The Daughter of Valancaire

The afternoon with Poppy and Natty was a delight. We spent hours watching the adorable newborn Kneazles, their tiny paws batting at one another as they mewled softly. Poppy, ever prepared, had brought along a small stash of snacks, so we set up a makeshift picnic just outside the paddock. The sun was warm, the conversation lighthearted, and for a while, I managed to put the strange events of earlier out of my mind.  

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the grounds in a golden hue, we said our goodbyes. Poppy and Natty headed back toward the castle together, their laughter trailing behind them. I walked back to the dormitory alone, my thoughts inevitably drifting back to the journal tucked safely inside my robes.  

**Isidora Morganach.** The name lingered in my mind like an echo. Was she a student here once? A professor, perhaps? And that magic… what kind of enchantment had transported me so suddenly, and why did it feel like the journal had been waiting for me?  

The journal itself was a mystery. Its leather cover was etched with intricate designs, but inside, the pages were completely blank. No matter how much I stared at it, there was no writing, no clue.  

“Maybe the library,” I muttered to myself as I climbed the stairs to the common room. “If anyone has written about Isidora Morganach or magic like this, the library is where I’ll find it.”  

The journal lay heavy in my hands as I stared at its blank pages. Sleep? No, that wouldn’t be happening tonight. My mind was far too restless, buzzing with questions about the magic I’d experienced and the name etched into the journal’s cover: **Isidora Morganach**.  

The mention of the Restricted Section by Ominis earlier suddenly came to mind. My curiosity spiked. Perhaps there were answers there. Maybe I’d drop by tonight. But how?  

I mulled over my options. I could ask Sebastian—he’d know the way around, but he’d just been given detention for sneaking in himself. My brother, Jace? No, not yet. I wasn’t ready to share the strange events of earlier with him.  

“I guess I’ll do it myself,” I muttered.  

Heading down to the common room, I began to plan. I remembered the Disillusionment Charm, one of the first spells I’d taught myself. It wasn’t total invisibility, but it would do the trick. Midnight would be the perfect time. The prefects would be on patrol, but I knew their routes well enough to slip by unnoticed.  

At the stroke of midnight, I slipped out of the dormitory, the journal clutched tightly in my hand. My "sneaking attire" was rather unconventional—black pajamas, the only dark clothing I had. Practical or not, it would have to suffice.  

Casting the Disillusionment Charm, I tiptoed through the dim corridors. The flickering torchlight barely illuminated the way, and I held my breath as I passed by patrolling prefects. Luckily, Peeves was nowhere to be found. He would have been the end of me.  

Finally, the library came into view. I slipped inside, the silence pressing down around me like a thick fog. And there it was—the gate to the Restricted Section. I’d walked past it countless times without a second thought, assuming it was simply a storage area for private records.  

To my surprise, the gate wasn’t even locked. My heart raced as I pushed it open, the hinges creaking slightly in protest. I slipped inside, still hidden under my charm, and gazed around at the shelves filled with dusty, forbidden tomes.  

This was it. The answers I needed could be here. Taking a deep breath, I began to explore the shadowy aisles of the Restricted Section, the weight of the journal a constant reminder of why I was here.

—-

The Restricted Section had a strange, almost eerie atmosphere, unlike the rest of the library. The air was heavier here, thick with the scent of aged parchment, leather bindings, and a faint trace of something metallic—perhaps ink or something far less mundane. Dim candlelight flickered along the walls, casting long, shifting shadows that seemed to breathe with a life of their own.  

The shelves were taller, darker, and older than those in the main library, their wood gnarled and worn from centuries of use. Dust floated lazily in the faint beams of light that filtered down from high windows, making the air feel alive with secrets. The books themselves were as ominous as the space they inhabited. Some were bound in cracked leather, others in materials I dared not identify. Strange titles etched in faded gold or silver lined their spines, many in languages I couldn’t read.  

Occasionally, a faint hum or murmur seemed to echo through the shelves. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but as I pressed on, I noticed that some of the books emitted faint sounds—whispers, groans, or soft rustling as though they were alive. One tome even rattled slightly on its shelf when I passed, its lock trembling as though eager—or desperate—to be opened.  

Candelabras flickered ominously, creating an unsettling interplay of light and shadow that danced across the stone walls. A faint chill seemed to seep from the very floor, creeping up my spine. This was a place of ancient knowledge, its secrets guarded jealously by time and magic.  

Toward the back of the section, a grand, iron-bound lectern stood beneath a stained-glass window that depicted scenes I couldn’t decipher—shapes twisting and writhing, as though alive. The faint sound of a clock ticking somewhere deep within the library reminded me of time slipping by, urging me to keep moving before I was discovered.  

