"Look Cassie. He's just grumpy with the things going on. Katie Bell, Malfoy, his meetings with Dumbledore...."

"I know that Mione'. I know what's going on. I'm gonna stay away from him for a bit. Let him understand on his own."

------ 

It was November, I felt the months were going too quick. But it was finally Hogsmede weekend, and Terrance was going to be there. I waited by a tree in Hogsmede, for him to come. And he did. 

"Hi!" I waved enthusiastically, and he reflected my huge smile. "Hi!"

"So long time no see..... no hear......" I said.

"I'm sorry. Classes were hard, and it was just so cramped."

"I get it. This year was definitely hectic."

"Oh really? Let's here the story."

And thus I started. The story of the whole year. Laura, me being mind controlled, etc. I left out Walburga Black and Draco though, those were things that I couldn't let the world know.

"Thats- That's a lot. Well I may have something to lower down the side effects of the curse. I'll get it for you by next Hogsmede weekend?"

"Really? That would be great! How much will it cost though?"

"Don't worry about that. Anything for my girlfriend."

We sat there talking about things, and how his course was going on. 

It had been an hour, and we felt that we had finally caught up with each other. "Hey Cassie. I've come to the decision that we meet at the Three Broomsticks at 3:00 today. Sounds good?" asked a guy by the name Jaxon Gael from Ravenclaw. 

"Yes, that would be great. Thank you. Anything I have to bring along?"

"Nope. Just your presence. And your brain." he said.

"Aren't you Terrance Walter?" he asked.

"Yes." 

"I knew you looked familiar."

"Gael?" he guessed.

"Ding ding! Well I better get going. See you at 3 Smith."

"Bye!" I waved.

"Why're you guys meeting at the Three Broomsticks?" he asked curiously. I placed both my hands on his tensed shoulders and lightly pushed them down. 

"Relax. It's just a group project."

"Only the two of you?"

"Well someone's jealous."

"I'm not jealous." he grumbled.

"Ya. Sure sure." I replied sarcastically.

"But though, really. You two only?"

"Nah there's ChoChang and Travis... forgot his last name."

"Well that's such a nice last name."

I looked at him annoyingly and we both went for a bit of lunch to Madam Puddifoot's tea shop since there wasn't much of a crowd. But in all honesty, the sandwich tasted horrible, though the cookies and tea there was scrumptious. 

At 3, I went to the Three Broomsticks and Terrance apparated back to his home. 

------- 

"So draco, I have to ask you something."

"Go ahead." he said, as he went around observing the cupboard.

"How is your hair so soft, shiny and smooth."

He turned around at my out of topic question. "What?" I asked innocently. "I want that type of hair."

"Genes? The black family has great hair."

"True. Sirius definitely spends half his money on his hair."

"Shampoo and conditioner?"

"Tried that. It still looks like this."

"Guess I know what to get you from Christmas."

"Shampoo?......"

"A hair care routine."

"Thanks." I said with a laugh.

"By the way. What really happened to you? You know, in October."

"It's a long story.."

"I love stories. Go on."

I told him about the necklace and even accidently about Walburga Black. 

"You met Walburga Black?" he asked.

At my stunned face, because I accidently gave it away, he said. "It's fine. We death eaters know, but she doesn't know that we know."

"Got it." I said. 

"Take this." he said removing a ring from his finger.

"Why?"

"Your curse. It can be unlocked and used against you, with one simple spell. I don't remember what it was, but this ring can protect you."

"And you know that because...."

"My mum. She gave it to me, when I started as a Death Eater. It's not much use to me, just like a belief that it'll protect me. But for you. It works."

"I can't take that. Terrance said he'll bring me something for it."

"Well what if it doesn't work? This is the only thing that can completely stop it. The rest is just temporary."

"Well your mum wouldn't give it to you if it was useless."

"Take it. It isn't useless, it's helping you. It's very rare; the magic used on this."

"It's fine really-"

He took my hand and placed it on my palm. "You know me. I don't take no for an answer."

I said a thanks and observed it. It was a normal black ring, with a red strip in the middle. On the red strip, there was something written in black and intricate designs around it. 

"It's the protection spell."

"Oh..." 

I sat there for 5 more minutes, and then got up and dusted my clothes. "Well I better get going."

"So fast?" he asked.

"Harry already found out." he froze by these words.

"It's fine."

"You'll get in trouble."

"I won't. They know that I won't jump into unnecessary problems on my own. Besides, it's gonna hit curfew in a few minutes."

He nodded and then got back to work. 

--------- 

"Laura.... Come on! I have a gift for you."

"For me?" she asked. 

"Yes, now follow me." I said enthusiastically and made her follow me, to an empty classroom again. 

"Laura could you tell me where the other necklace is?" I asked slowly.

But the word room was the only thing she could choke out, before she was dazed again. 

"Why don't you sit here and... read this book? I seem to have forgotten my present." said Annalise and gestured me to follow. 

"I'll go check our dorm, you can go check some other rooms where she could've put it." I said. 

I checked every nook and corner of our dorm, but it wasn't there. But I did find my hair clip that I was looking for about a week.

---- 

"What about the room of requirements?" Annalise asked? 

""The room is huge! And besides, it changes. How do we find it?" I asked.

"Um... Anymore of the leaf left?"

"Nope. But I think I have an idea. Why didn't I think about the leaf?! You're a genius!"

"I'm pretty sure, anyone could've come up with that." I heard her say, as I ran out the room.

----- 

I had just sneaked out to find a place where they sell the things for potions. I heard from Draco that there was a place, somewhere around there. It was quite inside the Hogsmede Village through a crossway to four paths. I hoped I wouldn't get lost in there. 

