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{ENZO}

{TWO DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS}

It had been months since Enzo had last heard from Esmie.

Each day without news dragged on, the silence like a weight pressing down on his chest. He knew the risk of contacting her was too great, and that any letter could potentially be intercepted, endangering Esmie's life, but the knowledge that he was cut off from her, unable to reach out or even find out how she was doing, left him in a state of constant anxiety.

As he walked into the Great Hall, Enzo noted that the festive cheer that normally characterised Christmas at Hogwarts was starkly missing, subdued under Snape's administration. Sparse tables were scattered with the few students who remained, their voices muted by the oppressive atmosphere. Enzo sighed to himself as he glanced around before he made his way over to the table where Elsie and Josie sat.

"Enzo, you look awful," Elsie said softly, her brow furrowed with concern. 

"I'm fine," he muttered, though the deep lines etched into his face told another story. He pushed food around his plate, appetite gone, his mind spiralling back to Esmie.

Danielle and Mattheo soon joined them, and as they did, Danielle caught the exhaustion in Enzo's eyes and glanced at Mattheo, who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

"I know we miss them, but we should still try to enjoy Christmas," Josie suggested, attempting to brighten the mood.

Elsie shook her head, "How can we, when Snape hasn't even bothered with decorations? It doesn't feel like Christmas at all."

"It's not Christmas without Emsie," Enzo murmured, his voice cracking as he spoke. "I don't know where she is – or if she's okay."

Danielle reached over, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "We'll figure this out, and –"

Before Dani could continue, Snape's cold voice cut through the conversation, "Mr. Berkshire. My office. Now."

Enzo's heart sank as he rose, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "What now?" he muttered under his breath as he followed Snape out of the hall.

The office, once filled with Dumbledore's warmth and wisdom, now felt like a tomb. Shelves of ominous tones lined the walls, and Snape stood behind the desk, his dark eyes unreadable.

"Take a seat, Mr. Berkshire," he said.

"I'll stand," Enzo replied, crossing his arms.

Snape's lip curled slightly, but he continued. "Where is my daughter?"

The words hit Enzo like a blow. It was the first time Snape had ever referred to Esmie as his daughter, and the bitterness in his voice only fuelled Enzo's anger.

"I haven't heard from her in weeks, Professor," he said, his fists clenching at his sides as he spoke.

"I find that hard to believe," Snape pressed. "You're fond of her – perhaps even foolishly so. I'm certain she would have confided in you."

Enzo's restraint snapped, "You've never cared about her before, but now that she's missing, you're playing the concerned father? Spare me."

Snape's face darkened, "Watch your tone, Mr. Berkshire."

Enzo's voice rose, "You don't get to act like you care. If you did, you would've protected her long before now!"

"Enough!" Snape's voice lashed out, sharp as a whip. "Where. Is. Esmeralda?"

"I don't know!" Enzo shouted back, his frustration boiling over. He turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, the echo of his footsteps swallowed by the silent corridors.

Tears blurred his vision as he wandered aimlessly. The weight of his helplessness crushed him, every memory of Esmie a knife twisting deeper. They'd dreamed of their last Christmas at Hogwarts, of stolen moments by the fire and plans for a future now so painfully out of reach.

~*~

After leaving the Great Hall, Danielle and Mattheo had found themselves in one of the quieter corridors of Hogwarts. The usual hum of student chatter had faded, replaced by an unsettling stillness that seemed to settle over the castle.

"Esmie has been missing for weeks now," Danielle said, her voice laced with worry. She leaned against the cold stone wall, arms crossed tightly as if to shield herself from the unease creeping into her thoughts, "We need to do something."

Mattheo stood a few paces away, his back against a tall suit of armour, his gaze fixed on the floor. His usual demeanour seemed dulled, his responses slower, his movements more hesitant.

"We'll figure it out," he murmured, but the words felt hollow even to him. His jaw tightened as he avoided meeting Danielle's eyes.

Danielle studied him carefully. She knew her twin brother well enough to recognise when something was off. His reluctance, the way his fingers fidgeted with the edge of his sleeve, the way he refused to look at her directly – all of it screamed that he was holding something back.

"You're not telling me everything," she said, taking a step closer. Her tone was calm but carried an edge that demanded honesty. "What is it, Mattheo? You've been acting strange for weeks now."

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark hair. "It's nothing," he said too quickly, his voice strained. "Just ... everything about this is getting to me."