Despite the unease curling in my stomach, I pressed on. This was no ordinary library—this was a treasure trove of forbidden knowledge, and somewhere within these haunted aisles, I hoped to find the answers I sought.

---

I heard a faint shuffling sound, my heart lurching in panic. *Peeves?* I scanned the darkness frantically, unwilling to risk dispelling my disillusion charm. The shadows seemed to deepen around me as I strained my ears for another sound, but the silence returned. Still, I didn’t dare let my guard down.

I crept forward, keeping close to the shelves, the journal tucked securely under my arm. A faint rustling sound came from somewhere deeper in the section, and my pulse quickened. It didn’t sound like Peeves—it was too deliberate, too careful. My disillusionment charm flickered slightly as I hesitated, debating whether to turn back.

Then, I bumped into something solid.

“Ah, bloody hell!”

The voice was unmistakable.

“Sebastian?” I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Jessa?” he whispered back, equally startled. “What on Merlin’s beard are you doing here?”

Sebastian groaned, rubbing his shoulder where I’d bumped into him. “I thought I was the only one crazy enough to sneak in here. What are you doing here, Jessa?” he whispered sharply, his tone a mixture of surprise and annoyance.  

I crossed my arms, glaring at him despite the faint flicker of guilt. “I could ask you the same thing. Didn’t you just get detention for being in here?”  

He huffed, glancing around to make sure no one else was nearby. “I’m not here for fun, if that’s what you think. I’m looking for something—something important.” His eyes narrowed at me, curiosity replacing his irritation. “But you? I didn’t think the hero of Hogsmeade had a rebellious streak.”  

I flushed, thankful for the dim lighting as I whispered back, “I’m not rebelling. I’m… researching.”  

“Researching what?” Sebastian asked, tilting his head as his curiosity deepened.  

I hesitated, gripping the blank journal tighter in my hand. “It’s… complicated. Look, I don’t have time to explain right now. Just… stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”  

“Not a chance,” Sebastian whispered back with a mischievous grin. “You think I’m going to let you wander around here alone? If you get caught, they’ll throw you in detention for a month. You’re lucky you ran into me.”  

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “Fine. But if we get caught, it’s your fault.”  

“Deal,” he said, his grin widening. “Lead the way, troublemaker.”

—-

Sebastian asked if he could help, saying, “Maybe I can help if you tell me what you’re looking for.”  

I hesitated, gripping the journal tightly. “I’m… looking for books about the Hogsmeade lightning incident,” I said, only giving him part of the truth.  

I avoided his gaze, quickly changing the subject. “Let me guess—you’re here to find something for Anne.”  

His expression shifted, his usual smugness replaced with something more somber.  

“I… I heard from Jace,” I continued softly. “I know she’s ill, but I didn’t know it was a curse. I’m so sorry.”  

Sebastian’s grin faltered at the mention of Anne, his eyes darkening slightly. He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly debating whether to respond. “Yeah,” he said eventually, his voice quieter now. “I’m here to find something that might help her. And no need to apologize, Jessa. It’s not your fault.”  

I frowned, gripping the journal in my hands. “But I can’t imagine how hard it must be… watching someone you care about suffer and not being able to do anything.” My voice softened, almost a whisper. “I just… I wish I could help.”  

His gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked at me differently—not as the girl who had just bumped into him in the Restricted Section, but as someone who understood, at least in part, what he was going through. “Thanks,” he said, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. “That means a lot.”  

Sebastian cleared his throat, as if shaking off the vulnerability. “But enough about me. What are you really looking for?

I stiffened, unsure how much to reveal. The truth was too strange, too complicated to explain—not yet, at least. “It’s… just something I’m curious about,” I said evasively, avoiding his gaze. “I thought maybe there was some record of similar magical phenomena in the Restricted Section.”  

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my explanation but choosing not to push further. “Alright,” he said slowly. “But if you’re not going to be honest with me, at least let me help. Two pairs of eyes are better than one.”  

I hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. Let’s just… focus on finding what we need and getting out of here before we’re caught.”  

“Deal,” he said, his grin returning. “But for the record, I’m the one keeping you out of trouble tonight.”  

I rolled my eyes, but my lips twitched in amusement. “Sure, Sebastian. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”  

We started combing through the shelves, each of us scanning the titles for anything that might hold answers. My mind kept wandering back to the journal, the faint ripples of magic that had led me to it, and the name etched on its cover—Isidora Morganach. What connection did she have to the strange events surrounding me?  