I finally found it, and went inside. The smell of various things hit me. A mixture of wonderful berries, but at the same time the pungent smells of other things. 

"Hi Dearie.... How can I help you?" asked a quite old lady. Probably in her 60s. 

"Can I have one tempus? The leaf?"

"Oh... it's very rare. I don't seem to have it. But if you really need it, give me some time. I'll go get it for you from somewhere else."

"That would be great! Thank you so much." I smiled. She apparated, and I was left alone in the shop.

Tempus, was the name of the leaf. Latin for time, moment, opportunity, etc. It was rare I knew. And I also knew that it was expensive. I checked the pouch of 100 galleons that I brought with me. It was all the money I had, and I hopped that it would be enough. 

The lady appeared back, and passed the vial with one leaf in it, towards me. "That'll be 150 galleons."

"150!" I asked. 

"Yes dear. 150. It's a rear one. And you look like poor nice student, and it's blooming season. Otherwise it would've ranged from 200-300 galleons."

"Well I don't have that much. Just 100 galleons max. Can't you bring it a bit more low? It's urgent."

"No can't do dear. You can give anything in exchange for the extra 50 galleons."

"It's 100 hundred galleons even if I add up my sickles and knuts."

"Anything else worth 50 galleons you have?"

I indeed did have. A ring. Sirius had given it to me for my last birthday, and I treasured it. It was probably the most expensive thing I owned. I reluctantly placed the ring on the counter. Anything for a friend.

The lady looked at me with a happy smile, and gave me the vial. I gave a her half-happy smile and dashed out the place. 

---- 

"What took you so long? She's almost done with the book." said Anne.

"It wasn't easy. And she likes reading, I'm not surprised. It's a pretty thing book."

"Hey Laura. Eat this, it boosts your energy."

She swallowed the leaf, and she was back. Just for sometime.

"Cassie! And... May isn't it?"

"Yes. Annalise May." Anne answered. 

"Look, just tell us where you kept the other necklace." I said hurridley.

"The room of requirements. With all the junk."

"Oh shit" said Anne looking at me.

"Well... does it reply to Accio?"

"Maybe yes. I mean I didn't try it." Laura said. 

"I'll go." said Anne. "I'll be back soon." se headed out the door. 

-----

We breathed in and out. Anne found the necklace, but the spell of the leaf had worn out. When we tried to tie Laura down though, she started attacking. 

"Alohomora." said a faint voice and we turned around.

Harry stood there. His face showing fear, anger, betrayal and any other emotion but happiness. "What are you doing?" he asked horror.

"Harry get out." that was the only words that came into my mouth at the time. "No I'm not. Tell me what's happening."

In that small interruption, Anne was able to tie Laura down. But just as she was about to be done, tying the other hand Harry stupefied her.

"Harry! Just get out. I'll explain everything after."

"Nope. First you hang out with Malfoy, and now you're hurting and cursing a student?!"

"It's not what you think. And why did you hex Anne?"

"Because she's helping you. I thought she was nice."

"She is!"

"Then you spelled her too."

"I didn't. Harry listen to all the nonsense your saying."

"I'm just telling the truth."

"Get out." I said, and managed to push him out, taking his wand and keeping it with me.

I revived Anne, and we did the spell together, and it was easier. Laura did scream a bit, but Anne said that it wasn't as near to mine. Two necklaces balance out each other's powers. Thus it makes it weaker.

We were done, and just like how I was, Laura had passed out too. "Laura?" I shook her. 

"Cassie! I'm back! You saved me!" she exclaimed and I tied her out the chair. 

"Well... you could say that I had a smart and cool team member." I said and smiled towards Anne. Her eyes showed pure happiness. 

The doors burst open and Dumbledore entered; Harry behind him. "Ms. May and Ms. Wilsdon, are you both alright?" 

They nodded. "Professor Dumbledore. What's happening?" asked Anne.

"Well I got a message from Mr. Potter here that Ms. Smith was hexing two students."

I looked at Harry and Dumbledore with a shocked face. That little shithead did not just go and-

"No headmaster. She saved me. I was cursed and she helped me be free."

"Any say in this Harry?" he asked. 

"Well of course she cursed them. They won't rattle her out will they?"

"Well listen here Potter." said Anne spitefully. "Neither are we cursed, and nor did Cassie curse us."

"Of course you would say that. Don't trust them Dumbledore." said Harry.

"I shall see what's best Mr. Potter. You all, except Smith can leave."

They all scurried out the room. Laura with a surprised and what-the-heck face, and Anne was looking at Harry with anger in her eyes. If looks could kill, Harry is dead right now.

"Dumbledore you know that I-"

"I know Smith. I read your mind. But I have to do something. An act perhaps."

"So you can't just go and tell to Harry's face that he's wrong?"

"He won't believe it."

"Well of course he would believe you. If you told him that Hogwarts is really in India, he would still believe that."

"Now now Smith. I'm just gonna make sure your away from school or at least your classes for like a week. Then I'll go tell him that all of you are tested and that no one was cursing anyone."

"But-"

"it's for the best."

"Fine." I said annoyed, and got up from there.

----- 

"Well that's absurd!" said Anne, as she helped me pack up clothes and other stuff for a week.

"It is. But what to do?" I sighed.

"So where will you be?" Laura asked.

"You can't tell anyone else."

"Promise" they both said.

"I'll be in a hidden room in Dumbledore's office. Well.. technically it's outside his office. But the only way to enter there is through the office, and a small space, and then the room."

"Nice." Anne said.

"Nice." I repeated. And headed out the dorm to go to my "hiding place".