"Don't lie to me," Danielle pressed. "If you know something about why Esmie's missing, you need to tell me."

For a moment, Mattheo remained silent, Dani's words hanging in the air. His fingers stilled, and he finally lifted his gaze to meet hers. There was conflict in his eyes, a war between his need to protect and the growing guilt of withholding the truth.

"Danielle," he began, his voice low and careful, "if I say anything, it might make things worse. Not just for Esmie, but for all of us."

Her eyes narrowed, "Worse than not knowing where she is? Worse than sitting here while she could be in danger?"

Mattheo hesitated again, then shook his head, pushing off the wall. "We'll find her," he said, sidestepping the question. "Let's check the library. Maybe there's something there that can help."

Reluctantly, Danielle followed him, though suspicion gnawed at her. They soon reached the library and began searching for answers, but the flickering candlelight of the library did little to soothe Dani's unease as they sifted through dusty tomes in near silence.

"There has to be something here," Dani finally broke the silence as she flipped through another brittle volume. Mattheo, seated across from her, turned a page without seeing it. His thoughts were far from the dusty texts before him, chained instead to the secret gnawing at his conscience. He knew the truth about Esmie's disappearance – a truth too perilous to share. Guilt coiled tighter around him with every glance at Danielle's resolute expression.

Danielle placed a hand on his arm, her touch breaking through his inner turmoil, "We'll find her, Mattheo. We have to."

He met her gaze, the sincerity in her words offering a sliver of comfort, though the weight of his knowledge remained. "I hope so," he murmured.

Meanwhile, Enzo wandered the castle's empty corridors, each step a reminder of Esmie's absence. The cold stone walls, once a source of solace, now felt confining. His mind replayed memories of her laughter and warmth, a painful contrast to the aching void left behind.

Standing outside the library, he hesitated, his hand hovering over the heavy wooden doors before finally pushing them open. The familiar scent of parchment and ink wrapped around him as he stepped inside, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. He wandered aimlessly through the rows of books, his eyes skimming over titles he barely registered, searching for a sense of solace he knew he wouldn't find. With a quiet sigh, he left the library, oblivious to the presence of Danielle and Mattheo nearby. Instead, his feet carried him to the Astronomy Tower — the one place Esmie always sought when she needed solitude, and the only place that still made him feel connected to her.

Meanwhile, Danielle and Mattheo continued with their search, their efforts yielding little but growing frustration. Danielle's determination never faltered, but even she knew their search was fruitless.

"Maybe we're missing something," she said, her voice strained. "There has to be a clue somewhere."

Mattheo sighed, closing the book in front of him. "If there is, we haven't found it yet." He paused, guilt flickering across his face. "And I don't know if it'll be enough."

Danielle turned to him, her expression softening, "You're carrying something, Mattheo. I can see it. Whatever it is, you don't have to bear it alone."

His eyes darted away, unable to meet hers. "I'm fine," he lied, the weight of his secret passing harder against him.

Enzo, meanwhile, found himself back in the Great Hall, the holiday decorations still absent and the atmosphere sombre. He sat alone, staring at his untouched food, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The absence of Esmie was a constant ache in his heart, and not knowing what had happened to her was almost unbearable.

His thoughts were soon interrupted by the arrival of Danielle and Mattheo. They took their seats at the table, their faces reflecting their own worries. Enzo looked up, his eyes meeting theirs, and saw the concern etched on their faces.

"Where were you?" Enzo asked them.

"The library. We were looking for answers to Esmie's disappearance," Danielle replied.

"Did you find anything?" Enzo asked, his voice tinged with hope.

Danielle shook her head, "We looked through everything we could think of, but we didn't find any answers."

Mattheo remained silent. He wanted to offer more, to be more helpful, but the burden of his own secrets was too great. The guilt of knowing more than he could reveal was a constant source of torment.

Enzo sighed, "I don't know what to do. I feel so helpless."

Danielle placed a comforting hand on Enzo's arm, "I don't know how we're going to do it, but I promise Enzo, we will find her. No matter how long it takes, no matter what we have to face, we're not giving up, and you will see her again."

Enzo swallowed hard, his throat tight with emotion. For a moment, he couldn't find the words, but finally, he managed to speak, his voice rough and trembling. "What if we don't, Dani? What if –" he broke off, shaking his head as though trying to dispel the dark thought. "I can't lose her. She's everything to me. If something's happened to her. I don't know how I'll ..." He trailed off again, his eyes glistening as he looked down at her hand on his arm. "But I want to believe you. I need to believe you."

