The dark night continued to breathe its cool air over the riverbank, the shimmering water reflecting the pale light of the moon. Rose, trapped within the withered and green-skinned form of Elthira, sat in a heavy silence, her heart breaking as she replayed the memories of her life—of family dinners, of laughter at Hogwarts, and the countless moments spent with the people now sitting only a few yards away, yet worlds apart from her.
James Sirius Potter walked toward her, his footsteps soft against the earth. He didn't come with a wand raised in suspicion, but with a plate of food. He stopped beside her, his voice polite and surprisingly gentle.
"Please, eat food," James said.
Elthira looked up at him, her sad, distorted face illuminated by the moon. Her eyes, though framed by the ugly features of a vampire, searched his with a desperate longing.
James didn't pull away. Instead, he sat down next to her on the rock. He let his legs dangle, dipping his feet into the cool, flowing water, closing his eyes as the breeze brushed against his face.
"I missed myself, and I like places like these," James remarked, staring out at the horizon.
"A pleasant evening, sitting near a shore, enjoying the cool air and this weather... it's completely magic. Nowadays, everyone is so busy with their work; they aren't able to get time to enjoy a moment like this. Rarely do people get time for this, but sitting here and living in this quiet, peaceful moment... it gives happiness and deep inner peace."
He looked at the ripples in the water, his voice taking on a philosophical tone.
"Mostly, people run for happiness, but they don't see what is right around them. The world is filled with people, and we may like them or we may not. But they are our whole world—they give us a reason to live and bring peace into our lives."
James paused, rubbing the back of his neck and chuckling softly.
"I don't know why I am speaking like this to you. But I can see you are feeling so bad. I don't know why you truly wanted to come with us. At first, when I saw you, I even felt you were dangerous. But when you saved my life... and then you said you wanted to join us on a journey filled with dangers..."
He turned his head to look at her, his expression sincere.
"I just don't know... my heart felt like it wanted to support you. I really don't know why I felt like that. You see, I am a man who always listens to my heart. I'm saying all this because I wanted to talk to you; I know you are suffering with some pain. Me and my friends will not hurt you, even if you are bad. Eat the food and take some rest."
James stood up, preparing to head back to the tents. Rose, still as Elthira, felt a surge of warmth in her chest.
"James, you haven't changed even a little," she whispered in the sanctuary of her heart. A small, genuine smile touched her lips.
Suddenly, James stopped in his tracks. His back was to her, and his posture stiffened as his tone shifted to one of cold authority. He remembered the Elthira he thought he knew—the one who had tried to kill his friends.
"Elthira," James said, his voice serious. "I won't hurt you or harm you, as long as you don't hurt my friends and my Ro..."
He stopped himself before he could finish the name "Rose." His mind flashed to the haunting dreams he had been having lately—the spirit calling to him, the warnings of the Dark King.
"I will not spare you..." he muttered, almost to himself, before turning back to her. "I will not harm you as long as you do not harm my friends and stay away from Rose."
He walked away, leaving Rose in shock and surprise. His kindness was there, but his protective instinct for the "Rose" back at camp was a barrier she didn't know how to break.
The Hidden Witness
From behind a nearby jagged rock, Bobby crouched low, his ears straining to catch every word. He had followed James, his suspicion about the group's dynamics growing by the hour.
"Why am I feeling so confused about Elthira?" Bobby wondered. "She behaves so much like Rose... and James is being so soft with her, even after everything. Something isn't right."
As James disappeared toward the camp, Bobby watched Elthira. She picked up the sandwiches and burgers, eating them slowly while tears welled in her eyes. Looking out at the waves, she began to hum a soft, melodic tune.
"Hmmmm... Hmmmm..."
Bobby froze. He remembered that hum. Rose always hummed that exact melody whenever she was feeling overwhelmed or sad. His heart hammered against his ribs as the pieces of the puzzle began to swirl.
The Tent of Deception
Bobby walked back to the tents, finding most of the group settled in. Inside one of the larger tents, Kael Nightshade was sprawled out near the girl he believed was Rose.
"I am there for you, Rose," Kael whispered, leaning closer to the person who was actually Lord Voldemort. "I have a surprise for you."
Voldemort felt a surge of murderous rage. He forced his stolen face into a tight, fake smile.
"What is it?" Voldemort asked, his voice mimicking Rose's sweetness perfectly.
Kael leaned in, whispering into "Rose's" ear. "Come out late, at twelve o'clock, with me. We can go for a boat ride. I want to give you something."
Kael blushed furiously and started giggling to himself. Nearby, Frank pulled his blanket over his head, groaning internally. "I can't take this anymore," he thought, trying to block out the awkward romance.
Voldemort's eyes glinted with a dark, predatory light.
"Finally," the Dark Lord thought. "If I get a chance to finish this Kael off..."
"Finally, we can be romantic when everyone else is asleep," Kael whispered, his voice full of hope. "I can confess my love to you, and I know you'll feel special—like you're in heaven."
Voldemort's internal response was cold enough to freeze blood.
"Let everyone sleep. I will not show you heaven, Mr. Irritating, Disgusting Lover Boy. Hell is waiting for you. I will show you the consequences of trying to love Lord Voldemort. Be ready to be smashed, Mr. Kael."
Kael, completely oblivious to the death sentence he was inviting, nudged "Rose" again. "I can't wait any longer, Rose."
Voldemort looked at him, his voice soft but his heart full of venom. "Even I can't wait to confess how much I love you, Kael."
Kael collapsed back into his pillow, flushed and happy, while the Dark Lord began to plan exactly how he would dispose of the nuisance once the clock struck midnight.