was to see her, to hear her laugh again, to hold her close and remind her that she was still part of him. But that would have to wait.

He sat back down on the bed, staring at the letter in his hands, trying to steady his thoughts.

*Be patient,* his father had said. *It will be good for her to meet others...*

A small, wry smile tugged at Jace’s lips. His father had no idea how *good* it would be for Jessa to meet him. To have her twin by her side again. To help her navigate this strange, magical world.

Jace had grown up in it—had been raised on its rules, its politics, its dangers. He was older now, stronger, wiser. And though he had a temper—a quick, explosive one at that—he was also cunning, a trait his Slytherin house had nurtured in him over the years. He could be patient. He could wait for the right moment to make his move, to finally speak to his sister.

But when she arrived at Hogwarts, there would be no more waiting. No more distance.

He was going to show her what her world could be. And he was going to do it *his* way.

Just then, the door to the dormitory creaked open, and Jace glanced over to see a figure standing in the doorway—Sebastian Sallow. His pale face was speckled with freckles, his sharp features framed by messy brown hair that fell into his eyes. He wasn’t one of Jace’s closest friends, but they were familiar enough with each other, especially after spending the summer together in the Slytherin common room.

“Pacing again, Valancaire,” Sebastian said dryly, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on his face. “Careful, you’ll wear a hole in the floor. What’s got you so worked up?”

Jace stopped pacing, narrowing his eyes slightly. He wasn’t in the mood for Sebastian’s usual banter, but he figured he might as well indulge him. 

“Just... thinking,” Jace muttered, the frustration still thick in his voice. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, pushing himself off the doorframe and stepping into the room. “I might surprise you, Valancaire,” he said, his tone unexpectedly softening. “I heard some rumors floating around the castle. Something about another Valancaire joining Hogwarts this year.”

Jace froze. He hadn't been expecting anyone else to know about it. How would Sebastian have heard about it? His heart skipped a beat as his mind raced. 

“What are you talking about?” he asked, trying to keep his voice neutral, though his pulse quickened. “Who told you that?”

Sebastian shrugged, walking further into the room and dropping onto the edge of Jace’s bed, clearly unbothered by Jace’s curiosity. “A few of the first years were talking about it. Some said it was a rumor, others swear it’s true. Apparently, a Valancaire... a *twin*, is coming to Hogwarts this year. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

Jace’s stomach flipped. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind in a dizzying rush. He wanted to shout the truth, to tell Sebastian everything. The curse. The mysterious disappearance. His father's strict orders. But he couldn’t. He had promised his father that he wouldn't tell anyone about the curse—at least not yet. Not until Jessa was ready.

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady.

“She’s... she’s been ill,” Jace said, his words carefully measured. “That’s why she wasn’t able to attend school all this time. She needed... time to recover. It’s complicated.”

Sebastian didn’t seem convinced. He narrowed his eyes, studying Jace for a moment, but then his expression softened, and he lowered his gaze, looking distant for a second. 

“I understand,” he said quietly. “My twin sister... she couldn’t attend school either, because of a curse. It was cast on us during our fourth year. Goblins were involved. The curse... it’s been a long road for her, too. Sometimes, there’s more to the story than anyone knows. I get it.” 

Jace blinked in surprise, his eyes narrowing as he studied Sebastian more closely. He knew about Anne. Of course, he did. Everyone knew. Anne Sallow had been one of the most brilliant witches their age—until the curse had struck her down. She hadn’t been able to return to school since. 

Jace felt a sharp stab of guilt as Sebastian spoke. Their shared predicament—the mystery of their siblings' absences, the weight of the curses that had been cast upon them both—was all too familiar.

“I know about Anne,” Jace said quietly, his voice filled with quiet sorrow. “I'm sorry.”

Sebastian gave him a quick, understanding look, the faintest hint of sympathy in his gaze.

“We all have our burdens, Valancaire,” he said softly. “But you’re not alone in this.”

Jace nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his situation settle heavier on his shoulders. 

When Jessa arrived at Hogwarts, he would make sure she knew that.