Danielle squeezed his arm gently, "Then believe me, Enzo. We're not losing her, not now, not ever."

Enzo gave a small nod, his gaze dropping back to his untouched food. As he pushed it around his plate, he silently prayed that Dani was right — that they would find Esmie. All he wanted, all he needed, was to see her again.

The days leading up to Christmas dragged on. The castle's holiday cheer felt like an afterthought, lacking decorations and any kind of festive cheer. And as the days went on, Enzo had grown quieter and more withdrawn. Mattheo and Danielle noticed but they didn't press him, assuming he was simply lost in his thoughts about Esmie.

On Christmas Eve, as snow drifted lazily against the castle's tower, Enzo sat alone in the dormitory, staring at a folded letter resting in his hands. The familiar, looping script on the parchment made his stomach twist; Bellatrix Lestrange. His mother's words were as cold and commanding as ever, ordering his return to Malfoy manor. No explanations. No room for argument.

He read the letter again, his jaw tightening. He had no intention of sharing this with Danielle and Mattheo for he knew they would try and stop him from going.

Slipping the letter into his pocket, Enzo glanced toward the door, his chest tightening with the weight of secrecy. He hated the lies, but what choice did he have? If Bellatrix wanted him back at the manor, there had to be a reason – likely one that would only make everything more complicated.

By the time Danielle and Mattheo found him hours later, it was too late. His bed was empty, his belongings untouched.

"Where is he?" Danielle asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Mattheo's eyes narrowed, his expression dark. "He's gone."

As Enzo made his way through the snow-covered grounds toward the waiting carriage, his heart was heavy. He didn't know what awaited him at Malfoy Manor, but he had no choice. Bellatrix had called, and he couldn't disobey. Little did he know the events that were about to take place.

~*~

Esmie's Christmas Eve

Running was becoming exhausting.

Esmie had been on the run for weeks now, with no clear end in sight. The cold, damp air bit at her skin, and her footsteps, once quick and determined, now dragged heavily. She knew by now it had to be close to Christmas. The realisation that she would be spending this holiday alone was a bitter pill to swallow. Lying on the floor of a dilapidated hut she had stumbled across; Esmie couldn't shake the weight of loneliness that pressed down on her.

Her thoughts drifted to her friends. The memories of shared laughter, secrets, and the camaraderie they had fostered over the years felt like distant echoes now. Esmie wondered what they were doing at this very moment and where they might be for Christmas. She wiped away the tears that had begun to fall, feeling utterly alone and abandoned.

The absence of Enzo hit her hardest. The warmth of his smile, the comfort of his presence, and the way he always seemed to understand her without words — she missed him terribly. Their time together had been a sanctuary, a place where she felt truly herself. Now, every memory of him felt like a cruel reminder of how much she had lost. She recalled their last moments together, the way he had looked at her with such warmth and affection, and it made the separation more painful.

Esmie took out the piece of parchment she had been carrying for weeks, hoping it might offer some guidance or comfort. To her frustration, it remained blank. Groaning in frustration, she was about to tear it up when she noticed writing beginning to appear.

Godric's Hollow is the place you want to be this Christmas Eve.

"Godric's Hollow?" Esmie whispered to herself, confusion and curiosity battling within her. She had heard of the place, its historical significance, and the tragedy that had occurred there, but why would the parchment lead her here? Determined to follow the mysterious directive, she gathered her belongings, took a deep breath, and focused on the location as she apparated.

The air in Godric's Hollow felt different charged with history and past events. Esmie looked around, feeling a sense of foreboding. She walked down the quiet street until she came to a house that was familiar from old photographs and stories. It was the house she had read about, the one associated with the tragic events of Halloween night in 1981.

As she stood there, a shiver ran down her spine. The house seemed to exude an eerie presence, as if it were a monument to loss and grief. Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her and instinctively moved to hide. A familiar voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Esmie?"

"Hermione?" Esmie turned around to see Harry and Hermione approaching. Relief surged through her, and she hurried to them, throwing her arms around them in a tight hug.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, her voice filled with both surprise and concern.

Esmie hugged them both tightly before glancing around and noticing Ron's absence. "Do you remember the parchment Dumbledore left for me?"

"Yes, I think so," Hermione replied, her brow furrowing in thought.

