The masquerade ball was supposed to be fun. You’d spent days making your white and mint mask, styled after your swallow patronus. You’d made your own dress- white and pastel green to match the mask. You’d been so excited. But now you were sat in the corner of the ballroom, watching your friends dance with their partners. Ominis and Anne- who had been cured-, Poppy and Garreth, Leander and Natty…you’d been with them all night but slowly, you’d been shifted to the side.

That’s when Sebastian, your best friend and crush, came over to you, his usual confident grin on his face. He gave a low, mocking bow. “Care to dance, my charge?”