'lilac derrens'

𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘.

Valerie and Harry were holding hands reluctantly. 

"I hate this," Harry muttered. 

"So do I, but Ada's friend is a romance advisor. If we want to meet her, we–" she made a face. "–have to act like a couple."

Harry wore a striped shirt and an olive tweed blazer. He kept on tugging at the sleeve. Valerie chose one of Elara's romantic blue midi-dresses, promising Elara that she would keep it clean and neat.

"Are you okay?" she asked, seeing him tugging. 

"What?" he asked distractedly. He looked up and his face turned red. "I'm fine," 

Valerie nodded slowly. "Well, come on, let's go over our story before we enter." 

Harry nodded. "We've been dating since the day after you arrived here–" 

"–so four days." Valerie added. 

"And lately, we've been having arguments about me wanting to keep it secret and you wanting to go public. Who is right?"

"Good job," Valerie nodded. 

She knocked on the classroom door where the romance advisor was using as her office. The door opened. A blonde-haired girl with hazel eyes smiled. "Lilac Derren, romance advisor at your service!"

❖

Lilac served them violet-scented tea and rummaged around, looking for sugar.

"What are your zodiac signs?"

"31st July. Leo." Harry said.

Valerie had no clue when her birthday was. "Er...I don't know."

Lilac clucked. "Every good couple knows their zodiac sign. When is your birthday, dear?"

"Er...28th June," she said, making up the first thing in her mind.

"Cancer, then. That's wonderful! Cancer and Leo is a great match!" she exclaimed.

She gave them their tea. "What is your problem then? Such great compatibility..."

"Um...so, Harry wants our relationship to be secret while I want to go public."

"Secret? A Leo? My dear, you're supposed to be proud of showing how you feel!"

Suppressing her urge to say she didn't believe in zodiac signs, "I heard about your amazing service from Ada...do you know her?"

Lilac's expression became wary. "Yes, I do. A great soul. Loved word games. A Libra."

"Yes..um, did you see her before she was...killed?"

"No. I did not. Her death was a great shock to me." Lilac said firmly. Then she smiled. "On to lighter topics, why do you feel that this should be secret, Harry?"

Harry flinched. "Er, well, a lot of bad press is going on about me and..."

"He doesn't want me to be a target!" Valerie interjected.

"Finishing each other's sentences. Ever so cute!" Lilac grinned.

There was a brief silence.

"When's your birthday?" Harry suddenly asked, clearly wanting to change the subject.

Lilac smiled. "It's been a long time since someone asked me that. 14th July."

Harry smiled back awkwardly. Valerie squirmed. This was not a good place.

❖

When they emerged from the classroom, the only thing Valerie knew was that Ada enjoyed anagrams. That was not much of a lead at all.

She blushed when she realized Harry was still holding her hand. 

"Harry," she indicated their hands. 

"Oh." he also turned red.

She glared at Harry. "What was that about her birthday?" 

"I had to make some noise!" 

Valerie opened her mouth but a ghost suddenly appeared in front of them. She shivered involuntarily.

 "Hello! Do you need a romantic advisor?" "Sorry...what?"

"A romantic advisor. I heard you're looking for information about Ada. She was a close friend! Such a shame she didn't become a ghost." the ghost sighed. 

She smiled at them. "Do tell me if you want to make an appointment!" 

Valerie was very confused. Why did Ada know so many romance advisors? Harry spoke for her. 

"We would love one! Is this Saturday fine?" 

"Yes, it is! Meet me in the Three Broomsticks!" and the ghost vanished.

"Well, that's a good start!" he beamed. "Come on, optimist. We need to talk to one more person."

❖

The eagle greeted Harry and Valerie with a riddle.

"I take you down, yet I have no body,

I make you blush, yet I don't have a soul,

Everyone knows me and some people fear me,

I sometimes burst out with no control,"

"I can't do it," Harry complained.

Valerie recited the riddle. She scrunched her eyebrows. "No wonder you aren't in Ravenclaw."

"You know the answer?"

"I have an idea."

"Then tell me! I give up."

Valerie slowly smiled. She turned to the eagle knocker.

"Words."

"A solid answer," the eagle responded and the door swung open. Harry shook his head in disbelief.

Alex Liam was seated at the Ravenclaw Common Room. He was in Ethan's year and based on Valerie's research, a close friend of Ada.

"Hello," he greeted.

"Hi," Harry waved.

He had red and black streaks in his hair that contrasted with his pale face. He wore silver rings on his fingers that glinted in the light. He lounged on the armchair with a casual confidence that made him stand out in the room.

"We just wanted to ask you about Ada–" Alex's face closed off.

 "Look, I knew her. She was my best friend. I wished her goodnight and left for bed. The next day, she was dead. That's all I know." 

He stormed off. 

"Charming guy," Harry said dryly. 

"Don't give up. We still have the ghost."

"That's not very useful. She was babbling about Ada being a ghost! She's nuts! And all we found out is that Lilac's birthday is on the fourteenth, Ada likes word games, Alex saw her before he went to bed–"

"Wait a minute. Repeat that." 

"Alex saw her before he went to bed?" 

"No. Before that."

 "Ada likes word games? Lilac's birthday is on the fourteenth of July?" 

"Lilac's birthday was on the fourteenth of July. Ada was murdered on the fourteenth of July." 

Harry gaped at her, dumbfounded. "Blimey–"

madi speaks!

a moment of silence for my riddle-making skills /*

also hahaha it was right under your noses XD