As we worked in silence, I couldn’t help glancing at Sebastian. The determination etched on his face was unmistakable, his focus unshakable. Whatever secrets he was chasing in these forbidden tomes, they weren’t just for curiosity’s sake. He was fighting for someone he loved.  

And in that moment, I realized we weren’t so different after all. Both of us were here, risking detention or worse, for answers. Both of us were chasing the unknown. And somehow, I knew that tonight was only the beginning of the mysteries we would uncover together. 

—-

Sebastian and I flipped through the old books, but none of them seemed to hold the information we needed. The silence in the dusty library was only broken by the sound of turning pages. Frustration was beginning to bubble up inside me when suddenly— 

A loud, echoing laugh rang through the shelves.

"Peeves," Sebastian muttered, his voice a mix of irritation and amusement.

Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist, his touch surprisingly firm. "Quick, follow me," he said urgently, his tone sharp and decisive.

I nodded and followed him, my steps matching his as he led me through the narrow aisles between the bookshelves. He moved quickly, his eyes scanning the room as if he were making sure we weren’t being followed. 

He reached a small cupboard at the end of the hall and motioned for me to be quiet before pushing open the door. He stepped inside first and then pulled me in with him, closing the door softly behind us.

"Shhh," he whispered, his voice barely audible, his breath warm against my ear. 

I stood still for a moment, unsure what to do. The space was cramped, and our bodies were a little too close. I could feel his presence all around me, the warmth of him pressing against me in the tiny space. The tension between us was subtle, but it lingered, heavy in the air.

"Just stay still for a moment," he said, his hand brushing against my arm as he steadied himself. 

I nodded, my heart beating a little faster than usual. There was something about being so close to him, in the quiet of this hidden cupboard, that made everything feel more intense, more intimate. It wasn’t exactly uncomfortable—just… different. His presence felt reassuring, yet the closeness made me aware of every small movement, every breath we shared.

We stood there in silence, waiting for the noise outside to fade, the space between us closing slightly but never quite reaching the point where it felt too much.

---

"I think he's gone," Sebastian muttered, peering cautiously around the edge of the cupboard. His eyes flicked back to me, and he raised an eyebrow. "I've been meaning to ask—why the hell are you in pajamas?"

I rolled my eyes, feeling a little embarrassed. "It's my only darker clothes," I replied, shrugging casually.

Before he could respond with some snarky remark, the air around us seemed to shift. A loud, obnoxious laugh echoed from nowhere. 

"Hah! Caught you!" Peeves' voice rang out, gloating and triumphant. 

He appeared suddenly, his face twisted into a mischievous grin as he floated halfway through the wall. "Sebastian Sallow with the new girl—what news, what news!" he sang, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Peeves cackled for a moment longer, then vanished in a puff of laughter, leaving behind a chilling promise. "I'll let Scribner and Black know!" His voice faded, but the words hung in the air like a threat.

Sebastian’s face darkened, and his hand shot out, grabbing my wrist once again. "Come on," he urged urgently. "Let’s go. We can still lie our way out of this if we get back to the common room without anyone seeing us."

We moved quickly, our footsteps quick and quiet against the stone floor, but luck wasn’t on our side. Just as we reached the restricted gate, we froze. A prefect was standing there, arms crossed, waiting. 

"Perfect timing," Sebastian muttered under his breath, his gaze flicking between me and the prefect. 

-------

We were both guided away by one prefect, and just as we turned the corner, another arrived, joining the first. They didn’t need to say much—both wore the same disapproving frown, their eyes narrowed as they took us in.

"You two should look forward to your detentions," the first prefect said coldly, the words like ice. "And more if you're not careful."

The second prefect barely spared us a glance, their expression just as stern. The weight of their disappointment hung over us like a heavy cloud, making the walk back to our common rooms feel even longer.

Once they finally let us go, I trudged back to the dormitory, my mind still reeling from the entire ordeal. I collapsed onto my bed, staring up at the ceiling, trying to push the frustration away.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day—detentions, maybe more trouble. But even with all that hanging over me, there was something else on my mind, something I couldn’t shake.

I thought back to the moment in the cupboard—the way Sebastian’s breath had brushed against my ear, the tension in the air between us. His proximity had stirred something in me, something I hadn’t expected. The way he’d looked at me, his touch, even the way he moved—it had all felt different, like the space between us wasn’t just physical.

My heart beat a little faster as I remembered the intensity of it all. I couldn’t help but wonder what it meant, what would happen next. 

With a sigh, I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, but it was hard. Tomorrow may be long, but the question of what was growing between us wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.