"Well, it told me to come here. Where's Ron?" Esmie's eyes darted between them, her concern growing.

Hermione's face fell and she quickly changed the subject. "I still think we should have used Polyjuice Potion," she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

"No, this is where I was born. I'm not returning as someone else," Harry said firmly. The distant tolling of a bell marked the night. Esmie slipped her arm through Harry's, and the three of them began walking through the town.

"Good night!" a man's voice called out, adding to the Christmas Eve atmosphere.

"Harry, I think it's Christmas Eve," Hermione said.

Esmie listened to the faint sound of Christmas carols being sung somewhere in the distance, a bittersweet reminder of the festive season. "Do you think they'd be in there?" Harry asked, gesturing toward the graveyard.

Esmie understood immediately. "Yeah, I think they would."

Hand in hand with Harry, she led the way into the graveyard, with Hermione following close behind. The graveyard was peaceful, with the soft glow of moonlight illuminating the snow-covered ground. As they walked, Esmie's thoughts wandered to the significance of this place. They soon reached the graves of Harry's parents. Harry came to a stop in front of them, his face a mask of sorrow.

Esmie gently squeezed his hand, offering silent support. Hermione knelt and conjured a wreath of flowers, placing it reverently in front of the grave. The moment was poignant and filled with a sombre respect.

"Merry Christmas, Harry. Merry Christmas, Hermione," Esmie said softly.

"Merry Christmas, Esmie," Harry and Hermione replied in unison.

The three of them stood together in quiet reflection. As they did, Esmie noticed Hermione looking toward the church with a concerned expression. "Harry, there's someone watching us by the church."

"I think I know who that is," Harry said, his voice low and determined. They followed him as he approached the figure. Esmie felt a growing sense of unease as they walked.

"I don't like this, Harry," Esmie said.

"Hermione, she knew Dumbledore. She might have the sword," Harry explained.

"The sword? As in the Sword of Gryffindor?" Esmie asked.

"Yes, that sword," Harry confirmed. They continued toward what remained of the Potter house, its upper level a shell of its former self. The house had been reduced to ruins, a stark reminder of the violence that had occurred there.

"This is where they died. This is where he murdered them," Harry said, his voice heavy with emotion. As they approached, a woman appeared beside Harry, and he nudged her gently. The woman turned and began walking away.

"You're Bathilda, aren't you?" Harry asked.

The woman didn't respond but continued to move away from them. Hermione and Harry exchanged worried glances, and Esmie felt a surge of apprehension. She followed them as they entered Bathilda's house, the atmosphere inside growing increasingly ominous.

"I don't like this," Esmie whispered to Hermione.

"I know, but Harry thinks Bathilda knows where the sword is. We need it to destroy the Horcruxes," Hermione explained.

"Have you found any yet?" Esmie asked.

"Yes, we found the real locket. Umbridge had it," Hermione said.

Esmie nodded, her mind racing. She noticed Hermione pick up a book titled The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledoreby Rita Skeeter.

"That dreadful woman from the Daily Prophet wrote a book about Dumbledore?" Esmie asked, moving closer to Hermione to see the book.

Before Hermione could answer, Esmie heard what sounded like someone speaking in Parseltongue. She frowned, about to point it out to Hermione, when she noticed Hermione looking at something.

"Esmie, what's that?" Hermione asked. Esmie followed her gaze and saw a disturbing sight: the room was filled with buzzing flies, and blood stained the ceiling.

"Hermione!" Esmie called out as Hermione fell, her face pale. Esmie rushed to help her up.

"I'm fine. We need to help Harry," Hermione said, her voice steady despite her pale face.

As they hurried upstairs, Esmie's heart pounded. They reached the top and saw a giant snake attacking Harry. Hermione blasted it, but Esmie and Hermione were forced to duck and cover as the snake fell through a hole in the floor.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Esmie asked, her voice trembling.

The snake lunged again. "Confringo!" Esmie shouted, sending an explosive blast at the creature. The force of the explosion shook the house.

"We need to get out of here, now!" Esmie shouted.

"Esmie, grab Harry's hand. I'll get us out of here," Hermione instructed. Esmie grabbed Harry's hand while Hermione took hold of her own, and they apparated away from the chaos, relieved to be together despite the danger they had narrowly escaped.

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Harry, Esmie and Hermione have reunited. Poor Enzo 🥺

Enjoy! Xo

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