A few days later, Davies came back to visit both the witch and her carrier as he promised. When he slid through the witch's walls, he immediately felt the tension inside her quarters. What he saw next petrified him in place.

The witch – Florina was sitting on a wheel chair with both her arms and legs in a cast looking sad and depressed as ever. Beside her, Rose was sitting on the ground with her face in her palms sobbing silently her shiny silver wings dimmed.

He hovered over to her and cleared his throat to announce his presence. The fairy immediately looked up astonished. When she noticed her friend standing in front of her giving her a sad smile, she flew to him and crushed him in a bear hug.

Davies chuckled softly hugging her back. His eyes landed on Florina and he smiled casually back to her nodding. She didn't address him, almost as if he was invisible. He was taken by surprise and at once his smile was gone.

He wasn't used to that peculiar behaviour from Florina. He was aware she couldn't get up to greet him but she surely could vocally greet him.

After a few moments of them staring blankly at each other, he gave her another cautious smile but she didn't return it. She kept staring at him with cold eyes, all the brightness and happy shimmer gone from her ocean blue eyes. It seemed as if the happy woman that lived behind those eyes died a long time ago.

Davies finally let Rose go and she saw worry and confusion itched across his face. He immediately whispered, "What is going on Prim? Why is she so silent?"

Rose looked over her shoulder and then looked back at him her eyes swollen with tears. "I-I don't know Davies. Ever since she woke up she has been like this. Doesn't want to eat or drink or even move from that location. Snape gave her a book to read and she abandoned it as well."

They both looked back at Florina to see her looking at the ceiling and not facing the two of them. Rose took the opportunity and held Davies's hand dragging him with her to Florina's office where they can be alone.

Once they were alone, Rose whispered, "Is it... is this a normal behaviour after the cursing ritual?"

Davies shrugged softly pinching the bridge of his nose in concentration, "I have no idea dear friend. I have never witnessed that vial ritual. Come to think of it, it makes sense for her behaviour to change after such a horrendous act."

Rose put her hand over mouth, "Wh-What happens in that ritual Davies?" she didn't let him answer however and jumped in again "I know Florina. I know her very well. After her days in St. Mungo's, she became a happy optimistic person. The human healers knew how to cure her from her depression. She became fine Davies. Do you think she..."

She shed silent tears not wanting to finish her thought.

Davies patted her shoulder getting closer to her. "I hope she doesn't relapse, if she is as strong as you say, there will be nothing to worry about. She is just in shock, it's understandable. Give her time Prim."

Rose slowly nodded and wiped her tears. Going back to the living room, Davies flew to Florina and crouched down to her.

"I am truly sorry for what happened to you my dear lady," he said in a voice higher than a whisper.

Like usual, the witch didn't acknowledge the ghost's presence and kept gazing at the ceiling. Davies let out a short sigh and got up. "Prim," he said calmly "before I leave, there is something I need to tell you."

"What is it?"

"Nixie's troops are coming to collect Florina tonight. You need to make a decision quickly. Where does your loyalty lie?"

Rose took a deep breath and nodded in Florina's direction, "With Florina. I am not letting Nixie get to her."

"Very well," Davies nodded "So there are two things that needs to be done now. We have to first find a hiding place for Miss Florina, a place where no one will expect her in."

The fairy scrunched up her face thinking but not long after however, an idea came to her. "How about I build her a small hut in the forbidden forest for the both of us? Nixie's troops will never think of entering the forest."

Davies took some time to consider her solution but then he quickly shook his head. "It is still within Hogwarts' grounds. We need to hide her very far away from here."

"Well," Rose sighed as she sat on the ground "do you have any ideas?"

The ghost joined her on the ground, "She could stay at one of the wizard's house, at least until Nixie's troops search for her somewhere else other than Hogwarts."

Rose nodded contemplating the idea. She then looked up at Florina who wasn't looking down at them. The fairy slowly hovered beside Florina and whispered, "I remember David invited you to stay with him, I think we should go and accept his invitation."

Florina didn't respond to Rose, didn't even pat an eyelash and kept gazing at the sky. Davies softly shook his head to Rose as a gesture to leave the witch alone. Rose nodded in agreement and sat back down.

"How can we go to him Davies when she is in that state?" Rose netted her hands on her lap "I certainly cannot talk to him, I am invisible to humans remember."

"I will go then," Davies said in determination.

Rose shifted slightly confused, "But he doesn't know you Davies, even if he does, he won't take too kindly to your presence."

The ghost got up hovering in front of the duo. "Leave it up to me," he smiled down at her.

Rose was doubtful but she nodded regardless. Davies took another deep breath, "The other thing we need to do is for you to be far away from Miss Florina."

The fairy knew that she had to leave Florina at some point for her safety but she didn't know it was going to be that soon. Rose looked down at her netted hands and whispered, "How soon?"

"Tonight at midnight or tomorrow morning maximum. This will give time for your trace to disappear from her. It should take a few hours for the trace to be completely gone and hence they cannot find her at all."

