CLAUDIA OPENED THE BOOK as she sat down on the large windowsill. She hadn't been able to find any sort of details of what book it was, for the cover was nothing but blank.

However, as soon as she flipped the first page, she discovered what book it was and who it was by as it stood written in a message on the first blank page.

Dear Claudia,

This is a book your mum never got to publish. She finished it, however, but I never got the chance to show you it. Read it very carefully now, my little princess, for it has a meaning.

I'm sorry for it all. I hope I can be there to bring you some comfort and explain it all to you.

Love always,

Gemma.

Claudia frowned upon the message at first, but as soon as she realised just whose handwriting it was, she immediately felt her eyes tear up.

She had always thought that there was practically nothing left of her two favourite people, especially not after her father had informed her of that. But, a message from Gemma and a book written by her mum was right before her, so that didn't seem to be the case.

She was incredibly confused to why the book had been hidden in the wall beside a windowsill of all places, and also who had hidden it there.

Well, of course the action was done by none other than Charles, who had wanted to make sure that no one would ever find that book.

Especially not Claudia.

And still, he made a not so foolproof plan to hide it in his manor instead of destroying it.

Why? Well, there really was no reason for it. Charles Maple was just plain and old stupid.

Claudia opened the first page of the book, and then she read.

Now, would you like to hear how this small little untold tale by Anne Rowle played out?

Well, it started with what one would expect; a fair and beautiful love story. However, it evolved in a strange way that made Claudia understand why Gemma never showed it to her when she was younger.

You see, it was very much like several books Claudia had read in recent years. It wasn't really a romance as it seemed. No, it was horror and thriller and possibly mystery all in one.

Claudia must've sat there on that large windowsill for at least three hours, reading that book. In fact, once she finished it, she looked up and had no idea where she was, what time it was or if the party was still happening upstairs. She had no idea, since she had fallen into a different world like she always did when she got to reading.

All she knew was that she was confused. Gemma said that the book had a meaning, but what meaning was that?

Well, Claudia realised that Gemma wasn't alive anymore, so there was no way she was going to understand.

But, that proved itself to be untrue as Claudia flipped the last page out of boredom and found another message.

Your mother didn't write this because she thought that it would happen to her. She was no seer.

Claudia frowned, for she had no idea what that even meant. However, the message didn't end there, so she continued to read.

I'm sure you're confused by now. I am too, trust me, but she told me of her concerns and then just a few weeks later she died.

As you know, your mum was murdered by a werewolf. But, there was something else about it, my little princess. She didn't die from a random and spontaneous attack. No, it was planned. Just like it was in the book. Everything was just like in the book. A simple coincidence one may say.

Claudia put the book down for a moment as she processed whatever she had just read. The leading lady in the book, Jojo, was a witch who met her husband by chance as he payed for her butterbeer. It was sweet, simple and it seemed a little too good to be true.

However, after the couple's marriage, things started to seem strange. Jojo still wasn't pregnant, and her husband seemed bitter and almost cruel because of that. And, of course, because of other things.

And, well, just as one would expect, the story ended with Jojo's husband murdering her, and getting away with it. Yet, there was one person who knew just what had happened.

Jojo's sister.

Claudia picked the book up again.

That summer, once I came to stay with you two, your mum had published her first book that involved a muggleborn. She knew that it was a risky move, especially considering your father's beliefs and what was happening around us, but she did it anyway. It was a wonderful story, and I suppose you've hopefully have read it by now.

Anyhow, if you haven't, which I bet you have, it was about the life of a young muggleborn woman. It was incredible, and one of the rare few books that involved no romance but simply just struggles of a muggleborn in this society we live in today.

Of course, Charles was furious. But Anne chose to do it anyway, just like she did with everything. She published it, and it got good sales. Yet, it also got a lot of hate. Especially from your father. He expressed his dislike for the book and for your mother's choices and beliefs in a threatening and cruel manner. I'm not sure if you remember, but he came to your house one evening and I had to read for you so that you wouldn't pay attention to his yelling.

After that night, Anne was acting strange. It was as if she knew something bad was about to happen to her. Which it did, because two weeks later she was dead.

Now, here's the thing that I don't really wish to tell you, but I have to. She would've wanted me to. But, Claudia, if I'm anywhere where you can find me, go do so. I don't want you to find this out by reading it yourself.

But, I've accepted a job that puts me in a similar spot as your mum. I work with something related to muggles. So, if I'm not there anymore, it's likely for the same reason your mother isn't.

If I'm not here, please go find someone who you trust.

Claudia chose not to, because she was all alone. But, for just a mere second, she considered just going to Remus. However, she chose not to.

Claudia, that werewolf Fenrir Greyback murdered your mum. But he didn't do it upon his own initiative. He did it out of order from your father.

Just like in the book, me - the sister - found this out. She left me a note, telling me that if anything happens within a span of a few weeks, it's because of him. I can't know it for sure, but everything points towards it. That's why Greyback left you alone. Your father wanted to keep you alive because of your grandmother. He was only there for one reason and that was to kill your mother.

But I can't know for sure. I just know that you need to know the truth, so that your grandmother will let me take you home. She will listen to you, I promise you that.

I'll see you soon, my little princess. Expect me to come there and pick you up and flip your father off very soon. Don't worry, everything is going to be fine.

Staring wide eyed at the book, Claudia failed to breathe. That was pretty much the only thing that could rightfully describe what happened to the girl, because not a single sound did she make nor did she take a single breath.

She just stared as the world played against her and won yet another time.

It was a strange thing how shock could affect a person, because throughout her life Claudia had faced a million reveals that had turned her life upside down.

Claudia wouldn't stop screaming and sobbing when her mum died.

And when Gemma died, she couldn't stop crying.

And when Fayola died, she couldn't stop yelling.

And, during all the other horrible discoveries she had made, she had done one of those things.

But, this time around she only stared.

And it was the scariest reaction of all; the way she showed no emotion. The way she wasn't even surprised, even though it aches inside of her.

She knew it was true. It had to be. It made sense. Her father was a murderer, and she had seen it before right in front of her.

Not even did he care for his own brother, so how could she be so stupid to believe that he wouldn't hurt her mum? That's the one thing that went through her mind.

She blamed herself for not realising it earlier.

And, of course, she realised that Gemma was right about another thing.

She wasn't there anymore either, and it was all because of her father. He had sent Greyback to kill her too, all because of her job.

So, even when Claudia could hear the clicking of her grandmother's cane, she didn't react. No, she didn't even move once Margaret saw the book in her hands and gasped.

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