Professor Pettigrew's Office

[Simon Hedwig]

Simon stopped when she suddenly exclaimed loudly and asked him to stay. He turned back to face her and quietly closed the door again.
She was talking quickly and desperately. It was almost impossible to catch all of it and even harder to process. It had never occurred to him that she had felt so alone and it made him feel selfish and self-absorbed. He realised that when she had been gone she had basically been on the run.
When she mentioned Kit his heart sank into his stomach. The loss of his friend had left such a hole in his heart and he still hadn't finished mourning her. She had been full of life and he had lost her far too young. But Emilia had lost her too. Had Simon been so caught up in his own grief to remember she had been loved by others beside himself and Krysta?
He listened with a strained look of sympathetic pain as she talked about her family. She'd never talked about them before, not in all the years he'd known her. He knew about her brother of course, who didn't? But she never mentioned her parents or other siblings. He was just processing all the new information when she said a name that made his blood run cold.

All the other thoughts vanished as his hand curled into fists.That little b***h had ripped his world apart. She had completely destroyed Emilia's life. She was the reason Emilia was the way she was; frightened all time. She was the reason a family somewhere no longer had a son.
He moved back into the room and walked right up to her.
"I won't let her hurt you." he said quietly as he wrapped his arms around her.

[Emilia Pettigrew]

Emilia was sobbing so loud, she couldn't even hear Simon walking back into the room. So when his arms locked around her, she was stunned. An electric current ran down her spine, her heart stopped beating for a moment and she forgot how to breathe. The tears stopped running as if on cue. She stood there like that for a split second, before she could move again. She let out a deep breath and pressed her face hard against his neck. He still smelt of earth and trees like he always had done. Her arms tightened around his waist. She didn't want to let go again. Simon had always made him feel secure and safe. She couldn't believe she had given him up for Dara. For what. Although, she didn't have any choice, she was never going to let anyone else find out about her terrible secret. Not even Simon. She kept sobbing in his arms. As if from a distance she heard him say, how he'll never let Kelly hurt her ever again. She turned her face up to him and locked her eyes into his. "You can't stop her. No one can." she could feel her hands shaking. "You probably heard that Danika was locked up in Azkaban, yet she is the only person, Kelly still listens to. I've seen her heart. She would still die for her. She still loves her" she lowered her head again. Just as I love you she thought to herself.

[Simon Hedwig]

Simon let out a deep breath as he felt her relax in her arms. He wasn't sure what had caused her outburst, but he imagined her stress levels must be extra high at the full moon. He let it go and rested his chin on top of her head. He had to admit to himself that it was nice to have some human contact after so long. He'd been spending a lot of time alone with the animals recently and hadn't really spent much time with other people.

He moved back a tiny bit as she looked at him, so he could see her properly. What she said made him squint slightly. Admittedly Kelly was a formidable character, but he didn't believe she was unstoppable.
Maybe as Emilia suggested, the way to her was through Danika. He didn't know.
"I don't believe that. You've put her on a pedestal like she's some kind of mighty demonic deity. She may be powerful, but at the end of the day she's still just a girl. The more you fear her, the more power you give her in your mind."
Suddenly he grinned.
"Besides, my sister could kick her arse." he added with a chuckle.