Rose nodded. Davies took her hands in his, "When you are far enough from her, you will need to distract them Prim. They are bound to follow your trace thinking that Florina is with you. Don't let them catch you, and remember, never stay at one place for more than five hours."

Rose nodded once more taking a quick glance at Florina to see the ocean blue eyes looking back at her slight hurt evident in her eyes. The ghost got up and bid the fairy farewell. With a swish of his withered cloak, he disappeared out of the office.

************

"Dickenson!" Severus exclaimed as he held the taller wizard firmly to prevent him from attacking the ghost.

"Let go of me Snape!" David yelled trying to get out of the potion's master titanium grip and launch at the ghost "He was the reason she almost got raped and now you tell me to listen to him."

"Yes!" Severus shot back and twisted the other wizard's arm taking control over him.

"Mister David, please," the ghost pleaded calmly "there was nothing I could do, they attacked us from every direction and I didn't get time to react. Please believe me."

"Believe you!" David yelled "Did you see the state she was in when we found her? What kind of excuse is that? You were a COWARD! You escaped while they proceeded to..."

David found his tongue tied unable to finish his sentence. He was fuming and couldn't think rationally. Severus took the opportunity of his distraction and pushed him down on a sofa.

"He is telling the truth Dickenson," Severus said coldly as the other wizard glared at him "He is a ghost for Merlin's sake, he cannot attack her nor cause her any harm. Try to think rationally."

David didn't respond to the potion's master right away but instead resorted to glaring at him silently. The other wizard softened his gaze internally empathizing with him. Davies came forward and whispered slowly, "Please Mister David. Miss Florina is running out of time and she needs your help."

The emerald eyes slowly searched the ghostly silvery eyes in a mix of hatred and confusion. He took a short breath and said, "What do you mean she needs me?"

Davies hovered in front of the wizard, "We are going to ask you for a huge favour Mister David in hopes that you are the only one that can do it."

David raised a brow, "And what will that favour be?

The shimmering ghost took a deep breath, "Miss Florina is being targeted by some evil entities and we need to hide her somewhere safe. The only location she cannot be found is your house. She cannot stay at Hogwarts and Professor's Snape house is out of the question too."

Severus was staring at the pair deep in concentration. He didn't intervene. David however wore a confused look, "For your information mister, Florina was already going to stay with me. I invited her over and she agreed before you showed up that dark horrible night."

Davies chuckled nodding. "Oh yes Mister David, I am completely aware of that fact. Florina has already told me," the wizard's confusion was through the roof so Davies added "perhaps I should rephrase my statement, you cannot stay together with her alone."

The tall wizard sighed in anger, "Why the hell not? I am going to make sure no one get to her, she is my responsibility."

The ghost gave him a smile, "That is very admirable of you. However she needs to be protected by a powerful aura and yours is not enough to protect her. She needs a much stronger aura around her at all times. You both will have a third guest."

David sighed angrily, "And who is that?"

"Professor Snape," Davies said cautiously as he stole a quick glance at Severus who tensed up.

David fully turned to the potions master and stood up, rage evident in his eyes, "No way in hell am I going to allow Snape to stay with us. It's enough that I see his delightful face every day at Hogwarts."

"Careful Dickenson," Severus warned him his voice dangerously low.

David ignored him and scoffed. The ghost frowned slightly, "I completely understand your frustration Mister David," he began slowly "however you also have to think of Miss Florina. She will be extremely vulnerable without him. If she gets attacked, which might happen very soon, there will be nothing to protect –"

The emerald eyed wizard immediately jumped in, "I will be capable of protecting her –

Davies shook his head softly interrupting, "That is very admirable and courageous of you Mister David but unfortunately you simply cannot. She is being threatened by entities not of this world. They can render you immobile with one single incantation. And they can certainly get rid of her likewise."

David turned to Severus and snorted, "And Snape is the holy saviour who will stop them with his glowing halo?"

Severus rolled his eyes but once again chose not to intervene since the topic brought up was important to him. He turned to the ghost who tried his best to convince David.

"I don't know about the halo but yes he can prevent any attack on her with just his aura. It's not really something he is aware of nor will he be required to do anything to defend Florina. Just by him being near her is enough."

The ghost turned to Severus for support. The potions master sighed and stood up, "He has a point Dickenson. Remember when she fainted in Antarctica, apparently by just me touching her, I brought her back to life. You care about her, don't you?" Severus smirked.

David immediately glared at Severus but it didn't last long. His attention was still on the ghost. He sighed, "Well then, I want to be like him. Teach me Davies. Teach me the ways I can make my aura powerful enough to protect her."

Davies chuckled softly shaking his head, "Unfortunately Mister David, that is not a skill you can acquire. It is developed naturally in the human body."

The emerald eyed wizard slumped back down on his sofa in defeat. He remained silent for a few moments before saying grumpily, "So you are saying that there is no other options except for mister sunshine to stay with us."

Davies gave him a wide grin as he nodded, "Thatis correct."